Tourism in Rajasthan

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Schematic map of Rajasthan Travel map

Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, for both domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture with its slogan "Padharo mhare desh' , now its changed . Every third foreign tourist visiting India travels to Rajasthan as it is part of the Golden Triangle for tourists visiting India.[1][2]

The palaces of Jaipur, lakes of Udaipur, and desert forts of Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer are among the most preferred destinations of many tourists, Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the state's domestic product.[citation needed] Many old and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels.It is the most beautiful place in India with heritage of old buildings build up years ago by Maharaja's of different castes.

Palaces[]

Main article: [[:List of palaces in Rajasthan]]

Rajasthan is known for its historical hill forts & palaces, it is claimed as the best place for tourism-related to palaces.

  • Umaid Bhawan Palace: It is the largest Royal Palace in Rajasthan. It is also one of the largest private residences in the world.
  • Lake Palace: It is now a luxury hotel located in Pichola Lake, Udaipur.
  • Hawa Mahal: It is known as "Palace of Wind" or "Palace of Breeze" because there are more than 953 Windows in the Palace.
  • Rambagh Palace: Formerly a Royal Palace now converted into a Heritage Hotel.
  • Devi Garh Palace: Formerly a palace now converted into a Heritage Hotel, In 2006, The New York Times named it as one if leading luxurious hotel in Indian subcontinent.

  • Lake Palace

  • Hawa Mahal

  • Rambagh Palace

  • City Palace, Udaipur

Forts[]

Rajasthan is known for its forts. Hill Forts of Palaces in Rajasthan are also a part of world heritage.[3]

Hill forts which are in world heritage list[]

Main article: Hill Forts of Rajasthan

The six Hill Forts of Rajasthan, spread across Rajasthan state in northern India, clustered together as a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forts are mainly based in the Aravalli Range,[4] and were built and enhanced between the 5th and 18th centuries CE by several Rajput kings of different kingdoms. They comprise:

  1. Chittor Fort at Chittorgarh
  2. Kumbhalgarh Fort at Kumbhalgarh
  3. Ranthambore Fort at Sawai Madhopur
  4. Gagron Fort at Jhalawar
  5. Amer Fort at Jaipur
  6. Jaisalmer Fort at Jaisalmer

Some of these forts have defensive fortification wall up to 20 km long, still surviving urban centers and still in use water harvesting mechanism.[5]

Other forts[]

Main article: List of forts in India § Rajasthan

These are some of the prominent forts of rajasthan:

  • Mehrangarh Fort

  • Ganesh Pol Entrance, Amer Fort

  • Jaisalmer Fort

  • Jain Temple inside Jaisalmer Fort

  • Kumbhalgarh Fort

  • Carving of Kirti Stambh, Chittor Fort

  • Junagarh Fort

Fairs and Festivals[]

Department of Tourism of Rajasthan Government organizes multiple fairs & festivals during the year. These festivals & fairs are great tourist attractions. Fairs organized in Rajasthan include:

  • Camel Festival, Bikaner (January)
  • Nagaur Fair, Nagaur (Jan-Feb.)
  • Kite Festival (held on 14th Jan of every year)
  • Desert Festival, Jaisalmer (Jan-Feb.)
  • Baneshwar Fair, Baneshwar (Jan-Feb.)
  • Gangaur Festival, Jaipur (March–April)
  • Mewar Festival, Udaipur (March–April)
  • Elephant Festival, Jaipur (March–April)
  • Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer (According to Lunar Calendar)
  • Summer Festival, Mt. Abu (June)
  • Teej Festival, Jaipur
  • Kajli Teej, Bundi (July–August)
  • Dussehra Festival, Kota (October)
  • Marwar Festival, Jodhpur (October)
  • Pushkar Fair, Ajmer (November)

Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks[]

Rajasthan has many wildlife and bird sanctuaries. Prominent among them are Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park, Mukundara Hills National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve and Desert National Park.

Religious Sites[]

Rajasthan has many famous temples from medieval times. Some prominent temples include Eklingji Temple, Shrinathji Temple, Trinetra Ganesh Temple, Ranthambore, Mehandipur Balaji, Govind Dev Ji, Salasar Balaji, Ranakpur Jain temple, Osian temple, Brahma Temple, Pushkar and Dilwara Temples. Along with temples, there are a few important Sufi shrine too, most famous among them is Dargah (Tomb) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Popular tourist attractions[]

  • Ajmer - Popular for shrine of Sufi saint Shaikh Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Digambar Jain Temple Soniji Ki Nasiyan.
  • Barmer - Barmer and surrounding areas offer a perfect picture of typical Rajasthani villages.
  • Bhilwara - Popular for its textile industry. Hamirgarh Eco-park and Harni Mahadev temple are important tourist destinations.
  • Bikaner - Famous for its havelis, palaces and the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke.
  • Chittorgarh - Popular for its monument and fort.
  • Bundi - Popular for its forts, palaces and stepwell reservoirs known as baoris.
  • Dausa - It is popular for Chand Baori and Mehandipur Balaji Temple.
  • Jaipur - Known as pink city of India and the capital of Rajasthan.
  • Jaisalmer - Famous for its golden fortress, havelis and some of the oldest Jain temples and libraries.
  • Jhalawar district - Caves like Binnayaga Buddhist Caves, Hathiagor Buddhist Caves, Kolvi Caves are popular medieval architecture of India.
  • Jodhpur - Famous for architecture, blue homes giving the name "Blue City" and Mehrangarh fort.
  • Kota - Known for its gardens, palaces, and Chambal river safari.
  • Mount Abu - A hill station with 11th century Dilwara Jain Temples. The highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan, Guru Shikhar is just 15 km from the main town.mount abu is also good attraction for adventure lover . There is many kind of adventure activities like trekking, caving,Rock climbing , Rappelling etc
  • Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the temple of Shrinathji.
  • Neemrana - home to the Neemrana Fort.
  • Pushkar - It has the first and one of the very few Brahma temples in the world, and also his wife Savitri Devi's temple, built on a hilltop. The pushkar lake is considered sacred for Hindus.
  • Ranakpur - Large Jain Temple complex with near 1444 pillars and exquisite marble carvings.
  • Ranthambore - Situated near Sawai Madhopur. This town has historic Ranthambore Fort and one of the largest national park of India (Ranthambore National Park).
  • Sariska Tiger Reserve - Situated in the Alwar district.
  • Shekhawati - Located are small towns such as Mandawa and Ramgarh with frescoed havelis between 100 years to 300 years old, and Vedic period Dhosi Hill.
  • Udaipur - Known as the "Venice of India".

  • Gold carving depiction of legendary Ayodhya at the Ajmer Jain temple, Ajmer

  • Vijaya Stambha, Chittorgarh

  • Jal Mahal, Jaipur

  • Patwon Ji Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer

  • Jaswant Thada, Jodhpur

  • Dilwara Temples, near Mount Abu

  • Ghats at Pushkar lake, Pushkar

  • Ranakpur Jain Temple, Ranakpur

  • Shahpura Haveli, Shekhawati

  • City Palace, Udaipur

Outline of tourism in India[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Rajasthan, by Monique Choy, Sarina Singh. Lonely Planet, 2002. ISBN 1740593634.
  2. ^ In Rajasthan, by Royina Grewal. Lonely Planet Publications, 1997. ISBN 0-86442-457-4.
  3. ^ "Hill Forts of Rajastan and Wooden Churches of the Carpathian region inscribed on World Heritage List". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  4. ^ Kohli, M.S. (2004), Mountains of India: Tourism, Adventure, Pilgrimage, Indus Publishing, pp. 29–, ISBN 978-81-7387-135-1
  5. ^ UNESCO Hill Forts of Rajasthan, UNESCO website

External links[]

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