Places of Tourist
Interest
The capital of Rajasthan
was given a colour coat of pink a century
ago in honour of a visiting Prince
and ever since, it has retained this colour. Built by Maharaja Jai Singh,
the notable astronomer, this city is 260 years old. Visit Maharaja's City
Palace, the Observatory and Ram Niwas Gardens. Drive past and through
the pink rose residential and business areas.Other places which must
be visited in Jaipur are-
Amber Fort
Amber Fort was the ancient
capital of the State. Visit the Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Victory glittering
with mirrors. Ascend the Fort on Elephant back.
Nargarh & Jaigarh
The Nahargarh or Tiger fort
15 kms to the north-west of the city provides a breathtaking view of the
city. It used to be the royal retreat for maharanis and was also a treasury.
Jaigarh - the fort of victory has the world's largest cannon on wheels.
Its impressive water supply and storage system as well as the museum
are worth seeing.
Sanganer
Sanganer is known for its
Jain Temples and carvings, besides being famous for its hand made paper
and block-printed fabrics.
Visit to Dilwara Temples
consisting of five Jain Temples built by beginning of the 11th century
onwards with intricate ornamental carvings represent the climax in the
art of decoration in stone. Visit also the Achalgarh Fort famous for its
Shiva Temple. Before returning to your hotel, enjoy a boat-ride on the placid
water of Nakki Lake studded with little islets.
Visit the Tomb of the Sufi
Saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, the Dargah Sharif. The city was founded
by the Chauhan ruler, Aiaipal, during the 11th century and is dominated
by the Taragarh Fort built by Prithiviraj Chauhan. Some 800 years ago,
a splendid embankment was built by Anjali by the lovely lake, Ana Sagar
and some 500 years later Shahjahan erected 5 beautiful marble pavilions.
Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary
in Bharatpur -one of the most spectacular water
birds sanctuary features
nesting indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and water
side birds. It is inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai and boar. From October
till December the indigenous water birds nest in the acacia trees, sarus
cranes nest around the lake. From December on, the migratory geese, duck
and cranes are the main feature of the sanctuary.
The city is bolstered by
imposing walls and has a 16th century fort housing old palaces, temples
and a mosque. Founded by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is distinguished by its
long range of 37 pavilions, a line of balconies and aerial windows of varying
designs.
An enormous arched doorway leads to the Joramal Temple. The royal
chapel is Har Mandir where royal weddings and births were once celebrated.
Gajner
Gajner Lake is surrounded
by Palaces. Drive through the famous Gajner Wild Life Game Sanctuary where
you can see & photograph Black Bucks, Chinkaras, Wild Boars, Blue Bulls
and other animals in large herds. It is a unique place for watching and
photographing the famous Siberian Imperial Sand Grouse in the mornings,
in the winter months, when they come to the lake for drinking water.
This city rises from a narrow
gorge in rows of terraced gardens and arched Rajput houses like a two dimensional
miniature painting imposed on the landscape. Visit the palace with its
intricate spy- holes, secret trap doors and under ground passages. Also
see the
spectacularly ingenious
water supply system.
113 kms. from Udaipur, the
Fort of Chittor was originally built by mighty Bhim, one of the Pandava
heroes of Mahabharata. Also visit the Vijay Stambh with nine storeys and
37 mts high built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the
muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. Kirti Stambh, the Tower of
fame 22 meters high is covered with figures from Jain Pantheon.
32 kms from Bharatpur, Deeg
is an 18th century stronghold, whose massive fortifications are surrounded
by luxuriant gardens, woods and pools. It is renowned for its palaces surrounded
by gardens, tanks and fountains of artificially coloured water. See the
richly carved columns, cornices and eaves of the palaces. Gopal Bhavan,
contains a marble swing which was carried from Oudh to Deeg by a jat warrior.
Throbbing in the heart of
the Thar, in burnished sandstone, is an intricately molded wonderland -
a city of gilded magic. As the sun sets, the sky goes up in flames and
night descends softly, creating a new monument every evening. People still
live in
these ancient buildings
dating from 12th to 15th century. Every house has exquisite carvings and
filigreed work. Visit the different Havelis.
National Park
The Desert National Park
is a vast stretch of protected Bio-sphere Reserve with an area of over
3000 square kms. See the awe inspiring Sam Sand Dunes, within the park.
There is also the Great Indian Bustard's breeding site and exotic wildlife,
where you can see the Indian Gazel, Chinkara, Eagles and many such birds
and animals.
Sam Sand Dunes
Visit Sam Sand Dunes near
Jaisalmer in jeeps. On the way, visit the ruins of some villages. Take
a camel ride in the desert.
Visit the Meharangarh Fort,
situated on a low sandstone Hill, including Moti-Mahal and Phool Mahal.
Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing Marble Memorium built in 1899 and
the museum located in the Umaid Public Gardens.
Mandore, the ancient capital
of Marwar (8 kms from Jodhpur) was abandoned for strategic reasons. At
the foot of the hills amidst gardens, commemorative cenotaphs line the
silent city. A shrine reputedly of 300 million Gods, contains the life
size statues of local deities and heroes.
This former temple city has
8th century Surya or Sun temple with carved pillars which support a conical
roof. The temple also has an image of Durga. The 12th century Sachiya Mata
temple has a large assembly hall with an elaborately carved ceiling and
exquisitely
sculptured figures of several
Gods. The Mahavir Jain temple stands on a wide terrace with a three-tiered
roof and a `torana' gateway.
Mandawa Town was founded
in 1755 by Thakur Nawal Singh and is still the home of his descendants.
Mandawa houses a collection of armories, costumes of ancestors, canons
from 1820, ancient coins, numismatic, collection and many other interesting
items preserved in a museum. Mandawa castle, one of the finest castles
of Rajasthan is now a beautiful hotel. Mandawa has beautiful frescoes,
havelis and mansions.
32 kms is north-east of Jaipur
is a favorite spot of the locals when the huge artificial lake is filled
in the rainy season. The ruins of the old fort and the temple of Jambwa
Mata bear testimony to the first settlement of Kachhawahas before they
moved to Amer.
98 kms from Udaipur,
the Jain Temples built in the 15th century are situated in the lovely valley
of the Aravali. Its surrounding is quiet and picturesque. Ranakpur has
grand structures and beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars in the
temple and none of them are similar. The magic of light and shade is really
awe inspiring. Surya Temple and other Jain Temples are side attractions.
Ranthambore National Park
This is Rajasthan's first
Project Tiger reserve & named after a 1000 year old fort which stands
in the park.It has an congenial habitat for the stately sambar, the largest
of all
Asiatic deer. Tigers, cital,
wild boar and other animals are also found here. Woodland, ground and water-birds
abound the park including the uncommon red jungle fowl and varieties
of eagles. Water tank harbours marsh crocodile and python.
Drive in a jeep through the
country-side visiting various villages including Bishnoi Dhanis and watching
local craftsmen.
40 Kms north-west of Jaipur,
now converted to a hotel, the old Palace of Samode surrounded by hills
present a fairy tale picture. It has a most exotic hall embellished with
paintings and mirror work.
Sariska National Park
The second tiger reserve
of Rajasthan with 27,300 hectares holds dry deciduous forest. Its dense
forests makes its terrain an ideal one for the tiger, leopard, porcupine,
chowsingha, rhesus and langur.
Visit the city palace, Jagdish
Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Sahelion ki bari (Queen's Resort
for Her Friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk Art Museum).
Boat ride on Lake Pichola
Boat cruise on Pichola Lake
4 km long and 3 km broad, surrounded by splendid hills, palaces, temples,bathing
ghats and embankments. Also visit the island palace Jag Niwas in the lake.
Full Day at Eklingji
Visit the famous temple
of Eklingji built of sand stone and marble during 734 A.D. Its complex
of 108 temples are enclosed by high wall.
Nagda
Visit the ancient palaces
of Mewar dating back to the 6th century AD The Sas Bahu Temples are among
the most exquisitely carved temples.
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