Rajasthan is one of the best locations in India for sightseeing. It is one of India's prime tourist destinations. There are numerous places in Rajasthan that are worth visiting.That is why foreign tourists throng those places like bees.Whether it is Mount Abu, Udaipur, Ranakpur, Jodhpur, or Jaisalmer, we find tourists from foreign countries. In fact, in many places their number exceeds number of tourists from India. Those tourists certainly contribute substantial foreign exchange to exchequer.More tourists more prosperity to a place and the place would be bustling with activity. Rajasthan is one among the richest states in the country as far as the field of arts and crafts.It is one of the largest centers in the world for the hand cutting of gems too.We find across the length and breadth of it sale of antiques, handicrafts, semi precious stones and gems.As a contributor to the global economy, tourism has no equal. Somewhere in the month of August itself we started planning a trip to Rajasthan. We were able to secure 3 to and fro Bangalore Ahmedabad air tickets at a reasonable price on Indigo Airlines. Tickets were for my daughter, my wife and me.We were supposed to leave Bangalore on 18-11-2011 and comeback on 27-11-2011. We had to go around Rajasthan during those days. We wanted to make the best use of the time at our disposal . In this context, we utilized the services of M/S Nirmala Travels , Mangalore who in turn availed the services of Bharat Tourists Udaipur. They booked hotel rooms for us at the destinations we intended to visit. They promised to keep Tata Indigo car at our disposal right from Ahmedabad Air Port.
On 18-11-2011,we boarded Indigo Airlines flight number 6E 154 at Bangalore International Airport at 10.10.am.It was bound to Ahmedabad Delhi. The weather was fine. We had no difficulty in landing at Ahmedabad at 12 .30. p.m. safely as per schedule. We collected baggage and came out of Sardar Vallabhai International Airport.There Mr. Lal Singh, driver of Tata Indigo car bearing no RJ27TA3054 was ready to take us around Rajasthan.He drove us to Abu road which was nearer to the airport.It is a four ways well maintained state high way.After crossing bridge over Sabarmathi and another river, we proceeded towards Mount Abu. We came across on our way Mehsana at a distance of 57k.m. Mehsana is one of the largest cities in Gujarat. It is head quarters of the district.Then came Palanpur at a distance of 144 kilometers. Palanpur is a city and a municipality in Banaskantha district of Gujarat. There afterwards, it is Rajasthan.The total distance between Abu Road to Palanpur is 49 k.m.Abu Road is in Sirohi district of Rajasthan. Mount Abu is 27 km up the hill from Abu Road. On the drive up to Mount Abu,the flowering trees and shrubs make it seem like a huge garden.We reached Mount Abu at about 5 p.m. There room number 106 was reserved for us at Hotel Hilltone.
Mount Abu is a pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills. Mount Abu is situated at a average height of 1,219 mtr's above sea level. It posses the honor of being the only hill-station in Rajasthan as well as north-west India.Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the barren deserts cape that's Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravalli range the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs.The road leading to Mount Abu is a curved one characterized by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds. The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more than just a summer retreat.The population size of Mount Abu is about 15,600. During summer maximum temperature varies between 27-28 degree Celsius, while in winter maximum temperature stays around 22 degree and minimum dips to 10 degree.Mount Abu benefits from lower temperatures and cooling breezes.Its stunning array of exquisite Dilwara Temples,dating back 11th- 13th centuries,make it a popular pilgrimage center.Abu according to a legend stands for the son of Himalayan, deriving its name from Arbuada, the powerful serpent who rescued Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva, from a chasm.
After refreshing ourselves at the hotel room, we rushed to sun set view point. Our car does not take us to the view point. On the way only it drops us. We have to cover the rest of the distance to the view point either by pony or push cart or any other mode.We can cover the distance by walk also. Sunset Point is located in South West of Nakki Lake provides us a scenic view of the setting sun. Hundreds of people belonging to various parts of globe swarm this area in the evening amidst a carnival atmosphere. Food stalls, souvenir shops abounds the area. The scenic hills, tranquil surrounding, and the pleasant climate makes it a favorite spot of the tourists. The Honeymoon Point located close by is another attraction of Mount Abu. Sunset Point is a good place to pick up trinkets and knick knacks. Carved marble statues, sandalwood idols, wooden toys and the likes can be seen all over the spot. Food stalls are a regular here. Pony rides are a favorite with toddlers. Baylay’s Walk, another Viewer’s spot lies just 5 kilometers from Sunset Point. Our experience of reaching Sunset Point in a push cart was thrilling. The push cart has no brake or anything. It is dangerous to traverse in it especially while going down a slope road.
There afterwards, we visited Nakki Lake. By the time, it was dark all around. The place was well illuminated with colorful lights. There is a garden adjacent to Nakki Lake. There are numerous fountains in and around the lake. Nakki Lake is a mythological lake with a very interesting story behind its creation. It is the heart of Mount Abu. According to the legend, this lake was dug by Gods or Devtas using their nails or nakh that's why the name Nakki Lake.Innumerable attributes are crowned on the head of this intriguing lake. On one hand if it is the largest man made lake at the height of 11, 00 meters in India then on the other hand it is romantically called the love lake of Mount Abu; at the same time.It is the sacred lake for the proud Garacia tribe.The later come to the lake on their festival in Shukla Paksha in April to worship and remember their ancestors, and consecrate their nails, (hence one more reason for the name Nakki).The name Nakki is also derived form the romantic story of the aged sage Rasia Balam and the nubile teenager Kunvanri Kanya. The two lovelorn souls were prevented from tying their love in a nuptial knot, by the scheming parents and their conniving Gods. They had demanded that the sage could marry the teenager if he could dig up a lake for her with his nails over night. The sage was just about to accomplish the impossible feat when he was betrayed by all. It is said that the sage was the incarnation of Lord Shiva and the teenager was the embodiment of Ma Parvati. It is predicted that they would return again and then there would be upheaval in the universe. The poem 'Lost Love' depicts the pathos of the two. Nakki lake also offers a wonderful opportunity of boat cruise.Tourists enjoy boating on this historic lake. In the vicinity of this lake there is shopping areas , restaurants and lodgings. Mount Abu repletes with hotels, lodges and restaurants .
Early in the next morning that was on 19-11- 2011, we embarked on our journey to Guru Shikhar. Guru Shikhar was about 18 km away from our hotel. Guru Shikhar is the highest peak in the Aravalis at 1772 meters, offers a panoramic view. We were at Guru Shikhar by 9 a.m. There are railings as well about 250 steps to enable one to go to the top. It is an affordable climb . We could climb the hill within 15 to 20 minutes. Sun Set can also be seen from the Guru Shikhar - the highest point at Mount Abu. From this place, thousands of feet down in the plains the charming sight of distant places, villages and beautiful green valleys represents very attractive atmosphere.Guru Dattatreya had dignified this place and his footprints are sanctified here in a rock in a cave. There is also a huge and giant bell suspended from a wooden frame with an inscription dated 1411 in the Dattatrya temple, its toll is heard up to a long distances from here.We did quite a bit of shopping at Guru Shikhar. The rates were reasonable. We could purchase some beautiful rare photographs there. We noticed that we come across in almost every tourist spot in Rajasthan, photographer or photographers who try to persuade us to have a photograph in Rajasthan costumes At the top in Guru Shikhar , we came across photographers. In fact, one appears fantastic in Rajasthani traditional dresses.
On our return journey to hotel we visited the Brahma Kumaris Peace Park.It is both lovely and serene, a natural environment where silence and recreation co–exist. The park offers a perfect recreational environment, with level playing fields, picnic areas, swings, and nature walks. Nestled between two famous peaks of the Aravalli hills–the well known spiritual pilgrimage destinations of Guru Shikhar and Achal Garh—Peace Park is an oasis of natural beauty only 8 kms from the Madhuban campus.
From Peace Park our next halt was at Achleshwar temple . It is famous for containing a Nandi which is said to be made of 5 metals, fold, silver, copper, brass and zinc. The Nandi is made up of Panchadhattu and weighs more than 4 tonnes.It is believed that the Achleshwar temple was built in the 9th century and legend has it that it was built around a toe print of Lord Shiva. There is also a pit that is said to reach to the netherworld. Achleshwar also contains a natural Shivalinga. (A Shivalinga is phallus-shaped and fixed on a base, which is shaped like a yoni. The structure symbolizes the supreme creative energy. It is usually made of stone but can also be of wood, metal, crystal, and soapstone.) There are also many other sculpted idols which are made of a crystal like stone. In natural light, this stone looks opaque, but if you place a candle behind the idols they take on a beautiful crystal-like sparkle, the stone is called the crystal stone or sfatik in Hindi Near the temple, we find the scenic looking Mandakini Lake. This lake is surrounded by rocky hills, and rock walls covered with images of a Rajput king and buffaloes. These pictures are said to represent the legend that says the lake was filled with ghee and the watering hole of demons disguised as buffaloes.This was until they were shot by Raja Adi Pal. After Achleshwar temple, we headed to world famous Dilwara Temples.
They are Swetamber Jain temples. They are open free for public viewing from 12 noon to 3 pm. Public have to deposit their cellphones and cameras with the security there . After security check only public are allowed to enter in . A high wall shrouds the temple complex.One could not make out their grandeur from outside.The temples do not seem to be very beautiful from outside. On entering the temples, one would be definitely wonder struck.These temples were built by Chalukya between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. They are world famous for their stunning use of marble.The Vimal Vasahi temple is the oldest,built in 1031 by Vimal Shah, and dedicated to the first of the Jain Tirthankaras. Lun Vasahi Temple, was built in 1231 by the brothers Vastupal and Tejpal,who were ministers of Raja Vir Dhawal, a local ruler of Gujarat who belonged to the Porwal Jain community. The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains. Some consider them to be one of the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world. The marble temples have an opulent entrance way, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality.The temples are in the midst of a range of forested hills. Some of the sculptures in them were destroyed by Aladdin Khilji. Only a portion of them could be got repaired. As such, we find at a few places sculpture still remain impaired. Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, some believe that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvelous.For the people who come to perform puja here, there are facilities to bathe and get ready. The facilities use passive solar power to heat up the water for bathing and other things. One can see occasional monkeys looking for food outside the temple area.
After enjoying sculptures at Dilwara, we paid a visit to Om Shanti Bhavan. It was constructed in 1983 in which the main assembly hall, Universal Peace Hall, is situated. It is a very attractive assembly hall and 5,000 people can sit in it. Besides this, there is facility of translation in 16 languages simultaneously. It has been declared as a public tourist place. More than 8,000 people come here to see it daily. Every year spiritual conferences are organized here on a large scale. Special facilities of Rajyoga Education for Indian as well as for foreign brothers and sisters are available here. So, seminars relating to values and spirituality are held here.
We completed our tour of Mount Abu only after visiting Adhar Devi Temple. It is situated in a cave,The is one of the popular religious themed tourist destinations in the Mount Abu region. It is situated three kilometers north of the main town of Mount Abu.It is reached by climbing up 365 stairs carved into the mountain.The temple itself is located inside a rocky cleave and is reached by crawling through a small opening into the cave.
Next morning that was on 20-11- 2011,we vacated our room in Hotel Hilltone at about 9 a.m. We had our breakfast in their restaurant MULBERRY TREE. Our stay at Hilltone was comfortable in all respects. We came down Mount Abu enjoying natures beauty and took up road leading to Udaipur . Distance from Mount Abu to Udaipur is190 Kilometers or118 Miles.Abu to Udaipur, it is four lane beautiful high way. We come across tunnels. In some places, the road goes through a gap between two low hills. Places that we move through were not at all well inhabited. We reached Udaipur at 12 noon safely. It is a city is also called as the Venice of East and is second after Kashmir, because of its beautiful surroundings. Because of its scenic beauty, the Aravelly hills and lakes, the city attracts tourists from across the world. Udaipur was founded in the year 1559 by the Sisodia king Maharaja Udai Singh. And, the city Udaipur, thus, was named after him. Here our car halted at Sahelion ki Bari'. Garden of the Maidens (Sahelion ki Bari) in Udaipur is one of the beautiful tourist destinations of Udaipur. Sightseeing in Udaipur is incomplete without visiting this lovely garden which reflects the lifestyle of the royal ladies. Built in the middle of 18th century this pleasant garden is flawless in taste and prudent in appearance. This is more like a modern landscaped garden.Garden of the Maidens (Sahelion ki Bari) in Udaipur is filled with lovely flowerbeds, trimmed lawns, sparkling pools and cascading artificial fountains. The entire area of the garden is surrounded by walls and huge shady trees. The garden has four little pools which enhances the beauty of the place.
The striking feature of this garden is that all the fountains here operate naturally and rise above as a result of the water pressure. No pumps or other gadget is used to create pressure. The monsoon waters fills up the lakes inside the gardens.
The most famous pool of the garden is the lotus pool which is strewn all over with huge green lotus leaves dappled with pink and white lotuses here and there. The sitting room is the place where you can sit down to repose for sometime after roaming in the garden. The décor of the sitting room is remarkable. The mosaic of glass and the glass paintings gives the sitting room, a traditional touch.
The magnificence and splendor of the place reminds us the luxurious lifestyle of the beautiful royal damsels. Garden of the Maidens is perhaps the best instance which vouches for the city being named as the city of lakes.Once a venue for the entertainment of the royal ladies, this exotic garden has now emerged as one of the best tourist attractions of the Udaipur. Though,it was time for our afternoon meals, we were not feeling hungry. So we thought of visiting Nehru Park on Fathesagar.
Fathesagar Lake is situated in the south-east some 5 km. away from the city. It was made in 1687 by king Jaisingh. Later, it was destroyed. So it was again reconstructed by Maharajah Fathesingh, who in 1888 with the cost of 6 lake rupees made a dam on it. To honor him it was named lake Fathesagar.Within the confines of the Fatah Sagar Lake, there are three small islands.; the largest of these is the island called the Nehru Park (4 km2 area), which is a popular garden with a restaurant and a zoo, the second island (0.06 km2 area) houses a public park with an impressive water-jet fountain and the third island (1.2 km2 area) is the address for the Udaipur Solar Observatory. The Nehru park is accessed by inboard motor boats. Blue waters of the lake and the backdrop of green has given Udaipur the name "the second Kashmir".
Thereafter, we wanted to witness Maharana Pratap Memorial. Pratap Smarak which is known as Moti Magri locally. This is nothing but a garden with the statuette of the courageous Rana where tourists can spend sometime amidst lush greenery and a fresh environment. Also there are statues of Hakim Khan Sur, Bhamashah, Bhilu Raja ,and Jhalaman who were associated with Maharana Pratap. It is a gigantic monument, located at the top of the Moti Magri (which in Hindi means "Pearl Hill") and is situated on the banks of the Fateh Sagar.It was constructed with the initiative taken by Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar with the help of a public trust. The statue of Maharana Pratap seated on his favorite horse, Chetak, is made of bronze, which is an alloy of copper and zinc. The viewers marvel at the expertise with which the sculptor had prepared the figure of the revered Maharana. It is believed that Chetak was a faithful horse.He was extremely protective towards Rana Pratap and stood by his master till his last breath.He was killed in the battle of Haldighati.In the vicinity of Maharana Pratap Memorial Udaipur, one may also find the ruins of one of the earliest forts of Udaipur (Moti Mahal), which was occupied Maharana Pratap's father ,Maharana Udai Singh, when he first came to live at Udaipur, and also a delightful Japanese Rock Garden. From the comfortable height of the hill, we can click some of the best pictures of Udaipur city.The glorious history of 900 years of Mewar starting from Bappa Rawal to Maharana Pratap ,bravery and his whole life span is dedicated through a light and sound show at Maharana Pratap memorial organised by Maharana Pratap Smarak Samiti.
After paying homage to Maharana Pratap, we had our dinner at Pichola Haveli. Pichola Haveli is in a lane. It is a 3 star hotel. Some parts of Udaipur consists of narrow lanes. They reminded me of lanes that I came across in Varanasi. Even lanes found in chickpet and Balepet Bengaluru are similar of similar type. Thereafter, we shifted to Golden Leaf hotel and took ample rest there.
Next morning that was on 21-11-2011, we visited City Palace. Most of the palaces in Rajasthan are museums at present displaying of royal artifacts belonging to the royal family. Almost in every place in Rajasthan , we have to pay entrance fees. Further, in some places we are not allowed to take photographs and in some places in order to make use of our camera, we have to pay also. Further, entrance fees to Indians and foreigners are not equal. The foreigners are charged more entrance fees than entrance fees charged to Indians. After security check and completing all formalities , we entered City palace Udaipur.
Udaipur City Palace is one of the architectural marvels of Rajasthan, located peacefully on the banks of Lake Pichola. This majestic City Palace is the most-visited tourist attraction of Udaipur and often distinguished as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Initially, Maharana Udai Singh built this superb wonder, but the present form of the Palace is the result of subsequent additions by his successors.
City Palace boasts of the wonderful blend of Medieval, European and Chinese Architecture. The Palace has various towers, domes and arches, which add to the flavor of heritage site. Towering on the banks of Pichola Lake, City Palace is truly a feast to the eyes. City Palace is a marvelous assortment of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. Encircled by fortifications, this imposing Palace is wholly built in granite and marble.
City Palace has several gates that are known as "Pols". 'Bara Pol' (Great Gate) is the main gate to the City Palace complex that will take you to the first courtyard. On passing 'Bara Pol', you will come across a triple arched gate, which is known as 'Tripolia'. Between these two gates, you would see eight marble arches or Toranas, where Kings used to weigh themselves with gold and silver. Besides Tripolia, there is an arena where elephant fights were staged. Across 'Tripolia', you would enter the 'Elephant Gate' or the 'Hathi Pol'.
City Palace comprises 11 wonderful palaces, which were built by different rulers still they resemble each other. With the sheer glimpse of unique paintings, antique furniture and exquisite glass mirror & ornamental tiles work of these palaces, we were amazed. Manak Mahal (Ruby Palace) has figures of crystal and porcelain. However, Bhim Vilas flaunts a fabulous collection of miniature paintings depicting the real life stories of Radha-Krishna.
The 'Krishna Vilas' is known for the noteworthy album of miniature paintings portraying royal processions, festivals and games of the Maharanas. Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace) is celebrated for its lavish decor while Sheesh Mahal (Palace of mirrors) is known for its breathtaking mirror work. 'Chini Chitrashala' is renowned for its Chinese and Dutch ornamental tiles. 'Dilkusha Mahal' (Palace of Joy) is known for the murals and wall paintings.
Bada Mahal is the exotic garden palace that stands erect on a 90 feet high natural rock formation. Rang Bhawan is the palace that used to contain royal treasure. There are temples of Lord Krishna, Meera Bai and Shiva, located right to the 'Rang Bhawan'. 'Mor Chowk' has exceptional glass mosaics of peacocks, set in the walls presenting the three seasons of summer, winter and monsoon. 'Laxmi Vilas Chowk' is an art gallery with a distinctive collection of Mewar paintings.
There is an arena that was used for staging elephant fights. The Maharana granted public audiences from Suraj Gokhada or the Balcony of the Sun. The oldest part of the palace is Raj Aangan.
In 1974, a part of the City Palace and the 'Zenana Mahal' (Ladies Chamber) have been transformed into a museum. The museum is open for public. One can locate some striking paintings in the 'Zenana Mahal' which further leads to Lakshmi Chowk. 'Lakshmi Chowk' is a beautiful white pavilion. In City palace, the most captivating sight can be viewed from the towers and terraces of 'Amar Vilas' from where you can get a breathtaking view of Lake Pichola.
AmarVilas'is the highest point of this Palace and has wonderful hanging gardens with fountains,towers and terraces.City Palace is structured in a way that it offers a splendid view of the lake from all its Balconies,cupolas and towers.Unlike the craggy exterior,City Palace has amazing interiors with delicate mirror-work, marble work, murals, wall paintings, silver work, inlay work and surplus of colored glass. The exquisite work of City Palace cannot be bounded in words.It would not have been able to describe City Palace elaborately in above fashion but for our guide Mr Navin. It is a guide who can only take us round systematically. Otherwise, we would have gone round in a haphazard manner. At every point, he gave details and cleared our doubts. It was he who persuaded us to proceed to Jag Mandir. We bought tickets for our cruise across Pichola Lake to visit Jag Mandir. What a fantastic view of Oberoi Hotel , Leela Palace, Taj palace , Sajjangarh, Karnimata Temple,City Palace, Jag Mandir etc we had from the boat. Our boat ride was really thrilling.
Pichola Lake is one of the most famous lakes' of Udaipur. In the middle of the lake, there are two palaces; Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas Mahal. The reflection of these two can be seen in the waters of the lake. It was constructed by a gypsy in the 14 century during the reign of King Rana Lakha. The lake got its name, as it was situated near the Pichola village. Afterwards King Udai Singh reconstructed it and laid the foundation of Udaipur city.
Jag Mandir is also known as Lake Garden Palace. It is located on the southern island of Lake Pichola. This palace was made by Maharja Karan Singh and later, Maharaja Jagat Singh developed it further. One can see fabulous scenic beauty from the Palace. The palace is a three storied structure made in yellow sandstone and marble. Jag Mandir Palace was raised in early 17th century. After the death of Karan Singh in 1928, his son Jagat Singh was crowned the Maharana and he added more structures to the island palace. Maharana Jagat Singh who made a number of additions to it later renovated the place. Within the palace was the temple dedicated to the Lord Jagdish and hence the name is derived from that. There is a museum detailing the history of the island as well and the neat.
In Jag Mandir Palace, Gul Mahal catches the major attention as this is the place where Prince Khurram(Emperor Shah Jahan) lived with his family. Gul Mahal is made in the Islamic style of architecture, which states that Karan Singh kept in mind the taste of Khurram. The hall has amazing interiors and is decorated with the Muslim crescent. To serve the religious purpose of Khurram, a mosque was also constructed in the complex of the Palace. Another attraction of this Palace is the courtyard, which is festooned with black and white tiles.
Other pavilions that are worth mentioning in Jag Mandir Palace are Bara Patharon ka Mahal, Kunwar Pada ka Mahal and the Zenana Mahal. Bara Patharon ka Mahal is made out of twelve solid marble slabs. Kunwar Pada ka Mahal was meant for the crowned prince. The Zenana Mahal offered several chambers for the ladies of the Royalty. Jag Mandir Palace has beautiful gardens adorned with roses, palm trees, jasmine flowers, frangipanni trees and bougainvillea.
After our cruise to Jag Mandir Palace, we went to purchase tickets for the ropeway.It takes no time to visit ropeway.It is in the heart of the City. The ropeway to Karnimata temple was constructed to enable a large number of devotees who visit Karnimata Temple and other historic sites at Machhala Hill. The foot pathway, normally used by people, provides access to the top through a steep gradient. The Ropeway system has made it possible for all to visit the historical sites. Ropeway in Udaipur is newly introduced and is most important tourist attraction. It is installed between two mountains right on the bank of Lake Pichola. The view from the Gondolas is breath taking and if one has passion for photography they would not miss this. It is from here that we can click best view of Udaipur including Lake Pichola, Lake Fateh Sagar, magnificent City Palace complex, Sajjangarh Fort and above all artistic landscaped Aravali mountains on the other side of the lake.
Last destination that we covered on that day was Sajjan Garh.High on a hilltop just outside Udaipur lies this dramatic 18th century palace, with a breathtaking view of the Mewar countryside Originally intended to be a towering five-story astronomical center, it was later abandoned and used as a monsoon palace and hunting lodge. It was built by Maharana Sajjan Singh to house an observatory and was planned as a nineteen-storied structure. However the Maharana died prematurely & the plans were curtailed. The now derelict palace dominates the skyline 2468 feet high on top of Bansdara Mountain. It is visible from a great distance & affords splendid scenic views.The Monsoon Palace, formerly known as the Sajjan Garh Palace, is a hilltop palatial residence in the city of Udaipur, overlooking the lake Pichola. It is named as Sajjangarh after Maharana Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar Dynasty,who built it in 1884. It offers a panoramic view of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It was built basically to watch the monsoon clouds; hence, appropriately, it is popularly known as Monsoon Palace. It is said that the Maharana built it at the top of the hill to get a view of his ancestral home of Chittaurgarh. Previously owned by the Mewar royal family, it is now under the control of the Forest Department of the Government of Rajasthan and has been opened to the public recently. The palace provides a beautiful view of the sunset. High in the Aravalli Hills, just outside Udaipur, the Palace is illuminated in the evenings, giving a glow of golden orange.The palace was used in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy as the residence of Kamal Khan,an exiled Afghan prince.Now the palace is donated to public by Maharaja . As such, it is government-owned. It’s open to the public as a museum and there is not much to see inside. It is being renovated.
We returned to our room in Golden Leaf Hotel and went to bed recollecting whatever we had seen on that day. Next morning ,i.e. on 22-11-2011 we woke at 5.a.m . We were supposed to be at Eklingji by 7 a.m. because after that doors would be at the temple for darshan.As such,we were ready by the time the car arrived for our onward journey. Our car moved towards Eklingji to be there in time. Eklingji is a temple complex located 22 km north of Udaipur.It is said to have been founded by Acharya Viswaroopa a contemporary of Adi Sankaracharya and is linked with the Sharada Math at Dwaraka. Eklingji is said to be the guardian deity of Mewar.The temple complex was built by the Sesodia dynasty of Mewar in 971, in honor of their presiding deity Eklingji, a form of Lord Shiva.The beautifully sculpted temple complex includes 108 temples enclosed by a high, fortified wall. The main temple, which dates to the 15th century, was rebuilt from the ruins of an earlier destroyed temple. The walled complex is made of marble and granite and has an enormous double-storied, elaborately pillared hall or "mandap" under a vast pyramidal roof, with a four-faced image of Lord Shiva in black marble.We had ample
darshan of Lord Shiva at Eklingji. We did not waste time there. We moved forward. We were supposed to be at Nathdwara by 9.a.m. Otherwise doors of the temple at Nathdwara would have remained closed and we would not had darshan.
Nathdwara is a town located in the Aravalli hills on the banks of the Banas River in Rajsamand District, 48 kilometers north-east of Udaipur.This town is famous for its temple of Krishna which houses the idol of Shrinathji, a 14th century, 7-year old "infant"incarnation of Krishna.Shri Nathdwara (a pathway to Lord Shri Krishna) literally means the gateway to the Lord ShriNathji. This great Vaishna vite shrine was built in the 17th century on spot exactly identified by the Lord himself. The legends have it that the idol of the Lord Krishna was being transferred to safer place from Vrindavan to protect it from the destructive wrath of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. When the idol reached this spot, the wheels of bullock cart it was traveling in, sank axle deep in mud and refused to move further, at all. The accompanying priest realized that this was Lord's chosen spot and the Lord did not want to travel any further. Accordingly a Temple was built here. This is a temple and place of pilgrimage amongst its believers.Darshans or glimpses of Shrinathji can be sought 8 times in the day. Collectively known as Ashtaya, the 8 darshans are Mangala, Shrungar, Gwal, Rajbhog, Uthhapan, Bhog, Sandhaya Aarti and Shayan. In each of them the leelas (divine manifestations) of the Lord are described and harmonized with His daily routine.Groups of devotees constantly flush into the temple pushing, pulling and reaching out, sometimes even getting hurt in the process.We also had to toil to have darshan of Lord ShriNathji.With the best of efforts ,we could have only a glimpse of idol from a distance at about 9.a.m.when curtain was raised. We could stand only for a few minutes there.We were amidst jostling crowd.
After having darshan of Lord ShriNathji, we proceeded towards Kumbhalgarh. Kumbalgarh is situated 82 km from Udaipur towards its northwest and is easily accessible by road. After passing through zig zag roads, valleys and dense forest, we approach Kumbhalgarh.It is a Mewar fortress in the Rajsamand District.It is an amazing impregnable fortress of its time. It is one of the finest examples of defensive fortification in Rajasthan. It used to play a hide and seek game with the enemies.The enemies were visible to the people in the fort even from far off places whereas the fort was not at all visible to the enemies particularly when they were approaching it.This feature of fort ,we too noticed. It was visible to us from far off places but as we approached,it seemed to have disappeared.It was built during the course of the 15th century by Rana Kumbha.Maharana Fateh Singh renovated it in the 19th century. It is also a birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar. The fort was occupied until the late 19th century. The fort is now open to the general public as a museum and is spectacularly lit for a few minutes each evening.It is an important fort in Mewar after Chittaurgarh.On the backside of it there is dense forest that shelters wild life and beyond it is Marwar.
Kumbhalgarh is on a hilltop 1100 meters above sea level.It is encircled by 13 elevated mountain peaks.The fort has perimeter walls that extend 36 kilometers.The perimeter walls are claimed to be the longest in the world after the great wall of China.The frontal walls are 15 feet thick.Kumbhalgarh has 7 fortified gateways. There are over 360 temples within the fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest Hindu.The fort also offers a superb birds view of the surroundings. From the palace top, it is possible to look tens of kilometers into the Aravalli Range. The sand dunes of the Thar desert can be seen from the fort walls.On top of the fort is the Badal Mahal Palace. It encloses beautiful rooms with pleasant color schemes of green, turquoise and white, which provides a fascinating contrast to the raw, earthy and grim fortress. The palace was rebuilt by Rana Fateh Singh in the late 19th century. In the central courtyard of palace where there is a statue of Lord Ganesha on one side, and a central seat, where the king used to sit down to be entertained by the dancers on a slightly elevated stage on the other. The Zenana Mahal, or the queens palace to one side is empty, save for the original paintings on the wall close to the floor and ceiling, which appears to be surprisingly well preserved. The palace rooms have a good system of cooling ducts, providing cool air to the residents. The king’s bedroom is in a corner and is painted green at the moment, and gives a eerie greenish glow. The balcony from the kings bedroom gives one a good panoramic view of the distant fort walls and the surrounding landscape. One can walk up narrow corridors to the terrace, where one is greeted by good scenic views of the surrounding countryside all around.
Thereafter our car moved towards Ranakpur. Ranakpur is a village located in Desuri tehsil near Sadri town in the Pali district of Rajasthan. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur, in a wooded valley on the western side of the Aravalli Range which only adds to its beauty. Ranakpur houses one of the largest Jain temples in the country. It is undoubtedly one among the wonders of the world. People from all parts of the globe visit it. .Black- faced monkeys can be seen frolicking about the temple grounds. When visiting the Ranakpur temples shoes, cigarettes and all leather articles must be left at the entrance.Visitors to Ranakpur need to be respectively dressed. The mastery of the elaborate craftsmanship of the sculptures in this temple is beyond belief. In this Jain temple, its beauty lies in the complexity of is simplicity.The Ranakpur Jain Temple was built during the reign of the liberal and gifted Rajput monarch Rana Kumbha in the 15th century.This is one of the largest temple complexes in India, featuring ornate marble work and world-class religious carvings. The basement is of 48,000 sq. feet area that covers the whole complex. There are four subsidiary shrines, twenty-four pillared halls and domes supported by over four hundred columns. The total number of columns is 1,444 all of which are intricately carved with no two being alike. The artistically carved nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures at a height of 45 feet are an interesting sight. Apart from this, another stunning act about these columns is that they change their color from golden to pale blue after every hour during the day. In the assembly hall, there are two big bells weighing 108 kg whose sound echoes in the entire complex. The main temple is a Chaumukh or a four-faced temple was constructed around 1439 and dedicated to Adinath, a divine human who began the order of Janaism. It is formed like a Nalinigulm Vimana (heavenly aircraft) and provides this whole structure a celestial appearance. It is a three storied temple.Conceivably, it is due to the intricacy of the structure that the temple took approximately 65 years to complete.
The three other Jain temples in the same complex, including a temple of the Sun God, are worth a visit. 1 kilometer away from the temple complex is the temple of Amba Mata. After relishing the beauty of these marvelous temples, we hurried to Jodhpur. We reached Jodhpur at about 8 p.m. There room no 400 in RajaputanaPalace Hotel was reserved for our stay. After finishing our supper in the nearby hotel,we had sound sleep in our room. Early in the morning on 22-11-2011,we finished our breakfast in the hotel and embarked on sight seeing at Jodhpur. The first place we visited at Jodhpur was Umaid Bhawan Palace.
Umaid Bhawan Palace, located at Jodhpur is one of the world's largest private residences.It was designed by renowned Edwardian architect Henry Lanchester.It was built, between 1928 and 1943, for H.H. Maharaja Umaid Singh ji. The present owner of the Palace is Maharajah Gaj Singh is his grandson. It is a 347 - room palace.. The Palace is divided into three functional parts - a luxury Taj Palace Hotel (in existence since 1972), the residence of the erstwhile royal family, and a Museum focusing on the 20th century history of the Jodhpur Royal Family. The opening hours of this museum are 9 am to 5 pm.Umaid Bhawan Palace was called Chittar Palace during its construction due to its location on Chittar Hill. During night time ,if one looks at it from a distant place it appears like Taj Mahal at Agra. Umaid Bhawan Palace is surrounded by 26 acres of lush gardens. There is vintage car display in front of Umaid Bhawan Palace .
At Umaid Bhawan Palace, we purchased tickets for museum. The museum is very well maintained, displaying an exclusive range of items belonging to the Maharaja and the royal family. Rajasthan's famous Umaid Bhavan Palace Museum is highly recommended for its display of items ranging from weapons to an array of stuffed leopards to antiques to some fascinating crockery to various trophies. Also exhibited is a huge banner presented by Queen Victoria and an amazing collection of clocks. The collection of clock on display here should not be missed.
A visit to Umaid Bhawan Palace is a must. It exhibits royal opulence. Umaid Bhawan Palace is now more a commercial place than a palace.
A visit to an historical place is waste without a guide. That is why ,we engaged the services of one Mr Devi Singh. There is an elevator to take us up in Jodhpur Fort. We can have aerial view of Jodhpur City from the fort.
Jodhpur was the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar. It was built by a king by name Jodha. It is the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. It is located 335 kilometers west from the state capital,Jaipur and 200 kilometers from the city of Ajmer. The high court for the state of Rajasthan is located here.The city is known as the "Sun City" for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It is also referred to as the"Blue City" due to the blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. The old city circles the fort and is bounded by a wall with several gates. However, the city has expanded greatly outside the wall over the past several decades. Jodhpur lies near the geographic center of Rajasthan state, which makes it a convenient base for travel in a region much frequented by tourists. In summer the temperature of place exceeds 50 degree centigrade. The blue color withstand that much of heat. Blue color houses mostly belong to brahmins. Mehrangarh Fort, located in city is one of the largest forts in India.The fort is situated 400 feet above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. A winding road leads to and from the city below. The imprints of cannonball hits by attacking armies of Jaipur can still be seen on the second gate. To the left of the fort is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot defending the Mehrangarh fort.
There are seven gates, which include Jayapol (meaning 'victory'), built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies. Fattehpol (also meaning 'victory') gate was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh to mark the defeat of the Mughals. The palm imprints upon these still attract much attention even today.
The museum in the Mehrangarh fort is one of the most well-stocked museums in Rajasthan. In one section of the fort museum there is a selection of old royal palanquins, including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period rooms.
After visiting palace and fort, we were attracted by Jaswant Thada.The Jaswant Thada is an architectural landmark located in Jodhpur.This is on the left of the Mehrangarh Fort complex.,It is a white marble memorial built by Sardar Singh in 1899 in memory of his father Maharja Jaswant Singh II.The monument, in its entirety, is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These stones are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when the sun's rays dance across their surface.Within this cenotaph, there are also two more tombs. The Jaswant Thada is a traditional cremation ground of Jodhpur rulers. The grounds also include exquisitely carved gazebos, a beautiful multi-tiered garden, and a small lake. There is a Shiva Temple also to pray for the departed souls. Because of its exquisite grandeur, the Jaswant Thada attracts people from different parts of the globe.
In the afternoon, we visited "Mandore gardens'"The 'Mandore gardens', with its charming collection of temples and memorials, and its high rock terraces, is another major attraction at Jodhpur. The gardens house the chhatris (cenotaphs) of many rulers of the erstwhile princely state of Marwar. Prominent among them is the chhatri of Maharajah Ajit Singh,built in 1793.
The Mandore Gardens also houses a government museum, a 'Hall of Heroes' and a temple to 33 crore Gods. Various artefacts and statues found in the area are housed at the museum. The 'Hall of Heroes' commemorates popular folk heroes of the region. It contains 16 figures carved out of a single rock. Next door is a larger hall called "The temple of 33 crore Gods" which houses images of various Hindu Gods.
The Museum is a division of Natural History which bears a crocodile that is eleven feet in height and also an African Bison. The auspicious paintings of the lives of the Royals of Jodhpur, their events are on display. One complete division is dedicated to the Raga-Raginis, where you can have a glance at the illumination paintings.
The museum posses’ idols of the goddesses and gods. The main mention should be given to the sculpture of dancer from the 12th century AD and on a big stone discovered from Kiradu, there is the engraving of Krishna Leela on the stone which is intricately done. This museum serves as the best example of the architecture for the engravings in the Dalan, Ek Thamba, Devals and Chattris towers.
The Mandore Gardens is in a very bad shape at present.It is not maintained at all well. It demands enormous time for perusal .We hurriedly went through relics, paintings,and scriptures there. Thereafter, we did some shopping at Jodhpur.
On 24-11-2011, at 9.30 a. m., we vacated our room no 112 in Rajaputana Palace Hotel. Before that we did not forget to have a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel. We took up N.H.114. Our car covered the distance of 286 kilometers in about 4 hrs.On the way we came across Osiyan first at 65 km and thereafter Khichan at about 135 km from Jodhpur. We passed through Pokaran where India conducted its first nuclear explosion and where there is Indian Army base also. We reached Jaisalmer at 2.p.m. We were allotted room no. 112 in Rang Mahal for our stay. It is located on the Sam Road at walking distance from the city center having 53 rooms. Rang Mahal looks like a place in appearance. It is surrounded by a beautiful garden. Inside the hotel , we come across beautiful paintings.
Jaisalmer, nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in Rajasthan . It is located 575 kilometers west from the state capital Jaipur. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and has a population of about 78,000.It is close to the border with Pakistan. It is said that desert Safari in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer is an unforgettable experience to anybody who visits Jaisalmer.Hence,
after dinner at Rang Mahal. We proceeded to Sam village at 4.p.m. Sam village is situated at a distance of 45 k.m. from Jaisalmer. There, for the first time in my life I saw a desert. It is spectacular Thar desert. It is made up of golden sand dunes . It is an ocean of sand. There we intended to go on Desert Safari.There a row of camels were waiting to take us on safari.
Camel Safari is one of the unique way to explore small villages in Rajasthan. Camel Safaris at the top of this ship of the desert is most exciting and soft adventure. Riding a camel is not easy as people consider. It is neither a great test for endurance. It is a great experience to explore The Thar - a vibrantly, living, desert, very colorful and hospitable. Riding a camel is not like riding a horse. To start with the saddle - it's made of wood. They tie blankets over it, but you will be reminded from time to time, it's wood you are sitting on. There are no stirrups - you cannot stand up. There is a horn like a western saddle and you generally use that to shift your weight around. A horse is generally led by a bit in it's mouth - a camel has a piercing in it's nose . Horses go when we give them a kick in ribs. Camels need the kick, as well as a verbal que (kind of a kiss kiss sound) as well as a smack to the neck with the rope. They will sometimes respond to just one, but if we don't use all three, they will dull to the input. Famously, camels have a mind of their own. Sometimes that mind is nice - they accommodate us and pretty much follow on auto pilot - and sometimes that mind isn't nice. Final difference - horses you mount while they stand. Camels we get on and off of while they sit on the ground. That transition from sitting to standing has three motions while the camel gets to its knees and then stands and at one point we are holding on tightly so we don't fall off.
We enjoyed camel safari. My wife and daughter were on a camel and I was on another camel.The camels bore nick names Shah Rukh Khan and John Abraham respectively.Our escort for camel ride was one Mr Salim khan.After traversing on camel for about a mile,we dismounted to wait for the sun set at 6p.m. Local girls surrounded and danced to entertain us. At 6.p.m. we watched and enjoyed the rusty sun going down silently on the horizon. Thereafter, we attended cultural program consisting of folk performances by artists of the village at a tent there. There we were served supper also. There were numerous such tents at that place. After supper at about 9 p.m. we returned to Rang Mahal at Jaisalmer and said good bye to 24-11-2011. On 25-11- 2011, we intended to visit Jaisalmer Fort. In this regard, we engaged a guide by name Mohinder Singh.
Jaisalmer Fort is a monument worth visiting and worth retaining in our memory. Like various other cities of Rajasthan, in Jaisalmer too we will find different facets of its own glorious heritage. Though we can find historical monuments scattered all over the city, the Jaisalmer Fort will immediately command our attention. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, it is a dominating structure amidst sands.
Jaisalmer city is said to be founded by one Raja Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput ruler, in approximately 1156 A D. Legends go by that he did it on the behest of a local hermit named Eesaal. The rajah choose Trikuta hill as the new site for his fort as his earlier adobe at Luderwa(16 k.m from present Jaisalmer) was too vulnerable to his comfort. But it should always be kept in mind that these legends are most of the time product of conscious minds that are very vulnerable to the oriental exaggeration.
Jaisalmer fort is the second oldest in Rajasthan. Two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high; it has 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647. Wells within the fort still provide a regular source of water. Even today, we find that nearly one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. We find here cross-cultural merging, the subtle fusion of Rajput and Islamic architectural styles. Ganesh Pol, Akshaya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol are a must see. Jain temple and Hindu temples inside the fort are marvelous and worth visit. However,roads and drainage inside the fort were not at all good . They were narrow and unhygienic. Patwa-ki-Haveli is also inside the fort. It is just one of the fantastic sites in Jaisalmer. It is an interesting piece of Architecture and is the most important among the havelis in Jaisalmer. Kothari’s Patwa Haveli is widely considered the ‘Taj Mahal of Jaisalmer’. This is precisely because of two things, first that it was the first haveli erected in Jaisalmer and second, that it is not a single haveli but a cluster of 5 small havelis. The first among these havelis was commissioned and constructed in the year 1805 by Guman Chand Patwa and is the biggest and the most ostentatious. It is believed that Patwa was a rich man and was a renowned trader of his time. He could afford and thus ordered the construction of separate stories for each of his 5 sons. These were completed in the span of 50 years. All five houses were constructed in the first 60 years of the 19th century. The havelis are also known as the 'mansion of brocade merchants'. This name has been given probably because the family dealt in threads of gold and silver used in embroidering dresses. However, there are theories, which claim that these traders made considerable amount of money in Opium smuggling and Money-lending.
This is the largest haveli in Jaisalmer and stands in a narrow lane. This haveli is presently occupied by the government, which uses it for various purposes. The office of the Theological Survey of India and State art and craft department is situated in the Haveli itself.
Nevertheless, even after these encroachments and abuse we can find a good amount of paintings and mirror-works on the wall. The other important aspects are its gateways and arches. We notice individual depictions and theme on each and every arch. Although the whole building is made yellow sandstone, the main gateway of the Patwon Ji ki Haveli is in brown color.
After visiting aforesaid places, we approached Gadsisar Lake.Gadsisar Lake is one of the major tourist attractions of Jaisalmer. It is not an oasis but a water conservation tank made around 1400 A.D. by the then Maharaja of Jaisalmer, Maharwal Gadsi Singh. This structure just outside the city walls once acted as a reservoir that controlled the entire supply of water to the arid city.
This place was selected because it had a certain amount of declivity already and it automatically retained some of the rainwater. If one is lucky and ventures out in winters, they might get to see a variety of migratory birds. Due to its proximity to Bharatpur, some of the birds get attracted to this place. We find whole varieties of temples and shrines surrounding the lake. In later years it became more of a pilgrimage spot. The beautiful gateway that arches across the road down to the Lake was built by royal courtesan named Tillon in the end of 19th century, known as Gate of Tillon. Lord Vishnu's statue was installed in the year 1908 A.D. or the gate by the courtesan & declared Krishna Temple to save it from demolition by the then Maharawal. There are recreational opportunities in the lake.In fact,many were boating on this lake without life jackets at the time of our visit. There were scores of fishes in the lake. The fishes reminded me of the fishes that are found in Tunga river at Sringeri.Camels are employed more in Rajasthan than horses for pulling a chariot, carts and coaches.Here, we hired a chariot pulled by a camel to cover the distance between our car parking and the lake. The ride was wonderful and we enjoyed it. There were hawkers on the bank of the lake with innumerable antiques , idols,and old coins.
As we were dam tired on account of continuous journey , we took complete rest. On 26-11-2011, we returned to Jodhpur. There , we boarded Suryanagari Express bound to Mumbai in the evening. We reached safely Ahmedabad on 27-11- 2011 morning.In Ahmedabad at 9.a.m. , on 27-11- 2011,we boarded Indigo flight 6 E 155 and reached Bengaluru to conclude our trip around Rajasthan.
Switzerland is a country which depends largely on the tourism. Switzerland have a highly developed tourism infrastructure. What Rajasthan lacks is development of infrastructure. There is scope for wildlife tourism and cultural tourism too in Rajasthan. Government of India as well as Government of Rajasthan must devote more and more attention to develop infrastructure for tourism in Rajasthan. That is quite essential in the interest of India as well as Rajasthan. A satisfied tourist brings another 10