About Me: I am Snigdha. I spent a great holiday in Rajasthan and Gujrat during this Durgapuja and want to share the same with Shilpi's 'My Recent Trips'. In this post, I will tell you guys about the days we spent in Rajasthan and in some other post I will surely elaborate the my experience of Gujrat.
I hope you will enjoy reading my experience . In case of any query, please feel free to comment on the post or send mail in "dutshilpi@gmail.com" or "snigdha.aec@gmail.com"

About Rajasthan: Rajasthan is the place of great Maharanas(kings).This is the land of Raja, so it is named as Rajasthan. It is the land of colours too. The main attraction of Rajasthan is the Thar Desert and one of the oldest hill Arravali range is situated here.
Rajasthan attracts a huge number of domestic as well as international tourists every year. Endowed with natural beauty and the great history, tourism is a flourishing industry in Rajasthan. Rajasthan is famous for the majestic forts, intricately carved temples and decorated havelis, which were built by Rajput kings; they were the soul of pre-Muslim era Rajasthan. Jantar Mantar, Dilwara Temples, Chittorgarh Fort, Lake Palace, bundi palace ,City Palaces, Jaisalmer [ancient miniature in bundi ] Havelis are part of the true architectural heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made of a type of sand stone dominated by a pink hue; in budi maximum houses are painted blue. At Ajmer, the white marble Bara-dari on the Anasagar lake is exquisite. Jain Temples dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu, Ranakpur Temple dedicated to Lord Adinath in Pali Dist., Jain temples in the fort complexes of Chittor, Jaisalmer and Kumbhalgarh, Lodurva Jain temples, Bhandasar Temple of Bikaner are some of the best examples.
Rajasthan is often called a shopper's paradise. Rajasthan is famous for textiles, semi-precious stones and handicrafts. The attractive designs of jewellery and clothes are eye-catching and invite shoppers. Rajasthani furniture has intricate carvings and bright colours. Rajasthani handicrafts are in demand due to the intricate work on them. Above all, Rajasthan's shopping appeals to both international tourists and people from other parts of India due to its cheap prices for quality goods.
Bikaner is famous for its namkeens, Jaipur for its jewellery, Jodhpur for sweets and Jaisalmer for yellow stone, wall paintings of bundi.

Duration of the Trip: It was a 10 days and 11 night’s trip from Asansol, West Bengal. We started at 2:10 am at night on Thursday and reached Rajasthan on Friday. From Rajasthan we went to Gujrat and came back to Asansol from Gujrat.

Transportation: We board Howrah Jodhpur Express (12307) to reach Jaipur, from Asansol at 2:05 am on Thursday and reached Jaipur, next day at 00:10 am.
Ticket costs Rs 406/- for Sleeper classes, Rs 1087/- for 3 tiers AC and Rs 1486/- for 2 tiers AC for each person.

Details of the Trip:
Night 2: After getting down at Jaipur Railway Station, we hired an auto rickshaw from outside of the station to reach
Hotel Tri-Lok Palace
A-12, Sain Colony, Power House Road,
Near Railway Station,
Jaipur(Rajasthan)
Ph. No.:+91-141-2200105
+91-9785020105
Email-id: info@hoteltrilokpalace.com
Room Description                                                                 Tariff in INR
Executive A.C. Room (Double Occupancy)                                     999
Executive A.C. Room (Single Occupancy)                                       900
Super Deluxe AIR COOLED (Double Occupancy)                           800
Super Deluxe AIR COOLED (Single Occupancy)                             700
Additional Persons is Rs. 200/- per head.

The hotel was at 10 minutes walking distance from railways station and at 4-5 minutes by auto. We had an advance booking of two double bed rooms which were enough big to accommodate three people in a room. We were a group of 5 including elderly.

Day 2: We had booked a Toyota Innova in an agreement of taking us through all the visiting places in Rajasthan and Gujrat during our stay there, in n amount of Rs 42000/-.
We had our breakfast in the hotel and started for the city tour of ‘Pink City’ by 9:30 a.m. The places we visited were,
Birla Mandir which is situated at the foot of Gaytri Devi Palace or Moti doongri Fort is the temple dedicated to Hindu God Laxmi and Narayan and also known as Laxmi Narayan Temple. The Laxmi Narayan Mandir is a modern architectural marvel, surrounded by lush green gardens. The fascinating exteriors of the temple are carved splendidly with beautiful sculptures based of mythological themes, while the interiors have a large marble panel portraying mythological events. The Birla Temple has a museum too, which showcases the ancestral valuables of the Birla family.

Birla Temple, Jaipur

Albert Hall 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 remodelled 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. 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 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.

Outside Alber Hall	Albert Hall
Inside Albert Hall	Albert Hall

Timings of the museum are 9.00a.m to 5.30pm.
In Albert Hall, had to collect “Composite Entry Ticket”, which costs for Rs. 50/- for each Indian tourist and valid for 2 days. This ticket is the entry ticket for five places- Albert Hall, Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jantar- Mantar.

Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Wind was erected by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, which eventually became one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. An integral part of the City Palace, it is actually an extension of its women's chambers and secluded from the main complex. Lal Chand Ustad designed this exemplary five storied building in red and pink sand stone. It is beautifully outlined with white borders and its motifs are painted with quick lime. The monument provides a spectacular view of Jaipur city overlooking the road avenues, intersections and colourful crowds in the market. It was originally conceived in the era when ladies lived behind veils and screens so that the ladies of the royal household can see glimpses of the everyday life and the royal processions in the city without being seen by others.
Its delicate facade looks more like a screen from the roadside than a palace. It looks like a honeycomb with its pyramid-shaped structure that has tier after tier of 953 small casements. Each casement has tiny lattice worked pink windows, along with small balconies and arched roofs with hanging cornices that were deftly modelled and carved. These small windows also serve to circulate cool air in the palace, an ingenious device to keep the place cool without the use of electricity, even in hot months. The pyramidal outline is smooth throughout by shoving and multiplying casements to fill up the spaces as requires and uses repetition of motifs to augment its beauty.
One can enter the Hawa Mahal from the City Palace side, through a pompous door, which opens into a large courtyard surrounded by a double storied building on three sides that houses a small archaeological museum here. However, the eastern wing is five storeys high, the above three storeys being only a single room thick. The building stands on a raised platform and is actually a fifty-foot high thin shield, not more than a foot thick and has the small intimate chambers, giving the palace its distinguishing façade. No regular stairs have been built to reach the upper floors except the ramps. Hawa Mahal is currently under the supervision of the State archaeological department and the best time to see it is at sunrise when sunlight through the latticed windows renders it a divine glow.
The Hawa Mahal offers an excellent view of the Jantar Mantar as well as the City Palace.

Hawa Mahal

Timings are 9.00a.m to 5.30pm
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-storied 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.

City Palace	Entrance of City Palace
Inside City Palace	Inside City Palace
Inside City Palace	Art work in the barandah
Art work in the wall	Inside City Palace
Inside City Palace	Used to store Gangajal for bath

Entry fee is Rs.75/- for the City Mahal and Rs. 2000/- for the main mahal (where present King resides) for each Indian tourist. Camera fee-Rs.75/- but photography is prohibited in the gallery. Car Parking Rs.10/-
Jantar Mantar is the largest and best preserved of the five observatories built by Jai Singh II in different part of the country. This observatory consisting of out sized astronomical instruments is still in use. This is attached with the city palace. The Samrat Yantra is a large sundial that looks like a triangular structure and is marked with hours and minutes. The arc at the left shows the time from sunrise to midday while the arc at the right side shows the time from midday to sunset. The Dhruva Yantra is used to locate the position of 12 Zodiac signs and also the Pole Star at night. The Narivalya Yantra is a distinctive sundial with two dials - the first dial facing south reads time when the sun is in the southern hemisphere, i.e., from 21 September to 21 March and the other one facing north reads time for the rest of the year when the sun is in the northern hemisphere, i.e., from 21 March to 21 September. The various other instruments include Jai Singh's seat (the seat of the Observer), Kranti Yantra used for direct measurement of the longitude and latitude of the extraterrestrial bodies, Raj Yantra or the King of Instruments used only once a year to calculate the Hindu calendar, Unnsyhsmsa yantra used for finding the altitudes of the heavenly bodies, the Chakra yantra that gives the angle of an object from the equator and Disha yantra or the compass that always points to the north, Dakshina yantra used for observing the position and movement of heavenly bodies when passing over the meridian and the Large Samrat Yantra, is ten times larger than the Samrat Yantra and ten times more accurate too. It is accurate down to 2 seconds and is also used to predict the length and heaviness of the monsoon for the local area. The Rashivalayas Yantra has 12 sundials for the signs of the zodiac while Jai Prakash Yantra act as a double check on all the other instruments.

Samrat Jantra	Dhruba Yantra
Kranti Yantra

Narivalya Yantra

Timings are 9.00a.m to 5.30pm
Amber Fort is a classic romantic Rajasthani palace built Raja Man Singh 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 splendour and luxury. After the film Jodha Akbar, this palace is also known as palace of Jodha Bai, though in real Jodha Bai had also another Mahal for her near it.
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.
Though we went this fort by car, to get more Royal feel one can go to this palace by elephant as well.
Car parking Rs 30/- and guide fee is extra.

Amber Fort

Inside Amber Form

Dewan-e-Aam

Timings are 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Jal Mahal or "Water Palace" is a palace located in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. The palace and the lake around it were renovated and enlarged in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. The Jal Mahal palace has got an eye-popping makeover. Traditional boat-makers from Vrindavan have crafted the Rajput style wooden boats. A gentle splashing of oars on the clear lake waters takes you to Jal Mahal.

Jal Mahal

We returned back to hotel around 7:00 pm
Day 3: We started for Jaigarh Fort and Nahargarh Fort by 10:30 am.
Named after Jai Singh II, the Jaigarh Fort, situated on the hill premonitory called the Cheel ka Teela, is perched on a cliff surrounded by huge battlements with inside walkways. It is one of the few military structures of medieval India preserved almost intact, containing palaces, a granary, a well-planned cannon foundry, several temples, a tall tower and a giant mounted cannon-the Jain Ban (Jaivan) the largest cannon in the world. Jaigarh Fort also known as the fort of victory is a rugged structure built in 1726 by Sawai Jai Singh. Situated in the north of Jaipur, this fort is structurally similar to the Amber Fort.
There is a watchtower at an elevated part of the fort, offering a panoramic and imposing view of Amber and the neighbouring area. The central courtyard has three enormous underground water tanks, one used by prisoners for bathing, one that was said to hold the gold and jewels and one, which was empty. There are also gardens, a granary, the 10th century temple of Ram Harihar and the 12th century temple of Kal Bhairav.
This fort also consists of 3 big water reservoir including the world largest water reservoir which also used for keeping money, silver, gold and diamond jewellery.
There is a shop in this palace which is named as Rajasthan Shilpa Gram Udyog which has a great collection of Jaipuri sarees, bed sheets, bed covers, jewellery and many handicraft items.

Largest Cannon of World

Largest Cannon of World

Amber fort from Jaigarh Fort

Entry fees to this palace is Rs.25/- for each Indian Tourist, Rs.50/- for still camera. Car parking charge is Rs 10/-.Guide Fee extra.
Nahargarh Fort was constructed by Sawai Raja Jai Singh in the year 1734 .The fort has its own significant place in history. Nahargarh Fort was required to strengthen the protective coverage of Amber. The original old structures had been hugely affected by the passage of time. The prime attraction of the Nahargarh Fort is the Madhavendra Bhavan which was the summer retreat of the royal family. The structure was built by Sawai Ram Singh II in 1880s and boasts of nine Malike Mahal for the use of queens. Each mahal named after the name of the queen i.e Suraj Prakash, Chand Prakash, Khushal Prakash, Pranand Prakash, Jahar Prakash, Laxmi Prakash, Ratan Prakash, Basant Prakash and Lalit Prakash. The suite of the king was constructed at a convenient place so that he could visit his queens without any hassles. The rooms are linked with each other by means of corridors and have beautiful frescoes inside. This fort commands a panoramic view of the sprawling city below.

Nahargarh Fort

Timings are 10 a.m to 6:00 pm.
Car praking is Rs. 10/-
We returned back to hotel at 6:30 pm. After getting fresh, we went to the local market for shopping.

Day4: We checked out from the hotel and started for Ajmer and Pushkar by 8:00 am and reached Pushkar at 12:00 am. Normally it doesn’t take so much time, but we got late because of tyre puncture our car.
The places we visited were,
Pushkar Lake is located in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus. The Hindu scriptures describe as it as "Tirtha-Raj", the king of pilgrimage sites related to a water-body and relate it to the mythology of the creator-god Brahma, whose most prominent temple stands in Pushkar. The Pushkar Lake finds mention on coins as early as the 4th century BC. The lake is surrounded by 52 bathing ghats (a series of steps leading to the lake), where pilgrims throng in large numbers to take a sacred bath, especially around Kartik Poornima (October–November) when the Pushkar Fair is held. A dip in the sacred lake is believed to cleanse sins and cure skin diseases. Over 500 Hindu temples are situated around the lake precincts.
Brahma Temple is nuzzled up in the beautiful Pushkar valley renowned for its picturesque beauty. The Brahma Temple is dedicated to Lord Brahma who according to Hindu mythology is the Creator of this universe. Brahma is also one among the trinity of Hindu Gods, the other two being Shiva and Vishnu. Legends propound that Lord Brahma, together with all the Gods and Goddesses performed a Yagna at the lake. Brahma’s wife Savitri was not present at the Yagna and Brahma married another woman on his impulse. Savitri being chagrined cursed that Brahma would never be worshipped anywhere else.
Camera is not allowed inside the Bramha Mandir.
Ajmer Sharif or Dargah Shariff of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti is indeed an ornament to the city of Ajmer. It is one of the holiest places of worship in India not only for the Muslims but also for the people of other faiths who hold the saint the high esteem and reverence. The Ajmer Dargah Sharif earns recognition as one of India’s most important Muslim pilgrimage sites. Hordes of devotees from different religious traditions and countries congregate to pay reverence to Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chishti on his Urs (death anniversary). Urs lasts for three days during the first six days of 'Rajab' (seventh month of the Islamic calendar), the number of pilgrims then soars up to lakhs. According to popular belief, in Dargah Sharif the prayers and wishes of every devotee get gratified.
The Khwaja Saheb, as a ‘living spirit’ of peace and harmony, enjoys universal respect and devotion ever since he set his holy feet on the soil of Hindustan.
Camera is not allowed here too but nobody is there to checked it whether we have a camera with us or not. I had my mobile phone with me so I took some pictures.
After visiting the Darga, we headed to Bikaner, “Camel City” by 3:00 pm and reached there at 9:30 pm.
In Bikaner, we checked in the
“Hotel Lalji”
Station Road ,Bikaner
Ph. No.: 0151-2526570
              0151-2526571
              0151-2526572
Email: hotellalji@sancharnet.in
          contact@hotellalji.com
Lalji Sweet N Snacks is famous for bhujiyas, cookies and papad of Bikaner.

Day 5: We started for Bikaner city tour, after having our breakfast at Lalji sweet n Snacks and checking out from the hotel. The places we visited were,
Junagarh Fort was built under the supervision of Karan Chand, the Prime Minister of Raja Rai Singh, and the sixth ruler of Bikaner, who ruled from 1571 to 1611 AD. Construction of the walls and associated moat commenced in 1589 and was completed in 1594. The fort is truly gorgeous. The stone has a pink hue and once you go inside it just keeps getting better. The palace inside of the fort is quite large with many rooms to visit. There's a lot of variety; everything from a sumptuously decorated throne room to a cloud-painted to a room with an airplane inside of it to weapons exhibitions and so forth. We went through the fort a little bit on the quicker side due to time constraints and it still took us a solid hour; you could easily spend few hours at this place.
The Dewan-e-Aam of this fort is the best Dewan-e-Aam among all forts and palaces in India. One can see, India’s first lift, Telephone, Helicopter and many other things. This Fort is well maintained and preserved very well.

Junagarh Fort	Seat of King
	Diwan-e-Aam

Diwan-e-Aam

Entry fee for this place is Rs. 300/- per head.
Prachina Museum is situated opposite of the Fort which showcases a rare collection of arts, crafts, Jewellery, Ornaments, Utensils and Dresses used by citizen of the Junagarh Fort.

Prachina Musuem	Ghagra used by ladies of fort
Carpet	Weapons
Utensils	Glasswares
Kantha Work	Art Work
Sword	Art piece
King's dress	Ladies Dress

Entry Fee for the museum is Rs 20/- per head.
Lal Palace or Lallgarh Palace is an imposing red- sand stone palace and was built by Maharaja Ganga Singhji in the memory of his father, Maharaj Lall Singhj in 1902 A.D. This oriental fantasy designed by Col. Sir Swinton Jacob, is entirely a hybrid architecture and mixture of different elements of Rajput, Muslim and European styles and can be categorized as Indo-Saracenic style. The Rajput exterior of Lallgarh Palace contrasts dramatically with the occidental decor within. The intricately dexterous carving on red stone is hall mark of great local craftsman. It is unmatched jewel in the Thar Desert and has played host to a number of dignitaries from all over the world. The lush green sprawling lawns with dancing peacocks and beautiful bougainvilleas adorn the palace.Open corridors run the length of the halls and rooms and are lined with a rare collection of old prints and vintage copies of etchings. The covered corridors that link rooms are mounted with hunting Trophies. The Lallgarh palace is now turned into a hotel which has 56 well-appointed historical, Superior and Standard rooms equipped with Mini Bar & CCTV. A luxury palace hotel standing tall with its rich heritage, picturesque created to celebrate your stay royally.

Lal Palace

Lal Palace

Karni Mata Mandir is a popular and unusual holy shrine of India. This Temple is in a small town of Deshnok, which is located at a distance of 30 kms in south of Bikaner. Karni Mata was born in 2 October 1387 – 23 March 1538 was a female Hindu sage born in the Charan caste and is worshiped as the incarnation of the Goddess Durga by her followers. She is an official deity of the royal family of Jodhpur and Bikaner. The temple has around 20,000 rats that are fed, protected and worshipped. Many holes can be seen in the courtyard of this temple. In the vicinity of these holes, one can see rats engaged in different activities. The Rats can be seen here eating from huge metal bowls of milk, sweets and grains. To make the holy rats safe, wires and grills are sited over the courtyard to avoid the birds of prey and other animals. It is regarded auspicious, if a rat runs across one's feet. Even, a glimpse of kaba (white rat) is considered promising and fruitful. Twice a year, a festival is celebrated in the honor of Karni Mata. A grand fair is organized during this time and people come here to seek the blessings of the Goddess.

Entrance of the Temple	Temple

Karni Mata Museum showcases life history of Karni mata by Photographic Exhibition. Entry Fee-2/-. No camera charges.
After visiting the places we had our lunch in a restaurant and started for Khuri around 1:00 pm and reached there by 10:30 pm in night. We booked cottage in the camp of desert for night stay.
Ganguar Guest House & Camp Side
Village: Khuri, Jaisalmer
Rajasthan: 345032
Email: Hamersingh@yahoo.com
Ph. No.: 9929296900
              9929699662
              9414271035
              9413866550
“Khuri " is a village in the desert from where you can take a ride on camel in the sand dunes. This place is witness of the spectacle view of the sun set and rise in the distant horizon beyond the dunes every day. In the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Khuri is a must visit for tourists seeking solitude in the desert. It is a peaceful place with houses of mud and straw decorated like the patterns of Persian carpets. Here one can just keep looking on sand dunes as it changes its hue during different parts of day and say adieu to the sun as it sets behind the crimson red sand dunes. We booked two cottages (Mud Houses) for us which costs Rs. 1350/- each. The price includes dinner, breakfast, lunch, camel Ride in Moring for sunrise, Camel Cart Safari and Folk dance Programme.

Mud House

Mud House

Day 6: Early in the morning by 5:30, we went to see the Sun rise in the desert by camel ride which was just at the distance of 10 minutes from our cottage.

	Desert

Once returned to our cottage after seeing sun rise, we got freshen up and had breakfast and went for a Jungle Safari in desert by camel cart where we saw lots of Deers, Foxes n Peacocks and visited a village, Kulhara. Famous bollywood movie ‘Tashaan’ was shot at that village. While returning from the Jungle Safari, we took our lunch with a typical Rajasthani Folk Dance programme.

Rajasthani Folk Dancer	Me with the Dancer

Around 2:30 pm, we started for Jaisalmer, the “Golden City”. The places we visited in Jaisalmer were, Jaisalmer Fort is one of the largest forts in the world and the second oldest fort in Rajasthan. It was built in 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, from whom the place derives its name. The fort stands proudly amidst the golden stretches of the great Thar Desert, on Trikuta Hill, and 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. Two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by imposing crenulated sandstone wall 30 feet high; it has 99 bastions, 92 of which were built between 1633 and 1647. Wells within the fort still provide a regular source of water. Even today, you will find that nearly one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. Ganesh Pol, Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol, jain Temple,Mukul bari are a must see. Satyajit Ray wrote a detective novel, which later made into film, Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress), based on the fort. The film became such a massive success and a classic, famous in all parts of the world; Bengali tourists flock in to Jaisalmer only to experience the virtual cinematic place surrounding the fort. Being a Bengali I too had a huge fascination for this fort before I saw, but truly speaking this fort doesn’t have that charm like other fort now a days as here general Rajput families and Rajput Brahmin are reside.

Sonar Kella	One part of Sonar Kella
Mukul Bari	Jaisalmir from Sonar Kella
Things made of Golden Stone	Things made of Golden Stone

Temple inside Sonar Kella

There is no point going to Thar deserts if you don't go for the Desert Safari. That is why Sam Sand Dunes are becoming the major attraction in Jaisalmer. In the outskirts of Jaisalmer, Sam sand dunes are famous for sands, sands and only sands. This is the closest place from where you can lose yourself in 'The Great Thar Desert'. Sam has a truly magnificent stretch of sweeping dunes, with sparse or no greenery. The best way to get here, of course, is on camelback. Join a camel caravan at and ride along the breathtaking crests and troughs. Enjoy the romance of solitude as your camel takes you deep in the hearts of the Thar Desert and experience the sun setting behind the horizon.

Though one can see sand dunes in Khuri as well, but that does not enhance the feeling of a desert as there are lots of green on the desert while Sam offers you the feeling of a real desert.
In Sam also you will find lots of camps in the desert, but we had rooms booked in Jaisalmer so after sunset we came back to,
Hotel Green
Near Fort, 1st Gate,
Dhibba Para,Fort Parking
Jaisalmer,Rajasthan
Ph. No.: 9413036566
             02992252502
Rent for each room was Rs. 700/-. We took our Dinner in the Roof top Restaurant of the Hotel, one u will get all kinds of food.

Day 7: We started for the “Blue City”, JodhPur by 9:00 am. We took our lunch at a road side dhaba with Rajasthan special dish “Dal Bati Churma” and reached Jodhpur by 4:30 pm where we visited, Mehangarh Museum Fort stands a hundred feet in splendour on a perpendicular cliff, four hundred feet above the sky line of Jodhpur. Burnished red sand stone, imposing, invincible and yet with a strange haunting beauty that beckons. Much has been written about the Citadel of the Sun, for truly, it is one of the most impressive and Beautiful in all Rajasthan. So colossal are its proportions that Rudyard Kipling called it “the work of giants”. Today, it is acknowledged as the finest living example of a Hindu fortress. This is the most beautiful fort in India.
Entry to the14 storied fort is gained though a series of seven gates. The most famous of the gates are, Jai Pol ("Gate of Victory"), built by Maharaja Man Singh to celebrate his victory in a war with Jaipur and Bikaner; Fateh Pol, built to celebrate a victory over the Mughals; Dedh Kamgra Pol, which still bears the scars of bombardment by cannonballs; Loha Pol, which is the final gate into the main part of the fort complex.
Immediately to the left, there are the handprints (sati marks) of the ranis who immolated themselves on the funeral pyre of their husband, Maharaja Man Singh. Within the fort, several brilliantly crafted and decorated palaces are found. Of these, Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesha Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana, and Daulat Khana are notable. One also finds the fort museum comprising several palaces. This museum houses an exquisite collection of palanquins, howdahs, royal cradles, miniatures, musical instruments, costumes and furniture. The ramparts of the fort are home to not only several excellently preserved old cannon (including the famous Kilkila) but also offer a breath-taking view of the “Blue City”.
Moti Mahal, the Pearl Palace built by Raja Sur Singh the Moti Mahal is the largest of the Mehrangarh Museum's period rooms. Sur Singh's Moti Mahal has five alcoves leading onto hidden balconies; it is believed they were built for his five queens to listen in on court proceeding.
Sheesha Mahal, the Hall of Mirrors is a fine example of a typical Rajput Sheesh Mahal. The mirror-work includes large, regular pieces, rather than an intricate mosaic of tiny fragments; another thing is the superimposition over the mirror-work of brightly painted religious figures made in plaster. Phool Mahal, the Palace of flowers was created by Maharaja Abhaya Singh. The grandest of Mehrangarh's period rooms the Phool Mahal was in all likelihood a private and exclusive chamber of pleasure; dancing girls once swooned in exhaustion here under a ceiling rich in gold filigree. Takhat Vilas, Maharaja Takhat Singh's Chamber, built and lived in by Maharaja Takhat Singh Jodhpur's last ruler to reside in the Mehrangarh Fort, Takhat Vilas is an interesting blend of styles, most traditional, but some, like the glass balls on the ceiling, testifying to the modern age which arrived with the British.

Mehrangarh Fort	Mehrangarh Fort
King's Seat	Mehrangarh Fort
Hand print of ladies for wellness of husbands	Blue City from Mehrangarh Fort

Entry Fee is Rs 50/- for each, Elevator Fee is Rs. 20/- for each, Camera Rs. 100/- and Guide fee is Rs. 200/-
Jaswant Thada was built at the turn of the nineteenth century by Jaswant Singh's Maharani in her husband's memory, the shining white Jaswant Thada serves as a shrine to the Rathore dynasty. All around it today are the chattris or cenotaphs of the rulers and their queens who followed Jaswant Singh II for the complex, on the banks of the Dev Kund, the Pond of the Gods and serves as the royal cremation grounds. The Jaswant Thada was taken over in 1949 with the Merger of the Jodhpur State and maintained by the Rajasthan State Government till a few years back when it was handed over to the Mehrangarh Museum Trust. A comprehensive restoration and conservation plan, which includes the gardens, is now under way.

Jaswant Thada

Umed Bhawan was built between 1928 and 1943, for H.H. Maharaja Umaid Singh ji, grandfather of the present Maharaja, who had benevolently commissioned a new palace in 1923 to replace Mehrangarh Fort as the symbol of a new Jodhpur and to give employment to the people of Marwar during the period's great droughts and famines. This palace has served as the principal residence of the Jodhpur royal family. Now a days it has turned into a 7 star Hotel by Taj group.

Umed Bhawan

Umed Bhawan

After visiting all the places, we checked in to Gorband Guest House by 7:00 pm for dinner and night stay.
Gorband Guest House
Mandore Road,
Opp Suncity Hospital
Paota,
Jodhpur-342006
Ph. No.: 98296-44852
              0291-2541752
              0291-2540038

Day 8: Early in the morning at around 6:30 am, we started for Chittorgarh and reached there by 2:30 pm. We visited 13 km long Chittorgarh Fort.  
Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. The fort, plainly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar. It was ruled by 32 kings initially by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs, from 7th century, until it was finally abandoned in after the siege by Emperor Akbar.
This fort is almost destructed by Allah-ud-din Khilji as he didn’t get the most beautiful queen Padmini, wife of Rawal Ratan singh.
To enter on the fort, one has to pass 7 gates or poles .Each gate is different in its name, design and its size. The gates are named as Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Jorla Pol, Ganesh Pol , Laxman Pol and Ram Pol.

Pol

Vijay Sthambh or the tower of victory was built in 1440 AD by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over Mohamed Khilji. This 9-storied tower is adorned by sculptures of Hindu deities around. There are around 157 narrow steps leading to the terrace where the balconies give a beautiful top angle view of the whole town. When illuminated in the evening, the tower reflects a mesmerizing effect.

Vijay Sthambha

Kirti Sthambh or Tower of Fame, dedicated to Adinathji, the 1st Jain Teerthankar adorned by the naked figures of the Digambars. A narrow stairway goes through seven stories of the tower to the top. The 22 metres high tower was built by a wealthy jain merchant in the 12th century A.D.

Kirti Sthambha

Gaumukh Reservoir, a deep tank filled by a spring coming from a 'cow mouth', situated at the edge of the cliff. It is considered to be sacred where you can feed the fishes.

Gaumukh Reservoir

Rana Kumbha Palace, the ruined edifice of great historical and architectural interest, being the most massive monument in the fort of Chittaur. The palace is believed to have underground cellars where Rani Padmini and other women committed Jauhar.

Rana kumbha

Padmini Palace, once the scene of an incident directly responsible for the bettle between Allauddin Khiliji and Rana Ratan Singh, is a distinctly feminine structure that overlooks a pleasant pool.

Padmini Palace

Meera Temple was built by Maharana Kumbha in 1449, this lord Vishnu Temple has beautiful idols in its sanctum, mendap and pillars. In the same premises, there is a small temple of Lord Krishhna. Kalika Mata Temple was built originally in the 8th century and the Surya or Sun temple has converted to its present form in the 14th century.
Jain Mandir - Sattavish devri, at present six jain temples on the fort of Chittor. The largest and chief among them is the temple of Bhagawan Adinatha with fifty-two devkulikas. The place of this temple is known as ‘Sattavish devri’, which indicated some time, in past, there were twenty-seven temples. The Digamabar Jain Kirtistambh and seven-storied Kirtistambh are two among them. The seven-storied Kirtistambh was built in the fourteenth century in memories of Bhagawan Adinatha.

Jain Temple

god inside the temple

Jahar Place is the place where rani Padmini jumped in the flame and committed suicide.

Jahar Place

In the Chittorgarh Fort, you can travel with your car. Cars are permitted to go all along the forts. Entry Fee is Rs. 5/- for each and there is no extra charge for camera.
After finishing the visit to Chittorgarh by 5 pm, we headed for Udaipur, the “Lake City” and reached there by 9:00 pm. We spend the night at
Hotel Vrindaban
11-Agrasen Nagar,
Nr Bus Stand,Udaipole,
Udaipur(Rajsthan)
Ph. No.: +91-294-2484840
              +91-9351352353
              +91-9887388428
Email: hoetelvrindavanudr@gmail.com

Day 9: To visit all the famous places of Udaipur, one needs to have three days in hand. There is a three days of sightseeing package in Udaipur, which consists of,  
1st day sightseeing Gulab Bagh, Varma Park, Pichola Lake, City Palace, Jagadish Temple, Aravali Vatika, Pratap Park, Fateh Sagar Lake, Neheru Park, Sahellion ki Bari, Sukhadia Circle, Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal  
2nd day sightseeing Ek ling Ji, Nathdwara, Haldi Ghati, Rameshwar Temple, Ghasiyar  
3rd day sightseeing Sajjan Garh, Shilpagram, Rajeev Ghandi Park, Baghor ki Haveli
But we had our bookings in Mount Abu for next day and had only a single day to visit Udaipur, we just cover the important places.  
Pichola Lake is an artificial fresh water lake, created in the year 1362 named after the nearby Picholi village. It is one of the several contiguous lakes, developed and maintained over the last few centuries in and around the famous Udaipur city. Two islands, Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir are located within Pichola Lake and have been developed with several palaces to provide views of the lake. There is a palace in the lake which is known as Lake Palace. The city palace and other two palaces which are taken over by Taj n Oberoy are connected to this lake. Now a days all palaces are converted into luxurious 5 stars or 7 stars hotels. No one can enter on those palaces except they have a valid booking. Only city palace is open to all.

City Palace	Pichhola Lake
Pichhola Lake	Pichhola Lake

We took a boat ride in the lake which costs Rs. 100/- each person. In Udaipur also you will find one Karni Mata Mandir. One has by to take rope way to reach the mandir which costs Rs. 69/- for each.
City Palace was built by the Maharana Udai Singh as the capital of the Sisodia Rajput relatives in 1559, after he moved from Chittor. It is located on the east bank of the Pichola Lake and has several palaces built within its complex. Udaipur was the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in the Rajputana Agency and its last capital. This 4 storied building has several entrance as Bari Pol (left), Tripolia Pol(centre), Hathi Pol (Elephant Gate) (right) and 'Bara Pol' (Great Gate), which leads to the first courtyard. Bara Pol, was built in 1600, leads to the ‘Tripolia Pol', a triple arched gate built in 1725, which provides the northern entry. The road between this gate and the palace is lined with shops and kiosks owned by craftsmen, book-binders, miniature painters, textile dealers and antique shops. Between these two gates, eight marble arches or Toranas are erected. It is said that the Maharanas used to be weighed here with gold and silver, which was then distributed among the local people. Following the Tripolia Pol is the 'Hathi Pol' or "Elephant Gate", a placewhere elephant fights were staged in the past to test their power before starting on war campaigns.
The main block of the city palace at Udaipur is approached through a modest door from the Ganesha Deodhi terrace. The door is flanked by whitewashed walls vibrantly painted with martial animals in traditional Rajput style.

City Palace

City Palace

Other important places inside the City Palace are,
Amar Vilas is the uppermost court inside the complex which is a raised garden. It provides entry to the Badi Mahal. It is a pleasure pavilion built in Mughal style. It has cusped arcades enclosing a square marble tub. 'Amar Vilas' is the highest point of the City palace and has wonderful hanging garden with fountains, towers and terraces.
Badi Mahal or Great Palace, also known as Garden Palace for it’s the exotic central garden, is situated on a 27 metres (89 ft) high natural rock formation vis-a-vis the rest of the palace. The rooms on the ground floor appear to be at the level of the fourth floor in view of the height difference to its surrounding buildings. There is a swimming pool inside the palace, which was then used for Holi festival (festival of colours) celebration. In an adjoining hall, miniature paintings of 18th and 19th centuries are displayed. In addition, wall paintings of Jag Mandir (Vishnu of Jagdish temple, the very courtyard and an elephant fight scene are depicted. The elephant fights depicted in a painting on the wall was a representation of the real elephant fights, which used to be organized by the Maharanas. It is mentioned that the elephants used to be fed hashish (opium) before arranging the fights. An interesting observation is that the word ‘assassin’ is a derivative of the word ‘hashish’. The last such fight was reported in 1995.
Bhim Vilas has a gallery of a remarkable collection of miniature paintings that depict the real life stories of Radha-Krishna.
Chini Chitrashala or Chinese art place depicts Chinese and Dutch ornamental tiles.
Choti Chitrashali or 'Residence of Little Pictures', built in early 19th century, has pictures of peacocks.
Dilkhusha Mahal or ‘Palace of Joy’ was built in Durbar hall in 1909 within the Fatepraksh Palace (now a heritage hotel) Official functions such as State banquets and meetings. The gallery of the hall was used by the Royal ladies to observe the Durbar proceedings. This hall has luxuriant interior with some unusually large chandeliers. Weapons of the maharanas and also some of their unique portraits are also depicted here.
The foundation stone for this hall was laid by Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India, in 1909, during the rule of Maharana Fateh Singh and was then called Minto Hall. One can rent this area and the rent Rs. 20 lakhs per Night.
Fateprakash Palace, which is now run as a luxury hotel, has a crystal gallery that consists of crystal chairs, dressing tables, sofas, tables, chairs and beds, crockery, table fountains which were never used. There is also a unique jewel studded carpet here. Maharaja Sajjan Singh had ordered these rare items in 1877 from ‘F& C Osler & Co’, London but he died before they arrived here. It is said that the packages containing these crystals remained unopened for 110 years.
The Manek Mahal approached from the Manak Chowk is an enclosure for formal audience for the Udaipur rulers. It has a raised alcove inlaid completely in mirror glass. Sun-face emblems, in the gleaming brass, religious insignia of the Sisodia dynasty are a recurring display at several locations in City Palace; one of these prominent emblems is depicted on the façade of the Manak Chowk, which can also be seen from the outermost court below. The largest of such an emblem is also seen on the wall of the Surya Chopar, a reception centre at the lower level. Surya or Sun emblem of the Mewar dynasty depicts a Bhil, the Sun, Chittor Fort and a Rajput with an inscription in Sanskrit of a quotation from the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu Holy Scripture), which means “God Helps those who do their duty". It was customary for the Maharanas to offer obeisance to the Sun facing east, every morning before taking breakfast.
Mor Chok or Peacock square is integral to the inner courts of the palace. The elaborate design of this chamber consists of three peacocks (representing the three seasons of summer, winter and monsoon) modeled in high relief and faced with coloured glass mosaic, built into successive niches in the wall area or jharoka. These were built during Maharana Sajjan Singh’s reign, 200 years after the palace was established. The peacocks have been crafted with 5000 pieces of glass, which shine in green, gold and blue colours. The apartments in front of the Chowk are picturesquely depicted with scenes of Hindu god Lord Krishna’s legends. At the upper level, there is a projecting balcony, which is flanked by inserts of coloured glass. In an adjoining chamber, called the Kanch-ki-Burj, mosaic of mirrors adorns the walls.
The Badi Charur Chowk has a smaller court for private use, within it. Its screen wall has painted and inlaid compositions depicting European men and Indian women. Proceeding further from the Mor- Chowk, in the Zenana Mahal or women’s quarters exquisitely designed alcoves, balconies, coloured windows; tiled walls and floors are seen. This area is the most beautiful place of this palace. In 1974, a part of the city palace and the 'Zenana Mahal' (Ladies Chamber) were converted into a museum. The museum is open for public. There is an interesting exhibit of a freaky monkey holding a lamp and also portraits of maharajas displaying a spectacular array of mustaches.
Lakshmi Chowk is an elegant white pavilion in the same precinct.
Rang Bhawan is the palace that used to contain royal treasure. There are temples of Lord Krishna, Meera Bai and Shiva, located here.
Sheess Mahal or Palace of Mirrors and glasses was built in 1716. A shrine of Dhuni Mata is also located in the complex. This location is considered as the oldest part of the Palace, where a sage spent his entire life meditating.

Jagdish Mandir, located 150 metres (490 ft) north of the city palace, was built in 1652 in Indo-Aryan architectural style, is a large and aesthetically elegant temple where an idol of Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu made in black stone is deified in the sanctum. The temple walls and the shikara or tower are decorated with carvings of Vishnu, scenes from Lord Krishna’s life and figurines of nymphs or apsaras. A brass image of Garuda (half-bird, half-man image, which is Lord Vishnu’s vehicle), is placed in a separate shrine in front of the temple. Flanking the steps up the temple decoration of statues of elephants is seen. The street square, where the temple is located, is also known as Jagdish Chowk from where several roads radiate in different directions. I was just spell-bound to saw the work of these Mandir

Jagdish Mandir

Fatah Sagar Lake is said to be the pride of the City of Lakes, Udaipur, it is an artificial lake constructed by Maharana in north of Lake Pichola in 1678 and to the north-west of Udaipur.

Fateh Sagar Lake

Saheliyon-ki-Bari or courtyard of the maidens was built by Maharana Bhopal Singh. There is also a small museum here. Sahelion Ki Bari' was laid for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry. The gardens set below the embankment of the Fateh Sagar Lake have beautiful lotus pools, marble pavilions and elephant- shaped fountains. These fountains are fed by the water of the lake gushing through ducts made for the purpose. Each water channel has its distinct sound and the mingling of these sounds complement the ambience of the place. Near to saheliyon-ki-bari is burhani nagar
and burhani masjid,vidhiya bhawan school and seva mandir marg.
Sukhadia Circle is a majestic turn around in Panchwati, the Udaipur city’s northern suburb. It is a popular landmark in Udaipur and provides a beautiful view with the illumination of lights. This square, opened in 1970, has a magnificent three tiered fountain in the centre and a structure representing the prosperity. This place is used as a evening relaxation place with beautiful gardens and a nice pond.

After we finished heavenly excursion of Udaipur, we headed to Mount Abu we had reached there by 5 pm. While entering to Mount Abu, we had to pay Rs. 10 per head and per car to Mount Abu municipality. After checking in the hotel and getting freshened up, we went for a walk to Nakki Jhil. There are many restaurants, shops, ice-cream parlour and pizza corner. We had out evening snacks there and shop for many local items.
Couples Paradise
Nr Taxi Stand, Akshay Colony,
Mount Abu,
Rajasthan

Day 10: We started by 9:00 for Mount Abu sightseeing and visited the important places around Mount Abu.
‘Qyamat se Qyamat Tak’ is nothing but a view point where the film, ‘Qyamat se Qyamat tak’ was shot and the place named after the movie. One can see the Jhopra where Amir Khan stayed in the film.
Guru Shikhar, a peak at an altitude of 5,676 feet (1722 meters), is the highest point in Rajasthan. It located at a distance of 15 km from Mount Abu. It gives a commanding view of Abu and its surroundings.
This peak is the home to the Temple of Dattatreya, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. There is a huge brass bell outside the shrine. We spent few hours here and enjoyed white cloud in crystal clear blue sky. Elderly person can take the facility of Duli here.
Arbuda Debi Mandir is the temple of Arbuda Devi who Mount Abu gets its name from. We had to climb up 650 steps to reach there and no facility for duli is available.

Mount Abu is famous for being the host to the International religious community center. There is heavy influx of tourists for visiting Madhuban or the Forest of Honey. Madhuban is the global headquarters of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University or Prajapita BrahmaKumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. The serene place is situated near the fascinating Nakki Lake. There is also Shantivan, the third Brahmakumari campus. Situated at the left of Abu Road, the place is a must visit for its picturesque setting. Shantivan has a huge hall known as the Diamond Hall where tourists relish the beautiful architecture and stunning work of art. The hall is so spacious that it can easily accommodate 20,000 people.
There is another treasure hidden at the ashram known as the Brahma Kumaris Peace Park. The park is just the right place to enjoy serenity. It is situated in midst of the two peaks of Aravali Hills, just 8 kms from the Madhuban campus. The peaceful environment take away all the clutter of the mind and offers a rejuvenating experience to the visitors. There are plenty of amusement activities in the park for the visitors. Swings, nature walks, picnic spots and several other activities give immense joy.
Suicide Point is a lovers rock also popularly known as Honey Moon Point, is an attractive point for the visitors for it being in the natural creation in the shape of a man and a women. It offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.
The Dilwara Temples are a complex of temples, carved of white marble, that were built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The oldest of these is the Vimal Vasahi temple, built in 1021 AD by Vimal Shah and dedicated to the first of the Jain Tirthankaras. This is the main attraction of Mount Abu, is one of the finest Jain temple, known all over the world for its extraordinary architecture and marvellous marble stone carvings, some experts also consider it architecturally superior to the Taj Mahal.
We were not able to visit inside of the temples, as we visited the place during Navaratri and during that time the temple is closed for common public.
We came back to hotel by 1:00 pm and had our lunch. By evening 5:30, again we started for the left out places.
In Sunset Point we witnessed beautiful red dropping Sun in the horizon which can’t be explain in words.
Nakki Jhil is a very ancient sacred Lake, according to the Hindu legend. As per Hindu mythology this lake is dug by nail and got the name of nakki jhil thereafter. There are many stories behind the origin of the lake. One story goes Gods have dug this lake by their nails to protect themselves from Bashkali Rakshash while the other goes like Rasiya Balam, a sculpture of Dilwara Jain temple has dug the lake, as the king declared to marry the princess to one who will dug the lake within one night. But later king's wife refused and Rasiya couldn't marry the princess. Temple of Rasiya Balam and Kunwari Kany is located behind the Dilwara Jain temple.
There is a Brahma Kumari Museum in the bank of Nakki jhil. We visited that too. We had our dinner outside and came back to hotel by 10:00 pm where we rested over night. Our Rajasthan trip came to an end here and next morning we started for Porbandar via Ambaji.

Note: As we had prior booking in all the places, due to time constraints we had to miss many places. It is better to have some more days in hands and plan accordingly for all the places so that you don’t have to miss anything.

Disclaimer: We went for this trip on Sept'2011. There are chances of the price and timings getting changed. Please check with hotel, travels agents and Indian Railways about current timings and rates. I have tried to provide as much details as possible for the trip. For any further clarification please feel free to contact me @ snigdha.aec@gmail.com.