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Built over a period of 400 years, the City Palace in Udaipur is situated by the banks of Lake Pichola. The building sees a perfect blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. It has been built with marble and granite and features balconies, towers and cupolas exhibit delicate mirror-work, marble-work, murals, wall paintings, silver-work, inlay-work and leftover of colored glass. Amar Vilas, Badi Mahal, Bhim Vilas, Chini Chitrashala, Choti Chitrashala, Dilkhusha Mahal, Durbar Hall, Fatehprakash Palace, Jagdish Mandir, Krishna Vilas, Laxmi Vilas, Manak Mahal, Mor Chowk, Sheesh Mahal, Rang Bhawan and the museum are the major parts of the City Palace.
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Jantar Mantar is a UNESCO World Heritage site built in 1738 CE. It is a collection of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments. Jantar Mantar has stonework, stone and brass instruments that were built using astronomy and instrument design principles of ancient Hindu Sanskrit texts and with data from Islamic astronomy during the Mughal Empire. It has three main classical celestial coordinate systems: the horizon-zenith local system, the equatorial system and the ecliptic system
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The Hawa Mahal was built in 1799 and has five storeys. The palace features 953 small windows called jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework. The stone-carved screens, small casements and arched roofs adorn this pretty building. It was constructed in pink and red colored stone. This building was built for women of the royal families to observe street festivities while remaining unseen from the outside.
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Jaigarh Fort is situated on the promontory called the Cheel ka Teela of the Aravalli range. It was built in 1762 and runs 3Kms long. The fort features cannon named "Jaivana" which at one time was the world’s largest canon on wheel. Inside the palace complex you will find Laxmi Vilas, Lalit Mandir, Vilas Mandir and Aram Mandir, an armoury and a museum. It is connected to the Amer Fort by subterranean passages and the both are considered as one complex.
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11Kms away from the city of Jaipur lies this architectural masterpiece. Amer Fort is a divided into four section with gates at each. It features large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths. The Fort lies near the Maota Lake. It has been constructed with red sand stone and marble. The Amer Palace includes Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, the Sheesh Mahal,Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas. The Palace was once the residence of Rajput rulers.
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Neemarana is an ancient town in Rajasthan and is mostly visited because of its impressive Neemaran Fort. Most part of the fort has now been converted into a heritage hotel and serves as an excellent weekend getaway place. The hotel offers stay in the historical rooms and provides for amazing experience. Zip lining is another popular activity practiced in Neemrana.
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The massive Mehrangarh Fort is one of the largest forts in India. Jai Pol, Fateh Pol, Dedh Kamgra Pol and Loha Pol are the famous gateways of the fort. The fort features some amazing palaces like Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Kahan and Daulat Khana. You will also spot a museum in the fort that displays the vast collection of palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles, miniatures, musical instruments, costumes and furniture.
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Jaisalmer Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 1156 AD by the Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal. It is about is 1,500 feet long and 750 feet wide and is built on a hill that rises above a height of 250 feet above the surrounding country side. The fort has four entrances. Raj Mahal, Laxminath Temple, Merchant Haveli along with the four massive gateways comprise the major attractions of the fort.
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Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park and was the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur. The walls of the fort are about 7 kilometers in length and include an area of nearly 4 square kilometers.
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Kumbhalgarh Fort is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills. The fort has seven fortified gateways. There are over 360 temples within the fort, 300 ancient Jain and the rest Hindu.
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Taragarh Fort is one of the most impressive monuments of Bundi. It was constructed in 1354. The fort has three gateways Lakshmi Pol, Phuta Darwaza and Gagudi ki Phatak. The fort was formerly famous for its tunnels crisscrossing the entire hillside.
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Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan state in India was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is the first planned city of India. The city was divided into nine blocks, out of which two consist the state buildings and palaces, whereas the remaining seven blocks were allotted to the public. Also known as the ‘pink city’, the city has a number of historical monuments. It is home to a number of beautiful forts and palaces. Some of the most important monuments of Jaipur are Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Gaitore, Jaigarh Fort, Jantar Mantar and Nahargarh Fort.
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Jaisalmer is the desert city of India. Often called the ‘Yellow City’, it is located in the state of Rajasthan. The endless desert and Jaisalmer Fort are its major attractions. The Jaisalmer Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other than these it is also well known for Kuldhara Village, Patwon ki Haveli, Tazia Tower and Gadisar Lake.
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Udaipur is also known as the ‘City of Lakes’. It is located in the middle of Pichola Lake in the former princely state of Mewar. It is a famous tourist destination and also attracts a number of couples. You will be left mesmerized once you look at the beauty of this serene city.
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Mount Abu is the only hill station in Rajasthan. It lies in the Aravali Range. Mount Abu is well known for its Dilwara Jain Temples. From here you get to see breathtaking sunset. For those who want a taste of both desert and hills, Mount Abu is a great destination. As Rajasthan is world famous for its handloom and handicraft industry, Mount Abu proves to be a great place for those in interested in some authentic Rajasthani goods. Nakki Lake, Achalgarh, Guru Shikhar, Peace Park and Adhar Devi Temple are some more things that you may like to visit while in Mount Abu.
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Pushkar is a very important pilgrimage site in Rajasthana that sees a large crowd of Hindu devotees every year. The temple here is one of the very few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma. Residing on the banks of Pushkar Lake, the temple has a mesmerizing scenic beauty that sets a wonderful landscape.
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Jodhpur is another important tourist place in Rajasthan. Often referred to as the ‘blue city’ because of the blue color of the buildings in this city, Jodhpur is home to a number of tourist attractions like the famous Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jaswant Thada, Mahamandir Temple, Ghanta Ghar and many more.
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Bikaner is a very important place in Rajasthan not only from tourist point of view but also from historical point of view. It houses some architectural splendors of the state like the Jungarh Fort, Laxmi Niwas Palace and Karni Mata Temple.
Nathdwara holds a lot of religious significance as this place is mostly known for its Shrinathji Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. Situated on the Aravalli Range, the town is also famous for its incredible Rajasthani paintings.
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Chittorgarh is an ancient city that tells you the tales of heroism and valor. The town was captured thrice and every time it was seized, the women of Chittorgarh performed Johar by jumping into the well. The Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India. Apart from thos, the Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh, Rana Kumbha’s Palace and Rani Padmini’s Palace are also important tourist attractions of this place.
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This beautiful town gives you a soothing welcome with its beautiful houses and buildings. The houses in this town are richly decorated with beautiful paintings and murals. Mandawa Fort, Dundlod Fort, The Roop Niwas Kothi Palace, Mukundgarh Fort, Narain Niwas Castle, Dera Danta Kila, Surajgarh Fort and many more such forts and havelis add to the beauty of this ancient town.
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Ranthanbore is located in Eastern Rajasthan and is nestled between the Aravali Hill ranges and the Vindhyan plateau. Spread over an area of area of 1,334 sq km, this national park is home to a number of Royal Bengal Tigers. It is also been named a Heritage Site due to the presence of ruins of the fort within the park.
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Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. It is spread over 800 sq km and features some important historical monuments within the vicinity of the park. It is a bird watchers paradise as one can spot Grey Partridge, white breasted Kingfisher, golden backed woodpecker and the Sand Grouse. You may also come across a few four-horned antelope, hyena rhesus macaque, leopard, languor and the jungle cat.
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Keoladeo Ghana National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary witnesses a large number of birds especially during winters. One can spot around 370 species of birds in the park. This is a man made park established around 250 years ago and provides shelter to some amazing and rare birds of India.
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Desert National Sanctuary is one of the largest national parks, covering an area of 3162 km². Sand dunes form around 20% of the Park. The blackbuck is a common antelope of this region. irds such as sandgrouse, partridges, bee-eaters, larks, and shrikes can be spotted here.
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Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is in the Rajsamand District of Rajasthan. It extends across the Aravalli Range, covering parts of Rajsamand, Udaipur, and Pali districts, ranging from 500 to 1,300 metres elevation. Wolf, leopards, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha, chinkara and hare are found in this sanctuary.
The Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary lies at a distance of 25 kilometres from Karauli district in Aravalli range in the border of Abyarn. It was formed in the year 1983 and it is one of India’s 21 tiger reserve in turn connected to Ranthambhor National Park.
The dense forest of Darrah Sanctuary is home to some amazing wildlife species like Wolf, Sloth Bear, Chinkara andLeopard. The best time to visit this sanctuary is between February and May.
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Karni Mata Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Karni Mata at Deshnoke, Bikaner. The temple is famous for the approximately 20,000 black rats that live, and are revered in, the temple. The temple was built in the early 20th century in the late Mughal style by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner.
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Ajmer Sharif or Dargah Sharif is the shrine of Sufi saint Moinuddun Chishti. The Nizam Gate and the Shahjahani Gate leads to the Buland Darwaza built by Sultan Mahmood Khilji. Upon the Buland Dawraza is the urs flag that marks the beginning of the death anniversary rituals.
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Ranakpur Temples are well known for their intricate and fine architecture. It was built in the 15th century by Seth Dharna Sah. There are several temples including Chaumukha temple, Parsavanath temple, Amba Mata Temple and Surya Temple in the Ranakpur Temple complex.
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The Dilwara Jain Temples were built by Vastupal-Tejpal between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The stunning marble architecture of these temples are spectacular. Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabha, Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Neminatha, Pithalhar, dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar, Rishabha, Parshvanath, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Parshvanatha and Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira are the five temples in the temple complex.
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Galtaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site and consists of several temples and sacred kunds. The temple is built in a mountain pass within the Aravalli Hills. It features a number of pavilions with rounded roofs, carved pillars, and painted walls. The setting of the temple premises has natural spring and the waterfalls that create two tiered pools. The Temple of Balaji, Diwan Kriparam and the Sun Temple are also found here.
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Govind Dev Ji Temple is located in the City Palace Complex. It is dedicated to Lord Krishna and the idol placed at the temple was brought from Vrindavan here by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II. ‘Aartis’ and ‘Bhog’ are offered seven times a day and it is during these time periods that devotees can visit the temple for darshan.
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Pushkar is a very important pilgrimage site in Rajasthana that sees a large crowd of Hindu devotees every year. The temple here is one of the very few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma. Residing on the banks of Pushkar Lake, the temple has a mesmerizing scenic beauty that sets a wonderful landscape.
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Pichola Lake is the most famous lake in Rajasthan and is an artificial fresh water lake. It was built in 1362 AD. There are four islands on the lake. The first one is the Jag Niwas that houses the Lake Palace, Jag MAndir with a palace of the same name, Mohan Mandir, from where the king would watch the celebrations of the annual Gangaur festival and lastly the Arsi Vilas that houses a small palace and has a wide range of birds, including tufted ducks, coots, egrets, terns, cormorants and kingfishers.
Sambhar Lake is the largest saline lake in India and is surrounded by Aravalli hills. On the shore of the lake lies a temple dedicated to Shakambhari Devi. The depth of the lake varies between 60 centimeters to 3 meters. The circumference of the lake is 96 kilometers.
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Doodh Talai Lake or Dudh Talai Lake, is a small pond located adjacent to the Lake Pichola, near Shiva Niwas Palace. The lake is surrounded by beautiful hillocks that create a scenic landscape. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park and Manikya Lal Verma Garden are located next to the lake.
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Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake constructed in 1680’s. The lake is pear-shaped and is surrounded by the Aravalli hills on three sides. The lake has three islands. One of them houses the Udaipur Solar Observatory, the other has the Nehru Park and the last one has Public Park with an impressive water-jet fountain.
Ramgarh Lake was an artificial lake situated near Jamwa Ramgarh. The lake is surrounded by dense forest that serves as home to wild animals like lions, chital, and neelgai. It was also declared a wildlife sanctuary by the Government of India in 1982. Ruins of an old fort and temple of Jambwa Mata are also present near the lake.
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