The Royal Rajasthani Tour
When you think of Royalty, where does your mind travel to? Amidst the Forts and Castles that were built in the olden times, the grandeur of the Kings and Queens, the silks and velvets, the princely ensemble, the regal delicacy, and the magnificent lifestyle, I’d rather say, Welcome to Rajasthan!
Let’s take you on a Royal Rajasthan tour, to the land of the Kings. You are in for a Royal Adventure with all the possible regal provinces. We will take you from the “Pink City- Jaipur” to the “Blue City- Jodhpur”, then towards the “Golden City- Jaisalmer and finally to the “City of the Lakes- Udaipur”
JAIPUR- The Pink City
The capital state Jaipur is the largest city of Rajasthan or the land of Kings. The famous pink city was founded in the eighteenth century by the ruler of Amer, Jai Singh II. Hence, the city gets its name from the ruler of the kingdom of Amer. In July 2019 Jaipur was inscribed the ‘Pink City of India’ by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Jaipur is also home to two heritage sites, Amber Fort and the Jantar Mantar. Jaipur has been known to be ruled by Rajput kingdoms for centuries. It is also part of the famous tourist circuit the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur). When paying a visit to the capital city, the ideal time to spend here would be for two days and one night.
PLACES TO VISIT
City Palace
Situated in the heart of Jaipur, the City Palace was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the Hindu Rajput ruler. The palace is famous for its Mughal and Rajput-inspired architecture. Its beauty is enhanced by the gardens, buildings and courtyards, temple and museum that take the royalness of the place a notch above. The Palace was also known to be the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
Hawa Mahal
The Hawa Mahal or ‘Palace Of The Winds’ is a red and pink sandstone Palace of Jaipur. It was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh of the Kachhwaha Rajput dynasty. The Hawa Mahal is a five-storey building that has 953 jharokhas(windows). The Mahal appears like a honeycomb giving tourists a peek into the stunning Rajasthani architecture.
Jal Mahal
The Jahal Mahal or the water palace is situated right in the centre of the Man Sagar Lake. It is a low-rise symmetrical palace that was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Madho Singh. The palace is a five-story monument in which only one story is above water, and the rest of the stories are submerged.
Patrika Gate
A concrete wall was built during the initial days of Jaipur. Seven gates were built in that wall. Sawai Man Singh decided to include another gate. Now, the Patrika Gate is the ninth gate of the city. It is a tall & pink-colored gate that speaks about the stunning and vibrant culture of Rajasthan. The Patrika gate is located on the Jawahar Circle of Jaipur.
Amer Fort
Located at 11 km from the Pink City, the Amer Fort is built on top of the Aravalli hills. the fort depicts the Mughal architecture that has been built from white marble and red sandstone. the Amer Fort or Amer Palace was the residence of the Rajput kings. the fort witnesses five thousand visitors a day.
Nahargarh Fort
The Nahargarh Fort with its neighbours Amber and Jaigarh Fort was built as part of the defence of the former capital Amer. The fort is located 6km away from Jaipur. It was initially used as a retreat spot for the royal women and was called Zenana. The fort is also famous for the Nahargarh Biological Park which is home to tigers, lions, and leopards.
Bapu Market
Bapu Bazar is the most famous shopping place for locals and visitors. You will find a variety of jewelry, textiles, and footwear to shop.
How to Reach?
Air: The nearest airport to Jaipur is the Jaipur Airport. The Airport is 12 km away from the city.
Train: Three railway station connects to the city. Jaipur Junction railway station, Gandhinagar railway station and Durgapura railway station. All three stations are well connected to all Indian cities. You can also experience the legendary Palace on Wheels that connects from Delhi to Jaipur.
Road: The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation and other private buses run regularly to Jaipur from various other cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, and Ajmer.
JODHPUR- The Blue City
The Blue city Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by the Rajput chief Rao Jodha. It was initially built as the new capital for the state of Marwar as a replacement of the earlier capital Mandore. Due to this, the people of Rajasthan are famously called the Marwaris. Jodhpur is the second largest city of the largest state of India. It has been divided into two parts, the old and new city. The old city is encircled by forts and has been enclosed by a large wall with eight gates, leading you out of it. Set on the shore of the Great Indian Desert, Jodhpur is celebrated for its palaces, temples, cuisines, fairs, festivals and forts. To explore this Sun City, a trip of three days and two nights is essential.
PLACES TO VISIT
Umaid Bhawan
Built to employ farmers facing a drought curse, the palace was built as a unique blend of Western and Indian architecture.
It has been awarded the Best Hotel in India by the coveted annual TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. In 1971, the owner of the Umaid Bhawan gave a part of the palace to Taj.
Mehrangarh Fort
Built over five hundred years ago, the Mehrangarh fort is one of the biggest forts of India. The tall red stand walls of feature intricate Rajasthani carvings. Two temples and a museum can be visited inside the fort. The museum inside the fort contains ancient artifacts of the Mughal dynasty and the royal families of Rajasthan.
Jaswant Thada
Jaswant Thada is a memorabilia built in 1899 by Sardar Singh, the Maharaja of Jodhpur. He built it in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. The place has been made entirely of white marble. It consists of paintings depicting the history of the rulers of Mewar.
Kaylana Lake
The Kaylana Lake is an artificial lake that was built in 1872 by Pratap Singh. Earlier this place had palaces and gardens but was destroyed to make Kaylana Lake. The lake spreads to over 84 square kilometers. It is famous for the Siberian Cranes that come here in the winter season.
Clock Tower Market
The Clock Tower or the Ghanta Ghar is an old market in Jodhpur. The market is famous for hand-embroidered clothes, jewelry, crafts, handicrafts, antiques, and cuisine.
Balsamand Lake
The Balsamand Lake was built as an artificial lake in the thirteenth century by Balak Rao Parihar. The lake was built 5km away from the city of Jodhpur to fulfil the water necessities to the town of Mandore. A couple of years later the Balsamand lake was built overlooking the lake.
Osian
Osain is an old town in Jodhpur. It is known as the ‘Khajuraho of Rajasthan’ due to the ancient Hindu and Jain temples that are found here. The Surya Temple, the Sachiya Mata Temple, and the Lord Mahavira Temple are some of the famous temples of Osian.
How to Reach?
Air: The Civil Airport in Jodhpur is 3 km away from the city. It is well connected to various other cities in the country.
Train: The Jodhpur Junction railway station in Jodhpur is well-connected to cities like Delhi, Ahmedabad, Banglore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.
Road: If traveling from Jaipur to Jodhpur, you can avail a bus. it will take six hours to reach Jodhpur. Many Government and private buses are available for the city.
JAISALMER- The Golden City
Jaisalmer lies in the heart of the Thar Desert hence, it is also called the Golden city. Jaisalmer was founded and established in the 12th century by Rawal Jaisal who was a YaduvanshiBhati Rajput ruler of Jaisalmer. The city is approximately 575 kilometers away from Pink city. Jaisalmer is a slice of royalty soaked in intricate and dainty architecture palaces sitting on a platter that transfer you back in time to experience how the royalties used to live and wander. The Golden city is extremely popular for its beauty and sacredness that lies hidden in its forts, temples, and palaces. Spend two nights and three days to completely gather the essence of the city.
Related Topic:- PLACES TO VISIT AROUND JAISALMER
PLACES TO VISIT
The city of Jaisalmer sitting in between the Great Indian Desert attracts people from all over the world to be part of the amazing safari rides. A stroll in the hot dunes or ridding the wobbly back of a camel, the experience is mesmerizing and will pull you back to experience more.
Camel Safari
Enjoy the Thar desert by hopping on the back of a camel. The camel safari takes you to remote areas of the desert as experiencing Thar by foot can be extremely difficult and excruciating. the ride makes you Witness the rare flora and fauna of the region. Enjoy the serene sunsets and the Rajasthani folk music and dance presented later in the evening.
The price of the safari ranges from 1500 rupees to 1850 rupees depending upon your preference.
Jeep Safari
If the bumpy camel ride is not your cup of tea then fret not, you can also opt for the swift jeep rides. The jeep safaris are extremely popular among tourists visiting Jaisalmer. The jeep takes you to various parts of the desert such as the Sam Sand Dunes, Padholi Sanctuary, and the Fossil Park. The dessert festival is organized in February and March every year.
Jaisalmer Fort
As golden as the sands of the Thar, the Jaisalmer Fort is famously called the Golden Fort of Rajasthan. the Jaisalmer Fort is a world heritage site that was built by Raja Jaisal, a Rajput ruler in the year 1156 AD. The largest and one of the few living forts in the world, the Jaisalmer fort resides one-fourth of the old city’s population.
Bada Bagh
The Bada Bagh or Barabagh was built in the sixteenth century by the son of Rawal Jait Singh III, Lunkaran Singh. The Bada Bagh contains approximately 104 royal family members graves. A chattri or an umbrella has been built on top of their graves as a symbol of honour.
Patwonki Haveli
The Patwonki Haveli is one of the first constructed Havelis of Jaisalmer. But, the most exciting thing about the Patwonki Haveli is that it is not a single haveli. The haveli contains five small Havelis. Built-in the 19th century, the five Havelis were constructed by Guman Chand Patwa for his five sons.
Thar Heritage Museum
The Thar Heritage Museum showcases the history and archaeology of the Golden City through its artifacts, photographs, paintings, clothes, and much more. Tourists can opt for a guide to take you through the importance and significance of the collection present in the museum.
How to Reach?
Air: The nearest airport to Jaisalmer is the Jodhpur airport. From the airport to Jaisalmer it is a four-hour thirty-minute journey.
Train: The Jaisalmer railway station is located in Jaisalmer. Visitors can also choose to travel through the ‘Palace on Wheels’ that passes through Jaisalmer in its journey.
Road: Bus services are available from Jodhpur and Jaipur to Jaisalmer. Several state transport and private buses connect major Rajasthan and Gujarat cities.
UDAIPUR- The City of Lakes
Udaipur was founded in the 16th century by Maharana Udai Singh II, the former Maharana of Mewar. The city is surrounded by five major lakes. The Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichola, the Swaroop Sagar Lake, Rangsagar and the Doodh Talai Lake. Hence, it is famously known as the ‘City of Lakes’. The city is considered as one of the most romantic destinations of the world for its stunning sunsets and landscapes. The other names given to the city include ‘Jewel of Mewar’ to ‘Venice of the East’ for its charm and grandeur. The last destination Udaipur should be explored in two nights and three days.
PLACES TO VISIT
City Palace
Built over four hundred years in the sixteenth century by Maharana Udai Mirza Singh. The palace consists of eleven palaces that are a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. it has been built on top of the Aravalli mountain range on top of which various prestigious monuments are visible.
Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola is an artificial freshwater lake that was built in the year 1362 AD by Rana Udai Singh II. The lake is situated in a picturesque location with mountains, monuments, palaces. Tourists should opt for boat rides that will make them witness the mesmerizing beauty of Udaipur.
Sajjan Garh Palace
The Sajjan Garh Palace or the Monsoon Palace is located on a hilltop that overlooks the Fateh Sagar Lake. It was built and named after Maharana Sajjan Singh of the Mewar Dynasty in the nineteenth century. The palace was featured in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.
Jaisamand Lake
The Jaisamand Lake or the Dhebar Lake is India’s second-largest artificial lake. It was created in the 17th century by Maharana Jai Singh while making a dam on the River Gomti. The lake comprises of seven islands.
Fateh Sagar Lake
The Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar. The lake comprises of three islands. The largest island is Nehru Park. Tourists have the option of waterboarding to visit the island.
Jag Mandir
The Jag Mandir is an ancient palace that has been built on an island. Hence, it is famously known as the ‘Lake Garden Palace’. The creation of the palace was seen over by three kings. Started in 1551, the completion of the construction of the place took place in 1652. The royal family used the palace as a summer resort.
How to Reach?
Air: The Nearest Maharana Pratap airport is 22 km away from Udaipur.
Train: The Udaipur railway station is well connected with all major cities of India.
Road: Regular buses run inside the state and can be boarded from other cities.