Rajasthan Voyages

Rajasthan Travel Information

About Rajasthan

Area: 342,239 sq. km
Population: 49.7 million
Capital: Jaipur
Main Language: Rajasthani, Marwari & Hindi
Best time to visit: mid October to mid March

Rajasthan, the land of Kings and Warriors, is India at its exotic and colourful best with its palaces of breathtaking grandeur, battled scarred forts and whimsical charm, its riotous colours and even its romantic sense of pride and honour. The State is diagonally divided into the hilly and rugged south-eastern region and the barren north-western Thar Desert, which extends across the border into Pakistan. There are plenty of historic cities, incredible fortresses awash with legends and rare gems of impressionistic beauty, such as Udaipur. There are also a number of centers that attract tourists from far and wide such as Pushkar with its holy lake and the Desert City of Jaisalmer, which resembles a fantasy from The Thousand & One Nights.

The State is the home of the Rajputs, a group of warrior clans who have controlled this part of India for 1000 years according to a code of chivalry and honour akin to that of medieval European knights. While temporary alliances and marriages of convenience were the order of the day, pride and independence were always paramount. The Rajputs were therefore, never able to present a united front against a common aggressor. Much of their energy was spent squabbling among themselves and the resultant weakness eventually led to their becoming vassal states of the Mughal Empire. Nevertheless, their bravery and sense of honour was unparalleled.

With the decline of the Mughal empire, the Rajputs gradually clawed back their independence, through a series of spectacular victories, but then a new force appeared on the scene in the form of the British. As the Raj expanded, most Rajput states signed articles of alliance with the British, which allowed them to continue as independent states, each with its own Maharaja or similarly titled leader, subject to certain political and economic constraints. These alliances proved to be the beginning of the end for the Rajput rulers. At Independence, India's ruling Congress Party was forced to make a deal with the nominally independent Rajput states in order to secure their agreement to join the new India. The rulers were allowed to keep their titles, their property holdings were secured and they were paid an annual stipend commensurate with their status. But this couldn't last forever, given India's socialist persuasion. The crunch came in the early 1970's when Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of the country abolished both the titles and the stipends and severely sequestered their property rights. While some of the rulers have survived this by converting their palaces into luxury hotels, many have fallen by the wayside, unable to cope with the financial and managerial demands of the late 20th century.

As castle, forts and country estate are steadily being converted into hotels even Rajasthan's most romantically inaccessible outposts are opening up. From the richly painted havelis (mansions) of Shekhawati in the north to the magnificent Jain temples of Mount Abu or Ranakpur in the south, the state's wealth of history and art provides a unique opportunity to see something of a disappearing world.

How to Reach
The State is very well connected by air, rail and road. The main airports are Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur, which are well connected with Delhi and Bombay and a few other cities. There is a good network of railways connecting the major cities with the rest of the country. The best way to see Rajasthan is by road. The State has a good network that connects the various cities and towns.

Jaipur
The colourful and vibrant capital of the State of Rajasthan is popularly known as the 'Pink City' because of the pink-coloured buildings in its old city. it sits on a dry lakebed in a somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by barren hills surmounted by forts and crenellated walls. The city owes its name, foundation and careful planning to the great warrior-astronomer Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743). In 1727, with Mughal power on the wane, Jai Singh moved down from his hillside fort at nearby Amber to a new site on the plains. He laid out the city, with its surrounding walls and rectangular blocks, according to principles set down in the Shilpa Shastra, an ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. It is one of India most well planned cities with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes in a grid system.

Udaipur
Often called the Venice of the East, Udaipur is no doubt the most enchanting and romantic city of Rajasthan. Founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh II following the final sacking of Chittorgarh by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This extraordinarily beautiful city has come to be celebrated for its association with Queen Padmini, and Meera Bai, royal princesses who are linked with the fortunes of the Sissodia family. The old city was once surrounded by a wall with entry through eleven gates, of which only five remain. The Suraj Pol or Sun Gate on the eastern side is the main entrance to the city. Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure Pichola Lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravallis. It is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences and inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers. Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing valour and chivalry. It is full of palaces, temples and havelis ranging from the modest to the extravagant.

Bharatpur
The town of Bharatpur is the eastern gateway to the State of Rajasthan. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was an important stronghold of the Jats, who inhabited this area before the arrival of the Rajputs. The Jats were able to retain a high degree of autonomy in the region, both because of their prowess in battle and because of their chiefs' marriage alliances with the Rajput nobility. They successfully opposed the Mughals on more than one occasion.

Jaisalmer
Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert like a golden mirage is the city of Jaisalmer. This captivating sandy outpost has been called the Golden City because of the honey colour imparted to its stone ramparts. Its desert fort, which resembles a gigantic sand castle, is straight out of The Arabian Nights. Centuries ago, Jaisalmer's strategic position on the camel train routes between India and Central Asia brought it great wealth. The merchants and townspeople built magnificent houses and havelis (mansions), all exquisitely carved from wood and golden sandstone.

Jodhpur
Set at the edge of the Thar Desert, Jodhpur is the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. This imperial city that echoes with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert, was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs who claimed to be descendants of Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana. The Rathores ruled not only Jodhpur but also other Rajput princely states. The Rathore Kingdom was then known as Marwar, the Land of Death. The city is dominated by the massive Mehrangarh Fort, topping a sheer rocky ridge right in the middle of the town. The old city is surrounded by a 10km long wall built around a century after the city was founded. From the fort one can clearly see where the old city ends and the new begins. As one of the closest major Indian cities to the border with Pakistan, Jodhpur has a large defence contingent.

Ajmer & Pushkar
Ajmer is a burgeoning town on the shore of the Ana Sagar Lake flanked by barren hills. Ajmer derives its name from 'Ajaya Meru' or the invincible hill, at the foot of which the present city stands. Ajmer is a major centre for Muslim pilgrims during the month long fast of Ramzan and has some impressive Muslim architecture. Especially famous is the Dargah Sharif, the tomb of a Sufi saint, which is equally revered by the Hindus and Muslims. For most travellers, Ajmer is however, a stepping stone to nearby Pushkar.

Alwar
Alwar is nested between a cluster of small hills of the Aravalli range. Formerly known as Mewat, Alwar was once an important Rajput state. The people of the state did not accept any external interference and daringly resisted against foreign invasions. In the 12th and 13th centuries, they formed a group and raided Delhi. But finally the Sultan of Delhi, Balban (1267-87) suppressed them, bringing the area under the Muslims rule. In the 18th century Maharaja Pratap Singh, a Kachhwaha Rajput belonging to the clan of Jaipur's rulers, won back Alwar and founded a principality of his own. It was one of the first Rajput states to ally itself with the fledgling British Empire. Apart from its history, the city has a rich natural heritage with some beautiful lakes and picturesque valleys. Some of the finest variety of birds and animals are spotted here. Alwar is now the base to visit the one of the finest wild life sanctuaries in Rajasthan - the Sariska National Park.

Bikaner
Bikaner is a true desert country and part of the ancient caravan route that came from west and central Asia. Located in the north of the State of Rajasthan, it was founded in 1488 by a Rathore Prince Rao Bika, a descendent of Jodha, founder of Jodhpur. Rao Bika chose a barren wilderness called 'Jangladesh' and transformed it to an impressive city. The old city is surrounded by a crenellated wall and was once an important staging post on the great caravan trade routes. The Ganga Canal, built between 1925-27, irrigates a large area of previously arid land around Bikaner.

Mount Abu
Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station, sprawling along a 200m high plateau in the south of the State. It is a pleasant retreat set amidst lush forested hills. The road leading to Mount Abu is a curved one characterized by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds. Like some other hill stations of India, Mount Abu has its own lake, which is the centre of activity.