Location
Located in northwest India, Rajasthan borders Punjab in the
north, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the northeast, Madhya Pradesh in the east
and Gujarat in the south. On the western side it shares a long stretch of
border with the neighboring country Pakistan. Situated on the Thar Desert,
Rajasthan protects the western border of the country standing as the sentinel
who never tires. The art of Rajasthan ensures that people visit the desert.
Rajasthan is diagonally divided into the hilly and rugged
southeastern region and the barren Thar Desert, which extends across the border
into Pakistan. Within these divisions however, it is a storehouse of varied
physical feature or topographical diversity. The arid Thar also boasts of Mount
Abu the only hill station in the state famous for its flora and fauna. While
the Aravali hills provide the much-needed relief to this arid land, the wide
spread sand dunes of the desert and arid region make it one of the toughest
terrains in the world. Jodhpur (the second biggest city of the state) is the
edge of the dry and shifting desert land from where on the not so arid but
cultivable land starts. It is a store house of the art of Rajasthan. Moreover,
the rocky range of Amber, hilly range of Mewar, river basin of Bharatpur and
fertile Aravali range gives the topography of the state a unique look.
History
The past flavor lingers on. However, Rajasthan is much more
than the imagination of few rulers. It is an identity created by people, who
enjoy life and have ample proof to show for it.
The earliest inhabitants of Rajasthan belonged to the Great
Harappan Civilization. This area saw the arrival of the horse riding Aryans
from central Asia in about 2000 BC. The Mauryan dynasty-one of the first
dynasties to rule over large parts of India controlled this area in about 400
AD. With the passing of time however this arid region became the scene of the
ravaging onslaught brought about by the Huns and the Scythians. The settling of
the Scythians in Rajasthan set the stage for the rise of the Rajputs who were
the offspring's of the Indo-Scythians. With the passing of time this new race
proliferated into a number of new clans. Rajasthan thus became the homeland of
these groups of warrior clans, collectively called Rajputs, who dominated this
region for over a thousand years. They carved out small kingdoms in this region
during the 9th and 10th century AD that were often at war with each other. Due
to this lack of unity, the Rajputs were unable to present a combined front
against a common aggressor. This weakness ensured that every foreign aggressor
in India created enough trouble for the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan. All this
resulted in them being defeated or subjugated by the Mughals, who reduced them
to the status of a vassal.
Nevertheless the bravery and, sense of pride and honor
amongst Rajputs is unparallel in the history of India. Chivalry was the
hallmark of the Rajputs. They fought with courage and determination. Death to
defeat was the theme of Rajput warring ideology. They would face the enemy with
all the might even if defeat were imminent; in which case jauhar was performed.
In this grim ritual women and children would commit suicide by immersing
themselves in a huge funeral pyre. It was for these qualities that some of the
Rajputs rulers and chieftains adorned the court of most of the Mughal rulers
especially Akbar. There warring skills were used to the fullest by Akbar who
very effectively used the services of these brave fighters for the protection
of his vast kingdom by inducting into his standing army. He also entered into
matrimonial alliances with prominent Rajput families most important being the
one with princess Jodha Bai, daughter of the Maharaja of Amber.
With the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Rajputs were
gradually able to recover their lost territories and status. These turn of
events were however short-lived, as very soon the British set foot on the
Indian mainland marking the beginning of one of the most eventful phase of
Indian history. The British Raj, as it was popularly called, was characterized
by many anew trends and practices. One of these was their policy of signing
articles of alliances with most of the princely states in India that ensured
their independent existence subject to certain political and economic
restrictions. This marked the decline of the once mighty and powerful Rajput
dynasties of this region.
After independence Rajasthan became an integral part of the
Union of India under the new constitution.
Fairs & Festivals
Rajasthan has all the usual Hindu and Muslim festivals, some
celebrated with special local fervor as well as a number of festivals of its
own. The exact dates, determined by the lunar calendar have specific religious
significance.
Major festivals in the state are Camel Festival at Bikaner
in January, Nagaur Fair in January - February; Desert Festival of Jaisalmer in
February; Elephant Festival Jaipur; Gangaur Festival celebrated all over the
state in March - April; Mewar Festival in Udaipur; Urs in Ajmer Sharif; Teej in
the months of August; Marwar Festival at Jodhpur in October; and Camel and
Cattle Fair of Pushkar in November.
Best Time to Visit
Rajasthan is one of the driest regions in India. Except in
the hills of the Aravali range, temperature in most other parts of the state
reaches the 40°C mark during the summer months. Winters are mild in Rajasthan
with the temperatures ranging between 22°C and 8°C. The climate of Rajasthan is
characterized by dry and hot winds. The rainfall, which is characteristically
scanty, comes during the month of July and September. However rainfall is
comparatively high in the hilly Aravalli range. The southwest region of the
state, being on the tropical region is considerably humid. Thus, you may plan
your travel trip to enjoy the art of Rajasthan accordingly.
How to Reach
BY AIR -
Rajasthan is well connected by air with almost all the major
cities of India. A number of airlines both, government as well as private have
regular flights connecting the state with rest of the country. The five
airports of the state are, Sanganer, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Kota.
BY RAIL -
Rajasthan is well connected by a good network of rail. It
connects the state with almost all the places of interest in the country. But
comparing to the railway option, the roadways are more preferable, as well as,
recommended as the railway tracks are mostly meter gauge and hence time
consuming.
BY ROAD -
The best way to visit Rajasthan is by road. A good number of
Government and private buses ply to the state connecting it with its nearby
places of interest. Moreover, taxis and other vehicles are also available on
hire from many places to the state.
Tourist Attractions
Rajasthan is a classic blend of beauty and historicity.
Indeed, the State has so much going for it that it's difficult to decide where
to start. The very images that it conjures up are steeped in romance and
beauty. A line of supercilious camels silhouetted against a magnificent desert
sunset. A blur of swirling color as a Rajasthani belle dances to hypnotic
music. The handsome, hawk-like face of a Rajput man, fiercely mustachioed,
regally turbaned, reflecting an arrogance and power that can be traced several
centuries back. It is the unyielding facade of a splendid fort or the delicate
kiosks and balconies embellishing a palace wall. The bold, colorful sweep of a
phat painting, depicting sword-bearing chieftains going off to battle,
rainbow-hued dupattas, ghagras and cholis, twinkling with the light of a
hundred tiny glinting mirrors. All of which add to attractions of this
wonderland we call-Rajasthan.
Rajasthan's almost 80% of the places are regarded as the
places of tourist interest. The old city of Jaipur, capital to the state of
Rajasthan, painted pink that gives a magical glow to the city, is one of the
must visit places of the state. The 250-year-old city of Jaipur, also known
popularly as the Pink City is a startling blend of forts and palaces, teeming
markets and all the bustle and modernity befitting the capital of India's
second largest State. The Hawa Mahal, the exquisite City Palace and the incredible
observatory of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II Central Museum, Nagar Garh Fort,
Jaigarh Fort, Amber, Albert Museum, Birla Mandir Planetarium, Sisodia Rani
Park, Lakshmi Narain Temple, Kanak Vrindavan, The Rajmahal Palace, Rambagh
Palace (now a Luxury hotel) and the Jantar Mantar are some of the sites that
say about their contemporary time.
In the bleak desert that is Rajasthan, there is also a green
oasis-Mount Abu, a cool hill station, a holy mountain retreat, the Aravali
range; the verdant forests alive with a variety of flora and fauna; the
stunning Dilwara Jain temples; the Nakki lake at 1,200 m above sea level; the
city of Ajmer; the Dargah or tomb of the popular 13th-century; a number of
monuments belonging to the Mughal era; the well-fed camels and citadels; the
exotic camel safaris; the worship of thousands of holy rats at Mata Kali temple
are some of the most interesting aspects of the state in general. The golden
city of Jaisalmer, which lies courageously as the western sentinel of India, is
a place worth visiting. Major points of attraction are Jaisalmer Fort,
Manakchowk, Jain Temple, and different havelis.
Even further off the beaten track is the relatively
unexplored Hadoti area of Rajasthan, comprising Kota, Bundi, Baran and
Jhalawar. The princely State of Jhalawar, or the land of the Jhalas, was
created in 1838, and unlike much of Rajasthan, has a rocky, but green and water
laden landscape.
Golden Triangle Tour With Varanasi
Hawa Mahal Jaipur.
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