Rajasthan, as the name means in Hindi, is the land of kings. It is the largest state in India. The many forts and palaces here speaks of its glorious past, of the brave and heroic deeds of its kings. It is also the land of some great businessmen and traders, and also of detailed and colourful art and architecture visible in its temples and palaces. More than half the state is occupied by the inhospitable Thar desert which also houses the beautiful desert cities of Jodhpur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer. Dividing the state into two parts are the ancient hills of Aravalis, with Mt. Abu its highest peak and hill station. On the more fertile and greener side of Rajasthan are the city of lakes, Udaipur, and the pink city and state capital, Jaipur. Forests and tiger reserves of Ranthambore and Sariska, the wetland and bird santuary of Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur also fall in the eastern side of the state. Ruins of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and Vedic Civilization can be seen in some parts of Rajasthan. This land has fought many valliant battles against foreign invassion in history. Previously known as Rajputana, the numerous forts and palaces of Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and many more tells stories of some great Rajput kings and queens who once lived here.
Overall the roads of this trip is not difficult but they can be hot and long and in some places unmetalled. The day temperatures can be hot and the night temperatures freezing specially in the desert region in winter. Remember to collect some beautiful mementos of rajasthan during the tour.
The itinerary lists the places we will be covering during the trip. Where we stay and how much we travel in a day is just indicative and is subject to change depending on weather condition.
Neemrana is situated on the Golden Triangle of India, between Delhi and Jaipur, and is an ancient
historical town of Rajasthan's Alwar district. It is now an industrial hub, is also known as the
mini-Japan in India beacause of the Japanese Industrial Estate here. Till 1947, the 16th century
hill fort of Neemrana was home to the ruling family of Chauhans, descendants of the Rajput prince
Prithviraj Chauhan. A little distance away in Kesroli, there are fort, Buddhist Vihara, statue etc.
which are the oldest heritage sites dating to Mahabharata times.
You will receive a warm welcome on arrival. Check in to hotel. Meet the team.
Local sightseeing. Overnight stay in hotel.
Mandawa is said to have been founded as a small village by Mandu Jat, which later grew into a town under the rule of the Shekhawati Rajputs. This place is famous for its ornated fort and beautifully painted and colurful havelis(big houses). In fact one can find these lavishly painted havelis in the whole Shekhawati region around Mandawa, because of which it is also called the 'open art gallery' of Rajasthan.
Bikaner is a city in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan in northern India. Prior to the mid 15th century, the region that is now Bikaner was a barren wilderness called Jangladesh. Rao Bika established the city of Bikaner in 1488. Bikaner is situated in the middle of the Thar desert and has a hot semi-arid climate with very little rainfall and extreme temperatures. In summer temperatures can exceed 45℃, and during the winter they may dip below freezing.
Pokhran is a remote location in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan and falls in the Thar Desert region. It is surrounded by rocks, sand and five salt ranges. Its name Pokhran means 'place of five mirages' in local language.
Jaisalmer, nicknamed 'The Golden city', is a city in the western side of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Once known as Jaisalmer state it is a World Heritage Site. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert. Jaisalmer is named after Maharawal Jaisal Singh, a Rajput king who founded the city in 1156 AD. Jaisalmer, being an arid desert region, is prone to extremes in terms of temperature.
Barmer, the main city of the Barmer district of Rajasthan, was founded by Bahada Rao (Bar Rao) of Parmar rulers. The remains of the Juna fort built in the 16th century lies only a short distance from Barmer. Located in the Thar Desert or The Great Indian Desert, this district is famous for not only its numerous historical monuments, forts and temples, but also for its folk music, dance and art like carved wooden item, painted pottery, embroidery and block printing. The Luni river flows through this district before merging into the marshland of Rann of Kutch. Historically it falls on the camel trade route and is still popular for the many fairs and festivals held here.
Jodhpur is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts and temples, set in the stark landscape of the Thar Desert. The city is known as the 'Sun City' for the bright and sunny weather it enjoys all the year round. The old city circles the fort and is bounded by a wall with several gates. However, the city has expanded greatly outside the wall over the past several decades.
Pushkar is one of the oldest town in India. It is 14 km away from the Ajmer city in Ajmer district of Rajasthan and is a sacred pilgrimage site for the Hindus. The heart of the town is the Pushkar lake surrounded by many temples and beautiful scenery. The lake has 52 ghats where pilgrims can take bath in the lake's sacred water. The Brahma temple and the Savitri temple are the most famous here. The annual Pushkar camel fair held for seven days in Oct-Nov is also very famous. The town is situated on the slopes of the Aravalli's ranges, the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The area is surrounded by sandy fields with small dunes, beautiful hills with enticing sunrise and sunset, small villages amidst flowing crop fields, all adding to the aura of the town. Nearby city of Ajmer is also a popular tourist destination and Kishangarh, 27 km from Ajmer, is known for its miniature paintings called Bani Thani.
Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of Rajasthan. It is also known as the Pink City, because lots of historic buildings that are constructed with pink sandstone. Visitor attractions include the Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Galtaji, Govind Dev Ji Temple, Garh Ganesh Temple etc. There are statues depicting Rajasthani culture around the city. Jaipur has many traditional shops selling antiques and handicrafts. Overnight stay in hotel.
Kotputli is a city in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. It is a very old historical place. It is
believed to be part of the Matsya kingdom during the period of Mahabharta. This place has many
temples and nearby ancient palaces to visit.
End of trip. Local shopping and you go back with loads of memories.
