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

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’.

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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.

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My eyes were glued to the sight of numerous rats meandering

freely on the marble floors of Deshnok temple in Bikaner, Rajasthan. As I moved further into the temple I saw some rats were busy feasting on the prasad, some were sleeping peacefully in the corners and many of them were clumped on the edges of milk bowls. The views were truly overwhelming. They seemed not to be bothered by the presence of human beings. May be they knew how important they were in the eyes of people at this temple. The rats (locally known as Kabba) are considered holy at this temple and there is an interesting legend associated with it. It s believed that they are the incarnations of Karni Mata, the preceding deity of the temple.

I had heard a lot about this unique Deshnok temple where around 20,000 rodents live a luxurious life. Sitting pretty and enjoying the food and respect offered by devotees who come to the temple, no wonder these rodents are no less than Raja-Maharajas. What luck! Deshnok Temple, also known as Karni Maa Temple, is an interesting holy site where rats are worshipped. This is 600 year old temple has a wire grill covering its courtyard to prevent birds from feasting on the holy rats. Not only this, the temple has holes and tunnels to facilitate the rats to move around freely.

As I was heading to the main shrine, a rat ran over my feet. For a moment I felt quite uneasy. However, my uneasiness faded away when a devotee at the temple who had also seen that rat running over my feet walked up to me and said, “ You are fortunate as the sighting of a white rat in the temple is considered a blessing from the goddess”. She even told me that out of thousands of rats, there are only 4 or 5 white rats in the temple. And it is not easy to sight them. Wow! I felt great.

The lady who told me about the white rat was from Deshnok village itself. I interacted with her and asked her several questions regarding the temple. One of the facts that left me speechless was that despite the presence of thousands of rats in the temple, Deshnok village never faced any incident of plague or any other rat borne disease. No wonder this is the magic of the goddess.

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For those dreaming to sit in the lap of luxury, a trip to Rajasthan is the answer. It is a land of raja-maharajas dotted with stunning and luxurious palaces. Offering first hand royal experience of the rich cultural heritage of the state, the palaces transport visitors to the glorious era of the royal kings. The palaces are built on hills, desert and even in the middle of lakes. The imposing facades of these royal structures will undoubtedly leave you stunned. The architecture of each palace has its own unique charm. Immerse yourself in the incredibly luxurious and royal aura of the palaces and make your holidays memorable.

From Rajput to Mughal and European, the palaces of Rajasthan reflect superb architectural creativity.The interiors of the palaces are done to perfection. Most of the palaces have museums displaying the weapons, costumes, paintings and other belongings of the kings of the yesteryears. The moment you step into these royal structures you will feel as if you have entered a kingdom of a king.

Some of the palaces of Rajasthan have been converted into heritage hotels to give tourists a real taste of royalty. The warm hospitality offered at these heritage properties is simply unmatched.

I explored some of the famed palaces of Rajasthan, which are:

Amer Palace, Jaipur

Located inside the fortified Amer Fort, the palace reflects the splendor of Mughal architecture.

City Palace, Jaipur

The huge complex of this palace encompasses several stunning structures housing amazing attractions.

City Palace, Udaipur

Located on a hill, the palace boasts of incredibly beautiful interiors. It houses several wonderful apartments, each having its own share of attractions to offer.

Lake Palace, Udaipur

It is like a poetry in white marble. Located in the middle of a lake, the palace is a great attraction. It has an amazing romantic aura.

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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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It was the end of May, the scorching summer was at its peak,and I was far

Shopping in Udaipur

away from the noise, pollution, dust and the mad rush of hi-tech metros.

Although it was quite hot in Udaipur as well but the climate was bearable, in fact a bit pleasant, because of the cooling effect of the charming lakes. In Udaipur, my lungs loved the air. The city sounded uncannily quiet. What could be more interesting activity than shopping to explore the ancient culture and traditions of the Rajputs dipped in vibrant colours?

I got to know that Udaipur has countless shops and many interesting local crafts. My mother told me on phone that the city is also famous for producing furniture covered with silver and inlaid with mother of pearl and bone. It was certainly a big deal to carry that huge furniture to my native place from Udaipur. But I could buy some small artifacts and traditional handicraft items. Therefore, I started my hunt from the stalls at the Lake Palace Road. I found a umber of traditional Rajput-Mughal-style miniature paintings there. Those were designed in a variety of mediums such as bone, paper, silk, marble, and wood. The shops next to the Rang Niwas Palace Hotel and the Jagdish Temple are also famous for such artifacts and beautiful images of Gods and Goddesses.

My driver took me to ‘Hathi Pol’, which is the biggest market area of Udaipur. I bought a few exquisite items such as colorful dyed fabrics and hand printed textiles, wooden folk toys and silver jewellery for my mother and sister. The animated colors and themes painted on the wall hangings are famous all over the world, but I found them very costly. Clock Tower, Chetak Circle and Bapu Bazaar are other famous market areas, which are known for the best of traditional articles and handicrafts. The best attractions of these market areas were Bandhej sarees & suits, traditional jewellery, handmade papers, painted wooden box, marble and wooden carved doors, brasswares, beadwork and precious & semi precious stones.

I was surprised to see the wealth of ethnic crafts that constantly reminded me of Mewar’s royal traditions and ethnic grandeur. Rajasthali and Sadhna are two government emporiums that offer all the products under a single roof. You are offered the best deals here and you can capture the most of Rajasthan in these emporiums. There is a great opportunity for bargaining also. Shopping in Udaipur was an enchanting cultural experience as I interacted with incredibly talented folk artists.

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Before leaving for my tour to Rajasthan my family members had handed me a list of the shopping items they wanted from Jaipur. In fact they were more

excited than me about my tour. After experiencing the royalty of the bygone era by visiting the palaces, forts and monuments in the city, I decided to dedicate one complete day to shopping. There is so much to see and buy at the bustling bazaars of the city. So on your tour to Jaipur, the fascinating city of Rajasthan, don’t forget to pamper yourself with a variety of colorful handicrafts. I explored quite a few markets in the city and finally bought wonderful handicrafts.

Some of the famous handicrafts of Jaipur are:

Blue Pottery
Famous around the world for its beauty, Blue pottery is one of the special handicrafts of the city. The blue pottery consists of objects like mugs, surahi, jug, plate, tiles, flower pots, ashtray, lamp shades and other decorative articles.

Metal Ware
A variety of beautiful metal objects are available in the city but the objects carved out of brass are simply unmatched. Lacquered brass and carved brass are the two types of brass work done in the city.

Wood Work
You can buy amazing wooden furniture such as table, chair, drawer chest, picture frame, mirror frame, carved doors and windows from the bazaars. Carved in traditional style and available in different shapes and designs, these objects can really give traditional touch to your house.

Carpets and Durries
Available in various fabrics, sizes and designs, carpets and durries of the city are famous for their quality and beauty.

Paintings
Shopping in a royal city like Jaipur is incomplete without buying the miniature or folk paintings. Made on various themes, the paintings look awesome.

Rajasthani Textiles
Tye and Dye fabric and Block printed textiles are a big hit in the city. Their grace, color and beauty attract not only Indian tourists but also foreigners. These textiles are available in a variety of patterns.

Marble Work
Meticulously carved marble statues of the Hindu deities, animals, human figurines, bowls, vases etc make a good buy in Jaipur.

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The unfading pride of Jaipuris in their rich culture tastefully reflects in their culinary delights. My trip to Jaipur, a city occupying a significant place on the itineraries of tourists from across the world, was a great delight. Being a foodie I was quite euphoric about trying out various specialties of this Pink city. I really wonder how these people add such a great flavor to the dishes by using just the most basic of ingredients. No wonder cuisine has always been a serious business in Rajasthan since the era of Raja-Maharajas.

The mere mention of dal-bati-churma makes my mouth water as this is one of the Rajasthani dishes which tops my menu. I was seated in a restaurant which was decorated in a traditional style, which added more charm to my dining experience there. Before placing the order for dal-bati churma I flipped through the pages of the menu which featured names of the tempting dishes such as Biryani Rumi, Lal Maas, Safed Maas, Kesaryia Bhaat and the list seemed endless. I also relished a big glass of butter milk(lassi) and I was completely full. But I had heard that one must not miss the sweet dishes of this royal state. So how could I leave the restaurant without rounding off my hearty meal by a sweet dish. I ordered Ghevar, which is one of the specialties of Jaipur. I also got some misri mawa packed to have it later.

The staff at the restaurant, wearing a warm smile, treated me like a friend. How sweet of them! It clearly shows hospitality runs in the blood of Rajasthanis. Be it vegetarian dishes or non-vegetarian delicacies, Jaipur’s menu has choices to tempt everyone.

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