Rajasthan Rover: Destination Guide
Rajasthan is India's largest state by area, and flights operate to Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur. Being mostly desert country, temperatures in the height of summer can reach 45 degrees Celsius; you should avoid travelling between April to June. But the winters are great, and the best way to see the state is to hire a car and drive through the countryside with its picturesque villages, forts, palaces and temples. Sudden splashes of colour enliven the journey- a field of red chillies drying in the sun, the iridescent clothes of the village folk, a lone child flying his kite... The Rajasthani people are warm and friendly. Making an unscheduled stop to take a picture or drink a cup of hot tea at a roadside stall might draw a few curious children, but you won't be bothered with unwanted attention.
JAIPUR is known as the 'Pink City' for the ubiquitous pink sandstone used in its architecture. It also has an immensely rich cultural heritage. Visits to the Rajput forts and royal palaces take you back in time and the bazaars provide fantastic shopping opportunities. Colourful block printed textiles, blue pottery and precious stones are a specialty.
City Palace
Located in the heart of the city, the palace now houses a large museum, but it also serves as the residence of the descendants of the royal family. There are a variety of articles on display- silks and brocades worn by the maharajahs and their queens, carpets, paintings, chandeliers, ornate palanquins and fascinating antique weaponry.
Hawa Mahal
With nearly 1,000 latticed windows, the five-storied Hawa Mahal or ‘Palace of Winds’ was built to allow women of the royal family to observe the proceedings in the street below, without being seen themselves. They would sit behind the carved stone screens which let in the breeze and at the same time permitted them to observe the practice of ‘purdah’.
Jantar Mantar
An astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur, between 1727-1734. The ‘instruments’ are actually huge structures built of stone and marble and are quite remarkable for their accuracy in measuring time, tracking the locations of stars, predicting eclipses, and so on. Let your guide walk you through this place for your lesson in ancient astronomy.
Note: The above three places are all within walking distance of each other.
Amber Fort
About 11 km outside the city is the beautiful Amber Fort, most notable for its artistic style which integrates both Hindu and Mughal elements of architecture and decoration. An elephant ride takes you up to the fort (you could always choose to go by car), the rugged exterior of which is in marked contrast to its lavish interior. The walls are covered with paintings, carvings and stunning ornamentation. There’s also a good sound and light show in the evenings.
Jaigarh Fort
Is located at the top of the same hill, connected to the Amber Fort by passages through the hillside. Jaigarh houses the massive Jaivana cannon- the world’s largest cannon on wheels, weighing in at 50 tons, with a 20 foot barrel. It also has a commanding view of the surrounding Aravalli hills. A very safe place to entrench yourself from an enemy attack... or a zombie invasion!
Nahargarh Fort
Provides a breathtaking view, overlooking the pink city of Jaipur. While the Amber Fort is the most popular and also in the best condition, the partial ruins of Nahargarh offer tranquility to those looking for some time alone.
Galtaji Temple
Off the tourist track, 10 km from the city, lies the Galtaji temple complex. These 18th century temples are built in the hillside and are a destination for pilgrims because the natural springs around the temple are considered holy.
Sisodia Rani ka Bagh
Which means ‘the garden of the Sisodia queen’ is located close to Galtaji, outside the city of Jaipur. Have a royal sprawl around the fountains, painted galleries and tiered gardens built by Sawai Jai Singh for one of his queens.
RANTHAMBORE is famous for its national park and tiger reserve. The forest abounds in a diverse variety of wildlife, and it's perhaps one of the best places in India to see a tiger in the wild. The Ranthambore Fort stands in the middle of the forest.
AJMER is famous for the Sufi shrine, the dargah of Moinuddin Chisti, where thousands of devotees and tourists throng everyday to pray for the fulfillment of their wishes. The famous Mayo college, once the college for royalty, is also in Ajmer.
PUSHKAR is a temple town on the shores of a lake, held to be sacred by Hindus. Pushkar has a temple for the god Brahma, one of very few Brahma temples that exist in the world. It's also famous for the Pushkar Fair held every November, where livestock- especially camels- are bought and sold in large numbers.
JODHPUR is situated in the centre of the state of Rajasthan and is known as the 'Blue City' as most of the Brahmin houses in the old city around the fort are coloured in blue. The city is famous for its handicrafts and the following visitor attractions.
Mehrangarh Fort
Towering over the city, the Mehrangarh Fort is one of the most impressive and well maintained in the country. The museum here is full of fascinating artifacts and the ramparts offer a panoramic view of Jodhpur.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
The residence of the Jodhpur royal family, a large part of this magnificent palace has been converted into a heritage hotel. About as royal an experience as you can have anywhere in the world.
Jaswant Thada
Close to the Mehrangarh Fort, the Jaswant Thada is a beautiful cenotaph built entirely in white marble.
JAISALMER is in the heart of the great Indian Desert and is famous for its ‘Golden Fort’ or the Jaisalmer fort, the only living fort where the descendants of the old families still reside. The sand dunes of Jaisalmer are ideal for camel rides. "Dune bashing" in four-wheel drive vehicles or on ATVs is a recent addition.
UDAIPUR is the ‘City of Lakes’ also known as the ‘Venice of the East’. This charming city is famous for its lakes, palaces, museums, paintings and temples. At a short distance are the famous Ranakpur Jain temples and the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Besides the ubiquitous boat rides, there's also a short cable car ride that gives you a great view. The City Palace and its museum is a must-visit.
RANAKPUR houses an exquisite Jain temple constructed in the 1400s. Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Among the architectural wonders here are 1,444 carved marble pillars- no two of them are alike.
KUMBHALGARH is a truly beautiful place about 80 km from Udaipur. The drive is lovely too. Situated in the hills at an elevation of 1,100 metres, it's also a great place for trekking. The fort here, on top of a hill, offers an absolutely magical view for miles around. If you want to extend your stay here, there are some good accommodation options too.
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