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

Kumbhalgarh Forts

Royalty and splendour of Rajasthan always captivate my imagination and fascination which brings me to this place time and again. Last week I with my two friends planned to spend our weekend at Kumbhalgarh Fort which is located 84 km from Udaipur. We reached Udaipur, popularly known as the Venice of the East in the morning by Mewar Express from Delhi. After reaching here we hired a taxi and reached Kumbalgarh Fort after 2 hours of road journey.

Kumbhalgarh is a fortress located in Rajsamand District of Rajasthan. It is perched over the Aravalli Hills and is the second most important fort, after the Chittaurgarh Fort, of India. Perimeter of this fort’s walls is extended over 36 kilometres in length which is longest in the world after ‘The Great Wall of China’. Inside the fort premises there are 360 temples out of which 300 are ancient Jain temples and the rest are Hindu temples.

We visited every nook and corner of this majestic fort without any guide. The architectural supremacy and grandiose construction of this fort stunned us during our exploration. The complex structure of this fort enabled it to withstand several attacks from the Gujarat, Malwa and Mughals armies. Built by Rana Kumbha, the fort is situated over 6,233 feet above sea level . It is also the birth place of the legendary King Maharana Pratap. While exploring this royal structure we paid a short visit to Andheri Gate, Suraj Pol, Salim Mahal, Chand Pol, Jai Pol and Laxman Pol.

Among all these places of interest the Badal Mahal is most fascinating aspect of the Kumbhalgarh Fort. It is highest place of the fort which was built by Rana Fateh Singh in the 19th century. I was totally mesmerised by the the view of pastel coloured walls and its changing shades according to sun inclinations. This place offers best scenic views of the entire city and dense greens of the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. From this point one can also see the 36 km long serpentine boundary wall of this fort.

Some of the equally beautiful structures of this glorious forts are Salim Sagar, Nikumbh Mahal, Suraj Kund and Jal Mahal. This fort also houses a number of small and large towers which offer fascinating bird’s eye view of the surroundings.

The most absorbing part of this place is the resonating sound of Sarangi, Thori, Kamaycha, Ektaara and Mochng which narrate the heroic deeds and love stories of Rajasthan. Seated on the rooftop watching the magnificence of the royal culture with melodious background music was the most captivating part of this tour which will remain intact in my memory forever.

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City Palace Jaipur

Stunned by the imposing facade of incredible Rajasthan I keep traveling to this land time and again. Completely absorbed by the royalty of the palaces of this land of raja-maharajas I decided to visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur. I had heard a lot about the architectural beauty and mind blowing interior decoration of this imposing structure. Now was the time to see it for myself.

Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur is a wonderful tourist destination of India. This capital city of Rajasthan is one of the most visited destinations of the country. Its colorful culture and glorious history make it internationally renowned. The City Palace is the most enchanting attraction of the city and is also a landmark of the city.

Exploring the City Palace was a great experience. It is a perfect combination of Rajasthani and Mughal art and architecture built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. Several new structures were added to the palace by his subsequent generations. The palace complex encompasses several beautiful structures. The courtyards, gardens and structures of the Palace have their own unique charm. Nakkarkhana-ka-Darwaza is the fabulous gateway of the palace which is adorned with stone elephants.

Once the abode of the erstwhile rulers, today the palace is a stunning museum. It is a treasure-trove of rare and beautiful attractions such as paintings, manuscripts, weapons and textiles. While exploring the attractions I came across two huge urns of silver, said to be the largest vessels in the world.

As I moved inside the Mubarak Mahal in the palace complex I was astonished by the beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors. The museum inside the Mubarak Mahal houses royal belongings, such as saris, chairs, overcoats etc, of the erstwhile kings and queens. The robe of Raja Madho Singh was too huge and I think at least four people like me can easily fit into it.

As I moved further I saw the Diwan-e-Khas or the Hall of Private audience and the Diwan-e-Am or the Hall of Public audience. Both of them were intricately decorated. The huge art gallery deserves special mention as there is a lot to see in it. It has amazing paintings, marble crafts and metal artifacts.

I also saw the arresting Badal mahal and Chandra Mahal which have their own beauty. In fact every structure of the City Palace has its own beauty and charm. I was completely overwhelmed by its stunning architecture, royal aura, peaceful ambiance and traditional decorations.

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Dilwara Jain Temple

I had heard a lot about the Dilwara Jain Temples in Mount Abu

which are famous for their sheer architectural brilliance. In fact, many experts even consider them superior to Taj Mahal when it comes to architectural beauty. And this increased my curiosity to see these temples manifold. The first sight of the temples left me with an expression ‘wow’.

The glorious history of Dilwara Jain Temples dates back to the period between 11th to 13th century. Reflecting the era of Jain supremacy, these temples are the most beautiful Jain temples in India. They are ideally perched on a hill in the midst of a mango grove. The most striking feature of the temples is the exquisite and arresting carvings in marble. I was left speechless at the sight of the carvings and ornamental work inside the temples. I think ‘EXTREMELY’ is the prefix which must be added to every adjective you use for the Dilwara Jain Temples and that too in capital letters.

Carvings of the temples:
Deserving a great deal of mention and appreciation, the carvings of the temples leave one thinking about the height of human creativity. Every nook and corner of the temples are adorned with breathtaking carvings. Looking at them I wondered how flawlessly and beautifully the artists transformed plain stones into images which look so mesmerizing. From pillars to ceilings, walls and floors, all the structure of the temples hold their unique charm and beauty. The carvings reflect the images of Jain saints, gods, goddesses, monks, devotees, flowers, royal courts, marriage processions, dance figures and several religious motifs. And the most fascinating aspect is that no design is repeated. Hats off to those artists who made this architectural wonder.

We visited all the five shrines within the complex of Dilwara Jain temples. Built in different centuries, the five shrines are Vimal Vasahi, Luna Vasahi, Pithalhar, Khatter Vasahi (Parshwanath) and Mahaveer swami. The first two are the most talked about temples which are completely made of white marbles with magnificent carvings.

Candidly speaking words are not enough to describe the beauty of Dilwara Jain Temples. One must visit them to experience what architectural beauty is all about.

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Udaipur City

Almost all of us love to celebrate occasions in a royal approach, as a friend of mine invited me to the reception party of his marriage at Lake Palace, Udaipur. Being an addict to celebrations and an explorer, I packed my bags and planned a tour to Udaipur – ranked as 2nd best city in Asia and 7th in the world. As the function was organized in the splendid white marble structure of Lake Palace in the middle of Lake Pichola, I started my exploration from there only. This island kind of structure was established in 1746 and was called Jag Niwas. Recently, it has been converted to a luxury hotel under the property of Taj Group of Hotels.

Next morning, I left for other major attractions in Udaipur. This royal city of Rajput Kings of Mewar has a huge 450 year old monument – the City Palace, located alongside the Lake Pichola only. I entered the palace through a triple-arched gate – Tripolia and came across lovely terraces, corridors and gardens. I clicked several wall paintings of Lord Krishna that were displayed in Bhim Vilas. Similarly, the architectural pattern of Dilkhush Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Moti Mahal and Krishna Vilas were spellbinding. These grand palaces still retain the age old glory of bygone era in the form of antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils.

In the evening, I visited Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal for several folk art performances and puppet shows. After a tiring but enjoyable day, my last activity was boating in the splendid Lake Fateh Sagar. For dinner, I was served awesome Dal Bati Churma in my hotel.

Next morning, I planned for a half day tour during which I paid short visits to Maharana Pratap Memorial, Saheliyon ki Bari, Sajjangarh Fort (summer resort of Maharajahs), Jagdish Temple (a perfect example of Indo-Aryan architecture), and Udaipur Solar Observatory (Asia’s only solar observatory).

I had my lunch in Gulab Bagh (rose garden) where small restaurants serve tasty and spicy fast food. The trip was short but crisp. I marked all the untouched attractions for my next visit.

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I was thinking about my next vacation considering that I had

Nakki Lake, Mount Abu

only 2 days in hand. I was flipping through the pages of Srishti, the nature based magazine and came across an article on Mount Abu. I really liked the article and decided to visit Mount Abu in Rajasthan. One of my friends Monika accompanied me.

While on our way to Mount Abu I read a little bit about it. It is the only hill station of Rajasthan, the land of raja-maharajas. It was once the abode of saints and sages and it is believed that around 330 million gods and goddesses used to reside here. Also it is a place where 36 warrior clans emerged from the great Agni Kund or sacred fire pit.  I wondered what a rich history Mount Abu has! It is also an important Jain pilgrimage. After listening to the history I realized that Mount Abu is much more than a summer retreat.

We arrived at Mount Abu in the early afternoon. We were booked in Connaught House Heritage hotel. Its wonderful architecture and pleasant ambiance were simply overwhelming. After refreshing ourselves with tea and delicious snacks we decided to visit the Nakki lake. The climate was pleasant, just like the destination.

We had hired a guide named Shankar who was a nice chap. He told us an interesting legend about the lake according to which it was dig by a Hindu God by his nails and hence was named nakki, meaning ‘nails’. It was very rejuvenating to be at this lake, which offers picturesque views of the surrounding hills. We also enjoyed a boat ride on it. With gorgeous green surroundings in Mount Abu it is hard to believe that this place is in Rajasthan which is  a desert.

The day was drawing to a close and we now moved to the Sunset point, which is located at a short distance from the lake. We were all eagerly waiting for the famous sunset of Mount Abu and here it was. It was overwhelming!

Elated, we came back to the hotel and after a delicious dinner, retired to bed a little early. The next day we were slated to go for Dilwara Jain Temple, Guru Shikar, Mount Abu wildlife Sanctuary and Adhardevi temple.

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To pamper my shopaholic heart, I decided to go

Shopping in Jodhpur

on a shopping spree in Jodhpur. Being a famous princely city of Rajasthan, Jodhpur has a variety of colorful handicrafts to offer. And no wonder shopping at such a destination is such a pleasurable and satisfying experience. For shopping the city offers several bazaars, pavement stalls and handloom houses. Explore them and pick up some wonderful handicrafts. The city is well known for its antiques, bandhini, footwear and red chillies.

Once one of my friends told me that whenever I visit Jodhpur, I must get Jodhpuri Suit. I scanned a few shops and could finally select a beautiful Jodhpuri Suit for myself. It is a purple colored suit designed with zardosi and cutdana beeds.

I wanted to buy some saris for my mother and friend. My guide Shankar suggested me to go to the Sojati Gate as it is famous for wonderful tie and dye saris. The shopkeeper showed me bandhini saris in cotton, chiffon and silk. The saris were available in many vibrant colors and it was really difficult for me to choose as I liked all. Finally I could choose four beautiful saris.

Next I made my way to the Station Road, which is famous for leather articles, embroidered footwear and utensils. I bought embroidered jutti for myself and a leather bag for my mom. I also bought two beautiful paintings and a carpet.

Now was the time to pamper my stomach with typical Rajasthani food. I sat at one of the good restaurants to dig into the famous dishes of Jodhpur. I ordered the famous mawa kachori of Jodhpur along with a big glass of lassi. It was simply delicious.

The next item on my shopping list was spices. Knowing that the Clock Tower is the best place to buy spices in Jodhpur, I headed for it. I bought a variety of spices and decided to go back to the hotel as I realized that if I stay at the market for some more time, I will surely end up with no money. Well I think its not my fault as the enchanting Jodhpur has so much to offer.

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Soaring high in the sky, the colorful kites of different

Kite Festival in Jodhpur

designs,some huge some small, were really a treat to my eyes and lifted my spirits too. I embarked on the memory lane and recollected my childhood days when kite flying was one of my favorite hobbies. I was at Jodhpur International Desert Kite Festival, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year in the month of January starting on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. And continues for the next two days.

Some of the best kite fliers had gathered there from far and wide to showcase their talent. The Polo Ground was the venue for the festival and huge crowd had gathered to view the event. No wonder this festival is a big hit with both residents and tourists. People of all ages were present at the venue. The children present there were full of live and their faces were brimming with joy. They were completely engrossed with the event and their voices were full of enthusiasm. I was standing near a group of children who while enjoying the sights of the colorful kites were singing a line, “Rangeela rangeela desh mera rangeela”. I simply loved it. They also released many colorful balloons in the sky. Wow! What a sight it was.

The creatively shaped kites, all competing with each other were building up excitement among spectators. I think everybody must have chosen their favorite kites. There was a huge kite in the form of a sunflower, which I found very attractive. Its sight reminded me of the line which I cherish a lot, “Be cheerful suns of happiness”. I from the depth of my heart prayed for its victory.

The kites were flying higher and higher and suddenly a kite fashioned in the form of a peacock got cut. Quite bad, as I was thinking it would perform well. Anyway that’s a part of the game. Some flew high, some failed to fly and some got cut but the festival went on.

To add more charm to the festival, the Air Force helicopters released many colorful kites from above. It seemed as if a palette full of different colors was suddenly poured in the sky. It was truly a sight to behold.

Other attractions which I enjoyed here were the entertaining cultural activities like music and dance performances. Reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan, the performances were a great delight.

I enjoyed the Jodhpur Kite Festival to the hilt and carried back with me some golden memories which will remain etched in my heart forever.

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“A blessing in disguise”, this is what I would call my trip to Jodhpur. For some official purpose I was told by my boss to visit Jodhpur. I was scheduled to stay there for two days for a business meeting but when I reached there I got to know that because of some unavoidable reasons the clients who I had to meet would be one day late. So my good fortune sneeked me one whole day to pursue my passion-travelling.

Popularly known as the “Blue City”, Jodhpur has amazing attractions to offer. On our way to the famous Mehrangarh fort, my guide Rakesh told me that Jodhpur is called a blue city because during the bygone era blue color was used to demarcate the houses of the Brahmin castes. And the other interesting reason he told was- blue color keeps the biting ants away. Interesting!

Dominating the landscape of the city, Mehrangarh fort is dramatically perched on a hill. As we were moving inside the fort, Ramesh told me interesting legends associated with the fort. The fort was built by the founder of the city, Rao Jodha, in the year 1459. Inside the fort I saw several mesmerizing structures with exquisite carvings and embellishments- Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana, and Daulat Khana and museum. It was great to visit the museum where I saw a collection of royal cradles, music instruments, miniature paintings, palanquins, howdas and the famous Kilkila cannon.

Umaid Bhawan Palace

My next halt was the grand Umaid Bhawan Palace (now a heritage hotel), one of the India’s fascinating palaces. Sprawling over 26 acres of land, this palace was once the largest residence in the world. I went to see its museum where I saw a variety of weapons, clocks stuffed leopards, and a huge banner presented by Queen Victoria.

In the evening I explored the colourful and bustling bazaars of Jodhpur. The bazaars were spilled with a variety of handicrafts such as tie and dye fabrics with silver and golden embroidery, paintings, leather crafts, wooden articles, furniture, silver jewelery and juttis. I bought two beautiful paintings. This marked the end of my short but sweet journey to Jodhpur. For the next two days I remained busy with the clients for offical purposes.

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The incredible beauty of the sand dunes of Jaisalmer are fashioned

Sand Dunes

in an enchanting way by nature. And its ambiance display sheer excellence. After getting soaked in the colours of the famous Desert festival of Jaisalmer, we set out for experiencing the charm of sand dunes at Sam Sand Dunes, which is around 45 km from Jaisalmer.

We were really excited to go for a camel safari at Sam Sand Dunes. We reached there in the evening around 3 pm. The sight of the sand dunes moving dramatically on the rhythm of wind is a treat to the eyes. The very thought of being in the desert under the star-studded sky was overwhelming. I was ready to ride on a camel named Jhumroo. I loved his name. Jhumroo’s owner Rajpal was quite talkative and really entertained me through his interesting stories on the safari.

Merging with the colours of the dusk, the sand dunes were looking mind blowing. I captured the rustic beauty of the sand dunes in my camera. We passed by a bunch of chattering women who were dressed in colourful attires. I stopped there and requested them to pose for a photograph and it seemed as if their happiness knew no bounds. Their faces were brimming with joy.

We were scheduled to stay in the tent accommodation. After reaching at out tents we spent most of the time capturing the beauty of the desert in our hearts. The sunset view at the Sam Sand Dunes was out of this world. The cultural programmes in the evening at the sand dunes added more charm to the awesome ambiance of the sand dunes. Dining at the sand dunes was an amazing experience. After having dinner we went off to sleep under the star-studded sky, on the unfathomable sand dunes. Truly an overwhelming experience!

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After a wonderful sightseeing tour of the havelis, temples and fort

Desert Festival, Jaisalmer

of Jaisalmer I and my three friends were all set to enjoy the colourful Desert Festival. It is the most vibrant festival of Jaisalmer celebrated every year in Jan/February. Attracting visitors from far and wide, this festival is organised by the Rajasthan State Tourism Corporation. A mirror to the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan, the festival is marked by several wonderful cultural activities.

When we reached the venue of the festival I felt as if the desert has come alive with the celebration of this festival. The sight of the decorated camels and rajasthani men and women in colourful attires was simply appealing. The festival offers an opportunity to tourists to acquaint themselves with the culture of the land of raja-maharajas. I interacted with some local people who told me a lot of things about the Rajasthani culture.

The first event that we saw was the turban tying contest. I was really amazed at the speed with which the participants were tying the turbans. It is a very much part of their tradition and no wonder they have long perfected this art. The other events that we saw were camel race, Mr. Desert contest and dance performance.

The fire dance is one of the striking features of the festival. It is performed on a ground covered with wood and burning charcoal. The performers walk through the fire in rhythm with the beats of drum. We were spell bound at the sight of the performers who were not at all affected by the flaming coals.

Another breathtaking experience was the finale of the festival. It was marked by the mesmerizing light and sound show amidst the sand dunes on a moonlit night. I felt as if I had been transported to a storybook of a desert. We also bout some fine handicrafts from the stalls such as wood and stone carvings and embroidered leather bags.

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