RajasthanThe largest state in India and hometo the mesmerising sand dunes ofthe Thar Desert, Rajasthan wasonce the hub of royal families inIndia. Sharing its borders withGujarat, Madhya Pradesh, UttarPradesh, Haryana, Punjab andPakistan, this vibrant state presentsa unique blend of various cultures,including its own authentic and richhistory. With popular destinationslike Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur,Udaipur and Jaisalmer in its fold,Rajasthan welcomes you for ajourney through its colourful

heritage and a graduallymodernising future.

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Famous For : State / Provinc

Rajasthan, literally translated as the"land of kings", is the largeststate in India. Along the Western border ofthe country, the state is the epicentre ofseveral art forms, folk cultures andtraditional rituals and customs, followedwith much enthusiasm till date. This in noway suggests that the state is backward inany way. With a flourishing economy and alarge share in the country's agriculturalproduce, Rajasthan is home to manyindustries, and as a result, is on a path ofconstant modernisation. Home to theworld's oldest civilisations, the Indus ValleyCivilization, Rajasthan enjoys a rich ancient,medieval and modern history of its own. Theregion was home to the royal Rajputfamilies, some of them who still live in alltheir splendor, sometimes even as titularheads. The havelis and mahals (palaces) aredirect evidences of this history, adding tothe sheer architectural glory andmagnificence of the state, almost renderingthe massive region as an open museum.Because of this rich heritage, the state of

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Rajasthan has been known for its vibrantculture and super enthusiastic lifestyle. Withpopular cities like Jaipur (which is its capitaltoo), Jodhpur, Ajmer, Pushkar and Bikaner,Rajasthan is quite a hot spot on a tourist'smap. From one of the world's only BrahmaTemple in Pushkar to the city of a 1000lakes, Udaipur, and further to the jungleparadise of Ranthambore and Sariska, thestate literally has a little for every traveller.

What To

SEE5 Sights

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1 Ranakpur Jain Temple

Desuri Tehsil, Near Sadri, Pali, Sadri,Rajasthan 306702.

Supported by four hundred pillars,Ranakpur Jain Temple is one of the bestattractions in Ranakpur. The pillars changestheir colors from golden to pale blue as lightfalls on them. The ceilings of this beautiful

temple has great geometric patterns andfoliate scrollwork. If you are planning a tripto Ranakpur then October to March is thebest time to visit this gorgeous place. Thearchitecture of the temple will mesmeriseyou to the core.Ranakpur Jain Temple is a must visit placefor a peaceful time.

2 Pali

Home to the wealthy clan of PaliwalBrahmins, Pali's various buildings andarchitecture resonate with its varied andcomplex history. Several decadent, beautifulbaori's still exist, pointing towards the oldlifestyle of Pali's Rajput rulers. A trip to theLakhotia Garden, surrounded by a pond andhome to the Mahadev temple, is asignificant element of each traveller'sitinerary for Pali. The Balleshwar Temple,one of the only 8 Ashtavinayak templesdedicated to Lord Ganesha, is a fineexample of the spiritual air in Pali. Most ofthe ornate havelis have now been convertedto heritage hotels, some of which stillmaintain the history through antiquefurniture and interiors.

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3 Sawai Madhopur

Take a journey to Sawai Madhopur in orderto experience the thrill of jungle safari in theRanthombore National Park. Famous for itsnumerous sightings of tigers, this sanctuaryis also home to sloth bears, leopards andmany species of deers. Not only exciting forthe jungle rides in open jeeps, the tracing oftigers based on bird calls and pug marks hasa thrill of its own. The Ranthambore fort,once ruled over by the Chauhan Dynasty ofRajasthan, is now the abode of the wild. It isan escapade back into the 10th century, andalso houses three temples inside itself. Thehill-top Khandar Fort, with all the local tales

of mystery is an explorer's delight, andworth the uphill trek. The place is alsodotted with small temples that are lost,forgotten and hidden in green foliage, butenigmatic nonetheless.

4 Sikar

Sikar is connected to the major cities ofRajasthan like Jaipur and Bikaner throughNational Highway-11. Experience thehistorical grandeur of this city by visitingmarvellous buildings such as Sikar Fort, RaniMahal, Radha Damodar Mandir, Diwan Ji KiHaveli, to name a few. The city has a unique,ancient feel to it and the simple-minded,progressive populace is a delight to interactwith. Overall, Sikar is definitely an enrichingexperience.

5 City Palace

Kanwar Nagar, Pink City, Jaipur,Rajasthan 302002, India

Located inside the old city,City Palace in Jaipur is a blend of traditionalRajput and Mughal architecture bound toleave you awestruck. A vast palace complexthat occupies nearly a seventh of the PinkCity, this palace was originally built byMaharaja Jai Singh II in 1932. Today, CityPalace is known for housing the ChandraMahal and the Mubarak Mahal, apart fromthe series of courtyards, sprawling gardensand buildings that populate the complex.

One step into the City Palace and themagnificent architecture and huge gardenstake you to the eras of Rajas and Maharajas.From the richly decorated gateways to thefascination that awaits you at each of themuseums, the place makes for an excitingtime.  At the Mubarak Mahal, you cansee the variety of textiles and the lushgarments the Maharajas of Jaipur used towear. From Sanganeri Block Prints toexquisite Kashmiri Pashminas, you can see itall here. The most fascinating amongstthese costumes are perhaps the ones ofSawai Madhosingh I, who weighed about250 kg and still managed to have 108 wives!

The next stop on your adventure in the CityPalace will probably be the Chandra Mahal,which can be called the most magnificentstructure in the whole building, without adoubt! With seven floors that have their own

unique names, the building houses some ofthe finest paintings, floral decorations andmirror work art that you would have setyour eyes on.

Only the ground floor of the Chandra Mahalis accessible as the descendants of the royalfamily still reside in the rest of thebuilding.  Other notable places insidethe complex include the two sterling silvervessels in the Diwan-I-Khas, which are thelargest vessels in the world, weaponrydisplay at the Maharani Palace and theBaggi Khana, a museum of the Maharaja'srides.

Where To

Eat5 Places

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1 Lake Palace Restaurant

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The Taj Lake Palace Hotel, LakePichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001,India

+91-294-2428800

Grand chandeliers, imposing paintings,antique furniture and a luxuriousatmosphere best describe the Lake PalaceRestaurant, which promises a diningexperience fit for royalty. With courteousstaff and a lake view locationcomplementing the yummy Continental,Asian, Indian, Contemporary Western andItalian cuisines, the Lake Palace Restaurantmakes for a mesmerising dining experience.

Be it the lavish buffet spread or thechoicest dishes from their a la carte, theLake Palace Restaurant leaves noopportunity to flatter the foodie in you. Also,if you are keen to experiment, you can takeone step further from the Daal Baati andenjoy other Rajasthani delicacies like LaasMaas here!

2 The Laughing Buddha Cafe

Near Gau Ghat Badi Basti, Pushkar,Rajasthan, 305022, India

Tucked away upstairs from the mainbustling bazaar of Pushkar is this friendlyparadise that isThe Laughing Buddha Cafe. This cosy cafe isa warm and friendly place to stop for abeautfiul hot masala chai or a real coffee.From pancakes topalak paneer, you'll get all here. Open forbreakfast, lunch and dinner, the very warmhost will make you feel right at home. Freewifi and good conversation is just an addedbonus. A percentage of the profits go todisadvantaged street kids in the Pushkararea. Ask Sheru about volunteering!

3 Swagat Restaurant

Surya Royal Hotel, 11, Jhalawar Road

+91-1124330930

Swagat Restaurant is a popular multi-cuisinerestaurant that is ideal to grab a good biteat. From south Indian to north Indian therestaurant offers scrumptious food. The

atmosphere is friendly, the staff is courteousand the service is impeccable. On the whole,this restaurant is a good dining option inKota.

4 Millets of Mewar

Near Hanuman Ghat Hotel, NayiPuliya, Outside Chand Pol, Udaipur,Rajasthan 313001, India

+91-8769348440

Serving pure organic cuisine for those whoare health conscious, this vegan restaurantMillets of Mewar is a favourite amongforeign nationals who visit India. The staffhere is friendly and welcoming and it is apleasure to bite into the delicious pizzas,cakes, salads and much more. The steal dealhere is knowing that what’s going inside youis completely organic and totally healthy.

This restaurant also organises cookinglessons for a group of five people or more.Do try the Millet Aloo Tikki and Dum Aloo.

5 Eatos Restaurant

12-C, Nursery Scheme, Talwandi,Kota-5, Kota-Rajasthan 324004, India

+91-93526-00405

Good ambience and great food makes EatosRestaurant quite famous amongst foodies.Whether it’s Mini Thali or paneer buttermasala, everything listed on the menu isworth trying. Choose from the best ofChinese, Italian and Indian options available.You just can't leave this place without tryingtheir pineapple cake and death by chocolatedessert. Also, don’t miss out on their yummybutterscotch and chocolate donuts.