Rajasthan - A journey through Desert, Palaces & Kingdoms
Rajasthan, a state as rich in its
history and tradition as it is with natural wonders. A perfect example of where humanity not just survived but thrived in the worst of desert conditions and
continues to be the cultural capital of India. The place where royal families,
palaces, and age-old customs are still carry forwarded from generation to
generation. A must-visit for every Indian & foreign tourist - Rajasthani
food, bandhanis, desert safaris and forts promises something for everyone.
Udaipur - City of Lakes
Recommended Hotel - Chunda Palace (4
star), Ram Pratap Palace (3 star)
Within the city,
Udaipur City Palace, Boat rides in the lake, street shopping are somethings
that we did in a day. We spent some quality time in Saehlion ki bari gardens with fountains and colourful flowers. You can definitely skip the Karni Mata ropeway as it was
a disappointing trip.
The City Palace’s guided tour takes you through the rich history of the city and some amazing stories of royal life in 1600. An experience in Taj lake restaurant for a romantic dinner is also recommended.
On the outskirts of
Udaipur, one can visit Chittorgarh for a full day tour or Sajjangarh Palace
nearby. We instead did Sahastrabahu Temple which turned out to be so much better
than our expectation with marvellous architecture, sculpture, and a peaceful
lakeside view. Thereafter, we went to Eklingi temple and then for lunch to Devigarh Palace which is a
palace converted to a hotel located amongst the Aravalli hills.
En route from
Udaipur to Jodhpur, we stopped at Kumbalgargh fort with India's largest 32km
wall and Ranakpur Jain temple adorned by beautiful marble pillars.
In Udaipur, one is
spoilt for 5 star hotels incl the Oberoi Udai Villas; our stay in Chunda Palace
was very memorable and the hotel was one of a kind that we had seen.
Jodhpur - The Blue
City
Recommended Hotel -
Rani Mahal (3 stars)
Nestled in narrow
lanes, the blue city of Jodhpur for me is the cultural center of Rajasthan. The
best way to tour the city is by booking auto-rickshaw for a full day for ~Rs.
750. The Mehrangarh fort stands tall and strong yet the intricate carvings on
its sandstone windows and walls make it equally delicate. Adjacent, is the
Jaswant Thada, a cenotaph that serves as the cremation ground for the royal Rajput
family of Marwar.
Umaid Bhawan Palace was closed due to Covid and we missed visiting this grand palace.
Sardar Market is a local shopping paradise for artwork, jootis, bangles, bandhani and much more. Jodhpur also serves lip smacking street food including Kachoris, Samosa, Lassi, Mirchi wada.
Mandore Gardens
in the outskirt is a definite visit to relax and explore the monuments dedicated
to kings of Marwar and a museum. On the way back, we stopped at Hotel Bal
Samand for dinner – which is a huge property adjacent to a lake and famous for
its Kabab platters.
Recommended
stay – Mandir Palace, Rang Mahal
A royal town right in the middle of desert, built with golden sandstone and a living fort makes it a very unique experience. A walk through the fort busy with street shops, cafes, temples provides blend of history with modern lifestyle.
Taking an auto
cum guide from the fort, we headed towards the famous ornate Kothari Patwa Havelis
which stand tall together with intricate hand made carvings and a visit inside
all the way to the top shows the life of rich merchants on this silk route. Other
hawelis that one can visit include Nathmal, Salam Singh, Mandir Palace.
Next day, we
went for evening desert safari which includes Camel ride, traditional dance
& buffet, sunset sitting in the Sam dunes. If you plan to stay overnight,
find a camp far away from the noisy tourist hustle so that you enjoy the peace
of the desert.
Bikaner
Recommended
Stay – Lalgarh Palace
About 5 hours
drive from Jaisalmer, we stopped for couple of nights in Bikaner. We stayed in
Lalgarh Palace, where the royal family still contuse to stay and upon check-in got an got upgraded to huge Maharaja Suite. Lalgarh Place and Laxmi Niwas complex are extremely well maintained with
huge gardens, stuffed tigers and deer, fine dinning is where one can experience
royalty like no where else.
The Junagargh
Fort looks grand with its white walls & vegetable colour painting is well
maintained and also provides a complimentary group guided tour with the ticket.
A visit to
famous KarnI Mata temple, home to 25,000 rats, is a phenomenon you will never
find anywhere else in the world. Thousands of rats moving all around the temple,
eating sweets, sipping milk attracts devotees and tourists from many places.
On the way
back, we stopped at the camel research centre for a quick visit.
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