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 warriers,
romance and tragedy, glory and chivalry .. the amazing
architecture, that still stands to narrate its tale
of a bygone era. Majestic forts, intricately carved
temples and havelis (meaning mansion) and even step
well make Rajasthan a paradise for an architecture buff.
Rajasthan is culturally rich and has extensive tradition
in art and culture, which reflects Indian way of life.
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.
Tourism
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.
Places
of Tourist Interest
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When to
Go
India's peak tourist
season is from mid-September through March, when the
weather is temperate
Interesting
Fact
The 575-year-old temple
of Karni Devi (one of the nine incarnations of Durga)
has a large number of holy rats called 'Kabas', believed
to be the offsprings of the presiding deity. Located
at Deshnok, 35 km from Bikaner, Rajasthan, this temple
is devoted exclusively to the rats which roam around
freely in the place.
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