The western state of Rajasthan is mainly a desert area. But with its opulent palaces and ancient forts, the state has no dearth of history. Ancient forts, scenic palaces and the unforgiving Thar Desert dot the state of Rajasthan.
The state houses a variety of spots that’d interest a tourist. From the inhospitable desert sands to the scenic hill station of
Mount Abu to the lovely city of
Udaipur to the forts of
Ajmer, the state has it all.
Main locations of tourist Interest:
Jaipur, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Ajmer.
Jaipur
The capital of the state of Rajasthan, Jaipur is often called the pink city. With a skyline that is dotted with buildings that are pink in colour, the city paints a mesmerising picture. The city is lined with stunning forts and huge palaces and a central lake to top it all off. The Jantar Mantar is a spot where you can explore the astronomer in you. Built as an observation tower in the 17th century, this building is one of the best places to spot some rare stars in the sky. The fact that the city boasts of mainly a clear sky only helps matters.
The Chand Baori, a step well designed deliberately to bounce off the reflection of the moon into a well lined with cut steps is one of the major attractions in the city. The city also has many forts to boast of.
Udaipur
Curtly called the City of Lakes, the city of Udaipur is one of the most stunning cities of the country. With numerous forts, lakes and palaces, the city is a tourist’s ideal destination. The famous lake palace was built in the 17th century. It is literally a magnificent palace right in the middle of a lake.
This has now been converted into a hotel cum resort. The city also boasts of a solar observatory, a national zoo and a museum which aptly covers the entire tradition of both the city of Udaipur and the state of Rajasthan.
Mount Abu
This is the only hill station of the state. The town serves as a much needed escape pod from the unforgiving heat of Rajasthan. The famous Mount Abu wildlife sanctuary was established in 1960 to cater to the needs of tourists. There are a number of Jain temples, particularly the Dilwara Temple. Built between the 11th and the 13th centuries, the Dilwara Temple is built purely of high quality marble. Nakki Lake is another popular crowd puller.
Ajmer
This city is surrounded by what is considered to be the oldest mountain range in the world, the Aravalli Hills. The most famous place in the city, also one of the most popular destinations in the country is Pushkar. Home to the world famous Pushkar fair, Pushkar is surrounded by a famous lake and is one of the few places that host a temple for Brahma, the Hindu God, in charge of creation.
Also famous is the Ajmer Fort. The fort is claimed as the first hill fort of the continent. Though the fort was destroyed during the British occupation, it is now a popular tourist destination thanks to the ruins of the erstwhile stronghold of the Kings of Rajasthan.
