Discover the True Indian Ethnicity with These 5 Places in Rajasthan

India has always been a tourist destination for many international travellers around the world. Travellers are influenced by the rich culture and warm hearts of the people. Though the country is now becoming a home to one of the leading metropolitan cities in the world, still it manages to preserve its ethnicity in geographical areas like Rajasthan

Known popularly as the land of kings (Rajputs), this region showcases a perfect blend of arid geographies and moist emotions. This is the reason why Rajasthan tour packages are so popular among vacations enthusiasts and holiday specialists.

Once you enter this warm land, you will find ancient forts and exotic architectures, which speak loudly about ancient India. Royal palaces, exquisite forts, and spacious landscapes are common here and you will be amused by the sight of snake charmers. So, before you decide to pack your travelling boots, take a look at these 5 top destination places in Rajasthan, which will make your journey truly special.

1>  Jaipur

If you are fascinated by the sight of captivating palaces and forts, then this city should be on your ‘Must Visit’ list. Popularly called as the ‘Pink City’ of India, you will find the streets of this place crowded with people and hawkers, who try to sell artefacts and traditional merchandize. Book a hotel for a day here and experience the true living of Indian monarch.

2>  Udaipur

If the sight of old mansions and lavished gardens fascinates you, then come down to Udaipur. The City Palace and shore of Lake Pichola are known to leave visitors spellbound.

3>  Jaisalmer

Nothing gives you a glimpse of sand houses and marvellous sandstone structures like the city of Jaisalmer. Nothing will mesmerize you more than the sandstone fort here.

4>  Jodhpur

If you are fascinated by the colour blue, then come take a look at the blue-painted buildings here. The city gets crowded in October for the Rajasthan International Folk Festival.

5>  Pushkar

If you love trekking and want to see the lavished natural landscapes of Rajasthan, then visit the city of Pushkar. This place will promise you great experience any time of the year.

These are the 5 places that you should visit, when you are in Rajasthan for vacations.

Land of Rajputanas

After Independence, Jaipur became the administrative and commercial capital of what was known as the Rajputana, a conclusion to the dreams of its founder, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh 2 , a man famed as a great politician, mathematician and astronomer. At the age of thirteen, he ascended the throne of Kachchwawa Rajput’s, a clan that enjoyed tremendous prosperity and power as a result of their alliance, from Humayun’s rein with the Mughal emperors. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, a fanatically pious Mughal, greeted Raja Jai Singh 2 with the title Sawai, meaning “one and a quarter” for his larger than life wit, in spite of the fact that he was a Hindu prince.

 

Jaipur- The pink city

Jaipur is known as the Pink city, a highly idealized description for the terra cota plaster coated on the walls and ramparts of the old city distinguishing itself from the new shops and architecture of the modern city, Jaipur. Amber Fort, first royal residence of the Maharaja’s of Kachchwawa lies 11km north and the popular Samode Palace is an hour’s drive away. But if the heat has you beat and the very thought of visiting another fort or durbar leaves you exhausted, then check out the shopping options.

 

Sunset at Jaipur

See the Pink city at its best from the Nahargarh fort also famous as the tiger fort when the sun sets behind the Aravalli hills. As the night falls, watch the city skyline turn in twinkling jewels for which it is famed. Built with the purpose to protect Amer, the view from here is a winner.

Jaipur has always been one of the cities to attract tourists for its style of art and ancient history to follow. Jaipur is also famous for its authentic jewelry and work of art. If the populous nature and heavy traffic of Jaipur gets to be too much, then make a trip to the exotic places and explore the ancient culture of Jaipur.

Wild Life Safari of Jaipur

Wild life safari has become very popular in India and is preferred as much as the wide life safari of Africa. Tiger safari of Ranthambore national park and Bharatpur national park are a must see if you make a trip to Jaipur.

Wild life safari at Ranthambore national park

Located in the south-eastern district of Rajasthan, Ranthambore is one of the most renowned and biggest national parks in India. Famous for its Tiger safari, this national park is located in the Sawai Modhpur district of Rajasthan. 130 km away from Jaipur city, Ranthambore national park is the best place to see Royal Bengal tigers. Wildlife lovers, enthusiasts and expert photographers from all round the world make a trip to see the magnificent creature.

The Jungle is full of surprises and lucky are those who get a sight of the royal Tiger, Leopard, wild Indian Rhinos, Indian elephants, wild boars and the list goes on.

Wild life safari at Bharatpur national park

Bharatpur national park also known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is situated between the historic cities of Jaipur and Agra. Famous as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, it hosts over 300 species of birds and wild animals. The national park contributes to a great extent in the tiger safari of India. The park covers 29 km of land and many birds make a visit to this part in winters before migrating to their hometown.

Jaipur – City of Jewels

The pink city of Rajasthan has always been a major tourist attraction. Jaipur Maharaja palace, cultural ethnicity, the Rajwada food and art work of the city has made Jaipur the world’s largest centre of gemstone cutting and polishing.

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Jaipur Jewellery Show

The Jaipur jewellery show that began in the year 2003 with a modest start is now Asia’s largest jewellery show. Hosted in the month of December, this jewellery show is the largest show of North India. Jaipur being the biggest manufacturer and exporter of jewellery, this event is conducted year after year at the Raj Mahal Palace.

Image source: http://www.luxoindia.com/blog/heritage-hotels-in-jaipur/

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The event would display exquisite jewellery designs from authentic Meenaakari art, kundan and Thewa jewellery to modern cuts and polishes of gold, sterling silver and diamond. Jewellers from all around the world participate and display their jewellery in this event.

The Rajput zenana: the pageantry of colour.

The immediate impact of drama’s about princely India, which are increasingly being shot in erstwhile Rajput kingdoms is the display of colours. In Jodha Akbar, which narrates the fictional story of Mughal emperor Akbar and his Rajput wife Jodha bai, colour identifies the Rajput location in the film in the form of bright billowing curtains, walls painted with murals and floral patterns to the Rajhastani heavy jewellery made of real gold, diamonds and precious gems worn by jodha bai indicates the royalty of Jaipur.

Image source http://blog.fashionstrikes.com/2013/06/25/pinpointing-inspiration-bollywood-jodhaa-acbar/

History of Pink City

Modern Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Amber who ruled from 1699–1744. Initially, his capital was Amber, which lies 11 km from Jaipur. He felt the need of shifting his capital city with the increase in population and growing scarcity of water. The King consulted several books on architecture and architects before making the layout of Jaipur. Finally, under the architectural guidance of Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, (initially an accounts-clerk in the Amber treasury, later promoted to the office of Chief Architect by the King) Jaipur came into existence on the classical principles of Vastu Shastra and similar classical treatises.

After waging battles with the Marathas, Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II wanted to improve the security aspects of the city. Being a lover of astronomy, mathematics and astrophysics, Jai Singh sought advice from Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Brahmin scholar of Bengal, to aid him in designing many buildings, including the Royal Palace in the centre of the city.

The construction of the city started in 1727. It took around four years to complete the major palaces, roads and square. The city was built following the principles of Shilpa Shastra, the science of Indian Architecture. The city was divided into nine blocks, two of which contain the state buildings and palaces, with the remaining seven allotted to the public. Huge fortification walls were built, along with seven strong gates. For the time, architecture is very 1876, during the regime of Sawai Ram Singh, the whole city was painted pink to welcome Edward, Prince of Wales. Today, avenues remain painted in pink, giving Jaipur a distinctive appearance.[3] In the 19th century, the city grew rapidly; by 1900 it had a population of 160,000. The city’s wide boulevards were paved and the city had several hospitals. Its chief industries were metals and marble, fostered by a school of art (named Madarsa Hunree) founded in 1868. The city had three colleges, including a Sanskrit college (1865) and a girls’ school (1867) initiated under the reign of the enigmatic Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II. There was a wealthy and enterprising community of native bankers, the Marwaris; and the administrators Rawana rajput.

Maharaja Rishabh Bhawani Singh, a member of the erstwhile Maharaja family of Jaipur, died on 17 April 2011 at a private hospital in Gurgaon following multiple organ failure.

About Jaipur City

Jaipur is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, after whom the city has been named. The city today has a population of 3.1 million. Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India.

The city is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity of its streets which are laid out into six sectors separated by broad streets 34 m (111 ft) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter, with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses the sprawling Hawa Mahal palace complex, formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort, which was the residence of the King Sawai Jai Singh II, crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city. The observatory, Jantar Mantar, is one of the World Heritage Sites.[2] Included on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit, along with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur is an extremely popular tourist destination in Rajasthan and India.