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Places
of Interest
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Jaipur
The picturesque capital of
Rajasthan, Jaipur is color
washed pink-the color associated
with hospitality in Rajput
culture. Built in 1727 A.D. by
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh JI,
Jaipur displays a remarkable
harmony and architectural
splendor. The ancient heart of
the Pink City still beats in its
fairy-tale palaces, rugged
fortresses perched on barren
hills and broad avenues that dot
the entire city. The only
planned city of its time, Jaipur
is encircled by a formidable
wall.
A young Bengali architect,
Vidyadhar Bhattacharya
formalised the city’s plans in a
grid system. The wide straight
avenues. Roads, streets, lanes
and uniform rows of shops on
either side of main bazaars were
arranged in nine rectangular
city sectors (Chokris), in
accordance with the principles
of town planning set down in the
‘Shilpa Shastra’- and epochal
treatise on the Hindu
architecture.
There is a timeless appeal to
Jaipur’s colorful bazaars where
one can shop for Rajasthani
handlooms and trinkets.
Beautifully laid out gardens and
parks, attractive monuments and
marvelous heritage hotels, once
the residence of Maharaja’s are
worth admiration. Not to mention
the ambling camels and cheerful
people in multi-hued costumes
that make your trip to the pink
city a memorable one.
Bikaner
Shopping in Jodhpur bazaars is a
heady experience with a colorful
display of the rich collection
of exquisite handicrafts. The
tie and dye fabric, embroidered
‘jutis’ or slippers in suede,
cancel skin, velvet and more
color to the city. it was form
here that the popularly worn
baggy-tight horse riding
trousers,-" Jodhpurs" ,took
their name. Countless
festivities celebrate the rich
past and culture of the princely
state. The Marwar Festival held
annually is one such spectacular
bonanza.
Jaisalmer
Rising from the heart of the
Thar Desert like a golden mirage
is the city of Jaisalmer. A
commanding fort etched in yellow
sandstone stands, with all its
awesome splendor, dominating the
amber-hued city. For years
Jaisalmer remained untouched by
the outside influences. The rise
of shipping trade and the port
of Mumbai saw the decline of
Jaisalmer. But the desert
fortress, that seems to be
straight out of the ‘Tales of
the Arabian Nights’ still
enchants. The setting sun
turning Jaisalmer into a
beautiful golden brown is a
spectacular sight.
The perfect time to visit the
golden city is during the Desert
Festival, held in Jan/Feb. every
year, when the city reverberates
to the sound of melodious tunes
and rhythms.
Udaipur
The city of Dawn, Udaipur is a
lovely land around the azure
water lake,hemmed in by the lush
hills of the Aravallis. A vision
in white drenched in romance and
beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating
blend of sights, sound and
experiences and inspiration for
the imagination of
poets,painters and writers.
Udiapur is the jewel of Mewar-a
kingdom ruled by the Sisodia
dynasty for 1200 Years. The
foundation of the city has an
interesting legend associated
with it. According to it,
Maharana Udai Singh, the
founder,was hunting one day when
he met a holy man meditations on
a hill overlooking the Lake
Pichhola. Several places of
interest around Udaipur,
including the majestic,
Chittaurgarh,the mountain
fortress of Kumbhalgarh,
beautiful jain temple of
Ranakpur,Ekligji and Nathdwara
and the cool retreat of Mt. Abu,
make the visit to Udaipur a
memorable one.
Jodhpur
Set at the edge of the Thar
desert, the imperial city of
Jodhpur echoes with tales of
antiquity in the emptiness of
the desert. Once the capital of
the Marwar state , it was
founded in 1459 A.D. by Rao
Jodha-chief of the Rathore clan
of Rajputs who claimed to be
descendants of Rama - the epic
hero of the Ramayana. While the
graceful palaces , forts and
temples strewn throughout the
city bring alive the historic
grandeur, exquisite handicrafts
, folk dances music and the
brightly attired people lend a
romantic aura to the city.
Shopping in Jodhpur bazaars is a
heady experience with a colorful
display of the rich collection
of exquisite handicrafts. The
tie and dye fabric, embroidered
‘jutis’ or slippers in suede,
cancel skin, velvet and more
color to the city.it was form
here that the popularly worn
baggy-tight horse riding
trousers,-" Jodhpurs" ,took
their name. Countless
festivities celebrate the rich
past and culture of the princely
state. The Marwar Festival held
annually is one such spectacular
bonanza.
Mount Abu
A pleasant retreat set amidst
the lush forested hills, Mt. Abu
is a green oasis in the barren
desertscape thats 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 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.
Ajmer
Ajmer situated in the green
oasis wrapped in the barren
hills has been a witness to an
interesting past. The city was
founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan
in the 7th Century A.D. and
continued to be a major center
of the Chauhan power till 1193
A.D. when Prithviraj Chauhan
lost it to Mohammed Ghauri.
Today, Ajmer is a popular
pilgrimage center for the Hindus
as well as Muslims. Especially
famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb
of the Sufi saint Khwaja
Moinuddin Chisti,which is
equally revered by the Hindus
and Muslims. Ajmer is also the
base for visiting Pushkar(11
km.),the abode of Lord
Brahma,lying to its west with a
temple and a picturesque
lake.The Pushkar lake is a
sacred spot for Hindus. During
the month of Kartik(Oct./Nov.),devotes
throng in large numbers here to
take a dip in the sacred lake.
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