David Riley - Discover Rajasthan Box Set

Discover Rajasthan Box Set

By David Riley

Text copyright 2016 David Riley

All Rights Reserved

India has a vast variety of travel options, ranging in all kinds of natural as well as man-made wonders. From arid deserts of Rajasthan to the snowy mountains of the Himalayas ; from the ancient Hindu rock-cut temples, to the Mughal Forts, and modern day skyscrapers of the Indian metropolises. One can find it all in one country.

Travelling in Rajasthan forms a unique experience in that respect, not to be found anywhere else in the country (or in the world.) The major attractions in the Indian state of Rajasthan include the vast Thar Desert as well as the Aravalli mountain ranges amongst the various forts, temples and palaces built in Rajput style f architecture.

The state of Rajasthan has a lot of places to offer different combinations of its heritage and its image, the most famous of them being explored around in this box-set series. (Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur )

Other places to visit in Rajasthan include Mount Abu, Ranthambore National Park, Ajmer, Pushkar, Bikaner, Alwar, Keoladeo National Park, Kota, Barmer, Bharatpur, Chittorgarh , etc. with each one of them offering further insights into the vast and rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. So pack your bags and explore each of them for your own.

A tourist city in every respect, Jaipur also forms the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan . Historically, the city was built in the 18th Century by Sawai Jai Singh, and today finds its place as a part of the touristic Golden Triangle of India (Agra, Delhi and Jaipur .)

It houses several attractions to visit, as well as forms a stepping stone for tourists visiting the desert-cities of Jodhpur and Jaisalmer , as well as Udaipur . (All three of them being fantastic tourist destinations in the Indian state of Rajasthan)

Today Jaipur is one of the fastest developing Indian cities, whilst maintaining its historical past and its cultural heritage; a modern metropolis as well as a touristic centre . It offers a unique experience in the midst of the Thar Desert, to any visitor coming to have a memorable time in Jaipur. From the chaotic and busy streets, to the relatively calmer historical evidences; Jaipur has a lot to offer, and this part of the book makes an attempt to capture it all in the form of 50 thing to do in Jaipur.

So, here goes the list.

1. Visit the Amer Fort

The fort is perched atop a hill, about 11km from the main city of Jaipur. It is a must visit site, known for its artistic Hindu site elements; and not to forget its prefect picturesque location, overlooking the Maota lake . Images of the fort below.

The fort complex is divided into four courtyards, with each offering its own unique experiences. The first courtyard houses the Sila Devi temple . The second courtyard has the Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience.) The third courtyard has the private quarters of the king, amongst other structures and landscaped garden. The fourth courtyard is surrounded by the building complex where the Zenana (royal family women) lived.

Also try: Walking on the Fortification Walls in and around the palace. It feels like Indias very own Great Wall of China-like experience.

It is the most famous structure in the Amer Fort complex. The Sheesh Mahal is laden with mirror mosaics and coloured glasses, and forms a brilliant jewel box , in almost any kind of light. Image below.

Located inside the Amer Fort, it is a small but elegantly decorated temple. It is dedicated to Sila Devi who is an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Kali or Durga .

A garden landscaped in royal style, sitting along the lake and giving a brilliant view of the entire fort.

It is the oldest amongst the historical buildings in Jaipur, and sits on the Aravalli ranges, just 1km away from the Amer Fort . This place becomes a wonderful one if you get to visit it during rains. Historically it formed the army base for the king, housing a canon factory as well as worlds largest cannon, which goes by the name of Jaiwaan Cannon .

The fort sits at the highest point of the mountain, and gives a panoramic view of the city from the top. Image of the fort (from inside) below.

As I talked about earlier, the Fortification wall atop the hill, which forms a part of the Jaigarh Fort as well as the Amer Fort ; and its strong resemblance to the Great Wall of China. Image of the Jaipur fortification below.

It is a marvellous monument complex which houses a collection of 19 architectural astronomical instruments . It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and houses the worlds biggest sundial. (Also, it forms the cover image of this book, hence a must visit !)

Interesting Fact: There are 5 Jantar Mantar complexes in India, this being the largest. The other ones are in New Delhi, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura .

It is a screen full of windows, and is built in red and pink sandstone, sitting on the edge of the City Palace . The Hawa Mahal (or the Palace of Winds ) has 953 small windows complete with intricate latticework. The original purpose of the lattice was to allow the royal ladies to observe everyday life on the streets outside, without being seen. Image below.

It lies in the same locale as the Hawa Mahal and the Jantar Mantar. The Jaipur Maharaja (part of the royal family) lives in this palace till this date, but the public areas of the palace are open to tourists. It is a pretty beautiful and a vibrantly decorated palace, as the images below depict.