Important Place In Rajasthan

Ajmer Ajmer lies towards the centre of the Rajasthan state. The place is widely known for its pilgrimage places for Hindu and Muslim followers. The famous Dargah Sharif of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti lies in the city and is visited by thousands of devotees every year. The history of Ajmer is varied due to frequent change of ruling power, amongst various Muslim and Rajputana dynasties. The place as such bears impressions of several cultures and traditions. An overview of the city reveals distinct green belts surrounded by barren hills. Alwar Alwar is 150 Km from Jaipur and 170 Km. From Delhi. It is nested between a cluster of small hills of the Aravalli range. Perched on the most prominent of these hills is a massive ancient fort that whispers tales of the rich Delhi. The people of the state did not accept any external interference’s and daringly resisted against foreign invasions. In the 12th and 13th centuries they formed a group and raided Delhi. But finally Sultan Bulban (1267 A.D - 1287 A.D) suppressed them, bringing the area under the Muslims rule. In 1771 A.D. Maharaja Pratap Singh, a Kuchhwaha Rajput belonging to the clan of Jaipur’s rulers, won back Alwar and founded a principality of his own. Apart from its long history, the city has a rich natural heritage with some beautiful lakes and picturesque valleys thickly wooded in parts. Bharatpur This is truly a fantasy of feathers. It is the bird kingdom, where time takes wing. Welcome to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park at Bharatpur in Rajasthan. Spread over an area of little over 232 sq kms, Keoladeo derives its name from the Shiva Temple in the heart of the sanctuary. Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, ornithologist Salim Ali, is credited for bringing this park to public notice. Bikaner Located on the north of the state Rajasthan, the camel country Bikaner is one of the three main destinations of the desert circuit cities of Rajasthan. It was founded by the Rathore prince Rao Bikaji a descendant of founder of Jodhpur, Rao Jodhaji. During medieval period the city was an important trading route to the West Asian countries. The city is popular in all over world for its best riding camels and architectural wealth lying in its marvelous forts, palaces and temples. Bundi Bundi is a small town with rustic setting that stands on the foothills of the Aravali Mountains. Bundi is very famous for its baolis meaning waterworks or step wells, havelis, temples and chhatris with carved pillars. The mural adorned palaces, the forts and the monuments tell tales about the glorious past of the city. A picturesque lake where the entire city and the palaces get reflected in the lake adds a stunning quality to the place. Luni Luni is situated 35 kms away from Jodhpur, it is a charming and cloistered village which reflects the royal past of Rajasthan. In Luni many artisans are still pursuing their ancestral profession of carving metal, clay or wood into intricate forms. Luni's Fort Chanwa is an outstanding piece of elegance and proportion in Indian Architecture of the last century. The village of Luni is situated in the shadow of fort walls. This small bustling village invites innumerable tourists to the nearby fort. Jaipur Settled in the rugged hills of the Aravallis, Jaipur is the pristine jewel in the desert sands of Rajasthan. Jaipur is as remarkable for its marvellous architecture and town planning as it is for the lively spirit of the people who inhabit it. The city presents a unique synthesis of culture that has to be experienced in order to be appreciated. With its origin buried deep into the pages of history, the city still exudes a magical old world charm; an aroma of chivalry and romance is evident, despit having evolved into a city that is the hub of modern commercial activity in the region. Tell-tale signs of the glorious past and regal splendour of the city lie strewn across with gay abandon. Jaisalmer The city has an interesting legend associated with it, according to which, lord Krishna- the head of Yadav clan foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent of the Yadav clan would build his kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill, His prophecy was fulfilled in 1156AD. When Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti Rajput abandoned his fort at Lodurva and founded a new capital Jaisalmer, perched on the Trikuta Hill Bhatti Rajputs of Jaisalmer were fedual chief who lived off the forced levy on the caravans laden with precious silks and spices that crossed the territory enroute Delhi-or Sind. These seems to be straight out of the “Tales of the Arabian Night” still enchants. Jodhpur In 1459 AD, Rao Jodha, chief of Rathore clan of Rajputs, who claimed descent from Rama, the epic here of the Ramayana, laid the foundation of Jodhpur. A high stone wall protects the well-fortified city. The wall is nearly 10km in length and has eight gates facing various directions. A valiant sentinel in the desert, on the eastern fringe of the Thar desert has the distinction of neither being a part of the Thar desert nor out of it. At best it is a doorway to the wonderland of sand dunes and shrubs, rocky terrain and thorny trees. The home of the Rathroes - the awesome princely state of Rajasthan. They conquered Marwar or Maroodesh, land of the sand after the fall of Delhi and Kannauj. Kumbhalgarh Its location had always been Kumbhalgarh's greatest advantage. Because it was virtually inaccessible in the 15th century, Rana Kumbha of Mewar built this great defensive fortress on a 3,500 feet (1,100 meters) high hill overlooking the approaches from Ajmer and Marwar. Today, precisely because it is within easy reach of Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, and Pushkar-yet off the well trodden tourist routes-Kumbhalgarh is an attractive destination. Mandwa The city of Mandawa, founded in the mid 18th century, was once a town inhabited by the rich merchant families. The wealthy and dominant merchants constructed massive havelis, adorned with beautiful wall paintings, for the purpose of their residence. However, with time, the merchants moved on and migrated to other areas, leaving the beautiful havelis in the shadows of anonymity. Still, the magnificence of these havelis did not diminish and now they have become a major tourist attraction of the city. Read on this Mandawa city guide to get further information about this city. Mount Abu The history of Mount Abu is as diverse as the city itself. It was once a part of the Chauhan kingdom of Rajasthan and served as a summer resort for the Rajput kings of the region. After that, it was leased by the British government from the then Maharaja of Sirohi for use as the headquarter of the resident to Rajputana (another name for Rajasthan). During the British rule in India, it was the favorite summer destination of the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the plains particularly Rajasthan. It also served as a sanatorium for the troops. The small huts and cottages here tell stories of those times even today. Shekhawati The semidesert region of Shekhawati is a colourful fantasy having a fascinating uniquely of its own. The open air art gallery, as it is popularly called is famous for its plethora of painted havelis, all commendable pieces of the rich artistic traditional of this region. ‘Shekhawati’, meanings the land of Shekhs clan derives its name from Rao Shekha (1433 A.D.-1488 A.D. ) a section of the Kachhwaha family of Jaipur. Udaipur Udaipur was the capital city of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar, ruled by Sisodia clan. Before Udaipur, Chittorgarh was the capital of Mewar. But after the conquer of Chittorgarh by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1568, Umed Singh fled to Udaipur and founded a new city. It remained a part of the Mughal empire after prince Khurram crushed the Rajput resistance in 1614. During mid 17th century, the ruling Sisodia dynasty prospered under Mughal patronage. But with the decline of Mughal empire in 19th century, the Rajput kingdom reasserted its power and became a princely state of British India. After India gained independence in 1947, Mewar was integrated into India's Rajasthan state.