Rajasthan

Rajasthan one of the North Indian state is the largest state in terms of area. The geographically diversified land of Rajasthan is famous for its Thar Desert. The Aravalli hill ranges in the state is one of the oldest mountains of the world. Mount Abu is only hill resort of the state, which is situated in Aravalli ranges. The state referred as the land of Kings, is known for its royal grandeur. The palaces and forts narrates the tales of the Maharajas of the Rajasthan. Rajasthan is renowned for its arts, crafts, temples, camels, elephants, bird sanctuaries, festivals and fairs, luxury trains, folk dance and music etc.

The people of Rajasthan still bear the old charm with vibrant colours in their lifestyle. The popular festivals of the state are Holi, Dussehara, Gangaur, Pushkar Camel festival and Kite festival etc. Rajasthani cuisine include the famous recipes of the Khansama (the royal cooks), curries, lapsi (a sweet dish) and the most popular dal (lentils), bati (baked wheat ball) and churma (powdered sweetened cereal).

Main Attractions
» Ajmer
Ajmer is famous for the 13th century tomb of Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The shrine is visited by millions of pilgrims throughout the year. People from different religions reach Ajmer to attend the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin. Another attractions of the city are Taragarh Pahari (hill), Mughal styled buildings and local handicrafts.

»Jaipur
The capital city of Rajasthan is also called as the Pink city of India. Jaipur is major tourist destination of Rajasthan. The city is home to royal forts, palaces and serene lakes. The main attraction of the city is the City palace. The beautiful palace houses a museum, which has the collection arts, crafts carpets, enamelware and weapons. Other attractions are Nahargarh Fort, Jantar Mantar, Government Central Museum and Gardens, The Amer Fort and the Hawa Mahal (The Palace of Wind).

» Udaipur
The city also called as the 'White City' is famous for its beautiful lakes, surrounded by the lush Aravalli hills. Udaipur was named after its founder, the Sisiodia King, Maharana Udai Singh.

The city is home to royal palaces, temples, lakes and gardens. The major attractions in Udaipur include the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandir, The Suraj Gokhada, Saheliyon-ki-Bari (Garden of the maids of Honour), Fateh Sagar, Pichhola Lake, Pratap Memorial, Sajjan Garh and Gulab Bagh etc.

» Jodhpur
Jodhpur the second largest city of the state is the gateway to Rajasthan. The city situated on the eastern bank of the Thar Desert, narrates the stories of royal grandeur. The native place of the Rathores, Jodhpur houses several palaces, forts and temples. Mehrangarh Fort is one of the major attractions of the city. Other attractions include the Umaid Bhawan Palace & Museum, Jaswant Thada, Girikot and Sardar Market etc.

» Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer also referred as the city of towers or golden city, is famous for its golden fort.

The fort built of sandstone is perhaps the only fort in world, where medieval pattern of life still prevails. In addition to the Jaisalmer fort other attractions of the city are Desert Festival, Camel races, Folk music and dance and Desert ballads etc

» Ranthambore
Situated 132 Kms away from Jaipur, Ranthambore is famous for its National Park. The park located close to Sawai Madhopur, falls in the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges. Once the hunting ground of Maharajas, Ranthambore declared a sanctuary in 1955. Ranthambore became a Project Tiger Reserve in 1986. In addition to the Tigers, the park provide shelter to Panthers, Hyenas, Jackals, Jungle cats, Crocodiles, Sambar, Sloth bears, Nilgai, Chital, Wild boars and Chinkara etc. The park is open between October To March : 6.00 am - 9.00 am & 3.00 pm - 6.00 pm and between April To June : 6.30 am - to 9.30 am & 3.30 pm - 6.00 pm

» Sariska
The town situated in the backdrop of Aravali hills, is known for its National Park. Sariska became a sanctuary in the year 1955, later in 1979 it became a tiger reserve and a national park in 1982. The park is home to tigers and several other animals and flora.

» Pushkar
The city located close at a distance of 11 Kms Ajmer is famous for Pushkar Camel festival. Pushkar camel and cattle fair held annually in November, is one of largest in the country. The camel merchants, camel buyers and sellers, cultural artists and tourists throng the city during the festival. The city is also famous for its temples including the Brahma temple.

» Bikaner
Bikaner is located on the northern part of Rajasthan. The city with scores of sand dunes keeps its medieval grandeur. Bikaner also called as the camel country, is famous for its temples, forts and palaces etc. The major attraction of the city are Junagarh Fort, Lalgarh Palace, Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum and Karni Mata Temple etc.

» Karauli
Karauli is a holy city situated 160 kms from Jaipur. Earlier called Kalyanpuri, after the local deity Kalyanji, Karauli was founded in 1348 AD. Karauli was strongly fortified by its rulers. The city is surrounded by a wall of red sandstone strengthened by bastions at several places. The peripheral wall, now dilapidated at several places, has six gates and eleven posterns

» Dundlod
Dundlod is situated in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, India. Famous for its fort and havelis, this tiny village extends between latitude 28.06° in the north and longitude 75.20° in the east. Dundlod can be reached by road from Delhi, Jaipur, and Bikaner.

» Churu
Famous for the Kothar Haveli (1915 AD) Kanhayya Lal Bagla Haveli (1870 AD) having immense paintings of Dhola Maru,Sassi-Punnu, etc. and the six storeyed Surana Haveli. The distinctive features of the latter one are it Jhunjhunu, Nawalgarh and Sikr. Pink City Express is another train.

»Dholpur
In 846 A.D. it was ruled by a Chauhan family, apparently as a feudatory of Kannauj. Dholpur was the invasions with valour, it was, time and again, occupied by the invading forces and suffered plunder and devastation. Sikander Lodi attacked and occupied Dholpur in 1501 A.D. His forces plundered the city and even uprooted all the gardens that shaded Dholpur. It was again invaded by Babar in 1526 A.D. During Humayun’s regime the site of Dholpur town was moved northwards to avoid erosion by the river Chambal. Shergarh is an old fort of historic importance, located towards the south of Dholpura small state but it had a very turbulent history.

» Jalore
Located just south of the Sukri River, which is a tributary of the Luni River, a medieval stronghold, Jalore was the 12th-century capital of the Chauhan Rajputs (the warrior rulers of the historic region of Rajputana) and was captured in 1310 AD by the Delhi Emperor 'Ala-ud-Din Khilji. An 11th-century hill fort overlooks the city.

» Jhalawar
Jhalawar lies in the south-eastern region of Rajasthan at the edge of the Malwa Plateau. It is a small town typical of the Hadoti region of Rajasthan with the focal point of the city being the fort. Located in the middle of the town, most of the fort now houses district offices but the Zenana Khas portion of the fort, which housed the women's apartments, has some really exquisite paintings.

» Khetri
If Rajasthan is endowed with the valorous mantle of India, Shekhawati is its colourful hub. Just as local lore is redolent of heroic deeds, Rajasthani painting displays decorative forms vividly composed in colourful schemes. Be it the forts, havelis, cenotaphs or temples, nowhere is such a profusion of frescoes to be found as in Shekhawati, sometimes known as the 'Open Air Art Gallery' of Rajasthan.

» Kota
Kota is the industrial centre of Rajasthan. Earlier, it was the capital of an independent state of the same name. There are hydro-electric power plants and an atomic power plant here. Places of interest here are the forts, the Government Museum, Rao Madhav Singh Museum, Chambal Gardens, Jag Mandir (a temple on an island), etc.

» Kumbhalgarh
Location of Kumbhalgarh had always been its greatest advantage and perhaps the only reason of it being where it is. Rana Kumbha of Mewar built this great defensive fortress on an 1100 m high hill overlooking the approaches from Ajmer and Marwar in 15th century. Today, precisely because it is within easy reach of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Pushkar- yet off the well-trodden tourist- Kumbhalgarh is an attractive destination.

» Mandore
Situated 9-kms north of the city of Jodhpur, is Mandore which, was the capital of Marwar prior to the foundation of Jodhpur.Today, its extensive gardens with high rock terraces make it a popular local attraction. The gardens also contain the cenotaphs of Jodhpur rulers, including Maharaja Jaswant Singh and the largest and finest of all, the soaring temple-shaped memorial to Maharaja Ajit Singh.

» Merta
Merta was in the 15th century by Rao Duda, son of Rao Jodha of Jodhpur. Rao Maldeo erected the fortress, known as Matkot. The famous temple of Charbhuja, the tutelary deity of the Mertias, a clan of the Rathores are the famous monuments located in the city. The medieval mystic poetess, princess Meera Bai, born in the Kurki village was associated with this shrine. The famous mosque erected by Aurangzeb on the ruins of a Shiva temple is an imposing edifice and is surrounded by many Hindu shrines.

» Mount-Abu
Mount Abu, sprawling along a 1200 m high plateau in the south of the state, close to the Gujarat border. Rajasthan's only hill station and a major pilgrim centre, Mount Abu is located in the south-western corner of Rajasthan. Although a part of the Aravalli range, it is detached completely from it by a narrow valley and the highest point, Guru Shikhar, is situated at its northern end. Interestingly, this is the highest point between the Nilgiris in the south and the Himalayan range up north. Mount Abu, owing to its good rainfall, has the richest vegetation in Rajasthan - a wide variety of trees and shrubs can be viewed as one drives upto Mount Abu.

» Nagaur
The quaint town of Nagaur, one of the most picturesque of Rajput townships stirs to life during the Nagaur Fair. This cattle fair is the second largest in Rajasthan and is held every year during the Hindu month of Magh (Jan-Feb).
The Fair is renowned for the trading of cows, bullocks, oxen, camels and horses which takes place here. Their owners are seen wearing colorful turbans and flaunting long mustaches. Wooden items, ironcraft and leather accessories are available in abundance during the fair. Various games are organized during this four day festival.

» Nathdwara
Nathdwara is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site. This is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage shrines of India, enshrining Krishna as Govardhana Giridhari. Nathdwara is situated 48-km northeast of Udaipur in Rajasthan, on the banks of the Banas River. Nathdwara enshrines Shrinathji - an image of Krishna, which was originally enshrined at the Vraja Bhoomi at Mount Govardhana near Mathura.The name Nathdwara means 'Gate of the Lord'. The image was brought to Mewar, for the sake of protection during the period of Aurangazeb, the Mughal monarch.

» Ramgarh
The town of Ramgarh was founded by a dissatisfied group of the powerful Poddar merchant family in 1791, after they had left the village of Churu following a disagreement with the Thakur. The village was doing well until the late 19th century. It had been one of the richest towns at the end of the 19th century. The Shani Temple of the Saturday God has delicately painted frescoes. Marvellous cenotaphs of the Poddars have exquisitely painted ceilings. The Ganga Temple and some beautiful havelis add interest to the town

» Nawalgarh
Located 30-km south-east of Fatehpur, founded in 1737 AD, by Thakur Nawal Singh, a warrior-statesman, whose name is enshrined in history and folklore, Nawalgarh boasts of some of the finest frescoes in the Shekhawati region. The town exudes an old world charm and the colourful bazaar has the largest number of painted havelis in Shekhawati. The fort, now a little disfigured, is yet worthy of attention. There are numerous havelis worth seeing.

» Rajsamand
Cradled in a cluster of 13 mountain peaks of the Aravalli ranges, the formidable medieval citadel - Kumbhalgarh stands a wary sentinel to the past. Rising from a prominent ridge, 1914 meters high from the sea level, the fort was built in by Maharana Kumbha

» Ranthambore National Park
The 392 sq.km park comprises of dry deciduous forest sprawling over the undulating terrain of the Arvalli and Vindhaan ranges. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country under the project tiger. The majestc predators assured if protection roam freely during the day times and can be seen at close quarters. Ranthambtor sanctuary has large number of sambhar, chital nigai chinkar langur wild boar and peafowl

» Ranakpur
The exceptionally beautiful Ranakpur complex, 60 kms north of Udaipur, is one of the largest and most important Jain temple in India. It is tucked away in a remote valley of the Aravalli range and is certainly worth seeing

» Samode
Samode is situated 45 kms from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. This small village is famous for its Samode Palace and Samode Bagh. Prithviraj Singh ji of Amber, the seventeenth Prince of the house of Kachhawaha Rajputs, had awarded Samode to one of his twelve sons, Gopal Singhji, along with the hereditary title of Rawal Saheb. The palace is full of architectural delights - the paintings on the walls of Sultan Mahal, the dinning room with its stained glass windows, the Durbar Hall with its painted ceilings and intricately carved walls. The ornate interiors are a fine example of the Rajput haveli architecture. It is worth a visit to Samode Palace.

» Sawai Madhopur
Lying on the main Delhi Mumbai railway line Sawai Madhopur is the gateway to the world renowned Ranthambhar National Park-the famous tigers reserve, just 12 km away from here.

» Sikar
It is one of the most imposing forts in the Shekhawati region, commanding a bird’s eye view of the town modelled to resemble the city plan of Jaipur.

» Silesar
In 1815 Maharao Raja Sawai Viney Singh (1815-57) ascended the Gadi of Alwar, a princely state cut away from the Jaipur kingdom by his predecessor Pratap Singh less than forty years before.

» Tonk
Situated 96 Kms from Jaipur, Tonk is an old town dating to the middle of the 17th century, resurrects a forgotten era. The new town is a colourful medley of painted mosques, mansions and colonial buildings.

Rajasthan Fairs And Festival

» Desert Festival : A spectacular event coinciding with the full moon in January – February. The rich culture of the region is on display during this three day long festival.
The grand finale is a trip to the sand dunes on the moonlit night, where one can also experience the pleasure of a camel ride. The folk artistes performing on the sand dunes takes the enchantment to its crescendo. Have a good time at the Desert Festival - a unique blend of colour, rhythm and melody.

» Camel Festival : A unique blend of color, rhythm and melody. The Camel Festival begins with a colourful procession of bedecked camels, Ships-Of-The-Desert, in the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh Fort

» Brij Festival : The Brij Festival takes place a few days before Holi, the festival of colours. Held in honour of Lord Krishna, this festival is marked by verve and zest. Villagers, in gay, multihued attire, can be seen singing and performing the Raslila dance-the immortal love-story of Radha and Krishna. All of Bharatpur comes alive to the sound of folk melodies on this festival held on the eve of Holi.

» Urs Fair : Ajmer, the city where the Dargah of the great sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti stands, is a sacred centre of pilgrimage. Hallowed by the memories of the great seer, Ajmer has earned the epithet of "Madinat- ul- Hind or the Madina of India".

Forts And Palaces

»City Palace Jaipur : The City Palce is an imposing blend of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal art and architecture. The City Palace complex houses several palatial structures. The first building in it is Mubarak Mahal, built by Kaharaja Madho Singh. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors on either side of this gate. Beyond this gate lies the Diwan -e-Khas, or the "Hall of Private Audience".

»Jaisalmer Fort : This desert fortress close to Rajasthan's border with Pakistan is straight out of an Arabian fairy tale. Founded in the 12th century as a staging post for camel trains travelling between India and Central Asia, Jaisalmer is a golden sandstone city with crenellated city walls, a magnificent fortress and a number of exquisitely carved stone and wooden havelis. Seen at sunset from afar, it glows with the luminescence of a mirage.

» Umaid Bhawan : This is known as Umaid Bhawan Palace because of the particular type of sandstone used, to build it - which is not weathered. Portions of the palace have been converted into a hotel and a museum.

Reaching
» Air
The cities Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Kota have their own airports. The airlines operate flights for the cities of Rajasthan as well as other major cities of the country.

» Rail
The state is well connected by major cities of the country. The luxury train, The Palace on Wheels connects Delhi with Bharatpur, Jaipur, Kota, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Alwar, Sirohi, Kishangarh, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jhalwar, and Dholpur.

» Road
Highways and good roads connect Rajasthan with other parts of the country. The state and private buses run within the state as well as outside the state.