Wonders of RajasthanVibrant Rajasthan – Travel to the Land of History, Legends, Valorous Warriors And Heritage Hotels….

Ready for an adventurous Camel Safari in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, I was awaiting an overwhelming experience. It was my first camel safari and I was pretty excited about it. I and my guide Pradeep set out on a safari in the evening as during the day I was scared to get evaporated by the scorching heat of the sun. Jokes apart, in the evening when the sun is down you can enjoy riding the camel. I took some time to get used to the camel ride. Trotting along the Thar Desert where sand dunes look like small golden hills is truly a great experience. I simply loved the ambiance. It was so romantic. It seemed as if everything was in perfect harmony with each other, irrespective of their different individual identities.

The view of the endless stretch of sand dunes is truly picturesque. I clicked many pictures to make my own record of memories, which I can cherish for long. A thought raced through my mind while enjoying the beauty of the desert: What is constant in life? Change. The shades and shapes of these sand dunes change several times in a day and in the same manner our life also changes with time. And the desert accepts the change with serenity, something which we usually fail at.

After enjoying sunset in the desert, now was the time to witness the colorful cultural activities on the sand dunes. We were slated to spend a night at the night camps pitched on the unfathomable sand dunes. Reflecting the cultural heritage of Rajasthan, the dance performance was truly mind blowing. At night I along with the other travelers cooked food and relished it under the star studded sky. What a wonderful experience! I experienced so much, I learned so much, I enjoyed so much.

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Ranakpur Jain Temple

Sweeping across the colourful land of Rajasthan, I witnessed the ancient monuments, royal Rajputana glory and the distinctive lifestyle of the locals. I was seeking for something different, that could refresh my senses and break this monotonous desert tour. While going though the Rajasthan travel guide, the ‘Pilgrimage Town’ of Ranakpur seemed quite appealing. I was quite excited to explore this Jain site and spend some time in divine peace. Though the township of Ranakpur is situated about 96 km from Udaipur, but instead of hiring a taxi I preferred travelling by train. I arrived the Phalna railway station at 7:15 am and hired an auto-rickshaw for the Jain Temples, which are approximately 20 km from the station.

Ranakpur holds a special reverence for the Jains, as it is one of the five renowned Jain pilgrimages in India. I stopped at a village dhaba for breakfast where I had delicious aaloo-puri and a huge glass of thick lassi. Almost all the Jain Temples in the complex are exquisitely carved in Amber stone. Built during the rule of Rana Kumbha, these Jain temples date back to the 15th century. The autowala asked me to start exploring the shrines from the Chaumukha Temple. This four faced temple, dedicated to Adinath Ji (the first Jain tirthankara), is spread over 48,000 sq. feet. The temple with a four-faced statue of the tirthankara, is simply an architectural wonder. It is highly frequented for its 29 huge halls and 1,444 distinctly carved pillars. A corridor around the temple also has carved images of 24 tirthankaras. In that beautiful temple, I could feel the celestial music created by the light wind breezing through its corridors. The four small shrines, with 80 spires supported by 420 pillars, are another fascinating feature of the temple.

I was quite surprised to see the two other temples, dedicated to Parasvanath and Neminath, facing the main temple. The exquisite figures, somewhat similar to the Khujarao sculptures, are the best part about these temples. The images of Adinath, Parshvanath, Ajitnath and Lord Mahavir Swami were incomparable. Another interesting attraction in Ranakpur was the Parshvanath Temple. Made of pure marble, this ancient temple is also known as ‘Patriyon ka Mandir’. This temple is best known for its pierced stone windows with ornamental designs.

Someone told me that the Jain community and their temple building activities were always patronized by the ruling Mewar dynasty. My short visit to Ranakpur was quite interesting as well as informative. Ranakpur Jain temples are the gems in the mountain ranges of Pali district.

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Jaisalmer Haveli

I was on a royal heritage quest, and my quest ended in Jaisalmer, which has wonderful gems to offer from the past. And the most fascinating are the havelis, which are a great testimony to the glorious past of Rajasthan. Recently on my tour to Jaisalmer I visited the three famous havelis of Jaisalmer and it was a perfect experience. Exquisitely carved these havelis were built hundreds of years back. Whether its their wood work or the stone work, everything about them is enchanting.

The three famous havelis are:

Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli
Truly an architectural marvel, Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli is worth a visit. Located in the heart of Jaisalmer, it was built in a unique style by the two brothers Hathi and Lulu in the 19th century. One interesting feature about the haveli is that there is a geometrical irregularity in the structure. The two halves of the structure were made separately and then joined together by a facade. Although this dissimilarity was a mistake but it turned out to be an attraction of the haveli. It made the haveli look more beautiful. Elaborately carved, this haveli has mesmerizing interiors.

Salim Singh Ji Ki Haveli
Once the residence of Salim Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Jaisalmer, Salim Singh Ji Ki Haveli was built in the 17th century. Its roof was fashioned in the form of a peacock, which is amazingly carved. Each of its 38 balconies are carved in different styles, leaving visitors awe-inspired with their architectural beauty. The front side of the haveli juts out like a ship’s prow, that’s why the haveli is also known as Jahaz Mahal.

Patwon Ki Haveli
It is the most luxurious and stunning haveli of Jaisalmer built in 1805 by a rich merchant named Guman Chand Patwa. Its complex consists of five separate structures, each having its own charm and beauty. Take a stroll through its 60 balconies known for their stunning lattice work. Some portion of the haveli is still occupied by the royal family. Two of the structures are managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. The mirror work and paintings of the haveli deserve mention.

There are several other havelis with brilliant architectural style and stunning interiors in Jaisalmer. The sights of these royal structures is truly delightful. Some of them have also been converted into heritage hotels to offer amazing accommodation options to tourists.

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Kumbhalgarh Fort, Rajasthan

36 km long boundary wall, over 360 temples inside the Fort complex, graceful Bengal caned marble columns, and delicate latticed balconies – Can anyone actually resist himself for visiting such an amazing place? After going through the Kumbhalgarh Travel Guide, I packed my bag and hired a taxi for such historically important destination. After a drive of 85 km from Udaipur, through the dense greens and fascinating valleys of the Aravallis, I finally reached Kumbhalgarh. The very first impression was marked to me by the entrance of the fort, which was as huge as I could ever imagine.

While taking the entrance ticket, I hired a guide and headed for one of the most surprising sites I have ever seen. Suresh, the guide, told me that this 15th century structure is the second most important fort in Rajasthan after the Chittaurgarh Fort and boasts of being the birth place of the legendary King Maharana Pratap. Snuggled over 6,233 feet above sea level, the fort was built by Rana Kumbha. While peeping into the royal structures inside the fort, we paid short visits to the Salim Mahal, Jai Pol, Suraj Pol, Laxman Pol, Chand Pol, Kishan Pol and Andheri Gate.

Badal Mahal is the highest place in the fort, built by Rana Fateh Singh in the late 19th century. I could actually feel the pleasant winds kissing my reflection on the pastel colored walls while I was gazing at the long serpentine lines of the fort walls and distant landscapes. It offers the best of scenic view of the entire city and dense greens of the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. The best view from such a high point was of the 36 km long boundary wall that boasts of being the second longest continuous wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. While having lunch at the restaurant at the entrance of the fort, Suresh told me that the entire fort comprises of about 365 temples. But as we were running short of time, I asked him to show me the most revered one. He took me to the Shiva Temple, which comprises a huge Shiva Linga (Phallic form).

Jal Mahal, Nikumbh Mahal, Salim Sagar and Suraj Kund were equally beautiful structures. The fort, with 15 large and 51 small towers, offers splendid bird’s eye view of the surroundings. Kumbhalgarh Fort and its ruins, positioned in the midst of Aravalli ranges, were far more appealing than my imagination.

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