RAJASTHAN TOURS
Royal rajasthan tours
Delhi [ 1night]-agra [1night]-jaipur [2night ]-bikaner [2night ]-jaislmer [2night] –jodhpur [2nights ]-mount-abu [2 night]-udaipur [2night]- ajmer [1night ]- delhi [1night ]
Day -1 ;delhi
Arrival delhi international airport at ……….hrs. on arrival meet our representative. Later transfer to the hotel . morning at leisure evening proceed for half day city tour of new delhi visiting qutab minar, humayun’s tomb, india gate, president house ,parliament house and Connaught place shopping centre of new delhi . overnight at the hotel.
Day- 2 ; delhi – agra [approx. 205kms/4hrs ]
After break fast proceed by surface transport to agra , arrive agra ,on arrival check –in hotel evening hrs visit to the famous tajmahal- the monument of love built by the mugal emperor shah jhan as a tribute to his beloved wife & then proceed to agra fort over night stay at agra .
Day -3 ; agra –fatehpur sikri –jaipur [approx. 245kms/5hrs ]
After break fast proceed by surface to Jaipur enrotue to fatehpur sikri arrive &visit fatehpur sikri – now known as the ghost city but once the capital of the mugal emperor akbar . continue to drive to Jaipur . arrive and check in hotel rest of the day at leisure over night stay at Jaipur
Day -4 ; Jaipur
After breakfast visit to hawa mahal ,city palace ,jantar mantar ,jal mahal, birla mandir , jaigarh fort, amber fort experience the ‘elephant ried ‘ while ascending the fort which is perched on top of aravali hills. Over night at Jaipur
Day -5 ;Jaipur –bikaner [approx. 321kms/8hrs ]
After break fast proceed to Bikaner .evening hrs arrive & check –in hotel .rest of day a leisure .over night stay at Bikaner
Day -6 ; Bikaner
After break fast city tour visit junargarh fort, har mandir , lalgarh palace , phool mahal and camel breeding farm ,this is perhaps the only one of its kind in asia . here you can taste thick milk of camel .over night stay at Bikaner .
Day – 7 ; Bikaner –jaisalmer [approx. 321kms/9hrs ]
After breakfast proceed to jaisalmer by surface transport arrive &check –in hotel. Over night at jaisalmer .
Day -8 ; jaisalmer
After breakfast a guided tour of jaisalmer visiting jaisalmer fort , salim singh –ki haveli , patwon –ki-haveli , nathmalhi –ki –haveli ,jain temple etc . over night stay at jaisalmer
Day – 9 ; jaisalmer –jodhpur [approx. 308 kms /8hrs ]
After breakfast proceed to jodhpur by surface transport on arrival & check –in hotel evening at leisure over night stay at jodhpur .
Day -10 ; jodhpur
After breakfast we go on a guided tour of jodhpur , visiting fort , palaces , armoury and jaswant thad. In the afternoon we visit mandore garden -08kms north of jodhpur . mandore was an ancient capital of marwar . return to the hotel . over night stay at jodhpur .
Day -11 ; jodhpur -mount –abu [approx. 224kms /6hrs ]
After breakfast proceed to mount-abu by surface transport ,arrive &check-in hotel , over night stay at mount-abu .
Day -12 ; mount –abu
After breakfast sight seeing of mount-abu visit to dilwara temple consisting of five jain temples ,these were built in beginning of 11th century with intricate onrnamental carvings representing the climax in the art of decorating in stone, over night stay at mount-abu .
Day -13 ; mount-abu –udaipur [approx. 292kms/8hrs]
After break fast proceed by surface to Udaipur, upon arrival check –in hotel .rest of the day at leisure .over night stay at Udaipur .
Day -14 ;Udaipur
After breakfast sight seeing of Udaipur visiting city palace ,jagdish mandir , sahelion ki bari ,pratap memorial ,bhartiya lok kala mandir &city tour etc over night stay at Udaipur
Day -15 ; Udaipur –ajmer [approx. 275kms/6hrs ]after breakfast proceed to ajmer by surface on arrival checkpin hotel. Evening hrs sight seeing of ajmer sharif dargha . over night stay at ajmer
Day -16 ; ajmer –delhi [approx. 390kms/9hrs ]
After breakfast visiting the holi city of pushkar proceed to delhi by surface, on arrival check-in hotel over night stay at delhi .
Day – 17 ; delhi
After breakfast a tour to old delhi visit rajghat, jama masjid ,red fort , chandhni ,chowk the shopping centre of old delhi .
Late evening transfer to the international airport for your flight to next destination .
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Jaipur
Places to visit
The city palace ; in the heart of the old city is former royal residence built in a blend of the rajasthani and mugal styles. The carved arches are supported by grey –white marble columns ornate with floralmotifs in gold and colored stones.
Two carved elephants in marble guard the entrance . the retainers whose families have served generations of rules serve as guides . the palace house a museum with a superb collection of rajasthani costumes and armory of Mughals and Rajput, the palaces also has an art gallery with an excellent collection of miniature paintings , royal paraphernalia and rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian, latin and Sanskrit, acquired by sawai jai singh 11 to study astronomy in detail.
Jantar mantar ; a stone observatory largest of jai singh’s five remarkable observatory. Its complex instruments, whose setting and shapes are scientifically designed , represent the high points of medieval indian astronomy .
Hawa mahal ;
Built in 1799 a.d. the hawa mahal or palace of winds is a major Rajput land mark. This five story building along the main street of the old city is in pink splendour with semioctagonal and delicately honey combed sandstone windows, the mounument was originally conceived with the aim of enabling ladies of the royal household to watch the every day life and royal processions of the city.
Galtaji ;
An ancient pilgrimage centre ,lying beyond the gardens amidst low hills. Temples pavilions and holy kunds [ natural spring and reservoirs ] along with lush landscape make it a delightful spot . the small temple of the sun god , built by diwan kriparam on the top of the highest peak is visible from all parts of the city .
Jaigarh
One of the few military structures of medieval indian , retaining its ancient splendours in palaces, gardens, reservoirs , agranary, an armoury, a well planned cannon foundary, several temples , a tall tower and a giant mounted cannon- the jai ban, one of the largest in the country are preserved here, the extensive parkotas [wall] ,watch tower and gateways of jaigarh dominate the western skyline.
Amer palaces & shila mata temple;
A beautiful complex of palaces , halls, pavilions ,gardens and temples built by raja man singh, mirza raja jai singh and sawai jai singh over a period of about two centuries still stand in magnificent state, the palace complex emerges dramatically from the placid waters of the maotha lake and is approachable only through a steep path . tourists often ride on the elephant back to the singh pol and the jalebi chowk .
Ram niwas bagh ;
A lush spacious garden with a zoo, an aviary, a greenhouse, a herbarlum, a museum and popular sport ground. It was built by sawairam singh 11 in the 1868 a d. as a famine relief project. The albert hall-fine example of indo sarcenic style of architecture designed by sir swinton Jacob , was opened later wiyh an exquisite collection of sculptures , paintings, decorative waves, natural history specimen, and eqyption mummy and the celebrated Persian carpet.
Moti doongari &Lakshmi Narayan temple;
Doongari is a privately owned hilltop fort built like a Scottish castle. The ganesh temple at the foot of the hill and the marvellous Lakshmi Narayan temple built in marbles a few years back , are also noteworthy.
The kanak vrindavan complex ;
A fine temple and gardens has been recently renovated to their pristine perfection. To the west of this road is the royal crematorium at gaitore in a narrow valley with some spectacular cenotaphs of all the Jaipur rules except swai ishwar singh who was cremated outside the jai niwas garden .most imposing is the ‘chattri ‘ of sawai jai singh 11 with the intricate carvings and a graceful shape .
Bikanar
JUNAGARH FORT
Raised by raising during the period of 1588to 1593 the junagarh fort has a 986 ms long wall with bastion a moat and two entrences it massive structure is very perminent in the city and can baseen from a distance its most unusual feature is that it was built at ground the fort and its places are elaboretly define with magnificent stone carving the major attraction with in the fort contains the anupinahal Diwan –e – khas ,hawa mahal ,badal mahal ,Chandra mahal ,phool mahal ,rang mahal ,dungar mahal and ganga mahal.
LALGARH PALACE
The lalgarh palace built by Maharaja ganga singh in the memory of his father is an architectural splender in red sandston .its situated 3kms north of Bikaner city desined by sir swinton Jacob ,it has beauitfull latticework and filigree work in sandstone.The palaces is quite entirely imposing with overhanging balconies and delicate latticework .The garden with wondering peacocks and blooming bougainvillea welcome the visitor to the places .
Temples
The temple of karni devi is the most significant one as it is dedicated to the family deity of the royal house of Bikaner . The Bhandeshwer and sandeshwar join temple are dedicated to the 23rd jain tirthankar ,parsavnathji ,built in the 16th century by two brothers whose names they bear ,these temples are distinct for their colourful murals and the abundant use pof gold leaf and mirror .
OTHER MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION
Breeding forms gajner palace deshnoke temple ganga golden jubilee museum shri sodul museum fort museum gajner .
jAISALMER
The Fort
The golden hued fort is a sentinel to the bleak desertscape from its 80mtrs hight perch on the hill ,housing the entire town ship with in its ramparts .it has an enchanting cow –web of narrow lanes dotted with some lovely havelis three beautifully sculptured jain temple of the 12th 15th century AD and five interconnected palaces .the fort is approached through four gateways –akhaiyal ganeshpol ,surajpoland and havapol.
MANAK CHOWK &HAVELIS:
Amain market place outside the fort leads to the narrow lanes dotted with famous havelies
Gadsisar lake :
A scenic rain water lake with numerows beautiful shrines around and a spectacular avian variety .The lake is an idyllic spot for outings.
Taazias Tower :A pagoda like structure looming up from the badal mahal with beautiful Taazia’s –ornately decorated bamboo paper and tinsel replicas of abier carried out in procceion during moharram by the muslims.
HAVELIS
Some of the most exotic mansions or havelis all intricately latticed are strew all over jaisalmer –each with a different façade .
NATHMALJI_KI HAVELI :
The late 19th century haveli with intricate architecture a display of sheer crafts manship.The left and right wings of the mension which were carved by two brothers are not identical but very similar and balanced in desige .The interior walls were are ornate with plended miniature paintings.
Patwon –Ki—Haveli:
The most elaborate and magnificent of all the jaisalmer havelies .it has exquisitely carved pillarsents of this five story high haveli is is painted with beautiful murals.
Salim Singh-ki-Haveli
This 300years old haveli of jaisalmer prime minister Maharaja rawal gaj singh –salim singh has a beautiful blue cupola roof with superbly canved brakets in the form of peacocks .this extraordinary mansion in yellow stone is coverd with intricate carvings and has an elaborate projecting balcony on the tpo story .The mansion is one of the most notable of the array of havelis .
Jain Temple :
The fort has three exquisitely carved jain temples dedicated to the jain tirthankar –rishabbhelev,sambhavnath and paraswanath.
LODVRVA(16kms):
The ancient capital of jaisalmer and an important pilgrim spot of the jain community with some magnificence jain temple .”toran “or the ornate arches at thw main entrance and splendid carving are note worthy .A kalptaru or a divine tree within is the main attraction of the temple
Wood Fossil Park ,Aakal (17kms):
Lying on the barmer road ,this park takes you back to the Jurassic period (when the whole thar region lay under the sea ).with 180million tear old fossils –the geological landmarks for the study of the thar desert .
Sam sand dunes (42kms)
No trip to jaisalmer is complete with out a trip to the most picturesque dunes of sam .The ripples on the wind –cressed dunes that create an anchanting mirage ,are surely a delight for a trigger –happy photographer .
Various culture programmes are organised against the backdrop of these fascinating sand dunes .exciting camel safaris allow you to get the real feel of the deert on the camel back .
DESERT national park (45kms):
The landscape of the desert national park is dominated by rolling sand dunes and scrub covered hills .the prominent fauna of the park includes black buck buck chinkara ,desert fox and the great indian bustard .
Bada Bagh (6kms ):
A fertile oasis on the bank of an artificial lake .much of the city’s fruits and vegetable are grown here .surround by dense trees are the royal cenotaphs with beautifully carved ceilings and equestrian statues of the forms rules .
Jodh pur
Umaid bhawan palace ;
The only 20th century palace built under the famine relief project that gave empioyment to famine stuck population . the palace was completed in 16 years
Girdikot & sardar market ;
These colourful markets with tiny shops dotting the narrow lanes are situated in the heart of the city and are popular for a wide range of handicraft, making them the favourite haunt of shoppers .
Mehrangarh fort ;
The 5kms long majestic fort on a 125 metre high hill is one of the most impressive and formidable structures.although invincible from the outside, the fort has four gates approached by a winding road .with in the fort are some magnificent palaces with marvelouslycarved panels, latticed windows and evocative names, not worthy of these are the moti mahal , the phool mahal, the sheesh mahal, the silehkhana and the daulat khana . these places house a fabulous collection of troppings of indian royalty including a superb collection of palanquins, elephant hawdahs , miniature paintings of various school , musical instruments. Costumes and furniture.
Jaswant thada ;
A cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble built in 1899 a,d . in memory of maharaja jaswant singh ii . with in main cenotaph are the portraits of various jodhpur rules .
Girdikot & sardar markets ;
These colourful markets with tiny shops dotting the narrow lanes are situated in the heart of the city and are popular for a wide range of handicrafts, marking them the favourite haunt of shoppers .
Balsamand lake & gardens [5kms ];
A pretty lake built in 1159 a. d. a splendid summer palace stands by the lake side surrounded by beautiful gardens . an idyllic spot for excursions.
Mandore [8kms ] ;
The ancient capital of marwar has cenotaphs of the jodhpur rulers . the hall of heroes has fifteen figures carved out of the rock on the wall which represent hindu deities. Its beautiful gardens with high rock terraces make it a popular picnic spot .
Mahamandir temple [9kms ];
Built in 1812 a. d. it is noteworthy temple with 84 carved pillars .
Kailana lake [11kms ] ;
The beautiful lake is an ideal picnic spot .
Osian [58kms ];
An oasis in the desert, situated on the diversion off the main jodhpur –bikaner highway . a drive to this ancient township takes one past undulating terrain, punctuated by desert stretches and little hamlets .osian has 15 beautifully sculptured jain and brahmanical temples ,of these the most out standing ones ar the earlier sury or sun temple and the later kali temple, sachiya mata temple and the main jain temple dedicated to lord mahavira.
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Mount –abu
Dilwara jain Temple :
These beautifully carved temples built between 11th and and 13th century AD are shree elegance in marble ,dedecated to the jain tirthankar .the vimal varashi temple is the oldest of these dedicated to the first tirthanker .built in 1031 A.d (by vimal shan-a-merchant and representative of them Gujarat rulers )it is a superb example architecture .
The central shrine has an image of rishabh dev and large courtyard with 52 small shrines ,each housing abeauitiful statue of tirthankar with 48 elegantly carved pillars form the entrance to the courtyard .the lun vasahi temple dedicated to the 22nd tirthankar –neminath was built in 1231AD by two brother vastupal and atejpal ministers of raja vir dhawalarules of Gujaral-belonging to the porwel jain community with door casings ,pillars ,architraves and sculptures on porticos the temple is a fine specimen of craftsmanship .
Museum & art Gallery
Located at the raj Bhawan ,it was a collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th 12th century ADit alsohas jain bronze carvings ,brassworks etc.for viewing .
Gaumukh Temple :
A natural spring flowing though a famous yagna of sage vashishtha was performed here .A beautifully sculpted hill temple of arbuada the might serpent stands against the beautiful back nearby is the magnificent marble image of nandi ,the celestial bull rescued by arbuada.
Adhar Devi Temple :
The temple is chiselled out of a huge rock reached by a flight of 360 stairs .A favourite tourist spot .
Sunset Point :
Spectacular sight of the setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden glow can be viewed from here .
HoneyMoon point
Also known as andra point , it offers an enchanting view of the verdant plains and valleys. The place looks most beautiful during the dusk hours.
Shri raghunathji temple;
Situated near the ;nakki’ lake is the temple dedicated to shri raghunathji with a beautiful images of the deity that was placed here in 14th century A.D. by shri ramanand the famous hindu preacher.
Gardens & parks ;
Beautifully laid parks and gardens are interspersed throughout the hilly paradise. Ashok vatika , Gandhi park , municipal park , shaitan singh park and terrace garden are some of the noteworthy gardens .
Trevor’s tank [5kms ];
Named after the british engineer who constructed it , trevor’s tank is a delight for birdwatchers with densely wooded hills that are a have to pigeons, peacock and partridges.
Achalgarh ; [8kms ];
An impressive fort with some beautiful jain temple enclosed with in . among the noteworthy temple are achaleswar mahadev temple [1412 A,D.] and kantinath jain temple [1513 A.D. ]. The latter has golg plated images mandakini kund and a sculpture of parmar dharavarsh are situated close to the achaleswar mahadev temple. The fort was built in the 14th century A.D. by rana kumbha and is approachable by a motorable road.
Guru shikhar [15kms ];
The highest peak on the mount [1722mts. ] above the sea level allows a bird’s eye view of the sylvan surroundings of mt. abu.
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Udaipur
City Palaces :
A majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded by crenallated walls it is a conglomeration of outyards pavilions ,treraces ,corridors ,rooms and hanging garden .
The main entrance is through the triple arched gate the ‘tripollia ‘with eight marble porticos .the Maharana were weighed under the gate in the gold in the gold the equivalenit amount of which was distributed among the populace
The surag Gokunda the balcony of the sun is where the suryavanshi maharanas of mewar presented themselves to the people in time of trouble to restore their confidence .the mor chowk known as for its exquisite peacock mosaics inglass and the chini chitrashalanoted for its blue and white cermics are other attraction in the palace
Partap Memorial
A top the moti magri or pearlhill overlooking the fateh sagar lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero maharana pratap with a bronze statue of the maharana
Sajjan memorial
Dominating the citys skylineis the monsoon palace of sajjangarh .it afters a panoramic overview of the citys lakes palaces and the surrounding country side .
Gulab Bagh :
A spetectacular rose garden laid out by maharana a sajjan singh .A libreryin the garden has a rare collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and books .
Fateh Sagar :
A beautifull lake overlooked by a number of hills on the three sides and the pratap memorial on the north was built by maharana fateh singh .in the middle of the lake is Nehru park –a lovely garden is land with a boot shopped café accessible by an enjoyable boat ride .
Pichhola lake ;
The picturesque lake that entranced maharaja udia singh . it was later enlarged by the founder. The lake is surrounded by hills, palaces, temples, bathing ghats and embankments . two island palaces , jag mandir and jag niwas [lake palace ] on the lake are of breathtaking .
Jagdish temple ;
Built in 1651 A.D. by maharana jagat singh ,this indo-aryan temple is the largest and the most beautiful temple of Udaipur with noteworth sculpted images .
Bharatiya lok kala mandir ;
The interesting collection exhibited by this indian folk art museum includes folk dress ,ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls ,folk musical instruments folk deities and paintings.
Saheliyon –ki- bari [garden of the maids of honour] ;
This small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing spot where royal ladies came for a stroll and hence the name .the garden has many fountains in its four delightful pools, chiselled kiosks and marble elephants .
Chittaurgarh
Vijay stambh [victory tower ];
the imposing 37mts high structure with nine storeys covered with equisite sculptures of hindu deities and depicting episodes from the two great epics-ramayana &mahabharatha. It was built in 1440 A.D. by maharana kumbha, a powerful ruler of mewar, to commemorate his victory over the muslim rulers of malwa and Gujarat.
Rana kumbha’s palace ;
The ruined edifice of great historical and architectural interest , being the most massive monument in the fort of chittaur. The palace is believed to have underground cellars where rani padmini and other women committed jauhar.
Padmini’s palace;
Built beside a pool the palace is a magnificent one. It was here that rana rattan singh showed a glimpse of queen padmini to alauddin khilji , rani padmini stood in a ‘zanana mahal ‘- a pavilion in the centre and her reflection was visible to alauddin khilji in a mirror placed in the main hall . after having a glimpse of the legendary beauty, alauddin went to the extend to ravaging chittaur in order to possess her.
Kumbha shyam temple;
Built during the region of rana kumbha in the indo-aryan style, the temple is aassociated with the mystic poetess meerabai –an ardent Krishna devotee. She was the wife of prince bhojraj.
Kalika mata temple ;
Originally built as a sun temple in the 8th century the temple was later converted to the mother goddess kali –the symbol of power and valour.
Government museum ;
The magnificent fateh prakash mahal, presently a fine museum with an exquisite example of sculputres from temple and building in the fort is worth a visit . entry fee rs 200 . closed on Fridays.
Kirti stambh [tower of flame];
The 22mts high tower by a wealthy jain merchant in the 12th century A.D. the tower is dedicate to adinathji, the first of the jain tirthankaras and is decorated with figures of the jain pantheon.
The fort ;
The indomitable pride of chittaur ,the fort is a massive structure with many gateways built by the later maurya rulers in 7th century A.D. perched on a height of 180mts. High hill it sprawls over 700 acres. The tablets and chattris within are impressive reminders of the Rajput heroism.
Jaimal & patta palaces;
The ruins of palaces of rathore jaimal and sisodia patta are witness to the gallantry of these great warriors.
Meerabai temple ;
Temple where meerabai worshipped lord Krishna is built in north indian style on a raised plinth with a conical roof and beautiful inner sanctum . an open colonnade around the sanctum has four small pavillions in each corner.
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Pushkar –ajmer
[a]-The dargah;
At the foot of a barren hill, is situated india’s most important pilgrimage centre for people from all faiths. It is the splendid tomb of the sufi sant khawaja moinuddin chisti more popularly known as khawaja sahib or khawaja sharif. The shrine is next only to mecca or median for the muslims of south asia. Akbar used to make a pilgrimage to the dargah from agra once a year. The mausoleum has gigantic gate, which was built by the nizam of hyderabad .
Shahjhan’s mosque ;
In the corner of the inner court of the dargah, is a magnificent building in white marble with a long [30.5mts] and narrow court having low arcade and delicate carvings with trellis –work . it is the most marvellous of all the sanctums with in the sanctuary of the dargah.
Adhai-din-ka-jhoupra;
As the legend goes ,its construction took two and a half days [adhai- din ] to complete. It was originally a Sanskrit college , built with in a temple . in 1193 A.D. mohhamed ghauri conquered ajmer and converted the building in to a mosque by adding a seven arches wall infront of the pillared hall in just two-and – half days [adhai-din] and hence the name. the distinct pillars and arched ‘screen’ with its ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural master piece.
Taragarh fort ;
A steep one and a half hour climb beyond the adhai-din-ka-jhopra leads to the ruins of the taragarh fort, perched on a hill. One can have an excellent view of the city from here . the fort was the site of the military activity during the Mughal period , later used as a sanatorium by the british.
[ b]- The ghats ;
You can have a great spiritual experience at the numerous ghats of pushkar running down the lake . the holly lake has 52 ghats and piligrim taking a ritual dip in the lake is a common sight .
The lake ;
The pushkar lake is considered no less sacred that the holy ganges . the lake has a mythological significance associated with it . on the auspicious occasion of kartik purnima ,devotees from all over the country through the lake for a holy dip, which is believed to wash away the sins…
Pushkar fair ;
Although a peaceful town, puskar bustles with life with the arrival of much awaited joyous celebration held on kartik purnima . every year thousand of devotees pull in to the town and throng the lake around the full moon day of kartik purnima in October- November to take a holy dip in the lake .a huge and colourful the pushkar camel fair, is also held during this time . the festival is marked with dance , music and cultural events with several colourful shops springing up around to add more colours to this fair . also on sale are mouth-watering traditional delicacies. Colourfully attired village folk enhance the fun of the occasion .cattle auction and camel races are also a part of the festivities.
Sawai madhopur
The fort; ranthambhor’s royal past manifests itself in the well-preserved imposing fort, built in 994 A.D. atop a steep high creek 200mts above sea level. Ruined pavilions, walls, chhatris and splendid mouments are interspersed with in the majestic fort . an 8th century A.D. ganesh temple on an open land attracts thousands of devotees and is the venue for an annual fair held on .bhadraped sudi chaturthi, fouth day of the bright half ,in the month of bhadra .
Ranthambore national park ; the 392sq.kms. park comprises of dry deciduous forests sprawling over an undulating terrain of the aravalli and vindhyan ranges . the park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country under the project tiger. The majestic predators, assured of protection, roam freely during the day time and can be seen at close quarters.. ranthambhor sanctuary has a large number of sambhar, chital, nilgai, chinkara, langur, wild boar and peafowl.
A system of three pretty artificial lakes –padam talab, rajbagh and milak talab, along with a number of anicuts are part of the biosphere.besides enhancing the scenic beauty of the park, they are an important source of water for the inhabitants of the park . while deer congregate here to drink water ,fresh water crocodiles can be seen basking in the winter sun to regulate their body temperature .the lake also attracts a large number of migratory and local birds. The local fauna of the park includes leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, sloth bear and a little population of pythons, the lovely jogi mahal overlooking the pretty padam talab at the foot of the fort has a forest rest house. Other accommodation out side the fort also ensures a comfortable stay . the best time to visit is between November and april .jeeps are available to take you around the park
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Alwar –bharatpur
Keoladedo national park ; a paradise for the avian world, and the pilgrimage for the birds lovers, it was known as the best duck shooting resort in the british empire .but was declared a reserve for birds in 1956. And later upgraded to national park .UNESCO has listed is ideal as it is on the main north-south avian route of india . although small in size , 29sqkms . only , it boasts to house more than 375 species of beautiful birds , and more than 132 of them breed inside the keoladeo Ghana national park and nearly every year new ones are added to the list. The sanctuary not only attracts birds from india but also from places like Europe, Siberia ,china and Tibet before monsoons hundreds of these exotic birds roots and nest building activities start on the babool and kadam trees of the park . water coming through the ajan bandh starts filling the various ponds and lakes of the park .
Sariska tiger reserve; .. sariska , in rajasthan , the erstwhile royal preserve of the rulers of alwar, became a sanctuary in the year 1958. The sanctuary came under the project tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. It is located at kankwari fort , near alwar , on the delhi – Jaipur highway. The terrain is predominantly hilly , as it lies in the aravalli ranges. It has total area of 788sq.kms. with a core area of approximately 474sqkms. The beautiful siliserh lake runs along the edge of the reserver with a quaint hunting lodge overlooking it. At last count in 1985, there 35 tigers were reported. Other carnivores of the area are the panther, jungle cat, jackal and hyena. Three caracals were also reported during the last census in 1985. Other animals include the sambar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai and umpteen porcupines. The birds –life comprises of the pea fowl , gray partridge,quail, sand grouse, tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden-backed woodpecker, crested serpent eagle and indian horned owl. Magnificent ruins peppered around the neighbourhood of sariska add to the regions fascination. The neelkanth [shiva] temple [6th-13th century A.D.] are just 32kms from the park and the ancient kankwari fort inside the reserve, is where emperor Aurangzeb once held his brother dara shikoh captive..a beautiful palace complex built in 1902 has been converted in to a hotel .
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Excursion places .
Deogarh ; deogarh is located on the boundaries of mewar, marwar and merwara, about 80miles north-east of Udaipur in the state of rajasthan .as it is at a height of about 2100ft above sea level , it is cooler than other parts of rajasthan.in the old times, ‘rawat’ chief of deograh, was one of sixteen umraos [feudal barons] entitled to wait upon the maharana of Udaipur , the capital of mewar. ‘thikanas’ was the name given to these type of feudal estates which were sanctioned by the ruling mahrana to a nobleman either due to blood relationship or for an act of valour.
Khimsar ; khimsar, a fine tourist destination in rajastan, is located on the route between jodhpur and Bikaner at a distance of 92 kms from jodhpur. Exuding with rustic charm of rajasthan, khimsar is renowned for its fort. The khimsar fort nestles on the edge of the great thar-desert in the heart of rural rajasthan the battle-scarred walls and turrets take one to the glorious past of this place. The fort was originally built as protection of the royal family but later was used by the royal family as their residence in the 18th century .to day , this fort ranks amongst the premier classified heritage hotels of india . khimsar is must –visit tourist destination if you are planning to travel rajasthan.
Ranakpur; ..ranakpur on one hand is located 96kms from Udaipur and on the other 39kms from palna junction on the ajmer and mount abu rail and road tracks. The drive to ranakpur is about relaxing and pleasants as the place is blessed with lush green hills, multitude of flora and fauna. Quiet and serene sourroundings withvery little traffic. As one drives along the peaceful roads, one can relish the overwhelming sights and senery here . it is notable that ranakpur is considered as one of the five holy places of jain community where the most revered jain temple is dedicated to rashabhji .the temple also houses an idol of adinath and is spread over an area of approximatety 48.000sq.ft. this ancient temple owns 29 halls and 1444 pillars, where each pillars has been intricately carved with distinctive patterns.
Ghanerao;…. Ghanerao holds with in its confines both the jain and hindu temple where the most notable is the temple of gajanand featuring a life-size statue of the goddesses ridhi and sidhi, the statue is guarded by hanuman and bhairon on either side .
Shekhawati ; ..shekhawati lies in the triangular area between delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner and comprises jhunjhunun , mandawa, fatehpur, ramgarh, churu, mahansar,mukundgarh, dundlod, nawalgarh, lakshmangarh and sikar districts of rajasthan. The semi-desert region of shekhwati is popularly known as the ‘open –air art gallery’ of rajasthan. This land of ‘shekhna’s clan’ got its name from rao shekha [1433-1488], a cousin of the kachchwalas of Jaipur . shekhawati owns hundreds of havelis ,temples, cenotaphs, well and forts. However , the region is particulary famous for the high quality frescoes, [1750-1930] which are based on traditional mythology, local legend and folklore, Rajput lifestyle, personalities from the epics and historically traceable personalties. Besides, there is a rare blend of traditional indian and europen styles and subjects.
Mandawa; ..mandawa is a one on the finest of the small towns in the shekhawati reigon and 152kms away from the city of Jaipur. This ancient feudal settlement not only owns a royal castle, but plethora of havelis where the painted walls never fail to amuse the tourists with their never fading allure. Mandawa was founded by Thakur nawal singh, a descendant of rao shekha after whom the entire region is named .today, this little town is also a major centre of a handicrafts and furuniture industry where a painted archway decorated with lord Krishna and his cowherds is very popular. The mandawa family’s collection includes ceremonial costumes and precious arms with handles of jade. The havelis worth visiting are those of chokhani, saraj, goenka and ladia.
Khatu shyam ji; … khatu shyamji is famous for the shri shyamji temple which is built in white marble..
Neemrana; … a small beautiful village in alwar, is located about 122kms from delhi. The village has its own historical importance and is located about 75kms from the main alwar city . located almost midway between delhi and Jaipur, neemrana belongs to 1464 A.D. when it was built as a fortified palace , since this town is situated in the vicinity of both alwar and delhi, it is the perfect getaway for the people residing in these cities . the neemrana fort and palace is one of the most important tourist destinations in neemrana, alwar and rajasthan. The fort is located on a plateau that is concealed in a horseshoe pattern in the aravalli hills.
Mandore; … situated 9kms north of the city of jodhour, was once the capital of marwar prior to the foundation of jodhpur. Today , this tiny town owns extensive gardens with high rock terraces turning it in to an appealing local attraction. These gardens also contain the memorials or cenotaphs of jodhpur rulers, including maharaja jaswant singh and the largest and finest of all the soaring temple-shaped memorial to maharaja ajit singh . mandore is considered an oasis in the desert with its enticing laid out garden . mandore a visual treat because of the vast expanses of greenery of peepal, banyan, palms and plantains along with cascading fountains and lovely peacocks.
Samode; … samode is situated in the indian state of rajasthan around 42kms from Jaipur to which it is connected through awell developed network of roads. This small village lies on way to shekhwati and is renowned for its majestic haveli and fort . samode is often referred as a desert getaway as during day time one can go for a camel ride is a great way to explore the village and the unique customs and traditions prevalent here, a visit to samode is incomplete without a musical evening of folk dances and songs where rajasthani bands and musicians with their colourful dresses and rare musical instruments provide one of the best evenings can have in india, along with the band the villagers sing under the starlit sky.
Dilwara temples; …. The exquisitely carved marble temples of dilwara in mount-abu are the finest examlpes of jain temples in india .the hallmark of these temples is the crisp translucent shell-like treatment of marble , which surpasses anything seen else where.
No matter how much one hears or reads about these temples, nothing can prepare one for the sheer elegance and beauty of marble as displayed here . these temples were dedicated to their saints known as the tirthankars and also served as storehouses of illustrated manuscripts and treatises .
There are altogether four important temple in dilwara.
Vimal vashi temple ; …vimal shah, the minister of raja bhimdeo [a local Rajput ruler],built the vimal vashi temple in 1021 A.D. . the temple is 98ft long and 42ft wide and is surrounded by a high wall with 52 cells ,or devkulikas, each of which is surrounded by an arcade of carved pillars. In the main shrine is a majestic image of adinath cast in gold –brass alloy . the temple consist of an open portico and a vestibule formed by a single grouping of pillars. The octagonal dome of the shrine is formsd by eleven concentric rings containing patterns of endless variety and is upheld by eight carved colums .the richly carved corridors ,pillars, arches and mandaps or porticoes are bewildering . on the ceiling are engraved rich and elaborate designs of lotus-buds , petals, flowers, geometrical designs and scenes illustrating incidents from the jain and hindu mythologies.
Luna vashi temple ; …. The other important temple here is the luna vashi temple dedicated to the twenty-seconds tirthankar shri neminathji . this magnificent temple was built in 1230 A.D. by two brothers –vastupal and tejpal, both ministers of viradhawale [a local ruler]. The design and pattern of this temple was adopted from the vimal vashi temple ,which was built earlier. Here too, the walls, doors, pillars, mandaps, and ceilings are adorned with ornament relief carvings of a variety of subjects, from flowers and animals to royal processions and battle scenes. The dome of the rungamandap is outstanding it is divided in to concentric compartments by richly sculptured cardons , each intervening space being filled with elaborate and elegant designs. The hasthi-shala or elephant halls here are ten in numbers and each contains a white marble elephant, beautifully and proportionately carved and polished to a shine.
Kumbhalgarh; …..kumbhalgarh is a historical site around 30kms northeast of ranakpur. It is the most important fort in the mewar region after chittaurgarh .the other important place to visit in kumbhalgarh is a wildlife sanctuary known for its wolves .
Temples at desuri; three temples ,dedicated to lord shiva, lord hanuman and navi mata are among some noteworthy temples at desuri around 16kms from ranakpur. An old mosque situated here is also worth a visit. A temple dedicated to parsuram mahadeo, nestled in the hills, is also close by another near by place, ghanerao, abounds in hindu temples. Most notable is the temple of gajanand with a life-size statue of the goddesses ridhi and sidhi. The statue in the main shrine is guarded by idols of hanuman and bhairon on either side .
Muchhal mahavir temple; ….. the muchhal mahavir templeis situated about five kms from ghanerao in the kumbhalgarh sanctuary. Its distinctive feature is the statue of lord mahavira with a mustache.the two statues of elephants guarding the gateway are splendid examples of temple decoration .in the vicinity are the garasia tribal villages famous for their colourful costumes.
Eklingji temples ;…..the eklingji city abode of some most beautiful shrines is situated about 12miles to the north of Udaipur in rajasthan . located at a distance of 22kms from Udaipur, eklingji is a massive structure encompassing numerous ancient temples , chiselled out of sandstone and marble. The temple was constructed in 734 A.D. to procreate the sanctification of lord shiva, the supreme power. The temples of eklingji are splendidly modelled and are sanctified to lord shiva, sentinel deity of mewar. The maharajas of mewar- who considered them selves to be regent[dewans] under eklingji, regarded this deity as the implicit emperor .
