Rajasthan - From Princes and Places to Tigers and Trekking

By -
From the semi-green forests of Mount Abu to the dry grasslands of the desert, from the dry, deciduous thorn forest of Arrival to the wetlands of Bharatpur, Rajasthan is vast and has enormously varied vegetation and terrain, some of it, though quite hostile, is home to a surprising number of mammals and birds. Tiger and leopard, as well as many endangered species, find a haven here. Though known as the Desert State, Rajasthan, situated in the northwestern part of India, has a number of exotic palaces with beautiful gardens, fountains, temples and forts constructed and decorated with amazing artistry, including mirrored walls and galleries, painted streets and secret passages and dungeons.


One of the most magnificent is Kuchaman Fort, which sits on top of a steep hill 300 meters high, in the Nagaur district, along what was once part of the Central Asian trade route. A symbol of Rajasthan's glorious history, it was built by the Gujjar Pratihara dynasty as far back as 760AD. Once the site of great battles, Kuchaman Fort was known for being impregnable: its five gates are arranged in such a way that is impossible to enter without being attacked from every direction. The Fort is now a 34-room hotel, where rooms cost from 5500 per night.

Jaisalmer, another former princely state, is a desert city nestling in the foothills of Trikuta, boasting colossal forts, palaces and havelis (private residences, often converted into mi-range or luxury hotels. Its 12th-century citadel, rising like a golden sandcastle from the desert, is a masterpiece of the stonecarver's art. The town, though no longer an isolated place but rimmed with hotels and crammed with tourists, is also well worth a visit.

For a different experience in Rajasthan, step aboard the Palace on Wheels, formerly the personal railway coaches of the rulers of the princely states of Gujrat and Rajputana. For one glorious week, you can recapture the pomp and ceremony of the royal past on one of the most luxurious trains in the world. A journey on the Palace on Wheels takes you to the pink state capital, Jaipur, the golden citadel of Jaisalmer, the blue city of Jodhpur, the National Park Ranthambhore, the nine-storey Tower of Victory of Chittorgarh (built 1440 AD to celebrate the Maharana's victory over his rival), the romantic city of lakes. Udaipur, the bird sanctuary at Bharatpur and the Mughal capital, Agra.

It's not all history in Rajasthan. If you want to get out and about, there are water sports, horse, camel safaris, bird-watching trips, and trekking, ballooning and parasailing adventures to tempt you.

Rajasthan has the best reputation for law and order of any state in India and is safe and secure to travel in, as well as being easily accessible by air, train and road from Delhi (260 km away), Agra and Mumbai.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Places to Visit in Khajuraho, Sightseeing & Tourist Attractions

By -
Image
The biggest tourist attractions in Khajuraho are undoubtedly the erotic sculptures on the temples. Perfectly carved figurines depict the scenes and postures straight from Kamasutra - the ancient Indian erotica. Khajuraho is also known for Yoga practices and Khajuraho Dance Festival. Khajuraho Festival grandly welcomes the summer season with the performances of Indian cultural dance forms. Here is the list of tourist attractions in Khajuraho .     Khajuraho Temples:-   Khajuraho temples are declared World Heritage Sites. The intricate work on the sculptures and the stunning architecture are beyond description. The erotic cravings are incredible. The famous temples in Khajuraho- Lakshmana TempleVishwanath templeKandariya Mahadev templeBrahma TempleVamana TempleChitragupta TempleDulhadev TempleJavari TempleNandi TempleAdinath TempleChausath Yogini TempleDevi Jagdamba TempleVaraha TempleShantinath TempleBeejamandal TempleParsvanath TempleMatangesh
Read more

Places To Visit In Nathdwara, Udaipur

By -
Image
Nathdwara is a town in India's western state of Rajasthan . It is located in the Aravalli hills, on the banks of the Banas River in Rajsamand District, 48 kilometres north-east of Udaipur.This town is famous for its temple of Krishna which houses the deity of Shrinathji, a 14th-century, 7-year-old "infant" incarnation of Krishna. The deity was originally worshiped at Mathura and was shifted in the 1672 from Govardhan hill, near Mathura along holy river Yamuna after being retained at Agra for almost six months. Literally, Nathdwara means ‘Gateway to Shrinathji (God)’.Nathdwara is a significant Vaishnavite shrine pertaining to the Pushti Marg or the Vallabh Sampradaya or the Shuddha Advaita founded by Vallabha Acharya, revered mainly by people of Gujarat and Rajasthan,among others. Vitthal Nathji, son of Vallabhacharya institutionalised the worship of Shrinathji at Nathdwara . Nathdwara town itself is popularly referred to as ‘Shrinathji’, after the presiding deity.
Read more

India Tours – Special Tour of India for First Time Visitors

By -
Image
India is such an amazing country of contrasts that a number of first time visitors to India feel completely perplexed for the first few days of their India travel . However, as their tour progresses, they come to know about the true colors of this wonderful country. From snow-capped peaks of Himalayas to sand dunes of Thar Desert, from sandy beaches of south to religious buildings of the east, from holy rivers to beautiful palaces and forts, India offers lot many options for the tourists to explore. India is an astonishing tapestry of religions, cultures, traditions, languages, dance, music, philosophy, art, architecture, and mythologies. This is because of the people who came from different parts of the world centuries back and permanently settled in this country. These people brought with them their own cultures and traditions which mingled with local cultures of India thus producing a unique blend of cultures, which now has become the identity of India.
Read more