What could be the best way to experience the majestic history of Indian culture?
From ‘Mughal-E-Azam’ to the recent ‘Bajirao Mastani’, we all have been praising the creativity of Bollywood. But all these blockbusters wouldn’t be so much popular without the charismatic glimpse and the rich cultural heritage of The Rajasthan. The land which is pink, yellow, golden and all other hues you can think of. The land which is royal yet filled with the friendliest people in India.
Rajasthan is the place where just two words Khamma Ghani (Many Greetings) will melt your heart. Yes, a place with such a wonderful and magical environment is the best way to experience the rich history of India. So, let’s just dive into the ocean filled with royal drops, the place where love is not only in the air but in the sands too – Rajasthan (The Royal Sojourn).
Golden History of the Rajasthan
Rajasthan is also known as the Land of Kings. This beautiful place has a rich history and the tales of Rajasthan’s journey will give you a real bee in your bonnet. Rajasthan’s perennial land has seen rise and fall of several dynasties such as Rajputs, Mughals, Chauhans, Marathas and British.
Rajasthan is the essence of the Rajputana culture. Despite being ruled by several other dynasties, the Rajput era is still considered as the beginning of Rajasthan.
Where did the word Rajasthan come from?
The name Rajasthan literally means the Land of Kings. The term Rajasthan was coined under the British reign. If Rajasthan is one of the major tourist attractions of India then it’s only because of the golden history. Rajasthan is the land where the golden sands, colourful culture, joyful celebrations and the soul-soothing music is the way of living.
How tough is it to reach Rajasthan?
Thanks to technological advancement which has helped us to visit anywhere in the world. If you are planning your next visit to Rajasthan then you don’t need to worry about the journey. You can visit Rajasthan by roadways, railways or airways depending upon where you are. Rajasthan is well connected to different regions via train, road and air. So, it is not really a tough job to reach this majestic land.
Visit Rajasthan by Air
Rajasthan is well connected to many cities across the world. There are six airports in Rajasthan. Jaipur airport is one of the major airports of the state as it is also an international airport. Another international airport closest to Rajasthan is the Delhi Airport. Rest of the airports in Rajasthan are domestic ones.
Visit Rajasthan by Train
Rajasthan has 4600 Km of railway track which allows you to travel easily to the other parts of the country. You will find direct trains from Rajasthan to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai,etc. Talking about trains, how can we forget the royal experience of Palace on Wheels and Maharaja Express. These luxury trains provide you the opportunity of touring in Rajasthan for 3 to 7 nights.
Visit Rajasthan by Road
Road trip is undoubtedly the best experience but the road trip to Rajasthan is surely exceptional. There are twenty National Highways in Rajasthan which cover around 6373 Km. These national highways link Rajasthan to other states. The Rajasthan State Road Transport has also provided several buses in the state.
Popular tourist places in Rajasthan
The state which covers around 342,239 km² of area, the place where each inch has something to tell – Rajasthan is the collection of many tourist attractions. Some of these are majorly popular and we are not talking about a single monument but a whole beautiful city.
The following cities of Rajasthan are the hub of royal grandeurs.
- Jaipur – Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar.
- Bikaner – Junagarh Fort, Devi Kund, Rampura Haveli.
- Jodhpur – Mehrangarh Fort, Toor ki Jhalra, Ghanta Ghar and Mandore Gardens.
- Pushkar – Pushkar Bazaar, Naga Pahar, Merta and Varaha Temple
- Udaipur – Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple, Udaipur Solar Observatory, Crystal Gallery.
- Jaisalmer – Jain Temple, Maharaja’s Temple, Jaisalmer Fort.
- Barmer – Kiradu Temple, Mahavastu Park, Meva Nagar, Barmer Market.
- Bharatpur – Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Bankey Bihari Temple, Bharatpur Palace.
- Ranakpur – Surya Narayan Temple, Ranakpur Jain Temple, Sadri.
- Bundi – Raniji ki Baori, Sukh Mahal, Taragarh Fort and Garh Palace.
- Ajmer – Ana Sagar Lake, Adhai-Din Ka Jhonpra, Akbar’s Palace & Museum, Victoria Jubilee Clock Tower.
Things to do in Rajasthan
- Walk through the finest architecturally designed palaces and fortifying forts. Umaid Bhawan Palace, Amer Fort, City Palace, Mehrangarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Junagadh Fort, etc will give you a royal experience. These forts and palaces have many tales to tell and their architectural designs show the creativity of the Rajputana and Mughal artists.
- Visit some beautiful lakes in the land of deserts. Lake Pichola, Pushkar Lake and Man Sagar Lake are some famous serene lakes which also offer panorama boat tours to tourists. Ghats and temples with lush green gardens are some beautiful places to visit in Rajasthan.
- Visit some religious architecture of famous temples. There are numerous temples in Rajasthan which date back to the 8th and 11th centuries. Some famous temples are Dilwara Temple, Brahma Temple, Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Govind Dev Ji Temple and Eklingji Temple.
- Wildlife watching for nature and wildlife lovers. Rajasthan has some beautiful sanctuaries and national parks. There are Ranthambore National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve and Keoladeo National Park. These national parks and sanctuaries are home to Royal Bengal Tigers, elephants and migratory birds. You can enjoy the safari tours and get up close with the wildlife of Rajasthan.
- Try some unique and amazing outdoor activities. You will find some unique adventure activities in Rajasthan. These are trekking (in Alwar), speed boating (in Udaipur), Hot-air ballooning (in Jaipur & Pushkar), elephant ride (in Jaipur) and dune bashing ( in Jaisalmer). There is also one unique activity of cycling in Jaipur.
- Enjoy some colourful festivals and fairs in Rajasthan. Every year locals in Rajasthan celebrate their culture and history with an amazing spirit and to be a part of these events is truly a blessing. If you are visiting to Rajasthan then don’t forget to attend Pushkar Camel Fair (November, Pushkar), International Kite Festival (Makar Sankranti, Jaipur & Jodhpur), Elephant Fair (March, Jaipur) and Magnetic Fields Festival (December, Alsisar).
What is the best time to visit Rajasthan?
Rajasthan is visited by tourists throughout the year. If we consider the climate of Rajasthan then the best time to visit here is probably during November to February. You will find a variation in temperatures of day & night during December and January.
Summer in Rajasthan shows temperatures above 48 degrees but monsoons change the landscape of this place. Due to slightly comfortable temperatures, winters are most popular among tourists. Now that you know all the know-how of this beautiful place, there is only one thing left. Pack your bags and enjoy the relaxing visit to the Land of Kings – Rajasthan.
‘Padharo Mhare Desh – Welcome to our state Rajasthan’
