Rajasthan

The state of Rajasthan emerged after Partition from a mosaic of twenty-two feudal kingdoms, known in the British era as Rajputana, “Land of Kings”. Running northeast from Mount Abu, near the border with Gujarat, to within a stone’s throw of the ruins of ancient Delhi, its backbone is formed by the bare brown hills of the Aravalli Range, which divide the fertile Dhundar basin from the shifting sands of the mighty Thar Desert, one of the driest places on earth.

1. Geographical Area – The Largest State Of India :- This colorful melange is the largest state in India. It covers the area of 342,239 sq km with a population of 68548437 (according to the Census 2011). It comprises 22 kingdoms of princely states that combined under a common name, Rajasthan on 30 March 1949.
2. Kalibangan – The World’s Earliest Attested Ploughed Field.
3. Mandore: Ravana’s In-law’s House
4. Bhangarh: The Most Haunted Fort
5. Thar: The Great Indian Desert
6. Aravalli: The Oldest Range Of Fold Mountains
7. Kumbhalgarh Fort: Longest Walls In The World
8. Hawa Mahal: The Palace Of Breeze
9. Vibrant Culture: Colour-Coded Cities
10. Luni River: India’s Saline River
11. 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
12. Kuldhara: The Abandoned Village
13. Rajasthan has only one hill station, Mount Abu
14. Pushkar is home to the only temple of Lord Brahma in the world
15. Rajasthan shares its boundaries with 5 Indian states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh
16. The diverse topology of Rajasthan is gifted with infertile lands in the west and fertile terrains in the east
17. The place hosts some of the major festivals of India including, the International Camel Festival, The Pushkar Fair, Jaipur Literature Festival, etc.
18. Karni Mata Temple is home to over 25 thousand rats
19. Pokhran witnessed the first nuclear test of India
20. Jantar Mantar of Jaipur comprises the largest stone sundial of the world
21. Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur is among the best heritage hotels in the world
22. The white marble of Taj Mahal (Sangemarmar) was mined from Makrana in Nagaur district

Rajasthan’s climate reaches the extremes associated with desert regions, with temperatures topping 45°C during the hottest months of May and June. The monsoon breaks over central and eastern Rajasthan in July and usually continues until September, although in recent years rainfall has become increasingly unpredictable and sporadic. The fierce summer heat lingers until mid-September or October, when night temperatures drop considerably. The best time to visit Rajasthan is between November and February, when daytime temperatures rarely exceed 30°C; in midwinter, you’ll need a shawl or thick jumper if you’re outdoors at night.

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Places to Visit in Jaipur
• City Palace.
• Albert Museum
• Amber (Amer) Fort and Palace
• Hawa Mahal
• Nahargarh Fort
• Jal Mahal
• Birla Temple
• Jantar Mantar Observatory
• Jaigarh Fort
• Jhalana Leopard Conservation Reserve
Places to Visit in Udaipur
• Lake Pichola
• City Palace
• Kumbhalgarh Fort
• Sajjan Garh Palace
• Fateh Prakash Palace
• Haldi Ghati
• Maharana Pratap Memorial
• Jaisamand Lake
• Vintage Car Museum
• Mehrangarh Fort
• Bishnoi Village
• Clock Tower
• Umaid Bhawan Palace
• Jaswant Thada
• Mandore Garden
• Osian Village
• Balsamand Lake
Places to Visit in Jaisalmer
• Jaisalmer Fort
• Sam Sand Dunes
• Kuldhara Abandoned Village
• Desert National Park
• Gadsisar Lake
• Jaisalmer War Museum
• Tanot Mata Temple
• Longewala War Memorial
Places to Visit in Pushkar and Ajmer
• Pushkar Lake
• Khwaja Gharibnawaz Dargah
• Anasagar Lake
• Mahrana Pratap Smarak
• Brahma Temple
• Pushkar Camel Fair
• Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra
• Ajmer Jain Temple
Places to Visit in Mount Abu
• Dilwara Jain Temples
• Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary
• Nakki Lake
• Guru Shikhar
Places to Visit in Bikaner
• Junagarh Fort
• Karni Mata Temple
• Lalgarh palace
• Gajner Lake
• Bhandasar Jain Temple
Places to Visit in Bharatpur
• Keoladeo National Park
• Deeg Palace
• Lohagarh Fort
• Baroli
Places to Visit in Chittorgarh
• Chittorgarh Fort
• Bijaipur
Places to Visit in Kota and Bundi
• City Fort Palace
• Jagmandir Palace
• Garadia Mahadev Temple
• Chambal Garden
• Taragarh Fort
• Badal Mahal
• Step Well of Bundi
Places to Visit in Shekhawati
• Mandawa Fort
• Deogarh
• Dundlod
• Tal Chappar Sanctuary
• Jhunjhunu
• Churu
• Sikar
Places to Visit in Pali
• Chhatra Sagar
• Jawai Leopard Camp
• Om Banna Temple
• Ranakpur Jain Temple
Other Places to Visit in Rajasthan
• Sariska National Park
• Ranthambore
• Sambhar Lake
• Khimsar
• Neemrana
• Bhangarh Fort
• Barmer
• Ranthambore Fort
• Samode
• Dechu
• Rohet Village
• Nathdwara
• Abhaneri Step Well
• Gagron Fort
• Bhatner Fort
• Achrol Fort
• Narlai
• Ramathra Fort
• Kuchaman Fort
• Gugor Fort
• Fort Khejarla
• Shergarh Fort
• Mihir Garh
• Chandelao Garh
• Pokharan Fort

2. Nagaur Cattle Fair (late Jan/early Feb) - Thousands of farmers and around seventy thousand steers, cows and bullocks descend on Nagaur, south of Bikaner.
3. Desert Festival (Feb) - Three-day event in Sam, near Jaisalmer.
4. Elephant Festival (Feb/March) - Parades of brightly painted elephants march through the streets of Jaipur, concluding with an extraordinary elephant-versus-mahout tug of war.
5. Mewar Festival (March/April) - The ranas of Udaipur welcome the onset of spring with three days of traditional dances, the lighting of a sacred fire, and music by the city’s famous bagpipe orchestra. Women play a prominent role.
6. Gangaur (March/April) - In homage to Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva, wives pray for their husbands, and unmarried girls wish for good suitors. At its best in Jaisalmer and Mount Abu.
7. Tilwara Cattle Fair (held over a fortnight in March or April) - One of Rajasthan’s biggest livestock markets, held at Tilwara, 93km southwest of Jodhpur.
8. Urs Ajmer Sharif (April/May) - India’s largest Islamic festival.
9. Rani Sati Mela (Aug) - Vast crowds gather in Jhunjhunu for a day of prayers and dances in memory of a merchant’s widow who committed sati in 1595.
10. Pushkar Camel Fair (Nov) - More than three hundred thousand visitors converge on the world’s largest livestock market and Rajasthan’s most colourful festival.

1. Shopping in Jaipur

Razai is famous here and almost all the touristy shopping places will try to sell you Razai and Pashmina. Here are some tips-

a. They all talk about Merino filling imported from Australia. I am sure you can't rely.

b. Be careful where your driver takes you. They might take you to Neelkanth at RICO area, where they claim to be giving all original stuff and asking for a sky high price. Be sure that there are at least 50-80% cuts for various people in that price,

c. The guide at City palace will take you to a shop, they do the same thing. You never know their claim of original Merino filling. They also claim to be giving original Pashmina. Common sense, they cannot be true. Original Pashmina will cost a fortune and all those tricks of passing the stuff through a ring are tourist rip offs. They will provide guarantee and money back after few years...one would laugh.

d. Go to a local, however congested and bargain for a deal. Go to Bapu Bazar near Hawa Mahal and shop to your hearts content.

2. Shopping in Jaisalmer

a. Don't go to the shop the guide forces you to. There is one such so called RTDC shop.

b. Go to Sadar bazar, a narrow lane and shop there.

c. Not a great shopping destination but dont forget to buy some yellow stone stuff.

d. Buy some Habur stone piece as memento

3. Shopping in Jodhpur

a. From the fort you will see Sojati Gate. Go there for Shopping. Go through by lanes

b. Let me caution you, this we did not find to be the cheapest place to shop

c. Bandhej work, Mojari (shoe) items are good.

d. There are some shops in Jodhpur fort. Camel Leather items here are of good quality and reasonably priced, One should buy camel leather products from here.

e. Once tired come to Naik street and go to Poker Sweets or Janta Sweets to recharge. Mawa ki Kachori, Onion Kachori, Malai Ghewar and Lassi are the things you should try in Jodhpur.

4. Mount Abu

The only shopping place we found is near the lake. Not the best bargain but shopping can be fun here.

5. Udaipur

a. Beware of tourist traps. Small shops in narrow lanes of old city and near Jagdish temple are really tourist rip-offs.

b. There are many shops outside City Palace. Meant for tourist on splurge.

b. Go to Hatipole market for shopping. Very congested but we found this place as the best place for shopping in whole Rajasthan.

1. Dal Bati Churma - Traditional Food of Rajasthan
2. Mohan Thaal
3. Laal Maas
4. Mawa Kachori.
5. Mirchi Bada
6. Mohan Maas
7. Kalakand
8. Pyaaz Ki Kachori
9. Gatte - Famous Food of Rajasthan
10. Kadhi
11. Jaljeera
12. Masala-Chhach
13. Bajra Ki Raab
14. Ghevar
15. Moong Ki Daal Ka Halwa
16. Malpua
17. Chutneys like Kachri, Imli, Lehsun and Tamatar
18. Bajra ki Roti with Lehsun Chutney
19. Churma Ladoo
20. Balushahi
21. Ker Sangari - Ker-Saangri Ro Saag
22. Badam ka Halwa
23. Aam ki Launji – Raw Mango Launji
24. Methi Bajra Puri
25. Gujia
26. Kalmi Vada