The state of Rajasthan is rich in history and culture. When visiting the land of Rajput kings, the grandeur and royalty of the historical times can still be witnessed today in the magnificent forts and stunning palaces. Rajsthan is the largest state in India by area. A major part of the state is covered by the Thar Desert.
Rajatshan has a lot of tourism destinations. From the sand dunes in Jaisalmer to the beautiful lakes in Udaipur, there is something for everyone to see. Mount Abu is a popular hill station with a cool climate and beautiful sunset views to see. Pushkar is home to the only Brahma Temple. A ropeway built by Damodar Ropeways & Infra Ltd. [DRIL] can take visitors up to the Savitri Mata Temple. Nature lovers can catch a glimpse of protected tigers at the Ranthambore National Park, or enjoy seeing more than 350 bird species at the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
Some of the most famous destinations in Rajasthan are:
Udaipur:
Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes. It used to be the capital of the ‘Mewar’ kingdom. Udaipur is a popular tourist destination because of its surrounding lakes and the royal palaces. Several international publications have named Udaipur as “one of the most romantic destinations in the world”. Lake Pichola and the City Palace are the most popular attractions in the city. The Lake Palace, built over an island in Lake Pichola, has been converted to a luxury hotel.
Jaipur:
Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan. The city is named after its founder, Maharaja Jai Singh II, who was the king of Amer. The Amer Fort is one of the major tourist attractions in the city. There is also the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and the Jal Mahal.
The Amer Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on top of a hill, it overlooks a large lake. Constructed of red sandstone and marble, this fort used to be the residence for many generations of Rajput kings and their families. As is expected of a royal residence, the interiors of Amer Fort are stunning to see. Tourists can view the splendor of Sheesh Mahal here.
Jaisalmer:
Jaisalmer is also known as the Golden City. It is called so because the whole town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone. The Jaislamer Fort looks like a crown sitting atop this city. Jaisalmer is located right in the heart of the Great Indian Thar Desert. The surrounding sand dunes near the city attract a lot of tourists.
The Jaisalmer Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More than 800 years old, this fort is home to nearly one fourth of the old city’s population. It is believed to be one of the very few (perhaps the only) “living forts” in the world. The massive fort is made of yellow sandstone. Under the sun’s harsh rays, the fort walls shine like gold, giving it the name of “Golden Fort”.
Jodhpur:
Jodhpur is sometimes called as the Blue City because a majority of the houses in the old part of the city were painted blue. This was a custom followed in the historic times to signify that the blue houses belonged to the Hindus (the highest caste). Jodhpur was known to be the capital of the ‘Marwar’ kingdom. Today, it is the second largest city of Rajasthan. The most famous attractions in Jodhpur include the Umaid Bhawan Palace and the Mehrangarh Fort.
The Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India, and was considered as impenetrable because of its imposing thick walls. This 15th century fort has now been converted to a museum displaying weapons, paintings and elaborate royal palanquins. Tourists can witness centuries old cannons kept inside the fort. The fort also offers an awesome panoramic view of the blue city beneath.
Pushkar:
The city of Pushkar is most well known for having the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma. The Jagatpita Brahma Temple, originally built in the 14th century, is a very popular pilgrimage destination for the Hindus. Tourists who visit the Brahma Temple also make it a point to visit the Savitri Mata Temple. Savitri was the first wife of Brahma. Located on top of a hill, the Savitri Mata Temple involves a difficult climb of little more than 1100 steps. There is a ropeway built by Damodar Ropeways & Infra Ltd. [DRIL] which can cover the distance of 720 meters in less than 6 minutes. Once you reach the top of this temple, once can enjoy some amazing views of the surrounding scenery from here.
