Rajasthan

Located on the northwest borders of India, Rajasthan stretches out in to the Thar Desert. Rajasthan, literally translated as the land of kings & princes, is the ultimate confluence of history, chivalry, romance, rugged natural beauty, art & crafts and colour. Rajasthan is one of the most favoured destinations of tourists in India for both domestic & International traffic. Rajasthan, which is a premier tourist destination attracts tourist for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture.

Rajasthan, the land of Kings is about wars and warriors, romance and tragedy, glory and chivalry.. the amazing architecture, that still stands to narrate its tale of a bygone era. Rajasthan is culturally rich and has extensive tradition in art and culture, which reflects Indian way of life.  Majestic forts, intricately carved temples and Havelies (meaning mansion) and even step well make Rajasthan a paradise for an architecture buff.. The dance, music and art forms have been cultivated and patronised by the erstwhile courts.

Weather

The climate of Rajasthan can be divided into four seasons: Pre-Monsoons, Monsoon, Post-Monsoon and Winter. It is extremely cold from October to February while the scorching sun tortures the land from March to September.

Ten Reasons why Rajasthan is the place to holiday

1. The roads have brought it much closer: Thanks to the state’s super highways, almost every destination is a maximum of a day’s drive away from Delhi. Even Jaisalmer, at just over 850 km (530 miles), can be done in about 12-14 hours depending on your speed and the breaks you take. The roads are smooth most of the way, with very little traffic. I did the 710 kms (445 miles) Udaipur to Delhi run in ten hours. In India, that is a big deal. You can head out to Rajasthan for as short or as long a break as you want.

2. The food will always leave you craving for more: Whether it is the Mirchi Pakodas and Imartis on street shops, or the Daal Baati Chhorma in the dhabas, or fine dining in the palaces and luxury hotels, Rajasthan is the surest way to beat anorexia. Go hog, you will not get such spreads so often. And it can be all so affordable.

3. People are very warm and hospitable: It is not an exaggeration when they say you get a royal treatment in Rajasthan. The people are gentle, warm, hospitable and always willing to make you comfortable. As a tourist, you will have to be real unlucky to be in the wrong hands.

4. Live like a King, or on a budget: There are ample options for you to stay, from five dollars a night to three thousand. Take you pick of a budget hotel, or stay in a palace like Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur to name just one of the many. There are enough mid-budget old havelis and palaces you can choose to stay.

5. Private Trusts doing a great job of historical sites: Nowhere in the country will visits to ancient forts, palaces, museums etc. be such a delight as in Rajasthan. Managed by private trusts of former royal families, they are spotlessly clean, the guides don’t seem like touts, you even get audio guides not seen commonly in India and are conserving the memories well. Some of them have shops to buy high quality  souvenirs (again a rarity) and even run restaurants within the premises to serve you like a king. The atmosphere is generally serene, and you can expect to be entertained by highly talented musicians and singers who perform without expectations of tips necessarily.

6. The state has history and culture: The region has more history to narrate than any other region in the country, with so much royalty and politics seen over the centuries. And its culture is amongst the most diverse and colourful as any in the world. It music, dance forms, theatre, clothing, festivals, religion and customs can keep you entertained forever. You will never be able to figure all of it out.

7. Nature has been kind: Yes, it gets extremely hot in the summers being a desert. But nature has otherwise been kind to the state with many lakes, mountains, deserts and other features adding to the beauty of the state.

8. Security: You will never feel unsafe in the state, even at late hours. The biggest threat comes from street dogs though who can be menacing when they have the streets to themselves at night.

9. Good rail, bus and air connectivity: Most of the state is well served by a very efficient and convenient network of public transport should you decide not to drive.

10. Connected all the time: Mobile networks work very well almost all across the state, including some of the more remote parts. Your mobiles and datacards will rarely blink.

Rajasthan's main cities

Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, tourism is flourishing in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur, lakes of Udaipur, and desert forts of Jodhpur, Bikaner & Jaisalmer are among the most preferred destination of many tourists, Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the state's domestic product. Many old and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector.
 

Ajmer-Pushkar : Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for the Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (14 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is a sacred spot for Hindus. During the month of Kartik (Oct./Nov.), devotees throng in large numbers here to take a dip in the sacred lake.

Alwar : Alwar is not the most tourist-friendly destination, which is likely a good thing for those seeking classic Rajasthani attractions without the classic Rajasthani tourist hordes. Once the northern entryway to the region, Alwar’s strategic location meant that it saw plenty of warfare in its time, until the 17th century when the Rajputs seized it from the Jats. Today, Alwar’s many palaces and forts reveal its Mughal and Rajput history, and its cuisine and hospitality characterise the best of Rajasthan. The main attraction is Bal Quila, a towering fort that affords a 300m-high view of its surrounds. Just below lies Sagar tank and the City Palace, worth visiting particularly for its museum, which contains a fine array of courtly memorabilia, weaponry and Arabic and Sanskrit manuscripts. For a dose of Mughal culture, the gold-leaf decorations and elegant balconies of Vinay Vilas Palace are nice. Alwar is also the access point to Sariska National Park.
Alwar is 2hr30min from Delhi.

Barmer : This arid desert town in western Rajasthan, with just a handful of ruins, does not seem to have anything that will interest a visitor. But there is beauty even in this wasteland. Beautiful block-printed fabrics, delicate handcrafted wood furniture, pottery, carpets and fine embroidery add colour to this otherwise monochromatic town. Even the houses here are decorated with pictures and motifs. These crafts are the lifeline in a region where almost nothing grows. And it’s not just crafts that draw people to this town; the songs of the Bhopas or priest singers and the music of the Muslim dholis are also famous. Visitors can start craft-hunting in the tiny shops that crowd Sadar Bazaar. But don’t restrict yourself to the bazaar—there are artisans at work in almost every bylane in the town.
Barmer is 153km south of Jaisalmer and 224km west of Jodhpur.

Bikaner : Situated in the north of the desert state, the city is dotted with scores of sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval grandeur that permeates the city's lifestyle. More readily called the camel country, the city is distinguished for the best riding camels in the world and hence boasts of having one of the largest Camel research and breeading farm in the world.

Interesting Fact

The 575-year-old temple of Karni Devi (one of the nine incarnations of Durga) Located at Deshnok, 35 km from Bikaner, Rajasthan, this temple is devoted exclusively to the rats which roam around freely in the place.

Bundi : Bundi, the undiscovered splendour, 36 Kms from Kota location has much to offer including the palaces and forts, Rajput architecture shines and in the intricately carved brackets, pillars etc. Interesting places are Diwan-e- aam, Hathia Pol, and Naubat Khana.

Bharatpur : The history of Bharatpur dates back to the epic age, when the Matsya Kingdom flourished here in the 5th century BC. The matsya were allies of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war. According to tradition the name of Bharatpur is traced to Bharat, the brother of lord Rama of Ayodhya whose other brother Laxman was given the high place of family deity of the ruling family of Bharatpur.

Jaipur : Jaipur is 260 km from Delhi and 240 km from Agra and forms the most chosen tourism golden triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The capital of Rajasthan, the city is natural gateway to one of the exotic destination of India. Popular as Pink City, Jaipur is the testimonial of the bygone era and a reminder of their lingering romance. Settled in the rugged hills of the Aravalis, Jaipur is the pristine jewel in the desert sands of Rajasthan. Jaipur is as remarkable for its marvellous architecture and town planning as it is for the lively spirit of the people who inhabit it. The city presents a unique synthesis of culture that has to be experienced in order to be appreciated.

CITY PALACE- A delightful blend of Mughal and traditional Rajasthani architecture, the City Palace sprawls over one-seventh of the area in the walled city. It houses the Chandra Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum.

JANTAR MANTAR- This is the largest and the best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different parts of the country. This observatory consisting of outsized astronomical instruments is still in use.

HAWA MAHAL- The ornamental facade of this "Palace of Winds" is a prominent landmark in Jaipur. Their five-storey structures of sandstone plastered pink encrusted with fine trelliswork and elaborate balconies. The palace has 953 niches and windows. Built in 1799 by Pratap Singh, the Mahal was a royal grandstand for the palace women.

Jaisalmer : The desert citadel is truly a golden fantasy in Thar Desert. Bhatti Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, after whom the city finds its name, founded Jaisalmer in 1156. On advice of a local hermit Eesaal he chose the Tricut Hills as his new abode abandoning his vulnerable old fort at Luderwa just 16 kilometres northwest. The name Jaisalmer induces a picture of utter magic and brilliance of the desert. The hostile terrain not with standing the warmth and colour of people is simply over whelming. One of the main draws is the daunting 12th century Jaisalmer Fort. The beautiful havelis which were built by wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer are yet another interesting aspect of this desert city.

Jhalawar : The seventh-century Chandramouli Mahadev temple, with its heart-breakingly beautiful stone sculptures and set on the banks of the Chandrabhaga river, is only one of the treasures to be found in Jhalawar. There’s also the Chandravati ruins, Gagron Fort, a Sun Temple that’s known as the ‘Konarak of Rajasthan’, the old city of Jhalrapatan... Incidentally, Jhalawar is also known as the ‘Cherrapunji of Rajasthan’, for its green hillock-dotted terrain that spontaneously bursts into huge ponds and lakes every few minutes in the monsoon. The constituency of Vasundhara Raje Scindia gets few visitors now, but that’s set to change with her help. Get there before the hordes discover just how lovely it is to book yourself into one of the five suites at the Prithvi Vilas Palace and luxuriate in the hospitality of the royal family.

Jodhpur : The bustling desert city is the second largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur and has landscape dominated by the massive Meherangarh Fort topping a sheer rocky ridge. In 1459 AD, Rao Jodha, chief of Rathore clan of Rajputs, who claimed descent from Rama, the epic here of the Ramayana, laid the foundation of Jodhpur. A high stonewall protects the well-fortified city. The wall is nearly 10 km in length and has eight gates facing various directions.

Kolayat : This isn’t where you go if you want a grand fort-hotel with folk musicians warbling while you eat your fettucine delicately. It’s another kind of Rajasthan—pilgrims visit the town and not tourists, you stay at a dharamshala not a palace, and there’s absolutely nothing to do other than sit by the temple tank and watch vignettes of serenity. Sadhus will wander around, the devout will bustle about, the sun will retire behind the desert. Spend a tranquil few days here or carve some hours out for a quiet day-trip from Bikaner.
Located 54km from Bikaner.

Mount Abu : This "Hill of Wisdom" and a true "Olympus of Rajasthan" stands on an independent hillock, which is separated from the main Aravali ranges by a deep gorge. At an altitude of 1220 meters crowning at the highest peak of the Aravali hills, Mount Abu is the only hill station of Rajasthan and one of the prettiest hill stations in the country. Mount Abu was dedicated to Lord Shiva before it became a Jain Pilgrimage Centre. The biggest draw for Mount Abu is the Dilwara Jain Temple for its carvings. The hill boasts of a rich vegetation and thick forest. It stands out like an oasis in arid environs. It is also a unique destination for Adventure and eco tourism.

Nagaur : A walk through Ahhichatragarh (‘fort of the hooded cobra’) in Nagaur is like a stroll through history with its various power struggles and intrigues. Built between 1119 and 1121, the fort was a much-coveted prize for rulers as Nagaur was a strategic trade centre. Successive maharajas and sultans battled for control and each king made additions to the fort. Lucky for the visitor, who can see the Rajput- and Mughal-influenced palaces and buildings, temples and mosques along with carved baoris, gardens and a much admired water system, which used to recycle every drop of water. And it is in the shadow of this impressive fort that the annual Nagaur Cattle Fair is held. Reputed to be second largest cattle fair in India, the Nagaur Fair sees camel races, cock fights, tug-of-war and folk music and dance, apart from the main business of cattle trade.
Nagaur is 135km north of Jodhpur. The fort is open 9am-1pm, 2-5pm.

Nawalgarh - Khimsar : Nawalgarh in the heart of the Shekhawati region, later in the afternoon explore surrounding towns and villages with their painted havelis and temples. Night stay in Nawalgarh.Khimsar perched on the edge of the Great Thar Desert in the heart of virgin India lies a unique 16th Century fort. The fort was originally built as protection, was later used by the royal family as the residence in the 18th century. Originally, the fort walls, turrets and stables were built solely for war, and were constructed around the beginning of the 16th Century.

Ranthambor : Ranthambhor National Park, is the scene where the celebrated Indian Tiger is best seen. Ranthambhor Tiger Reserve lies on the junction of Aravali and Vindhyas just 14 Kms from Sawai Madhopur in Eastern Rajasthan. It sprawls over a varying and undulating landscape. Ranthambhor sanctuary has a large number of fauna, significant among those being sambhar, chital, nilgai, chinkara, langur, wild boar, peafowl and of course the King of the Jungle- the Great Indian Tiger.

Sariska : Sariska National Park is situated only 200 km from Delhi and 107 kms from Jaipur. Although larger than Ranthambor, it is less commercialised. It is located in the contemporary Alwar district and is the legacy of the Maharajas of Alwar. It was once the hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Alwar, as the park was under their jurisdication. The beautiful Siliserh Lake runs along the edge of the reserve, with a quaint hunting lodge overlooking it.

Shekhawati : is a semi desert region in north Rajasthan and it is situated entirely in the triangle between Delhi-Bikaner-Jaipur. Shekhawati is a region and not just a town or fort; it takes its name after its ruler Rao Shekha. Shekhawati means the garden of Shekha.

Udaipur : Udaipur is known as the Venice of the east. It is also called the city of lakes. The Lake Palace on Jag Niwas Island in the middle of Pichola Lakes is the finest example of its architectural and cultural explosion. Founded in 1568 A.D by Maharana Udai Singh, the city is a harmonious Indian blend of whitewashed buildings, marble palaces, lakeside gardens, temples and Havelis. According to the legend, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichola. Maharana followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city. The marvellous architecture of the palaces is spell bounding. Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the famous temple of Shrinathji.

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