Rajasthan means the place of the principles, the legendary maharajah, that in today's India have lost power and royal privileges and were forced to reinvent themselves as entrepreneurs, traders and, for those who have been able to preserve the family property (land and buildings) as hoteliers. Cities are topped by impregnable fortresses that enclose beautiful palaces, courtyards, gardens, at the foot lie the slums where, in the tight-knit streets, busily many businesses, social and religious.
On the road of the palaces of Rajasthan, the atmosphere is princely punctuated by sumptuous residences of the maharajas, the journey is tinged with almost fairy-tale wonders, immersing himself in the heart of mythological tales. Jaipur, the capital of this region, hides a multitude of temples and palaces, Jaisalmer is protected by its golden fortress with walls, while Bikaner, a symbol of authenticity, lets dive into another era and Jodhpur, known as the blue city, is the place to buy gemstones.
The beautiful Jain temples chiseled in white marble and the majestic mosques rival the imposing buildings in red sandstone. It is an India full of contrasts of synergies, mingling of religions, including architecture, Mughal and Rajput style, and even deep spirituality of a people deeply attached to the sacred in daily confrontation with their own karma.
In the land of Maharajas, where the camels leave their footprints on the golden dunes of the Thar Desert and the minstrels run from village to village telling magical stories of ancient splendor, tradition and royal glory meet in a riot of color that stands out the immense background of desert sand. This is the magic of India!
Rajasthan has a strong impregnable, the majestic havelis of the palace, music, dance, arts, crafts and adventure a reality that has never ceased to intrigue and enchant with its romantic aura, which pervades it at any time hovering wherever you direct. From the Aravali Hills, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world to the sand dunes of the Great Indian Desert, the only desert of the sub-continent, this region is a land of superlatives where everything can be summed up in three simple words: awesome, fascinating, breathtaking!
A witness to the great past, there are a myriad of sites of historical and artistic interest, within which there are splendid forts, temples and beautiful public buildings. It 'absolutely unthinkable to leave for India without entering in your travel itinerary this that, for all practical purposes, can be considered the heart of the country for over 1,500 years.
The Rajasthan is the land of Rajputs, a group of clan warriors who ruled this part of India for over a thousand years by a code of chivalry and honor similar to that of the medieval knights of Europe. The Rajput warriors who had not retired at no cost and also vanished when the last hope of winning the rules of chivalry required that it proceed to a ruthless ritual called jauhar, the result was death for men, women and children.
With the decline of the Mughal Rajput slowly regained its independence through a series of spectacular victories. The scene, however, was soon occupied by the British, with whom many Rajput signed agreements in exchange for maintaining their own independence. These treaties of alliance marked the end of the Rajput kings, with the honor and chivalry that were soon supplanted by the pursuit of pleasure and the squandering of wealth.
The largest and most populous city of the state is Jaipur, whose center is located in the bed of an ancient lake now dried up, the background of a rather barren landscape surrounded by barren hills surmounted by forts and walls garnished with adornments. Jaipur is a bustling metropolis full of contrasts and very violent, a real feast for the eyes. The most beautiful and rich in tourist attractions is undoubtedly the old town, surrounded by beautiful ancient walls have a number of doors.
The most characteristic feature of the area is Iswari Minar Swarga Sal, "the minaret piercing the sky", located near the Tripolia Gate, but you can not miss the numerous bazaars, the Hawa Mahal, City Palace, the Jantar Mantar and the Central Museum, whose dusty collection is housed in the impressive Albert Hall in the Ram Niwas Gardens, south of the old city.
Between Jaipur and the border with Uttar Pradesh is located in Bharatpur, a destination well known among bird watchers who do not let themselves almost never escape the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, bird sanctuary which has been proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Inside were spotted no less than 415 different bird species, including 117 species of migratory birds coming from Siberia and China . In the center you can visit the Fort Lohagarh, also called Iron Fort, which was built in the early eighteenth century by Maharaja Suraj Mahl. At 36 kilometers away from Bharatpur is Deeg, a small fortified town particularly striking because of the presence of a magnificent palace and a lively market.
Also with regard to the naturalistic, you can visit the Sariska National Park, a nature reserve of about 800 square kilometers set in a valley cloaked in woods and surrounded by bare mountains. Although few tourists who go there, the semi-desert region of Shekhawati, lying in the triangle between Delhi , Jaipur and Bikaner, is a true paradise and represents a sort of open book on the rich past of the state.
Although since then its cities have lost their importance, have certainly not lost the stunning havelis, painted houses built by merchants of the region. Most of these buildings was built in the period between the nineteenth and early twentieth century, and their glory is such that the entire area has been dubbed the "open air art gallery of Rajasthan". The most interesting towns in the region are Fatehpur, Nawalgarh, Mandawa, Ramgarh and Jhunjhunu, although virtually all population centers are located some haveli.
To the south-west of Jaipur is Ajmer, rapidly growing city situated on the shores of the Ana Sagar and surrounded by barren hills and bare. Many Muslims go there on pilgrimage during the period of Ramadan, while tourists will enjoy some remarkable architecture of the Islamic tradition. Nearby you can visit the villages of Kishangarh was founded by Kishan Singh in the early seventeenth century and is famous for its unique style of miniature paintings, and Pushkar, a quiet place where you will see many temples and some beautiful ghats. Probably does not exist in the Rajasthan's most romantic city of Udaipur , a large conurbation of almost 400,000 inhabitants. Here you can visit the picturesque Pichola Lake and palaces built during the XVI century, in addition to wonderful Jagdish Temple.
In the immediate vicinity are also to be seen Eklingji and Nagda, both home to some ancient temples. One of the most populous cities of Rajasthan Kota southern, army headquarters and important industrial center. The attractions are not many, but the Rao Madho Singh Museum, from which exposed weapons, ancient customs, stuffed animals and some wall paintings, is worth the visit alone to the city. 39 km northwest of Kota is Bundi, the ancient capital of the most important principality during the period of the Rajputs.
Today Bundi is a picturesque town with a medieval ambience, with the Rajput heritage is clearly visible in the structure of the enormous Taragarh Fort, which overlooks the city and the valley below, and the imposing palace in the fort itself, where there are the famous murals of Bundi, similar to those exposed in the Rao Madho Singh Museum in Kota. Not far away there is Chittorgarh, a city of nearly 100,000 inhabitants situated in a magnificent position from the point of view of landscape, but despite this little regarded by tourists. In the oldest part of its center you can also admire an old fort and many beautiful palaces.
If you plan to relax in close contact with nature the place for you is Mt Abu, the only ski mountain of Rajasthan , located at 1,200 meters above sea level on a plateau that rises in the southern part of the state, near the border with Gujarat. It is a pleasant resort, ideal for those seeking relief from the heat of the plains, even if you do not meet many western tourists apart from those who come up here to study at the Brahma Kumaris Spiritual University.
The Indian visitors are mostly couples on their honeymoon and families of Gujarat, particularly attracted to the relaxed pace of life of the locality. The capital of Rajasthan western Jodhpur , a metropolis located on the edge of the Thar Desert totally dominated by a massive fort perched on top of a rock that rises in the middle of the city. The old town is completely surrounded by 10 km long wall built about a century after the founding of the city, in the sixteenth century.
While Jaipur is often called the "Pink City", Jodhpur is the "blue city" because of the many blue houses that are best seen from the ascent to the fort. Do not miss Jaswant Thanda, white monument raised to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II, the Clock Tower, a reference point for excellence of the Old Town, the Palace of Umaid Bhawan and Umaid gardens, among other things enriched by the presence of a museum.
Caused by the invasions, the history of Rajasthan is characterized by the rivalry of many small kingdoms that lived together in a rather turbulent until the nineteenth century. As evidenced by the many palaces, forts and royal cenotaphs that have handed down the memory of the mighty Maharaja of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. The forts and mausoleums of Delhi and Agra evoke, for their part, just as the glorious past of the Mughals.
If you want to stay nearby for a few more days, the advice is to go to Mandore, the capital of Marwar before the foundation of Jodhpur and 9 km away from the current capital, Osiyan, 65 kilometers to the north, and Lake Sardar Samand, with a nice nature reserve. In Rajasthan we perform all the usual festivals of Hindus and Muslims, which in some cases are celebrated with particular fervor. In each city also holds other events, more rooted to the land, different from place to place. One of the most popular events is the wide and picturesque Pushkar Camel Fair, which takes place every year in November, it is a great trade with camels, cows, cattle traders, pilgrims and tourists, giving rise to one of the manifestations more festive and amazing world. Among the other events we are the party of Bikaner Camel, the trade fair of Nagaur and dance festival of Jaisalmer.
The small villages of rural Rajasthan, heritage of the less famous but equally fascinating, as well as a trip for those who see the classic cities of Rajasthan, want to discover the true traditions of rural villages Rajput with their people and their way of life. Pushkar is the most colorful fair of Rajasthan, it is primarily a cattle fair where you sell and buy about 50,000 heads. One of the attractions is also a series of races between camels.
The second city that you visit Jaisalmer. The city, medieval-looking, it was a must see for anyone traveling along the Silk Road and is still an outpost in the desert of Thar. Fortified stronghold, protected by ramparts and Jain temples, is rich haveli, the former residences of luxury that can be seen throughout the state. The city is famous for silks and precious stones. The desert is a constant element in Rajasthan and you can spend a night in a tented camp.
The next stop is Jodhpur, the largest center of the capital city of Rajasthan after Jaipur. You will visit the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort Fort, the museum of the fort, Jaswant Thada Mausoleum and the famous Hotel Umaid Bhawan Palace. Then it's off to Sardargarh where you visit the old fort, one of the most beautiful and extravagant of Rajasthan.
Among the most fascinating cities there is Udaipur with the beautiful temple at Ranakpur. Known as the Venice of the East, because it overlooks more lakes, it has romantic and fairy-tale palaces, including the City Palace, a complex of four palaces. At the center of one of the lakes is the Lake Palace, the former residence of the king, now a luxury hotel, which is absolutely worth it to stay at least for one night.
But you would be left breathless once you arrive in Jaipur, with the Amber Fort which overlooks the surrounding valley. For an unforgettable experience, the ideal travel mode is to reach by elephant! Do not miss the City Palace in the city center, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and the astronomical observatory outdoors.
A trip to Rajasthan is not complete if you do not taste the tandoori cuisine, meat and fish cooked in spicy hot oven, and if you do not get lost among the shops of markets and bazaars, full of colorful fabrics with which the women sew the sari, spices, incense, puppets, slippers. Most interesting are located in Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
One day the gods Shiva and Parvati in their beautiful palace on Mount Kailash were bored and decided to come down to earth to walk around and look closely at the men. It happened as they passed near a small village. Shiva did not think there was anything interesting, but his wife Parvati was captured by the insistent sound of a hammer and deaf and followed the shots.
Joiner village was squatting on the ground I intend to carve wooden dolls for children. So engrossed in the chisels not to notice the gods behind him. The eyes of the goddess is lost in the fine features of the dolls. Shiva, who loves his wife, and immediately went into a doll began to move inviting dance steps. Parvati did not wait two seconds and caused that his spirit animate the body wooden doll more beautiful. Suddenly the cabin was filled with a divine music and the dolls they threw in a wondrous dance.
The carpenter was delighted to watch the dance, without words. After long hours Parvati got bored of the game and the divine couple shots the way to Kailash, leaving the poor desperate man in front of the wooden dolls inert lifeless.
since that day, for many moons, the carpenter tried his hand in a rigorous asceticism, decided to still see the dolls dance. Pity and satisfied by the willpower of man Parvati appeared to him asking what was the reason for so much prayer. Without hesitation, the carpenter asked if he could still see her dolls dance. The goddess, after a brief moment of hesitation, said, I'll teach you how to give life to your dolls, each time you want to see them dance focused on me and will guide your hands.
So it was that men learned to put the wires and who know how to build dolls dance, the kathputli (kath means wood and Putli means doll. The full moon nights in the enchanted atmosphere of a fortress medieval perched on rocks that rise between blue houses, windswept desert that surrounds them, a dream becomes real fairy tale, becoming music. Fortitude is the Mehrangarh Fort, founded in 1459 by Maharaja Rao Jodha of the Rathore dynasty in the city of Jodhpur , the Blue City due to the blue tint of many of its houses, in central Rajasthan.
Massive walls that climb the hill and seven gates leading into the maze of buildings which houses the art treasures of the museum of the fort, one of the best collections in the state. The dream is to recognize the artistic and human dignity of thousands of people who live in the vast rural Rajasthani and that fate, tradition and passion play, sing and dance. The dream is to secure a future for their art and unforgettable moments to all those who are willing and able to believe in the dream.
The reality is the Rajasthan International Folk Festival, in Jodhpur. The event, now in its edition, is a collaboration between the Jaipur Virasat Foundation and the Mehrangarh Museum Trust and is ably directed by Divya Kumar Bhatia.
For five days the fortress museum will offer visitors the opportunity to attend numerous folk dances, some other little known more notes. For those who love or want to advance in the world of folk art there are meetings with artists, discussions and workshops. In the evening the doors of the royal residence open to the legendary music of local artists and international groups.
A succession of shows that continue into the night. Now the Festival is an unmissable event for music lovers. To perform on stage, there are well-known artists, but also non-professional musicians: constant is the high quality of the event, recognized as one of the top 25 festivals in the world by the British music magazine Songlines. The protagonists of the event are not names, but the notes and rhythm.
Artists folk, the people, almost always of low caste, they have the chance to play with famous names, to support classical musicians and improvise with foreign artists, to be equal among peers and re-evaluate their own art and identity. The organizers are aware of the value of the many musical traditions of India, determined not to let them die and confident of success that can be achieved in a live show, unforgettable for anyone who is not a fan. The stage offered by the spectacular and strong moonlight contribute to the magic of the event.
Travellers Info:
The best time to visit Rajasthan is in winter, between October and April, when the days are mild and sunny, with average temperatures around 25 degrees. The hottest months are May and June, when maximum temperatures can reach up to 40 degrees, while in July the monsoon causes heavy rainfall and a significant drop in temperature. It is absolutely not recommended starting in the latter period, when the continuous downpours can literally ruin your stay.
The most important airport is that of Jaipur, also served by numerous international companies, while domestic travel you can count on many other smaller airports. With regard to local transport, Rajasthan has a network of buses rather extensive and efficient, and often you can choose between normal buses (ordinary) or express (express), while some private companies have the means luxurious.
In the past, travel by train in Rajasthan were slow because the network was meter gauge, smaller than that used in the rest of India, in recent years the railways have been modernized and now there are fast connections between Delhi and Jaipur, including Jaipur and Jodhpur , including Jodhpur and Jaisalmer and between Jaipur and Bikaner.
The train Palace on Wheels, one of the most famous railway experiences of India, cover the route between Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, the Ranthambhore National Park, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra.