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

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!

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

Desert Festival Jaisalmer

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

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

Palace On Wheels

Someone has aptly said that the real adventure of life is to live the life of your dreams. Even I had a dream, a special dream, buried deep inside my heart, bouncing around in it for years. I thought to myself, “now or never” and decided to transform my dream into reality. I always wanted to experience the “lifestyle of raja-maharajas” and Palace on Wheels, rated amongst the top ten luxury trains of the world, was certainly the best bet for me.

Elated, I and my friend Shivani boarded Palace on Wheels from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station on the Wednesday evening. This luxury train offers 8 days/7 nights tour to various fascinating destinations of North India, and that too in a royal style. The train covers the following destinations- Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, at Sawai Madhopur, Chittaurgarh, Ranthambore National Park Udaipur, Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal in Agra. And then back to Delhi.

Once the personal railway coaches of the raja-maharajas of the bygone era, Palace on Wheel is truly the epitome of royalty and luxury. With royal, traditional and stunning interiors, state-of-the-art facilities and Khidmatgars at your service, you surely get the royal feel. During my journey in the train I enjoyed both the king-like hospitality and attractions of bewitching tourist destinations. We also enjoyed dance and music performances and puppet shows, a rejuvenating experience.

I felt as if I has travelled back in time to the glorious era of  Raja-Maharajas. An exotic array of dishes were available to tantalize the taste buds. The traditional Rajasthani dishes were lip-smacking. Seeing the menu consisting of amazing dishes, the “food-lover” inside me raised its ugly head and I without thinking about calories gorged on the food (although I was on dieting). I enjoyed every bit of my luxurious and enchanting journey on the Palace on Wheels.

Lived my dream. Contented to the hilt. What a wonderful feeling it is!

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

Elephant Festival Rajasthan

For a taste of royal lifestyles of raja-maharajas of Rajasthan, I set out on a heritage tour to this culturally rich land of India. And fortunately my tour coincided with the famous elephant festival (which coincides with Holi) celebrated with great fervour in the capital city Jaipur. The capital is at its best when decked up for this colourful and unique festival. After reaching Jaipur I was eagerly waiting to participate in the festival.

To experience the royalty at its best I stayed at Alsisar Haveli, which is one of the finest heritage hotels in the city. Its Rajputana look, traditional architecture, stunning interiors and warm hospitality left me speechless. Staying at this hotel was in itself a royal experience. Everything from bed to the mirror in the washroom had a royal touch to it.

To begin with I along with Manoj, my guide, visited the City Palace, a fabulous example of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The palace complex houses several stunning palaces with dazzling interiors. Further we headed to Jantar Mantar, a collection of astronomical instruments built in stone for measuring the planetary movements and time. Then we explored Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), a pink coloured five-storied structure pierced with 955 windows. It was built in 1799 to enable the royal ladies to view the city life, without being visible themselves.

Then we moved on to Amber Fort, the huge fort with several arresting structures built under the reign of Raja Man Singh. We take an Elephant ride to reach the Fort situated on the hill, a fascinating experience.

Next day I was ready to be a part of the famous elephant festival, commemorating the glorious past of the city. The view of the elephants adorned from head to toe was a sight to behold. The elephant race was simply overwhelming. They also played the royal game polo and a procession of elephants is taken out. I felt as if the elephants were also enjoying themselves. For me the most fascinating part of the festival was playing holi on an elephant’s back. I also enjoyed traditional folk dances of Rajasthan. I was completely soaked in the hue of Rajasthan.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

With my eyes wide open and blood pumping at a fast pace, I was

Sariska National Park

watching a tiger all set to attack its prey, the poor deer. The scene was overwhelming, full of thrill and curiosity. Didn’t know what would happen next. Although I wanted to help the innocent deer but all I could do was wait and watch. The entire wild drama stretched for almost ten minutes and finally with sheer luck the deer had a narrow escape. I was really happy for the deer.

Well, I am talking about a wildlife show on Sariska National Park, which I was watching on Discovery channel the other day. I liked the show very much and decided to embark on a wildlife journey in Sariska National Park in Rajasthan.

After reaching the Sariska Tiger Haven hotel just outside the Sariska National Park at night, I was eagerly waiting for the sun to rise to begin the wildlife journey. Finally in the morning with hopes in my heart I along with the guide Dara went for morning wildlife safari.

Sariska National Park is a Project Tiger Reserve sprawling over 800 sq km area encompassing hills, valleys, scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses. Located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, the Park is a home to a variety of wildlife species.

I along with my well trained guide Saurab ventured deep inside the forest in search of wildlife. With my binoculars I sighted some magnificent bird species and was elated. Other animals I saw were striped hyena, golden jackal, chital, sambhar, nilgai, four-horned antelope. Langur, wild boar and chinkara.

My safari was about to come to a close but my sore eyes were still awaiting the arrival of the jungle king. After a lot of struggle, all we got were the pugmarks of tiger. And now was the time to retrace our steps out of the jungle. With great memories of the wildlife I saw and without any complaints against the Park or its wildlife, I came back thinking ‘there is always a next time’.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

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.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

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’.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

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.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

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.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !

My pulse was racing when I reached incredible Rajasthan to

explore its wildlife. A home to some of the finest wildlife destinations, this state has always fascinated me. I went there purely for a wildlife holiday and came back ‘completely overwhelmed’.

My first halt was the royal Ranthambore National Park, a home to the ferocious tigers and a variety of other wildlife. Encompassing an impressive 1,334 sq km of land, the Park is located in the Sawai Madhour district of Rajasthan. The Park is divided into five zones and we were in the third zone, which offers bright chances of sighting a tiger. The path to this zone is lined with dry dhok, thokra, mango, supari and imli trees. We saw many langurs jumping from tree to tree as if flaunting their fitness. They seemed to be least bothered by our presence.

My most memorable moment inside the Park was when I caught sight of a tiger at the Padam Talao( the first and the largest of three lakes inside the third zone). The tiger was busy quenching his thirst. Sensing our presence, the tiger turned back and looked at us for a few seconds and then made his way deep into the forest. It was a sight that will always remain in my memory. My joy knew no bounds as I saw the tiger from close quarters.

As I and K.P Singh, my guide meandered our way into the Park, we were rewarded with the sights of sloth bear, wild boar, monitor lizard, sambar, mongoose, nilgai and porcupines. I was feeling elated as fortune was on our side.

Bookmark In Your Favourite List !