Rajasthan Travel and Tourism

#links

2011-05-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

Mohar Magri (Hill of Gold Coins):

2010-12-18T07:51:00.000-08:00

This mound was raised by Akbar in 1557, while he lay seize over Chittaurgarh. It is named so because Akbar paid one mohar (gold coin) for each basketful of earth placed on the mound, as it was a very dangerous work to be accomplished in front of the soldiers guarding the ramparts from above. The mound was raised to such a height that the Mughal cannons could be placed over it and fired inside the fort.

Other important places within the ramparts are, the Tulja Bhawani temple, the tutelary goddess of the scribes, temple of Annapurna, the Naulakha Bhandar or nine lakh treasury; Singar Chauri, Depicting inscription dating back to 1448 AD and Satbis-Deori, in ancient Jain temple, etc.

Customary festival of Rajasthan - Ganguar

2010-10-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

Ganguar is the traditional festival of Rajasthan. This festival is celebrated in the month of April-May. It is basically the festival of maidens and married women and is dedicated to Goddess Gauri, the incarnation of Goddess Parvati. It is celebrated with great excitement, pomp and gaiety. It lasts for about 16 days in which various customs are practiced and on the last day the enthusiasm of the women is likely to be observed. Women dress in their best costumes and jewellery. Colorful processions are taken out with the wooden images of Gauri, beautifully decorated and bejeweled . Maidens expects to blessed to have a desired husband while women pray for the long life of their husband. The town band is played and women sing and dance to its tunes. The erstwhile Maharawal also joins the procession.

DESERT NATIONAL PARK (DNP), JAISALMER

2010-01-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

This sanctuary is situated in the West Indian state of Rajasthan and spread in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan covering an area of about 3100 sq.km. This is one of the largest national parks in India. There are about 72 villages located in the park. The nearest station is Jaisalmer and it can be approached both by train and by road from Jodhour city. Air services via Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Jaipur are also available during winter. The other nearest city is Barmer that is about 150 km from Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer has now become a very popular tourist destination. The famous SAM that is the sand dunes is at the border of desert national park. The Akal wood fossil park at the Akal village is also controlled by DNP.

This park has a tremendous potential to develop itself as a tourist spot. A wonderful example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert could be experienced here. The fauna found here have their own attraction. Besides this the bird life is also spectacular in this sandy region. The birds that are found in this region is: -
• The great Indian Bustard (GIB)(most famous endangered spieces of India)
• Gray partridge
• Quail
• Desert courser
• Tawny Eagle
• Spotted Eagle
• Hawks

Mammals:-over 60 species of mammals have been recorded- Chinkara, Blue Bull (Rozara), Desert cat, Desert Fox, Jackal, Wolf, Hare etc. are the appealing one.

The park is an important tourist centre for the wildlife lovers. The natural beauty of SAM sand dunes and wood fossil park at Akal attracts not only a large number of Indian but foreign tourists also.

Chittaurgarh (The Citadel of Valour & Romance)

2009-12-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

General information :

Famous as         :   The Citadel of Valour & Romance ; The City Of
                                 Fort
Location            :  Eastern Rajasthan , 135km from Jaipur
                                 (southwest )
Temperature    :  Summer - 23.8 °C - 43.8°C,
                                 Winter - 11.6 °C - 28.3 °C,
                                 Rainy Season – 60-80 cm. (June- August)
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Woolens
Language          :   Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Spoken
Best Season       :   September to March
to Visit

Access:

By air                      :   Nearest airport is at Udaipur (Debok Airport),
                                      (Well connected to Jaipur, Delhi , Mumbai and
                                     Calcutta.)
By Train                :   well connected to Delhi,Jaipur,Ajmer,
                                      Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota and
                                     Bundi.Railway station centrally located.
By road                  :   well connected to the main cities including                                       Indore and Ahmedabad. Regular services
                                      are available from main cities of Rajasthan

Visit:

Places to see:

   The Fort -    one of the most outstanding forts of the Country
                          and is indeed the pride of Rajasthan. It is believed
                         to be built by the Maurya Empire.

   Kirti stambh ( Tower of Fame) -   22m high. It is dedicated to
                         Adinath ( the first Jain Tirthankar)

   Jaya Stambh (Tower of Victory)-    Constructed between 1458-
                         1468 by Rana Kumbha.The tower commemorates
                         the victory of Rana Kumbha over Mahmud Khilji
                          of Malwa.

    Padmini Place -   It is said that this is the same palace where
                         Alauddin was permitted to see the glimpse of Rani
                          Padmini (as the reflection in the mirror).

   Nagari -   famous township of Mauryan Era on the bank of river
                         Bairach, one of the oldest town of Rajasthan.

    Government Museum -   This is the Prakash Mahal that has been
                          turned into museum Temples and buildings in the
                          fort displays superb example of sculptures.
    Meera Temple

Excursion:

    Sitamata Sanctuary -   spread over Aravalli hills and the Malwa.
                         A number of fauna as Sambhar, nilgai, leopard, wild
                          boar,hyena, jungle fox etc. could be sighted here.
                         The exclusive fauna seen here is the flying
                         squirrel.

    Menal (90 km) -   renowned as ‘Mini Khajauraho’. Looks
                         beautiful due to the nature’s beauty, waterfalls,
                         forests and ancient temples.

    Deogarh (125km) -    Famous for the murals of the palaces and
                         Jain temples.

    Gotmeshwar (130km) –    Lord’s Shiva ancient temple along with
                         other temples.

    Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary –    near Bassi village covers an area of
                         about 50 kms.

Shopping:

  Famous articles-

              -   The handicraft items made in this region, are very
                         Popular.
               - Wooden painted toys,Thewa gold jewellery, Akola printed                          fabrics, leather juttees (made in Gangrar)
              -   Handmade Paper of Gosunda (about 20 kms)

  Shopping Place

                The main shopping center are Sadar Bazar
                Rana Sanga Market, Gandhi Chowk, Station circle.

   Restaurants:
                Hotel Panna, Chetak Hotel, Melody ,
                Rituraj Vatika, Meera Hotel.

Accomodation:
Government :
         Circuit house ,
         Dak Banglow
         RTDC Hotel Panna

Heritage hotels :
         Castle Bijaipur,
         Bassi Fort Palace,

Moderate :
         Padmini Palace
         Pratap Palace ,
         Chetak,
         Meera,
         Shalimar, Gaurav

Other :
         NataRaj Tourist Hotel , Hotel Alok,
         Hotel Anand, Bhagawati, Swagat,
         Hotel Keshav, Hotel Sanwariya,
         Meera Guest House, Hotel Ruchika.

Dharamsalas :
         Tulsi, Jain, Birla,
         Maheshwari, Sanwariya,

Chittorgarh ‘the town of brave’ was the capital of “Mewar”, the former Rajput state. Many of the great historic personalities as Maharana Pratap, Rana Kumbha, Meera Bai, Panna Dhai, Rani Padmini have been originated here. Besides that its fort which is situated atop of a hill represents its glorious past. It is also known for the marble industry, Cement plant and also for the industrial materials.

PUSHKAR (The Abode of Lord Brahma) Distt. Ajmer (Raj.)

2009-09-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

Pushkar, the picturesque pilgrim city, nestles the majestic Aravali hills. It is just 11 km from Ajmer and a driven from Ajmer to Pushkar is quite
interesting.

General information:

Famous as         :   The Abode of Lord Brahma, Main Pilgrimage
Location            :   Western part of Rajasthan, Ajmer District, 140 km
                                 from Jaipur.
Temperature    :  Summer -25.0°C – 45.0°C,
                                 Winter- 22.0°C – 8.0°,
                                 Rainy Season – Mid Sept (very Humid)
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Light Woolens
Language          :   Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Spoken
Best Season       :   September to March
to Visit

Travel :
By air                      :   Nearest Airport Jaipur.
By Train                :   Nearest Railway station is Ajmer                                       (connected to metro cities of India).
By road                  :   Nearest station Ajmer (11 Km from main                                       bus stand), Comfortable buses available                                       from Jaipur, well connected with main cities.
Local                      :   Car could be hired to reach Pushkar.
Transport             Bicycle is the best option to get around the place.

Visit:
Places to see:
         Shri Brahma Temple, Warah Temple, Saraswati Temple
         Apteshwar Mahadeo Temple,Savitri Temple,
         Temple of Rangji, Man Mahal, Pushkar Palace
         Pushkar Lake ( Pushkar Ghat)
         Mandore Garden (former capital of Maharajas of Marwar)

Other nearest places are :      Merta (Meera Bai Temple)

Excursion:
      Kishangarh  - Famous for its miniature paintings (Bani Thani).
                                The place is well known for the rich store of marbles.

      Kuchaman      - Known for the Kuchaman Fort. A number of
                                 miniature paintings of Meera Bai could be seen in the
                                fort. Another attraction here is the Lok Dev Temple
                                      that comprises the wonderful paintings
                                     of Lok Devtas.

      Roopangarh Fort  – attractive fort with beautiful architecture,
                                      royal armories, battlements and many more.
                                     Partly converted into heritage hotel.
      Ajmer

Shopping:
  Famous articles-
              -   Pottery, Glass lamps, Rajasthani Puppets, textiles,
              -   Embroided Fabrics, Jewellery, wall hangings,
              -   leather goods (shoulder bags), bangles,
              -   Rajasthani Turbans and many other.

  Shopping Place
                Shopping is a delightful experience during the Pushkar Fair,
Main shopping areas in the town are:-  Hope Circus, Baza Bazar, Sarafa
                Bazar, Malakhera Bazar, Keedalganj Bazar

Fairs and Festivals:
         PUSHKAR FAIR (Oct- Nov) :-
         This most important event of the region begins annually on the
         holy day of Kartik Poornima (full moon in Oct-Nov) and lasts
         for 12 days.Pushkar comes to life during the fair and the
         environment is truly electrifying .

Accomodation:
Deluxe :
         Pushkar Resort,
         Pushkar Villas Resort

Heritage hotels and resorts :
         Hotel Pushkar Palace, Welcome Heritage
         Gulaab Niwaas Palace, Hotel Sarovar.

Three star Hotel :
         Hotel the park city,
         Hotel Jagat Singh Palace.

Budget :
         Hotel New Park,
         Prafful Palace.

Luxury tent :
         Rajasthan Royal Desert Camp,
         Royal Safari Camp,
         Royal Camp,
         Orchard.

Other :
         Lake view, OM, Surya Shanti Resorts,
         RTDC, Pushkar Inn, Navratan Palace,
         Hotel Teerth Palace, Shyama Resort.

Camping:
         Facilities of camping are made available by the RTDC/
         Private camping are also available.

Pushkar is famous for the cattle fair and the auspicious ‘Pushkar fair’. This is the only city in India where ‘Brahma’ temple could be found.

Sawai Madhopur (Gateway To Ranthambore Forests)

2009-08-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

General information:

Founded By       :   Madho Singh II
Location              :   Southwest end of Rajasthan (767 km from Delhi,
                                 326 km from Jodhpur)
Famous as          :   Gateway to the Tiger’s Den
Temperature    :  Summer -23.0 °C – 37.0°C,
                                 Winter- 9.0°C – 29.0°C,
                                 Rainy Season – very humid about 68 cms (July –
                                 mid September)
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Light Woolens
Language          :   Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Spoken
Best Season       :   October to March
to Visit

Access:
By air             :   Nearest airport Jaipur (about 165 km)
By Rail           :   Has Railway station of its own. Sawai Madhopur                                 lies on the Delhi – Mumbai line. Well connected
                               with Jaipur and other nearer centres.
By road          :   It is well connected to major cities as Agra ( 226                                   km ), Delhi ( 434 km), Jaipur (176 km ) by road.
Local               :   There is a direct link between Jaipur and
                              Sawai Madhopur via Tonk and via Dausa.

Visit:
Places to see:
         Ranthambhor National Park – Majestic Tiger Reserves. Chital,
              Nilgai, Chinkara, Langur peafowl etc.
               could also be seen here.
         Fort – Ganesh Temple situated here attracts a lot of devotees.

Excursion:
        Amareshwar Mahadeo Temple, Trinetra Ganesha Temple,
        Chauth Mata Temple, Kakod and Hathi Bhata, Shri Mahaveerji
        Temple, Toran Dwar
Rural areas around Sawaimadhopur: Siwad - ( It is 3 Kms. From the
         Isarda railway station and famous for the Dushmeshwar
         Mahadeo Temple of Lord Shiva. There is also an
         Impressive fort atop a hill.
Rameshwaram( 60 Km.)- The sacred site on the Confluence
         of Banas and Chambal Rivers
Kaila Devi: It is set on the banks of Kalisil river
          (about 23 kms.from Karauli.)

Shopping:
  Famous articles-
              -   Bandhani and Lahariya, block printed textile,
              -   metal handicraft, antique furniture, carpets,
              -   wooden articles, silver Jewellery
              -   along with ethnic ornaments.

Fairs and Festivals:
         Ganesh Chaturthi- Aug- Sept.,
         Chauth Mata Fair, Kalyanji Fair, Shiv Ratri Fair,
         Kaila Devi : A colourful fair April-May & Navratras.
         Shri Mahaveerji.

Famous Cuisine : Kababs, Laddoo, Lachha Parantha, Kachori.

Accomodation:
Deluxe :
         Aman-i-Khas

Heritage hotels and resorts :
         Hotel Castle Jhoomer Baori,
         Nahargarh Fort,,
         Vinayvilas Resort.

Budget :
         Hammir Wildlife Resort, Ankur Resort,
         Anurag Resort, Hill View Resort,
         Aranya Resort, Tiger Safari Resort
         Sawai Madhopur Lodge, RTDC, Vinayak Tourist Complex.

Other :
         Tiger Moon,
         Mansarover, Vishal, Pareek,
         Pink Palace, Mayur, Chinkara.

The historic town lies 180 Kms. North-east of Jaipur amid Vindhyas and Aravali ranges and is more popular as the Gateway to the famous Ranthambhor National Park., the well known tiger reserve.

Mount Abu (A Sacred Hill Retreat)

2009-08-16T02:39:00.000-07:00

General information:

Famous as         :   A Sacred Hill Retreat
Location            :   Southwest end of Rajasthan (767 km from Delhi, 326
                                 km from Jodhpur)
Temperature    :  Summer -23.3 °C – 33.8°C,
                                 Winter- 11°C – 20.3°,
                                 Rainy Season – very humid 65-177 cms (July –
                                 mid September)
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Heavy Woolens
Language          :   Rajasthani, Gujrati, Hindi, English
Spoken
Best Season       :   Feb- June and September to December.
to Visit

Access:
By air                      :   Nearest airport is Udaipur (185 Km) Direct flight
                                      available from Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur .
By Train                :   The nearest Railway station is Abu Road ( about
                                     28 Km.)Well connected by main cities as Jaipur,
                                      Joodhpur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
By road                  :   Well connected with Major cities (as Delhi,
                                      Udaipur, Ajmer, Bundi.)
Local                       :   From Abu Road Taxi, jeep and buses are available
                                      for Mt.Abu. There is a direct bus services
                                     are available from Jodhpur to Mt.Abu.

Visit:
Places to see:
         Dilwara Jain Temple, Temple of Vimal Sah,
        View points, Nakki Lake,
         Toad Rock, Temple of Raghunathji,
         Gau Mukh Temple, Govt. Museum,
         Adhar Devi Temple, Mt. Abu Sanctuary.
         Om Shanti Bhawan or Universal Peace Hall- This impressive
        building houses the famous Brahma Kumari’s world Spiritual
        University.

Excursion:
        Trevor’s Tank, Achalgarh,
        Guru Shikhar.

Shopping:
  Famous articles-
              -   Shops around Nikki Lake offer curios inMarble, sandalwood
                 and sandstone.
              -   The famous Kota sarees, lac bangles,
              -   Sanganeri hand printed textiles etc.
              -   Metal craft wooden article, gem stones, leather articles.

For quality   -   Rajasthani handicrafts: Rajasthan Govt. Handicrafts
                Emporium & Khadi Bhandar.

  Shopping Place
                Nakki Maal (Nakki Lake Market)

Fairs and Festivals:
         Summer Festival : The tourist festival held annually from 1st –
                3rd July has emerged as a major tourist attraction of Mt. Abu.

         Gangaur (March-April) : This festival of young maids and
                married women is of special significance for the Garasia
                tribal of Sirohi- Mount Abu region.
         Patotasav (March)

Accomodation:
Deluxe :
         Palace Hotel, Hillock Hotel,
         Udaigarh Palace, Sunrise Place
         Chanakya Hotel, Hotel Hiltone,
         Chacha Inn, Mount Regency,
         Savera Palace, Hotel Sheratone

Heritage hotels and resorts :
         Cama Rajputana club resort,
         Connaught House, Jaipur Palace,
         Hotel Palanpur Palace
         Kesar Bhawan Palace.

Moderate :
         Lake View, Hotel Rising Sun
         Sun retreat, RTDC Hotel Shikhar,
         Vishram Hotel,
         Hotel Neelam, Sunset Inn.

Other :
         Aakashdeep, Shanti, Shere Punjab
         Nikki Vihar, Aravali
         Shree Ganesh , Chetna .

Restaurants :
         Handi (Hotel Hiltone)
         Mayur (Hotel Hillock)
         RTDC (Hotel Shikhar)
         Maharaja, Takshilla (Hotel Samrat)
         Dawat, Kanak Dining Hall.
         Woodlands.

Mt.Abu, the sacred hill resort is set atop the Highest peak of the Aravali’s. It is the only hill station of Rajasthan and is equally important for pleasure seekers and devoted pilgrims.

KOTA ( The Industrial City)

2009-06-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

General information:

Famous as         :     The Industrial City
Location            :      South of Rajasthan (240 km from Jaipur)
Temperature    :   Summer : 42.6°C – 27.3°C,
                                  Winter- 29.7°C – 9.7°C,
                                   Rainy Season : July – mid September
                                  (very humid)
Clothing             :   Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Woolens
Language          :     Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Spoken
Best Season       :   September to March
to Visit

Access:
By air                      :   No Airport of it’s own.
                                      Nearest airport is Jaipur (240 km)
By Train                :   Railway station is at the extreme northern                                       end of the town. Jaipur is 5 hours and
                                      Delhi is at 10 hours distance.
By road                  :   Well connected. Main bus station on Bundi                                       road. Good service to main cities as                                       Ajmer, Chittorgarh,Jaipur, Udaipur,
                                      Jodhpur and Bikaner.
Local                :          Taxis, Auto-Rickshaws and tongas.

Visit:
Places to see:
         Chambal Garden, Kota Barrage, Kishore Sagar,
         Govt.Museum, Maharao Madho Singh Museum,
         Kota Fort, Jag Mandir, Nahargarh Fort,
         Rock Painting of Alaniya.

Excursion :
        Darrah Wildlife Sanc. , Rana Pratap Sagar Dam,
        Fort of Bhainsrodgarh , Haveli of Devataji ,
        Haveli of Devataji , Bhanddeora Temple,
       Remains of Garhgachh , Ishwari Niwas Haveli,
       Baroli, Sitabari , Shergarh
       Remains of Shahbad and Mosque.

Others :
        Kansua temple, Bhitria Kund,
        Adhar Shila, Yatayat Park.

Shopping:
  Famous articles-
              -   Kota Doria Sari (finely weaved with cotton and
              -   silk threads), art and craft items,
              -   Potteries and stone craft, handicraft items
              -   (miniature paintings), Kota Stone

  Shopping Place
                Local Bazaars ( the Government Emporia,
                departmental store)

Fairs and Festivals:
         Dussehra Fair ( Oct-Nov)
         Gangaur (March-April)

Accomodation:
Welcome-group :
         : Hotel Umed Bhawan Palace.

Heritage hotels and resorts :
         Hotel Brijraj Bhawan Palace,.
         Sukhdham Kothi, Palkiya Haveli ,
         Bhainsrorgarh Fort Hotel,
         Brijraj Bhawan Palace.

Other :
         Hotel Navrang, Hotel Everest,
         Hotel Meghdoot, Hotel Payal,
         Hotel Surya Royal,
         Gayatri Hotel,
         Khajanchi Hotel,
         Hotel Phul Plaza.

RTDC :
         Chambal Hotel, Payal Hotel,
         Hotel Vrandavan, Madras Hotel
         Hotel Panihari, Palace View Garden.

Restaurants :
         Hotel Phul Plaza : Vegetarian restaurant
         Flavour Restaurant ( Indian, continental, fast food),
         Barkha Restaurant,
         Treat Restaurant,
         Eatos Restaurant.

JAISALMER ( The Golden City )

2009-06-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

General information:

Famous as         :   The Land of Sand, The Golden City
Location            :   West Rajasthan ( 26.92° N and 70.9°E) near the
                                 border of India and Pakistan 285 km from
                                 Jodhpur
Temperature    :  Summer -25°C – 45.6°C,
                                 Winter- 23.6° C- 4.9°C ,
                                 Rainy Season – very humid (July-                                  mid September) , 15 cm per year
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Woolens
Language          :   Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Spoken
Best Season       :   October to February
to Visit

Access:
By air                      :   Connected by air to Aurangabad (via Jodhpur
                                     and Jaipur)
By Train                :   Connected by train service to Jodhpur and
                                     Delhi
By road                  :   Jaisalmer is well connected by road with major
                                     cities of India (as Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner,
                                     Barmer, Anhmedabad etc.)
Private companies also operate the tour through road.

Visit:
Places to see:
         Sonar Killa famous as Golden Fort (Jaisalmer Fort),
        Tazia Tower, Jain Temples,
         Rishabdevji temple, Gyan Bhandar(Library), Manak
        chowk, Havelies, Patwon Ki Haveli, Gadsisar Lake,
         Museums (Government museum and folk museum)
         Ramdevra, Pokaran, Barmer.

Excursion:
        Badabag (Garden), Amar Sagar, Khuri Sand Dunes, Lodurva
             Wood Fossil Park
        Kuldhara - Here the remains of hundreds of year old town
                           could be seen.
        Sam Sand Dunes – The sunset and Camal Safari are special
                                    features
        Sudhasari – It’s a Desert National Park where the wild life                            including famous Great Indian Bustard
                           can be seen.
        Akal Wood Fossils Park - about 180 years old wood fossils.

Shopping:
  Famous articles-
              -   Silver Jewellery, Rajasthani mirror work, hand woven
                  blankets/shawls,
              -   antique articles, oil lamps,
              -   Embroidery work, traditional rugs.
  Shopping Places
                Sadar Bazar, Manak Chowk, Sonaron Ka Bass,
                Rajasthani Government shop, Khadi Gramuddyog,
               Moti Seema Gram,

Fairs and Festivals:
Desert Festival -(late January – Mid February according to
                         lunar calender)

This festival is the major attraction of Jaisalmer. Tourists from all over the world are lured towards the golden city to enjoy this colourful spectacle of music and festivity. The desert city rejoices along with the Rhythmic dances-Ghoomar, Gangaur, Gair Dhap, Moria, Chari,Terahtal. This festival coincides with the full moon in February. The grand finale is a trip to Sam Sand Dunes where one can enjoy the music and dance performances on the dunes.
               Special ‘Tourist Village’ is set up at this time by the Rajasthan Tourist Development.

    -: Gangaur ( March- April)

Accomodation:

Resort :       Rajwansh Resorts

Luxury :
         Gorband palace Sam Road
         Heritage Inn. Sam Road
         Narayan Niwas , Himmat Garh Palace Hotel,
         Deoki Niwas, Fort Rajawada
         Hotel Rang Mahal,
         Hotel Mahadev Palace.
         Jawahar Niwas Palace (Bada Bagh Road)

Moderate :
         Hotel Rawat Kot,
         Hotel Nachana Haveli.
         Hotel Mandir Palace,.
         Narayan Niwas Palace Hotel

Budget :
         Hotel Dhola Maru, Hotel Sona,
         Gangaur, Hotel Deoki Niwas Palace
         Rawal, Hotel Jaisal Castle, Rd
         Hotel Panihari, Swastika.

RTDC Hotels :

         Moomal Tourist Bungalow,
         Moomal Tourist Bungalow,
         Godawan Midwa (Pokaran)

Restaurants :
         Bikaner(Only Veg.)
         Chandan Shri(Veg.)
         Natraj(Veg.)
         Kalpana ( Veg. & Non Veg.)
         Sky Room ( Veg. Non Veg.)
         Top Deck ( Veg & Non Veg)

Recreation:
Camel Safari/ Desert Trekking:
       Camels are available for short joy rides at Sand dunes.
        Camel Safari and desert trekking (1-10 days) programs
        are also organized by travel agents.

Jaisalmer is the world famous city of Rajasthan. A number of tourists arrive here every year to view the golden beauty. Jaisalmer still retains the medieval mystic and charm; the narrow bazaar lanes offer a unique shopping experience.

JODHPUR - The Sun City

2009-05-29T03:12:00.002-07:00

General information:
Founded by      :   Rao Jodha (1459)
Famous as         :   The Blue City , The Sun City
Location            :   Western Rajasthan (26.29°N and 73.03°E)
Temperature    :  Summer -36.6°C - 42.2°C,
                                 Winter- 15.5°C - 27.5°,
                                 Rainy Season – very humid (July –
                                 September)
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Woolens
Language          :   Rajasthani, Hindi, English
Spoken
Best Season       :   October to March
to Visit

Access:
By air                      :   Connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur &
                                     Udaipur
By Train                :   Well connected with main cities (as Delhi,
                                      Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata) of India.
By road                  :   Well connected with Major cities (as Agra,
                                     Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer,                                       Udaipur) of India.
Local                :   Taxis, Auto-Rickshaws and tongas.
Transport

Visit:
Places to see:
         Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace,
         Girdikot & Sardarpura Market,
         Kailana Lake (8 km west of Jodhpur),
         Machiya Safari Park, Balsamand Lake,
         Sarder Samand Lake, Public Park, Zoo, Museum.
         Mandore Garden (former capital of Maharajas of Marwar)

Forest Area:      Dhawa-Doli

Worship:
        Kunj-Behari, Achal Nathji, Ganesh temple,
        Panchmukha Hanumanji Temple, Bheru Bag,
        Jain temple, Chamunda temple (Inside fort),
        Gurudwara, Ek Minar, Masjid, St. Patrick’s Church

Excursion:
        Nakoda, Phalodi-Khichan
        Osian Temple, Pali, Sojat

Shopping:
  Famous articles-
              -  Jodhpuri coat (world famous), Jodhpuri Footwear
              -  (mojaris),
              -   Embroided mojaris (footwear), Mathaniya’s Red Chilli,
              -   Bandhani and Lehariya (hand-dyed) fabrics, Rajasthani
              -   dresses, Yardages for turbans
Antique Items   -   furniture, chest, windows, doors, cabinets,
        carved lintels, sculptures, old pictures and many more.

  Shopping Place
                Station Road, Nai Sarak, Sojati gate, Tripolia Bazar,
               Sarafa Bazar, Lakhera Bazar, Kapra Bazar,
               Moti Chowk, Sardarpura, Clock Tower.
  Famous eatables-
               Spicy Mirchi Bada, Shahi Samosa, Mawa Kachori,
                Panchkuta, sweets and many more.

Fairs and Festivals:
        Gangaur(March-April)
         Teej (July- Aug), Makar Sankranti,
         Nag Panchmi Fair (Aug- Sept)
         Nagaur fair, Marwar festival,
         Jodhpur International Desert Kite Festival.

Accomodation:
Luxury :
         Umaid Bhawan Palace,
         The Umaid, Banar Road
         The Abhay Day’s(Paota )
         Apex International (Sardarpura )
         Quality Inn Chandra (Panch Batti)
         City Palace (Nai Sarak)
         Rajputana Palace (Airport Road)
         Beniwal Palace(Circuit House Road).

Heritage hotels and resorts :
         Ajit Bhawan Palace, Circuit House Rd.
         Balsamand Palace, Balsamand
         Karni Bhawan, Defence Lab Rd.
         Ran Banka, Circuit House Rd.

Moderate :
         RTDC Ghoomer, High court Rd.
         Hotel Akshay, Rai Ka Bag
         Amenity Inter Continental,Airforce Rd
         Durjan Niwas, Jodhana,Marudhar,
         Priya Hotel, Pokar Hotel,
         Hotel Arun (Sojati Gate),
         Rawat (Garden View, Public Park).
         Regent(Residency Rd)
         Sandhu Palace (Circuit House Rd.),
         Sita Palace (Nr. Jodhpur Hospital).

Budget :
         Hotel Arun, Sojati Gate,
         Bachchan Niwas, City View, Galaxy,
         Suncity Youth Hostel, Circuit House.

Restaurants :
         Gypsy (Sardarpura)
         Jodhpur coffee House(Highcourt Rd.)
         Lake View (Near Kailana)
         Priya (Nai Sarak)
         Mangalam, On the Rocks,
         Sukh Sagar,
         Tandoori Nights, (Ajeet Colony)
         Janta Sweet Home (Jalori – Gate),

Jodhpur is famous all over the world for its warm and welcoming attiude of the people. The fabrics (bandhani) and the handicraft items of the city have got the international fame due to the beautiful look. As in the interior of the city most the houses are coloured in blue so Jodhpur is known as 'The Blue City' also.

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2009-05-29T03:12:00.001-07:00

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JAIPUR (Capital of Rajasthan)

2009-02-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

General information:
Founder of the city : Sawai Jai Singh Ji (1727)
Well- Known as : Pink City (first planned city of India)
Location : North – East of Rajasthan, about 255 km from Delhi
Climate : Summer : .45°C (Max) - 25° C (min.)
Winter : 22 °C (Max) - 8° C (min.)
Rainfall : 64 cm (July – Mid Sept)
Clothing : Summer : Light cotton.
Winter : Woolens
Languages Spoken : Hindi, English, Rajasthani (Jaipuri)
Best season : September – March
To Visit
Access -
By air : Jaipur airport is 15 Km from city and is connected to through regular flights from all
Major Indian Cities.
By road : Jaipur is well connected by road. A network of comfortable tourist buses connect Jaipur with many important towns
By rail : Jaipur is well connected by rail with important cities of the country
Shopping -
Famous Articles : Precious & semi-precious stones
Grimacing Puppets, Handicraft items,
Highly glazed enamel work, blue pottery & paintings
Major shopping : Johari Bazar (for gems, jewellery & metals wire and colorful Indian saris)
Bapu bazaar (for textiles, perfumes & leather ware)
M.I. Road (for Emporium, Boutiques & Jewellery shops)
Tripolia Bazar ( for textile, utensils, ironware, brassware, carpets, rugs, furniture, trinkets etc.)
Jawaharlal Nehru Road (for plants, woolens and beautiful objects made of clay, Handicraft)
Accommodation : Jai Mahal Palace, Jacob Rd. Civil lines
Five Star Deluxe : Rajputana Palace Sheraton, Palace Road
Rambagh Palace, Bhawani Singh Road
Rajvilas(oberoi), Goner Road
Five Star : Clerk Amer, Holiday Inn, Jaipur Palace, Mansingh &
Tower
Heritage : Chokhi Dhani Village Resorts, Diggi Palace
Khasa Kothi, Laxmi Niwas Palace, Diggi Palace
Samode Haveli
4 STAR : Jaipur Ashok, Meru Palace
3 STAR : Hawa Mahal, Kanchandeep
LMB- Johari Bazar
Great Value Kohinoor, Nr. Bus Stand
2 STAR : Jai Mangal Palace, Broadway, Khetri House,
Sweet Dream
RTDC & RSNC
Units : Gangaur, Teej, Jheel Tourist Village
Durga Cafetaria, Swagatam- Near Rly Station
STANDARD : Aditya Hotel, 2 Bhawani Singh Road
Golden Inn, Nr. Sindhi Camp M.I. Road
Maharani Palace, Station Road
Maurya Palace Arvind Marg M.I.Road
Natraj, Moti Lal Atal Road
Laxmivilas Sawai Ramsingh Road
OTHERS : Achrol Kothi, Jaipur Green, Swagat, Vikram, Pinkcity
Polo Victory, Imperial.
Conducted tours
& Guide Service : Rajasthan Tourism Development Corportation
Conducts daily local sight seeing tour, the tour
Starts from Tourist information Bureau, Jaipur
Railway station and the pick up points is Hotel
Gangaur, Hotel Teej and Tourist Hotel
Travel Agents : Amber Tours at Rambagh Palace,
Aravali Safari & Tours, opp Rajputana
Palace Sheraton
Jetair Tours, M.I.RoaD
Rajasthan Toura, Rambagh Palace
Sita World Travels Station Road
Tourist Guide Service Private Ltd.
Travel Corporation of India, Gopal Bari
Tourist Information Office:
Tourist Reception Centre, Govt,Hostel M,.I.Road
Tourist Information Bureau, Amber
Information Centre, Ram Singh Road
RTDC Nr. Rly Station
Eating Out Annapurna Nr. Panchbatti
Natraj , M.I. Road
Niros, M.I. Road
Pizza Hut, Ganpati Plaza M.I. Road
Suvarna Mahal, Rambagh Palace
Ming, Hotel Gangaur Nera AIR
McDonald’s Gaurav Twrs, Malviya Nagar
Gaurbandh, Hotel Gangaur Nr. AIR.
Places to See :
City Palace Complex
Jantar Mantar, Swargasuli or lsar lat,
Ram Niwas Garden, Govt.Central Museum (Albert Hall)
Ravinder Manch, Dolls Museum, Jawahar Circle,
Jawahar Kala Kendra, Shilpgram or Craft Village,
Statue circle, Birla Planetarium, Auditorium &
Convention Centre, Galtaji, Birla Mandir,
Ganesh Mandir, Moti Doongri, Haharani Ki Chhatri,
Gaitorm, Kanak Vrindavan arden Complex,
Sisodia Rani Garden, Jal Mahal , Ramgarh Lake.
Excursion:
Karauli
Ranthambore National Park
Ramgarh Lake, Sambhar, Sanganer,
Sariska National Park
Tonk
Fair & Festivals Gangaur (March- April)
Teej (July- Aug)
Elephant Festival (March- April)
Dussehra (Sept- Oct)
Kite Festival (14 January)
Jaipur the Pink City of India is the land of Superlatives where breathtaking beauty and rich art and culture blend superbly. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan

Bikaner (The Desert Bastion of Culture & Camels)

2009-01-26T07:44:00.000-08:00

General information -
Founder : Rao Bhikaji (1488 AD)
Famous as : The Desert Bastion of Culture & Camels
Location : North Indian State of Rajasthan
Temperature : Summer : 41.8° C
Winter : 23.2 °C
Rainfall : 44 cm
Clothing : Summer : Light tropical or cotton
Winter : Woolen
Languages spoken : Hindi, Rajasthani, English
Best season : October to March
to visit
Access -
By Air : Nearest airport, Jodhpur
By Rail : Well connected With Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur
By road : Regular bus services are available from main cities as Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Jaipur,
Udaipur, Agra, Delhi.
Camel Safari : Desert Tours
Rajasthan Safaris & Treks
Vino Desert Safari
Camel man, Jaipur Road
Shopping -
Area : Bikaner is famous for wollen items
Kote gate KEM Road
Trust shop at Junagarh Fort
Articles : Bikaneri Bhujia and sweets like Rasgulla are famous
Places to see :
Junagarh Fort
Lalgarh, Rajasthan State Archives,
Ganga Govt. Museum
Bhandeshwar Jain Temple, Havelis, Devi Kund,
Camel Research Farm, Deshnok, Kolayatji (This ancient pilgrim Centre), Kalibanga (The ancient discovery, river Valleys like Nile), Fort Museum, Gajner Palace,
Shri Sadul Museum, Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary, Camel research and Breeding Farm
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
Fair & Festivals :
Gangaur (March/April), Camel Festival (Jan.)
Karni Mata Fair, Desghnoke (April, May)
Kapil Muni Fair, Kolayat (November)
Accommodation -
Heritage\Palace : Basant Vihar, Sriganganagar Rd.
Bhanwar Niwas (Rampuria St.)
Gajner Bhawan Palace
Karani Palace
Laigarh Palace
Standard : RTDC Dhola Maru
Joshi, Station Road
Sagar
Moderate : Palace View, Sri Ram, Kishana Palace (Gajner Rd.)
Jaswant Bhawan, Marudhar, Bharat Niwas, Bikaner,
Budget : Amit Station Road, Deluxe (Station Rd)
Evergreen, Indra lodge Shanti Niwas(Near Rly.St.,)
Best Activity : Camel Ride
Nearby Tourist : Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur
Places

The Luxurious Lake Palace (UDAIPUR)

2008-12-30T12:20:00.001-08:00

Explore the royal wonder of Udaipur in the form of the Luxurious Lake palace. It is one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. The palace is famous by the name of Jag Niwas. This white palace set in the turquoise waters of Lake Pichola and surrounded by hills is famous as one of the most romantic places. It provides an awe inspiring view. It was built by Maharana Jagat Singhji II, in 1754 and named after its founder’s name. The magnificent palace is a marvel in stone and is the fine example of the Mughal- Rajput architecture. This cool heaven was used as a summer resort by the successive rulers but now it has been converted into a luxury hotel and provides the world class amenities.
This luxurious palace explores the architectural beauty with carved columns, pillared terraces, and beautiful courtyard. Fountains, swimming pool, internet facility, Fitness center, delicious mouth watering cuisine and service etc in addition to other exceptional facilities are provided here. This hotel is easily reachable from the airport and is open throughout the year. Visitors can feel and enjoy the beauty of heavenly view while visiting this palace. Rooms here are decorated with paintings, crystal work, painted mirrors and inland stones of pink and green lotus leaves. It gives an impression of being a magical palace when is image is seen in the water of the Pichola Lake.

UDAIPUR (The city of Lakes)

2008-12-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

General information -
Location : Southern of Rajasthan, New Delhi (670 km), Jaipur (420 km)
Known for : the beautiful lakes
Weather -
Summer : 39°C- 28° C
Winter : 28°°C- 8°C
Rainfall : Normal (July- Mid September), very humid

Wear-
Summer : Light tropical
Winter : Light Woollen
Access:
Airport Dabok : Well connected to major cities as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,
(25 Kms.) Jaipur, Jodhpur.
Roads : well connected (deluxe and air conditioned buses) to major cities
Train : well connected with major cities
Taxi service : available
Best time to visit : September –March
Places to See:
City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jag Mahal, Jagdish Temple, Pratap Memorial, Fateh Sagar, GulabBag, Sajjangarh, Shilpgram, Haldighati Rajsamand Lake, Jaisamand Lake, Rishabhdeoji, Raisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh Fort ( Sanctuary), Rankapur( Sadri, Desuri, Ghanerao), Nagada, Nathdwara.
Shopping areas : Chetak Circle, Bapu Bazar,
City Market, Hati Pol, Lake Palace Rd.
Accomodation : Lake Palace, (Pichola)
Heritage : JagNiwas, Laxmi Vilas, Shiv Niwas, Rang Niwas palace,
Caravanseral, Feteh Prakesh Palace
Others : Ajanta, Anand,Apsara, Badi Haveli,Chetna,
City Centre, Gangaur Palace, Mayur, Paras,
Padmini, Moti Mahal, Radhika, Payal,
Paras, Mewar GH, Rajdeep, Samrat, VIP
Paying Guest Accommodation is also available in the city.

Restaurants : Chetak (chetak Circle)
Chirag (Gulag Bag Rd.)
Gangaur ( Chetak Circle) Kwality,
Park View (Town Hall Rd.)
Fair & : Gangaur ( March-April)
Festivals Teej (July-Aug.)
Mewar Festival (March-April)

BUNDI (an ancient Rajput town)

2008-12-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

General information -
Location : 36 km from Kota
Known for : Step wells and tanks
Climate : Summer 43 °C – 35C,
Winter 30C - 5° C ,
Rainfall (about) 75 cms.
Wear :
Summer – Light Tropical
Winter - Light woollen
Language : Hindi, English, Rajasthani
Best season : September to March
Access
By Air : Nearest airport Jaipur (206 km)
Rail : Well connected with Kota (36 km), Chittaurgarh, Agra, Nimach, Kota
By Road : Bundi is well connected by road to all cities within Rajasthan,
regular bus service from Delhi, Indore, Jaipur.
Tourist Taxis: : from Jaipur and Kota.
and buses
SHOPPING -
Shopping Areas : Main market (still maintain its medival look)
Shopping Articles : Cotton carpets, famous Kota painting and Kota Doria sarees, lac
bangles, wooden toys, stone statues, colorful Odhanis
Fair & Festivals
Tejaji Fair (Dungari) : dedicated to the folk deity Tejaji, lasts for five days
(Sept., Oct)
Keshav Rai Patan Fair : held on Kartik Poornima and devotees take a holy dip in river
Chambal to worship Keshav Raj ji, celebration continues for ten
days.
(Oct-Nov)
Kajli Teej (Jul.-Aug.)
Accommodation -
RTDC
Bundi Tourist Palace,
Diamond Hotel,
Sukh Mehal Rest house
Major attractions –
Bundi Durg - Also known as the Star Fort, built in 1411A.D Rao Raja Bar Singhh. Located on thickly wooded hill this palace is known for its unique
(Taragarh Palace) construction.
The Garh Palace – One of the finest examples of Rajput architecture.
Ratan Daulat – built by Rao raja Ratan Singh, forms stable for nine horses and elephants. Royal marble throne is the main attraction
Chitrashala – A gallery for the miniature murals of the palace. Paintings on the wall depicts Radha-Krishna story.
Nawal Sagar - square artificial lake, a temple dedicated to Varuna stands submerged in the center of lake.
Chhatra Mahal - built by Maharaja Shatrusal Singh Ji, include Hazari Pol gate of thousand),
the Naubat Khana, the Hathi Pol (having old water clock), Diwam- e-Khaas
Rani Ji Ki Baori – fine example of step – well, famous for the beautiful carved panels of Dasha Avtar( ten Incarnation).
Jait Sagar Lake – beautiful lake built by Jaita Meena, consist of the attractions of Terrace Garden and Smriti Kunj.
Sukh Mahal - Famous as Palace of Bliss, Palace where Rudyard Kipling stayed when visited Bundi , constructed during the period of Rao Raja Vishnu Singh.
Shikar Burj - earlier a royal hunting lodge but now a beautiful picnic spot.
Ramgarh (Game sanctuary)
Excursion-
84 Pillared Cenotaphs – built in the year 1683 by Rao Anirudh Singh, located in the south of the town. Besides Canotoph the temple of Shiva Linga is also respected by the devotees.

Surrounded by Aravalli hills on the three sides, Bundi is famous for its attractive palaces, temples, havellis, chattris and others. These are famous for their fine and beautiful craftwork Painting in color scheme of red,golden and blue is famous all over the world.

Excursion of Bharatpur- Deeg

2008-12-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

Deeg-
One of the famous rural destinations of Rajasthan is Deeg. One can spend a hilarious time hear by exploring the ramparts or listening to the sweet folk lore. This beautiful garden town lies about 36 km north of Bharatpur on the way to the famous sanctuary. This small town is equipped with the beauty of magnificent and impressive palaces and famous as this place was the tranquil retreat of the former royal family of Bharatpur. Today, it is noted for the well laid out gardens studded with sparkling fountains, colorful busy markets and the wonderful fort.

Deeg Fort -
The fort built by Raja Suraj Mal, stands majestically over a slightly elevated point, surrounded by impressive moats, ramparts and gateways. This fort was constructed on the eastern side of an elevated plain of Roop Sagar. The gateway is protected with anti-elephant spikes. Presence of a couple of bastions is another characteristic feature of the place. The largest bastion is named as Lakkha Buri. Most of the structures within the fort are in ruins. To spent whole day in the palace is not a big deal.

Gopal Bhavan -
This imaginatively designed palace was completed in 1760. This was the actual residence of Raja. It has beautifully laid gardens at its entrance and the rear overlooks the Gopal Sagar which is flanked with smaller pavilions Sawan and Bhadon. Sawon –Bhadon palace is the palace with hollow ceiling having rolling iron spheres in it. These spheres collide with each other producing a sound of raining clouds when the water is allowed to flow through the ceiling. Its beauty is unique in the evening in the golden rays of evening sun.
Deeg Museum is the place where the collection of articles, furniture and other things of the royal family has been exhibited. Other interesting structures are Suraj Bhavan, Purana Mahal, Nand Bhawan, Krishna Bhawan and Keshav Bhawan. All these palaces reflect strong Mughal influences and are of considerable historical value.

Lohgarh (Iron Fort) of Bharatpur

2008-11-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

Iron Fort or Lohgarh Fort was built in 18th century and is true to its name. It was visualized and designed by the founder of Bharatpur, Maharaja Suraj Mal. He constructed the fort in such a way so as to withstand the attack of enemy. The Lohgarh Fort or Iron Fort is an example of the best architecture that is famous for its strength and potency. This fort is quite different from the other forts of the state. There is no pomposity attach to this fort. It withstood the British attacks and faced the British harass four times. After a long seize British had to withdraw. This fort frustrated them a lot and sustained itself due to its impenetrable defense.
The construction work was started at the time of Maharaja Bandan Singh, the father of Maharaja Suraj Mal, in the year 1930. It took about twenty years in its finish. Maharaja Suraj Mal had taken over the throne by its completion. It is said that since its foundation this fort was never invaded. The main feature that made it different is the deep gorge surrounding the fort and the sandy ramparts. The surrounding gorge is about 100 feet wide and 60 feet deep. It is used to be filled with water to ward off the enemy attacks. The sandy ramparts were strengthened by sandy battlements, which made the guns of enemy ineffective. Besides this a high mud wall protects it from any attack. In 1804 Lord Lake detained this fort. It generates a sensation of strength and magnificence.
There are some fine monuments in the fort as Kishori Bagh, Mahal Khas and Kothi Khas and also some towers in the ramparts adds to its beauty as Jawahar Burj, Fateh Burj etc. that were erected to commemorate the victory over the Mughals and the British army. The gateway is made of eight-metal called Ashtadhatu and is adorned with the paintings of huge elephants. Today the Iron fort houses an extensive museum also in which the visitors can view swords, draggers, gun of a large variety like double barrel guns, long barrel guns, revolvers, safety shields and many more. In addition to this many antique articles like hunted cubs, tigers, deer, wood articles jewelery, hand fans, ornaments stone vessels of old time could also viewed here. One should not miss this masterpiece of architecture while Rajasthan travel as it offers much more than the expectations.

Bharatpur (Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan)

2008-11-09T00:41:00.000-08:00

General information:
Founded by      :  Maharaja Suraj Mal in 1733 A.D.
Regarded as      :  Eastern Gateway to Rajasthan
Well-known      :  Keoladeo Ghana National Park (Especially
for                             Siberian Cranes, variety of egret, heron,
                                   stork and other birds)
Location            :  Northeast of Rajasthan, from Jaipur about 176 km                                   and about184 km from Delhi Language          :  Hindi, Rajasthani, Urdu & Sindhi
Spoken                  Somewhere English
Weather            :  Summer -about 45°C - 35°C,
                                 Winter- about 31° C - 7°C,
                                 Rainy Season – very humid (38 to 62 cm.),
                                 July - Mid September
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton (tropical) clothes,
                                 Winter – Woolens clothes
Best Season     :  November - March
to Visit

Routes:
By Air                      :  Nearest airport is Agra (55 km), Mumbai,
                                     Varanasi
By Train                  :  Well connected with many cities on
                                     Delhi-Mumbai route, Jaipur and Agra.
By Road                  :  Well connected by roads with Agra, Delhi,                                      Jaipur, Mathura and other cities

Shopping:
Shopping Areas         :  Mathura Gate, Chauburja Bazar, Laxman                                             Mandir, Ganga Mandir
Famous                         :  Items with marble carvings and Brass work
Articles                             Antique items
                                             Jewelry (made of precious and semi-
                                             precious stones)
                                             Textile Jaipur Print (Bandhej, tie and dye
                                             print)

Visit:
Places to see:
Keoladeo National   :  The park is regarded as a paradise for the
Park                                    avian world and pilgrimage for the
                                             bird lovers.
Lohagarh                      :  Iron Fort that sustained a numerous
                                             British attacks and withstood the ravages
                                             of time.
Government               :  Ancient and traditional architecture
Museum
The Palace                    :  reflects fusion of Mughal and Rajput
                                             architectural style.

Excursion:
       Deeg                       :  Used to be royal summer resort of
                                           Bharatpur rulers, include beautiful gardens,
                                           palaces ad colorful market places
       Deeg Fort

Fairs and Festivals:
        Brij Festival                :  March
        Gangaur                       :  March-April
        Teej Fair                      :  July – Aug
        Jaswant                        :  Sept-Oct
        Exhibition
Accomodation:
                                                Laxmi Villas Place
                                                Golbagh Palace
                                                Govind Niwas
                                                Chandra Mahal Havelli
                                                Bharatpur Forest Lodge
                                                RTDC\ ITDC HOTEL , Saras Rly St.
                                                Midway, Near Bus Stand, Deeg

Others:
                                                Park Palace, Pratap Palace, Shanti Kutir,
                                                Sun Bird, Tourist complex, Saras,
                                                Bharatpur Forest Lodge, RTDC Hotel,
                                                Eagle Nest Hotel, Circuit House,
                                                Hotel Sunbird, Hotel Pelican

Guide Services:
                                                Hotel Saras(RTDC), Forest Rest House,
                                                Dy.Director, Wildlife

Conducted Tours:
                                                Mini bus approved by Forest Rest House

Bhartapur is world famous for the Keoladeo Bird Sanctury. Visitors from various countries often visit the place to have a view of migrated birds among which Siberian cranes are the special attraction.

BANSWARA (City of Hundred Islands)

2008-10-30T01:07:00.000-07:00

General information:
Founded by      :  Maharawal Jagmal Singh
Famous as         :  City of hundred Islands
Location            :  North western India, Southern part of the                                   state -South to Jaipur, about 527 Km from                                   Jaipur and 827 Km from Delhi
                                  About 170km from Delhi
Language          :  Hindi and Rajasthani
Spoken
Weather             :  Summer -about 42°C - 25°C,
                                 Winter- about 22° C - 0°C,
                                 Rainy Season – very humid (July – Mid
                                 September)
Clothing             :  Summer – Light cotton clothes,
                                 Winter – Woolens

Best Season       :  September - March
to Visit

Routes:
By air                      :  Nearest Airport - Udaipur( about 160 Km)
By Train                :  Nearest railhead Ratlam Junction (about 80Km)
By road                  :  Direct road connection with Jaipur, Ratlam,                                      Dungarpur and Dohad
Visit:
Places to see:
        Shri Raj Mandir      –  Royal Palace
        Anand Sagar Lake –  An artificial lake also known as Bai Talab,                                                  a Couple of holy tree 'KalpVriksha' is that
                                                 present here is famous as the trees                                                  that fulfill the desire of the visitors.
        Dialab Lake             –  beautiful Lake with Lotus flowers
        Badal Mahal            -  A summer residence of former rulers, on
                                                the embankment of Dialab Lake.

        Abdulla Pir               -  A shrine of Bohara Muslim Saint, Abdul
                                                Rasul. An annual Muslim Fair is held                                                 here at the time of Urs.
        Madareshwar          -  Lord Shiva temple inside a natural cave of                                                  high hills.
        Mahi Dam                 -  A part of Mahi Bajaj Sagar Project
        Kagdi pickup           - Beautiful fountain garden.
        Weir
        Ram Kund                -  a deep cave under the hills. It is said that                                                   Lord Rama lived here Lord Rama                                                   during his exile period.
        Bhim Kund               -   It’s said that Pandavas lived here during
                                                 their exile.
        Sitamata Wildlife   -  includes large variety of animals,         Sanctuary                    reptiles and fish.

Excursion:
       Talwara                       -  Religious site with Temples of Sun God,                                                    Lord Amaliya Ganesh, Laxmi                                                   Narayan, Jain temple of Sambharnath
       Tripura Sundari       -  One of the Shakti Peeth of Hindus and
                                                  dedicated to Goddess Tripura
                                                  Sundari or Turtia Mata.
       Paraheada                  -  Shiv temple of 12th century
        Cheench                     -  Brahma Temple having black stone statue                                                    of the deity.
        Arthuna                     -  Complex of ancient temples built in 11th                                                    and 12th century

Shopping:

        Famous articles              -  Tribal Jewelry, Mojaries
        Shopping Place                -  Main market

Fairs and Festivals:
        Baneshawar Fair      -  Biggest tribal fair held at Baneshawar (60                                                     km) on the confluence of River                                                     Mahi, Som and Jhakham.

        Ghodi Ranchodji      -  Held on the bank of river Mahi
        Fair

        Ghotia Amba Fair    -  Five days fair held at Ghotia Ambe Dham                                                     Temple.

        Mangarh Fair             -  Important tribal fair to pay tribute to                                                     Govind Guru, Founder of                                                    Samp Sabha.
        Aamligyaras               -  Held at Ghodi Ranchod, Bhim Kund                                                     etc.Bhills attend it armed with bows,                                                     arrows and swords.

Accomodation:

                                                Surya Palace Hotel
                                                Raj Hotel
                                                Hotel Ashoka Palace
                                                Hotel Keshav
                                                Hotel Palaza

Banswara is also known as ‘City of Hundred Islands’ as many of the islands are present in the Mahi river. The name is derived from bans means bamboo shoots as bamboos were used to grow in abundance here in earlier times. The region is also famous for deep jungles that are inhabited by Panther and for rich flora and fauna. The slopes of Aravalli hills found here are the home to many plants as well as wild animals. Banswara is one of the best examples of Rajput architecture.

ALWAR CITY (The Land of Tigers)

2008-10-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

General information:
Founded by:      Pratap Singh Prabhakar                                Bahadur
Other name:      Ulwar, Alor
Location:            About 150km from Jaipur
                               About 170km from Delhi
                               Lies amidst cluster of small ranges of Aravalli
Language
Spoken:               English, Hindi and Rajasthani
Weather:             Summer – about 24 º C -37º C,
                               Winter- about 11 º C -31º C,
                                Rainfall- Humid (63.5 cm)
Clothing:             Summer – Cotton,
                               Winter – Light Woolens

Best Season:        September - March
to Visit

Routes:
By air:                    Jaipur is the nearest
By Train:               Well connected from all major cities of India.
By road:                 regular bus services to and from Delhi, Jaipur and                                   all major cities of Rajasthan.

Visit:
Places to see:        The Alwar Fort
                                    The Bala Fort
                                    City Palace (Vinay Vilas Mahal)
                                    Government Museum
                                    Moosi Maharani Ki Chhatri (Built in memory of                                     Queen Moosi, who committed Sati)
                                    Purjan Vihar or Company Garden
                                    Tomb of Fateh Jang
                                    Vijay Mandir Palace
                                    Jai Samand Lake (the large artificial lake built by                                     Maharaja Jai Singh in 1910)
                                    Siliserh Lake & Palace
                                    Sagar (Behind City Palace, artificial lake built in                                     1815 A.D. by Maharaja Vinay Singh)
                                    Sariska (Great mythological, religious and                                     historical significance)
                                    Sariska Tiger Reserve and National Park                                     (Sanctuary)
                                    Sariska Palace

Shopping Center:
                               Hope Circus, Sarafa Bazar, Bazaza Bazar, Malakhera                                Bazaar, Kedalgang Bazar

Accommodation:
Two star:              Hotel Aravalli
Hotel
Haritage:              Sariska Palace, Neemrana Fort Palace, Hill Fort,
Hotels                     Kesroli(Delhi Road)

RTDC Hotels:      Hotel Meenal (Circuit house), Tiger Den (Sariska),                                 Lake Palace (Siliserh), Midway.

OTHERS:              Hotel Alwar, Mayur, Jhankar, Inderlok Classic,                                  Tourist Hotel Ashoka

Restaurants:         Dawat (Manu Marg), South Indian café,                                   Siddhartha, Prem Pavitra Bhojnalya,                                    Mahaveer Bhojnalya, Café Alishan

Local Fairs:            Bilali Fair (March-April), Sawan Teej                                    (August) ,Chuhar Sidh (Main fair) Laldas Maila                                     (May), Jagannathji Fair, Sahibji ka Maila                                    (July), Bhartrihari (August) with great                                     Zeal.

Alwar is an ancient city and one of the oldest in the State. Its numerous pre-historic and historic sites are an archaeologist’s delight. It is also a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, as the hilly terrain is dotted with lush green deciduous forests and lakes.

TRAVEL AJMER

2008-08-30T23:24:00.000-07:00

General information:
Language spoken: Hindi, Rajasthani, Urdu, Sindhi
& English
Temperature in summer 43.5 ºC (April to June)
Winter 23.3º C (November to February)
Rainfall 38 cm (July to October)
Clothing Summer Tropical
Winter Woolen

Routes:
Nearest Airport is Jaipur
Ajmer is well connected by Rail.
By roads a number of regular bus services for each and every city.

Places To See:
Dargah Khwaja Sahib (final resting place of the great Sufi Saint -Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti popularly known as GARIB NAWAZ and a great pilgrim of Muslims.)
Lake PUSHKAR (main pilgrim of Hindus).
Mayo College of Education

Adhai-Din-Ka-Jhonpra(This is an interesting relic of an old mosque).
Taragarh Fort
Rajputana Museum
Nasiyan (Red Temple); The Digamber Jain Temple; Gold temple
Ana Sagar (A beautiful lake with Historical Baradhari and Daulatbag)
Foy Sagar (A beautiful center of royal families)
Circuit House (formerly the British Residency)

Shopping Centers:
Madar Gate (Main Market)
Purani Mandi
Naya Bazar
Kaisarganj
Nala Bazaar; Ghaseti Bazaar; Diggi Bazaar

Shopping:
Atar (Scented oil)- is a major especiality of Ajmer. The markets in Ajmer are filled with Rajasthani artifacts including Siver and Gold ornaments; tie & dye textiles; hand-block printed textiles; embroided Jodhpuri Shoes(Well- known as Mojari etc.)
Sweet -Sohan Halwa is another speciality of the city. Famous making person Budha Mal in Purani Mandi.
The Fair of Urs is a great time for shopping. Folk artisans and craftsmen gather here to display a tempting range of intriguing and colourful items at competitive price.

ACCOMODATION:
Man Singh Place (Luxury) - Vaishali Nagar

MODERATE:
RTDC Khadim - Pushkar Road
Ambassador - Ashok Marg
Chitvan - Ghoogra
Nagpal Tourist - Opp. Rly Stn.
Paramount - Opposite Railway station
Regency - Outside Delhi gate

Others:
Aaram Hotel - Vaishali Nagar
Ajanta Hotel - Madar Gate
Atithi Hotel - Dargah Bazar
Payal Hotel - Khailand Market
Surya Hotel - Opposite Railway Station
Samart Hotel - Kutchery Road

The Great Khejari Sacrifice

2008-08-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

Bishnois who are world famous as the first ecologist of the world have a simple slogan ‘Never cut a green tree, but wait for a tree to age and die and then it is better to use it as timber.’ They hold the strict religious principles regarding the protection of the conservation of this natural property. They don’t even hesitate to sacrifice their life to stand on these principles. As there is strict prohibition on felling of trees in their religion so unlike most of the Hindu community they bury their dead instead of cremating them. By doing this they save the wood which is required for cremation.

The story of Amrita Devi is famous among Bishnois who sacrificed her life to save the Khejarli trees. This event took place in 1730 when soldiers of Maharaja Abhay Singh of Jodhpur reached the nearby region of Khejarali to cut trees for the wood required to construct the new palace of Maharaja. This region is filled with a large number of trees and got the name after the tree Khejari. At that time Amrita Devi was at her home along with her three daughters. When she heard this news, she went to the spot and protested against the Mission of cutting trees. She tried to explain the importance of the trees to their faith and survival. But everything was in vain. The party told her that she would have to give them money as a bribe if she wants to save the trees. Amrita Devi refused this demand and told them that it would be rather an act of insult to her religious faith and she would even give her life to save the green trees. When everything failed Amrita Devi hugged a tree and told the soldiers to cut her head before cutting the trees. Without thinking anything the soldiers also slash her head. Three of her daughters also offered their head and were killed. Soon a crowd gathered there and joined in dissuading the soldiers. Other people also followed it and hugged a tree. Then the axes that were bought to cut the trees were used to sever their heads. The massacre continued for many days. Thus around 363 people including young and old, men and women, married and unmarried, rich and poor sacrificed their life to save the life of trees.

The tree felling party threatened with this event and left for Jodhpur with unfulfilled mission. When the Maharaja learned about the event he immediately ordered to stop the felling of trees. Till that time around 363 people have been added to the list of martyrs. Maharaja Abhay Singh honored the courage of Bishnoi community and apologized for whatever mistakes his officials had committed. He ordered a copper plate with his order engraved on it. These orders included the strict prohibition of cutting of green trees and hunting of animals within the revenue boundaries of Bishnois villages.

The event is still remembered as the great Khejarli sacrifice. Today also there is a silent orchard, with a small temple in it, is present in Khejarli that commemorate the day when the sacrificed Bishnois engraved a message in the conscience of mankind. The Bishnois gather there every year in September (Shukla Dashmi of the Hindi month of Bhadrapad) to memorize the extreme sacrifice made by the people to preserve their faith and religion.

First Conservationists Of Flora and Fauna Life

2008-07-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

The Bishnoi’s, a community living on the edge of Marusthali near Jodhpur are the earliest ecologists known to the world. They consider it their religion to preserve all flora and fauna life and thus are well known as the conservationist and have been so from early 15th century. The Bishnoi sect founded about 500 years ago believes that all forms of life apart from being sacred are vital to each other’s existence.

The Bishnois derive their name from bees (twenty) and nau (nine) – The 29 principles laid down by their founder Guru Jambeshwarji. He was born in a Rajput clan in Nagaur, Rajasthan. He was a wise ecologist and had cleverly packed 29 tenets by which his followers must live. About 90 percent of the farmers of this community strictly adhere to the 29 tenets laid down by him. About 8 tenets of these 29 are prescribed to preserve bio-diversity and encourage good animal husbandry, 10 are directed towards personal hygiene to maintain good health, 7 for healthy social behavior and 5 tenets guides to worship God.

People of this community avoid wearing blue clothes as the dye used to color these is obtained by cutting a large quantity of shrubs. They are teetotaler and normally wears white shirt, dhoti and turban. This is also comfortable and ideal for hot dry desert climate. Only Bajra is grown during monsoon season. The grown bushes in the fields are helpful in checking loss of sand from wind erosion and also provide fodder for animals during famine. They usually lives in small hamlets called ‘Dhannis’.

The Bishnois, , however, have sacrificed many lives for their principles. Three centuries ago Amrita Devi and about 360 Bishnois were hacked to death because they clasped to save the trees, which the axe men came to cut for the palace of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur. On hearing the news of their sacrifice, the remorseful Maharaja recalled his men and proclaimed that no tree and animal be killed in Bishnois villages. As a result, the blackbuck (Indian Antepole) and the Chinkara (Indian Gazelle) wander freely in Bishnois villages and no hunter dares to kill them.
Their village is recognizable from a distance due to the presence of plenty of trees, vegetation and freely roaming herds near their homes. To minimize the damage to the fragile desert eco-system, the fields are ploughed with simple ploughs using bullocks or camels. Bishnois do not sell dairy products or raise sheep or goats for slaughter. They maintain groves known as orans for the animals to graze and birds to feed. Rainwater is stored in tankers (underground tanks) and this water is used for drinking purpose. Natural fertilizer as cows and buffaloes dung rather than chemical fertilizers are used as far as possible so as to check pollution. Cow dung flags are also used for cooking purpose.

The attire of Bishnoi women is very attractive with silver trimming and gorgeous jewellery. These women, with their heavy nose rings, earrings, bangles, anklets and solid, chunky necklaces, looks too attractive. Women who are the founts of life usually wear vibrant red and orange colors while men prefer white as it symbolizes cleanliness and purity. Trip to Bishnois villages around Rohet, Luni and Sardarsamand near Jodhpur is an unforgettable experience.

Forts that surrounds the city - Jaipur

2008-07-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

The capital city of Rajasthan - Jaipur built on a dry lakebed is surrounded by hills crowned by invincible fortress and observation posts. Of them the Nahargarh Fort (Tiger Fort) in the northeast of Jaipur was built by Sawai Raja Jai Singh II as a retreat for his wives in 1734. It has an unusual design with the queens’ apartments arranged around a central courtyard. It also provides a bird’s eye view of the city.

This fort is crowned on the Nahargarh Hills at a height of 600ft with massive walls and bastions. It is 15 km. from the center of Jaipur. The fort encloses some magnificent structure as Hawa Mandir and Madhvendra Bhawan also. Some beautiful views of Man Sagar Lake and the city below can also be viewed from the fort. Hills of Gaitor lie at the foot of the fort where the cenotaphs of Raja Jai Singh and other kings can be seen. A palatial duck blind lies in the midst of the lake that was used by royal family for shooting.

Another formidable fort is Jaigarh that is also crowned on a hill and is within walking distance from Amber fort. Jaigarh fort is also known by the name ‘Fort of Victory’. It lies at Hill of Eagles (Chil ka Tola) and 400 feet above the Amber fort. The fort gives a wonderful view of Amber fort below. It is surrounded by water on all sides. It commands a view unrivalled in the whole of Rajasthan. Its immense canon on wheel ‘Jaivan’– the largest in Asia- is made of eight metals including gold and silver. A hundred kilos of gun-powdered is needed by it for one shot and it could send the ball 30 km away. Sixteen elephants were needed to tow this because of its weight.

Amber fort is the fort built along with Jaigarh and Nahargarh fort in 1592 by Raja Man Singh. It is also built on hills at the entrance of Jaipur. The high arches and towers of the fort interrupt the hills that surround Jaipur. Its wall has seven gates that protect the invading armies and wild animals from entering in the city. Now the city has expanded beyond the walls. This fort is a superb example of the old Rajput architecture along with Mughal style. Diwan-e-khas, Diwan-e-Am, latticed opening, beautiful little gardens with fountains capture the attention easily. The view over a deep narrow valley and wider plains beyond adds to its beauty.

First Planned City of India - Jaipur

2008-06-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

The capital city of Rajasthan, Jaipur, is considered as the first planned city of India. It is located in the desert land of Rajasthan. Jaipur was built in the year 1727 A.D. when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh decided to shift the capital from Amber to Jaipur. To design the city he appointed a brilliant Brahmin scholar from Bengal named Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya. He set down the planned of the city according to the principles of Shilpashastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. The structure of the city shows the resemblance to the choice of Rajputs and the Royal family. The city was designed in a rectangular shape and divided into nine blocks that were separated by wide roads. High walls with eight magnificent gateways surrounded the city. The bazaars were built with remarkable uniformity along the main streets. The city dwellers were used to live above the bazaars, who entered their home through bylances that branched off the main roads. Rugged hills surmounted with forts provided natural defences in the North and the East, while strong defensive wall protected the city from the south and the west.

The City Palace (Shahi Mahal) and its gardens were built in the center of the city. Seven years were consumed to build Jaipur and became one of the best-planned city in India. Although the city has spread far beyond its original limits, the grid pattern of modern cities in the West.

Founder of Jaipur - Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh

2008-06-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Jaipur, the capital of the state Rajasthan is named after its founder Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Jai Singh belonged to the Kachhawaha clan of Rajputs. They claimed to be Suryavanshi, descendents of the Sun God. Jai Singh was the 28th Kachhawaha ruler who ascended the throne at the young age of 13. He distinguished himself early for his cool courage and mature graph of the politics of that turbulent period. A man of vision, he proved to be an able statesman and administrator. The Kachhawahas ruled from Amber, a rockbound stronghold nestled among the Aravallis. It was abandoned when Maharaja Jai Singh built his new capital at Jaipur. Long before he died at the age of 56, Jai singh had made Jaipur one of the most important states in Rajasthan both in area and prosperity.

He was born in 1686 A.D.and ascended the throne of Amber in 1699 A.D. He founded Jaipur in the year 1727 A.D. He shifted his capital from Amber to Jaipur to solve the problem of growing population and scarcity of water. The search of safe place to eradicate the crisis resulted in the foundation of Jaipur To plan the city he appointed a brilliant architect from Bengal, Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, who designed it in accordance to Shilpa Shastra (Vaastu). It happened around that time when Aurangazeb, the Mughal Emperor, died and the decline of Mughal Empire had set in. At this time he started giving more attention towards his state and started segregating himself from the affair of Mughal Court. Taking the advantage of this opportunity he planned his new capital in the planes. Jaipur is also considered as the first planned city of the country. It is the result of collaborate efforts of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh’s science and astrology and Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya. . Jaipur became a learning center in his time.

Besides this he was also a great warrior and astronomer. Jai Singh has shown his deep interest and devotion to astronomical work since his childhood. He obtained a thorough knowledge of its principles and rules with its constant study. He studied Hindu, Muslim and European methods impartially rather sticking to any one method. He even sent his certain assistants to Europe to get books and information. Thus he attained mastery over the subject. In addition to this he also established many large astronomical observatories at five principal cities of India. They are Jaipur, Ujjain, Benares, Delhi and Mathura. Through these schemes of scientific research he set up a notable example that has its influence till now. After contributing a lot for the progress, Maharaja Jai Singh died in 1734. After his death, nine successive rulers occupied the Jaipur throne until 1948, when Jaipur was merged with other Rajput states to form the state of Rajasthan of the Indian Union.

Jaipur is also known as pink city due to extensive use of pink plastered stones in the buildings. Jaipur is a famous tourist destination in the state because till now, in this modern also era it has maintained its rich historical past. The royal zeal of the city could be observed through its ancient monuments, temples, massive forts and magnificent palaces, that indicate the life style, culture, history and food of ancient time.Some of the forts that were built by him are Jaigarh fort, Nahargarh fort, City Palace and many other. Thus to visit Jaipur and view such a wonderful attractions is a great delight.

Mehandi (Heena) – The Ancient Folk Art

2008-06-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

Rajasthan is famous not only in India but all over the world for its colorful art and enriched culture. Mehandi, which is also known by the name Henna, is considered as one of the most ancient folk art of Rajasthan. This is believed to be very auspicious and sign of bringing good fortune in life, thus it is applied on hands and feet at the time of special and holy occasions such as marriage, festivals, engagements etc. The color of Mehandi symbolizes the color of life and prosperity.
This is a temporary art of skin decoration. It is believed that this practice of decorating body with the shade of Henna was first discovered in Egypt. The use of Mehandi as a cosmetic dates back about five thousand years, as may be seen from the henna stained hair and reddish tinted nails of the mummies in great Pyramids of Egypt. Thus it could be said that leaves of henna plant have been used since centuries for beautification purpose. In India, the Muslims introduced this art and the Rajputs particularly, started applying Mehandi extensively. Now it has taken the form of an essential part of custom and ritual in India.
Rajasthani Women are well known for their skill in applying Mehandi (henna). They acquire this art from childhood and have created a number of exclusive patterns that are specially designed for use during festivals. They have a large collection of designs according to different occasions. The application of Mehandi, however, assumes the form of a ritual during marriage when the bride’s hands and feet are adorned in intricate Mehandi designs. Not only the brides but also the grooms are adorned with beautiful designs. Professional Mehandi designers are traditionally proficient in the art and are in great demand during the wedding season. . Rajasthani folklore has several songs in praise of this beautiful art.
The art of applying Mehandi or Henna on the hands and feet of females is quite popular in India. A large variety of Mehandi are available here but Mehandi of Rajasthan has its own importance and is the most popular one as it leaves the darkest red color. The Mehandi powder is prepared by grinding the Mehandi leaves. This powder is then mixed with water and paste of it is prepared. It is then applied on hands and feet with beautiful designs. These designs are created with the help of matchsticks or cones. Beautiful red color designs are then revealed out when it is removed after getting dry.
Mehandi is not only famous as a product of ornamentation but also an ancient herb of grace and healing. It acts as a valuable medication and its effect is not less than a miracle. It protects the body from fungi and bacteria if it is applied on the skin. Not only this but it is also capable to lower down the body temperature in fever, burning feet, and violent temper. In addition to this it is also effective in headache. Thus Mehandi or Henna signifies its importance through its various use. On one hand where Mehandi is a precious jewel for bride and female to carry good luck then on the other hand it is also important from curative point of view.

First Ballroom Dancer of Jaipur – Maharaja Ram Singh II

2008-06-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

Maharaja Ram Singh II (1835-1880) was one of the most remarkable rulers of Jaipur. He was a minor when got the responsibility of the throne. Maharaja Ram Singh II of Jaipur differed from his ancestors. He was an enlightened ruler and owned a number of talents. He was a great patron of art and learning, a great ballroom dancer, a photographer and an able administrator. In fact he use to wander in the streets of the city at night in disguise to be ware of the condition of his people. His administrative reforms and contribution to the state is remembered even today. Forty –five years of his rule are famous as the golden age of Jaipur. In that period he built many of the public buildings, set offices for better education, facilitated road lights and water supply. Some of these public buildings are the Town Hall, Ram Niwas Garden, Ram Prakash Theatre, and Albert hall Museum, Maharaja School of Arts and Crafts.

He was perhaps the ‘first great prince’ to master ballroom dancing and cut a handsome figure as the vicereine’s partner at dances. He was fond of dancing and was a great ballroom dancer.

Maharaja Ram Singh’s other hobby was photography that he persued with royal zeal. His studio was filled with the best equipment of his time. A collection of his cameras fitted with lenses and diaphragms, dark room equipment, bottles of chemicals, manuals, framed enlargements etc. are carefully preserved in the photography room and are on view in the city museum. He bought his first camera in 1864 and became the first Rajasthani “Photographer Prince”. Even Prince of Wales remarked that ‘many of the Princes of India took to Photography but the Maharaja is a master in the art’. Louis Rousselet who himself was a photographer says that he is not only an admirer of this art but is himself a skilled photographer. In the same sequence Maharaja opened the School of Arts in 1866. Among these photographs, a self- portrait of the Maharaja is the most memorable one.
Maharaja Ram Singh built a unique hall of paintings called the Ram Niwas in the specially laid out gardens, for educating his subjects on arts. The wall had copies of Greek, Roman, Persian, and Chinese Paintings. Even today the Ram Niwas is a tourist attraction of Jaipur. He was a great connoisseur of music and was adept at playing the veena. He founded Ram Prakash theatre, which was rated the most modern theatre of its time. It delighted audiences with a series of backdrops, which transformed the stage from a palace into garden where fairies and aeroplanes could fly in from the sky and god and demons appears from under the stage to heighten the drama.
It is also said that the pink city has the pink colored buildings due to his choice only. In 1876 when the Prince of Wales planned to visit the city, Maharaja wanted the city to look clean. Thus to welcome the guest various shades were experimented in different streets and finally the terracotta pink was selected for the main shopping area. This color stayed and the city got its name as The Pink City. The visitor could find different shades of pink ranging from ice cream pink to terracotta red.

Pride of Rajasthan - The Great Indian Bustard

2008-05-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is the protected bird of Rajasthan. It is also known by the name Maldhok. Once found almost throughout India, it is basically on the verge of extinction. Now they are possibly found in the Desert National Park (Jaisalmer Distt.) in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Almost 90% of its former range has become extinct.

Now a day this species is found in India and probably in Pakistan. It generally lives in a habitat having arid and semi arid grasslands, open area with thorn scrub with tall grass scattered with cultivation. It avoids irrigated areas. It is omnivorous in nature and takes the diet according to the season. The food includes seeds of grasses, insect, rat, groundnut, millet etc.

It is a large, brown and white bird with long neck and long bare legs like that of an Ostrich. The male is about 122 cm in length weighing 8 kg-14.5 kg and female is about 92 cm in length and weigh about 3.5 kg-7 kg. Both the sexes have similar appearance. The under-parts and neck are white. A black crown is present on its forehead and upper body is brown. The wings are marked black, brown and grey. Male have larger black and crested crown, long hind crown feathers as compared to female. It also has a black band across the breast. In female the head and neck are not pure white.

Shy and timid by nature, the bustard keeps away from humans, preferring open scrublands where it lives in small groups. This spectacular bird undergoes a complete transformation at courtship when the gular sac in its neck inflates to the size of a balloon and hangs between its legs. Strutting majestically before its harem of hens, the bird utters a far-reaching call. The breeding period is during March to April. During this time the white feathers of male gets fluffy and inflated. The male raises its tail and folds it on its back. It periodically produces a resonant and booming sound. First breeding in male occurs at 5-6 years and 2-3 years in female.

They build their nest generally in an open ground and do not live in birds therefore the eggs are at risk of destruction from other animals. Female usually lays single egg once in a year and its incubation period is 27 days. Male do not contribute in nourishing or looking after its developing young ones. Although it has wings, the bird is slow in take off because of its 16 kg weight. But it is a swift runner. The hunter can easily spot and shoot the unsuspecting bird from his vehicle because of its long white neck, which is visible from a distance. The bustard is hunted for its meat, which is a food lover delight.

This bird has been declared as an endangered species due to its continuous decline. Hunting, poaching, conversion of land for agriculture, greater use of pesticides and loss of habitat are the main causes of its precipitous decline. The Desert National Park of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is considered as its largest protected area with a population of about 500 bustards. Here the ecology of the bird is studied minutely and efforts are made to protect this beautiful species. Now a day government is planning a number of projects to raise awareness and save this species.

Looting of the Deg – Urs fair

2008-05-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

Dargah Sharif at Ajmer, in central Rajasthan, is the most popular pilgrimage of Muslims. It is the place where the mortal remains of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti lie buried. He is popularly known as Garib Nawaz (protector of the poor) due to the devotion of his entire life in the service of mankind. The largest muslim fair of India called Urs (the death anniversary of Khawaja Sahib) is celebrated at the tomb of this sufi saint every year. This fair is organized during the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. More than five lakh people of almost every community from all over the world gather here to pay their homage to the Khwaja.

It is said that he embraced death in solitude when he was withdrawn to his cell for six days. He directed everyone not to disturb him. These days are celebrated as the days of Raj The pilgrims who are visiting here to seek the blessings of Khwaja offers rich offerings called ’nazrana’ at this holy spot. These include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and the most important Chadar, Ghilaph and Neema. The devotees bring the ‘nazrana’ on their head and inside the sanctum sanctorum it is handed over to the khadims present there.

The fair begins when Sajjada Nashin (successor representative of Chistis) hoists a white flag at Dargah. The fair begins with the ritual called ‘Ghusal’. According to this ceremony on the 1st of Rajab, the tomb is washed with rose water and then covered by embroided silk cloth. On the last day of the sixth month the Jannati Darwaja (gateway of heaven) is opened early in morning. It is believed that crossing this gate seven times assure a place in heaven so people cross this gate seven times.

The other interesting ritual is the looting of the Kheer (a sweet pudding of milk, rice and sugar). It is a unique practice during Urs at the Dargah Sharif. The Kheer is cooked in two large cauldrons called degs, gifted by Emperor Akbar, which can hold 4,482 kg or 2,240 kg of Kheer. This is then distributed amongst the pilgrims as ‘blessed food’.

This ceremony is also performed on the fulfillment of a wish. If any of the wishes of devotees get fulfilled, they offer rice here. When enough rice has been donated, Kheer (a sweet pudding of rice, milk and sugar) is prepared in one of the two cauldrons or degs. It is cooked the whole night. In the morning, professional looters empty the cauldron with lightning speed even jumping into the boiling pot to scrape it. The Kheer is then distributed among the pilgrims.

Many other programs are organized to create a festive mood such as Mehfils (religious assemblies) and Qawwallis (songs in praise of the saint) are sung each night. More than five lakh devotees gather here during this fair. The fair ends with Qul (end-all) on the 6th of Rajab. As Dargah is located at the middle of three markets so a wide variety of articles for shopping, as carpets, rosaries, textiles, prayer mates could be found here. Besides this a number of restaurants and guesthouses for residing purpose are also available.

Pilgrim Center of Muslims- Dargah

2008-05-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

Ajmer, which is situated in the heart of the Rajasthan is well known all over the world because of the presence of tomb of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, which is well known by the name of Dargah. Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti was a sufi saint who lived in Ajmer from 1191 till his death in 1236 A.D. Through his message of love and devotion to the mankind, he came to be known as Khwaja Garib Nawaz (the protector of the poor). Beggars even today plead for alms in his name.

The Dargah Sharif is considered as a wish-fulfilling shrine. It is believed by the followers of the saint that seven visit to Dargah is equivalent to one visit of Mecca, which is considered as the most auspicious destination of Muslim pilgrimage. The great Mughal Emperor Humayun in the honour of Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti built up the tomb in 16th century at the place where his last remains lay buried. It is said that Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, settled down in Ajmer in 12th century when Prithviraj Chouhan lost it to Mohammad Gauri. He started preaching here, due to which he gained a number of followers. Till now the followers have great faith in his teachings.

The Mughal Emperor Akbar twice walked all the way on foot from Agra to Ajmer in thanks giving for boons received. Humayun’s son Akbar and grandson Shah Jahan also added a mosque to the place. Although pilgrims come here throughout the year, yet during the Urs (death anniversary) of the saint, countless number of devotees converges upon the shrine from India and abroad for six days.

The saint’s tomb is fenced by a silver railing and surrounded by a marble lattice screen. Devotees offer cloth or Chaddar(flower coverlets), incense and rose petals as a token of gratitude or to ask for a favour. All night Qawwalis (devotional songs) sessions are held during the Urs.

On the seventh day, when the Urs is over, all those present, rich and poor, participates in the ritual cleansing of the Dargah- a labour of love for their Khawaja.

Though it is basically a Muslim shrine yet people from all over the world could be found here paying their obeisance to the saint. Not only Muslims but also people of all religions have great belief in its genuineness.
Thus Ajmer got an important place on India’s map due to the fact that along with Dargah the great Pilgrim of Muslims, the city lies close to the town of Puskar that is again a famous Pilgrim destination of Hindus. Thus it represents the integrity and unity of Indians and their culture.

Palace of Winds- Hawa Mahal

2008-05-10T03:51:00.000-07:00

The Hawa Mahal of Jaipur is one of the unique monuments of the world. The Hawa Mahal literally means Palace of winds. The Hawa Mahal has become a landmark by which Jaipur and often the whole of Rajasthan is represented. It is such a beautiful sight that cannot be described in words but its beauty could only be felt if seen live. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh built this unusual structure in 1799 for the royal ladies so they could see all the activities going on in the streets below while remaining unseen by the Public. The windows served both as a screen for privacy as well as to provide ventilation and to allow the cool air to circulate.

It looks like a huge beautiful palace but all it has are passages and balconies. It’s a pyramid shaped structure, having five storeyed building with number of small windows and screens and arched roof with hanging cornices. These are elegantly carved and decorated. The front part of the building is intricately carved as compared to rear side, which lacks much ornamentation and is very plain and more is a mass of passages and pillars.

The broad pyramidical facade comprises five storeys of semi octagonal overhanging windows with perforated screens, domes and spires. This five storeyed façade has artistic view with 953 pink delicately honeycombed sandstone windows called ‘Jharokas’and covered balconies behind pink sandstone jails. The first two storey are backed by a basement but the three storeys above it have just passages and windows. It becomes clear from its view that this building has not been constructed for residential purpose. There is a total lack of ornamentation on the inner face of the building. This honeycombed building was made to facilitate women.

The monument was built at the time when veiled system (‘Purdah’ system) was strictly followed in the royal families. Thus it was built so that the ladies could watch the activities taking place on the street and enjoy the sense of freedom. It offers women of the court a vantage point behind stone arched screens.

The building proves its name true as one climbs up to balconies, is almost swept away by the cool breeze. It’s a great example of Rajputana architecture, which was strongly influenced by Mughal architecture. Hawa Mahal is admired not only for its architecture but it also offers an astonishing view of Jantar Mantar that is another tourist attraction of Jaipur. Hawa Mahal provides the traveler a wonderful feeling of satisfaction of seeing a unique monument of the world, so one should not miss to travel the place.

Astronomer King of Rajasthan- Jai Singh II

2008-04-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Sawai Jai Singh II, one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan, is well known as ‘the astronomer king of Rajasthan’. The unique inventions designed by him are famous not only in India but all over the world. Jantar Mantar or the ‘Yantralaya’ of this astronomer king is the live example of his inventions. One can see the modernistic structures here that are known as ‘Yantras’. Sawai Jai Singh designed them to observe the movement of astronomical bodies.
Jai Singh exploded on the horizon of the Indian Astronomy. He tried to give the astronomy a new life by bringing new ideas from the west and thus arose a chain of magnificent observatories, which are famous as Jantar Mantar (Yantra Mandir). Jai Singh was passionate about astronomy and numerology since his childhood but his father died when he was only eleven. He continued his studies along with his princely duties and acquired mastery over subjects of astronomy and mathematics. He designed instruments, built observatories and compiled an excellent library.

He collected and studied all the available works of Indian, Arabic and Greek astronomers, and had some translated into Sanskrit. He also collected brass astrolabes, sextants and sundials to make his own observations. But as they failed to measure up to his exacting standards, he decided to build giant stone and masonry structures of his own design.

Thus, he created a collection of a mathematician’s paradise in the form of Jantar Mantar with the help of his skilled labourers, who chiseled out the complex astronomical instruments of stone. Even today these instruments could provide accurate information of the day and can be compared with modern instruments indisputably. These structures with their striking combination of geometric forms at a large scale have mesmerized the attention of architects, artists and art historians worldwide.

Initially Jantar Mantar was named as Yantra Mantra, which means instruments and formulas. But that name has changed to the recognized name due to the mispronunciation of the earlier name. Basically these were built to observe the movements of celestial bodies so as to measure the local time, ascertain the declination of sun, stars and other planets, determine celestial altitude and predict the eclipses accordingly. Jai Singh built five observatories at Jaipur, Ujjain, Delhi, Mathura and Varanasi between 1724 and 1735. Observatories at different places were built to reduce the errors introduced due to the limits of human vision. The fifth observatory at Mathura has disappeared now.

Jantar mantar at Jaipur is the largest, best-preserved and elaborate observatories of its time and has a remarkable collection of architectural astronomical instruments. It contains 13 stone instruments and three metal ones design by Jai Singh. The Jantar Mantar, the open-air observatory, has the Samrat Yantra, a gigantic sundial of about 90 feet, which attracts the maximum attention of the visitors. It has been designed to measure local time to an accuracy of about two seconds, the position of the sun and the other heavenly bodies with great precision. Its shadow is carefully plotted to tell the time of the day and the ‘Hindu Chhatri’, a small domed cupola, at the top is used to announce the eclipses and the arrival of the monsoon. The devices in most cases are huge structures to obtain the accuracy of readings; each instrument serves a particular function and gives an accurate reading.

Jantar Mantar is the only stone observatory in the world. Every year astronomers from all over India meet at the ‘Jaipur Observatory ‘to prepare the Yearly Panchang (Indian Almanac) with the help of its various instruments.
These instruments that are scientifically designed, set and given shaped that depicts the forte of Medieval Indian Astronomy. This feature makes it a special destination for tourism.

Rajasthan's Fair and Festivals with name of city in which held

2008-03-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

Name of festival	Place	Month of the year
Camel festival	Bikaner	January mid
Nagaur Fair	Nagaur	February 15^th
Desert Festival	Jaisalmer	February mid
Baneshwar Fair	Bharatpur	February mid
Elephant Festival	Jaipur	March End
Brij Festival	Bharatpur	March
Shitala Ashtami	Jaipur	March
Gangaur Fair	Jaipur	April
Mewar Festival	Udaipur	April
Keladevi Fair	Karauli	April
Mahaveerji Fair	Mahaveerji	April
Summer Festival	Mt. Abu	June
Teej Fair	Jaipur	August
Gogamedi Fair	Ganganagar	September
Kajli Teej	Bundi	August
Ramdeora Fair	Pokaran	September
Marwar Festival	Jodhpur	October
Dussehra Fair	Kota	October
Pushkar Fair	Ajmer	November
Chandrabhaga Fair	Jhalawar	November
Kolayat Fair	Bikaner	November

Two and A Half day shed

2008-03-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

Two and A Half day shed is an attractive tourist attraction during Rajasthan travel. The shed is well known as Adhai din ka Jhonpra as it was build in two and a half days as per the order of Mohammad Gauri. This famous monument lies in Ajmer, in the west of Kwaja Sahib Dargah.

It’s a spectacular piece of architecture that exhibits an exquisite blend of Indo-Islamic style. It is said that it was originally a Sanskrit college that was build in 1155 within a temple enclosure. But in the year1193 it was destroyed by the order of Mohammad Gauri. It is believed that after destroying it, he wanted a mosque to be prepared on the same site for his prayer. Therefore he ordered the worker to prepare it within two and a half days. Thus the remains of surrounding temples were utilized to build this magnificent monument. That is one of the reasons for the completion of the monument in two and a half day, as the original infrastructure must have already existed. There is an interesting fact about this mosque that no two pillars are alike and retain the Hindu stylistic elements.

Travel two and a half day shed and you will be able to read Koranic verses chiseled on the 7-arched wall inside the mosque. A Persian artist Abu Bakr designed this beautiful mosque in a hurry.

The main entrance is through a simple gateway in the north that has been beautified with a number of small yellow limestone arches on the façade and a pillared hall. The archways are finely engraved with Kufi and Jughra inscription from the Holy Koran. This gate leads to a stairway, which in turn leads to a striking tower that is used by the Muezzin (mosque official) to chant prayer. The arched screen and distinct pillars with its ruined minarets has generated it as a splendid architectural masterpiece. The monument has a seven-arched wall with Islamic calligraphy. Six smaller arches of Arab origin flank the main arch.

The main prayer hall consists of stonewall that gives a net like appearance with carved rectangular panels on them. This has been done so as to provide a natural lighting effect, as it is a feature found in ancient Arabian mosques.

For this elegant monument the pillars with architectural fineness were assembled. These were collected from destroyed Hindu and Jain temples in the surrounding area. There are 124 pillars supporting 10 domes. These pillars depict Hindu and Jain architecture.

The interior of the edifice gives more resemblance of a Hindu temple than that of a mosque. There is a main chamber that is supported by a numerous columns. To give the monument more height, three pillars of uncommon design are placed over each other. These pillars are heavily decorated with design quite similar to Hindu and Jain rock temples. The roof of the hall is supported on square bays and the ceiling is also extensively carved. Below this is a pulpit that has been especially constructed to deliver the sermons of Quran.

In 1266 more screen and arches were added to beautify it. The archways are finely engraved and adorned with intricate carvings depicting Kufi and Jughra inscriptions from the holy Kuran. The quadrangular structure cloistered on all the four sides, with affront screen wall of seven pointed arches is one of the finest and the largest specimen of the early Muslim mosque that now exists and a great example of Indo-Islamic architecture. According to some of the legends the name of the mosque has been given after a festival that is carried on for two and a half days. Thus Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is a wonderful site to visit during Rajasthan tourism.

Sanganer- Handmade Paper

2008-01-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Sanganer has been producing handmade paper for centuries. It is just 16 km from Jaipur on the Tonk road. The town is renowned for its craft, hand-printed textiles and above all for handmade paper industry. It is said that artists in Mughal Period were also using Sanganeri paper for painting. Besides this, one can discover remains of palaces and Jain temples exploring the cultural roots of Indian heritage in Sanganer.

As the place is situated on the bank of river Saraswati, there is abundance of clear water and open space, which is essential for papermaking. It is said that Emperor Babur encouraged the establishment of paper industry during 1520 in Alwar, Rajasthan. Then in 16th century, Raja Man Singh, the ruler of Amber, brought ‘Kagzis’ to Sanganer. 'Kagzis’ are the expert artisans of handmade industry. They can be discovered in the Kagazi Mohalla of Sanganer. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II bought about the idea of handmade paper industry, in Sanganer, in 1728. After that the town emerged out as one of the biggest papermaking center in northern India. The industry got a good encouragement after independence as KVIC (the Khadi and Village Industries Commission) included the paper for the promotion of crafts industry in Sanganer. As a result, there are about 10 handmade paper industries at present.

Making paper by hand is a long and laborious process. All kinds of waste paper and rags are collected and shredded, then soaked, strained and beaten repeatedly into a soft pulp that is left to ferment for eight days. After thoroughly washing the pulp, it is put into frames of wire or bamboo to form sheets. These sheets are then pressed and dyed and hung out to dry. To save labour and time, in recent years machines have been introduced for shredding and pulp- beating.

Although the papermaking is a manual process yet machines are used now a day. One can see big sheets of paper drying everywhere on the way at the riverbank and surrounding fields. Sanganer prints are one of its own kinds and well known all over the world. The Sanganer handmade paper has become very popular for writing pads, envelops, albums, greeting, wedding cards etc.

A large number of products are prepared from these papers such as carry bags, shopping bags, gift bags etc. Apart from this these are also used as cover, for preparation of decorative items etc. Now a day bags of handmade paper having stylish and elegant look are in much demand. For more safety and attractive purpose handmade bags with more eco-friendly material are being introduced.

Another specialty of Sanganer is hand block printing on locally made cotton cloth. The patterns are made in huge tints. Because of their excellent designs, they are in great demand in India and abroad. Therefore the material is exported not only in India but abroad also. The pattern in bright colors with white background is an outstanding work. Not only this but small floral pattern is the specialty of Sanganer block print.

These handmade papers are prepared with various beautiful pattern and designs to amplify their beauty as per the demand of people or business organization. People are having a great charm for this material, as it is not only attractive but eco-friendly also.

Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bird's Heaven

2008-01-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

The Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a pilgrimage for bird’s lover, is a paradise for avian world. It is well known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and is a proud host of a variety of species of beautiful migratory birds. As many as 375 Indian and migratory birds are found in this bird’s heaven. The location of the park is considered as the ideal location as it lies on the main north-south avian route of India. Covering an area of about 30 sq. km, it lies between India’s two historic cities, Agra and Jaipur and is about 190 km from Delhi. About 11 km area of the park is covered with water, marshes and the rest of it is enriched with birds like kingfisher, red vented, bulbul, sunbirds, parakeets, sparrows etc.

Maharaja Suraj Mal, the ruler of Bharatpur, created it in the 18th century. In the British Empire, it was well known as the best duck shooting resort. Duck shooting used to be a common pastime during winter months for British viceroys, officials and princes. After that the hunting was banned and in 1956, it was declared a reserve for birds and later on upgraded to national park in 1982. Today it is famous as the most important breeding and feed grounds for birds all over the world. In 1985, UNESCO listed it as the World Heritage Site. It is the best place that domiciles a variety of birds and mammals.

The sanctuary not only attracts the birds from India but also from Europe, Siberia, China and Tibet. Hundreds of exotic birds perch before Monsoon and starts their nest building activities on the Babool and Kadam trees of the park. As the monsoon and the favorable conditions arrive, birds from various parts of the globe turn up to take shelter in the park. Daily arrival includes grey herons, painted and open-billed storks, Indian shags etc.

Siberian cranes are the most distinguished guests of the park. They are considered as the pride of the place. The water-fowls visit in millions during October. Ducks that have been spotted here are pintail, ruddy shelduck, common shelduck, gadwall, red crested pochard etc. To complete the avian foodchain, predatory birds like imperial eagle, steppe and tawny eagle, marsh harrier, lagger falcon also arrives here. Some predatory birds like short-toed eagle, lesser spotted eagle and shikra are the inhabitant of the park.

It is the home of various animals also as black bug, sambhar, spotted deers and nilgais. Pythons can be seen at some places relaxing in the sun. Other birds like white necked and black necked stork, spoonbills, night heron, various species of egret, darter, cormorant etc gets busy in courting and mating, when they get assured of sufficient food and favorable condition. At this time the trees gets over flooded with nests of the birds belonging to the different species. The whole place echoes with enchanting sounds in the season time and one can easily enjoy the fascinating views against the sprawling meadow of flora.

The temperature of national park during summer varies from 38°C to 45 °C while in winter it falls below 10°C. In monsoon the temperature is about 27°C.

Although the park remains busy all over the year with the activities of the birds but the best time to visit here is from the month of October to March. This park abounds many species of birds including some very rare species and also some endangered species. It’s really eye-catching to see a number of birds flying in flock. It is advisable for the visitors to maintain low noise level here and also to avoid trashing the park. Vehicles are permitted upto Shanti kutir and not inside the park.

The electra van, which has been facilitated by the forest department, can be engaged to visit the place or one can travel around the park on foot or bicycle through well-defined tracks. Cycle rickshaws are also available on hire. Rickshaw pullers are trained by the park management to give the descriptive knowledge of the site. The boat trip early in the morning or late evening is another cherishing experience of the park.

CRAFT CAPITAL OF RAJASTHAN

2007-11-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

Rajasthan provides the masterpiece of craft item to the world. Among them Jaipur is the famous one for its unique and minute craftwork. Jaipur offers a large variety of artistic handicraft. This custom started, when Maharaja of Jaipur-Sawai Jai Singh planned the city and to encourage the workers he allotted a particular locality to every type of craftsman. The result was a great rise in their talent. Even today also their descendent continue to practice the same craft, living in the same localities and the result is production of the matchless artistic work. Jaipur is world famous for its artistic work in ornament making. It is one of the largest centers in India for ornament making that includes not only gold and silver work but also Kundan work that is the setting of precious stones in gold and silver and also for the meenakari work. Jaipuri meenakars receives a large amount of silver from silver mines of Mewar region. Besides this the Bandhani work of Jaipur is also world famous. This is a tie and die work in which knots are tied on a cloth before dying them. Thus various designs as enchanting patterns of dots, stripes and criss cross are produced on muslin, cotton or silk. The block printing of Jaipur is marvellous. In this craftwork of delicate and beautiful floral designs are carved on wooden blocks and these are hand printed on cotton and calico cloth. The craftwork on pottery is another distinguished feature of Jaipur.The blue and white pottery has a thick porous body along with hand painted with floral and geometrical patterns in blue and green colors. The hand knotted carpets here got an encouragement due to fascination of rulers of Rajasthan for them. Thus the carpet weaving has got a new way for its upliftment. The weavers also modified their work according to the demand. Then the razais (quilted wrap) are another feature of the place. These razias contain less than 500gm of cotton wool. These are the finest and delicate ones and inspite of less weight they are capable of warding off the chill winter. The mojaris are quite a rage. These are the slip-on leather juti known as Salim Shahi. As it is said Emperor Shah Jahan used to wear these emerald-studded mojaris. These have leather sole and its upper part is beautifully covered with embroided cloth or velvet. The lac bangles are very popular amongst Indian women. Bangles of this type are presented in various designs and attractive colors. One can't ignore the impressive craftwork of these bangles. They are exported to various parts of the world due to its beauty. Earlier lac was used as a form of lacquer for handmade playing cards. Varak leaves of real gold and silver are also prepared here. These are widely used for decorating sweet products and also for medicines. Gaddis of these leaves are produced manually by thousands of craftsmen. Thus Jaipur provides a lot of attractive and useful craft materials not only to the country but to the world also and could be considered as the land of a lot of talented person having a lot of skill within them.

Jaipur Foot

2007-11-14T08:25:00.000-08:00

Jaipur is a well-known name in the world of handicraft and architecture. Besides this Jaipur has given a marvelous gift to the amputee person in form of Jaipur foot and thus paved its strong foot in the medical field also. This foot has bought a new hope and dreams in the desolate world of amputees. Earlier it was customary to fit an artificial limb -prostheses to a lower limb amputee which was known as 'SACH' foot. This foot used to be developed in America. The full form of this foot is Solid Ankle -Cushioned Heel. But there were some limitations for the user of SACH foot.The Indian handicapped especially living in rural areas had to face them a lot. The main problems were -firstly its cost was beyond the reach of many people and a simple man can't afford to buy it. Secondly a shoe was needed to cover the SACH foot, but the rural people have a habit to walk barefoot at home and wear slippers outside the house. In many rural areas it is a custom also to not to wear shoe at home. Thus to meet the requirement of rural amputee people an orthopedic surgeon of Jaipur, Dr.Promod Karan Sethi made the efforts and developed the popular Jaipur Foot. Dr Sethi, with the help of some local artisans developed an artificial limb that is- prostheses. The main difference among the two foots was that the Jaipur Foot was flexible as it was made of vulcanized rubber. Thus it was easy for a patient to squat, sit cross-legged and even walk on uneven paths of villages. Besides this it exactly looked like a normal foot so it can be used without shoe or slippers even in muddy fields. The other important innovation was its shank. Dr.Sethi has replaced the wooden shank of previous foot with aluminium one. It was cheaper as well as more comfortable one. It is the portion of the leg above the ankle and the foot piece. Thus this foot opened a new window for the handicapped people and decreased the sorrow of patient of loosing foot to a great extent. One of the great classical dancers Sudha Chandran was also able to dance again due to this foot only. The Jaipur Foot not only bought fame to Dr.Sethi but he was also rewarded for the same. He was honored with the Megsaysay Award and Padma Shri in 1981.Along with Dr.Sethi; Jaipur also achieved a great position in the world. Today Jaipur has become one of the India's largest artificial limbs Centres. Many people get its blessings every year in the form of the foot. In return they also give numerous of their blessings to the developer of this foot.

Camel Breeding Farm

2007-08-23T01:30:00.000-07:00

Camel Breeding Farm

Camel which is well known by the name of ‘Ship of Desert’ is a crucial species of Desert Ecosystem. It is proficient to tolerate and survive in the dry, hot climate of desert with high solar radiations. It has adapted itself to suit the environment of the place.

It could uphold its life on coarse fodder, salty and thorny bushes. In this matter, Bikaner has long been famous for the excellence of its dromedaries or camel riding. Along with this, camel serves man in many other ways. Like its milk with tallow odor is rich in vitamin c and considered as an important food item. The hair on its chin, are used to make artist’s brush. Its hide is used to prepare various items of visitor’s interest such as plain or embroidered slip-on Mojaries, lampshades, drum, toys and many more decorative items. Its hide is also used to make Kuppas (bags) for storing oil.

Realizing the value of this species the Indian council of agriculture Research has established National Research center on camel. This is a government managed breeding farm and is 8km from the city at Jorbeer, Bikaner. This is one of the largest and unique Camel-breeding farms in Asia that attracts the tourists a lot. This center is world famous for breeding the best camels. The center came into existence on 5th July, 1984 and from then onwards it houses hundreds of camel which are bred generally in winter. The farm extends over 2000 acres of semi arid land. In this farm various experiments related to camels are conducted regularly so as to breed a better variety of camel. The aim of the farm is to encourage the concept of camel rearing and to make the camel an economically viable animal for camel rearers.

Besides this camels of Bikaner are popular for their large size than other breed, thick eyelashes to keep out the sand and these camels are very hairy, particularly on their ear lobes. They are the swiftest among ridding camels. Evidences have been found out that the Mughal Emperor Akbar covered a distance of 1000 Km from Fatehpur Sikri to Ahmadabad in nine days on a Bikaner dromedary. The British army had a camel corps drawn from here during World War I. The Indian Army has a Camel Corps, which has proved most useful in desert warfare.

This farm provides employment to many Indian Raika and Rebari. This is a camel breeder tribe that is in a profession to look after the camels since the ancient time. They are well use to the animal and have now adopted the new methods to take care of the animal. One can enjoy hearing about camels along with camel lore and their breeding from these tribes. According to the research conducted on camel in this center it was found that average riding capacity of a healthy camel is more than 100 km with the speed of about 15 miles per hour in a day. Besides this a healthy camel could carry a weight of about 18 to 20 quintals for more than 4 hours in the desert area without any strain. Planning is going on to promote the camel rearing concept so that it could come out as an economically beneficial option in the region.

Rajasthani cuisine

2006-12-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

India is well known for its spicy cuisine style. Besides this each region in India is famous for its unique traditional dishes and their special flavour. As Rajasthan is said to be a princely state so was the kitchen of its palaces. It was considered a pride to serve the guest the best and tastiest dishes. Thus it became the matter of prestige for the royal cooks and this make them experiment new flavours in their kitchen. These experiments gave rise to various royal and unique dishes, which were then passed over generation after generation and are still the pride of the place.
Although Rajasthani dishes have their unique flavour yet the influence of its climate could easily be seen in them. As here the scarcity of water has always been appeared so the in which minimum water is utilized is preferred, instead milk is used in the dishes that makes them more rich and delicious. . As Rajasthan is rich in cattle wealth, ghee and milk is used in liberal quantities. Due to these circumstances, the food that could last for longer time and could be used without heating is preferred. As the availability of green vegetables is also less here so the dried lentils, beans from indigenous plants like sangri, ker etc. are liberally used.
Rajasthani food has a flavour unique to the state. It is predominantly vegetarian and consist of a lot of variety. The spice content is also a little higher here than the Indian standards that makes the food more delicious. The food of the town-dwellers all over Rajasthan is highly spiced and fried dishes and sweetmeats are common in the daily menu.
Gram flour is major ingredient used here and variety of delicacies like khatta, gatta ki sabzi, pakodi are prepared by this. Powdered lentils are used for mangodi, papad. Bajra and corn is also used in large amount all over the state for preparations of rabdi, kheechdi, and rotis. Various chutneys are made from locally available spices like turmeric, coriander, mint and garlic. In western Rajasthan where water and vegetables are scarce, Bajri ki roti and Lasan ki chutney along with onions form the staple diet of rural people.
Rajasthani cuisine has certain food specialties. Dal-bati-choorma (baked dough balls of wheat flour in dal) and Gatta saag are delicacies prepared generally on ceremonial and festive occasions. An integral part of many of the preparations is the relish ghee, which is frequently used in Rajasthan. Some of the famous regional dishes are-Khaddi, vadi, Rabodi, pachkuta, and sabjis of various ingredient as- Gajar, Beans, Gunwar, Keri, Makki etc. In spicy dishes Mirchibada and Shahi Samosa of Jodhpur are incomparable. One can’t stop eating them although their eyes are watering.
The variety of sweet dishes is also immense and these dishes are not considered as the desert that has to be eaten at the end of the meal. Beside this there is no rationing of the Rajasthani sweets, it could be taken before, after or with the meal anytime. Besides spicy flavours, each region is distinguished by its popular sweet like- Mawa Ladoo and Mawa Kachori from Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, Malpuas from Pushkar, Jalebies from most big cities, Rasogullas from Bikaner, Dil Jani from Udaipur, Mishri Mawa and Ghevar from Jaipur, Sohan Halwa from Ajmer, Mawa from Alwar, Tilpapadi from Beawar. The other sweets that have there own specialty are-Besan-chakki, jhajariya, balushahi, laapsi, nukti, tarfini etc.
Along with this non-vegetarian food is also a specialty here. In the ancient time when the Rajas went on hunting, they used to eat the meat or the fowl that they brought back. Even today, Rajasthani princely feasts flaunt meat cuisines that are incomparable. Non-vegetarian food is also served at weddings and on festive occasions by the Rajputs.. These dishes are famous for it's mouth- watering aroma. Dry fruits, spices and yogurt are used in many delicacies. Even today it is famous that in ancient time cooks tried to impress their guests by exploring at least one unforgettable item in their menu as stuffed camels, goats, pigs and peacocks, which now became a legend. Even now- a days also almost all restaurants try to prepare a special dish that becomes their specialty.
Then the way of serving is also quite different here. The guests are considered as God and are force fed with lot of affection, which is called manuhar or manvar. It is considered extremely rude to just lay the food on the table and expect guests to serve themseleves. Thus Rajasthan had still maintained its traditional value and atticates along with the delicacy of food that one ends up licking his finger and your heart says ‘yes’ while tummy says ‘no’. This is the characteristic of Rajasthani cuisine.

History and Location of Rajasthan

2006-12-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

Rajasthan means the ‘Adobe of Kings.’ After the bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh, now Rajasthan has became the largest state of India. It is located in the northwest of India. It is surrounded by the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It shares its international border with Pakistan.
Rajasthan was originated on November 1,1956. Previously four states joined and the name given to it was the Matsya Union. But as more and more states merged in it, the name of union went on changing and thus the United of Rajasthan formed. Previously Rajasthan was named as Rajputana that means ‘The home of Rajputs’. The chief of a Rajput clan had ruled over almost every city and town of Rajasthan. Some of the famous clans were the Sisodias, the Rathores, the Chauhans, the Kachhawahas and the Jhalas. The Rajputs were born warriors and always lived by a code of chivalry, honour and pride in their traditions. These were described as Agni Kula and insisted that they should be given the Kshatriya status. The Rajputs have a fascinating story. Historians believe that some of them came from certain tribe of central Asia that entered India with the Huns invaders. The four clans that claimed to either the Suryavansi which means solar or the Chandravansi which means lunar, decent from out of a mythical sage’s sacrificial fire pit that is Agni Kund near Mt.Abu in Rajasthan. According to legends, the God performed Yagna here. This gave rise to four clans of Rajputs—the Chauhans, the Solankis, the Parihars and the Panwars. In ninth and tenth centuries Rajput’s raised their political importance and ruled over various parts of western and central India by establishing themselves as kings. Until 20 century Mewar and Marwar were two powerful Rajput kingdoms in Rajputana. The mewar region consist of Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Bhilwara district where as marwar consist of Jodhpur and Bikaner district. The rulers of mewar kingdom were known as ‘Ranas’. This kingdom was founded in 728 A.D. with its capital at Chittorgarh. Later on the capital was shifted to Udaipur. Raos founded the kingdom of Marwar in the 13th century having its capital at Jodhpur.
According to the geologists Aravalli range of Rajasthan divides the state into two geographical regions having distinct features--the north- western and the south- eastern. The north- western region is sandy as it is a part of the Thar or the Great Indian Desert. This region is known as the Marwar region while the south- eastern part comprises of the fertile tablelands, wide valleys and extensive hill ranges. This region is well known as the Mewar region. It is considered that the Aravalli range that dominates the Rajasthan landscape is the oldest mountain system in India and probably the world. The Aravalli range rise to a height of 1,700 meters and is about 692 km long. This range along with the warding off the desert winds from the west also affects the region’s climate. The forts that were strategically located here add to the beauty of the range. The highest peak of the range is the Guru Shikhar. It is located in the Abu hills in Rajasthan. A small shrine marks the summit of Guru Shikhar. A little below the summit is the Agni Kund, a tank famous for the birth of the Rajput’s clan. According to the legends, in this tank God performed the Yagna. Thus Rajasthan have an interesting and fascinating history behind its origin. The state has also experienced various faces with various rulers who ruled here and thus gave rise to many stories regarding the period that would be unforgettable till centuries.

Marusthali and ancient Harappan culture in Rajasthan

2006-12-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

Marusthali is the other name given to the Thar or the Great Indian Desert. Marusthali means ‘Land of the Dead’. This is the region that is dry and sandy. It is located in the extreme west of Rajasthan and covers about three- fifth of the state. The Thar or the Great Indian Desert is spread over the four states of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan. It is an intersperse stretch of sand and not a continuous stretch. It constitutes various hillocks, plains, salt marshes and lakes.
It is said that long time ago the Thar Desert or Marusthali was not a desert. According to the archeologists it was covered with dense forests and many rivers used to flow here along with the legendary Saraswati. In the Fossil Park near Jaisalmer also remains of a 180 year old forest can be seen, which indicates that there was a time when the so called Thar Desert was having a warm and humid climate. There were dense forests and also a prosperous civilization flourished here. But due to some ecological changes the rivers dried up and the green plains turned into a barren and sandy desert. Yet the Marusthali is not fully barren, it is enriched with Sewan grass and trees like Khejri, a typical desert tree and Babul. These have proved to be an excellent fodder for camels and other cattle that are reared here for livelihood. The Luni Lake, also called as Salt River is enriched in the salt. This arises from the Nag hills near Ajmer and empties itself in the Rann of Kachchh. This is the only river that flows in the Marusthali. Another the legendry Saraswati River is said to flow undergrounds the Thar Desert. As the rainfall is scanty here that is about 10 to 12 cm a year so each and every drop of water is considered as invaluable and is stored in wells or tanks.

Ancient Harappan civilization has been found at Kalibangan. In 1952 Archaeologists founded Kalibangan, which literally means ‘black bangles’. Here pieces of terracotta bangles were found littered all over. The site is located in Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. Although much of the city lies buried here in the sand but the unearthed excavations gives a symbol of well laid out streets and efficient drainage system along with better water supply facility. Also a well has been found intact which was made of bricks and was circular in shape. Thus a planned city comparable to Mohan-Jo-Doro, Harappa and Lothal was revealed. Some of the other objects that were excavated and which throws the light on the life and activities of its inhabitants are seals with inscription, stone blade, weights of various shapes and size and many more. It is well known that Kalibangan is the only site in India where ploughed field has been found. These all evidences gives a sign that at that time also people used to live in a planned and cultural manner. The research is still in progress in a hope to get some more relics that could reveal and give more information about that era.

Rajasthan-An Introduction

2006-12-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

Rajasthan is one of the most colorful states of India where one can have an actual and clear picture of tradition and culture of this vast country. Every view of Rajasthan is fascinating and has hidden an enormous beauty of the place in them. The mind blowing sand-dunes of the Thar Desert, the arid valleys of the Aravallies, the richness and delicacy of the palaces, the beauty and piousness of the temples, the architectural grandeur of the hill forts, the traditionalism of the villages and the simplicity of the people all describes the velour of the place. Besides this Rajasthan is also known as the land of the tiger, the camel, the peacock and the great Indian Bustard.
The state is enriched with a glorious past of bravery and chivalry of its hero who have won the admiration of the world. People in the state still live and die here by their words. On one hand it is a centre of bravery, dedication and strength and on the other hand it is blended with love, sacrifice and compassion. According to the renowned historian Col. Todd: -Every single flower on the land of the Rajasthan has danced in the scent of bravery and sacrifice. Not a wave of air has passed when brave men did not bow at the feet of the war goddess. There has been no house where no brave soldier was born to fight for the prestige of the nation. Not one hut has existed where mothers did not sing the songs of velour and dedication. Here people have sacrificed their lives for their words and promises and mothers have always prepared their children to dedicate themselves in the feet of their motherland. The history and various monuments of the state witness the story of the bravery and dedication.
The spirit of the people and their artistic and cultural traditions are preserved in their folklore; in their music and dance; in their fairs and festivals; in their arts and crafts. Various dialects are used here in speech like in Udaipur the dialect used is Mewari while Marwari is spoken in Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Ajmer. The Rajasthani language, which is an offshoot of western Hindi, is not recognized in the constitution of India. Thus, Hindi is the official language of the state.
Besides this the Palaces that has turned to hotels gives a pleasant feeling of royal living along with the description of the history of the place. The hotel provides one with royal facilities. The luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels’ is one of its own kind. It reflects the ancient gallantry tradition of the state and a comfortable ride to the various prestigious places of the state with all the facility and comforts required. Thus a visit to Rajasthan is an experience to be savored for life rather than just enjoyment.

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HILL STATION OF RAJASTHAN

2006-12-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

Rajasthan is famous all over the world for its widely spread deserts. But the pleasant weather of hilly region could also be experienced here at Mt.Abu. Mt.Abu, which is a hilly plateau in the Aravallis, is the only hill station of Rajasthan. Here one can enjoy the mind-blowing weather along with the richness of greenery of the place. At the time of British rule in this hill station was used as a sanatorium for troops. Besides this it was also a favorite summer resort for the rulers of Rajasthan and Gujrat. This adornment could be easily seen through the beautiful palaces that were built by these rulers here.
Now this place is considered as a place of pilgrimage for Jains as many of pious temples of Jains are situated here. The Dilwara temple is one of them. It is not only famous for its piousness but also for its outstanding architectural work and enormous beauty. This temple was built around a thousand years ago but still attracts the attention of a person due to its minute craftwork. The five magnificent Dilwara Jain Marble temples at Mt.Abu are unique in the history of marble carving. These temples are intricately sculptured and richly ornamented. According to Ferguson, the most striking feature in the Tejpala temple is the pendent of the dome that is hanging from the center. In the words of Ferguson “It hangs from the center more like a luster of crystal drops than a solid mass of marble.” It is famous in the region that the carvers of the temple were rewarded with silver that was equal to the weight of the marble filings. The outer structure of the temple has been given a simple look so as to save it from being attacked by the invaders. Besides this marble statue of a Jain tirthankara at Dilwara temple gives it a unique look.
Another popular attraction of the place is the ‘Nakki Lake’. It is an artificial lake that is studded with small islands. The regional story behind the formation of the lake is famous here. It is said that the lake was formed when the Gods scratched at the mountain with their fingernail (Nakh). Thus it was given the name ‘Nakki Lake’. The other special feature is the ‘Toad Rock’. It is overhung on the lake and looks like a gigantic toad that is about to spring into the water. Now a days the ‘Nakki Lake is famous as a pleasant spot for boat rides. The lake is surrounded by a number of small temples. The walk around this lake, listening to the temple bells ringing gives a spiritual as well as mental satisfaction. Various shops are also situated around the lake where things of requirement could be found.
The place is famous for the religious sect’s headquarter called ‘Brahma Kumaris’. Along with this the ‘Rock Garden’ is also well known. This garden besides its natural beauty also have a separate section where the demonstration of the teachings of this sect is given. Thus one could gain a lot of spiritual knowledge here in addition to the enjoyment of the nature. This sect was started with the aim of establishing world peace by ‘imparting spiritual knowledge and training in Raj Yoga meditation’. The sect is spreaded all around the world in about 82 countries and has more than 7,000 branches. Followers of the sect from various parts come to Mt.Abu to attend the courses at its spiritual university.
Mt.Abu is famous for its natural beauty also. It is famous for its variety of flowering trees and birds. Large amount of mushrooms are also found her at the time of monsoon. Thus one could be fully enjoyed both mentally and spiritually at the marvelous trip of Mt.Abu.

SINGING PRINCESS OF RAJASTHAN

2006-11-28T19:06:00.000-08:00

SINGING PRINCESS OF RAJASTHAN

Generally all the people in the world have faith in god. Among them some are there who had intensely devoted themselves in the prayer of god and still rare are there who becomes the synonym of the devotion to god. One of such devotees was Mira, the wife of prince Bhoja. She had intensely devoted her life, body, mind and soul in the ecstasy of Lord Krishna.
There is a famous tale about the initiation of this devotion of Mira for Lord Krishna. It is said that in her childhood she saw a bridegroom sitting on a mare, who was going for his marriage. Seeing this she asked her mother excitedly that who was her bridegroom. Her mother merrily told her that her bridegroom is Lord Krishna. From that day onwards she considered herself to be his bride and became his intense devotee. Now she was having nothing in her life except Lord Krishna's prayer. She was feeling him all around her and thus missed herself only in Krishna's prayer. Mira was married to a crown prince Bhoja in her early teens. He was very happy to have a wife like Mira. But at the time of her marriage also she took the statue of Lord Krishna when she sat in her palanquin. But no one took it seriously as it was only showing her faith in god. Soon Bhoja realized that he had married a mystic instead of a bride. He became unhappy because every now and then he use to find Mira lost herself in Krishna's prayer. She was showing no response to any other relation. In other words she had crossed all the limits of her divine madness. Her husband and her in laws have tried everything to bring her out of her madness. They tried every trick by hook or crook but all was in vain. She was tried to make threatened by venomous snake and torture. But she never agreed to leave Lord Krishna's prayer. Once to break her blind faith, she was given a cup of poison to drink with a comment that if your Krishna is really there you will not be affected otherwise you'll have to forget him. In no time she drank away the poison and she was safe. That much strong was her faith and trust. After this incident everyone accepted her belief to be true and regarded her feelings.
Wreathed in her ecstasy she sang many beautiful and unmemorable bhajans that is hymns in praise of Lord Krishna. Eventually after the death of her husband and father-in-law she left her kingdom and devoted herself fully in the prayer of Lord Krishna. She went on a pilgrimage. It is said that at Dwarka her soul got mixed up with her lord in the form of a flame.
Many hymns of Mira are still very much popular among people and sung all over the land. Her bhajans as "mere to girdhar gopal doosara na koyi.." give an inner satisfaction and peace to the mind. She had truly proved that belief is the supreme power and for this it is not essential to see someone physically, it’s only the internal feeling and faith that makes your trust true. In this way she had presented an example of devotion, faith, prayer and divinity beside the world. The temple where Mira spend most of her time composing song of adoration to Lord Krishna can still be seen at Chittor.

Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan

2006-11-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan

Pushkar Fair takes place every year at Pushkar near Ajmer in the month of Kartik that is in October or November. It is one of the most famous fair in Rajasthan (India) where lakhs of people flock together from all over Rajasthan. It is said that Pushkar is the ‘Father of all the pilgrimages’ and without a bathe in the holy water of ‘Pushkar Lake’ the journey to any pilgrim is incomplete.When this grand fair takes place a mini tent city springs up on the sandy ground along with beautifully decorated shops. These shops contain various architectural, cultural, religious and decorative items.
The fair is not only commercially important but also has a religious significance. The beautiful lake of Pushkar is considered as a sacred lake. According to legend, the Lord of creation-Brahma performed a Yagna (sacrifice) here on the full moon day of Kartik after killing a demon with a lotus flower. The place where the lotus petals fell, a lake was originated which was named as Pushkar .On the Yagna side a grand temple has also been built which is dedicated to Lord Brahma. This temple is only one of its kinds in India. Pushkar has been grew into a temple town from last many centuries and today it has become a great temple town with more than 500 beautiful temples.
The festivities here reach a climax on full moon day when million of pilgrims and traders take bathe in lake’s holy water and pay their homage to Lord Brahma. It is considered that one can get rid of his or her sins if the bathe is taken in this sacred lake. Anoher attractive feature of this fair is the Deep-Daan. This is an important ritual practice done by the devotees during the fair in which the pilgrims offer lamps to the Pushkar Lake. It is a beautiful view as the night falls because thousands of tiny earthen lamps float out in the lake, flickering their glow in the darkness of night in the holy water. The fair becomes colorful when one have a sight of women in bright swirling skirts (Ghagras), which are made of about 20 meters of cloth and the men, in colorful twisted turbans along with their Dhoti-Kurta.
The camel race is another characteristic feature of the fair that is greatly enjoyed by the pilgrims. Besides this ‘loading of the Camels’ is very popular during the fair. It is a kind of weight-lifting contest for the Camel. In this contest dozens of men climb over the poor animal for a ride and the Camel having the largest ‘load’ wins the contest. Here all the facilities of hotels and various cuisines are available for a traveler.
Thus along with ritual practices a pilgrim can have full entertainment of the beautiful view and the various contest taking place here. So it could be an event from where a person could have a wonderful collection of beautiful memories.

JOURNEY OF RAJASTHAN-PALACE ON WHEELS

2006-11-28T19:04:00.001-08:00

Rajasthan is a place that is well known in the world for exploring out the real culture of India for which it is famous all over the world. Thus to have a look of this typical and prestigious culture Palace on wheels provides a luxurious and most comfortable journey right across the glorious RAJASTHAN. This provides a royal and exciting journey, which is not only famous in INDIA but is well known all over the world.

It has been started on 26th January 1982.This was the first train to provide tourist with a stately ride through the treeless Thar Desert. It served as a miniature traveling palace provided with vintage saloons of various Maharajas of Rajasthan and Viceroys of India. A modification in the facilities of the train was done to give more comfort to the travelers in 1991. It was engaged with all sort of modern facilities along with a cultural look. It was made fully air conditioned along with vestibules. In the modern days the train starts from Delhi and covers Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. Thus it provides a magnificent and glorious journey of 8 days and 7 nights. One can fully be beneficial of having a view of unique sight seeing and the wildlife by this journey and thus can collect some memories of the best journey.
The train has now 14 saloons, restaurants, and a bar-cum-lounge car along with four service cars. Each cabin of the train is facilitated with restaurant cars which serves Indian as well as continental cuisine. It has also a well stocked bar and a library. For entertainment television, video, soft channel, music are there. Facility of STD and ISD has also been given in the cabins. The cabins are provided with attached bath, having running hot and cold water and shower. The saloons are engaged with an attended that provides personalized services in Royal tradition. Each carriage of the train is well furnished with rich velvet and crystal chandeliers. The train provides full time to enjoy the various spots and gain the invaluable information of the various places of Rajasthan. Seeing the progress and requirement of these days, the train has been converted from meter gauge to broad gauge now.

The Palace on wheels has turned out to be a best mean to move around Rajasthan. After having a journey in this train one can have a pride of being on a royal journey. This has also been rated as one of the ten best train journeys in the world. Not only this but it is earning a valuable foreign exchange for the county and has also acquired an important place for Rajasthan on the world tourism map.

ENERGY LOCATIONS OF RAJASTHAN

2006-11-28T19:04:00.000-08:00

ENERGY LOCATIONS OF RAJASTHAN Although Rajasthan is famous for its Art, culture and history all over the world, but it has engraved its name in the region of modern technology also. It has been a center for many energy tests. Rawatbhata near Kota has been a place where two Atomic reactors were built. These reactors were based on the Canadian design. These reactors have started its production in 1972 and 1980 respectively. It has created a new chapter in Rajasthan’s history for which Rajasthan could feel proud of. Previously Kota was a part of Bundi State. It was situated on river Chambal. It became an independent princely state in 1624. Kota has been a region where development was continuously occurring. It became a famous centre for major Industries, which include Oil, Textiles, Paper, Matchsticks, Precision- instruments, electric cable and rubber. At present it has achieved an important place as Rajasthan's major commercial and industrial center. The credit of this achievement goes to the electric power also that has been provided by the atomic plants and the Chambal dam. Thus Kota along with its artistic popularity is also famous for energy plants and industries. Due to these industries it also gives a great support to the nation economy. Another place which is memorable for every layman of Rajasthan in Pokhran. This small town is located 106 Km. from the Jaisalmer town. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert. This place came into world fame on 18th May 1974. As this place has been chosen for India's first underground nuclear device explosion. Although the explosion has many adverse effect on the living world but this explosion took place 100 mts. below the earth's surface. Therefore the Pokhran’s soft sandy soil effectively sealed off the negative effects of radioactive gases that explode out during the huge explosion and thus there was no harm to animals or human life. Before this event Pokhran was only a sleepy, dusty and little known town. But this small desert town became world famous due to this energy test. This place was so suitable for this event that after 24 years again it was in news due to the second energy test. In 1998 Indian scientists have decided to explode three nuclear devices here. Thus Rajasthan has provided the places, which were helpful in nation’s development and due to these experiments it has also engraved its own name in Indian history.

Pious woman of Rajasthan

2006-11-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

Pious woman of Rajasthan Although Rajasthan is famous for the tales of the bravery of kings and Maharajas but one can’t forget the womanpower of the state. The ladies here have also acquired a special position in the history of Rajasthan either because of their bravery or due to their devotion and sacrifice. They have presented an example beside the world and one could be greatly inspired and influenced from their Virtuous lives. One great woman of such pious character was Rani Padmini, wife of Rana Ratan Singh of Chittor. She was the owner of the enormous beauty. The praise her beauty had been spread all around. The Sultan of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Khilji also heard this fame. Hearing this praise he became excited to have a look of her beautiful face. But it was an impossible task as she was the wife of a Rajput king and they were not allowed to come before a strange person. But Ala-ud-din was determined to have her as his wife. So he lay siege on Chittor fort in 1303A.D.to capture Rani Padmini. But the brave rajputs struggled against this huge force and the result was the prolongation of the siege. This made Ala-ud-din impatient. At last he proclaimed to withdraw if he would be allowed to see a glimpse of Padmini’s beautiful face. Rana Ratan Singh agreed for this, but Ala-ud-Din Cunningly abducted him. Now he offered his freedom in exchange of Rani Padmini. The Rajputs got enraged from this incident and they decided to outwit Ala-ud-din. The warriors planned to go to the Khilji's camp to rescue their Raja. So, disguised as rani's maids and hidden in their palanquins they reached the camp and rescued their king.Ala-ud-din became furious due to this event and decided to take the revenge. Thus he stormed Chittor. Rajput fought bravely to protect their pride. But when the defeat became inevitable, these brave defenders of Chittor tied theirsaffron robes, which is a symbol of sacrifice and forfeit their lives fighting. Soon this news spread in the Chittor fort. Hearing this sad news, women in fort decided to save themselves from dishonour. Rani Padmini and other women of the fort dressed themselves in bridal finery and immolated themselves in the sacred fire of ‘Jauhar’ and protected their honour. It is said that Ala-ud-din was never succeeded in seeing Padmini in the flesh but he was only able to see her bewitching reflection in a mirror as she stood on the steps of her palace-the Jal Mahal. It was Padmini's summer palace that still exists amidst a lotus pool. In this way the lady sacrificed her life for her self-respect and gave a lesson to a proud king that determination of a person is more powerful than the strength of a sword. She had presented an example before all the Indian women that they are not weak but have a strong will power to convert an impossible task possible as she had done by defeating a proud and strong king. For her courage and strength, still today she is being remembered amongst Indian women.

TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL AND DANCE

2006-10-12T14:16:00.001-07:00

TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL AND DANCE

The spring festival of Gangaur is the most popular festival of Rajasthani women. It is celebrated in honour of Gauri, another name for goddess Prvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. The festival begins a day after Holi and lasts for 18 days. Young women dressed in colourful regional costumes carrying brass pitchers on their heads go to the temple of goddess Parvati and ceremonially bathe the deity. The unmarried girls pray for a good match while the married ladies pray for their husband’s long life. The festivities come to an end when Lord Shiva accompanied by elephants comes to escort Gauri home. Although celebrated throughout Rajasthan with great enthusiasm, the celebrations of Gangaur in Jaipur and Udaipur have their own charm. In Jaipur a large procession of Gauri’s adorned image is taken out from the City palace accompanied by music bands, caparisoned elephants, camels, hourses and thousands of people. In Udaipur a board procession in Pichola Lake adds to the gaiety of the festival.

The Ghoomer is the most celebrated folk dance of Rajasthan. Dedicated to the goddess Parvati or Gauri, the dance is performed exclusively by women during Teej and other festivals and on happy occasions. Ghoomer means a spinning movement and the dancers go round gracefully in circles to the rhythm to the dholak (drum) and the manjeera (cymbals). The Ger dance on the other hand, is performed by men during Holi. It is danced at a hectic pace to the beat of a drum. Dancing men carry sticks which they manipulate with great finesse.

TIGERS IN RAJASTHAN

2006-10-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

TIGERS IN RAJASTHAN

The Ranthambore National Park named after historic fort of Ranthambore, is probable one of the best places in India to see the tiger in its natural habitat. It was one of the eight national parks and sanctuaries designated as Project Tiger Reservers in 1973. Spread over an area of about 1500 km, the Ranthanbore National Park was the private hunting reserve of the maharajas of Jaipur till it was converted into a sanctuary. The 1000 year old Ranthambore Fort, once a Rajput stronghold, stands a mute witness to bygone days. The Ranthambore National park is closed to visitors during the monsoon season. November to March is the best time to visit its rich variety of birdlife and wildlife.

RAJASTHAN’S FLORA AND FAUNA

2006-10-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

RAJASTHAN’S FLORA AND FAUNA

The Bishnois, a community living on the edge of the Marusthali near Jodhpur are the earliest ecologists known to the world. The Bishnoi sect founded about 500 years ago, believes that all forms of life apart from being sacred are vital to each other’s existence. The Bishnois derive their name from bees and nau – the 29 principles laid down by their founder Guru Jambhoji. They strictly adhere to these principles and revere and preserve all flora and fauna. The Bishnois, however, have sacrificed many lives for their principles. Three centuries ago Amrita Devi and about 360 Bishnois were hacked to death because they clasped to save the trees which the axemen came to cut for palace of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur. On hearing the news of their sacrifice, the remorseful maharaja recalled his men and proclaimed that no tree or animal be killed in the Bishnoi villages. As a result, the blackbuck (Indian antelope) and CHINKARA (Indian Gazelle) wander freely in Bishnoi villages and no hunter dares to kill them.

AGRICULTURE REGION

2006-10-12T14:14:00.001-07:00

In the extreme north of Rajasthan is Ganganagar. It lies in the heart of the Thar desert. Being an arid region, agriculture was poor and famine and scarcity caused by the failure of rains were frequent. But this picture completely changed with the advent of canal irrigation. In 1927 the Gang Canal taken from the Sutlej river of the Punjab brought water to this area. It worked a miracle. The district started producing a variety of crops, such as wheat, cotton, oilseeds and sugar cane. Then again in 1956, a model mechanized farm called Suratgarh was set up in the Ganganagar district with Russian collaboration. Spread over an area of nearly thirteen hectares, its aim was to promote mechanized farming and allied activities. The farmer readily accepted every innovation-tractors, fertilizers and improved seeds were used on a big scale. Even for carrying loads, Lorries replaced the traditional camel and bullock carts. Today Ganganagar houses one of India’s richest farming communities.

CANAL OF RAJASTHAN

2006-10-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

CANAL OF RAJASTHAN

The 650 km long Rajasthan canal named the Indira Gandhi Canal is one of the longest man-made canals. The main canal along with 7,000 km of distribution canals is the biggest irrigation project in the world. The gigantic project was started in 1958. Originating from the Harike Barrage just below the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers, the canal enters Rajasthan in the Ganganagar district after flowing for 176 km as a feeder canal. As many as 6,444 km long distributaries have been built and over 11, 00,000 hectares have been fed with water for irrigation. The canal and its branches have been lined with specially made tiles because of the sandy terrain.
In the desert region of western Rajasthan where water is more valuable than gold, the canal has been a boon to the people. Bumper crops of wheat, gram, cotton, mustard, sugar cane and pulses greet the visitor along the canal area which not long ago was sandy and desolate.

THE STONE OF RAJASTHAN- WHITE MARBLE

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Makrana, a small town in Rajasthan, has been famous for its marble mines since ancient times. Four hundred years ago the Makrana marble adorned the magnificent monuments of the Mughals, including the world famous, Taj Mahal at Agra. Two centuries later, Viceroy Lord Curzon used the Makrana marble for Kolkatta’s Victoria Memorial. Marble is quarried in a series of channels or slots made in the face of the rock. It is extracted by manual labour as blasting may damage or crack the marble. In its pure from marble is ivory-white in colour. Impurities often give it shades of pink, green, brown and cream. Black and grey marble is very rare and hence expensive. The Makarana marble has very few veins and does not turn yellow even after years of the exposure to nature.

The rough marble blocks are cut and polished before being sold. Earlier cutters used hand saws while continuously pouring water and sand on the marble to facilitate cutting. Then during the 1920s, the English set up the first marble cutting machine. There are now over sixty such machines, making Makrana a major marble processing centre. Makrana’s entire economy revolves around marble. Most of the inhabitants depend on the mines for their livelihood. The marble quarries contribute an annual revenue of nearly ten crore repees to the state exchequer.

PRIDE OF RAJASTHAN

2006-10-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

PRIDE OF RAJASTHAN

The Great Indian Bustard is the protected bird of Rajasthan. Once found almost throughout India, it is tragically on the verge of extinction. Hardly 1,000 of the species are found in the Desert National Park in Rajasthan. Shy and timid by nature, the bustard keeps away from humans, preferring open scrub lands where it lives in small groups. This spectacular bird undergoes a complete transformation at courtship when the gular sac in its neck inflates to the size of a balloon and hangs between its legs. Strutting majestically before its harem of hens, the bird utters a far-reaching call.

Although it has wings, the bird is slow a take-off because of its 16 kg weight. But is a swift runner. The hunter can easily spon and shoot the unsuspecting bird from his vehicle because of its long white neck which is visible from a distance. The bustard is hunted for its meat which is a gourmet’s delight.

MARWER AND MEWAR

2006-10-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Mewar and Marwar were two powerful Rajput kingdoms in Rajputana until kingdoms in Rajputana until the 20th century. The Mewar region now corresponds to Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Bhilwara districts, while the Marwar region consists of Jodhpur and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan. The kingdom of Mewar founded in 728 A.D. had its capital a Chittorgarh. Its rulers called themselves ‘Ranas’ and were famous in history. Later they shifted their capital to Udaipur. The kingdom of Marwar was founded in the 13th century by the Raos with their capital at Jodhpur. One of the Raos founded the state of Bikaner.

Marble In Rajasthan

2006-10-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

MARBLE IN RAJASTHAN

The words marble and 'Sang-e-marar 'also means 'shining stone' and both have been derived from Latin word -Marmor ( originated from greek word - marmarus ) meaning 'shining stone'.

Rajasthan state is known for its richness in a great number of minerals and the most prominent group among them is building stones. Marble and marble products are used in the construction of houses and temples, statues , marble and dolomite powder and plaster making . The marble is a fascinating decorative building stone. It was known to Indians even in ancient times, hence quarried out and proceed since then at the several places in India . Most important buildings in the list are Taj Mahal ; Dilwara Temples ; Ranakpur temples etc,

Uniqueness of marble is due to its pleasant white colour with shining luster and easiness in carving. The state of Rajasthan is richest in marble in India; both quality wise and quantity wise. It produces about 95% of total India 's marble production and recoverable reserves more then 1100 million tonnes.

In the field of trade and commerce the marble is classified on the basis of colours, shades, stripes and patterns. On this basis marble is grouped into 10 categories - Plain White Marble, Panther Marble; White Veined Marble, Black Zebra Marble; Green Marble ; Pink Adanga Marble ; Pink Plain Marble ', Grey Marble and Brown Marble. Some other varieties are wood marble, Dendritic marble, Red marble etc.
Important deposits of marble in Rajasthan are located in Rajasamand , Udaipur , Nagaur , Alwar , Jaipur , Banswara , Sirohi and Ajmer .

District-wise description –

(1) NAGOUR DISTRICT- The word famous Makrana marble deposit are found here. It is usually coarse or fine grained.
(2) RAJASAMAND DISTRICT - It posses largest deposits of State and contribute 40% of state marble production. The marble is medium to coarse grained, white to grayish white having dark coloured stripes.
(3) UDAIPUR DISTRICT- The marble deposit here is of white or light to dark pink in colour and fine to medium grained .
(4) BANSAWARA DISTRICT - The marble of this area is used in tile making . The marble is white to creamish in colour having spots of pink, maroon , brown colour due to various in impurities .
(5) DUNGARPUR DISTRICT- The green marble of this district posses various shades from light to deep green colour and white stripes of calcite, hence known as 'green marble'.
(6) JAIPUR DAUSA DISTRICT - The marble of area is fine to medium grained , crystalline and gray to white in colour having patches of dark green , hence also known as 'Andhi pista marble'.
(7) Ajmer District-Here Kishangarh is the extension of makrana marble hence the quality is good.
(8) JAISALMER DISTRICT- 'Golden yellow colour' attractive limestone of jaisalmer Formation are found here, known as 'yellow marble'.
(9) JODHPUR DISTRICT-Fine to medium grained marble are found in various colours like white ,green ,pinkish ,gray etc.

Rajasthan is the largest marble producing state in the country. There are more then 3000 working marble mines and about 10 times more marble based industries in the state. It supplies marble to almost all the states of country and exporting too. Govt. agencies are still making active efforts to explore new deposits and to develop mines.