Dances of Rajasthan

Entertainers and performers have been an integral part of the culture of Rajasthan since ages. The royal families had always been known to invite these performers at their courts and they traveled through the state, skillfully reciting and staging tales of both passion and valor. It was customary for the families to invite the Bhats, Dholis, Nats and Bhands to perform, sing and dance at all the family celebrations including births, marriages or any other festive occassions. Dholis feature in every Rajasthani marriage with their simple drums and deep bass of their voice. Some professional communities are known to give only typical performances especially in eastern Rajasthan. Bhopas usually sing only about Pabuji, a local hero and are also known for their Phad paintings. Then there are Kachhi Ghodi dancers, the puppeteers and the much-famed Kalbeliya dancers who are known for their rhythmic snake dances. The Langhas and Manganiyars from Jaisalmer have also got ample opportunities to give show performances all around the world in their simple and uncomplicated manner. Dances We present

you

with

the

most

popular

of

the

various

styles

of

dances

in

Rajasthan.

Bhavai: The heart skips a beat as we watch this rare feat, which is more akin to acrobatics set to the rhythm of the music, as veiled women dancers balance seven or nine brass pitchers on their heads and dance deftly, pirouetting and swaying while their feet are set on top of a glass or on the edge of a sword! Their every movement keeps the audience in suspense. Though, today, some of the performers use only papier-mache pots stuck together, their nimbleness is still a feat of wonder. Drum Dance: It seems that performers are not much behind the warriors of Rajasthan when it comes to valor and chivalry. These people have a troupe of musicians with drums around their necks and cymbals in their hands used to create an ethereal music while the main performers put a naked sword in their mouths and juggle three other swords to the beat of the drums. Fire Dance: One wonders whether scorching sands of Thar make the people here immune to burning from fire as Jasnaiths of Bikaner and Churu performs on a large bed of glowing coals, with more and more energy till the dancers appear to be in a near-hypnotic state. A devout devotional performance, the rhythmic choreography certainly does not end up in blisters on the dancers' feet. Generally performed late on a winter's night, it takes a lot of faith to witness it too. Chari: Dancers balance the brass pots with burning cottonseeds on their heads and create adroit patterns with their hands and the bright flames by swaying their heads. It is amazing to see how these performers move effortlessly on the floor and do not seem at all conscious of a potential danger of being burnt at all! Gair: Orignally a Bhil tribal dance to be performed at the time of Holi, there are several variations of this dance and is performed by both men and women. The men in long, pleated tunics opening out into full-length skirts as they move first in clockwise then in anti-clockwise movements and beat their sticks to create the rhythm when they turn. Quite similar to Garba of Gujarat, some of its variations are Dandia Gair of the Marwar region and Geendad of the Shekhawati region.

Ghoomar: Mainly performed by Rajput women on all the auspicious occasions, it has simple and graceful swaying movements. It is quite scenic as the colorful and embroidered skirts of the women flare as they twirl in circles with their faces covered by the veils. All the old and young women dance together, sometimes for many hours, and it is customary that a newly wedded bride performs ghoomar as one of the rituals of the marriage. Kathak: Jaipur gharana is as famous as Lucknow gharana of Kathak (a former royal Indian classical dance mainly used to tell tales along with dancing). Known for the indefinite number of rounds, its performances are currently on a decline, today. Kathputli: Puppeteering of Rajasthan is world-famous. A popular traveling form of entertainment, the puppeteer sings ballads behind the stage and is assisted by his family to erect a makeshift stage on which the puppets are strung and are made to enact tales of valor and romance. There are much screeching and high-pitched sounds that accompany the movements of the puppets across the stage. Sapera Dance: Perhaps the most famous of all the Rajasthani dances, the women of Kalbeliya snake charmers wear long, black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons. The way, in which they spin in a circle and sway their bodies acrobatically, it seems as if they are made up of nothing but rubber. Wriggling like snakes themselves, the dancers are fervently energetic and perform with an increasingly quick tempo and pace.

Kachhi Ghodi: This dance originated in the bandit regions of Shekhawati, where dancers wear highly structured costumes that give an impression as if they are riding on dummy horses. An energetic dance, it uses mock-fights, showing off swords, dexterous sidestepping and pirouetting to the melodious music of fifes and drums. The ballad that usually accompanies the dance is about the famous highway-man Robin Hood. Terah Taali: This devotional dance is customary in the Kamad community of Pokhran and Deedwana, in the honor of their folk hero, Baba Ramdeo. Women sit on the floor before his image, with thirteen cymbals tied to the various parts of their body. They strike these choreographically with the ones in their hand performing various arabesques. Occasionally, they also balance pots on their heads and hold a sword in their mouths to add to the theatrical effect of the performance.

Lakes of Rajasthan
There are number of beautiful and picturesque lakes in Rajasthan. Most of them are man-made and serve as the drinking water supply of the civilization and were used as a reservoir to conserve rainwater. We present here the major lakes of Rajasthan: ANA SAGAR LAKE The gorgeous man-made Anasagar Lake is situated to the north of the city of Ajmer. It was made in 12th century by building a dam across the river Luni and was named after the then ruler Anaji Chauhan, who constructed the lake during 1135-1150 AD. Later, the

Mughal emperor Jehangir contributed the Daulat Bagh Gardens and Shah Jahan built the 'Baradari', a marble pavilion to add to its tranquil beauty. FATEH SAGAR LAKE The pretty Fateh Sagar Lake of Udaipur is located to the north of Lake Pichola was originally built in 1678 by Maharana Jai Singh as a medium-sized perennial storage reservoir. Surrounded by holls on three sides and Pratap Memorial on the fourth, it presents captivating scenery. Maharana Fateh Singh reconstructed the dam that had been destroyed due to heavy rains and thus, the lake was named after him. It now serves as a second major source of drinking water of the city. Drive along the east bank as you take in the scenic beauty of the lakeside. The boat ride to any of the three islands of the lake is as much enjoyable. The largest of them is a lovely garden known as Nehru Park after the first Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru. It has a boat shaped caf, which is a delight for the tourists. The second island has an installation of high-resolution solar observatory. It is considered a prime site for obtaining good solar images. The smallest island to the west supports a jet fountain. Lake Fateh Sagar is connected to Lake Pichhola through a canal having gates. Shaped like a pear, the lake has scant vegetation surrounding it. GADSISAR LAKE Gadsisar Lake of Jaisalmer, is not only a place worth seeing but is also the only source of water supply of the city. It was built as a reservoir to conserve rainwater in 1156. Maharwal Garsisingh rebuilt it in 1367 and thus, lake was named after him. There is an interesting legend attached to the place. A courtesan called Tilon proposed to the king that she wanted to build an arched gateway here for the beautification of the place. However, the ruler could not bring himself to relent to the idea, as he would have to pass under the gateway built by a prostitute every time he visits the tank, so he refused it curtly. Tilon was hurt but shrewd as she was, she was determined to get it done. She waited patiently for the right opportunity and when the king was away on some account, she got a palatial archway built and added a small temple of Lord Satyanarayan on its top so that the dismayed king was unable to severe it down. This gateway got her name and is known as Tilon Ki Pol and proudly stands intact to this day. There are number of small temples and cenotaphs that have sprung up along the banks of the lake with time and it is an ideal place to spot some of the most beautiful birds.> KAILANA LAKE 11 kms from Jaisalmer, Lake Kailana Lake is very pretty with its placid waters and scenic surroundings. An artificial lake, it serves as an idyllic picnic spot with its fabulous sunsets and rare tranquility and peacefulness. LAKE Maharaja Udai Singh did not underestimate the panoramic beauty of Lake Pichola surrounded by beautiful hills when he chose to widen it. Later Maharaja Jagjit Singh conceptualized the two beautiful island palaces in the middle of the lake, now, known as Jag Niwas (the much-renowned Lake Palace) and Jag Mandir that adds to the shimmering beauty of the lake. Lake Pichola has a masonry dam known as the Badipol and is 4 km long and 3 km wide. However, it is not very deep and during severe droughts, one can even walk up to the island palaces from the shore. The City Palace adorns the east bank of the lake while it is surrounded by a plethora of marble temples, mansions and palaces and a number of bathing ghats. The boat ride in the blue waters of the lake, especially, in the backdrop of setting sun is absolutely not worth missing. PICHOLA

SARDAR SAMAND LAKE Developed by Maharaja Umaid Singh in 1933, the resplendently beautiful Sardar Samand Lake is 60 km from Jodhpur. The drive to the lake is as interesting as the lake itself. Black Bucks, Neelgais and Chinkaras constitute the wildlife of the region and can be often spotted during the drive. The smiling folks of the Bishnoi villages are a pleasure to see. Bishnois are known for their passion to conserve the plant and animal life alike. The tranquility and quiet serenity of the place not only beckons the tourists but also a large variety of migratory birds that form a delightful plumage to watch. The chic art-deco summer palace of Maharaja Umaid Singh, the Sardar Samand

Lake Resort, which once served as the hunting lodge of the Jodhpur loyalty, stands proudly on its banks. The sprawling grounds and gardens of the resort offer enchanting walks and breathtaking views of the grandiose shimmering waters of the lake.

Languages of Rajasthan
Rajasthan is principally a Hindi-speaking region in its various dialects. Rajasthani comprises of five primary dialects - Marwari, Mewari, Dhundhari, Mewati and Harauti along with several other forms that we discuss here. These dialects have been derived as a distortion of the linguistic and orthographical peculiarities of the language with time. Rajasthani literature faced its worst period during the British Raj period. However, it is flourishing these days as hundreds of poets and writers have emerged who use the vernacular form of Rajasthani language as their medium. Rajasthan's folk literature is rich and varied in its nature and exists in forms of the folk songs, so famous folklores, witty sayings and proverbs, riddles and much-treasured folk-plays known as 'khayals'. The most common language of Rajasthan is Marwari, spoken mainly in and around Jodhpur district. The mixed dialects of Marwari are also spoken in Barmer, Jalore, Pali, part of Nagaur district. In the east, it influences the dialects of Ajmer, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, to the south in Sirohi district and in the west, it affects the dialects of Jaisalmer district. Bikaner, Churu, Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts in the north are also influenced by Marwari while in the northwest, it is spoken with Punjabi influence in the Ganganagar district. Mewari is actually the eastern form of Marwari used frequently to the southeast of the former princely state of Mewar, which comprised of Udaipur, Bhilwara and Chittorgarh districts, and its neighborhood. The dialect used in the western parts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Thar and Parkar areas of the former Sind is called Thali in the north and Dhatak in the west. In Bikaner it is called Bikaneri while in the northeastern part of Churu, it is known as Bagri. Jaipurior Dhundhari, earns a second place in terms of use and covers the districts of Jaipur, Tonk, Kota, Bundi, parts of Kishangarh, Ajmer and Jhalawar. Mewati is a dialect of Jaipuri to the northeast, which assumes the form of Braja Bhasha in Bharatpur. Mewati is actually the language of the former Mewat, the abode of the Meos. Dang is a further sub-dialect of Braja Bhasa in Sawai Madhopur and Karauli and that of Bundeli and Malvi in Jhalawar and the southern parts of Kota. Kishangarhi is spoken in Kishangarh and Ajmeri in Ajmer. The dialect spoken in Bundi and Kota is Harauti, which is also spoken in Jhalwar and Tonk districts. Malvi of the former Malwa covers parts of the Jhalawar and Kota districts. The Bundeli of Narsinghpur and central Hoshangabad, the Marathi of Berar and the Nemadi dialect of Rajasthani is spoken in north Nimach and Bhansawar. The Bhils communicate in Bhili, which is similar to Dungarpur's and Banswara's Bagria form of Rajasthani with the exception of slight variation in the pronunciation. However, the language structure for both of them is the same.

Monuments of Rajasthan
Rajasthan has some of the world's finest examples of architecture that reflects itself in its architecture. There are distinct influences of Rajput architecture along with the considerable influences of the Mughal architecture and the marks of the aristocratic British Raj in its structure and sophistication. Some of the well-known monuments have been covered here: City Palace, Jaipur: An amalgamation of traditional Rajasthani and Mughal architecture, City Palace complex

has several palatial structures. Maharaja Jai Singh built the outer wall but there have been many additions since then. It sprawls over one-seventh of the area of the walled city and is in part of the palace still serves as a royal residence. The highlights of the palace are Chandra Mahal, Badal Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. Havelis, Jaisalmer: The beautiful sandstone mansions of Jaisalmer's wealthy merchants are known as 'havelis'. Patwon ki Haveli is the most convoluted and outstanding of all the Jaisalmer havelis. It stands in a narrow lane and one of its apartments is painted with stunning murals. Salim Singh ki Haveli was built about 300 years ago and a part of this is still being used as residence. It was owned by Salim Singh, a former prime minister of the state of Jaisalmer and has a arched roof with superb carved brackets inn the form of peacocks. Nathmal ki Haveli of the late 19th century was also a prime minister's house and two brothers carved its left and right wings, which are similar in their looks. Its highlights are yellow sandstone elephants that stand majestically at its entrance and the intricately carved front door.

Lake Palace, Udaipur: One of the most romantic holiday spots of the world, this erstwhile summer residence of the royalty of Udaipur, it an island palace situated in the scenic waters of the Pichola Lake. Made up of white marble, it has now been converted into a fabulous heritage hotel with beautiful pavilions, landscaped gardens and legends that are an inseparable part of any Rajasthani marvel. Umaid Bhawan, Jodhpur: Built in 20th century, Umaid Bhawan Palace is made up of a particular type of sandstone used, which does not get weathered. An important part of Jaisalmer tourism, parts of the Umaid palace has now been converted into a hotel and a museum. City Palace, Udaipur: Originally started by Udai Singh, additions have been made to this building in such an ingenious manner that it is difficult to imagine that the building was not conceived as a whole. Standing on the shores of Lake Pichola, one can reach the palace through 'Hathi Pol' (the Elephant Gate), the 'Bara Pol' (the Great Gate) and the Tripolia (the Triple Gate). Complete with resplendent pavilions, terraces, corridors and hanging gardens, the highlights of the place are Sheesh Mahal, Krishna Vilas, Chini Chitrashala, Mor Chowk and the Amar Vilas. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur: Hawa Mahal is a multi-layered palace with a beehive structure built by Sawai Pratap Singh (grand son of Sawai Jai Singh and son of Sawai Madhoo Singh) in 1799 and was designed by Mr. Lal Chand. The beautiful use of red and pink sand stones outlined with delicate white borders and motifs are simply out of this world. Manak Chowk, Jaisalmer: Manak Chowk outside the Jaisalmer fort is the centre of local activity and is also a landmark through which one can reach the lanes where the famous carved havelis of Jaisalmer mentioned-above are to be found. Built mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries, Patwon-ki-Haveli is the best with a beautiful latticed faade, Salim Singh-ki-Haveli has an arched roof held up by well-excluded brackets shaped like peacocks while Nathmalji-ki-Haveli, has two wings, quite similar to each other but facing opposite sides guarded by elephants made up of yellow sandstone. Vijay Stambh, Chittorgarh: Translated as the Victory Tower, it is a nine-storeyed 37 metres high structure with sculptures of a secular nature to ornate the exteriors. Maharaja Kumbha built it in commemoration of his victory over the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. Deeg, Bharatpur: 34 km from Bharatpur, Deeg is an ancient city known for its famous palaces, gardens and fountains and ruins of the old fortress, which contributed considerably in the making of the Jat principality. Deeg was the first capital of the newly carved out Jat state, when Badan Singh ascended the throne ruler in 1722. It is said that the Jat rulers of Deeg and Bharatpur impressed by the grandeur of the Mughal courts of Agra and Delhi, brought all items like gates, stone slabs, beam, from Mughal areas and used them in the construction or decoration of their places. Jantar Mantar, Jaipur: Jantar Mantar of Jaipur, the 'Yantralaya' of Sawai Jai Singh II built on his designs, is the largest of five astronomical observatories founded by him in 1716. The others are at Delhi, Ujjain, Mathura and Varanasi. It is a marvel in itself with its huge masonry instruments of extraordinary precision that can still be used quite efficiently. Palace of Padmini, Chittorgarh: The palace is situated in the Chittorgarh fort and was built in the 13th century for the legendary Queen Padmini whose beauty resulted in the historic battle between Allauddin Khilji and Rana Ratan Singh. As the legend goes, Rani Padmini self-immolated herself in a ritual fire pit to save her honor from the enemy with all the pride attributed to a true Rajput lady.

Wildlife of Rajasthan
With varied topography that ranges from semi-arid and desert conditions to the rocky mountains to the lush green forests, Rajasthan is home to a diverse range of animal and bird life such as tigers, leopards, deers, rhesus monkeys, pythons and water-birds that come here in winters. Some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks of Rajasthan are: Ranthambhor National Park: One of the most famous tiger reserves of India, Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan came under the Project Tiger in 1980. Located in eastern Rajasthan, it is surrounded by the Vindhyas and Aravallis, has many artificial lakes and is home to many beautiful pavilions, palaces and the Ranthambore fort, which creates a unique backdrop to the stunning views of the barbaric nature of the wild cats here. This former hunting preserves of the Jaipur royalty, tigers, leopards, sambhars or Indian deers, cheetals, sloth bears, neelgais or blue bulls, chinkaras or Indian gazelles, hyenas, jackals, oxes, caracals, jungle cats, ratels, langurs and wild boars along with over 300 species of birds in the park are quite used to click of the cameras and do not really bother when they see humans trying to sneak into their private lives. Infinite number of still photographs and movies related to the tigers that have been shot here bear a testimony to this fact. Desert National Park and Sanctuary: Sprawling over 3162 sq km on the vast tracts of the sandy desert lands around Jaisalmer, Desert National Park and Sanctuary was conceptualized in 1980 to conserve the eco-system and the drought-resistant species of the region. The most notable achievement of the park is saving the Great Indian Bustard that had till recently been in the list of endangered species. Insects and animals typical to the arid areas such as the spiny-tailed uromastix living in underground colonies, desert monitors, which look like miniature replicas of dragons, sandfish that has adapted itself to 'swim' under the sand, chameleons and snakes such as the poisonous and deadly saw-scaled viper and Sind krait can also be found here. One can also spot desert hares, hedgehogs, predatory Indian wolfs, desert foxes and desert gerbils here with patience that marks a true wildlife lover. Sariska National Park: A tiger reserve in Alwar, Sariska National Park serves as the hunting grounds for the Alwar royalty, was declared a sanctuary in 1958 and finally, a tiger reserve in 1979. It houses the ruins of a fort, more than 1000 year old temples and the beautiful royal hunting lodge that has now been converted into a luxury hotel. Being situated on the Aravallis, Sariska's forests consist of low hills, steep escarpments, wide valleys and hill plateaus, making it a natural habitat for the endangered species of tigers. Being a major milk pocket, the cattle have eroded the region and the environmental balance of the region has been disturbed by the human interferences, posing a major threat to its wildlife. With a little skilful watch, one can spot leopards, tigers, wild dogs, sambhars, neelgais or blue bulls, cheetals, four-horned antelopes, ratels, and chinkaras here. Keoladeo Ghana National Park: Known all over the world as one of the best water-bird sanctuaries, Keoladeo Ghana National Park is the winter retreat of more than 400 species of our feathered friends from all over the world including China and Siberia, and especially the rare Siberian cranes. It has

shallow, fresh water marsh that is the first love of so many migratory birds that made it one of the finest duckhunting grounds for the erstwhile Maharajas until it was declared a national park in 1983. Painted storks, spoonbills, ibises, geese and duck, cranes, herons and egrets, pelicans and flamingos, paradise flycatchers, parakeets, cormorants and darters, kingfishers, blue jays, shrikes, orioles, eagles and harriers make it a bird-watcher's paradise. There is an artificial lake in the park in which you go for an exotic boat ride to take a closer look of its rich fauna, which includes sambhars, blackbucks, chitals, neelgais, fishing cats, otters and mongooses.

Music of Rajasthan
Music Two types of music that are especially famous in Rajasthan are described below: Maand: Originated as court music, the maand is a distinct raga that was developed in Marwar. It is very sophisticated and involves complex inflexion of voices sung in deep bass but with time it permeated to the folk forms we know today and when ballads of the chivalrous rulers and local folk heroes are sung using maand raga, they have a unique haunting quality that echoes in the desert. Its popularity is evident from the fact that an entire festival in Jodhpur is dedicated to it exclusively. Pabuji ka Phad: Pabuji Ramdeo was a folk hero of the 14th century in the Bhopa region whose legends have become timeless in the form of ballads that are sung against a painted scroll known as the 'Phad' paintings where scenes from his story are portrayed in comic-strip fashion. Its performances were always held at night, when the villagers gathered for these performances. The Bhopa minstrel would sing the ballad and give the music using ravanhatha while his wife used to hold an oil lantern illuminate just the particular portion of the scroll that matched with the episode of the story he was singing about.

People of Rajasthan
India is known for its unity in diversity and Rajasthan in itself presents this in a most complete manner where people have been divided in groups and sub-groups based on their roles and trades that haven followed in their families for generations till the time when these people were assigned the work not through their merits but by the family, they were born in and they were trained for their family professions ever since their childhood. This accounts for the basis of the trades dominated by a people of a particular religion, caste or sub-caste and other communities such as tribals and nomads. We have presented here some broad categories in which the people of Rajasthan can be classified and have attempted to include their distinctive habits and way of living in our passage:

Rajput The Warrior Class Valiant and chivalrous, Rajputs were the rulers of the land for a long time and the legends of their medieval concepts and acts of bravery are still sung in Rajasthan. The Rajput rulers were great patrons of arts and crafts and Rajasthan still boasts of monuments of the finest examples of architecture that sprung up during their reign. They still strictly observe their religion and offer sacrifices to their gods and goddesses in order to appease and please them. They have proved formidable foes from time to time. They rose to the elite class of the region and the only reason of their downfall can be attributed to their inter-clan rivalries and internecine wars that often came in the way of their offering a joint opposition to the forces of invaders. Later, Rajputs have been known to serve in the armies of their rulers and acquired land as their compensation not only as a payment for their services but often because they shared a friendly bond and were very loyal to the kings they served. Brahmins The Class of Priests Unlike other parts of India, Brahmins in Rajasthan had to be content with the secondary position, as the dangerous area plagued by invasion and plundering, needed more warriors than intellectuals at the time. Besides the priesthood, Brahmins also served in royal courts and as administrators of the state. Marwari And Jains The Trader Class As usual, the economy of the state mainly depended on its traders and merchants and they were often richer than the rulers themselves. The Marwaris originated in the Shekhawati region and used to serve in the courts of princely states. They were so called as they traveled with the armies of Marwar (now known as Jodhpur) to the eastern side of the country and thus capitalized on the opportunity of making profits in the new markets. Even today, they constitute most of the major business and industrialist families of the country. Though, Marwaris were very rich they remained discreet on account of their loyalty and respect of the rulers, which they served, and their elaborately painted havelis never stood in competition with the affluent palaces of the royal class. It was their way of expressing their gratitude to the princes and kings who had honored them, time and again, with a title of tazimi-sardar, which was very rarely given to anybody as it made allowances for the title-owner to continue sitting in the presence of the Maharaja and to wear gold on his feet (a privilege accessible only to the immediate circle of the royal family). Jains, the only other mercantile community that enjoyed as much influence in the courts of the Rajput rulers and often played an important political role, however, built some superlative marble temples dedicated to their tirthankaras at Ranakpur, Dilwara at Mount Abu, Chittaurgarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner. Though they observed austerity in their lifestyles, their temples and havelis at Jaisalmer were enviable and grander with delicate stone carving work than many of the palaces of the region. Jats And Bishnois The Pastoral Class The importance of the pastoral side of Rajasthan that involved farming and cattle rearing cannot be underestimated considering the rough weather conditions and hostile climate of the region. There is much folklore about the local heroes, generally a sub-group of Rajputs known as Jats, who sacrificed their lives for the protection of their village communities. A hardworking race, these people are spread over in the regions of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and were once the rulers of Bharatpur and Dholpur and are known for their skills and farming practices of turning even the most arid lands into the fertile fields. Bishnois, known for their passion to conserve both plant and animal life, follow the paths of a local saint, Jamboji, who instructed them to protect their trees and cattle even at the time of famine, some centuries ago. They gained popularity when innumerable Bishnois refused to let the soldiers cut the trees in their area and did not deterred even when they were dealt with an iron hand. They wrapped themselves around their beloved trees and welcomed death from the soldiers' hand rather than allowing them to cut the trees while they were still alive.

Today, they have become the icons for the conservationists. Bishnois men wear a distinct white turban while their women dress up in colorful garments and an ornate nose ring. Muslims The Craftsmen Class Muslims came to Rajasthan as invaders but soon deserted the arid land to more luring places in the east. However, there were some who settled down here and indulged in agriculture such as Kayamkhanis and Meos, especially in the Shekhawati belt, where the Kayamkhani nawabs once had substantial influence. However, only one Muslim kingdom of Tonk survived in the region marked by its feudal system. It has now become a flourishing commercial area. Muslims also served in the courts of the princely states under the Rajput rulers and both the religions flourished together quite amicably. Yet, undeniably, most of the Muslim population were artisans of good repute and master craftsmen and were kidnapped from the trading caravans passing through the area to serve the princely kingdoms and even today, they dominate the artistic side of Rajasthan, in the fields of painting, dyeing, printing, bangle and jewellery making and paper manufacture. The Bohras, mercantile Muslims who came from Gujarat occupy southeast Rajasthan in large numbers. The Natives of the barren hills of Rajasthan, these tribals are known for their bravery and zest with which they celebrate their festivals. Minas were once the rulers of the region, which Kachchwahas won through treachery, to create Amber. Largely agriculturists now, they still hold the honor of anointing the head of the Kachchwaha clan and used to serve as guards to the Kachchwaha treasury kept inside the Jaigarh fort, while the reigning Kachchwaha rulers were led only once a year to the treasury to choose anything from the vast collection of jewellery there and that too blindfolded. Bhils of Chittaurgarh, Banswara and Dungarpur, still lead a primitive life and are poverty stricken. Known to be brave and trustworthy, they once helped the Sisodia rulers to escape from the Mughals and taught them the art of concealing themselves Tribals

in

the

hills.

Other tribals include the Sahariyas, people of the forest who have degraded from being the elite class to that of severely poverty stricken and the Gerasiyas, who have managed to survive by singing and dancing for their guests. Nomads People With No Homes These people are akin to gypsies who travel in large groups, often on a cyclical, seasonal basis, and move around providing their particular services for people in settled communities. Most of them are Gadoliya Lohars, blacksmiths known for their decorated carts. They repair and work with iron and other metals,and make everything from a shovel to a pair of scissors.Banjaras, were nomadic caravan runners who traveled with balaads or oxen-laden caravans. A lakhi or one hundred thousand bullocks leading a caravan has also found its mention among their caravans. However, as these caravans are of no use today, they now live a semi-nomadic life and drifted to other means of livelihood. Rabaris travel in the desert in search of pastures for their flocks of sheep and camels while there are Nayaks who are entertainers, Kanjars, Sansis, Nats and the well-known Kalbeliyas, a group of snake charmers who have gained immense popularity for their unique dance forms and no more travel on foot or in carts but around the world in jets.

Thar Desert Rajasthan

The scorching heat of the sun shining right above the hands, vast tracts of land with just sand all around with an occasion interruption of rippling sand dunes, where the life-giver water is scarce and the only vegetation generally found are the thorny bushes marks the landscape of a desert and so it is in the desert of That. Except for few things that makes it stand apart. Add to this picture, people wearing brightly hued costumes, women in their ghagharas wearing heavy jewellery and hiding their faces in veil, magnificent and majestic forts and palaces that are splendid examples of architecture, the haunting music and songs and performers that seem to be made of rubber as they dance and perform feats of acrobatics, the hunch-backed camels, royal kings seated on richly bedecked elephants and many, many legends that are an inseparable part of a rich culture and you get the picture of

the

Thar

desert

in

Rajasthan.

The legend related to the origin of Thar Desert is not less interesting. In Ramayana, it is mentioned that when Lord Rama had to cross the ocean with his army to Lanka, the kingdom of the demon-king Ravana who abducted his wife, Devi Sita, he decided to use a fire-weapon and dry up the ocean. All the living creatures of the ocean were much frightened for their lives and started pleading him not to do so. But as it was impossible to dismount the arrow-weapon, once it was withdrawn, he decided to point it to a distant sea and released it. That sea happened to be in the place, where Thar Desert now exists. Though, it is mythology, the more interesting part is that fossils have been excavated in this region that indicate the existence of marine life here once.

Recent excavations have also unearthed the remains of the Indus Valley Civilization that existed 4,500 years ago that penetrated deep into the arid desert region. With the rising of the trade and commerce, traders traveled frequently crosses this desert in caravans, in the search of new markets for their products. With time, sarais or rest houses sprang up on the route, which slowly swelled into settlements. Then, there was much plundering and looting on the way and settlers offered security services to the traders in exchange of money in the form of taxes on their goods as they pass through their territory. Most of the rulers of the region belonged to the Rajput clan who had come to the region for refuge and to settle down once more and lay the foundations of new kingdoms, after they had been dethroned from their seat of powers by their foes. They built grandiose citadels and rose to power once again and thus, Rjasthan, the land of rulers, came into being.

Today, Rajasthan's folklores and folk songs are rich which chivalry, valor and romance of these Rajput kings and beauty, sense of fidelity the pride of their queens who would rather commit jauhar (self-immolation) in the hour of defeat of their men than allow the hands of the enemy as much as touch them. Rajput rulers proved themselves to be great patrons of art, architecture and religion, which can still be seen in the form of magnificent palaces, splendid temples and various forms of arts and crafts including dances, paintings and stone carvings of the state.

Today, Rajasthan is a tourist's paradise with its palace complexes that have been turned into hotels and museums and camel, jeep and elephant safaris that transport the guests to another level of human existence.

Rajasthan Arts and Crafts

Rajasthan is well known all over the world for its hand-printed textiles, furniture, leatherwork, jewellery, painting, pottery and metal craft. The use of lively colors and flamboyant, fantasy designs is distinctive in all forms of arts and crafts of Rajasthan.It will be unfair to say that Rajasthani artists only make decorative items. Every household item in Rajasthan proves the statement false as we go through their embellished utensils, colorful attires, unique jewellery designs and embroidered shoes that infuse a new life and a cheerful look to the otherwise monotone of the desert sands. Carpets and Dhurries: Floor coverings like carpets, hand-woven durries and namdas or soft woollen druggets of Rajasthan are exported all over the world. Available in all sizes, the dhurrie is woven in Jaipur and also in the rural areas of the state. Bikaner and Jaisalmer are known for woolen dhurries made of camel hair. Bikaner is also famous for its so-called jail carpets, which are so called for they were once made by the prisoners in the medieval times. Much like Persian carpets, Rajasthani hand-knotted carpets have geometric motifs and formal designs with a border and central motif. The motifs have indeed been localized and include peacocks and other local icons. Jaipur and Bikaner are believed to be the pioneer centres in carpet weaving.

Antiques: Not all of the items in the handicrafts shop that you find in Rajasthan can exactly pass off as antiques of course but still their distinctive color and designs make them popular among the tourists who buy them as souvenirs and as decorative items for their homes. The large iron oil jars painted in the pichwai style, depicting the love scenes, are just an example. Similarly, variety of kitchen utensils, votive objects and even camel saddles attract attention of the visitors. Fabrics: Printed, dyed or embroidered fabrics of Rajasthan are known for their unique hues and tones of color. Block printing, batik, tie and dye has become a full-fledged artwork here. Each region has its own distinct motifs, choice of colors, and the way in which these colors are used. Bagru is known for earth colors and geometric patterns while Sanganeri clothes have bright colors and floral patterns. Barmer and Jaisalmer are famous for their batik or reverse printing work. Sikar and Jodhpur are famous for intricate tie-and-dye or bandhani designs including chunari (dotted), lahariya (diagonal striped waves) and mothra (large dots) prints. Bikaner, Sikar and Jhunjhunu are well known for the mirror work, embroidery and appliqu work that are used to embellish these fabrics to produce elaborate designs of Rajasthani dresses. Furniture and wood carving: Rajasthan is an ideal place to look for old-worldly doors and windows, wooden jharokhas, tables with cast iron jaalis, side-boards, chairs, benches, jhoolas or swings and dressers, sometimes fretted with brass and copper sheets for decoration. They can be lightly carved or embellished with tiles. Jaipur and Ramgarh in Shekhawati are popular centers for furniture but Jodhpur gets the first place. The notable places are Shekhawati and Bikaner for traditional woodwork, Jodhpur and Kishangarh for painted wooden furniture, Shekhawati, Bikaner and Ramgarh for delicately carved wooden doors, Barmer for woodcarvings such as images of gods and goddesses, elephants, parrots, human and animal figures, Tilonia for leather-embroidered chairs of Tilonia and Shekhawati for carved-back, string-bottom chairs. The most remarkable and finest type of artwork belongs to Bikaner. Known as Gesso work, it is made using the inner hide of the camel, which is scraped till it is paper-thin and translucent and is then molded into various forms of lampshades, hip flasks, perfume phials or vases. Pottery: The different regions of Rajasthan have distinctive style of pottery. Jaipur is famous for its blue glazed pottery that doesn't use simple clay but ground quartz stone, fuller's earth and sodium sulphate.Terra-cotta pottery is also quite popular in Rajasthan. Molela, a village near Udaipur is specialized in making clay images of deities for ceremonial occasions. Alwar is known for its paper-thin pottery while Bikaner's painted pottery is tinted with lac colors. The white and red clay articles of Pokaran are marked with distinct geometric designs. Leather ware: In Rajasthan, jootis (the embroidered footwear the people wear), saddles, bags and pouches are not the only objects made out of animal skins. The other uses to which they are commonly put are making backs of chairs embroidered with woolen motifs. The leather is beaten, tanned and dyed and patterns are made on it by punching and gouging it. Later it is studded and sequined for effect, and embroidered and stitched to create the special jootis (slip-on shoes) that have become a style-statement. Jaipur and Jodhpur are famous for these 'jootis'. Metal Crafts: Started off with embellishing the royal armor, the metal crafts of Rajasthan now adorn tabletops, wall plates, flasks, silver animal figures, caparisoned elephants with human figures over a howdah (a musical instrument). Jaipur, Alwar and Jodhpur are famous for their metal wares such as brassware and enameled, engraved and filigree cutwork on silver. Paintings: Miniature paintings, portraits, courtly paintings, murals, paintings on cloth and furniture, henna body art, domestic paintings and mandana (the art of decorating houses) are just of the various form of vibrantly colored and intricate Rajasthani paintings.Mostly the paintings depict scenes from Ramayana, Krishna Lila and the Gita Govindam and use rich colors that were made using minerals, vegetables, precious stones, conch shells and metals like gold and silver. Jaipur, Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Kishangarh are important centers of such paintings. Other remarkable styles are phads or scrolls with the tales of the folk-hero Pabuji and the pichwais of

Nathdwara near Udaipur, that depict scenes from the with life of Lord Krishna and are often decorated with precious stones. Puppets: Painted wooden heads, hands made simply by stuffing rags or cotton into the sleeve of the dress, with painted expressions, arched eyebrows, mustache for men and nose ring for women and large expressive eyes on their face, puppets are draped with dresses made from sequined old fabrics. They are extremely popular as inexpensive mementos among the tourists. Stone Carving: The forts and palaces and beautiful havelis of Rajasthan are all superb examples of the exquisite mason work of the state. Dholpur near Bharatpur and Barmer are popular for panels of frescoes for buildings, large statuaries, planters, and intricately carved elephants and horses as garden sculptures. White marble statues of deities are considered to be a specialty of Jaipur..

Climate of Rajasthan
Broadly speaking, Rajasthan has a tropical desert climate. It is extremely cold from October to February while the scorching sun tortures the land from March to September. Due to scanty rainfall, women can be seen carrying water for miles to meet their daily needs during summers. To the south of Rajasthan, River Luni and River Chambal River and its tributaries bless the people with their water and form an alluvial basin in Kota. Temperature There are distinct temperature range variations diurnal and seasonally throughout the state, revealing the most typical phenomenon of the warm-dry continental climate. The summer begins in the month of March while the temperature keeps rising progressively through April, May and June. West of Rajasthan and the eastern side of Aravalli Range, in the region of Bikaner, Phalodi, Jaisalmer and Barmer, the maximum daily temperature hovers around 40C to 45C. Sometimes, it even reaches as high a 49C during the summer months. Nights of summers see a considerable temperature fall with a minimum daily temperature around 20C to 29C. However, Udaipur and Mount Abu, have a pleasanter climate in summers with a relatively lower daily maximum temperature that reaches 38C and 31.5C, respectively. The daily minimum temperature at nights for these two stations hovers around 25C and 22C, respectively. The major portion of the state tat consists of the arid west and the semi-arid mid-west has an average maximum of 45C in June. January is the coldest month in the stare of Rajasthan. The minimum temperatures sometimes fall to -2C in the night at places like Sikar, Churu, Pilani and Bikaner. The sandy land gets even colder with occasional secondary Western winds that cross the western, northern and eastern Rajasthan during winter months, and even cause light rainfall and chilly winds can be experienced during this period. Most of the Rajasthan, except the southeast Rajasthan comprising of Kota, Bundi and Baran and western Barmer have an average temperature of more than 10C. Due to the cold western winds, the whole of Rajasthan sometimes come under the spell of the cold wave for 2 to 5 days during winters. Rainfall Rajasthan being the desert area, its climate varies mostly from arid to sub-humid. To the west of the Aravallis, the climate is marked by low rainfall, extreme diurnal and annual temperature, low humidity and high velocity winds. In the east of the Aravallis, the climate is semi-arid to sub-humid marked by lower wind velocity and higher

humidity and better rainfall. The annual rainfall in the state differs significantly. The average annual rainfall ranges from less than 10 cm in north-west part of Jaisalmer region (lowest in the state), to 20 to 30 cm in the regions of Ganganagar, Bikaner and Barmer, 30 to 40 cm in the regions of Nagaur, Jodhpur, Churu and Jalor and more than 40 cm in the regions of Sikar, Jhunjhunun, Pali and the western fringes of the Aravalli range. The more fortunate eastern side of the Aravallis see 55 cm rainfall in Ajmer to 102 cm rainfall in Jhalawar. Mount Abu in the Sirohi district in the southwest region receives the highest rainfall in the state (163.8 cm). The southwest monsoon begins in the last week of June in the eastern parts and may last till mid-September. There are occasionally pre-monsoon showers in mid-June while post-monsoon rains may occur in October. Winters may also receive a little rainfall with the passing of western distribution over the region. However, Rajasthan receives most of its monthly rainfall during July and August.

Climate of Rajasthan
Broadly speaking, Rajasthan has a tropical desert climate. It is extremely cold from October to February while the scorching sun tortures the land from March to September. Due to scanty rainfall, women can be seen carrying water for miles to meet their daily needs during summers. To the south of Rajasthan, River Luni and River Chambal River and its tributaries bless the people with their water and form an alluvial basin in Kota. Temperature There are distinct temperature range variations diurnal and seasonally throughout the state, revealing the most typical phenomenon of the warm-dry continental climate. The summer begins in the month of March while the temperature keeps rising progressively through April, May and June. West of Rajasthan and the eastern side of Aravalli Range, in the region of Bikaner, Phalodi, Jaisalmer and Barmer, the maximum daily temperature hovers around 40C to 45C. Sometimes, it even reaches as high a 49C during the summer months. Nights of summers see a considerable temperature fall with a minimum daily temperature around 20C to 29C. However, Udaipur and Mount Abu, have a pleasanter climate in summers with a relatively lower daily maximum temperature that reaches 38C and 31.5C, respectively. The daily minimum temperature at nights for these two stations hovers around 25C and 22C, respectively. The major portion of the state tat consists of the arid west and the semi-arid mid-west has an average maximum of 45C in June. January is the coldest month in the stare of Rajasthan. The minimum temperatures sometimes fall to -2C in the night at places like Sikar, Churu, Pilani and Bikaner. The sandy land gets even colder with occasional secondary Western winds that cross the western, northern and eastern Rajasthan during winter months, and even cause light rainfall and chilly winds can be experienced during this period. Most of the Rajasthan, except the southeast Rajasthan comprising of Kota, Bundi and Baran and western Barmer have an average temperature of more than 10C. Due to the cold western winds, the whole of Rajasthan sometimes come under the spell of the cold wave for 2 to 5 days during winters. Rainfall Rajasthan being the desert area, its climate varies mostly from arid to sub-humid. To the west of the Aravallis, the climate is marked by low rainfall, extreme diurnal and annual temperature, low humidity and high velocity winds. In the east of the Aravallis, the climate is semi-arid to sub-humid marked by lower wind velocity and higher humidity and better rainfall. The annual rainfall in the state differs significantly. The average annual rainfall ranges from less than 10 cm in north-west part of Jaisalmer region (lowest in the state), to 20 to 30 cm in the regions of Ganganagar, Bikaner and Barmer, 30 to 40 cm in the regions of Nagaur, Jodhpur, Churu and Jalor and more than 40 cm in the regions of Sikar, Jhunjhunun, Pali and the western fringes of the Aravalli range. The more fortunate eastern side of the Aravallis see 55 cm rainfall in Ajmer to 102 cm rainfall in Jhalawar. Mount Abu in the Sirohi district in the southwest region receives the highest rainfall in the state (163.8 cm). The southwest monsoon begins in the last week of June in the eastern parts and may last till mid-September. There are occasionally pre-monsoon showers in mid-June while post-monsoon rains may occur in October. Winters may

also receive a little rainfall with the passing of western distribution over the region. However, Rajasthan receives most of its monthly rainfall during July and August.

Costumes of Rajasthan
Rajasthan is colorful because of what its people wear. The dull-colored monotone of the sands and hills look cheery with the vibrant spirits of the people who wear bright colors to make up for the absence of blossoming flowers. Interesting costumes and jewellery of these desert people are not mere ornaments for them. Everything from head-to-toe including the turbans, clothes, jewellery and even the footwear establishes your identity, your religion and your economic and social status in Rajasthan. The dresses of the males and the females are well defined and is made to suit the climate and conditions in which they live. While pagari (turban), angarakha, dhotis or pyjamas, kamarband or patka (waistband) form integral part of a male's attire, the female's attire includes ghaghara (long skirt), kurti or choli (tops and blouses respectively) and odhani. Mens' Attire In Rajasthan, there is a proverb that states that 'a raga in music, taste in food and knots in a pagari are rare accomplishments.' The color of the turban, its style and how it is tied gets special attention from the people here as it symbolizes the caste and region from which the person belongs. People of Udaipur wear a flat pagari, while pagaris of Jaipuriyas are angular while Jodhpuri safa has distinction of having slightly curved bands. Angarakha (translated as the body protector) is usually made up of cotton. On festive occasions, people can be seen wearing tie and dye or printed angarakhas. The two main types of angarahkas prevalent in this region are - frock-style and waist-length kamari angarakha and long angarakha that reaches below one's knees. Dhotis or pyjamas serve the purpose of covering the lower part of the body. The dhoti is a 4 m by 1 m cotton cloth that needs some practice to tie perfectly. Usually white dhotis are in vogue but on special occasions, people also wear silk dhotis with a zari border. People of royal families and upper class used to wear patka, 1 m by 1m cotton cloth that was kept on the shoulders or worn around the waist to tuck in the weapons in the medieval days. Now, it is no longer used and has become obsolete, though, one can still see Brahmins, which continue to put traditional dupattas on their shoulders. Women's Attire Rajasthani women wear ankle-length long skirts with narrow waist that gain width like an umbrella at the base. It is called 'ghaghara'. However, the length has been kept a little short on purpose, so that foot ornaments are visible. The width and the number of pleats in the 'ghaghara' symbolize one's prosperity. It comes in many colors and styles. The skirt is not folded at the lower end like normal skirts but a broad colored fabric known as sinjaf is sewn underneath to make it stronger. Ghagaras come in many styles but the most popular ones are dyed or printed cotton ghagharas with laharia, mothra and chunari prints just like the turbans of the males. The odhani

is a cotton cloth 2.5 to 3 meters long and 1.5 to 2 meters wide that acts as a veil for women. Footwear 'Mojaris' or 'jootis' (leather shoes made up of camel, goat or sheep skin) are worn by both males and females. Though camel leather is very soft and is only suitable to be worn inside the house, the shoes made up of goatskins and sheepskins are stronger and can be worn outside. Shoes are pepped up with intricate embroidery done on velvet or brocade, which is pasted on the outer part of the shoes. Jootis of Jaisalmeler, Jodhpur, Ramjipura and Jobre are especially famous all over the world. Jewellery Rajasthani jewellery has a distinctive style. Precious stones, diamonds and emeralds were not only used in ornaments but can also be seen in the hilts of daggers of kings and nobles, which are on display in the various museums. An earring or a pair of studs is common among men along with a gold chain or string of pearls (usually worn by the rich) or even silver 'hansli' (a variation of a thick bracelet worn around the neck usually worn by the peasants or the poor). Tribal women of Gayari, Mina and Bhil are not far behind. Once they used to wear only brass ornaments made by Bharawas and it was customary for the bridegroom to give 25 kg of jewellery as a dowry. But times have changed and even these women have started using silver or white metal jewellery. There are other communities like Rabaris of Sirohi region and Raikas of Jodhpur region who wear heavy silver jewellery and often use inexpensive glass pieces to decorate them with. One can see captivating designs based on sun, moon, flowers, seeds and leaves on their jewellery. Besides the metal jewellery, Lac jewellery studded with glass pieces can also be coomonly seen in Rajasthan. To the south of Rajasthan, one can see women wearing bangles that are made up of coconut shell with a silver strip set in a groove in the centre.

Cuisines of Rajasthan
In the land where only handful of varieties of grains comprising of wheat, maize, millets, corn, a few pulses, beans and lentils grow, it is amazing to see such an exotic cuisine that has originated in the state of Rajasthan. Besides the above-mentioned ingredients, the other things used by the desert people mostly consist of dairy products, the spices and herbs, the hunted animals and dry fruits. Diversity In The Type of Diet Different communities of Rajasthan have their own distinctive style of diets that is in general high-protein and low-fat diet except for the Marwari cuisine, which is highly rich in its contents. Rajput community is a warrior class and loves hunting. They are not averse to enjoying the meat of their game though it is not cooked in their daily kitchen. The game is cooked outside the home and is headed by males who serve as the chefs for the nonvegetarian cooking. Most of the other communities are strictly vegetarians including Vaishnavs, the followers of Lord Krishna, Bishnois, who are for their love of conservation of both plant and animal life, Marwaris, who are known for having rich diet and most notably Jains, who are very strict with their diet rituals. Jains do not eat after sunsets and do not use garlic and onions in their food, which is otherwise very popular amon the other communities of Rajasthan. Non-vegetarian Food

Fishes and chicken are not very popular in Rajasthan. Colonel James Tod noted in his treatise, Annals and Antiquities of Rajputana, that "the Rajput...hunts and eats the boar and deer, and shoots ducks and wild fowl". However, it is not uncommon to see that all the warrior-class learns to eat whatever is available as it is a necessity in the game of survival. Today, the government of India has banned such hunting as these wild animals are now in the list of endangered species. Kachri, a vegetable belonging to the cucumber family, is used to marinate the meat and imparts it with a distinctive tangy flavor. The meat is first basted in the spices and then roasted in a pot over a wood fire until it turns into gravy. It is commonly consumed with bajra rotis (type of bread of millets). Common Dried beans and spices such as 'heeng' (aesofoetida), amchur (mango powder), red chillies and mustard seeds, pickled meat, dried preparations called 'papads' and 'badis' form a large part of Rajasthani cuisine as they could be conserved for long periods of time and proved themselves to be very useful in the early days when there was little produce in summers and transport was not so efficient. The curries prepared using these dried preparations and often yoghurt or buttermilk and a lot of chillies and other herbs are simply delicious. Rice is considered a delicacy in Rajasthan as it does not grow here. Chewing dried pork fat, called sauth, in winters was considered prevention against colds and is still considered a good traditional remedy. Ingredients

Common Dishes Karhi, popularly known as khatta, is made up of buttermilk or yogurt mixed with chickpea flour, mustard seeds and crushed garlic cloves and it is said that longer it stays on the fire, the better it tastes. 'Gatte ka saag', made using freshly made dumplings of chickpea flour and 'badi ka saag' made using sun-dried moth-lentil dumplings along with 'khichra' a porridge of millets and moth lentils that are cooked along with water, a little spice and some ghee in combination with either jaggery or karhi form a staple part of Rajasthani diet. The hot red-chilli-and-garlic chutney (a type of tangy Indian sauce) 'raabori', millet flour cooked in buttermilk, which is believed to be an excellent coolant in the summers) are quite popular with the food. Sangri and ker (a hard desert berry) abounds in the preparation of Rajasthani meals as vegetables. Though sweet preparations are few, Bikaneri sweet specialists are known all over the country for their delicious preparations. 'Seera', made of wheat flour in ghee and 'laapsi', a porridge made with desiccated grains of wheat are the common desserts of the state along with sweetened rice dressed with saffron and dried nuts and raisins. Regional Specialities Dal-Bati-Choorma, made of butter, cereals and sweetened bread pudding of Jaipur is considered a specialty, cherished by all the Indians. Bikaner is famous for its sweets and bhujiya (salties) along with its papads, badis and on the non-vegetarian side, the lean mutton of the desert goats. Jodhpuri kachoris (puffed breads with stuffing) are either sweet (when stuffed with mawa) or quite tangy (when stuffed with hot green chillies and hot spices). Milk sweets of Bharatpur are not very commonly seen in markets but melt deliciously into the mouth. They are prepared by boiling milk for hours to such a consistency that it can be folded into little pancakes. Ghevar, a delicacy especially prepared during the Teej festival is quite popular. It looks like a round cake made up of white flour, which is then dipped into the sweetened syrup and is dressed cream and khoya. Kebabs and pasandas and sevaiyan, prepared especially during the Eid festival are an integral part of the Muslim dining table are have moved on from the Tonk and Loharu region to cover the whole of the state.

In the heart of the scorching Thar Desert, lies Bikaner of Rajasthan in India. The captivating desert scenery with all the majesty of its sand dunes, hard, rocky soil and thorny shrubs growing here and there, makes Bikaner endearing to nature lovers. The forts and red sandstone construction are the chief attractions of the city. It is a royal city surrounded by a mammoth fortification wall, more than 5 km in circumference and about 5 to 9m high.

Lying on the northern tip of the desert tourist triangle, Bikaner was a one of the significant staging post of the silk route in the days when businessmen used to travel mostly on camel caravans. Bikaner was founded in 1486 A.D. and was named after its founder, Rao Bikaji. The Camel Breeding Farm in Bikaner is only one of its kinds in whole Asia and so is the illustrious Camel Festival. Bikaner is bright and alive and colorful with its traditional costumes, vivacious fairs and festivals, paintings and murals and electrifying wares and hoards of artistic skills that have been there for centuries. CLIMATE Typically a desert climate, the days in Bikaner are hot and nights are chilly. In summers the temperatures range between 41.8C to 28C while, in winters, temperatures range from 23.2C to 5C. HOW TO REACH By Air: Bikaner does not have an official airport. Nal Airport, 17 kms from the city, which normally serves as India Air Force airfield, remains open to civilian flights to and from Bikaner from November to March. The nearest international airports to Bikaner are Jodhpur and Jaipur. By Train: Bikaner is well connected with all the major cities by the network of trains such as New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Churu and many more. From New Delhi, there are day and night trains that take about 12 hours to make the km trip to Bikaner. The Railway Station is situated in the heart of the city. By Road: Rajasthan tourism and private operators run luxury coaches, which include Rajasthan Roadway Deluxe, Super deluxe and air-conditioned buses, linking Bikaner to all the major cities such as New Delhi, Udaipur, Ajmer and Agra. The intercity bus station is centrally located opposite the Lalgarh Palace. WHERE TO EAT To treat the guests with new and unusual dishes are considered a matter of prestige in Bikaner and Rajasthan in general, not to mention the delicacies like stuffed camels, goats, and peacocks. The imperial kitchens of all the major hotels will offer you highly decked dishes in which dried lentils, beans from indigenous plants like sangri are ker liberally used. Bikaneri namkeen (salties) are famous and spicy. Lalgarh Palace Hotel is said to have the best cooks in the city. FAIRS AND FESTIVALS Camel Festival is much like Elephant Festival of Jaipur. Dedicated to the ship of the desert or the main mode of the transport for the desert people, it is held on the full moon night, every year in January. A lot of events featuring camel races and camel dances are held. You can enjoy camel rides and experience the buoyancy and colorful environment typical to Rajasthan. Gangaur Fair is held in March/ April every year in the honor of Goddess Gauri. Maidens and married women enact processions throughout the city. They wear their best dresses and jewellery, sing folk songs and perform rituals to please the goddess and get her blessings for conjugal and marital bliss. Kite Festival or the Teej Festival is generally held April/ May annually and as the name suggests the major event on this occasion is to fly kites. This cultural tradition bears special significance in Bikaner as it serves to venerate the historical fact that on this day the foundations of the city were laid. The hot climate and the sandstorms are unable to hinder the enthusiasm and fervor with which people of all ages celebrate it. Karni Mata Fair is held twice a year on the ninth day of the Navratra (the nine-day festival) in March/ April and September/ October, in the honor of Goddess Karni Mata, worshipped by the royal family of Bikaner. All the

devotees gather in the little desert citadel of Deshnok and offer their prayers and chant hymns and prayers. Kapil Muni Fair is held in November on the sacred lake of Kolayat, which is about 55 Km from Bikaner, during the full moon of 'Kartik' (according to the Hindu calendar), in the honor of Kapil Muni who founded 'Sankhya' (statistics, which was one of the six major philosophical schools of ancient India). Not only the devotees who come here to take a holy dip in the lake, several other people and tourists visit the place only to see the renowned cattle fair held here during this occasion. SHOPPING ATTRACTIONS Shop in Bikaner for items made out of camel hide such as belts, wallets, bags, and jootis (footwear) and many more. Carpets made of camel and sheep wool are a specialty. These days colorful carpets with intricate designs made with a blend of Bikaner wool and New Zealand wool are gaining popularity. Unique Kundan jewellery and setting uncut stones, usually diamonds, into gold to decorate the swords to sweet boxes, and using enamel ornamentation to enhance their splendor in the "raised field" technique are quite a craze. 'Nokha Quilts', known for lightweight and good insulation, cotton fabrics with sanganeri prints, tie and dyes, paintings, embroidered shoes also attract attention of the tourists. In Bikaner, Kote Gate (King Edward Memorial Road) and Junagarh Fort are the main shopping areas. WHAT TO WEAR The most appropriate outfits to wear in Bikaner include loose cotton clothes in summer and light woolen clothes to keep you warm in winter. Use a hat or a scarf as a head covering to avoid heat strokes. It will be advisable to wear comfortable footwear, as you will have to walk a lot here while sightseeing. Sunscreens are not to be forgotten if you are not used to the scorching hot desert sun in summers. In the heart of the scorching Thar Desert, lies Bikaner of Rajasthan in India. The captivating desert scenery with all the majesty of its sand dunes, hard, rocky soil and thorny shrubs growing here and there, makes Bikaner endearing to nature lovers. The forts and red sandstone construction are the chief attractions of the city. It is a royal city surrounded by a mammoth fortification wall, more than 5 km in circumference and about 5 to 9m high. Lying on the northern tip of the desert tourist triangle, Bikaner was a one of the significant staging post of the silk route in the days when businessmen used to travel mostly on camel caravans. Bikaner was founded in 1486 A.D. and was named after its founder, Rao Bikaji. The Camel Breeding Farm in Bikaner is only one of its kinds in whole Asia and so is the illustrious Camel Festival. Bikaner is bright and alive and colorful with its traditional costumes, vivacious fairs and festivals, paintings and murals and electrifying wares and hoards of artistic skills that have been there for centuries. CLIMATE Typically a desert climate, the days in Bikaner are hot and nights are chilly. In summers the temperatures range between 41.8C to 28C while, in winters, temperatures range from 23.2C to 5C. HOW TO REACH By Air: Bikaner does not have an official airport. Nal Airport, 17 kms from the city, which normally serves as India Air Force airfield, remains open to civilian flights to and from Bikaner from November to March. The nearest international airports to Bikaner are Jodhpur and Jaipur. By Train: Bikaner is well connected with all the major cities by the network of trains such as New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Agra, Churu and many more. From New Delhi, there are day and night trains that take about 12 hours to make the km trip to Bikaner. The Railway Station is situated in the heart of the city. By Road: Rajasthan tourism and private operators run luxury coaches, which include Rajasthan Roadway Deluxe, Super deluxe and air-conditioned buses, linking Bikaner to all the major cities such as New Delhi, Udaipur, Ajmer and Agra. The intercity bus station is centrally located opposite the Lalgarh Palace. WHERE TO EAT To treat the guests with new and unusual dishes are considered a matter of prestige in Bikaner and Rajasthan in general, not to mention the delicacies like stuffed camels, goats, and peacocks. The imperial kitchens of all the major hotels will offer you highly decked dishes in which dried lentils, beans from indigenous plants like sangri

are ker liberally used. Bikaneri namkeen (salties) are famous and spicy. Lalgarh Palace Hotel is said to have the best cooks in the city. FAIRS AND FESTIVALS Camel Festival is much like Elephant Festival of Jaipur. Dedicated to the ship of the desert or the main mode of the transport for the desert people, it is held on the full moon night, every year in January. A lot of events featuring camel races and camel dances are held. You can enjoy camel rides and experience the buoyancy and colorful environment typical to Rajasthan. Gangaur Fair is held in March/ April every year in the honor of Goddess Gauri. Maidens and married women enact processions throughout the city. They wear their best dresses and jewellery, sing folk songs and perform rituals to please the goddess and get her blessings for conjugal and marital bliss. Kite Festival or the Teej Festival is generally held April/ May annually and as the name suggests the major event on this occasion is to fly kites. This cultural tradition bears special significance in Bikaner as it serves to venerate the historical fact that on this day the foundations of the city were laid. The hot climate and the sandstorms are unable to hinder the enthusiasm and fervor with which people of all ages celebrate it. Karni Mata Fair is held twice a year on the ninth day of the Navratra (the nine-day festival) in March/ April and September/ October, in the honor of Goddess Karni Mata, worshipped by the royal family of Bikaner. All the devotees gather in the little desert citadel of Deshnok and offer their prayers and chant hymns and prayers. Kapil Muni Fair is held in November on the sacred lake of Kolayat, which is about 55 Km from Bikaner, during the full moon of 'Kartik' (according to the Hindu calendar), in the honor of Kapil Muni who founded 'Sankhya' (statistics, which was one of the six major philosophical schools of ancient India). Not only the devotees who come here to take a holy dip in the lake, several other people and tourists visit the place only to see the renowned cattle fair held here during this occasion. SHOPPING ATTRACTIONS Shop in Bikaner for items made out of camel hide such as belts, wallets, bags, and jootis (footwear) and many more. Carpets made of camel and sheep wool are a specialty. These days colorful carpets with intricate designs made with a blend of Bikaner wool and New Zealand wool are gaining popularity. Unique Kundan jewellery and setting uncut stones, usually diamonds, into gold to decorate the swords to sweet boxes, and using enamel ornamentation to enhance their splendor in the "raised field" technique are quite a craze. 'Nokha Quilts', known for lightweight and good insulation, cotton fabrics with sanganeri prints, tie and dyes, paintings, embroidered shoes also attract attention of the tourists. In Bikaner, Kote Gate (King Edward Memorial Road) and Junagarh Fort are the main shopping areas. WHAT TO WEAR The most appropriate outfits to wear in Bikaner include loose cotton clothes in summer and light woolen clothes to keep you warm in winter. Use a hat or a scarf as a head covering to avoid heat strokes. It will be advisable to wear comfortable footwear, as you will have to walk a lot here while sightseeing. Sunscreens are not to be forgotten if you are not used to the scorching hot desert sun in summers.

Bikaner Prime Attractions

PRIME ATTRACTIONS

Forts

&

Palaces Fort

Junagarh Built by Raja Rai Singh (who was a contemporary of Akbar), the fort remains unconquered till date except once, when Kamran supposedly captured it but could not retain it over 24 hours. It has 37 palaces, temples and pavilions that are built in red sandstone and marble. Richly decorated with mirror work, paintings and outstanding stone carvings, the architectural brilliance of the fort is worth seeing.

Suraj Pol (the Sun Gate) is the main doorway of the fort. The palaces are on the southern side of the fort and their courtyards, kiosks, towers and windows make a scenic view. The notable tourist attractions are Chandra Mahal (The Moon palace), Phool Mahal (The Flower Palace), Karan Mahal (Karn Palace), Anup Mahal, Diwan-e-Khas (Public Audience Hall), Hawa Mahal (the Wind Palace), Badal Mahal (the Cloud Palace), Rang Mahal (the Color Palace), Dungar Mahal, and Ganga Mahal. The fort is open from10 am to 4.30 pm daily and is closed on Fridays. The entry fee includes the fee of the guide. Lalgarh Palace Maharaja Ganga Singh (1881-1942) built Lalgarh Mahal, Sir Swinton Jacob being the chief architect. An imposing building, it has a captivation combination of Oriental style with its delicate latticework and European luxury with its overhanging balconies and terraced lawns. Peacocks and bougainvillea bushes provide the final strokes to the loveliness of its scenic beauty. The Lal Ghar Palace Library has a massive collection of rare, original Sanskrit manuscripts on parchments, copper and gold or silver plaques. The Lalgarh palace is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and is closed on Wednesdays. Museums Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum The museum has a plentiful collection of pre-Harappan, Gupta, and Kushan pottery, carpets, paintings, Bikaneri miniatures, armory and coins and also has a special section, which displays local arts of the area. Fort Junagarh Museum As the name suggests, it is located in the fort of Junagaarh and has an wide-ranging collection of manuscripts, carpets, jars, jewellery, armory, decorative items, treaties, and several other artifacts on its display. Palace Museum or Shri Sadul Museum The first floor of the Lal Ghar Mahal houses this museum, which displays royal exhibitories including wellpreserved hunting trophies, personal possessions of former Bikaner rulers such as royal wardrobe, camera, golf tees, camera, books, electric toothbrush of the former 'maharaja', his earplugs and old photos depicting royal hunts.

Bikaner Prime Attractions

PRIME Forts & ATTRACTIONS Palaces

Junagarh Fort Built by Raja Rai Singh (who was a contemporary of

Akbar), the fort remains unconquered till date except once, when Kamran supposedly captured it but could not retain it over 24 hours. It has 37 palaces, temples and pavilions that are built in red sandstone and marble. Richly decorated with mirror work, paintings and outstanding stone carvings, the architectural brilliance of the fort is worth seeing. Suraj Pol (the Sun Gate) is the main doorway of the fort. The palaces are on the southern side of the fort and their courtyards, kiosks, towers and windows make a scenic view. The notable tourist attractions are Chandra Mahal (The Moon palace), Phool Mahal (The Flower Palace), Karan Mahal (Karn Palace), Anup Mahal, Diwan-eKhas (Public Audience Hall), Hawa Mahal (the Wind Palace), Badal Mahal (the Cloud Palace), Rang Mahal (the Color Palace), Dungar Mahal, and Ganga Mahal. The fort is open from10 am to 4.30 pm daily and is closed on Fridays. The entry fee includes the fee of the guide. Lalgarh Palace Maharaja Ganga Singh (1881-1942) built Lalgarh Mahal, Sir Swinton Jacob being the chief architect. An imposing building, it has a captivation combination of Oriental style with its delicate latticework and European luxury with its overhanging balconies and terraced lawns. Peacocks and bougainvillea bushes provide the final strokes to the loveliness of its scenic beauty. The Lal Ghar Palace Library has a massive collection of rare, original Sanskrit manuscripts on parchments, copper and gold or silver plaques. The Lalgarh palace is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and is closed on Wednesdays. Museums Ganga Golden Jubilee Museum The museum has a plentiful collection of pre-Harappan, Gupta, and Kushan pottery, carpets, paintings, Bikaneri miniatures, armory and coins and also has a special section, which displays local arts of the area. Fort Junagarh Museum As the name suggests, it is located in the fort of Junagaarh and has an wide-ranging collection of manuscripts, carpets, jars, jewellery, armory, decorative items, treaties, and several other artifacts on its display. Palace Museum or Shri Sadul Museum The first floor of the Lal Ghar Mahal houses this museum, which displays royal exhibitories including wellpreserved hunting trophies, personal possessions of former Bikaner rulers such as royal wardrobe, camera, golf tees, camera, books, electric toothbrush of the former 'maharaja', his earplugs and old photos depicting royal hunts.

Excursions in Bikaner

EXCURSIONS Gajner Gajner is 32 km from Bikaner and is famous for its wildlife sanctuary where you can see wild fowls, deers, and antelopes, blue bull, chinkara, black buck or flocks of regal sand grouse that migrate here in winter and wild boar. It's a pleasure to see the green forests and lakes amidst desert-wooded hills here. Gajner wildlife sanctuary also features Gajner Palace, known as "Jewel in the Thar Desert", which was built Maharaja Ganga Singhji of Bikaner on the lakeside. Camel Breeding Farm Just 8 km from Bikaner, this camel research and breeding center had its roots in the Camel Corp of the British army. Today, it is only one of its kinds in Asia with more than 250 camels and baby-camels that are quite a spectacle and is a great tourist attraction. It also features camel rides. The farm is open from Monday to Friday and on every second Saturday from 3 to 5 pm. There is no entry fee. Deshnok About 30km south of Bikaner, it is known for its 600year old Karni Mata Temple, which is dedicated to the Karni Mata, the tutulary deity of the royal family of Bikaner and a form of the Goddess Durga. You will find thousands of rats in the temple. The devotees feed them and believe that these rodents will be reincarnated as holy men. They also consider spotting a white rat as a good omen. The temple is open from 4 am to 10 pm and there's an additional fee for cameras and videos.

Karni Mata Fair

Location: Significance: Time of Celebration: Deshnok, a small town near Nokha 60 km from district headquarters in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Held in the honor of the deity Karni Mata, worshipped by the royal family of Bikaner. Twice a year for 10 days during Navratras, from Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi (from 1st day of the lunar month to the 10th day of the lunar month, according to the Hindu calendar) and Ashvin Shukla Ekam to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi (from 1st day of the lunar month to the 10th day of the lunar month, according to the Hindu calendar), which usually falls in March or April and September or October, respectively.

Karni Mata led an ascetic life and dedicated herself to the service of the poor and downtrodden and is believed to possess supernatural powers. She laid the foundation of Deshnok and her main followers are 'Charans'. The royal fam ily of Bikaner worship her as the benefactor deity. Made of marble and stone, Karni Mata Temple s also known as Madh and houses image of Karni Mata adorned with a tiara accompanied by the images of her sisters. It is customary for the Rajputs to bring their

children on 'jadula' (the first time when the head of the child is clean shaven). People offer their prayers to the Goddess and ask for her blessings. It is surprising to see the large number of brown rats living in the temple. People offer food to them and they are considered auspicious. It is said that spotting the white rat living in the temple grounds, is a very good omen and is believed to be lucky by the devotees.

Camel Festival of Bikaner

Location: Significance: Time of Celebration: Near Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Dedicated to the Ship of the Desert, Camel January.

Attraction: Best Breed Competition, Tug-Of- War, Camel Dance, Acrobatics. Organized by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture of Rajasthan, Camel Festival is held every year in the desert land to attract tourists who love to see longnecked, hunch-backed camels dancing to the tunes and directions of their trainers. Their rhythmic footwork, decorative bridles, jingling anklets with a backdrop of massive Junagarh Fort made of red sandstone and dusky sands mesmerize the audience. Camels are undeniably an important beast of burden in the desert land and here you can see how proudly the breeders dressed in vibrant colors display their bedecked camels. There is best breed competition, acrobatics and tug-ofwar contest that lends gaiety to the festival. Casting spell on the onlookers, one can see, eminent artistes and local folk performers of Rajasthan that compliment the charisma of euphoric dancers who swirl their skirts and move in circles untiringly, fire dancers who balance burning lamps on their foreheads while dancing and crackers and fireworks that takes the message of happiness and joyousness to the skies.

Camel Festival of Bikaner

Location: Significance: Time of Celebration: Near Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Dedicated to the Ship of the Desert, Camel January.

Attraction: Best Breed Competition, Tug-Of- War, Camel Dance, Acrobatics. Organized by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture of Rajasthan, Camel Festival is held every year in the desert land to attract tourists who love to see longnecked, hunch-backed camels dancing to the tunes and directions of their trainers. Their rhythmic footwork, decorative bridles, jingling anklets with a backdrop of

massive Junagarh Fort made of red sandstone and dusky sands mesmerize the audience. Camels are undeniably an important beast of burden in the desert land and here you can see how proudly the breeders dressed in vibrant colors display their bedecked camels. There is best breed competition, acrobatics and tug-of-war contest that lends gaiety to the festival. Casting spell on the onlookers, one can see, eminent artistes and local folk performers of Rajasthan that compliment the charisma of euphoric dancers who swirl their skirts and move in circles untiringly, fire dancers who balance burning lamps on their foreheads while dancing and crackers and fireworks that takes the message of happiness and joyousness to the skies.

Albert Hall Museum Jaipur

This museum is supposed to be the oldest museum of the state. Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob designed it in 1876 to greet King Edward VII as Prince of Wales on his visit to India. It was opened to public ten years later. Positioned amidst the gardens of Ram Niwas Bagh in Jaipur, this museum has an assortment of rare articles on its display including textiles, carpets, paintings, metal and wood crafts, pottery, arms and weapons, flora and fauna of the state, toys, dolls and even an Egyptian mummy that belongs to the Ptolemaic Epoch. It is also known for housing the famous carpet, which portrays the scene of a Persian garden carpet with running water streams that was bought at a dear price from Shah Abbas of Persia, by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I. It also puts on show the miniature paintings of a

number

of

sub-schools

of

Rajasthan.

The galleries on the ground floor of the museum have been completely remodeled and restructured since 1959 in an attempt to depict the uniqueness of the dresses and jewellery of all the classes and tribes of Rajasthani people including the privileged class that mainly consists of Rajputs and the merchant class. It includes the lifestyle of the tribals such as Meenas, Bhopas, Bhils, Gadoliya Lohars and many more. One gallery has also been committed to the henna body art of Rajasthan, popularly called as 'Mehndi Mandana', which makes an exhibition of the typical Rajasthani motifs and designs that are so well recognized as ethnic all over the world. Puppets and Phad paintings (the painted scrolls depicting the life of Pabuji Rathore, who was a great folk-hero from Marwar) occupies yet another gallery of the museum. The highlights of the museum, however, are displayed in its central gallery, which is completely devoted to the Rajasthani music and dance forms.

Amber Fort Jaipur

Raja Man Singh built Amer Palace in 16th century. It is a mesmerizing blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Rajputs made use of the Amber Fort from the 16th century up to the foundation of Jaipur in 1727 both for defense purpose as well as the residential purposes.

Thus within its mighty walls, one finds charming gardens and magnificent palaces made from marble and precious stones, richly decorated with intricate stonemason works and paintings, which represented royal splendor and luxury. Situated at Jaipur, the reflection of Amber Fort in the lake below looks almost divine. It is not at all surprising to know that this majestic and stately fort was once the Capital of Minas. Amer Fort houses Jai Mandir, a famous temple which has Sheesh Mahal, a beautiful hall of mirrors that are so artistically set that even a tiny ray of light gets reflected in the mirrors and illumines the hall dazzlingly. Sheesh Mahal is famous all over the world as one of the most desirable tourist attraction. Other places of interest in this fort are Sukh Niwas and Ganesh Pole.

City Palace Jaipur

Situated in the capital of Rajasthan, the City Palace of Jaipur or the chief palace is a titillating fusion of conventional Rajasthan and Mughal architecture. The gigantic palace complex engages one seventh of the walled city of Jaipur. Originally constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs, embellishments have been made to the palace complex from time to time by many of his successors. The complex is divided into a series of beautiful courtyards, extensive gardens and magnificent buildings. It houses a number of palatial structures, most notable ones being the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Badal Mahal, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. Mubarak Mahal or the Auspicious Palace is in the first courtyard. Maharaja Madho Singh II built it in the late 19th century. It holds the textile section of the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. A magnificent gateway leads to a stately courtyard known as Diwan-I-Khas or Hall of Private Audience, which is indeed an open hall ornamented with a double row of columns sporting scalloped arches. There are the two largest silver vessels in the world that won their place in the Guinness Book of World Records that were used for carrying water from the holy Ganges for the personal use of the Raja Madho Singh II, when he went on his journey to England. Now, a part of the museum, Diwan-E-Aam or the Hall of Public Audience has intricate decorations in deep red and gold. Ridhi Sidhi Pol is a gateway with four small doorways that are decorated with motifs that depict the four seasons. The poised seven-storeyed Chandra Mahal or the Moon Palace has been retained by the royal family in part and still serves as their present-day residence. It offers classic views of the gardens and the city. Traditionally ornamented, paintings, floral decorations, mirror walls and ceilings adorn the palace. Each storey has a distinguishing name and its ground and first floor is occupied by the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum.

Dargah Sharif Ajmer

'Dargah Sharif' or 'Holy Dargah' is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country. Venerated by both Hindus and Muslims, it is the tomb of Khwaja Moin-uddin Chisti, a Sufi saint who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The Dargah has a massive gate with silver doors built in several stages. Revered by the Mughal rulers, it has touches of Humayun to Shah

Jahan in its structural architecture. A silver railing and a marble screen surround the actual tomb of the saint, made of marble with a gold plated dome. Every year Urs is held here for six days in his remembrance. It is said that when he was 114 years old, the saint locked himself in a room for six days to pray and left his mortal body in solitude. Several thousand devotees throng to this place during this time of the year and food is cooked in huge cauldrons and served to the devotees. The surprising part is that the people serve the food while standing inside the scalding hot food in the cauldrons. These cauldrons are said to be offered by Emperor Akbar when the saint blessed him with an heir for the throne. The pilgrims make rich offerings called 'nazrana' at the sacred spot where the saint has been entombed that include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense that put in to the fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. Cash offerings are also made. Also offered by devotees are the 'chaadar', 'ghilaph' and 'neema', which are votive offerings for the tomb. Outside the holy place of the Dargah, professional singers called 'qawwals' sit in groups and sing hymns in the praises of the saint in a characteristic high-pitched voice. One can also see 'fakirs' on the main gate begging for alms in the name of the Khwaja. Qawwalis at the shrine and fragrance of the incense sticks together create a divine effect.

Chittorgarh Fort
The Chittorgarh Fort has witnessed three bloody sieges and 'jauhars' (a Rajput tradition in which royal maidens and ladies immolate themselves in the fire to save their honor from the cruel hands of the enemy, when there is no chance of defeating the enemy). The walls and the atmosphere is still haunted with the gloom of despair, valiant pride of the Rajput queens and ladies and sheer zeal and bravery of their men who refused to cow down before the enemy. The Rajput style of architecture is clearly visible in the fort, which is said to be the Gahlot and Sisodia ruler of Mewar from the 8th to the 16th century. Named after Chittrangad Mauraya, the magnificent fort rises 150 m above the surrounding region and runs to an approximate length of 3 km covering an area of 60 acres and peripheral length of 13 km. The legend says that when the talks of Rani Padmini's beauty reched the years of Sultan Alauddin Khilji, the powerful ruler of Delhi, he requested her husband, Rana Rattan Singh, for a glimpse of the queen. Though, it went against the honor code of Rajputs, yet he was allowed to get a glimpse of the queen through the reflection of the queen in a water tank that overlooked the palace. Alauddin, then, had the audacity to attack Chittor to gain her possession. He won the war but lost Rani Padmini who committed 'jauhar' to save her honor. The entrance of the Chittorgarh has seven massive gates, the two towers known as the 'Kirti Stambh' (Tower of Fame) and the 'Vijay Stambh' (Tower of Victory) along with several temples, reservoirs, and palaces dating between the 9th and 17th centuries.