Travel to Rajasthan

Travel to Rajasthan has gained immense popularity among the domestic as well as international travelers for centuries and thus Rajasthan has evolved as one of the top tourism states in India. Rajasthan is located at the northwestern part of India and it shares close proximity with Pakistan in the west and north-west, Punjab in the north, Haryana in the north-east, Uttar Pradesh in the east, Madhya Pradesh in the south-east and Gujarat in the south-west. As the name suggests, Rajasthan is the land of kings and princes and this state of India is deeply associated with royalty and valor which makes travel to Rajasthan so popular among every kind of traveler.

Rajasthan is engulfed with a unique mélange of history, myth, chivalry and romance and enthralling tales of valor and heroism still echoes from every nook and corner of the innumerable heritage sites of the state. Previously Rajasthan was segmented into various princely states but after the independence of the country in 1947, the various royal kingdoms were merged together and the state of Rajasthan came into existence.With its grand forts and palaces at some of the most picturesque locations of the country, Rajasthan is undoubtedly the most romantic state in India. Travel to Rajasthan allows the visitors to probe into its regal past which is teemed with marvelous royal heritage and gallant anecdotes of royalties.

Since travel to Rajasthan has always been one of the top most attractions among the travelers therefore it has evolved as one of the premier tourist destinations in India. Every year thousands of people travel to Rajasthan to get a true feel of its majestic heritage and vibrant culture. The regal aura still manages to linger on in the innumerable architectural magnificence of the forts, palaces and monuments that simply dazzles the visitors with their sheer magnanimity. While touring in Rajasthan, the travelers are bound to get impressed by the regal hospitality and warm graciousness that has been deeply imbibed into the culture of this state. Rajasthan simply impresses the visitors with its innumerable heritage hotels where one can experience the ultimate sense of luxury and comfort.

Since travel to Rajasthan has always been popular among the travelers therefore there are innumerable options of transportation for getting to Rajasthan. Air travel is the most popular means of transportation in the present days and there are 3 major airports in Rajasthan in Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur. A host of major public and private airlines operate regular and scheduled flights in all these three airports of Rajasthan. These flights connect the premier cities of Rajasthan like Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur to most of the eminent cities of the country like Delhi, Mumbai and such other cities. If the travelers are planning to enter Rajasthan from Delhi then Jaipur will be the most suitable entry point while visitors who are coming from Mumbai have to opt for Udaipur as the most convenient entry point to Rajasthan.

Apart from opting for air travel the visitors are also provided with options of road travel as a popular choice of transportation for travel to Rajasthan. It is highly convenient to reach Rajasthan by Road as the entire state is linked by a vast network of National Highways and State Highways. From Delhi, the capital of the country, Jaipur is only 5 hours drive and so many travelers prefer to drive along the panoramic roadways.

Many visitors also opt for rail travel while they opt for travel to Rajasthan. Major Railway Stations of Rajasthan are located in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Udaipur and these railway stations are linked to important Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, kolkata and so on. However the best way to reach and experience Rajasthan is to opt for "Palace on Wheels" which is the luxury tourist train and offers fantastic royal grandeur of the land on board.

The entire city of Rajasthan is replete with numerous tourist attractions and the highlights of your travel to Rajasthan include Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaiselmer, Pushkar, and Chittorgarh.

• Jaipur: It is the capital of state of Rajasthan and was founded by Kachwaha ruler Raja Sawai Jai Singh II who lived from 1693-1743. Jaipur is popularly referred to as the pink city of India and it is one of the most renowned tourist destinations of the country. City Palace, Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar are some of the eminent tourist attractions in Jaipur and it is also worth exploring the colorful markets of Jaipur which are stuffed with sparkling display of jewellery, paintings, carvings and colorful textiles prepared by the local skilled craftsmen
• Jodhpur: Jodhpur is another major city of Rajasthan and it is highly reputed for its numerous tourist attractions. This city was established by Rao Jodha and is also popularly referred to as the "Blue City" due to its blue painted walls of the houses in the town. The majestic Mehrangarh fort is one of the premier tourist attractions of this city and other attractions include the Jaswant thada and Umaid Bhawan Palace and they are the two eminent landmarks of the city. Umaid Bhawan Palace is the royal residence of the Maharaja of Jodhpur and its museum comprises of many artifacts of the royal times in Jodhpur.
• Udaipur: When you travel to Rajasthan you will also visit the city of Udaipur named after its founder, the Sisiodia King, Maharana Udai Singh.Udiapur is popularly referred to as the" White City" in Rajasthan and since the city boasts of numerous lakes it is known as the "city of lakes" in Rajasthan. The grand lake palaces in Udaipur set like white pearls amidst the gleaming waters of Lake Pichola is feast to the eyes. Other attractions in Udaipur comprise of City Palace Museum, Sahelion Ki Bari, Jag Mandir and temple complex of Eklingji which accommodates 108 temples built of sandstone and marble.
• Jaisalmer: This city is noted for the magnificent golden fort made of yellow sandstone and Jaisalmer is an important center of handicrafts in Rajasthan. Sandstone carvings and block printed fabrics produced here have received wide spread acclaim in all across the world. The intricately carved havelis and Jain temples of Jaisalmer are worth exploring. The greatest attraction of Jaisalmer is enjoying camel safari along the long stretches of Thar Desert. The sand dunes at Sam, near Jaisalmer are one of the most amazing sites during the annual Desert Festival.
• Chittorgarh: The city of Chittorgarh is deeply embedded with a nostalgic charm and it is considered synonymous with courage and sacrifice. Chittorgarh is deeply with associated with the legend of Rajasthan, Maharana Pratap Singh and this ancient city bears scars of three venomous attacks. Touring around the majestic fort of Chittorgarh the visitors get to feel the real essence of travel to Rajasthan. The Victory Tower or Vijay Stambha in Chittorgarh is one of the most noted landmarks in the fort of Chittorgarh and it celebrates the victory of Kumbha, the ruler of Chittorgarh, over Mahmud Khalji the ruler of Malwa in 1440.
• Pushkar: It is more popular as a famous pilgrimage destination in Rajasthan. There is a camel and cattle fair in Pushkar every year in the month of November. Pushkar comprises of a collection of ancient temples including a Brahma temple and it is situated around the holy Pushkar Lake. The Brahma temple is the only temple in the entire country which has got a deity of Lord Brahma. Devotees from all over the country consider it extremely holy to bathe in the lake on the auspicious day of Karthik Purnima every year.

Rajasthan is highly renowned for its majestic forts and grand palaces. Magnificent forts like the Amer Fort, the Jaigarh fort and Nehargarh Fort near Jaipur, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the Golden Fort in Jaisalmer and the historic forts of Chittorgarh, Bikaner, Bundi and Gajner are worth paying a visit on your travel to Rajasthan. Each fort with its impressive ramparts and gateways, cannon and weaponry and tales of valor and sacrifice is like a live history that transports the visitors into an altogether different era. On exploring the various spectacular forts and palaces the visitors feel like extending their tour in Rajasthan.

The royal trains of Rajasthan provide abundant scope to the visitors to undertake luxurious journeys that are meant for the chosen few. So if you want to be one of the lucky few then start making prior bookings so that you don't miss out your chance to board on the royal trains when you opt for travel to Rajasthan. The royal trains like The Palace on Wheels, the Fairy Queen and the Royal Orient are immensely popular with travelers who are keen on relishing a heritage journey in royal comfort and luxury. So there is nothing that can stop you from traveling to the most fascinating destinations in Rajasthan on regal trains.

Rajasthan takes pride to offer some of the most intriguing wildlife sanctuaries in India. The Ranthambore National Park and the Sariska National Park are Project Tiger reserves in India. These wildlife sanctuaries are regal abode to the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger and visitors can take a close look of it from the forest clearings and around the watering holes of these wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan. Other prominent wildlife seen here includes leopards, deer, nilgai, wild deer, sloth bear, black buck, mongoose, monkeys, and many species of birds. A colorful variety of birds can also be seen in plenty at the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary which is also popularly known as Keolodeo Ghana National Park. Many migratory birds from central Asia and Russia also travel to Bharatpur in every winter and thus many travelers prefer to opt for travel to Rajasthan in the winter months to view these beautiful birds that flock here. Nature lovers can remain completely assured of enjoying tours of the wildlife sanctuaries of Rajasthan.

A camel safari is undoubtedly the most fascinating attraction in Rajasthan. Camels have been used here for centuries to travel across the vast stretch of Thar Desert in Rajasthan and taking a camel ride has turned out to be the greatest attraction among the domestic as well as the international travelers. The visitors can enjoy a gala time with their near and dear ones on their travel to Rajasthan by taking a ride on a camel caravan across the rolling sand dunes of the Rajasthan desert and feel transported back in time. Your Rajasthan trip can never be complete unless you enjoy the camel safaris.

Rajasthan is a cultural treasure and the various sparkling festivals, bright colored attires, vibrant arts and crafts and delicious cuisine of Rajasthan blend together to make a captivating cultural life of Rajasthan. The visitors are provided with innumerable options to relish the colorful heritage of Rajasthan. So while you travel to Rajasthan you can opt for taking part in any of the religious and festive events at Pushkar and Ajmer or simply walk in colorful processions at the Teej and Gangaur Festivals in Jaipur and don't forget to play Holi and rediscover the charm of the Holy festival .If you think that your travel to Rajasthan will remain incomplete unless you go for shopping then you can try out buying the handcrafted textiles which are decorated with mirror work and embroidery and dyed in vibrant colors as these are bound to be some of the most classic collections for your wardrobe.

Tsiholidays.com provides information on Travel to Rajasthan