Rajasthan

Population : 55 million
Area : 342, 239 sq km
Capital : Jaipur
People per sq km : 150
Main Languages : Rajasthani & Hindi
Best time to Go : Mid-October to Mid-March
Rajasthan, the Land of the Kings, is India at its exotic colorful best. It is the home of the Rajputs, a group of warrior clans who have controlled this part of India for 1000 years according to a code of chivalry and honor akin to that of the medieval European knights


Jaipur
The capital city of the state of Rajasthan is popularly known as the pink city because of the pink paint applied to the buildings in its old wlled city. (in Rajput culture, pink was traditionally a colour associated with hospitality.) In cantrast to the cities on the Ganges plain, Jaipur has broad avenues and a remarkable harmony.

The city sits on a dry lake bed in a wild and somewhatarid landscape, surrounded by barren hills surmounted by fortresses and crenellated walls, Jaipur long ago outstripped the confines of its city wall yet retains a less crowded and more relaxed atmosphere than its large size and population might suggest.

Bikaner
This desert town in the north of the state was funded in 1488 by Rao Bikaji,a descendant of the founder of Jodhpur, Jodhaji. Like many others in Rajasthan, the old city is surrounded by a high crenellaged wall and, like Jaisalmer, it was once an important staging post on the great caravan trade routes. The Gang Canal, built between 1925 and 1927, irrigates a large area of previously arid land around Bikaner.Although it's less impressive than Jaisalmer, Bikaner is still an interesting place to vist, but not many travllers stop here. There's a superb large fort, a government camel breeding farm just outside the town (see the start of this chapter ofr the dated of the town's Camel Festival),and 30 km to the south is the Karni Mata Temple where thousands of holy rats are worshipped.

Jodhpur
Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar Desert and is the largest city in Rajasthan after jaipur. The city is totally dominated by a massive fort, topping a sheer rocky hill which rises right in the middle of the town. Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rajput clan known as the Rathores. His descendants ruled not only Jodhpur, but also other Rajput princely states. The Rathore kingdom was once known as Marwar, the land of Dearth.

The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a 10-km long wall built about a century after clearly see where the old city ens and the new begins. It's fascinating to wander around the jumble of winding streets in the old city, out of which eight gates lead It's one of India' more interesting cities and yes, it was from here that thouse baggy-tight horse-riding trousers, jodhpurs, took their name. Today, you're more likely to see them worn is Saurashtra is Gujarat than here. Part of the film Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, starring Sam neill and John Cleese, was recently shot in Jodhpur
Jaisalmer
Being else in India is remotely similar to Jaisalmer. Jodhpur certainly has one of the country's most spectacular fortress-palace complexes, and both Chittorgarh and JKumbhalgarh far surpass Jaisalmer in fame and sheer size. Yet this desert fortress isstraight out of the Tales of the Arabian Nights and you could easily be forgiven for imagining that you'd somehow been transported back to medieval Afghanistan. This magic, incomparably romantic and totally unspoiled city has been dubbed the 'Golden City' because of the colour imparted to its Stone ramparts by the setting sun. Jaisalmeris all of this and much more besides. No-one who makes the effort to get to this remote outpost leaves disappointed.

Udaipur
Possibly no city in Rajasthan is quite as romantic as Udaipur, even though the state is replete with fantastic hilltop fortresses, exotic fairytale palaces and gripping legends of medieval chivalry and heroism. The French Impressionist painter, let alone the Brothers Grimm, would have loved thief place and it's not without justification that Udaipur has been called the 'Venice of the East'Jaisalmer is certainly the 'Beau Geste' of the desert and Udaipur is the Versailles'.

Founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh following the final sacking of Chittorgarh by the Mughal emperor, Akbar, Udaipur rivals any of the world-famous creations of the Mughals with its Rajput love of the whimsical and its superbly craftd elegance. The Lake Palace is certainly the best late example of theis unique cultural explosion, but Udaipur is full of palaces, temples and hiveless ranging from the modest to the extravagant. It's also proud of its heritage as a center for the performing arts, painting and crafts.

Mount Abu
Connaught House : Rajasthan's only hill resort is Mount Abu, built around the vast Nakki Lake, Here, members of the rouyal families and their prominent courtiers built summer cottages. Connaught House was built by the chief minister in the durbar of Hodhpur, and is planned in the English style, a sylvan retreat set in a garden-the perfect place to unwind.

Kesar Bhawan Palace : Built by the Sirohi family, and one of the oldest places in theis summer resort, it exemplifies the architecture of the region, with corridors all around, and provate pavilions with each of its 10 rooms. The Sirohi family were the original inhabitants of Mount Abu before it was thrown up as a summer resort for all families under British dominion.

Sariska
Sariska Palace :Built at the end of the 19th century in honour of the Duke of Connaught, son of Queen Victoria, it was used as a hunting lodge. Now it has been converted into a heritagel hotel.so worth a visit are the Vijay Mandir Palace, the later royal residence (can be entered only with prior permission of the former Maharaja) and the fort of Rajgarh, 36 kms. south of the Alwar.

Shekhawati
The semi-desert Shekhawati region lies in the triangular area between Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner. Starling around the 14th century, a number of Muslim clans moved into the area and the towns which developed in the region become important trading posts on the caravan routes emanating from the parts of Gujarat.

The Shekhawati region is crisscrossed by narrow bitument roads, and all towns are well served by buses altough using these buses can be very time consuming.

Bharatpur
A must for those with an interest in ornithology, Bharatpur is famous for its World Heritage-listed birt sanctuary, the Keoladeo Gana National Park. The best time to visit the sanctuary is from October to February when many migratory birds can be seen though population densities differ from year to year.

Pushkar
One of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Rajasthan with its Brahma temple the only one dedicated to this divinity and the site for an annual camel fair that is now world renowned, Pushkar, close to Ajmer and accessible from Jaipur is otherwise a quite little settlement that comes alive during the fair in a breathtaking explosion of close to Ajmer and accessible from Jaipur is otherwise a quite little settlement that comes alive during the fair in a breathtaking explosion of colours, sounds, and activities.

Pushkar Palace : An ancient if austere building the four hundred accommodation available in Pushkar. Located beside the lake, it offers views of the temples and the ghats.Now a popular hotel, it has 32 double rooms, 4 singles, as well as a restaurant.

Sarovar : Built by Raja Man Singh of Amber the largest royal residence in Pushkar, the lakeside retreat is within walking distance ofthe lake and the temples. Intended as a guest house in Amber, it has continued its legacy as a hotel in its current avatar.

Ajmer
Ajmer was founded by Raja Ajay Pal Chauhan and it is situated in the green oasis wrapped in the barren hills. Ajmer used to be a major center of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. when the Ruler Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri. After Prithwiraj Chauhan Ajmer witnessed dynasties, which came and left leaving behind indelible marks of their culture and traditions on the city’s history, converting it to an amalgam of various cultures and blend of Hinduism and Islam.

Today, Ajmer is one of the most significant pilgrimage destination equally important for Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif-tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

Ajmer is very close to Pushkar (11 kms) which is significant for the famous fair held normally in the month of October/November. Pushkar, 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 .