Rajasthan Cultural Tours

 

When most foreigners imagine  India , they are probably  thinking of somewhere  in Rajasthan , Delhi or Agra.This is the subcontinent at its most iconic, from  the Tej Mahal and the great mughal mosques and mausoleums of Delhi  and Agra to the fairy  tale landscapes of Rajasthan,  with its mighty hilltop forts, remote desert citadels and extravagant  royal  palaces. The region  as a whole  richly  fulfils every romantic expectation  one  might  have about  Indiam life  and culture, with picturesque crowds of men in top-heavy  turbans and women dressed  in vibrantly coloured  saris, crowed bazaars over flowing with  sumptuous fabrics, embroidery  and  jewellery , or the vivid orange flash of a tiger or leopard seen padding quietly  through the undergrowth of a national park. Taken  as a whole , the area’s  myriad attractions  offer  a recipe for suncontinent  sensory overload , and explains why  this is the place  to which most  first  time  visitors to the country  immediately head.

Rajasthan has a  number of “ Tribal “ peoples who  live outside  the  social mainstream. Many are nomadic, and often called Gypsies indeed the Romanies of Europe  are  thought to have originated among  these Rajasthani Gypsy tribes. The most prominent are the Kalbeliyas , found  largely in Pushkar. The Kalbeliyas  discovered  how to charm snakes , and  they used to sing and dance  for royalty, as  they now do for  tourists.

Similarly, the  Bhopas are a green  eyed tribe of nomads who used to work as entertainers  to the Maharajas, and  to this day they exist  as itierant poets and storytellers. They are asked to perform particularly  where someone is sick , as their songs are believed to aid recovery.   

 

Jodhpur
Jodhpur is the first of the three  stone –sculpted cities rising out of the  golden sands of Rajasthan.It was  founded in 1459 by Roa  Jodha  and  is now the second  largest city in Rajasthan. Standing  guard  above the city is the majestic  Mehrangarh  Fort, overlooking  the rugged and  rocky terrain. Equally enchanting is the Chittar Palace, better known as  Umaid Bhawan Palace, today part hotel, part  museum and part royal residence. The city can be roughly  divided into four parts - Ratanada, which  primarily houses old building and  government  offices ; Sardarpur, which is mostly residential; old  city is the market area and Shastri  Nagar is the new Jodhpur. In the  Jodhpur region, many  tourists take an excursion into the country side to visit the Bishnoi , a religious rather than strictly ethnic group, whose tree – hugging  beliefs chime with those of hippies in the west .Living in close proximity to them , though with a very different lifestyle,are  the Bhils, great hunters.

 

Festival
Ramdeo  ji Cattle fair at Nagaur,135 km from  Jodhpur is one of the best cattle fairs in the subcontinent.

 

Jaisalmer
Deep in the  heart of the Thar Desert is  Jaisalmer , one of the  last  princely  bastions in the  region. Founded on the  crossroads  of lucrative trade routes, this  remote settlement  came to be celebrated for the valour of its  rulers, and  for  the aesthetic  sense  represented  by  their palaces and hevelis. The rich merchants engaged stone – craftsmen who worked with great  deligency on the sandstone mansions they built,filling up facades with sculptural  filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions  and  sand festivals  have placed Jaisalmer firmly on the world  tourism map. There are some fascinating  places to see  around Jaisalmer. The most interesting means of exploring the desert  around Jaisalmer is a camel safari.

 

Bikaner.
The fort ,500 years ago, offered Bikaners poplace safety from invaders,while the rulers designed some  beautiful  apartments within, which still echo that opulence.Nearby is Deshnoke where in a marble fronted temple .rates are offered sanctury as they are considered sacred.

 

Camel Safari
Most of the Thar  desert lies  in this  district and thus it is the ideal place for a camel safari

 

Udaipur
Udaipur is an enchanting city full of surprises, with lakes   in the midst of  sandy terrain  and green  forested hills . The city is replete with palaces straight  out of fairy  tales and rugged  fortresses  that  recount its  history .Founded  in 1599  by Maharana Udai Singh ,the city is situated  on the edge of three  lakes , its narrow streets lined  with shops  and  craftsmen’s  ateliers encouraged hours of window  shopping . Upmarket  hotels ,spectacular  palaces and  havelis are  there  to welcome  the endless stream of international  and domestic  tourists

 

Mount Abu
At 1,200 meters mount Abu us the highest point of the Aravalli range passing  through Rajasthan .The only hill resort of  rajasthan , it is built  around  a lake  and is surrounded   by  forested  hills. According  to legend , the twon derives its name  from  Arbuda, a serpent  who  descended  to the spot  to  resue Shiva’s  bull,Nandi .  Besides  having  all the features of a pleassnt hill  resort ,Mount Abu  is also  well known  for the famous

 

Dilwara Temples.
Boat Riding   on the Nakki Lake. Amusement  park with  various  rides and swings at sunset road.

 

Chittorgarh
Chittaurgarh ‘s legendary origins go back to the time of the redoubtable Pandav hero Bhim of the Mahabharata Historically , the site was a citadel  and the capital of Mewar, until  emperor Akbar  conquered it. Chittaurgarh commemorates  a race of Men and Women who were passionately  independent and  preferred  to die fighting  rather  than submit.Chittaurgarh is located  about 112km fro Udaipur  in a country strewn with rocky cliffs, monsoon  streams and pleasant  fields. Chittaurgarh Fort stands  on an about 180 meters high  hill which at the summits is 5 km long  north to south , but only 3/4km at its widest,east  to west.

 

Nagari  ( 20 km ) 

Sitauated on the banks of the river  Bairach,it was  known as Madhyamika, one of the  most important  towns of Rajasthan  in the  Mauryan  empire.Excavations  have  revealved strong  Hindu and  Buddhist  infuuences.

 

Bassi Village ( 25 Km )
A village  enroute to Bundi ,it  has   many  places of tourist  interest  such  a  historical  fort temples and  a kund.  Sculpture  and woodcraft of Bassi are  also  very famous. Bassi wildlife sanctuary. This  sanctury near Bassi wild 50 sq km. the prime  attrations here are Panthers , wild Boar, Antelopes,Mongoose and  Migratory  birds.For  entry  permission is to be obtained  from the Dist Officer, Chittaurgarh

 

Shekhawat
The history of this semi arid land took a significant turn in the fifteenth century when Rao Shekha wrested some lands from the Muslims nawabs of the Kaimkhani clan. When the advent of the British East India Company on the scene in early 19th Centuruy, old trades many of the traders shifted to the now upcoming centres of Bombay and Calcutta. With their immense business acumen the traders flourished even in the adopted land .Initially much of their wealth was sent to shekhawati where their families were still living. This wealth, as with most emigrants, translated into building beautiful mansion and community facilities. Local and foreign artists were engaged to decorate the buildings with colorful frescoes, in many cases so profusely as to cover every part, every corner of the structure ,both on the outside and inside .The paintings of Shekhawati were created over a span of many centuries and , therefore, do not conform to a particular subject or style .These, though depict contemporary life .Some are in the form of miniatures, others cover the entire extent of the wall with a single panel .Stories from the epics are a common and very popular subjects .Modern Shekhawati still retains part of its heritage. Many of the erstwhile forts and palaces have been converted into heritage hotels and give a tourist and experience of regal life.