Rajashthan Travel

Rajashthan is located in the northwestern part of the subcontinent. It is bounded on the west and northwest by Pakistan, on the north and northeast by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, on the east and southeast by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and on the southwest by the state of Gujarat. The Tropic of Cancer passes through its southern tip in the Banswara district. The state has an area of 132,140 square miles (342,239 square kilometres). The capital city is Jaipur.

In the west, Rajasthan is relatively dry and infertile; this area includes some of the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert. In the southwestern part of the state, the land is wetter, hilly, and more fertile. The climate varies throughout Rajasthan . On average winter temperatures range from 8° to 28° C (46° to 82° F) and summer temperatures range from 25° to 46° C (77° to 115° F). Average rainfall also varies; the western deserts accumulate about 100 mm (about 4 in) annually, while the southeastern part of the state receives 650 mm (26 in) annually, most of which falls from July through September during the monsoon season.

History
Archaeological and historical evidence shows a continuous human habitation of the area dating back 100,000 years. Between the 7th and the 11th century AD, several dynasties arose, with Rajput strength reaching its peak at the beginning of the 16th c. Emperor Akbar brought the Rajput states into the Mughal empire; by early 19th c, they allied with the Marathas. With the decline of the Mughals, the Rajputs gradually clawed back their independence through a series of spectacular victories, but, by then a new force to reckon with, had emerged on the scene in the form of the British. Most Rajput states entered into alliances with the British, which allowed them to continue as independent states, each with its own maharaja, subject to certain economic and political constraints. These alliances proved to be the beginning of the end of the Rajputs, and soon the extravagance and indulgence of the rulers led to the disintegra

Hotels of Rajasthan
The State has hotels of star and non star category catering to the needs of the tourists visiting Rajasthan. Besides it has resorts, restaurants and cafés which cater to the needs of all segment of travelers.

» Jaipur
The Rose Pink city founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital of Rajasthan. It is a major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur, is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink colour lending enchantment to the scene which is almost magical at sunset.

:: Amer Palace ::
The fort, its ramparts & watchtowers, overlooking the Delhi-Jaipur highway. It is believed to have been the capital of the "Minas", the original inhabitants of Rajasthan.

:: City Palace ::
Nakkarkhana-ka-Darwaza, the imposing gateway of the City Palace guarded by stone elephants, is monumental.

:: Hawa Mahal :: A Pandora's box of wonders, the enchanting Hawa Mahal, the palace of winds, tier upon tier of curved arch surmounting fairy casements with "jali", lattice work screens.

:: Jaigarh :: Built on a peak, overlooks the palace & city of Amber below.

:: Jal Mahal :: Is Jaipur's lake palace. Surrounded with water.

:: Jantar Mantar ::
The architectural astronomical instruments of an 18th century Rajasthani king named Jai Singh contained in an amazing, three-storey-high complex known as Jantar Mantar.

:: Nahargarh Fort ::
Originally called Sudarshan Garh affords a splendid view of Jaipur.

:: Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh ::Has beautiful gardens, fountains, pools & some magnificent pieces of Sculpture.

» Udaipur

Udaipur is also called The City Of Lakes. Udaipur is one of the most romantic cities of world, also know as the Venice of East. It has five beautiful lakes, stunning royal palaces, forts, garden, temples, mountains, gardens and above all, you'll find a variety of hotels and restaurants here.
City Palace
A majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded by crenellated walls, it is a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens.
Jag Mandir Island
The lovely palace was built by Maharan Karan Singh as a hideout for Shah Jahan ( Prince Khurram), This palace inspiried him to built the lovely Taj Mahal. It is located in the lake Pichola, it has lovely garden & has exquisite carving which worth to see.
Bagore-Ki Haveli
It is a museum having 100 rooms, rajasthani costumes, modern art, paintings.

» Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer - "the land of sand" is famous for its exotic sand dunes, the Fort, friendly people and interesting lifestyle.The town is encircled by thick sandstone walls which were built in 1750. There are four pols or Gates in the wall, opening into the town - Malka pol, Amar Sagar pol, Baron pol and the Gandhisagar pol. Amar pol on the western side is the principle entrance to the town, leading to Gandhi Chowk.

» Jodhpur
The city was founded by the chief of the Rathore Clan - Rao Jodha, in 1459. Jodhpur is also known as the Blue city because in the old city area almost all the houses are painted blue. The city is second largest city of Rajasthan.
Mehrangarh Fort :
The spectacular hilltop fort is situated on a 150m high hill, This is one of the largest forts in India & still run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur. This fort has museum which house antiques, ornaments & weapons.
Jaswant Thada ::This milky-white marble cenotaph was built in 1899 in the memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. It is also know as the Taj Mahal of Marwar.
Umaid Bhawan Palace ::The palace has 347 rooms & counted among the finest palaces of India. A part of the palace is a museum now & the rest of the past is converted into a luxury hotel.
Clock Tower & Markets ::Its the place for Shopping. The nearby Sadar Bazaar is perfect for buying handicrafts, textiles & silver.
Mandore Garden ::The beautiful garden has few Cenotaphs of Jodhpur's former rulers and small temples.

» Mount Abu
Mount Abu is a green oasis in the barren desertscape thats Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. Mount Abu was the home of many saints and sages in the old days.

:: Gaumukh Temple ::
A natural spring flowing through a sculpted cow's head gives the shrine its name. The famous yagna of sage Vashishtha was performed here. A beautifully sculpted hill temple of Arbuada -the mighty serpent stands against the beautiful backdrop.
:: Delwara Jain Temple :: These beautifully carved temples built between 11th and 13th century A.D. are sheer elegance in marble, dedicated to the jain Tirthankaras. The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest of these dedicated to the first Tirthankara. Built in 1031 A.D.

:: Nakki Lake :: The lake is surrounded by hills , parks and strange rock formations. Several Maharajas built lavish summer houses around the Nakki lake,a nd the maharaja of Jaipur's former summer palace is perched on a hill onlooking the water.

Sunset Point : Spectacular sight of the setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden glow can be viewed from here.

» Ajmer
Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage centre for Hindus as well as Muslims. Especially famous is the Dargah Shareif or tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, which is equally revered by both Hindus and Muslims. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km.), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west, with a temple and a picturesque lake.
:: Jaisalmer Fort ::
It Fort was built by the Rajput Ruler Jaisala in 1156. This fort has lot of interesting things to see like the poles & traditional Havelies.

:: Patwon ki Haveli ::
These havelies with the Jhali work are beautifully designed & crafted very finely.
:: Gadi Sagar Lake ::
The lake was once the water supply of Jaisalmer, there are so many beautiful temples around the lake.
:: Sam Sand Dunes ::
The beautiful sand dunes of Sam & camel safari is a must activity there.
:: Museums ::
There are three major museums in Jaisalmer, they are Desert Culture Museum, Jaisalmer Folklore Museum and Government Museum. All of them are worth to visit.

» Bikaner

Lying in the north of the desert state, the city is dotted with many sand dunes. Bikaner retains the medieval splendor that pervades the city's lifestyle.
More popularly called the camel country , the city is renowned for the best riding camels in the world. The ship of the desert is an inseparable part of life here. The wells of Bikaner : an important source of water are other attractions of the city. These are built on high plinths with slender minareted towers on each of the four corners and can be noticed even from a distance

:: Lal Garh Palace ::
This architectural masterpiece in red sandstone was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. The palace has beautiful latticework and filigree work. Sprawling lawns with blooming bougainvillea and dancing peacocks make it a not-to-be missed visual treat. Part of the palace has been converted into a luxury hotel and a museum known as Shri Sadul Museum .

:: Junagarh ::
Built in 1593 A.D. by Raja Rai Singh, the fort is a formidable structure encircled by a moat and has some beautiful palaces within. These palaces, made in red sandstone and marble, make a picturesque ensemble of courtyards, kiosks and windows dotted all over the structure.

:: Camel Research Farm ::
The farm extends over 2000 acres of semiarid land is managed by the central Government. The camel crops of Bikaner were a famous fighting force during the Raj and are still an important part of the desert warfare and defence through the border security Force (BSF) .

:: Bhandasar Jain Temple ::
Beautiful 16th century A.D. Jain temple dedicated to the 13rd Trirthankra.

» Kota

Along the eastern bank of the Chambal River lies Kota - an amazing juxtaposition of the majestic medieval age and modern industrialisation temples its untouched wealth of impressive forts, opulent palaces and splendid temples dating back over several centuries retain the past glory, the present day edifices and heavy industries have made it the industrial heartland of Rajasthan.
:: Chambal Garden ::
A beautifully landscaped garden at the Amar Niwas. Its lush surroundings make it a popular picnic spot offering enjoyable boar rides.

:: Maharao Madho Singh Museum ::
The museum has a superb collection of Rajput miniature paintings of the Kota school,exquisite sculptures,frescoes and armoury.

:: The Government Museum ::
The museum displays a rich collection of rare coins,manuscripts and a representative selection of Hadoti sculpture. \

:: Jag Mandir ::
Amid the picturesque artificial lake of Kishore Sagar constructed in 1346 AD by Prince Dher Deh of Bundi, stands the enchanting little palace of Jag Mandir .

:: Haveli of Devtaji ::
The beautiful Haveli of Devta Shridharji is located in the middle of the busy market. The haveli is noted for its splendid frescoes and rooms ornate with lovely wall paintings.:: Kota Barrage ::
A part of the irrigation canal system on the Chambal River , this beautiful setting is ideal for outings and evening strolls.

» Chittorgarh

Chittaur echoes with the tales of romance and valour unique to the Rajput tradition. A ruined citadel, where the royal past lives in its imposing forts, graceful palaces and spectacular chattris.
:: Chittorgarh ::
His awe-inspiring hill fort built on a massive rock is 3 miles long and 495 feet high, lies 72 miles north-east Udaipur . It was said that this fort was the key to all of Rajputana, and any conqueror who had ambitions on Rajputana had to be the finest medieval Hindu fort in existence.

:: Kirti Stambh ( Tower of Fame ) ::
The 22 metres high tower by a wealthy jain merchant in the 12th century A.D. The tower is dedicated to Adinathji,the first of the Jain Tirthankaras and is decorated with figures of the Jain pantheon.

:: Vijay Stambh ( Victory Tower ) ::
The imposing 37 metre high structure with nine storeys, covered with exquisite sculputres of Hindu deities and depicting episodes from the two great epics-Ramayana and Mahabharatha. It was built in 1440 A.D. by Maharana Kumbha.

:: Padmini's Palace ::
Built beside a pool, the palace is a magnificent one.

:: Kalika Mata Temple ::
Originally built as a Sun Temple in the 8th century, the temple was later converted into Kalika Mata Temple in the 14th century A.D., dedicated to the mother Goddess Kali- the symbol of power and valour.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TOURIST AND HOST

DO's	DONT's
ACCOMODATION: -	ACCOMODATION: -
*Always book into approved hotels or RTDC run hotels. *Make enquiries at the information bureaux located at most Railway stations, Bus stands, Airports *Before staying in a paying guest accommodation, always check about its authorisation by the Department of Tourism Always keep your hotel room locked when there or when out for sight seeing, shopping.	*Don't stay with or be coaxed into staying with people you meet at Railway platforms, Bus stands or shopping areas. Don't think you are getting a bargain if a free ride is given by any transporters to a hotel, check with tourist information office first. Don't allow any one into your room for a drink and snacks or just a chat unless the person is really well known to you.
TRANSPORT: *Take autorikshaws from pre paid kiosk wherever available. *Otherwise settle the amount before embarking on the journey. *Hire taxis from approved Travel Agency, RTDC or through Govt. Tourist Reception Centres. SHOPPING: Always insist on a bill for purchases made Purchase from reputed or recognised shops. Ensure RST/ CST registration numbers in a corner on the bill sheet. Payments made by credit cards must have the amount mentioned in words and numerical too. Always double-check the goods in the parcel before leaving the shop or allowing it to be packed for despatch. Ensure payment by credit cards is made only once for each bill. Wrongly made out bills must be destroyed there and then to avoid double payment to the shopkeeper.	TRANSPORT: *Free rides can culminate in trouble at hotel suggested by the driver. *Don't leave your valuables, luggage with the driver *Make enquires (As to where & how far each monument, tourist site is located ) before setting out on sight seeing with only the driver as a guide. SHOPPING: - *Don't let the driver coax you into doing more shopping than sight seeing Avoid showrooms near tourist sites or else ensure the price and authenticity of the purchase being made. Avoid shops that have names very similar to govt. run emporia or concerns like RTDC(Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation) or Rajasthali, Which are public sector undertakings. Don't sign on blank letter heads or bills. Avoid carrying out business or developing relations for furthering business with unknown persons who are sweet talkers and at times impeccable turned out.
Money EXCHANGE: - Take from authorised money exchangers and take a receipt. TAXI: - Utilize services of pre-paid taxis, wherever available. In case CHEATED: - If you are cheated, inform nearest Police Station or Police control room immediately or. TAF (Tourist Assistant Force) personnel posted near monuments.	Avoid help of guide /driver while shopping. Try to avoid shops recommended by them. Don't let shopkeepers pack your purchases behind a counter or in another room it must be done infront of you and sign across the joints or ensure some method whereby no changes can be made. Money exchange: - Don't exchange from unauthorised money exchangers who do not provide a receipt. TAXI: - Don't leave your valuables & goods/ luggage in taxi/auto rickshaw etc.

Hotels:

Karma Queen Jaisalmer
Address: Shiv Road, 345 001 Jaisalmer, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Phone:

Vijay's Gueshouse Bikaner
Address: Jaipur Highway - 5km east of centre, Bikaner, Rajasthan
Phone: 0151 - 529344

Jai Niwas Jaipur
Address: Opposite: M, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Phone: 0141 - 236 3964 / 5124531 / 5142406

Umaid Mahal Jaipur
Address: C-20B2 behari marg bani park jaipur india, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Phone:

Vinayak Guest House Bikaner

Jamuna Resort Rajasthan
Address: In front of Government Girls College, Rajasthan
Phone: 01592 - 232 871 / 512 696 / 309 345

Deogarh Fort Rajasthan
Address: Easiest to arrive by hire car ( about US$40 from Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Phone: +91 2904 52777