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

Next day, we left for Udaipur, the city of lakes. As we reached there, the splendor of royal era grabbed our attention. The rolling hills, beautiful lakes and white marble palaces give Udaipur a special appeal.

We came across the spectacular monument-City Palace. Depicting the history of the city with honor, the palace boasts of its marvelous architecture.

Lies in the centre of Pichola Lake, Lake Palace is another beautiful monument of Udaipur. Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir are also lying nearby. We also came across some old monuments like Bagore ki Haveli and Maharana Pratap Memorial.These buildings still showcase the local culture and tradition. The exquisite glass and mirror work done on the interiors is amazing.

Pushkar Festival

On our afternoon trip, we explored the Monsoon Palace. It rewarded us with amazing views of the lakes and hills. In the evening, we witnessed the Rajasthani folk dance and music that made us drawn deep in its authenticity.

The day started with Pushkar visit. Though it is a small city yet is has its own charm and appeal. This city offers a more serene escapade to visitors as compared to any other tourist destination in Rajasthan. We got to know the famous Pushkar festival, when we visited the Pushkar Lake. It is said that huge livestock like cows, goats and sheep are sold in the fair.

Neha insisted us to visit Brahma Temple; we both agreed and moved ahead. Counted among the most significant Brahma temples, it has the shrine of presiding deity of Lord Brahma. Built in the 14^th century AD, this temple is dedicated to Lord Brahma.

Thinking of our next destination, we landed in the dream world.

Next day, we headed to Jaipur, the Pink City of India. It is the largest city of Rajasthan. It houses some magnificent forts and palaces which add to the place. Started from City Palace about which we had already heard a lot, we moved ahead inside the palace. Standing apart with its exemplary architecture, the palace complex covers a huge area. As we started walking ahead, we come across a series of gardens, buildings and courtyards.

Located near the boundary of the city palace, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is a worth visiting place. Khusboo was so excited to see this place that she could not help herself clicking some photographs. Named after Palace of Winds, this mahal boasts of its more than 950 huge windows. It was especially built in such a way to allow the royal women the views of the market areas.

Nahargarh Fort was another fort, which became a part of our exploration. Located on the aravali hills ridge, the fort was built by Jai Singh. This magnificent fort presents an enticing sight at night.

Chokhi Dhani

The most memorable thing of our Jaipur visit was Chokhi Dhani where we spend some time exploring the beauty of the place. Capturing the spirit of desert land, it ensures a perfect traditional Rajasthani experience. We enjoyed our food at this village resort. We relished authentic Rajasthani Food, which obviously had a lot of calories. Even I am very particular about my food though I could not help myself from enjoying the food with much ghee.

In the evening, there were some cultural programmes, which filled our heart with fun and enjoyment. The traditional performances and the puppet show just took away my heart.

With delightful memories, we left back for Delhi.

Lies in the centre of

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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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Brimming with royalty and luxury, the heritage hotels of Rajasthan made me feel as if I was traveling to a different world altogether. The opulent palaces, havelis and forts of this land are a heritage of traditions, royalty and luxury beautifully accumulated over the years. My visit to the internationally famed heritage hotels opened up a path for me to slip into the bygone era of Raja-Maharajas. The experience was simply overwhelming!

Some of the Heritage Hotels I Visited :

Lake Palace, Udaipur
Standing tall on the charming lake Pichola, the palace is one of the most

stunning palaces in India. Its foundation was laid in the 17th century by Maharana Jagat Singh II. Attracting even the Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie and Madonna, the palace is managed by the Taj Group. The palace consists of several opulent chambers such as Phool Mahal, Dhola Mahal, Ajjan Niwas, Khush Mahal and Bada Mahal.

Hotel Ajit Bhawan
Reflecting the grandeur of the bygone era, this palace is India’s first heritage palace resort. From the traditional interiors to the recreational activities, everything has a royal feel to it in this palace.

Umaid Bhawan Palace
With around 347 rooms, this palace is one of the largest palaces in the world.

It is the royal heritage of Maharaja Umed Singh. An interesting fact about the palace is that it always maintains pleasant temperature. It is a luxurious establishment offering kingly experience to its guests. Everything about this hotel is regal.

Devigarh Palace
Located ideally amidst the beautiful Aravalli hills, this palace is a perfect blend of the Medieval, Rajput and European styles of architecture. Built in an impressive style, the interiors of the palace boasts of beautiful semi-precious stones.

Fort Rajwada
Built in yellow sandstone, this heritage hotel sprawls over an area of 20

acres.Done to perfection, the interiors and furnishing of the hotel reflect the royal taste of Rajasthan.

Shiv Niwas Palace
This grand and luxurious hotel bagged several awards such as the ‘Heritage Award for Excellence’ and the ‘National Tourism Award’ for the best heritage hotel for its royalty and hospitality. Offering wonderful views of Lake Pichola, the palace is luxurious to the hilt.

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