|
|
|
|
|
Rajasthan, the land of kings, the home of the Rajputs- a group of warrior clan, is the magical land set amidst the desolate desert beauty. The forts and palaces of amazing architectural beauty and luxury, stand testimony to its rich cultural heritage reminding of the romance and chivalry, pride and honour, joy and warmth of hospitality that is unique. The historic cities of Rajasthan also maintain their traditional flavor in art and craft, colorful and buzzing market places with vibrant men in turbans and women with bright mirrored skirts and jewellery. The modes of transport reveal a blend of modernity with the plying of camels, oxen, elephants, buses and cars. Lively folk dances and music, ballads and colorful festivities are an integral part of its vital culture. Like all deserts, miles of golden stretches of sand of Thar also offer the tremor of life in its oasis of magic and romance. Many beautiful temples and mosques also dot the entire state and they come alive during usual Hindu and muslim fairs and festivals. Rajasthan is widely known for its fine miniature paintings, fabulous fabrics and jewellery and a host of beautiful handicrafts. We brings to you a variety of travel and tourism activities to choose from on the tour to Rajasthan.
|
Thera are variety of places to visit and see in Rajasthan. Some of them are described below for more informations.
UDAIPUR
Udaipur is situated 1900 feet about the sea level in the Aravali Hills. This beautiful city was founded by Maharaja Udai Singh in 1559 AD and is named after him. One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes. The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the lakes make Udaipur seem almost like a mirage in the desert.
How to reach Udaipur
By Road -Udaipur is connected by major road link between Mumbai and Delhi. The Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh road transport corporation operate buses to Udaipur from various region.
By Rail -Udaipur is on the western railway network. The railway station is about 4 km from the city center. Udaipur is directly connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer and Jodhpur.
By Air - Indian Airlines Daily connects Udaipur from Jodhpur, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi. Dabok airport is 21km away from the city.
Places of tourist interest
Saheliyon ki Bari - Maharaja Sangram Singh built it first but it way destroyed by heavy rains then Maharaja Fateh Singh rebuilt this place. This place has five beautiful fountains, which are called Swagat Fountain, Savan Bhadon, Kamal Talai, Raslila and Bin Badal Barsat. In the old times this place was meant for queens and their friends so it is called Saheliyon ki Bari.
Nehru Island Park - It beautiful garden is situated in the middle of Fateh Sagar Lake on an island. Beautiful flowers and fountains make it a ideal place for tourists. Boats are available to take visitors to the island.
Sajjan Nivas Garden - This is the largest garden of Rajasthan, which covers 100 acres of land. It was built by Maharaja Sajjan Singh (1874-1884). A library and a zoo are also situated in this garden.
Pratap Memorial - It is situated on Moti Magari in the city. There is a bronze statue of Maharana Pratap risidin his horse Chetak. There are some ruins behind this statue, which were built by Maharaja Udai Singh in 1554 A.D. for his residence. Panoramic view of Udaipur city can be seen from this place.
Fateh Sagar Lake - Maharaja Jai Singh built it in 1679 and Maharaja Fateh Singh got it rebuilt in 1884 A.D.
Pichhola Lake -Pichhu Banjara built it during the reign of Maharaja Lakha in 1362. It is the oldest lake of Udaipur. It is 3 miles long 2 miles wide and 30 feet deep. Two palaces are situated in the middle of lake on two islands, which are known as Jag Nivas and Jag Mandir.
Lake Palace(Jag Nivas) - This famous palace was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1746. At present there is a hotel, known as Hotel lake palace.
Jag Mandir - Maharana Amar Singh started the construction of this Palace in 1615. And Raja Karan Singh completed it in 1622. Later on it was extended by Maharana Jagat Singh. In 1622 when Shahjahan rebelled against Jahangir and took Shelter with Maharana Karan Singh then he was kept here. It is said that great tombs and garden of this palace inspired him to make the Taj Mahal.
Raj Mahal - Maharana Udai Singh started building the biggest palace of Rjasthan on the Shore of Pichhola Lake in 1559. Rai Angan is the oldest portion of this palace, which was built by Maharana Udai Singh in 1565. Every Maharana was crowned here for the first time.
Jagdish Temple - This beautiful temple is situated on 25 high platforms and is about 200 feet from the Raj Mahal Palace. It was completed by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1653. This temple contains the idols of Lord Vishnu and Godess Laxmi.
Pratap Museum- This museum situated near the Palace contains dresses of different part of Rajasthan, old coins, armaments, pictures and statues. It also contains the turban of Shahjahan which he exchanged with Maharana Karan Singh as a token of friendship in 1622.
Sajjan Garh- It was built by Maharaja Sajjan Singh 1884. It is situated on the highest peak of Udaipur. It was completed by Maharaja Fateh Singh. The city of Udaipur can be seen from here.
Tourist places near Udaipur
Jai Samundra Lake- This huge lake is 58 kms away from Udaipur .it is also known as Dhebar. It was built by, Maharaja Jai Singh in 1691. It is 10 miles wide, 6 miles long and 100 feet deep. The islands in this lake are inhabited by the Bhils (tribals). They use traditional wood boats to travel. This lake is a part of game sanctuary established by the state government.
Rishabhdeoji - At a distance of 64 km from Udaipur is the Rishabhdeo ji temple. The paintings of girnar & architecture of the temple are worth seeing. The idol of Rishabhadeo is 4 feet high and made of black stone.
Eklingji - The temple of Ekling ji is 30 kms away from Udaipur. Maharaja Bappa Rawal built the temple of Ekling ji. Ekling ji is said to be presiding deity of Mewar Empire and every government work was done by the name of Ekling ji. There are four-mouthed black idol of Shiva in the temple. The height of the temple is 60 feet and diameter is 50 feet. The architecture of the temple represents different aspects of architecture.
Temple of Nagda - The temple of Nagda is 5 kms away from Ekling ji. Nagda was established by Nag Ditya in 8th century. It was turned to ruins due to Mughal attacks. The temple of ‘Sans Bahu’ is beautiful specimen of architecture. There is a Jain temple of Shantinath, which has 8 feet high idol made of black marble. It was made in 1437 AD during the reign of Rana Kumbha.
Kankroli - Kankroli is 70 km from Udaipur. It is famous for its Dwarkaji temple. This city was established in 1672 by Maharaja Raj Singh and therefore it is also known as Raj nagar. It is only 10 miles away from Nathdwara.
Chaar bhujaji - The temple of chaar bhuja ji is 35 km from Kankrole. The Gurjars of this village worship the temple. There is an idol of chaar bhuja ji in the temple. The glasswork inside the temple is very beautiful. A fair is held here every year on Bhadra Shukla Ekadashi (Hindi calendar date) during which many people come here.
Haldi ghati - It is the place where the famous battle Haldhi Ghati was fought between Akbar and Maharana pratap in 1576. In this battle Chetak (Maharana Pratap’s legendry horse) breathed his last. The tomb of Chetak is also here. The soil of this place is red and yellow.
The Jain temple Ranakpur -This temple is 170 km from Udaipur. It is a unique specimen of art and architecture. Being surrounded by the Arawali hills, it is famous all over the worked. It was built by Dham Shah Porval Jain during the reigns of Maharaja Kumbha in 1432. Maharaja Kumbha loved architecture and he helped to complete this temple.
|
|
|
Jaipur
Capital of Rajasthan Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in 1728 A.D. It is also called Pink City because most houses in old city are pink colored. The city is surrounded by thick wall 20 feet high and 9 feet wide with eight gates. Ajmeri gate and the Sanganeri gate in the south, Chand Pole gate in west and the Ghat Darwaja in the east are the main gates. The city is surrounded by the hills except in the southwest. Fort and the temples can be seen on the hills.
How to reach Jaipur
By Road: The city is situated 261 km from Delhi. Jaipur can be accessed from all the major places in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Mumbai by bus. Rajasthan roadways runs excellent regular service of AC and Deluxe Coaches from Delhi. By Rail: The train service to Jaipur is available from all the major parts of the country. An excellent connection from Delhi is Shatabadi Express that provides a fast, air-conditioned rail service. Other direct connections to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Secunderabad, Agra, Lucknow, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta.
By Air: Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and domestic carriers operate regular flights to and from Jaipur. Jaipur is connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, Calcutta and Varanasi by domestic flights.
Places of tourist interest
Hawa Mahal -This impressive Palace - ‘Hawa Mahal’ is standing in the middle of the city. It was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh in the year 1798 AD. The architecture of this building is unique. It is pyramid shaped five storied building with semi octagonal overhanging balconies placed symmetrically one over the other with small domes and curvilinear roofs. In the era gone by the queens used to sit in the small windows of this palace to see the processions of the kings during festivals.
The City Palace - There seven gates of this palace. The main gate is called ‘ Sinha Dwar’. The name of second gate is Dunabubhir Pole. The southern gate is called Tripoliva and the eastern gate is callede Sirah-ki-Dyodhi. The Mubarak Mahal was built by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh.
The Chandra Mahal - The seven-storied Chandra Mahal is a fine example of Rajput architecture. In this palace there are some good paintings of the Rajput school and glass architecture. The famous temple of Govindji is in front of the palace.
Ram Niwas Garden - Built by Maharaja Ram Singh in 1815 AD this place now houses a zoological park.
Observatory - Maharaja Swai Jai Singh was very interested in astronomy. He built the astronomical observatory just outside of Mubark Mahal. It is also called ‘jantar-mantar’.
Nahargarh - Situated on a hill this fort was built in 1732 for defense against the attacks of the Marathas. Hawa Mandir and Madhvendra Bhawan are the some of the examples of the beautiful architecture inside this fort.
Sanganer -The town of Sanganer is about 14 km in the south of Jaipur. There is a Jain temple of Sanghiji, which is about a thousand year old. Mughal Empror Akbar used to stay in the royal palace of Sanganer whenever he came to Jaipur. Sanganer is a big center of handicrafts.
|
|
|
|
|
Mount Abu (Mt. Abu)
A pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills, Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the barren desertscape that''s Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. The road leading to Mount Abu is a curved one characterized by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds. The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more than just a summer retreat. Its stunning array of exquisite Dilwara Jain Temples, dating back 11th- 13th centuries, make it a popular pilgrimage centre. ‘Abu’ according to a legend stands for the son of Himalayan, deriving its name from Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm.
Mount Abu has been home to many sages and saints. Most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha who is believed to have created four agnikula Rajput clans from a fire-pit by performing a ‘yagna’ or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.
The Yagna was performed besides a natural spring situated below Abu, emerging from a rock shaped like a cow’s head and hence the site was called Gaumukh.
Transportation
- Air : Nearest airports are Udaipur and Ahmedabad.
- Rail: Nearest railhead is Abu Road (27 kms).
- Road: By road Mount Abu to Ahmedabad 214 kms, Bombay 835 kms, Delhi 768 kms, Jaipur 515 kms, Udaipur 182 kms, Jodhpur 291 kms, Ranakpur 168 kms.
- Bus : Regular buses connect Mount Abu with Abu Road, Achalgarh, Ahmedabad, Ranakpur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Abu Road.
- Taxi: Taxis and Jeeps are available from Abu Road to Mount Abu.
What to see
Gaumukh Temple: A natural spring flowing through a sculpted cow’s head gives the shrine its name. The famous ‘yagna’ of sage Vashishtha was performed here. A beautifully sculpted hill temple of Arbuada-the mighty serpent stands against the beautiful backdrop. Nearby is the magnificent marble image of Nandi, the celestial bull rescued by Arbuada.
Dilwara Jain Temple: These beautifully carved temples built between 11th and 13th century A.D. are sheer elegance in marble, dedicated to the jain Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest of these dedicated to the first Tirthankara. Built in 1031 A.D. (by Vimal Shah-a merchant and representative of then Gujarat ruler), it is a superb example of temple architecture.
Adhar Devi Temple: The temple is chiselled out of a huge rock reached by a flight of 360 stairs. A favourite tourist spot.
Sunset Point: Spectacular sight of the setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden glow can be viewed from here.
Honeymoon Point: Also known as Andra Point, it offers an enchanting view of the verdant plains and valleys. The place looks most beautiful during the dusk hours.
Gardens and Parks: Beautifully laid parks and gardens are interspersed throughout the hilly paradise. Ashok Vatika,Gandhi park, Municipal Park,Shaitan Singh Park and Terrace Garden are some of the noteworthy gardens.
Museum and Art Gallery: Located at the Raj Bhawan, it was a collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th-12th century A.D. It also has Jain bronze carvings,brassworks etc. for viewing.
Excursions
Trevor’s Tank (5 km): Named after the British engineer who constructed it, Trevor’s Tank is a delight for birdwatchers with densely wooded hills that are a haven to pigeons, peacocks and partridges.
Achalgarh (8 km): An impressive fort with some beautiful jain temples enclosed within. Among the noteworthy temples are Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412 A.D.) and Kantinath Jain Temple (1513 A.D.) . The latter has gold plated image. Mandakini Kund and a sculpture of Parmar Dharavarsh are situated close to the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple. The Fort was built in the 14th century A.D. by Rana Kumbha and is approachable by a motorable road.
Guru Shikhar (15 km): The highest peak on the mount (1722 mts. Above the sea level) allows a bird’s eye view of the sylvan surroundings of Mt. Abu. A small Shaivite shrine and a temple of Dattatreya standing on the shikhar are worth a visit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AJMER
The city was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan in the 7th Century A.D. and continued to be a major centre of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. When Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. Ajmer is situated in a picturesque valley surrounded by Ajay Meru ranges of Aravali hills. Along with architecture it is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus as well as Muslims. Muslims call Ajmer by the name of Ajmer sharif while Hindus call it Tirthraj Pushkar.
How to reach Ajmer
By Road : Ajmer is 140 km from Jaipur. It is connected with bus from many places like Jaipur, Agra, Aligarh, Abu road, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Barmer, Chittorgarh, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. By Train: Ajmer is on the Delhi-Jaipur-Marwar-Ahmedabad-Mumbai line and most trains stops at Ajmer. By Air: The nearest airport is Jaipur which is 135kms away.
Places of tourist interest
Nasiyan (Red) Temple -This red temple is a Digambar Jain temple which has a double- storey hall adjacent to the main temple. The hall displays a series of large gold plated wooden figures depicting legends from Jain mythology.
Anasagar Lake - After defeating his enemies, Anaji Chauhan built the lake Anasagar in the year 1140 A.D. . Below the embankment of the lake Emperor Jahangir built a beautiful garden and named it as Daulat Bagh. Shahjahan further beautified the place by constructing the marble embankment and five elegant pavilions of polished white marble.
Dargah Khawaja Sahib - Dargah of khwaja Moinuddin Chisti is the great place of pilgrimage for the Muslims. Khwaja reached India in 1162 A.D. from Iran and settled at Ajmer in 1190 A.D. here in his residence he died in 1236 A.D. at the age of 97 and he was buried in his residence itself. Sultan Gayasuddin Khilji built a tomb on this place in 1464 A.D. Akbar built Akbari mosque, a meeting hall and 23m high Buland Darwaja (gate). Shahjahan added Jama Masjid in white marble and the large dome.
Pushkar - Pushkar Raj is the holiest place for the Hindus in Rajasthan. It is 11km from Aimer and there is a beautiful lake. This is the only place in India with a temple exclusively devoted to Lord Brahma. Legend of this place could be found in ‘Padma Purana’. According to the legend Pushkar means a pond created by flower, was formed when Brahma dropped a lotus flower on the earth to determine a place for his yagna, a holy sacrifice.
Taragarh - Maharaja Ajaypal built this fortress. It is 3000 feet above sea level. The giant fort stands guarding the city. It has six gates. The fort also has Miran Saheb ki Dargha who was the governor of the fort and laid down his life in an encounter.
Adhai din ka Jhonpara - The ruins of this building called ‘Adhai din ka Jhonpara’ can be seen at the foot of Taragarh hill. This building was built by Visaldev in 1153 A.D. and was a Sanskrit college building. But afterwards Mohammad Gauri ordered that it should be converted in mosque in two and half days. That is why it is called as ‘Adhai din ka Jhonpara’. This is a good example of Indo - Islamic architecture. The distinct pillars and arched screen with its ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural masterpiece.
History of The Palace On Wheels
The Palace On Wheels has graced the Rajasthan Tourism and Indian Railways since January 1982. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, The Indian Railways, the Tourism Department of Rajasthan and the Government of India launched Palace On Wheels as a special heritage tourist train for providing a unique and memorable experience to the tourists visiting Rajasthan.
The concept of the Palace On Wheels was derived from the royal background of the coaches, which were originally meant to be the personal Railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of the princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India.
The Legend
These coaches were not being used by the Indian Railways after independence in normal passenger trains on account of very rich and traditional interiors.
The Palace On Wheels started as a unique holiday train hauled by a steam engine with its inaugural trip on 26th January 1982. It started to roll on its regular operations from October 1982.
The Legend Conserved
In 1991, a new air-conditioned meter gauge Palace On Wheels on the lines of the old heritage train was launched with 13 salons, 2 restaurants, kitchen car, Bar cum lounge and 4 service cars. ''Khidmatgars'' or personal attendants, in each cabin, cater to all your needs.
The Legend and the Modern
The Palace On Wheels has gained remarkable success and attained worldwide acclaim and popularity including the PATA gold award in 1987. The Palace On Wheels has been rated as one of the ten best luxurious rail journeys in the world. The popularity of the train has been enhanced by the media. Famous TV Teams such as BBC, MTV, Zee TV, National Geographic, MDR of Germany and many others have covered the train and shown it on their network.
It has carried 36096 tourists in 578 trios up to April 2002
The eight days and seven nights journey in royal splendour takes you to the territory Maharajas, the ''Pink City'' of Jaipur; Jaisalmer ''the jewel of the desert''; the majestic stronghold of Jodhpur; Sawai Madhopur for the Ranthambor National Park; the city of Chittaurgarh with its countless tales of Rajput chivalry; Udaipur with its lakes and Lake Palaces; Bharatpur - with its remarkable Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary; the red stone city of Fatehpur Sikri; and of course, the Taj Mahal in Agra - one of the seven wonders of the world.
The Legend and the Modern - Symbiosis Continues
The Palace On Wheels comprises of 14 fully air-conditioned deluxe salons, equipped with world-class amenities to enhance the pleasure of travelling
The 14 coaches are made up of 104 passenger berths in double bedded cabins, each with channel music, intercom, attached toilet, running hot and cold water and a shower.
The coaches are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each salon has a mini pantry and a lounge to ensure availability of hot and cold beverages, and refreshments and a place to relax and get together.
The train has two lavish restaurants "The Maharaja" and "The Maharani" with a Rajasthani ambience serving palate tickling Continental, Chinese, Indian and Rajasthani cuisines. The train also boasts of a well stocked bar offering the choicest of spirits of Indian and international brands. Each coach also offers a good collection of books to choose from.
The Palace On Wheels is regularly refurbished to a great extent. The décor in the salons and bar lounge has been changed, keeping in mind the traditionally aesthetic yet modern, Palace On Wheels. Toilets have been redone and maintained sparkling clean. Each salon lounge has been equipped with a colour television and a CD player.
A satellite phone is on the way to enable you communicate anywhere in the world from the train