Rajasthan is a northwesterly state of India. Rajasthan state is one of the most favoured tourist destinations in the international and domestic circuit. It is a premier tourist destination that attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture. Tourism occupies a prominent place in the state’s agenda as a crucial engine for income and employment. Public and private sectors jointly promote tourism in the state and have made productive efforts to exploit the vast potential existing in this sector in the state.
The mixture and brilliance of Rajasthan's architectural heritage can amaze a visitor. Majestic forts, intricately carved temples, magnificent havelis (mansions) and even step-wells make Rajasthan a paradise for an architecture buff. This desert state is a land of irony and extremes. The striking region is the home of the Rajput warrior clans who had ruled here for many years. The Rajputs who were prolific builders have scattered the Aravali landscape with their legacy of some most imposing and magnificent forts and palaces in the world. Today the structures defy time to tell the story of gallantry, courage and tragedy of the bygone era and its story of survival in the harsh Thar Desert. The Tropic of Cancer passes through its southern tip in the Banswara district.
Amazing legends of heroism and romance still resound from its equally amazing architecture which still stands to narrate its tale of a bygone era. The magic of Rajasthan is unequalled in the world for its heritage, culture, safaris, sand dunes and forests with its wildlife. Some of the places worth a visit in Rajasthan are: Jaipur, Ajmer -Pushkar, Bikaner, Bundi,Ghana bird Santuary, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Mount Abu, Ranthambore, Sariska, Shekhawati and Udaipur. The main religion of the state is Hinduism and the languages spoken here are: Hindi, Rajasthani and English.
Rajasthan is best known for its colourful and inspiring deserts, the luxurious Palace on Wheels journey, the splendid retreats in the royal palaces, the intricate handicrafts and the courageous history of the state. Rajasthan is often expressed as a huge open-air museum with relic so well preserved for the travelers and historians.
Rajasthan experiences extreme climatic conditions. While it is a year round destination, October to March is by far the most salubrious and the best time to visit Rajasthan. Summer is very hot and dry. Tourists visiting Rajasthan in summer should protect themselves from the sun by wearing loose comfortable cotton clothes, and using sunglasses and lots of sunscreen lotion. Remember to drink lots of water or fruit juice etc, to avoid dehydration. Winter days are sunny and pleasant while nights can be chilly. Some light warm clothing is required in the evenings and early in the morning. The warm and bright days of October to March are thus ideal for sightseeing and traveling to this state.
All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for 6 months. Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals. It is always advisable to make photocopies of important documents such as passport, visa and air tickets. They will be required in case the originals are lost.
The state of Rajasthan is comfortably accessible by all three modes of transport: air, rail and road route. Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur are connected by daily service of Air, Train and Bus and motorable super highway to major parts of the country.
By Air: Jaipur airport is Rajasthan's only international airport. There are other airports at Jodhpur and Udaipur while the one at Jaisalmer is only open from October to March. Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operate regular flights to Rajasthan from New Delhi and Mumbai. Most foreign tourists land either at New Delhi or Mumbai and then take a convenient connecting flight to any of the above-mentioned destinations of Rajasthan. The domestic airport at New Delhi and Mumbai are located near the international airport and flights to Rajasthan operate from domestic airports only. By Rail: Indian railway is the world's biggest railway service and Rajasthan is well connected by the Indian Railway network. Almost all the important towns and cities of Rajasthan are well connected with the four principal metropolitan cities of India - New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Special quota reservation for foreign tourist is also available on showing travel documents and money exchange receipts or ATM slips when paying in rupees. By Road: The state has excellent road connection with Delhi and the state highway links the destinations and important places by good metalled roads. Rajasthan has a good inter city surface transport system both in terms of railways and bus network. If one is covering the state as a tourist, the best way to do so is by road. The fact that each of the major cities is about 250-300kms from the next one, helps in planning the trip much better. The roads connecting these cities are also very well maintained barring a few patches where some maintenance work is being worked upon. Rajasthan has a wide network of bus services. The government run Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) along with a dedicated bunch of professional private bus operators provide efficient bus services within Rajasthan. From air-conditioned deluxe buses to the ordinary express buses, a wide range of buses link up the whole of Rajasthan.
Local Transport: The most common modes of local transport available in Rajasthan and India in general are taxis and auto-rickshaws. Taxis/cabs can easily be hired from most tourist destinations in Rajasthan. They range from utility to the luxurious with or without chauffeurs. Auto rickshaws & Cycle rickshaws: For short distance traveling, auto rickshaws are ideal. They are basically an extension of the scooter with a canvas roof and at a time can carry three passengers with enough space for luggage. Auto rickshaws ply on meter basis. Cycle rickshaws are manually driven three-wheelers and naturally much slower than the engine operated auto rickshaws. The cycle rickshaws are ideal for leisure sightseeing in and around the towns of Rajasthan. They are also environment friendly and non-polluting vehicles.
Tempos: These are rather awkward looking noisy vehicles, which are a little larger than auto rickshaws and ply on designated routes at fixed rates. Rates vary in proportion to the distance covered.
Tongas: Tongas are horse driven carriages and a great way to enjoy the old world charms of a bygone era. Although most people prefer motorized vehicles, the Tongas are still very popular with foreign tourists. Apart from offering enjoyable rides to foreigners, these Tongas mostly serve as vehicles for transportation of vegetables
Right from Deserts & Palaces to wildlife safaris,heritage hotels & towering forts to the amazing rich culture, there’s not a disappointing place for any tourist visiting Rajasthan.
Land of Princes, as Rajasthan is often called, offers many fine gastronomic delights both within the palaces and outside. The 'Khansamas' (the royal cooks) worked in the stately palaces and kept their most enigmatic recipes to themselves. Rajasthani cooking was inclined to the war-like lifestyle of the medieval Rajasthan and the availability of ingredients of the region. Scarcity of water, fresh green vegetables have had their effect on cooking. Food that could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was preferred, more out of necessity than choice. In the desert belt of Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner, cooks use a minimum of water and prefer instead to use more milk, buttermilk and clarified butter. A distinct feature of the cooking is the use of mango powder, a suitable substitute for tomatoes, scarce in the desert, and asafoetida, to enhance the taste in the absence of garlic and onions.
The nearby states to Rajasthan are: Gujrat to the southwest, on the west and northwest is Pakistan, on the north and northeast are the States of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh and on the east and southeast by the States of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Rajasthan has all that a tourist would ever dream of a tropical Indian holiday. It is certainly a Must visit state in the itinerary of the places to see in India.
