Rajasthan: Desert Odyssey

Rajasthan is one of the most charming, fascinating and captivating tourism destinations in the world. From the enigmatic charm and splendor of the royal forts and palaces to the rich culture and traditions, Rajasthan is famous for its rich flora and fauna, colorful fairs and festivals and much more. Truly these wonderful tourist attractions blend with the charm and glory of the bygone era, which entice visitors from across the nook and corner of the globe.


It is a region of lofty rocks, rolling sand dunes, burning heat and freezing cold, fertile plains, deep wild glens and jungles. Rajasthan, in the extreme western province of India, is an enigmatic land of extreme beauty. The strong penchant for design is aptly reflected in the architecture and craft and is visible in the historic buildings. 

The magnificent forts and elegant palaces are widely acclaimed by all. Almost the entire part of the state is dotted with some of architecturally beautiful monuments. The magnificent forts & palaces of the state narrate the legacy of royal kingdom and depict the excellent specimen of fine art & architecture. Udaipur Lake palace, one of the most elegant, majestic & beautiful palaces in the world arising out of the pichola is like an elegant fantasy in white marble.



The palace was built in the 17th century on a natural foundation of rock. The successive rulers used this cool heaven as their summer resort, holding their regal durbars in its courtyards. The courtyards lined with columns, pillared terraces, fountains and gardens add to its impressive image. The rooms are decorated with cusped arches, inland stenos of pink, green lotus leaves and painted mirrors enhancing the romance of the elegant setting.

Pushkar is a town with a calm and relaxing ambience. If its tranquility you're looking for, you will find serenity amidst the sand dunes of Pushkar. According to legends, the picturesque lake of Pushkar was surrounded by 500 temples and 52 palaces at one point. Today, the Brahma temple of Rajasthan is considered to be the most substantial temple and is, in fact, the sole Brahma temple of India.



The Pushkar Fair is an exotic celebration of the colors of life and the best time and means to realize the spiritual attraction, while navigating the city of Pushkar and its vibrant culture. Among all the fairs and festivals of Rajasthan, Pushkar Fair is the most appealing where folk dancers dressed in colourful costumes dance to the rhythm of the desert melody. Pushkar is full of surprises where you will be amazed by the color and energy of the desert carnival.

Pushkar Fair is also the suiting backdrop for the world’s largest cattle fair every year of mainly camels which are adorned in silver bells and bangles. Stalls are set up selling attire and jewellery for the camels. During the  fair, camel races and camel beauty contests are held among much frenzy. The camels fleece before the herds, savoring every minute of the attention they get.



There are also performances by folk musicians and dancers at the Pushkar Fair. The song, dance, attire, jewellery and language reflect the richness of culture and a deep sense of aesthetics of the people of this region. One can see the traditional attire and jewellery readily in the place with dazzling variations of style and colour.

The local people in their turbaned heads, colourful humeral veil and skirts bestow alive the exciting desert escape. The attire of women with coloured clothes makes the entire Pushkar Fair a colourful one. Traditional textiles and handicrafts are also on display where you can shop for silver jewellery and colorful Rajasthani clothes decorated with embroidery and mirror work. Known for its taste and variety, the cuisine is an important aspect of Rajasthan.



Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner offer their own specialty dishes to pamper the taste buds. From the vegetarian gastronomic delights to the lip smacking non-vegetarian dishes, Rajasthani cuisine offers a lot. Feast on many gastronomic delights to your heart's content and round off your hearty meals with mouth-watering sweet dishes. The culinary delights of Rajasthan are greatly influenced by the Rajputs and Mughals who ruled here for ages.

Vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes are served here. Dal bati churma is the most famous vegetarian dish of the state. Do try tasty vegetarian dishes such as kair sangri, govind gatta, papad ki sabzi, alu mangori and alu samosa. The famous non-vegetarian dishes are lal maans (red meat) and safed maans (white meat) prepared with almonds, cashew nuts and coconut.



The most popular excursions take place in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer with huge, silky, undulating folds of sand. It’s best to be here at sunrise or sunset when many camel safaris spend a night here where you can frame pictures of solitary camels against lonely dunes.

Folklore of heroism and romance resound from the formidable monuments that majestically stand to tell the tale of a bygone era. Rajasthan combines the faces of different cultures, colourful customs and is famous for the glorious past of the royal kingdoms. Nestled amidst the forested sloped of Aravallis, the scenic beauty of the Siliserh Lake is truly awesome.



The conducive surroundings attract a large number of migratory birds which are an added attraction and also add to the beauty of the place. Besides its impressive looks, the lake presents a perfect track for angling. The beauty of the pond is so graceful that one would not mind spending hours on its lovely banks.

This lake is surrounded by thick wooded hills with beautiful chhatris on the embankment. A boat trip in the lake, particularly during winter season, is a rewarding experience. Situated between the Aravalis and overlooking the lake is the magnificent royal hunting lodge or Siliserh lake palace. One could spend hours by simply watching the waterfowl. Rajasthan is known for exquisite forts and palaces which take you back to the bygone eras. Erected to exhibit the extravaganza of richness by the rulers of Rajasthan, these forts and palaces also protected the cities they were built in.

The Lake Palace located on the Jag Niwas Island in the middle of the Pichola Lake was meant as a royal summer palace and is a magical palace with its image in the middle of the lake, just like a leaf straight out of a fairy tale book, with an excellent taste of intricate craftsmanship and the ethnic themes. The lake around makes a pleasant murmur with its rippling waves that adds to the mesmerising moments.

Jaisalmer, one of the last princely citadels in Rajasthan is located in the heart of Thar desert and is illustrated for heroism of Rajput rulers. Jaisalmer is dotted by huge palaces and havelis made up of sandstone delicately and intricate ornamented facades and balconies usually made up of gold or silver or other fine twisted wire. Jaisalmer fort in the midst of numerous forts and palaces stand tall and speaks gallantry of erstwhile rulers.

It is a destination where vacationers can retire at cozy beds in heritage hotels, adventure enthusiasts can relish camel safari trips in rippling sand dunes and indulge in wildlife expeditions in the amazing beauty. Rajasthan is a gateway to the bucolic beauty representing the rich heritage and immortal Indian culture. Experience a distinct blend of traditions, lifestyles, history and people.

Named after the historic Ranthambhore fortress found within the park, Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most famous national parks in north India covering an area of 392 sq km. Bound to the north by the Banas river and to the south by the Chambal river, Ranthambore lies at the edge of a plateau. There are several lakes here and it is home to a variety of plants and animals. Ranthambore tiger reserve's romantic setting, with abandoned fortress, turquoise lakes and especially its 'friendly' tigers have made this destination popular.

However, Ranthambore's pride is the population of tigers that inhabit the park and it is also the site of one of the largest banyan trees in India. The terrain is made up of massive rock formations, steep scarps, perennial lakes and streams, and forest area that opens up into large areas of savannah. The terrain of Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bush land. The forest is of the typically dry deciduous type. In addition to the tiger, Ranthambore National Park is home to the leopard, striped hyena, sambar deer, chital, nilgai, macaque, jackal, sloth bear, blackbuck, the Indian wild boar, chinkara, common palm civet or toddy cat, desert cat, fivestriped palm squirrel, Indian flying fox, long eared hedgehog, ratel (honey badger) and many more.

Due to the abundance of lakes and streams, the park is home to reptiles such as the snub nosed marsh crocodile, desert monitor lizard, tortoise, banded krait, cobra, common krait, Ganga soft shelled turtle, Indian  python, North Indian flap shelled turtle, rat snake, Russell's viper, saw-scaled viper and Indian chamaeleon. Ranthambore has an excellent population of resident and migrant birds due to its varied terrain and abundance of water. Rajasthan is a land which has been pregnant with historical events, cultural heritage, traditional saga and local customs. Rajasthan is an abode of enthusiasm and hospitality.

Rajasthan is land of festivals. While some festivals are religious in nature, others mark change of season. Lot of fanfare can be seen in the streets in the festive seasons. In many of these celebrations one can get to experience captivating songs and dance performances. Jaipur is bestowed upon with miraculous and majestic monuments in the forms of palaces. There is the magnum opus of the artistry of the Rajput era in Jaipur, known as the Hawa Mahal, i.e. the Palace of the Wind. The palace has 5 huge stories of magnificent work done in red, pink and white sandstone. The motifs that are painted in quick lime take exquisite pride in bordering the palace. 

From Banathani painitings to woodcraft, Rajasthan excels in every possible aspect of handicrafts. The wooden handicrafts of Rajasthan is famous for its exquisite designs and delicate carvings. The painting style of Rajasthan speaks the medieval glory and renowned all over world for its elegance and beauty. The most famous paintings is the miniature painting, which owns a distinct style and regional characteristics. 

Rajasthan is a dream land full of peace, simplicity and innocence where you can connect with nature and explore the beauty of nature amidst sheer luxury, blending in, with the grandeur of 'Good Living'.

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