Travel Around The World

RAJASTHAN : THE LAND OF KINGS

Rajasthan, a beautiful desert state in India, situated in northern India, is the largest state in India and covers upto 10.4% of the land alone. It shares its border with the state of Gujrat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The climatic conditions in the state are quite harsh, with temperatures ranging from 50 degrees during the day to freezing temperatures during the night.

Rajasthan have a very rich history, the region has been inhabited since the Indus valley civilization. The region has seen many kings and kingdoms. The region was a stronghold for many empires such as the Rajputs, Marathas, Chauhans, Mughals and the British. We can still see the remains and traditions of the empires that once ruled here. Almost every city in the state has a fort overlooking its skies.

Tourism is one of the major industry in Rajasthan. It has a lot to offer from diverse wildlife to the luxury of palaces, you can find it all in the state. It is famous for its customs, culture, traditions, colours, forts and palaces, folk dances and music, amazing local festivals, authentic cuisine, handicrafts, beautiful sand dunes, temples and Havelis. All this has made the state one of the most loved tourist destinations world wide. Each year, millions of people visit Rajasthan, it is one of the most favourite tourist destination for foreign tourist as well. According to The Times of India report in 2022, 63% more tourist were reported to visit the state than before the covid pandemic. In the year 2022 alone almost 10.87 crore tourist visited the state. With all that Rajasthan has to provide, it also serves as one of the most beautiful ‘Destination Wedding’ place. The royal palaces, the hospitality and the beauty which the state can offer is unmatchable through out the world.

Even a trip around the state and all its major tourist destination is not that expensive at all. There are some train services which will take you around all the major tourist destinations, while giving you the experience of a life time. The royal suites, the cuisine and the royal service which these trains provide, will make feel like a King. The Palace on Wheels is one of such trains which will tour you not only the state of Rajasthan but also the city of Agra. There are many such trains which you can chose from, they not only the state of Rajasthan but also the other tourist destination around it.

The major cities in the state include : Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Amer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and much more. Each city shows different vibrant colors, culture and traditions.

Here are some of the most fascinating cities that you can visit in Rajasthan :

UDAIPUR

The city is also known as ” The City of Lakes” or The White City. Udaipur is known for its culture, festival, lakes, palaces, architecture and temples. The city is surrounding by natural scenic beauty and various government protected natural ecosystems. The city showcases beautiful blend between past rituals and rich culture while keeping up with modern pace. Udaipur is also known as “The Venice of East” , because of the lakes surrounding the city.

JAIPUR

Jaipur is the capital and largest city of the state of Rajasthan. In 2019, the city was declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The city has many tourist attractions and serves as the gateway to many tourist cities of Rajasthan. Jaipur is also famous for its luxurious hotels and suites, making it one of Asia’s most attractive tourist destinations. Jaipur has beautiful forts and palaces, amazing museums, gardens, many historical landmarks and amazing traditional houses. Jaipur has so much to offer, from Hot Air Balloons to miniature paintings.

JODHPUR

Jodhpur, lying at the outshore of the Thar Desert, has forts, temples, lakes and many historical building. It is an important educational, economical and military hub of India. Jodhpur showcases a beautiful and traditional blend in the fashion which is famous through out India and known as Jodhpuri Dresses. Also known as the “Blue City”, Jodhpur has an extensive and culturally different variety of cuisines. The Mava Kachori, Onion kachori and Mirchi Bada are specialties of the city. The famous Dal-Bhati churma is worth to try. Many films have been shot in the city such as the Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises” and many more bollywood films.

RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

Ranthambore National Park is a tiger reserve in the eastern part of the state, near to the town of Sawai Madhopur. The Park was established in 1980 under the Project Tiger. The Ranthambore fort also lies inside the area of the national park.

JAISALMER

The city of Jaisalmer, is a city carved in sandstone. The city is situated atop of a hill with Jaisalmer Fort crowning the city. Also termed as the “Golden City”, Jaisalmer lies in the heart of the Thar desert. There are plenty of museums in the city and many Jain temples with many pilgrimage centers lying around the city. The Desert festival is one of the most famous and awaited cultural event in Rajasthan. The Desert National Park also lies in the neighbourhood of the city.

BIKANER

Bikaner, located in the north of the state, was built in 1488 by Rao Bika in the middle of Thar desert. The city is well known for the beautiful fort and cuisine. The “Bikaji ki Tekri”, the original fort built by Rao Bika is now in ruins. After about a century, a new fort was built only one and half kilometers away and was named as the Junagarh fort. The Junagarh fort is one of the few forts that weren’t built on a hilly terrain. The fort was turned in a museum in 1961 by Maharaja Karni Singh. The famous Laxmi Niwas Palace, which is now a heritage hotel is a palace designed by an English architect Samuel Swinton Jacob. The city and the Junagarh fort has many temples such as the Bhandasar Jain temple, Karni Mata temple and also the Laxminath temple.

AJMER

Considered to be one of the oldest city in the state of Rajasthan, Ajmer is located right in the center of the state. The city is located at the foothills of Taragarh Fort and is surrounded by the Aravali mountain range. The city of Ajmer is called as the “Heart of Rajasthan” due to its location. The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is one of the most famous landmark of the city. Soni Ji Ki Nasiyaan is a Jain temple in the city, the main chamber of the temple is made using 1000 kilos of gold and depicts the city of Ayodhya, and is also referred to as the “City of Gold”. Akbari fort and Museum is other great place to visit in the city. Built by Mughal emperor Akbar, the fort has significant history, it is a must visit place in the city of Ajmer.

PUSHKAR

Pushkar is an ancient and historic city mentioned in various texts and also in various historical articles. Pushkar is scared city for Hindus and Sikhs. The only Lord Brahma Temple in the world is located in this city. The city is have many gurudwaras and temples as old as 18th century. The city is considered to have much more old and ancient temples but were destroyed after raids and military campaigns. Pushkar has many historical and ancient sites even around the city. The city has a history of traditional fairs which are held every year around October and November. The fair is famous for cattle trade, magicians, and much more traditional games and rituals. The fare attracted around 1 million tourists in 1998.