Rajasthan Tours
It is said there is more history in Rajasthan than the rest of India put together. Welcome to the Land of the Kings, a fabled realm of maharajas and their majestic forts and lavish palaces. India is littered with splendid ruined bastions, but nowhere will you find fortresses quite as magnificent as those here, rising up imperiously from the desert landscape like fairy-tale mirages of a bygone era.
As enchanting as they are, though, there is more to this most royal of regions than its seemingly timeless architectural wonders. This is also a land of sand dunes and jungle, of camel trains and wild tigers, of glittering jewels, vivid colours and vibrant culture. There are enough festivals here to fill a calendar (and an artist's palette), and the shopping and cuisine are nothing short of spectacular. In truth, Rajasthan just about has it all. It is the must-see state of this must-see country, brimming with startling, thought-provoking and, ultimately, unforgettable attractions.
When To Go
* Mar Jaipur's famous Elephant Festival precedes the typically boisterous Holi celebrations.
* Oct Ranthambhore National Park and Sariska Tiger Reserve reopen for tiger safaris.
* Oct/Nov Don't miss the frenzy of Pushkar's famous Camel Fair.
The Origin of Rajputs
The origin of the Rajputs remains somewhat in doubt. That they were of foreign origin is suggested by the elaborate genealogies that the Brahmins (the priest of the Indian Varna or caste system) created to accord them the Kshatriya (warrior) caste. Which status they always insisted upon with almost undue vehemence. The Rajputs traced their lineage from a mythical fire atop Mt Abu, a mountain in Rajasthan, (Agni Kula or the Fire Family), the sun (Suryavanshi or the Sun Family) and the moon (Chandravanshi or the Moon Family).
Whatever their lineage,the Rajputs certainly were the living image of the knightly noble; handsome, brave – almost foolhardily so – and living within an elaborate code of honour and chivalry. Even then the attitude towards the British rule were varied and after the quashing of the 1857 Mutiny and the establishment of the British Indian Empire, the Rajput Princely States gained importance with 21 gun salutes, royal polo matches and durbars, just as they lost its meaning. Yet today the spirit and the heroic exploits of famous Rajput warrior-kings, like Prithviraj Chauhan, Rana Kumbha, and Bhappa Rawal, continue to echo in the golden sands of Rajputana in the people's folklore, music and dance.
When India became independent 23 princely states were combined to form the State of Rajasthan or the abode of rajas and now has become the foremost destination in India.
Jaipur Tours : Jaipur, the capital city in the tone of an autumnal sunset, literally blushed pink when Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, stepped on its soil in 1883. Interspersing the play of red and pink were white borders and motifs.
Jodhpur Tours : Jodhpur, the former capital of Marwar state was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha who claimed descent from Lord Rama, (the hero of the epic Ramayana). The city was built as a result of warring brothers, each of which felt the need to rule his independent state.
Udaipur Tours : Udaipur is the city of sunrise. It is a city replete with beautiful lakes, marble palaces, landscaped gardens and ancient temples. The city has five magnificent palaces - City Palace, Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir, Laxmivilas and Monsoon Palace.
Jaisalmer Tours : Jaisalmer was founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 A.D. In 17th century, business and commerce flourished in Jaisalmer due largely to the opening of trade route between India and the rest of Asia.
Bikaner Tours : Bikaner used to be the center of art and culture of medieval India. It is 237 m. above sea level. Much of Bikaner is desert but the water of Ganga Canal has ushered the development of Bikaner.
Chittorgarh Tours : Chittorgarh was the capital of the Sisodiya Rajputs. The Chittor Fort is the symbol of courage and valor of the Rajputs and till 1568 it was the capital of the Sisodiya clan. Chittor was attacked by the enemies three times. The first attack was by Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji in 1303 A.D.
Pushkar Tours : At a height of 1539 feet is the shining pearl of the desert-Pushkar. It is the abode of Brahma, the creator of the universe and also a much venerated place for meditation by the sages of India.
Samode Tours : The beautiful town of Samode is located 42 kms. North West of Jaipur. Samode is renowned for its magnificent palace which was built by the Maharaja of Jaipur Jai Singh II's Finance Minister.
Ajmer Tours : The beautiful town of Ajmer is surrounded by hills and is located on the banks of Anna Sagar amidst beautiful natural surroundings. Ajmer is the melting pot of religion, history and sculpture. Earliest records indicate that in the year 1193 Gajni Muhammed Ghori...
Alwar Tours : The city of Alwar was built by the Kachawa Rajput of Macheri - Rao Pratap Singh in 1775. For a brief while the Marathas as well as the British took possession of Alwar. In the year 1949, Alwar was amalgamated with the state of Rajasthan.
Mandawa Tours : Mandawa town is located 23 kms. East of Fathepur. Mandawa is a small town and is famous for the 18th century fort, which has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel - "Mukundgarh Fort Heritage Hotel".
Mount Abu Tours : Mount Abu is Rajasthan's only hill station. It used to be the summer resort of the royalty. The British East India Company finding the cooler environs of Mount Abu to be very congenial built a cantonment here.