Rajasthan

Fact File
» Location from major metros : Jaipur-Delhi (258 kms), Jaipur-Mumbai (1202 kms), Jaipur-Chennai (2019 kms)

» Known For : Rajasthan is most famous for her magnificent palaces and forts, all of them rich legacies of Rajput rulers and later rulers of princely states.

» Climate & the best time to visit : Tropical desert climate prevails in Rajasthan. Summers are very hot and uncomfortable. With the exception of a few places in eastern Rajasthan, temperatures in the rest of the state routinely rise to 45 degrees in summer. Dust storms may also blow during daytime in some places. Rainfall is scarce and most of it takes place during the July-September monsoon period. Only the winter months bring respite from the heat waves. Winter temperatures are expected to come down to around 10-15 degrees. The best time to visit Rajasthan is between the months of November and March.


» The State
The western Indian state of Rajasthan is known for the magnificence of its palaces and forts. The desert state was ruled by the brave Rajput rulers during the medieval period and after the end of their reign, many princely states took over. What they left as legacies were some of the most meticulously built structures of marble, sandstone and granite that still adorn the landscape of the state. Infact, it is said that Rajasthan is a land of the superlatives with beautiful structures, a vibrant culture and her smiling resilient people. A visit to Rajasthan is sure to be an exhilarating experience.

Attractions in Rajasthan : The Cities in Rajasthan
» Jaipur : The capital of Rajasthan is the most popular tourist destination of the state. Known as the 'Pink City' as the colour pink is the predominant feature of its landscape, Jaipur has some of the most magnificent forts and palaces of India. The attractions include Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jal Mahal, Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort. Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jal Mahal are known for their beautiful interiors. The floors have rich mosaic and walls are adorned with intricate carvings and other decoratives. The forts of the place are fine examples of medieval military structures. Jaigarh Fort still houses the 'Jai Ban', the largest cannon in Asia.

» Jodhpur : Popularly known as the 'Blue City', Jodhpur boasts of the charming Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mehrangarh Fort and Jaswant Thada. The Mehrangarh Fort is a 5 km long majestic fort standing on a 125 metre high elevated land. The fort houses some awesome palaces having intricately carved panels and latticed windows. Umaid Bhavan Palace is a breathtakingly beautiful building in sandstone that was built in the 20 th century.

» Udaipur : Called the lake city of Rajasthan, Udaipur has a few unique monuments built right on the edge of its clear blue water lakes. This includes the beautiful Lake Palace of the place that seems to be floating over Lake Pichola. The City Palace of Udaipur is a fine work of marble and granite with some meticulous wall carvings and other decoratives. The three mahals inside the palace adds to the splendour of the palace.

» Jaisalmer : Jaisalmer may very well be described as an oasis in the midst of a desert. Located on the edge of Thar desert, Jaisalmer is famous for its fort, havelis and Jain temples. The Jaisalmer Fort stands about 100 metres over the city housing a citadel within its massive ramparts. The Jaisalmer Fort is popularly known as the Golden Fort for its amber hue. The Havelis of Jaisalmer are some very interesting places to visit. The intricately latticed Havelis of Jaisalmer like the Patwon-Ki-Haveli, Salim Sing ki-Haveli, Nathmalji-ki-Haveli have all been very elaborately designed. The Jain temples of the place are also visited in large numbers.

» Pushkar : Pushkar in western Rajasthan holds one of the largest animal fairs in the world. Basically a camel fair, the events held during this colourful fair beckons tourists from many corners of the globe. This unique fair is not Pushkar's only claim to fame. It is also one of Northern India's emerging pilgrimage destinations. It may be mentioned that Pushkar has the only Brahma temple of the world held in great reverence by the local population.

» Mount Abu : Located some 1533 metres above the sea level, picturesque Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station. The best attraction of the place are the Dilwara temples, regarded as the best temple structures built of marble. The presence of white marbled Dilwara temples makes Mount Abu one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations for the Jain community. Some other attractions of the hill station are Gaumukh Temple, Nakki Lake and Trevor's Tank.

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Rajasthan
» Ranthambhore National Park : Situated in east Rajasthan, Ranthambhore is regarded as one of the best places in the world to sight the Tiger. The 392 Sq. Kms park also houses a diverse variety of flora and fauna. Some precious trees like Kulu and Tendu grow here. Apart from Ranthambhore's tiger conservation success, it is also famed for having many varieties of deer. A wide variety of local and migratory birds also inhabit the national park.

» Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary : More popularly known as the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, this is one place in the world where some of the highest numbers of bird species could be spotted. Over 450 varieties of birds inhabit this beautiful sanctuary. This includes many migratory bird species that come from far away places like Siberia, Central Asia and Europe during the winter months. The man-made Bharatpur lake is the main source of water for its avian fauna species.


How To Reach
» Air : The airport located in capital city of Jaipur is well connected to all air destinations of the country. Small airports are also present in a few other cities.

» Rail : Most of Rajasthan's cities and towns are well connected by a broad gauge network. Regular trains are available to Jaipur from national capital Delhi. It may also be mentioned that luxury trains like Palace On Wheels cover most of the tourist destinations of Rajasthan.

» Road : A good network of roads connects the cities and towns of Rajasthan with rest of the country. Inter-State deluxe buses are available to the tourist destinations of Rajasthan from many places of northern India including national capital Delhi.