Play

Where would a Chinese person stare at a long wall stretching into the distance?

In Rajasthan, apparently. The video above, shot in a slick drone-eye-view format, is one of six ads – made by Nirvana Films – put out by Rajasthan Tourism to entice visitors. And not one of them appears to have a camel. And one turban, at most.

Backed by a revamped website, the campaign cleverly focuses on the unexpected discoveries that tourists will make – not familiar sights and sounds, but real surprises. The slogan plays on this idea: “Jane kya dikh jaye” (Who knows what you might see).

Here, a Chinese tourist stumbles upon the almost never-ending wall surrounding the Kumbalgarh fort – which is the world’s second longest. In the other ads too, the palaces and elephants and regalia and colours are strictly avoided. And the song is instantly hummable.

Cleverly, each ad ends invoking the tourist's name before morphing it into Rajasthan – and the names themselves have a connection with the state. For instance, Meerasthan, Aryasthan, and Janesthan (for Meerabai, Aryans and Jains, respectively).

Here's the one with the haunted haveli.

Play

Moustaches make an appearance on an ingenious – and indigenous – motorbike.

Play

Hot air balloons get Disney’s Up treatment from a child's perspective.

Play

And finally, a spectacular view of the Chambal river, gorge and plains. Not your everyday Rajasthan, no.

Play