The How and Where of Rajasthan !
When most foreign tourists think of India, they think of Rajasthan, Delhi or Agra. This is the Subcontinent at its most iconic, from the Taj Mahal and the great Mughal mosques and mausoleums of Delhi and Agra to the fairy-tale landscapes of Rajasthan. Most visitors to the region arrive in Delhi, and pretty much everyone spends at least a few days staying at one of the numerous luxury budget hotels in Delhi, exploring this historic capital.
The most practicable way of getting to the region from abroad is by plane. You can fly direct to Delhi from London, New York, Los Angeles or Toronto, though you may find it cheaper to take an indirect flight, changing planes en route, and if you are starting from Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, you will need to do this in any case. Once comfortably settled at a Delhi hotel of your choice , you could spend weeks wandering the city’s countless monuments, museums and bazaars, including the soaring Qutab Minar, the Mughal era Red Fort (Lal Qila) and Jama Masjid and the grandiose imperial creations of the British.
Local transport may not be the fastest or the most comfortable in the world, but it’s cheap and covers most routes between Delhi, Agra and the cities of Rajasthan, with the option of train or bus, and at times even plane. Though internal flights are the quickest way to Delhi and Rajasthan , the train is worth considering , particularly the fast running Rajdhani and Shatabdi express services which run between Delhi and major cities nationwide including Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Bangalore, Trivandrum and Guwahati. Transport around town comes in even more permutations, ranging from bicycle rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and Ambassador taxis to Delhi’s spanking new metro system. Nearly every hotel in Delhi has a Travel Help Desk that will take care of all your travel and even tour requirements.
A large number of operators run package holidays to the region. Nearly every hotel at Delhi organizes the famous “Golden Triangle” tour for its guests. From Delhi it’s a short train journey south to Agra, with its fabulous Mughal monuments, including The Taj Mahal, and conveniently close to the remarkable abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri. West of Agra lies the bustling city of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan and the third point of the Golden Triangle, home to an intriguing collection of monuments and bazaars.
Specialist tours range from steam locomotives and textiles to religion and food. Some also offer wildlife tours or the luxury Palace on Wheels train journey . In addition, many companies will arrange tailor-made tours, and can help you plan your own itinerary.
Though it’s not possible to see everything that Rajasthan has to offer in a single trip , the following is a comprehensive list of places that MUST NOT be missed !
* Pushkar Camel Mela :- Held annually in November, the largest livestock market on earth sees over two hundred thousand Rajasthani camel herders converging on Pushkar to trade dromedaries.
*Jain temples at Ranakpur :- Tucked away in the hills north of Udaipur, this small temple complex provides a stunning example of the exquisitely detailed carving typical of Jain shrines throughout the region.
*Chittaurgarh Fort :- The quintessential Rajput fort, its magnificent collection of temples, palaces and monuments bearing witness to the city’s glorious, and often gruesome, history.
*Meherangarh Fort, Jodhpur :- The epitome of Rajput military might, its sheersided ramparts towering high above the labyrinthine, blue-painted streets of old Jodhpur.
*Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok :- The “rat temple” of Karni Mata, just outside Bikaner, is one of India’s weirder religious experiences, revered for its population of sacred rodents.
*Ranthambore National Park :- Rajasthan’s most popular national park is probably the easiest place on the planet to spot wild tigers – an unforgettable experience, despite the crowds.
*Shekhawati havelis :-North of Jaipur, the Shekhawati region is home to an extraordinary collection of crumbling havelis decorated with murals featuring everything from religious scenes to depictions of European society.
*Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur :- India’s most famous ornithological hotspot, its wetlands attracting vast flocks of migrant birds from across Asia and beyond – drought permitting.
*Pink City, Jaipur :- The original heart of old Jaipur, and still Rajasthan’s most vibrant commercial district, with streets full of imposing pink mansions, crammed with colourful bazaars.
*Udaipur :- The most romantic city in India, with a spectacular array of ornate palaces and havelis clustered around – or floating amidst – the peaceful waters of Lake Pichola.
*Jaisalmer :- Honeycoloured city marooned amidst the sands of the Thar Desert, its streets crammed full of extravagantly carved temples and havelis.
*Camel trekking in the Thar :- Climb aboard a camel and sally forth into the rolling sands of the Thar Desert
*Indian Railways offers The Palace on Wheels and Heritage on Wheels luxury train tours ,which have sumptuous ex-maharajas’ carriages updated into modern air-conditioned coaches – 3 or 7 day tours (weekly) which either start from Delhi through Jaipur and Jodhpur to Jaisalmer then turn south to Udaipur and return via Agra to delhi, or start from Jaipur to Bikaner and Shekhawati. Bookings are months in advance.
It is commonsense and practically convenient to utilize the Travel Help Desk services available in most hotels in Delhi to begin your excursion into Rajasthan.
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