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

With the sun hitting Delhi mercilessly with its scorching rays, my mind was abuzz with questions- ‘where to escape’ , ‘where to escape’ and ‘where to escape’? I sat down to browse internet and finally decided to explore Mount Abu. I reached this wonderful hill station of Rajasthan by train. I was booked in Cama Rajputana Club Resort. I arrived in the room, dumped my luggage and rushed to the window to savour the panoramic views of  Mount Abu.

Post breakfast, I took a walk around the hotel. As I was enjoying the scenic

Dilwara Jain Temple

beauty and pleasant climate, one of the hotel executives approached me. He warmly greeted me and started a conversation. He told me about the history and attractions of this destination.

Located at an altitude of 1220 m, Mount Abu attracts tourists from far and wide. It is situated in the beautiful Aravalli range of Rajasthan and is a perfect place for nature lovers.

My first halt was the mesmerizing Nakki Lake, which is the jewel of Mount

Nakki Lake

Abu. It is believed that the lake was dug by the heavenly deities with their nails. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains, gardens and rock formations, which add more charm to it. I decided to come back to the lake in the evening to capture sunset views. It is a great location for photography. Fashioned by nature in the form of a toad, the toad rock at Nakki lake is a fascinating attraction. The rock lies overhanging the lake.

Next I moved to the enchanting Dilwara Jain Temples, which are renowned the world over for their architectural excellence. Their intricate stone carvings are simply incredible. The carvings of the ceilings and the pillars are truly unmatched. The history of these architectural wonders dates back to the period between 11th and 13th century AD. The temple complex is surrounded by the gorgeous green hills.

Post lunch, I visited Gurushikhar, the highest point in the Aravali mountain range. From here I captured picture-perfect views of the town of Mount Abu and the Aravali Range. My guide Rahul also took me to the temple of Guru Dattatreya, which holds great mythological significance.

As the day was drawing to a close I reached the Sunset Point, which is famous for offering breathtaking views. I was completely bowled over by the breathtaking sunset views. Mesmerized, I came back to the hotel.

Pushkar, the holy town famous for its only Brahma Temple in the

world and a colourful camel fair is a great destination to visit. My

Pushkar Camel Fair

curiosity to see the one-of-its-kind Brahma Temple made me decide to visit the town. After juggling a lot of dates, I decided to visit the town during the first week of November when the town was alive with celebrations of the world famous Pushkar fair. This town is the perfect place if you are seeking spirituality and enjoyment at the same time.

Pushkar lake in the town is a holy lake where I took a dip before visiting the temple. It’s believed that a dip in the sacred Pushkar Lake washes away one’s bad karma. Walking down the steps leading into the lake I experienced peace and joy. I felt as if some positive energy was embracing me. There are many ghats at the lake and the best part was that the lake was not very crowded. The lake is surrounded by several temples. The walls surrounding the lake read ‘Photography Prohibited’. All I did was enjoyed the views and captured them in my eyes.

Now was the time to enjoy the colourful and unique Pushkar fair, which is the largest cattle fair in the world. The sight of the camels adorned from head to toe was simply breathtaking. Other cattle like horses and cow were also a part of the fair. I even saw the exciting camel races and other

cultural events like dance performance by the known artists. It was pure fun. After that I pampered my taste buds with delicious rajasthani dishes available at the food stalls in the fair. I came back completely ‘contented’.

Colour coding seems to be an age-old tradition in the cities of

Jaisalmer City

Rajasthan, including Jaisalmer. Jaipur is painted pink, Jodhpur is famous for its blue and Jaisalmer has a desert yellow hue, which beautifully blends with its rustic surroundings.

All set to get enchanted by the beauty of Jaisalmer attractions, I began my journey in the morning. My first halt was the Jaisalmer Fort, which is visible from almost every corner of the town. It’s a huge fort, which is one of the largest forts of the world. It stands majestically in the middle of the unfathomable Thar Desert on Trikuta Hill. It has three layers of walls. It looks like a part of the desert itself because of its golden yellow colour.

A few steps ahead of the entrance gate locals sell handicrafts like music instruments and anklets. One woman literally got after my life to buy the anklet. I ignored her and moved quickly from there. While exploring the fort I dined at one of the roof top restaurants in the fort. The restaurant offered wonderful views of the town.

The next attraction I visited in the fort was Laxminath temple. It has exquisitely carved stone pillars and an open courtyard. The inside walls of the temple are adorned with paintings of Lord Krishna. I also saw the Royal Palace.

Located outside the fort is the mesmerizing Patwon Ki Haveli , which is intricately carved. Built in yellow sandstone, the haveli boasts of around 60 balconies and flawlessly carved lattice work. In the evening I went to scan the bustling bazaars of Jaisalmer to buy colourful and beautiful handicrafts.