Mount Abu / Kota /
Bharatpur /
Ranthambhore (Sawaimadhopur) /
Sariska / Shekhavati /
Alwar / Bundi / Deogarh /
Khimsar
The only hill resort of rajasthan.
At 1200 metres, Mount Abu is 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 a
legend, the place derives its name from Arbuda, a serpent who descended
to the spot to rescue Shiva’s bull, Nandi. Besides having all the
features of a pleasant hill resort, Mount Abu is well known for the
famous Dilwara temples and many more archaeological remains. There are
interesting treks and picnic spots, the romantic royal retreats of the
various erstwhile families of bygone Rajputana and some relics of the
Raj period.
WHAT TO SEE : GURU SHIKHAR : 15 km, the highest peak in the Aravallis
(1922m). DILWARA JAIN TEMPLES : These were built between in the 11th and
the 13th centuries. Built in 1031 A.D., Vimal Vasahi is the oldest of
the temples and is in white marble. ACHALGARH : A well known shiva
temple, a Jain temple, a fort built by Kumbha and Manda kini kund
(pond), 11km away. ADHAR DEVI TEMPLE : A beautiful temple carved out of
a huge rock. A climb of 200 steps leads to the temple. NAKKI LAKE :
Nowhere else in India, except in the Himalayas, does a lake exist at
1200m above sea level. The lake is studded with little islands, boats
are available to enjoy boating in the lake. SHRI RAGHUNATHJI TEMPLE :
Situated near Nakki Lake, it is believed that the famous hindu preacher,
Shri Ramanand placed the image of Shri Raghunathji (Lord Ram) on this
site in the 14th century. GAUMUKH : The place is ascribed to the
legendry hermit Sage Vashistha, who is said to have created the 4
warrior Rajput clans out of a religious fire. SUNSET POINTS : There are
two points, one is the sunset point itself, the other is known as
Honeymoon point or Anadra point. The setting of the sun against the
hilly back drop presents a breathtaking view.
HOW TO GET THERE :
Road : Good network of bus services, Key connections are Ahmedabad 221
km, Jodhpur 326 km.
Air : Udaipur 185 km is nearest airport.
Rail : Abu Road is 29 km is the closest railhead linked with Ahmedabad,
Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur by train.
Industrial town of rajasthan.
Kota is a fascinating mixture of medieval grandeur and modern
industrialisation. An impressive fort stands like a sentinel over the
present day Chambal Valley Project with its many dams-Kota Barrage,
Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar. While an old palace,
dating back to the time when Kota was part of the Hada Rajput fiefdom
Harawati or Hadoti overlooks the Kota Barrage on the turbulent Chambal
river.
The Hada chieftain, Rao Deva, conquered the territory in the 14th
centtury and founded Bundi and Hadoti. Later, during the reign of Mughal
Emperor Jahangir, at thebeginning of the 17th century, Rao Ratan Singh,
the ruler of Bundi, gave his son, Madho Singh, the smaller principality
of Kota. In course of time Kota came to be regarded as a hallmark of
Rajput power and culture.
Durbar Hall has mirror work, ebony and Ivory inlaid doors, and contains
a wealth of Rajput miniatures of the Kota School. There are the royal
cenotaphs, a haveli (stately home) with delicate frescoes, the Brijraj
Bhawan Palace and an island palace-Jag Mandir-gracious remainders of a
bygone age.
WHAT TO SEE : CITY PALACE & FORT : On the banks of the Chambal close to
the Kota barrage is the fort and the city palace complex which also
houses the Rao Madho Singh Museum which has relics of the former rulers
of Kota. THE KOTA SCHOOL OF MINIATURE ART : Famous for its hunting
scenes is worth a look. JAGMANDIR : Is an isle in kishor sagar lake
built by one of the queens of Kota. Though not open to the public,
paddle boats can be hired to go around the island. GOVERNMENT MUSEUM :
Has a collection of stone idols, manuscripts and archaeological remains
found in the vicinity. GARDENS : There are beautiful gardens around Kota
along the Chambal river like the Chambal Gardens, which has a crocodile
sanctuary and the Chattar Bilas Gardens.
SHOPPING : The famous Kota-Doria sarees, a fabric with self-woven checks
is very popular. These hand woven sarees can be bought from any of the
shops in town. Or go to kethum, 35km away and see the weavers at work
before selecting a saree.
HOW TO GET THERE :
Road : Good network of road connection links with many important cities
in and outside the state. Some noteable distance are : Udaipur 270 km,
Bundi 40 km, Delhi 504 km, Ahmedabad 522 km
Air : Kota is connected by air. Jaipur 245 km is the other convenient
airport.
Rail : Lying on the Delhi – Mumbai route, Kota is well served by regular
superfast rail services.
The favourite bird retreat.
Located about 55 km by road from Agra on the Jaipur highway, the town of
Bharatpur is an eastern gateway to Rajasthan. The Bharatpur Palace
houses a large number of exhibits dating back to the early 15th century.
Bharatpur, however, is famous for its proximity to the Keoladeo Ghana
National Park which has the largest concentration and variety of
birdlife in Asia, This 29 sq Km sanctuary is also the breeding ground
for the rare Siberian Crane.
WHAT TO SEE : KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK : once the royal hunting
preserve of Bharatpur rulers, is now one of the best bird sanctuaries in
the world. The 400 species of birds which make this sanctuary their home
at various times of the year include migrants from Central Asia, Siberia
and China. Best season to visit is October to February.
HOW TO GET THERE :
Road : A network of bus services links Bharatpur with several cities
within and outside the State.
Air : Agra 56 Km is the nearest airport.
Rail : Regular train services connect Bharatpur with several cities on
Delhi – Mumbai trunk route, Jaipur and Agra.
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Gateway to the Tiger’s Den.
Earlier, the hunting preserve of the Maharajas of Jaipur, the Park at
Ranthambore was once the scene of royal hunting parties. Today, it is
famous for its tigers and is one of the best places in the country to
see these majestic predators in the wild. The tigers can be spotted
quite often even during the day, at their normal pursuits - hunting and
taking care of their young. With the strict measures that have been
taken for their conservation, they seem quite accustomed to human
activity and are not disturbed by it. A good time to visit is between
November and April when the nature of the dry deciduous forest makes
sightings common.
WHAT TO SEE : RANTHAMBHORE NATIONAL PARK : which is said to have the
India’s friendliest Tigers and also considered to be the best place in
the world to photograph the tiger in its natural habitat, also a
wonderful place for bird watching. RANTHMABHORE FORT : There are various
places of historical interest inside the Fort, the main attraction is
the temple of Lord Ganesha. MANSAROVAR LAKE : Where you will have a
beautiful view of the nature.
Rajasthan's second tiger reserve.
Sariska Tiger Reserve 27,380 hectares in area, is Rajasthan's second
tiger reserve that holds dry deciduous forest. Its dense forests spreads
over the Aravallis, making its terrain an ideal one for the tiger. The
park offers the visitors a unique opportunity to observe the behavioural
patterns of the animals residing here. The park offers good range of
wildlife including the Tiger. In the Jungle you will get the opportunity
to see some wild wonders,some of the famous species of deciduous plants
and wild animals and some of the rare species of birds, both native and
migratory. Great predators of Sariska's forests are leopards,
porcupines, chowsinghas, rhesus and langurs.
WHAT TO SEE : SARISKA TIGER RESERVE : Home for large number of species
of wild animals, birds and plants.
The Open air art gallery.
Shekhavati is the homeland of many Marwari families. The 'garden of
Shekha' was named after Rao Shekhaji of Amarsar (1433-88) who challenged
the Kachhawahas, refusing to pay tribute to the rulers at Amber) though
many of the paintings for which the region is famous date from the
mid-19th century. Shekhavati remained independent from 1471 to 1738. The
Rajputs lavishly decorated their houses with paintings on religious,
folk and historical themes.The lawless bandit area in the early 19th
century was brought under control and the Marwari merchants migrated to
other parts of the country to seek their fortune when burdened with
taxes and tolls by the British East India Company. Rajput power waned,
but the merchants who flourished returned their wealth to their homeland
and took over as patrons of the artists.
The magnificent painted havelis in present-day Sikar and Jhunjhunun
districts forming an "open-air art gallery" are open to visitors. They
are often occupied by family members or retainers; who will happily
welcome your visit.
WHAT TO SEE : HAVELIS : Beautiful fresco painted havelis offer a
fascinating insight into the skill and creative imagination of the
artists who worked on the walls, covering lintels, ceilings, walls,
niches abd every conceivable corner with paintings. Apart from the
havelis even temples, fortified residences, chattris (memorials) were
embellished with paintings. Themes of the paintings were generally
sought from legends, religious epics, historical events, everyday life,
floral inventions and western influences.
HOW TO REACH :
Road : From Jaipur take the National Highway II Northwest to Riagas (63
km) and Sikar (48 km).
The tiger gate of rajasthan.
150 km from Jaipur and 170 km from Delhi, Alwar is nestled between a
cluster of small hills of the Aravalli range. Perched on the most
prominent of these hills is a massive ancient fort that whispers tales
of the rich history of the city.
Once an ancient Rajput state, formerly known as Mewat, Alwar was nearest
to the imperial Delhi. The people of the state did not accept any
external interferences and daringly resisted against foreign invasions.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, they formed a group and raided Delhi.
But finally Sultan Balkan (1267A.D -1287 A.D.) suppressed them, bringing
the area under the Muslim rule.
In 1771 A.D., Maharaja Pratap Singh, a Kuchhwaha Rajput belonging to the
clan of Jaipur's rulers, won back Alwar and founded a principality of
his own.
Apart from its long history, the city has a rich natural heritage with
some beautiful lakes and picturesque valleys thickly wooded in parts.
Some of the finest variety of birds and animals are spotted here. Alwar
has one of the finest Wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan, which is an
excellent tiger country.
WHAT TO SEE : THE FORT : This huge fort with its ramparts stretching 5
km from north tosouth and 1.6 km from east to west, stands 304 metres
above the city and 595 metres above the sea level, constructed before
the rise of the Mughal empire . Babar had spent a night at this fort and
took away the hidden treasures to gift to his son,Humayun. Akbar's son,
Jahangir had also stayed here for some time during his exile. The place
where he stayed is called Salim Mahal, The fort was finally annexed by
Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1775A.D. It is a forbidding structure with 15
large and 51 small towers and 446 openings formusketry, alongwith 8 huge
towers encompassing it, The fort has several gates - Jai Pol, SurajPol,
Laxman Pol, Chand Pol, Kishan Pol and Andheri Gate, Also there are
remains of Jai Mahal, Nikumbh Mahal, SalimSagar, Suraj Kund and many
temples.
CITY PALACE OR VINAY VITAS MAHAL : An 18th century palace harmoniously
blending the Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. While the ground
floor shave been converted into government offices and district courts,
the upper apartment ispresently a museum. GOVERNMENT MUSEUM : The museum
has the finest collection of Mughal and Rajput paintings dating back to
the 18th and 19th centuries and some rare ancient manuscripts in
Persian, Arabic, Urdu an Sanskrit. 'Gulistan' (the garden of
roses)'Waqiat-i-Babri' (autobiography of the Mughal Emperor Babar) and 'Bostan'
(the garden of spring)are some of the notable ones amongst the
collection. It also has a copy of the great epic 'Mahabharatha' painted
by the artistsof the Alwar school. A rich collection of the Indian
armoury. are among other exhibits of the museum. PUR JAN VIHAR (COMPANY
GARDEN) : A picturesque garden, laid out during the reign of Maharaja
Shiv Dan Singh in 1868 A.D. The garden has an enchanting setting called
'Shimla ' which was built by Maharaja Mangal Singh in 1885 A.D. The lush
surroundings and the cool shades make it the idyllic visiting spot
during summers.
HOW TO GET THERE::
By Air : Delhi 163 km is the nearest airport.
By Rail : Good connection from prominent locations in and around the
state.Some important train connections are : Shatabdi Express (New
Delhi-Alwar-Ajmer); Superfast Express (New Delhi-Alwar-Ajmer); Intercity
Express (Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Alwar-Jaipur);Marudhar Express (Varanasi-Alwar-Jodhpur);
Mandore Express (Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Alwar -Jodhpur).
By Road : Well connected with key destination in and not far off
Rajasthan and Delhi.
The undiscovered splendour.
Bundi and Kota were once a single principality ruled by the Hada
Chauhans, an offshoot of the famous clan of Chauhans who ruled Delhi and
Ajmer. After the defeat of Prithvi Raj Chauhan by Sultan Mohammed Gori
in 1193, the Chauhan nobles sought sanctuary in Mewar. They were
welcomed and proved allies to the Rana.
Yet some young warriors ventured on their own, overpowered the Meena and
Bhil, tribals of the Chambal valley and established the kingdom of
Hadavati or Hadoti. Later two branches of the Hadas formed two separate
states on either side of the Chambal. These were Kota and Bundi.
WHAT TO SEE : TARAGARH (STAR FORT) : was built in 1354 and is reached by
a steep road leading up the hillside. There are massive battlements and
reservoirs in the fort. The commanding position gives captivating views
of the town below and the surrounding countryside. BAORIS (STEPWELLS) :
especially the Nagar sagar kund and the Rani-ji-ki baori are worth
visiting.
HOW TO GET THERE :
Road : Good road connections link Bundi with important places around.
Air : Jaipur 206 Km is the nearest airport.
Rail : Kota 36 km is the convenient railhead.
The fort of the God’s.
Just 123 km from Jhansi, Deogarh lying in the present district of
Lalitpur, is of great antiquarian, epigraphical and archaeological
importance andhas figured in the history of the Guptas, the Gurjara -
Pratiharas, the Gondas, the Muslim rulers of Delhi, of Kalpi, the
Marathas and the British.
Deogarh is situated on the right bank of the Betwa, at the western end
of the Lalitpur range of hills. The cliffs immediately overhanging the
bank rise to a height of 300 feet and form along steep ridge of red
sandstone. The river takes a deep curve to the west at this juncture and
passes through the extremely picturesque country side. The water of the
river is deep green here and a small island clad in rich verdure,
located in the middle of the river, lends an added charm to the site.
WHAT TO SEE : DASHAVATAR TEMPLE : The fine Vishnu temple at Deogarh
belonging to the Gupta period, popularly known as the Dashavatar Temple
is the earliest known Panchayatan temple of north India. The terraced
basement above the high temple plinth is adorned with a continuous row
of sculptured panels. A highly carved doorway with Ganga -Yamuna figures
lead to the sanctum or garbhagriha. Three bigrathika panels set in the
side wall shave Vaishnava mythological scenes carved in high relief -
the Gajendramoksha panel, Nara-Narayan tapasyaand the Anantshayi Vishnu.
TheDashavatar Temple at Deogarh isnoted for being the first northern
Indian temple with a shikhara or spire. Only the lower part of the
shikhara remains today.
MANASTAMBHA-JAIN TEMPLE JAIN SHRINES : The group of 31 Jain temples,
though of a later date, are no less remarkable. The site was a Jain
centre from the post-Gupta times upto the 17th century. Panels depicting
scenes from Jain mythology,Tirthankara images, a Manastambha(votive
pillar), Ayagpatta (votive tablet) Sarvato bhadra pratima (Jaina images
visible from all sides) and Sahastrakuta (pillar carved with a thousand
Jaina figures) are found here.
HOW TO GET THERE :
By Air - Nearest airport is Gwalior - 235 km.
By Rail - Nearest railway station is Lalitpur - 33 km.
By Road - Deogarh is connected with regular bus services from Lalitpur
and other parts of the state.
An oasis of peace..
Perched on the edge of the Great Thar Desert in the heart of virgin
India lies a unique 16th Century fort. Rao Karamsi-the eighth prince of
Rao Jodha-the founding Maharaja of Jodhpur-successfully launched the
royal dynasty at Khimsar. Currently, the 18th, 19th and 20th generations
of the royal lineage still reside in this historic fort.
This fort architecture offers great heterogeneity. Originally, the fort
walls, turrets and stables were built solely for war, and were
constructed around the beginning of the 16th Century. Subsequently, by
mid 18th century, the royal family moved in, and a new 'zenana' or
ladies' residence was erected with finely carved windows in stone that
provided 'purdah' or veil for ladies in waiting. Thankur Onkar Singh,
the present chief and the 17th direct desendant of Rao Karamsi built
himself a regal additional wing in the 1940's. Today, this fort ranks
amongst the premier classified Heritage Hotels of India.
WHAT TO SEE : KHIMSAR FORT : Beautiful fort which is now converted in a
heritage hotel.
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