Rajasthan Tourism

Jaipur
        Jaipur was the erstwhile capital of the princely state by the same name.  The city is famous for its forward-looking urban planning, as well as the many palaces in the city which make it one of the premier architectural sites in India.  Nowadays, Jaipur is one of the largest cities in India and is the state capital, and is called the "Pink City" for the red and pink sandstone used in many of its buildings.
        
Hawa Mahal
           

            
     Designed so to resemble Krishna's crown, the Hawa Mahal, translated as "Palace of Winds" was home to the royal harem.  From here, they could observe the city streets and people while remaining unseen.  Built entirely of pink sandstone, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in India.
        
Jal Mahal
       The Jal Mahal is in the middle of the seasonal Mansagar lake.  During the summer the lake frequently dries up, but when monsoon season arrives it often fills with water, with many lilies and hyacinths dotting its gentle waters.  The palace itself is just as beautiful, with wide flowery courtyards and intricate frescoes.
        
Rambagh Palace
        Now a Taj Palace Hotel, the Rambagh Palace was the former home of the Maharaja of Jaipur.  It is famous for its vast gardens and beautiful architecture.  In the 1950's, it became a hotel when the Rajas decided the upkeep was too much, and now it is a 5 star hotel, among the best in the world.
        
Janta Mantar
         This former observatory was commissioned by the Maharaja of Jaipur hundreds of years ago.  It is one of five throughout India, the others in Delhi,Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura, and it is a major landmark in the history of science.  They are particularly noteworthy for the era they were built in, one of war and discord across the subcontinent.
        
Amber Fort
           

        
     Just outside Jaipur is the Amber fort, former seat of government in the area before Jaipur became the capital.  It is renowned throughout India as a famous blending of Hindu and Mughal styles.  More a museum than a palace, Amber Fort is well known for the brightness of its halls, a consequence of the millions of tiny mirrors scattered throughout its insides.
        
Albert Hall
      

            
     Site of a popular museum in the city, Albert Hall is set in the midst of the gorgeous Ramnivas Gardens.  Built as a treasure house, it is an icon of the city and a splendid example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.  Within its walls are ages of paintings from the surrounding princely states, as well as the jewelry collections of the Maharajas, some of the most ornate in the world.  The main display is, of course, dedicated to Rajasthani dance and music, and is the best place in the state to experience these forms.
      
Nahargarh Fort
     From the ramparts of Nahrgarh fort are some of the best views of the city of Jaipur and its surroundings. The fort is built on top of one of the largest hills in the city, and has a dazzling display of frescoes.  The fort was also where Europeans fled to get away from the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and thus is a historical as well as artistic draw.
    
Jodhpur
       

        
     If Jaipur is the "Pink City", Jodhpur is the blue, as many of its buildings are painted the color.  Set in the heart of the Thar Desert, an inhospitable wasteland, Jodhpur became a center of trade because of the caravan routes crossing the desert.  It is a major tourist attraction because of the massive palaces and forts in the city, as well as being a place to explore the surrounding desert, a unique and beautiful ecosystem, if wanted
        
Umaid Bhawan Palace
        Among the largest palace in the world, many of the 347 rooms of the Umaid Bhawan Palace are still inhabited by the Maharajas of Jodphur.  Part of the palace is also a

Taj Palace Hotel
     One of the best chains in India and a 5 star resort.  The palace can be seen from virtually anywhere in the city because of its large towers and dome.  Surrounding the palace are exquisite gardens.
        
Mehrangarh Fort
           

     Mehrangarh, a medieval fort overlooking the old town of Jodhpur, is on top of Bhaurcheeria, the "hill of birds."  The fort is military and artistic wonder.  It is home to a awe-inspiring palace, which notable for its intricate marble and mirror rooms.  A rather sordid story is associated with the fort: when it was being finished, the builder, Rao Jodha, sought out someone to be buried alive in the fort for good fortune.  One Rajiya Bhambi chose to do it, and by doing so, his family has continued to be provided for in the nearby Raj Bagh, an estate that has been passed down through generations.
        
Osiyan Temple
          

            
     A short trip from Jodhpur, the city of Osia is a small oasis in the desert famous for its temple, which is an important pilgrimage site for Jains.  It is a tourist attraction as well, as the painstaking carvings in the white and red sandstone of the site are sure to impress.
    
Bikaner
        Called the Green City for its environmentally friendly policies, Bikaner is in the Thar Desert and has very little rainfall as a consequence.  Historically, it grew wealthy from trade and mining, and it has some of the most spectacular palaces and temples in the country.  Bikaner is also known throughout India for a special kind of snack called Bhujia.
        
Junagarh Fort
           

            One of the only fortresses in Rajasthan not capping a hill, the Junagarh fort was the former residence of the Bikaneri Maharajas.  The fort-palace, built in the 1500's during the Mughal era, is an impressive and domineering edifice famous for the warren of waterways intersecting its courtyards.
        
Laxmi Niwas Palace
            Former home of the Maharaja of Bikaner, the Laxmi Niwas Palace is an impressive monument in the heart of Bikaner.  Considered one of the finest examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture in India, the palace is in perfect harmony with the surrounding gardens.  There is a hotel on the premises, which at one point housed the visiting King and Queen of Great Britain.        
    
Ranakpur
       

        Ranakpur is a small village famous for its massive Jain temple.  The temple, dedicated to Adinatha, is a massive structure built of colored marble, and has many domes and cupolas coming out of its roof.  Of particular note is the central carving, a large chunk of marble, with 108 snakes carved into it.  Recently, it has been considered as a potential nominee for a new Wonder of the World.
    
Udaipur
        Udaipur was the capital of the famously independent Rajput kingdom of Mewar.  The kings of this city resisted both the Mughals and the British and were among the most ferocious opponents of both, although they eventually acceded to both.  The city is famous throughout India for its palaces, many of which are built in the middle of lakes.
        
Udaipur Palace
           

            
     The labyrinthine Udaipur Palace is built on top of a hill overlooking the beautiful Lake Pichola.  Actually a complex of buildings constructed over hundreds of years, Udaipur Palace has many historic and mythical sites, such as the Krishna villa, where it is said a princess committed suicide to prevent two loves from fighting each other.  There is a hotel occupying some of the palace, and it is one of the most popular sites in the city.
        
Lake Palace
            Arguably the most gorgeous palace in India, the Lake Palace is in the middle of Lake Pichola, its white walls reflecting magnificently off the gentle waters.  The Maharaja of Udaipur as on good terms with the Mughal Emperor, and such many of his architects were permitted to study the buildings at Agra such as the Taj Mahal.  The influence is unmistakable, and the palace, built in the 18th century and recently renovated by its new owners the Taj Hotel Resorts and Palaces, is now an immaculate 5 star hotel .            
    
Mount Abu
       Part nature reserve, part ancient Jain temple complex, Mount Abu and its environs are a tourist's dream.  The Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary, home to leopards, deer, jackals, boar, mongoose, porcupine, and countless bird species, is a idyllic retreat from the heat of the sweltering deserts of Rajasthan.  The Dilwara Temples, made of white marble, are also close, and the thousand year old Jain masterpieces are a popular tourist magnet.
    
Kalibangan
      

        A very ancient city of the Harappan Indus Valley Civilization, Kalibangan is still under excavation.  It is possible the first place on earth where the plough was used, as excavations have revealed a field with tell-tale signs of its use.  Also of interest are the fire altars here, whose purpose is still unknown.  Many believe they are among the earliest instances of worship of the god Agni, a fire god still worshipped by many Hindus.
    
Chittorgarh
      

        Chittorgarh is famous for its fort, in particular the Victory Tower, built to commemorate the triumph of the Mewars of Malwa and Gujarat.  Constructed in 1442, the tower is in almost perfect condition and was one of the most remarkable buildings of its time.  Also within the complex are many temples, as well as the fort's massive ramparts and gates.
    
Kumbhalgarh
       

        A geographical oddity, the Kumbhalgarh is the world's second largest network of walls, only placing behind the Great Wall of China.  The walls were built as a barrier between Mewar and Marwar.  The fort protects over 360 temples as well, making it a great place to wander around and explore.

Rajasthan History and Culture
    
    The area now known as Rajasthan has been inhabited since prehistoric times.  The first towns in the area were built by the Indus Valley Civilization and date to some 4,000 years ago.  After the collapse of the Indus Valley cities and the return to subsistence agriculture, the history of the region remained unknown until the arrival of the Aryans thousands of years later.  These were the first of the many invaders to settle in the region, and their introduction of Hinduism would come come to define the area, especially in its opposition to future invaders.  
    The Rajputs, the warrior caste of uncertain origin ubiquitous to the area, were the result of countless invasions by the Afghans, Arabs, Persians, Turks and Mongols, and their heritage as the descendants of many martial peoples made them fierce warriors.  The Rajputs successfully fended of Muslims for hundreds of years, though eventually capitulated to the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals during those empires respective peaks.  The Mughals, in particular, allied with many of the Rajput princes and the relationship between the Hindu rulers of Rajasthan and the Mughals proved to be very fruitful for both.
    The Rajputs alone among the great military families of India have survived to the modern era.  The Mughals collapsed during the British era, and the Marathas did not thrive either.  The Nizams of Hyderabad ended their rule after India annexed the city.  But the Rajputs survived the British era as princely state and willfully joined the Indian Union, and even today, though they no longer rule, they are widely respected by the denizens of Rajasthan.
    Rajasthan is divided between the Thar Desert in the west and the Aravalli mountains in the east, and the combination of desert and mountain accounts for much of the success of its military rulers.  Indeed, many of its famous fortresses are built on the hilltops of the Aravalli range, which is, after thousands of years, a warren of forts, walls, and temples.
    Most people in the state speak Rajasthani, although Hindi is widely understood and Sindhi and Punjabi are spoken in pockets of the state  The vast majority of Rajasthanis are Hindu, although sizable minorities of Muslims, Sikhs and Jains live in its borders.  The state has one of the most sophisticated cultures in the world, with its dance and music being internationally acclaimed.
    For the tourist, Rajasthan is among the most appealing destinations in India as its long and turbulent past has endowed it was some of the most amazing sites in the nation.  Its many temples, fortresses and still intact old cities are the biggest draws, and anyone visiting northern India should take the time to come out to Rajasthan.