Rajasthan Tour and Travel Guide

This vast, vast land that is India extends from Himalayan heights to the subterranean depths of the Indian
Ocean and between these two extremes, manages to fit in every kind of travel option imaginable. From
mangroves, rainforests and jungles where peril lurks behind every bush, from shifting sand dunes in deserts
which change the landscape every so often, from tropical islands bypassed by developers, from
metropolises raucous with the dissonance of a million voices to silken stretches of beaches, the quiet hush
of backwaters, the cool allure of tall mountains, temple towns by the side of holy rivers and cities that are
veritable museums, India promises a travel package that frustrates as often as it fulfills, demands as much
as it delights.

India is readily accessible to travelers of every hue and on every kind of allowance. Indian trains provide the
cheapest transportation or offer the ultimate in luxury for those with heavier wallets. Air travel is restricted
to the most popular destinations but buses travel to every nook and corner of the great Indian
subcontinent. Hotel rooms may cost an arm and a leg or next to nothing! A hot meal and a warm welcome
are available even in the most remote place and where nothing else works, the lure of lucre will. India's
enormous network of tourism offices, tour operators and travel agents goes a long way in simplifying the
complexities of travel. Despite this, India can be even the experienced traveller's nemesis unless of course
he really knows his way around. And since most travellers love to forge fresh tracks and explore new
places, the going can get tough. Unless the traveller is armed with a guide that covers the fundamentals of
travel where to go (and where not to), where to stop, where to stay, what to do and what not to or a
book that tells you how to do it with routes, itineraries, schedules and transportation tips. Which is where
we come in with a guidebook that covers both ends of the spectrum of travel concentrating on one state
or region at a time.

The State: The ideal way to handle India is to cut it to a manageable size! Hence the 29 states and 6 Union
Territories each and every one of them with a culture, language, landscape, ambience and personality
that is unique to it. Flip the pages of this guide book for a quick introduction to this part of India, for the
low-down on its interesting places, some cultural inputs and travel ideas plus inside information on the
lesser known destinations, the secret hideaways and out of sight treasures! The book also tells the active
traveller -the adventure sports enthusiast, the angler, the trekker, the river rafter - what, where, when and
how to do it and who to contact for a Forest Rest House or a fishing license!
Dress Code

Rajasthan's torrid summers mean that anybody visiting the state any time other than winter (October to
March) had best pack light cottons that keep you cool. For winters, woollens are essential. A sweater and a
jacket is sufficient, although for those who are planning on going deep into the desert on camel safaris,
for instance, it's advisable to take along heavier woollens, as nights in the desert can get quite chilly.

Please note that, as in most of India, in Rajasthan too certain unwritten norms apply for attire. It's best to
be conservatively dressed (especially if you are a woman stick to long skirts or pants with short-sleeved
tops, or wear local Indian salwar-kurtas). In particular, visitors to places of worship should make sure they
don't reveal too much flesh: tank tops, shorts and halter necks are best left at home!

Banks

Nationalised and multinational banks have branches in all major cities of Rajasthan and many of them offer
ATM facilities, although in smaller cities ATMs may accept transactiosn only by local account holders.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at larger banks, and at hotel exchange counters. ICICI and HDFC Bank
are the main foreign exchange dealers, with offices in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. HDFC Bank, in addition,
has ATMs through which money can be withdrawn from overseas accounts, up to a limit of Rs 15,000 a day.
Banking Hours Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 14:00 Saturday : 10:00 to 12:00 Banks are closed on Sundays and
National Holidays. Photography It's hard to resist the temptation to whip out your camera and start taking
photographs while in Rajasthan this state is so wonderfully vivid and beautiful, it makes for some truly
stunning photographs. However, the fact that it forms part of a highly sensitive international border with
Pakistan-means that tourists had better be careful about what they photograph. Please do not aim your
lens at anything even remotely suspect-this includes military installations, bridges, railway stations or
airports.

Permits

Rajasthan's border with neighboring Pakistan makes parts of this state a restricted-entry zone for tourists.
All of Rajasthan west of NH15 (which enters Rajasthan at Sriganganagar in the north and makes its way
south past Suratgarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer, among a number of other, smaller towns) is protected
and therefore off limits for tourists. Exceptions, however, are made for tourists visiting certain parts of the
protected zone. These include:

1. The peripheral areas of cities, towns and villages that lie on NH15.

2. The city limits of Bikaner, Suratgarh, Phalodi, Pokaran, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Sanchore.

3. Certain villages and areas of tourist interest in Jaisalmer district, including Ludrawa, Amarsagar, Kuldara,
Bada Bagh (Black Bar), Akal, Sam and Unda. For trips to protected areas other than these, a special permit
has to be obtained either from the Ministry of Home Affairs or the concerned District Magistrate in
Rajasthan.

STATS

Statehood: November 1956

Capital: Jaipur
Neighbours: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Pakistan lies to the west of the
international border.

Total Area: 342,239 sq km (the largest state in India)

Desert Area: 2,09,000 sq km (61.11%)

Forest cover: 13,871 sq km sq km (4.05%)

Agricultural Land: 196,720 sq km. Major crops include jowar, rice, barley, millet, maize, gram, wheat,
oilseeds, cotton, pulses and tobacco.

Minerals: Feldspar, mica, gypsum, zinc concentrates, silver ore, emerald, garnet, ) asbestos, salt and
marble.

Industries: Minerals, tourism, agriculture, gems and jewellery, handicrafts & handlooms, textiles, steel,
cement, ceramics, chemicals, electronics and electricals.

Divisions: 6

Districts:

32. Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Baran, Barmer, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Bundi, Chittaurgarh, Churu,
Dhaulpur, Dausa, Dungarpur, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalor, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Karauli,
Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Sri Ganganagar, Tonk, Udaipur

Cities and Towns: 222

Villages: 39,810

Topography: The state of Rajasthan consists of four distinct geographical zones:

The Thar Desert: The most prominent of Rajasthan's geographical features is the vast Thar Desert (The
Great Indian Desert, of which small sections fall within the neighboring states of Gujarat, Punjab and
Haryana) one of the largest deserts in the world. Approximately two-thirds of Rajasthan, including the
districts of Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and part of Jhunjhunu falls within the Thar, which ranks as one of
the most densely populated desert areas in the world. Also a part of the desert is the unique Desert
National Park near Jaisalmer.

The Aravali and Vindhya Hill Ranges: Rajasthan is divided into two parts vertically by the Aravali Ranges
that run from Delhi to Gujarat. These are among the oldest highlands on Earth and cover approximately
30% of the state's total area. The highest peak in the Aravalis is Gurushikhar (1,727 mt ASL), in Mount Abu.

The Vindhya Hills, which also stretch into neighboring Madhya Pradesh form the other important hill ranges
in Rajasthan. Also Visit Rajasthan tour packages

The South-Eastern Plateau: A tableland covering southern and south-eastern Rajasthan, this zone mainly
covers the districts of Kota, Jhalawar and Baran.

The Eastern Plains: Stretching across two main riverine lowlands the Banas plains and the Chhapan
plains (the latter drained by the tributaries of the Mahi River),

Rajasthan's most fertile area falls within the eastern portion of the state. This is an alluvial-rich zone, and
accounts for much of Rajasthan's agricultural output.

Rivers: The only perennial river in Rajasthan is the Chambal, which enters the state in Chittaurgarh district
and runs right through, over a distance of 376 km, till it reaches Uttar Pradesh in the north. Other
important rivers in the state are the Banas (which runs wholly within Rajasthan), Ghaghar, Luni, Mahi,
Sabarmati, Banganga and Gambhiri. Nearly 60% of Rajasthan is drained by inland rivers that do not meet
the sea, but instead lose themselves in the sand dunes of the Thar.

Lakes: Saltwater lakes: Sambhar and Pachpadra; Freshwater lakes: Rajsamand, Silised, Meja Dam, Kailana
Lake, Ramgarh Dam, Pichola Lake, Fateh Sagar Lake, Pushkar Lake, Ana Sagar Lake, Jai Samand Lake.

National Parks: Ranthambhore National Park, Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Desert National Park,
Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Kumbhalgarh, Wood Fossil Park, Gajner, Tal Chapper, Baretha, Bassi, Bhensrodgarh,
Darah, Jaisamand, Jamwa Ramgarh, Jawahar Sagar, Keladevi, Mount Abu, Nahargarh, National Chambal,
National Garhial, Phulwari, Ramgarh Bundi, Sawai Mansingh, Shergarh, Sita Mata, Sunda Mata, Todgarh
Raoli, Van Vihar.

Population: 56,473, 122

Language: Rajasthani, Hindi, English Literacy: 61.03%

For more information on Rajasthan tour travel contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.