Trip to Rajasthan

Rajasthan Cuisines- The Best Of Rajasthan Unlimited

2011-10-12T23:47:00.000-07:00

If you want to have a taste of the royalty and their yummy delicacies, then head to Rajasthan without wasting a single minute. The mouth-watering delicacies of Rajasthan, will surely leave you asking for more. Prepared in pure ghee, dishes like daal batti churma, or lal maans prepared with lots of different spices, these cuisines will surely tempt your tongue.

These days as more and more travelers are coming to this state for traveling, these cuisines have left a mark on them. Even we can also say that these days they are a hot topic of the news in Rajasthan.

So next time you are in Rajasthan do gorge on delicious and yummy cuisines of Rajasthan. And while you are there do enjoy the folk Rajasthan dances. And if you have time do try out different mehndi designs on your palm.

2011-10-07T00:35:00.001-07:00

Rajasthan, a land of several colors, ancient palaces, forts, beautiful traditional costumes, yummy local cuisines and golden sand dunes, is definitely the place to be. The people of Rajasthan believes in the saying 'Athiti Devo Bhava' means The Guest is like God which is true in every sense.

Rajasthan is a state of rich ancient heritage reflected in its palaces and forts, that are the living example of the grandeur of the Kings who once ruled this land.

Apart from them the golden sand of the Thar desert, is surely a retreat for the eyes of the travelers. Just imagine the cool wind during the evening time, while you are having a camel safari, simply amazing.

Apart from these heritage marvels, Rajasthan is also known for several fairs and festivals that are celebrated here with full flair.

And the mouth watering cuisines of the state has no competition.

So just book your tour to Rajasthan and experience the magic of the state with Rajasthanunlimited.

Rajasthani Dance

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

The traditional Rajasthani dances have their own significance, performed on special occasions an festivity. Each dance of Rajasthan has its own charm, performed wearing colorful costumes and with expressions.

Popular Forms of Rajasthani Dances

Ghoomar Dance

Bhavai Dance

Gair Dance

Chari Dance

Colourful Rajasthan tour

2010-04-05T22:46:00.000-07:00

If any body wants to shaken up the senses then there is not a second option like to visit Rajasthan. There is so much variety in the state that people get overwhelmed by its culture, co lour, people, architecture and history. Not only the Indians but tourists all over the world longs to explore the land of rajas. A trip to this land of Royal Rajas give the life a new experience.

Rajasthan is a fascinating state in the north of India. The vast desert, majestic Aravalli, Forts and palaces, lush green and varied wild life and lots of fairs and festivals have made the state an unique one. The different cities of the state display different back ground. The famous cities of the state are Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Pushkar and a few more. Rajasthan is full of festivals. And the different festivals show the different aspect of Rajasthan. Infact the different festivals of Rajasthan are the splendid opportunity to acquire an insight in to the life of Rajasthasn. The various colourful festivals of Rajasthan are Pushkar Fair, Pushkar, Desert Festival, Jaisalmer, Elephant Festival, Jaipur, Gangaur Festival, Marwar Festival, Jodhpur, Camel Festival, Bikaner, Teej Festival, Jaipur, Nagaur Fair, Nagau, Baneshwar Fair, Baneshwar, Mewar Festival, Udaipur, Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer, Summer Festival, Mount Abu. And these signifies the rich culture of Rajasthan. The different festivals of Rajasthan display different colour and beliefs of life.

Music, dance, puppet show of Rajasthan are world famous. A trip to the any of the cities of Rajasthan shows their love of music. Every where in the evening the favourite pastime is music. Since the inception it has been observed that the people of Rajasthan has great love for music even in the famous palaces and forts of Rajasthan had great arrangements for them. Speaking about the forts and palaces, these are majestic. The famous forts and palaces of Rajasthan are - Amber Fort, Junagarh Fort, Mehrangarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jaisalmer Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort. Palaces are - Jai Mahal Palace - Jaipur, Lake Palace Udaipur, Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel Jodhpur, Lalgarh Palace Bikaner. All the forts and Palaces spell the saga of Rajput and Mughal.

A tour to Rajasthan includes so many things that tourists never get boared. One such never miss activity in Rajasthan is camel safari in Thar Desert. It is an amaizing experience. People get spell bound after such safari. Rajasthan is also known as shoper's delight. The handi crafts, artificial jewelery, fabrics everything are very unique and colourful.There is no denying the fact that in a trip to the Rajasthan people can taste every colour of life along with the mouth watering dishes of that region.

Organic farming in the Sekhwati region.

2010-03-19T03:46:00.000-07:00

Famous for Havelis and Mensions Sekhwati in Rajasthan is becoming famous for its organic food. Spread over 1,3784 sq km in Sekhwati comprising the districts of Jhunjhunu, Nawalgarh, Sikar, Churu and portions of Mandawa and Nagaur. Nearly 15000 farmers in the region have opted organic farming which will cut over head costs and improve the quality of food.

The interesting fact is that the farmers are not only selling their products across the country but also supplying these organic spices and vegetables to the different havelis-turned tourist resorts in the region. More over this flourishing farming has encouraged the farmers to set up rural tourist resorts made of thatched huts and nature trails. This has really done a great help to the tourism department to to satisfy the increasing number of tourists. These resort provide a homely atmosphere along with pure food. The charge of these resorts between Rs.475 and Rs.500 for a night, depending on the kind of huts the tourist opt for.

Organic farming has shown a new light to this region. The farmers have been introduced to the foreign buyers through internet by the foundation which trained them. And this has really made their livelihood more sustainable. The head of Rural Research Foundation Kamal Morarka told that they realized that the cost of inputs was lower than conventional farming and the production was better so they encouraged the farmers to cultivate and sell organic products through a separate company - a Morarka retail outlet,"

The farmers are growing there organic summer vegetables like corn, brinjals, tomatoes, radish, cabbages, chillis, onions, carrots, gram, coriander, wheat, mustard, and different spices and bajra. They are also trying to increase the soil fertility for crops by using vermi-compost, cow urine, neem, leaf extracts of plants like okra, dhatura (native flowers) and asafoetida. Rural Research Foundation found that the farmers save up to 30 percent by growing their vegetables and grain organically. Every year new farmers are registering themselves for organic farming and since 6 years 30,000 farmers in Rajasthan have switched to organic farming. Simultaneously the tourism sector in that region is flourishing with pure platter.

Barmer

2009-08-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

Founded by Maharaja Bahada Rao in the 13^th century, Barmer is a small town yet unbelievably lively. Even though this town experience harsh climate and a tough geographic feature, still people carry on with their life without any fuss. Barmer is popular for rich traditional crafts, dances and music. Wood carving, pottery, carpets, intricate embroidery work, block printed fabrics and multi- hued traditional costumes are some of the popular items found in this tiny town. Folk music of Barmer is quite mystic and will have soothing effect on you. The Bhopas or priest singers who are found in large number at Barmer, composes music paying tribute to deities of area and the war heroes.

Another popular folk musician of area belongs to a community known as Muslim Dholis(drummers) who earn their livelihood from music. This town was an important trade route during old days. While on a tour in Barmer, visitors can observe rural Rajasthani villages with mud-walled houses embellished with folk motifs and colourfully dressed villagers. Numerous fairs and festivals are held through out the year in Barmer. The most popular of them is Tilwara cattle fair which is held every year in the month of March at Tilwara village located near the bank of river Luni.

Main Attractions

Barmer is laced with some interesting tourist attractions. Each of these tourists site tells tale of their own which will mesmerize the visitors.

Chintamani Parasnath Jain Temple: Situated in the western part of Barmer, this temple offers breathtaking sight of area as it is perched atop the hill. Built around 12^th century this temple is devoted to Jain Tirthankara Parasvanath. The most unique part of this temple are various decorative paintings that encompasses the interiors of the complex.

Siwana Fort: Located at a distance of 151 km this fort was built by popular Panwar ruler Raja Bhoj's son Veernarayan. Though with time this fort has been damaged a lot, still it house a beautiful pond within the complex. It is believed that Delhi sultanate Alauddin Khilji cornered this fort in the 14^th century but meet with stiff resistance from the local ruler.

Kiradu Ancient Temple: Situated in the Hathma village, the inscription of this ancient temple dates back to 1161 A.D. The inscription describes that Kiradu was once known as Kiratkoop and used to be the capital of Panwara dysnasty.

Nakoda Temple: Parshvanath temple of Nakoda is considered to be one of the important Jain teerth centres of India. This teerth is always teemed with the pilgrims through out the year. Situated atop the high hill, there is a black stone image of Jain saint Parshvanath and idol of Shri Parshwanath Bhagwan. These images are very attractive and followers believe they posses magical power. It is a popular believe here that this temple was built some 2300 years ago by a twin brothers namely Veersen and Nakorsen.

Other than these, Barmer has many more interesting tourist attractions to offer. Innumerable number of interesting and surprising tourist attractions awaits you in this sleep town of Rajasthan.

Desert Festival of Jaisalmer

2009-07-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

Desert which is the beautiful creation of nature has always mesmerized people. This festival held every year in the month of February in the majestic city of Jaisalmer celebrate the spirit of desert. Numerous cultural events, camel race, turban tying competitions are held during this festival. Desert city Jaisalmer comes alive during this festival and artists like charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers flock the city. The rich tradition and culture of Rajasthan is displayed to the outside world during this festival. People dance to the foot tapping performance from local artists and they hum folk ballads of valor, romance and tragedy.

The most attractive part of this festival is sound and light show in the midst of sand dunes of Jaisalmer. Mesmerizing Jaisalmer fort form magical background to the desert festival. This festival is a celebration of Rajasthan's traditional arts and creative crafts. The beautiful golden sand of Thar desert is the added attraction of this festival. This three day event attracts number of foreign tourists who want to explore as much of Rajasthani culture in few days. Desert festival specially focuses on local cultures and heritage with folk song and dance taking central stage.

Main Attractions
Jaisalmer wear a festive look in the days before and during the desert festival. The majestic 12th century Jaisalmer fort built using yellow sandstone forms the brilliant background for this festival. In the last few years this festival has become quite popular with the tourists which include many foreigner. This festival offers once in a lifetime opportunity for the tourist to get closer glance of Rajasthani culture.

Even though this is basically a performing art festival, various other events also take place. Music is key to this festival. Most of the cultural and musical performance take place in evening time. The whole atmosphere lighten up as artists starts belting amazing traditional music. The sound of desert drum echoes to far flung desert land .

In day time, visitors will get chance to see various traditional craft work of Rajasthani people. Traditional items like embroidered skirts, hand-woven shawls, rugs, carving work of wood and stone, leather bags, ethnic silver jewellery grace the market of Jaisalmer during this festival. The last day of festival take place in the famous sam sand dunes during full moon night. Moustache competition held during desert festival is very popular among the tourists. The longest and best maintained moustache is declared as winner. Many tourists queue up to take pictures with the winner. There is also an interesting competition for the best dressed camel. Camel owner fight out to win this coveted award.

Heritage of Rajasthan

2009-07-23T02:38:00.000-07:00

Heritage and Rajasthan have often been quite synonymous with each other. The state is home to many mesmerizing historical monuments situated in every region. They are the proud legacy of former Rajput rulers of state. Each region are repleted with forts, palaces and havelis. They are the showpiece of the architectural brilliance of Rajput rulers. The most interesting fact about these monuments is that some legend are associated with all of them. It is believed that former royals were found of lavish and grand lifestyle. These historical monuments are the fine reflection of their personality and lifestyle.

Even though majority of monuments generally reflect lifestyle of former rulers, some of them were built for defense, religious and accommodation purposes. Few of the monuments were built by the rulers out of their jealousy to outshine other king. While most of these monuments are located in the famous cities, some of them can be found in the remote areas too. These lesser known destinations are slowly attracting large number of travelers from across the world. Most of the monuments have been built with mixture of Mughal and Rajput architecture. Some of the Rajput rulers had cordial relation with the Mughal king and were quite inspired by their architecture.

Popular Heritage destinations

Rajasthan is often referred as the land of forts and palaces. The state is laced with some awe-inspiring historical monuments. If we begin the count of these monuments it will never end. Every region and city has some inspiring historical monuments under its belly. The most prominent heritage vacation destinations of Rajasthan are Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bikaner, etc. State capital Jaipur is one of the most famous heritage destinations of India. Fascinating monument which shadow this city are Hawa Mahal, City palace complex, Jaigarh Fort, Amber fort, Jantar Mantar, etc.

Udaipur often termed as lake city is another happening heritage destination of state. City palace, Lake palace, Jag Mandir palace, Sajjangarh fort and Jagdish temple are few of the famous heritage attractions of Udaipur. It was from Udaipur that the concept of heritage hotel started. Lake palace , Jag Niwas palace and Rangniwas palace are the popular heritage hotel of this city. In the last few years lesser known place like Chittorgarh has emerged as an important heritage destination. This town is home to many charismatic heritage enticement like Chittorgarh fort, Rana Kumbh palace, Padmini palace and many more. Cities like Jaisalmer and Jodhpur are the legendary heritage destination of Rajasthan.

The Lake Palace-Udaipur

2009-06-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Lake city Udaipur is one of the most popular travel attraction of the Rajasthan. Replenished with some bewitching forts and palaces, Udaipur has emerged from nowhere to become the most sought after tourist destination of India. This place has amazing landscape with many beautiful lakes adding to its beauty. Known all over the world as a alluring romantic destination, this city houses some fascinating monuments like Lake palace, City palace, Jag Mandir Palace, etc. Among all, the most popular one is The Lake Palace located in the middle of Pichola lake at Jag Niwas Island. It covers an area of 1.5 hectare and was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in the year 1743. This palace which was initially used as summer retreat by the royal family has now been converted into a heritage hotel.

This palace was built on a four acres of natural rock foundation. Located in the midst of beautiful Pichola lake, this magical palace arises like white marble from the deep ocean. This palace is a shining example of the architectural brilliance of former Rajput ruler of Udaipur. Lake palace has a beautiful courtyards which include columns, pillared terraces, fountains and gardens, all adding to the beauty of this awe-inspiring monument. With cool breeze accompanying you and silent noise of water waves reaching your eyes, visit to Lake palace is something which will remain etched in your memory forever.

Main Attraction of palace
Lake palace is considered to be one of the most beautiful palace of India. The beauty and aura surrounding this palace has wooed many tourists from all over the world. This majestic palace has now been converted into a luxurious heritage hotel. It has 83 rooms which include 53 deluxe rooms and 17 special suites. These rooms and suites have been aesthetically designed with each of them given particular theme and adorn with traditional handicrafts and textiles of the region. Former royal banquet rooms have now been converted to reception rooms, bars and restaurants. This palace has been divided into various apartments like Bada Mahal, Khush Mahal, Sajjan Niwas, Phool Mahal and Dhola Mahal.

Other than this, Lake palace hotel has all the basic modern facilities. It offers several facilities like swimming pool, conference hall and bars. There's Internet connectivity, workstations, multimedia computers, etc. You can enjoy the best of Indian and Continental cuisines at Neel Kamal restaurant located inside the Lake palace. It is the most popular restaurant of hotel and is always teemed with the visitors. They also provide Royal spa facility. Apart from these facilities, it is the sheer history and aura surrounding this magical palace which draws tourists from both India as well as abroad. No doubt, it is the most famous romantic hotel of the world.

Jodhpur – The Blue City

2009-04-15T03:59:00.000-07:00

Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination of Rajasthan featuring many palaces, forts and temples. City was founded by Rao Jodha in the year 1459. Old Jodhpur city is surrounded by 10 km long boundary wall which was constructed 100 years after the city was founded.
Jodhpur is also known as the Blue City because of the indigo tinge of whitewashed houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. City offers large number of tourist spots. Some of the must visit sites of Jodhpur are Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhavan Palace, Jaswant Thada, Raj Ranchhodji Temple and Umed Garden.

Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh fort is located on 125 m high hill. It is one of the largest forts of India. Mehrangarh fort reminds of the royal past of the Rajput. There are several attractions inside the fort like palaces, galleries, museum and temples.
Jaswant Thada
Jaswant Thada is located near to the Mehrangarh Fort. Royal cenotaph made up of white marble, Jaswant Thada was built in 1899 in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Grand structure of Umaid Bhawan Palace was built for the purpose of giving employment to the people during the long draught which struck Jodhpur during early 20th century. Construction of the palace started in the year 1929 and took 15 years to complete. Today the palace has been converted into a Heritage hotel, however, royal family still resides in one part of the palace.
Balsamand Lake
Balsamand lake is a man made lake, located 7 km from Jodhpur and is a popular picnic spot. It was built in 1159 A.D. Adjacent to the lake there is palace called Balsamand Palace which was built by Maharaja Umaid Singh. Today, Balsamand Palace is a heritage hotel.

Accommodation in Jodhpur
Jodhpur has large number hotels, resorts and guest houses which suit tourists of every budget. There are many heritage hotels which offer royal accommodation with all the modern day facilities and amenities. There are many budget hotels which offer low budget accommodation in Jodhpur city.

Shopping in Jodhpur
Shopping in Jodhpur is an exciting and rewarding experience. City is famous for handicrafts in wood, iron and camel bone. Sadar Market of Jodhpur is the ideal place for buying the handicraft items made by the skilled craftsmen of the region. One can buy Rajasthani textiles, clay figurines, miniature camels and elephants, marble inlay work and classic silver jeweleries.

How To Reach
Air
Jodhpur airport has regular domestic flights from Delhi, Agra, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur. Airport is about 5 km from the city.
Rail
Jodhpur is well connected by rail from all parts of the country. There is train service for all the major cities of India from Jodhpur.
Road
Road transport corporation of Rajasthan runs buses from Jodhpur for all the cities and towns of Rajasthan.

Jain Temples of Ranakpur

2009-03-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

Ranakpur is a small town located in the valleys of Aravalli ranges. Ranakpur is 90 km or 2 hour drive from Udaipur in Rajasthan. Jain temple complex is the main highlight of the Ranakpur town. It is one of the five most revered Jain pilgrim destination in India. The temple attracts thousands of visitors from all over India and world.
These temples were constructed during the period of Rana Kumbha in 15th century. Rana Kumbha donated vast stretch of land to business man Dhanna Shah to realize his dream of contructing a huge temple.
Temple complex is enclosed by a strong wall. Chaumukha temple is the main temple of the complex and is dedicated to Tirthankar Rishabdeoji. Chaumukha temple has a four-faced statue of Rishabdeoji in the inner sanctum. There are four more shrines in the temple having vast halls of 24 pillars and 8 domes which is supported by more than 400 columns. There are 1444 columns in the temple which are intricately carved and the amazing thing about them is that not even two are same. Construction of the temple is very complex with four entrances which leads to the chambers inside. Design of the temple is so complex that it took more than 60 years to complete.
There are two more temples worth visiting in the complex, Parsavanath temple and Sun (Surya) temple. Also, there is a temple dedicated to Amba mata in the complex area. Sun temple has an exquisitely carved idol of Sun God in a chariot driven by seven horses.
There are some more Jain temples nearby Ranakpur. The Muchhal Mahavira temple in Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary is a famous Jain temple having a massive statue of Lord Mahavira with a moustache. Jain Golden temple is another temple near to Ranakpur in Falna town.

Palace on Wheels

2009-03-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

Palace on Wheels is one among the 10 most luxurious trains in the world. Train starts from Delhi and covers the tourist destinations of the royal state of Rajasthan along with Agra. This journey offers the real taste of royalty which was once reserved only for the Kings and the high officials of the British empire. Palace on wheels is one of the best ways to explore the incredible and royal land of Rajasthan.
There are 14 saloons with each having 4 luxurious cabins. Each saloon of the train are named after the princely states of Rajasthan – Jaipur, Jodhpur, Alwar, Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, Dungarpur, Dholpur, Bharatpur, Jaisalmer, Sirohi, Bikaner, Udaipur and Kishangarh. Palace on wheels has two restaurants on board offering traditional Indian and Continental cuisine. Palace on Wheels is not only about enjoying royal luxuries of the past but also about all the modern facilities one can think of. Train offers all the facilities of a 5 star hotel.

Journey
Palace on Wheels journey starts from Delhi Cantonment station taking you through some of the exotic destinations of Rajasthan. At each of the destinations, a luxury air conditioned coach takes you to explore the attractions of the place. Attractions include the gorgeous creations of the nature as well as man himself. You will see grand forts, beautiful palaces, exquisitely carved temples and havelis which reminds of the royal past of the state. Also, enjoy exploring the wildlife of the state in the forests and wetlands of Rajasthan.
To know more about the attractions of Rajasthan visit Rajasthan tour.

Camel Safari in Rajasthan

2009-03-05T04:24:00.000-08:00

Rajasthan and camel are complementary to each other. It is called the ship of the desert. It is Rajasthan, which invites the tourists to feel the adventure of the camel safari. It is very much popular in Rajasthan to explore the desert land. The most popular place in Rajasthan to explore by camel safari are sands of the boundless Thar Desert and lucid countryside. The camel safari in Rajasthan offers an awesome view of the sand, forts, villages and colourful people.

Safari at the top of the desert ship is most adventurous and exciting. It is really a great rendezvous to explore the Thar desert by camel. It is also a best opportunity to explore the prohibited areas of the desert. These are very much convenient to travel the vast desert miles and miles . The experiences that one gather during the camel safari are really a part of the more treasure memories. The sights you can view like the golden land far and far as the eye can see. The dazzling yellow sand looks like the ocean of gold. On the other hand in the country side you can relish the the pictures like herd of animals roaming purposelessly, kids trotting off to school while the colourful women preparing the food on a dung fire. You can even try the traditional Rajasthani food from the rural kitchen. The hospitality of the Rajasthani people always pull you back to visit them again and again.

In Rajasthan the popular camel safari available in places like - Bikaner
Jaisalmer
Jodhpur
Shekhawati region, and
Pushkar

There are itineraries of 2 to 7 days can be arranged covering near about. 40-50 kms a day on camel. These can be planned in the region of Bikaner, Khimsar, Osian and Jaisalmer. Nights halts are usually given near the village to provide opportunities to mingle with the local village folks and to provide insight to the traditional way of their life and culture.

Note :Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation arranges the camel safari on request from Delhi and Jaipur during Nagaur Fair and Desert Festival.

Elephant festival Jaipur

2009-02-23T01:21:00.000-08:00

Every year in the month of March on the occasion of Holi the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur celebrates the majestic occasion of elephant festival. Rows of elephants decorated flawlessly do a catwalk before the en thrilled audience. This festival is held one day before the holi and starts with beautiful procession of different animals like elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. The elephants are decorated with colourful jhools and jewellery. The female elephants are made to wear anklets and they tinkle as they walk. People sprinkle gulal as the animals walk. These sights are really treat to one's eyes.

The venue of the festival is the famous Chaugan ground of Jaipur. There are competitions are held to enjoy the event fullest. It is the festival of elephants so they are engaged in different races, polo matches, tug of war and exciting fights. The tug of war between men and elephants make people spell bound. Folk dances and music also entertain the tourists. This elephant festival revives the royalty of Jaipur. The elephant festival something different and unusual and surely a special treat to the tourists.

So if you are in Jaipur during Holi, do not miss the opportunity to witness the grand festival. It shows the another colour of the land Rajasthan.

Elephant festival in 2009 - 10th March.

Heritage Hotels in Rajasthan

2009-02-04T04:02:00.000-08:00

Who does not like Royal treatment...and yes this can be received in the heritage hotels of Rajasthan. Rajasthan was a land of Royal Rajputs. The palaces and havelies of the royal past still exist. Some of theme are converted in to heritage hotels. The whole Rajasthan is spotted with such royal hotels where you can pamper yourself with royalty which is blended with latest modern amenities.

Since time immemorial, Rajasthan has been the land of the Kings and brave man. Their love for beauty and sense of classic art is reflected in the architecture of the palaces. Which are now heritage hotels. There are numerous luxurious heritage hotels in Rajasthan. The stay of any of these hotels is much more than a simple holiday. It is one of a kind experience, where you can imitate the life style of Maharaja.
Spreaded over miles of golden sand these heritage hotels stand as a testimonial to the grandure and glory of the bygon era. All the heritage hotels are meticulously planned and redone to cater the need of the tourists. These are perfect option to feel the place. The lavish style and rustic background along with warm hospitality the heritage hotels of Rajasthan give an unforgettable impression on the travelers mind.
Since your welcome in to the heritage hotels you will feel special. One attender will be there to attend you with colourful costume. You will be amazed by the fuurniture, murals, and decors that tell the story of the bygone era.
So get ready to live a life of Royal style in the heritage hotels of Rajasthan. You can choose your stay from the innumerable heritage hotels. Some are like -Rambagh Palace Jaipur, Royal Castle, Hotel Gorbandh Palace Jaisalmer, Shiv Niwas Palace Udaipur, Lallgarh palace Bikaner and many more. It should mention here that these heritage hotels are so popular among the foreigners that some of the famous people made these heritage hotels as the venue for their wedding.

Pilgrimage trip to Rajasthan

2009-01-16T02:07:00.000-08:00

Incredible India really !...every part of it is so rich in culture and tradition that it is just unbelievable. The colourful vibrant Rajasthan has so much things to offer that tourists some times get confused that which theme of the state is to be explored. So today I have decided to pick the topic of pilgrimage tour to Rajasthan. Rajasthan is such a state that one can get everything there. Every facets of life can be explored in this state.

Once the land of Rajput, Rajasthan has history of bravery, war, forts, palaces and similarly it has great religious importance. Tourists around the globe come for a pilgrimage tours in Rajasthan for eternal bliss. The important places are -

Shrinathji Temple – Just 48 Km from Udaipur this famous temple of Lord Krishna is located. Here in the temple an unique image of Lord Krishna is enshrined. The image has been sculpted in one piece of black marble. Devotees find it is an irresistible place to visit across the enchanting lakes of Udaipur.

Ranakpur Jain Temple – Ranakpur of Rajasthan is famous for its 15 th century Jain Temple which has been covered by a wall. It is an important religious place for the tourists since ages.

Brahma Temple Pushkar – The one and only Brahma temple in India is in Pushkar. A very beautiful place nestled in the Aravalli hills is an important Hindu pilgrimage center. It is believed that devotees take dip in the lake of Pushkar to wash away the sins. This place hosts the famous Pushkar fair every year in the month of November which accommodates lacs of tourists across the world.

Govind Dev Ji Temple, Jaipur – Though Jaipur is famous for many temples but one of them is Govind Dev Ji Temple where Lord Krishna is worshiped by the Royal Family of Jaipur. Various religious pro grammes are performed during Krishna Janmasthami.

The Karni Mata temple – Just 30 km from Bikaner the famous karni mata temple is located which is believed to be the reincarnation of Goddess Durga. The specialty of the temple is that it is inhabited by brown rats. There are so many of rats that one has to look before step. Spotting a white a rat is considered auspicious in the temple.

Dilwara Temple, Mount Abu – Known for its architectural mastery the Dilwara Jain Temple is world famous. It is considered an classical example of piece of art.

Dargarh Sharif, Ajmer – The Dargarh of Ajmer is an important pilgrimage centre not only for the Muslims but also people from other religion pay their homage there.

It is not easy task to describe all the religious place of Rajasthan because the state is spotted with so many pilgrimage centre. Others temples like Shri Ramdev Temple, Rishabdevji Temple, Eklingji Temple, Prashvanath Temple, Shri Mahavirji Temple, Osian are world famous. The versatile Rajasthan is known mainly for its forts, palaces, culture, music, fair and festivals, people, cuisines, art and craft and also possesses a great religious importance too.

Pushkar Fair Tour

2008-12-16T20:55:00.000-08:00

Pushkar - a small town in Rajasthan become the host for world famous camel fair every year. People around the globe come here to witness the famous fair. Every year full moon of November marks the beginning of the Pushkar fair. The tranquil land of Brahma becomes loud and vibrant with local music, dance, colour, animals and other activities. This fair lasts for seven days and starts 5 days before the Karthik Poornima or full moon night. Pushkar has great religious importance. It is said that the reason behind this big gatheration in Pushkar during this time is to take dip in the holy lake of Pushkar and washed away the sin. Pushkar is such a place where the only Brahma temple located. It is customary to float earthen lamp on the water of the lake. The famous lake look amazingly stunning with the burning lamps.
During the festival the whole Pushkar gets a new look. The small calm town gets packed with camel and other animals, traders and beautiful tourists and artist. It becomes a big mystical land. The narrow roads of Pushkar become the home of the variety fancy stores of artificial jewelry, food stalls and other interesting stuffs. Woman in the fair keep less interest in trading and they are fascinated by silver ornaments, hair pin, bangles and other accessories, tie n die and garment patch work. And the tattoo stall gives the woman a mark of beauty. All the women definitely make tattoos. People from all the parts of Rajasthan join in the festival with their local cultures like dance , music, puppet show etc. Pushkar is Rajasthan under one roof during the fair.
The description of Pushkar fair will be incomplete without mentioning the activities that the camels do. The trading actually begins before 5 days of the Karthik Poornima. On that full moon day trading is over and actual count down for fun and frolic starts.Camels become very fashionable those days. Thehaughty master of the newly purchased camels decorate their camels with beautiful bead ornaments. Scarf, hand made saddle to fit the hump and make them ready for the show, like musical chair, camel race and most thrilling event is the 'laadoo oonth' shows how much weight the camel can carry. Those games are really fascinating. Pushkar Fair in India is an artistic affair. Directors, musician, poets, Singers assemble here to catch the artistry and tourist assemble here to see a different view of Life.
Tourists cam make a plan to visit the Pushkar Fair along with other places of Rajasthan like Jaipur, Ajmeer, Jodhpur, Ranak Pur and Udaipur. Pushkar is just 11 km far off from Ajmeer. The Dargha of Ajmeer is world famous and people come here to pray Allah to fulfill their wishes. Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur fascinate the tourists with majestic forts. The state Rajasthan itself is a very cultured and colourful state. A visit to such beautiful places along with Pushkar Fair will be a added advantage to the visitors who want to explore the beautiful land.

Famous cities of Rajasthan

2008-12-01T01:28:00.000-08:00

Rajasthan, the land of Rajas, is one of the famous tourist spots in India. Its majestic monuments, tell the story of a bygone era. Rajasthan attracts people for its colorful culture, rich heritage, vast desert, shining sand, lush forest and varied wildlife. Men with gaudy turban and women with long Ghagra choli always keep the land lively

The Famous Cities

The state Rajasthan consists of some interesting places like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Mount Abu and many more.

Jaipur – The Pink City

The capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur, it is the gate way of the exotic Rajasthan. This place is called Pink city as all the buildings, houses are painted with pink hue. Jaipur is a blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture. It is an interesting city with many historical forts. Highlights of the city includes Amber fort &palace, Hawa Mahal, Birla Temple, City Palace Museum. Rajasthani handi craft, jewellary, rajasthani fabric draw special attention of the tourist and these things can be seen in the market of Jaipur on reasonable rates.

Jodhpur

The city of Jodhpur stands on the edge of the Thar desert. It is a very nice city with a mixture of tradition and modernity. Mehrangarh Fort of the Jodhpur is one of the famous forts. It is an army and an airforce station also. Jodhpur boast for its 1st class pologround.

Udaipur

Udaipur is called the Venice of the East for its enchanting lakes. It is the most romantic city of the Rajasthan with its magnificient fort, beautiful garden and mesmerizing Lake Palace. Udaipur is famous for its miniature painting.

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer, the city of the desert lovers, is called the yellow city for its yellow sand stone buildings. The camel ride on the Thar desert of Jaisalmer is an incomparable adventure. It is the paragon of colourful culture and harsh climatic condition. Together, these two leave a lasting impression on the travellers. The nights in winter in Jaisalmer desert is equally chilled and thrilled. Desert festival is one of the main festival of Jaisalmer. In the month of January or February, the Department of Tourism organizes this fair. The Rajasthani men and women, with their colourful costumes and traditional folk music, make the land of sand vibrant.

Ajmer-Pushkar

Ajmer is another frequently visited city of Rajasthan. It is surrounded by the Aravalli hill and is the land of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The Dargah of Ajmer is world famous, people from around the world come to pay homage to the Dargah. Near by Ajmer is Pushkar, a small and beautiful place with great landscape. This place boasts of having the one and only Brahma temple in the world. Pushkar is famous for its annual cattle fair. Pushkar is a shopper's delight, the beautiful jewelery, embroidered fabric and decorative items are high on the list of shoppers.

Talking about the places of Rajasthan is never ending, Mount Abu, Shekhawati, Ranthambore are some other places of interest there.

The people of Rajasthan are very friendly. They are physically and mentally very strong people. They treat their tourist with love and respect. Dal bati churma are some of the traditional food of Rajasthan. Rajasthan, nevertheless is mixture of tradition and modernity but they are alligned to their traditional values. Its rich vibrant culture, folk music, architectural mastery never fail to invite the people again and again.

Getting There

Rajasthan is well connected from the major parts of India. It is one of the largly visited state of India.

Lodging

Lodging in Rajasthan is very much comfortable. One can take the pleasure of staying in royal palaces, desert camp, or different types of hotels depending upon ones pocket.

To have detail idea about the famous cities of Rajasthan visit

http://www.rajasthanindia.com/cities-of-rajasthan/

Amber Fort

2008-10-29T00:45:00.000-07:00

The ethereal example of royal architecture is best displayed in the delicate, magnificent, pink fort palace of Amber. It rises from a rocky mountainside about 11 km northeast of Jaipur and is one of the main tourists' attractions in Rajasthan. This fort is among the best hill top forts in India.

The interior of the fort is stunningly beautiful and captivating whereas exterior is imposing and rugged. The Maota lake in the foreground adds an illusionary effect. The first exciting thing in the fort is its ramp which takes tourists to the palace. This can be climbed up by jeep or elephants. There are numbers of elephants which carry visitors to and fro the fort and the ride is really exciting.

Attractions of the Fort.
Once we enter in the fort the view is panoramic. The main entry from Suraj Pol takes to the Jaleb Chowk, the main courtyard. Just right to it is Kali temple a beautiful temple made by Raja Man Singh.

Diwan – i – Aam and Diwan –i- Khas display the beautiful Rajput and Mughal architecture. In Diwan – i – Aam (hall of public audience) the maharaja held audience and received petitions of his subject. Diwan – i- Khas (hall of private audience), sukh Niwas, Jai Mandir and Jas mandir are famous for their mirror work, murals and carving.
Ganesg Pol is another imposing gate way decorated with mosaic and sculpture with typical Rajasthani tinge.

Another attractions of the fort is the old Amber palace. It lies at the base of the Jaigarh Fort. The remains here tells the story of bygone era.

The zenana around the fourth courtyard are cleverly designed so that the Maharaja could embark on his nocturnal visits to his wives and concubines' respective chambers without the others knowing.

It should be mentioned here that the fort was initiated by Raja Man Singh and completed by Jai Singh and thus it shows beautiful Rajput and Mughal architecture.
Jaipur attracts tourists across the globe and Amber Fort is something which they never miss in any of the Rajasthan tour.

Getting there.
There are frequent buses to Amber from near the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. Plenty of auto rickshaw and taxis are available from Jaipur town to get there.

Night trip in the Pink City

2008-10-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

The Pink city, Jaipur is always an interesting place for the tourists. The night trip in this famous city is as royal as the city itself. The night life of Jaipur is comparatively quiet than the other cities. Like the 'Rajas' or kings, the inhabitants of Jaipur like to spend their night life with music and dance but not in any discotheque. People of Jaipur love to enjoy their evening by listening to music and watching puppet shows and traditional dance. Rajasthani folk dance, puppet show are world famous and for the music lovers it is the evening of Jaipur which gives its proper satisfactions.

Raj Mandir in Jaipur is one of the famous theater which presents excellent night shows and this is one of the famous attractions of Jaipur night life. For the band lovers Ram Niwas Bagh is an interesting place in Jaipur to enjoy music. Tourists can enjoy Indian classical plays in Jawahar kala Kendra and Rabindra Manch. In a word, the night life of Jaipur is classical. People can enjoy the night life to its fullest extent in Choki dhani , 5 km from Jaipur. It is an ethnic village resort with rustic touch where one can enjoy the traditional Rajasthani food, stay in mud hut and experience a totally different life from usual urban style.

This is the traditional side of the night life of Jaipur but for the discotheque lovers, nothing to worry. Though not many but the city has some lavish and happening pubs and bars of the world where one can dance with excellent Djs. Some of the palaces of Jaipur have been turned into hotels and bars which give a world class feeling.

After visiting the magnificent monuments and and rich architectural fort at the day time the night life of Jaipur is very soothing. It makes one feel that we are in that era.
At the night trip to pink city one should make a visit to the babu bazar where display of embossing meena work, pearl and gems pull you to make your pocket light.

The palace turned hotels are excellent place for night stay. Though the hotels are easily available but to be on safer side prior booking is must.

Mount Abu Winter Festival

2008-01-08T04:13:00.000-08:00

Winter is thrill for the desert state of Rajashtan as people get respite from hot summers. For enjoying the winters at its best, Rajasthan organizes several fairs and festivals across the state. In Rajasthanfestive season in winters starts with the world famous Pushkar fair in November, in which thousands of people participate. Winter Festival of Mount Abu is another important festival of Rajasthan and celebrated in last week of December. Like previous years this year too, the festival was celebrated with great pomp and gaiety.

Thousands of people visit Mount Abu from various parts of the country to participate in the winter festival. During the festival a number of cultural and fun-filled events are organized. In fact, the festival provides a good opportunity to witness Rajasthan’s rich tribal life and culture. Artists from Rajasthan and states of Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana present their traditional dance performances here. Gair, Ghoomar and Daph are some of the famous folk dance forms presented by the artists. During the three day festival, the evening is made brighter by a display of dazzling fire works.

People also participate in the famous ceremony of Deepdaan and they float colourful diyas on the Nakki lake. One get mesmerized by the picturesque sight of series of lighted diyas floating across the lake. Water sports are other attractions of the winter festival. During the festival rowing competitions are organized on the Nakki lake.

My Trip to Magical Land of Rajasthan

2007-06-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

Whenever I feel lonely or disgusted with my daily busy routine, I extract myself out from the barriers of my home and proceed on a short trip to rejuvenate my senses with fresh energy. Recently, I visited Rajasthan, a state of India, which is popularly known as the "Place of Rajput Warriors". When I reached Rajasthan I found the state many times beautiful than my expectations. Each and everywhere I found distinct qualities of sculptural art that flourished in the palaces, forts and royal halls, constructed at different times by the great rulers. In addition to these, the warm friendly people and their life style and the rich and varied culture of Rajasthan fascinated me a lot. Besides, the warm welcome that I received from local people enthralled me a lot.

Cities I Visited in Rajasthan

On my 10 days trip to this historical state, I visited various charming destinations of Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Ajmer-Pushkar etc. I am feeling glad to share the details of my visits to those cities here with you people.

Jaipur : I commenced my journey from the capital city of Jaipur, which is famous as, ‘Pink City’. The local people made me acknowledged about this fact that the name of the city is as such because here each and every house, office and institution are coloured in pink hue. The splendid architectural grandeur of Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Man Singh Palace and the serenity of Jagat Shiromani Temple spellbound me totally. Beside, I came across a marvellous blending of the Mughal and Rajput cultures in Jaipur city which add more to my vacationing experience.

Jodhpur : After passing two days in Jaipur, I set out for Jodhpur by a car that was provided by my tour operator. I heard from the common folk that this city is known as the ‘Sun City’. The impressive and formidable structure of the ‘Mehrangarh Fort’ gave me the idea about the defensive steps partaken by the Rajput warriors during the mediaeval periods. Apart from that, the rich decorations of the Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, and the Daulat Khana kept me enthralled. The other charming places of Jodhpur I visited were the Jaswant Thada, Girdikot, Sardar Market and the 20th century Umaid Bhawan Palace which filled my travelling mind full of pleasure. I stayed here for one and half day and then started for Bikaner by cab.

Bikaner : When I reached Bikaner, it was already 10 p.m. The desert city was plunged into slumber sleep then. I check into a hotel arranged by my tour operator and elapsed the chilly night comfortably. In the early morning, I went out to visit the famous Junagarh Fort, the Lalgarh Palace and the Gajner Palace. The architectural wealth of these palaces totally surprised me. In the afternoon, I made a trip to the Gajner where the wildlife varieties fascinated me. In the Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum of Bikaner, I found antique collections of different periods of ‘Rajputana History’.

Jaisalmer : My next halt was the desert city of Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer is worldly known as the ‘Yellow City’, due to yellow sand stone buildings. At Jaisalmer, I spent one day and visited the Jaisalmer Fort, Gadsisar Lake, Ludrava and Aakal.The city of Jaisalmer conveyed immense pleasure to me, as I found yellow sand dunes all through and enjoyed the camel safari for the first time in my life here. It’s an adventurous feelings that I can’s share with you better you try it on your own during Rajasthan trip.

Udaipur : The city of Udaipur offered me a warm welcome through its magnificent marble palaces, forts, and conspicuous lakes as well as beautiful gardens. I visited the imposing City Palace, where I found interesting areas like Suraj Gokhada, Sheesh Mahal, Mor Chowk, Zeena Mahal, Darbar Hall etc. Next, the ornamented decorations of the Jagdish Temple and the serene outlook of the Lake Palace mesmerized me a lot.

Ajmer-Pushkar : My last visiting place in Rajasthan was to the city of Ajmer. Later I knew that it is the final resting place of the great Sufi Saint – Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. I paid my homage to Garib Nawaj here and also saw the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra. The Taragarh Fort and the Ana Sagar lake were also the other interesting places of Ajmer where I enjoyed a lot. Next I visited the holy town of Pushkar, which is home to famous Brahma Temple and Pushkar Lake.

Fairs and Festivals

My tour operator earlier told me about the festivals of Rajasthan and advised me to visit Rajasthan during the month of Januray. I am lucky enough that I got a chance to participate in the famous Camel Festival of Bikaner and the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer during my short trip to Rajasthan. Both the cities were highly crowded during the festival days. People from different regions of India and abroad congregated here at this time to enjoy these popular festivals. People from distant villages of Rajasthan arrived at the festival spots along with their homemade earthen wares, and other regional materials to sell them in the fairs. I also collected an ethnic earthen pot from one Solanki girl, which I will keep always a memoir of the trip. Apart from this, I also enjoyed a number of events organized in these festivals.

Life-style of Common people

During my Rajasthan trip I met with a number of local people who were very friendly by nature. As they are bred and brought up in a rough and tough atmosphere, they are very strong both physically and mentally. They still regard themselves as the descendants of the mighty valiant heroes of Rajasthan. I lead a very simple life but they are very diligent and courageous. The rural people of Rajasthan carry on their livelihood through various professions like agriculture, cattle-breeding and pottery.

Special Attraction of My Rajasthan Trip

Camel Safari : Camel safari is the most interesting part of my entire trip to Rajasthan, it was a mind blowing experience for me. I enjoyed a small journey from Jaisalmer desert to Barmer on camel’s back. With the help of the ‘mahaut’ I sat upon the back of the camel. As the camel started to move across the sand dunes, I got an above the world experience. In front of me, there was only the ocean of sand and I felt that I became an ancient Rajput Hero, moving towards war along with my camel squad. Whenever I reminisced about that camel safari, I feel that lively experience sitting thousands of miles away.