Wonderful Views of Rajasthan, India.

http://tonferns.blogspot.ca/search/label/Rajasthan

AJMER, Rajasthan, India - राजस्थान

अजमेर - राजस्थान

भारत
Ajmer (Rajasthani: अजमेर, Urdu: اجمیر) pronounced [ədʒmeːr] ( listen) is the 5th largest city in Rajasthan and is the centre of the eponymous Ajmer District. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 (2011 census), and is located 135 kilometres (84 mi) west of Jaipur, the state capital, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from Delhi.
Ajmer is surrounded by the Aravalli Mountains. It is a pilgrimage centre for the shrine of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km), an ancient Hindu pilgrimage city, famous for the temple of Brahma.

JODHPUR, Rajasthan, India

VIEW OF THE SPECTACULAR MEHRANGARH FORT

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46349625

JASWANT THADA, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

The Jaswant Thada is an architectural landmark located in Jodhpur. It is a white marble memorial built by Sardar Singh in 1899 in memory of Maharajah Jaswant Singh II


Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, India

This spectacular fort is located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan state and is one of the largest forts in India.

The fort is situated 400 feet (122 m) above the city, and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. It consists of several palaces with intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. A winding road leads to and from the city below.

There are seven gates, which include Jayapol (meaning 'victory') built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over Jaipur and Bikaner armies. Fattehpol (also meaning 'victory') gate was built by Maharaja Ajit Singh to mark the defeat of the Mughals.

The museum in the Mehrangarh fort has a selection of old royal palanquins, including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin, which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period rooms.

Please double-click on picture for an enlarged view.

JAISALMER

Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan, India.

Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts in the world. It is situated in Jaisalmer city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was built in 1156 AD by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, from where it derives it name.

It is completely self-contained - a fort with its own township. Souvenir shops line up the maze of alleyways. One can have a complete view of the surroundings below as one passes through the various terraces, portals, rooms, gun and canon holes and balconies of the fort.

The majestic fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert on Trikuta Hill. It has been the scene of many battles. Its massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion color during the day, fading to honey-gold as the sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason, it is also known as the "Golden Fort".

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India.

Desert Camps near Sam on MDR 15

A tour of the desert consists of a camel ride across the stretch of the desert along the roads that lead towards the western border at sunset. An evening of entertainment is provided with traditional Rajasthani singing and dancing to to the music of local talented artistes.

BIKANER, Rajasthan,India

Bikaner
Bikaner is a District in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan in northern India. It is located 330 kilometres (205 mi) northwest of the state capital, Jaipur. Bikaner city is the administrative headquarters of Bikaner Districtand Bikaner division. It was formerly the capital of the princely state of Bikaner. The city was founded by Rao Bika. Bikaner.[1][2][3] in 1486 and from its small origins it has developed into the fourth largest city in Rajasthan. The Ganges Canal, completed in 1928, and the Indira Gandhi Canal, completed in 1987, have allowed the farming of crops such as mustard, cotton, groundnuts, wheat and vegetables. Other industries include wool production and the mining of Gypsum, plaster of Paris and bentonite.
Bikaner is famous for sweets and snacks (or namkeens in Hindi).

BIKANER, Rajasthan, India

JUNAGARH FORT

Bikaner, Rajasthan, India
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46146750
Junagarh Fort (जुनाग्द क़िला) is a fort in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. Originally it was called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or "Old Fort" in the early part of the 20th century when the ruling family moved to Lalgarh Palace outside the fort limits. It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which is not built on a hilltop. The modern city of Bikaner has developed around the fort. The fort complex was built under the supervision of Karan Chand, the Prime Minister of Raja Rai Singh. He was the sixth ruler of Bikaner, from 1571 to 1611 AD. Construction of the walls and associated moat commenced in 1589 and was completed in 1594. It was built outside the original fort of the city, about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the city centre.

It is believed that despite the repeated attacks by enemies to capture the fort, they were unsuccessful in their attempts, except for a lone one-day occupation by Kamran Mirza, who was the second son of the Mughal Emperor Babur who attacked Bikaner in 1534. It was then under the rule of Rao Jait Singh. In the battle, the Mughals were defeated by Rathors and then Kamran returned to Lahore.

The 5.28 hectares large fort precinct is studded with palaces, temples and pavilions.[2] These buildings depict a composite culture, manifest in the mix of architectural styles.[6]

VISHNU DEVI MANDIRSagar Road, NH11, Bikaner, Rajasthan - India

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46145293

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH, Bikaner.

Sagar Road - NH.11, Rajasthan, India

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/46144937

JAIPUR, Rajasthan, India

AMBER FORT, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

आमेर क़िला

On a pleasant afternoon in early January we visited this ancient citadel.

Known also as Amer Fort, it is located in Amber, 13 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan State, India.

Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) elements, and its ornate and breathtaking artistic mastery. The fort borders the Maota Lake, and is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan.

CITY PALACE, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

The Pink City

City Palace is one of the most famous tourist attractions and a major landmark in Jaipur. The majestic and beautiful palace was built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign. City Palace has intricate and fascinating art, truly outstanding in this artistry and architecture, a memory that will last you a lifetime. Covering a vast area with sub-divisions consisting of sprawling gardens, grand royal courtyards and magnificent buidlings, reminiscent of the past Rajput galantry.

JAL MAHAL, Lake Palace, Jaipur

Rajasthan, India

Jal Mahal means 'Water Palace'. This grandiose and imposing palace is located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city, the capital of the state of Rajasthan, India. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.

Jaipur (Rajasthani: जैपर , Hindi: जयपुर Urdu: جئے پور [ˈdʒəjpʊɾ] ( listen)), also popularly known as the 'Pink City', is the capital andlargest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of 3.1 million.
Jaipur is one of the finest planned cities of India, located in the semi-desert lands of Rajasthan. The city which once had been the capital of the royalty now is the capital city of Rajasthan. The very structure of Jaipur resembles the taste of the Rajputs and the Royal families. At present, Jaipur is a major business centre with all requisites of a metropolitan city.
Jaipur has some big and famous areas in India like Mansarovar, Vaishali Nagar, Sanganer, Jhotwara, Amba-Bari, Raja Park etc.
~ Wikipedia

GOA TO JAIPUR, Rajasthan, India

TOUR OF RAJASTHAN, India

By train : Goa to Jaipur.

Tour of Rajasthan: in a Toyota Qualis.
Return to Goa from Jaipur by train.


Our tour of Rajasthan started in Jaipur, and went in an anti-clockwise direction:
Jaipur - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur - Chittaurgarh - Ajmer

With sincere thanks to our Lourdes & Leo Kapoor without whom this trip would have not be possible. Also our sincere thanks go out to their families for their warmth and welcome along the way in Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ajmere. They indeed made our holiday a very special one and extremely enjoyable. We will remember it for a long time to come.

Jaipur to Bikaner

via Sikar

335 Km  6 hrs

NH 52 and NH 11

Bikaner to Jaisalmer

via Phalodi, Pokran, Bhadriya

330 km  6 hrs

NH 11

Jaisalmer to Jodhpur

via Chandan, Pokran, Dechu

250 Km  5 hrs

NH 11, NH 125

Jodhpur to Udaipur

Via Rohat, Pali, Nadol, Rajsamand, Nathdwara

250 km  5 hrs

NH 62, NH 58

Udaipur to Chittorgarh

Via Debari, Bhatewar, Menar, Mangalwad, Bhadsora, Ghosunda

150 km  3 hrs

NH 27, NH 48

Chittorgarh to Ajmer

via Gangarar, Bhilwara, Banera, Raila, Bhinai, Nasirabad

200 km  4 hrs

Nh48

Rajasthan is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert), which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with Pakistan. The state is bordered by Pakistan to the west, Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar Pradeshand Haryana to the northeast and Punjab to the north. Rajasthan covers an area of 132,150 sq mi or 342,239 km². The proportion of the state's total area to the total area of the country is 10.41 per cent.

 Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the state. Geographical features include the Thar Desert along north-western Rajasthan and the termination of the Ghaggar River near the archaeological ruins at Kalibanga of the Indus Valley Civilization, which are the oldest in the Indian subcontinent discovered so far.

One of the world's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range, cradles the only hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, famous for Dilwara Temples, a sacred pilgrimage for Jains. Eastern Rajasthan has the world famous Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, famous for its bird life and is a World Heritage Site and two famous national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserve. Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949, when all erstwhile princely states ruled by Rajputs, known as Rajputana, merged into theDominion of India.
- Wikipedia

THE STONES OF BALESAR, Rajasthan, India

SOUVENIR STOP

On a continuing tour of Rajasthan,

we left Jaisalmer soon after breakfast,

heading south-east to Jodhpur.

Stopping at the vast Balesar Stone Quarry

for a tea break, we collected a few stones

as souvenirs and took pictures

before proceeding on our exciting tour.

THE GRANDEUR OF RAJASTHAN

Ye Jeevan Hai Is Jeevan Ka
Music by Virtuoso Indian Pianist Brian Silas

UDAIPUR, Rajasthan, India

Udaipur (उदैपर) (उदयपुर), also known as the  City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located 403 kilometres (250 mi) southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, 248 kilometres (154 mi) west of Kota, and 250 kilometres (155 mi) northeast from Ahmedabad. Udaipur is the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency. The city is renowned for having the longest ruling dynasty in the world. The Royal House of Udaipur has had one family ruling since 600 AD to the present, making it the longest ruling dynasty whose descendants still retain their position.

Apart from its history, culture, and scenic locations, it is also known for its Rajput-era palaces. The Lake Palace, for instance, covers an entire island in the Pichola Lake. Many of the palaces have been converted into luxury hotels. It is often called the "Venice of the East", "The city of Romance" and is also nicknamed the "Lake City".^[2][3] Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar in this city are considered some of the most beautiful lakes in the state.

JODHPUR, Rajasthan, India

Jodhpur (Rajasthani: जोधाणा; Hindi: जोधपुर), is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located 335 kilometres (208 mi) west from the state capital, Jaipur and 200 kilometres (124 mi) from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts and temples, set in the stark landscape of the Thar desert.

The city is known as the "Sun City" for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It is also referred to as the "Blue City"^[4] due to the blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. The old city circles the fort and is bounded by a wall with several gates. However, the city has expanded greatly outside the wall over the past several decades. Jodhpur lies near the geographic centre of Rajasthan state, which makes it a convenient base for travel in a region much frequented by tourists.

JAISALMER, Rajasthan, India.

Jaysalmar  (Rajasthani: जैसलमेर), nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and has a population of about 78,000. It is the administrative headquarters ofJaisalmer District.

Holiday Express

We're on our way!

Full steam ahead!

Welcome aboard, the train is empty.

THIVIM STATION, Goa.

Having departed from Thivim, Goa, India, we were on our way to Jaipur, via Kota.

Enchanting Jaipur

It has been a great and yet another nostalgic journey from Goa to Jaipur. We have been more than lucky in many ways. To miss a train is one thing, but to be able to find a subsequent one completely empty to board in just over an hour's wait is another story. There are the forts of Bikaner that I will always remember, sounds of the cities that I will always hear, winding pathways, roadways and the camel rides through the deserts of Jaisalmer, jokes and stories way past midnight in Kishingarh, the never-ending and winding shortcuts through the narrow roadways from Jodhpur to Jaipur via Nadol, stops at the wayside restaurants, and making notes of mileage and travel distances. The cameras kept on clicking away throughout the trip - of forts, towns, sunsets and bare 'neem' trees, and peacock and deer as we drove through the desert of Western Rajasthan.