Jaisalmer: Travel Tips for Rajasthan Tours

If Jodhpur offers threshold to the stark landscapes of the Thar Desert, then Jaisalmer lies in its heart. Jaisalmer is popularly known as ‘The golden city’ due to the extensive use of yellow sandstone in the architecture that glows golden in the sunlight. The city was founded by Rao Jaisal in 1156 AD. The city was once ruled by the famous Bhatti kings of the region. Due to its strategic location on the main trade route linking India to Egypt, Persia, Arabia, Africa and West, the city enjoyed a long lasting trade-relation with these countries in medieval times.

Golden Castle in Jaisalmer

Attractions in Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is renowned for its sand dunes, camel safaris, massive forts, striking havelis and beautiful temples. Besides forts and havelis, the 3-day long desert festival is a major attraction for the travelers. Some famous attractions in Jaisalmer are as follows:

Jaisalmer Fort
The Jaisalmer fort, popularly known as ‘Sonar Qila’ (golden fort) is situated on Trikuta hill. The massive structure is built with the extensive use of yellow sandstone which appears golden-yellow in sunshine and honey-gold at the time of sunset. The magnificence of the fort lies in the several inbuilt structures which include intricately carved havelis, sculptured Jain temples, Lakshminath Temple and 99 poles (towers).

Jaisalmer Havelis
Havelis and mansions of Jaisalmer are worth visiting for their intricate designs, decorations and yellow and red sandstone carvings. Some of the famous havelis of Jaisalmer are Patwon-ki-Haveli, Salam Singh-ki-Haveli, Nathmalji-ki-Haveli and Haveli Shreenath.

Jain Temples
The Jaisalmer fort has 7 beautifully carved and decorated Jain temples inside the fort complex. These spectacular temples were built in the 12th century are a part of Jaisalmer’s cultural heritage. Some of the famous Jain temples include Dilwara temple, Parswanath temple, Tirthankar temple and Shantinath temple. Some other Jain temples around Jaisalmer are Brahmsar, Pokharan, Lodavra and Amarsagar.

Desert Festival in Jaisalmer
The 3-day desert festival takes place in the month of February every year. The festival held in the enthralling background of the Golden fort. The festival showcases the rich and colorful Rajasthani folk culture through various traditional art forms which include desert ballads, puppeteers, snake charmers, folk music and dance and camel race. The highlight of this festival is the famous sound and light show performed in Sand-Sam dunes.

Desert Safari in Jaisalmer
One of the ‘must do’ things in Jaisalmer is the camel safari ride in the shimmering glory of the golden sand. A magical safari in the undulating golden sand-dunes of Thar Desert usually lasts for two days with a camping stay in night to behold the rising sun in Jaisalmer. A camel safari ride allows tourists to explore the splendor of Rajasthan.

Shopping in Jaisalmer
Shopping forms an interesting part of your Jaisalmer trip. Shopping at the local markets of Jaisalmer is a unique experience. Jaisalmer is famous for mirror work, silver jewelry, antique items, silk and cotton textiles, handicrafts and embodied garments. The main shopping markets are Sadar bazaar, Manak Chowk, Pansari bazaar, Rajasthali and Sonaron Ka bas.

Hotels in Jaisalmer
Most of the hotels in Jaisalmer are renovated from the old havelis with their interiors designed in ethnic Rajasthani style. These hotels provide cozy accommodation to the guests. An array of hotels in Jaisalmer is available to suit the requirement of the tourists and fit to all price range. Various accommodation varieties in Jaisalmer include heritage hotels, deluxe hotels and budget hotels.

Visit the website of Indian Luxury Trains to choose from an array of Rajasthan Tour Packages. You may also visit the Flickr photo stream of Indian Luxury Trains for the images to get a sneak peek into tours to India.

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Humayun's Tomb, Delhi - World Heritage Sites in India

Humayun’s Tomb is the resplendent example which set the tone for innovations in Mughal style of architecture culminating in the Taj Mahal of Agra. The tomb situated in Nizammuddin, Delhi was built in 1570 was commissioned by the wife of the Mughal King Humayun, Hamida Haji Begum fourteen years after his death. This complex was declared a ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site” in the year 1993.

Architecture
It is the first distinct example of Mughal style of architecture built by a Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyath. The tomb begins the introduction of extensive use of red sandstone in the later Mughal architectures. The tomb begins the introduction of extensive use of red sandstone in the later Mughal architectures. The interesting known fact behind this monument is that Humayun got very much inspired by Persian architecture during his exile and he himself planned to build a tomb which was later commissioned by his wife. It took 8 years to build the Humayun tomb at a cost of Rs.1.5 lacs.

The Octagonal central chamber containing four long and four short sides is surmounted by a 42.5 m double dome clad of marble which has pillared kiosks. The tomb built of ruins granite and red sandstone, uses white marble as a protective clothing and also for the flooring, trellis screens, door frames, roof space and for the main arena. It stands on a vaulted terrace eight-meter high and spread over 12000 sq. meter.

Char-Bagh Garden
The Humayun Tomb is placed in the center of 30 acre four-square garden divided into four main parts in a Persian quadrilateral style. The entire tomb and the garden are enclosed with four rubble walls. The west and south rubble wall are the two-double storied gateways used for the entrances out of which south wall remains closed. The center of the eastern wall is occupied by a baradari and northern wall by a hammam.

Royal Graveyard
The tomb was later used for the funeral of various Mughal emperors and members of the royal family consisting of some 150 graves. It has appropriately described as the ‘Necropolis of the Mughal Dynasty’. Some important names interred inside the tombs are Dara shikoh, Hamida Begum, Bahadur shah Zafar and his three princes and Humayun itself.

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Gujarat Tours: Ideas for holidays in India

Holidays in India offer plethora of options to the tourists. One of an important destination for tours to India is the state of Gujarat with its vibrant culture and multiplicity of tourism activities. Gujarat is renowned for its diversity, historical sites and varied wildlife. Popularly known as the “Jewel in the West”, Gujarat is one of the famous tourist destinations in India known for its cosmopolitan hospitality. From historical monuments to magnificent temples, wildlife to colorful festivals, Gujarat tours offer almost everything to make your vacations astounding.

Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad Gujarat built in mid 15th Century

Gujarat has a 1600km coastline and an easily traversable landscape. Gujarat has an industrious reputation, thanks to its Jain Community known for their veneration of ‘divine consciousness and liberation’. Stunning white marble temples, ever-so-slightly sweet vegetarian fare and prohibition laws – alcoholic beverages are banned in the state – most of it could be attributed to this industrious and pacifist community. Gujarat tours let you choose from among a multiple of options. A few of the major tourist destinations in Gujarat according to regional segregation are listed below. 

Ahmedabad

“Manchester of the East”, Ahmedabad is renowned as the commercial capital of Gujarat. In other words, it is the commercial hub of the state. Ahmedabad enjoys a booming cultural tradition, rich culinary traditions and the forte of the city is their folk art. The attractions include Gujarat Science City, Calico Museum of Textiles, Swaminarayan Mandir, Jama Masjid, Vastrapur Lake and Hathee Singh Jain temple.

Vadodara

Vadodara, also known as Sanskari Nagari, is situated on the banks Vishwamitri river and an important destination of Gujarat tours. The traditional handicrafts of the city are famous all across the country, which include embroidery with gold, silver and silk thread, gold and silver ornaments, and engraving on ebony, sandalwood and other wood and lacquer work. Vadodara is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Gujarat. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, emblazoned as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, is situated nearby.

Champaner Pavagarh Archaelogical Park Near Vadodara located in Panchmahal district in Gujarat, India. It was inscribed in 2004 as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Gandhinagar

Gandhhinagar, situated on the west bank of the Sabarmati River, is the capital of the state. It is the second planned city in India after Chandigarh and is renowned for its Educational and Research Institutes. The city presents the spacious and well organized look for an architecturally integrated city. The city is famous for some of its attractions, which will entice your attention towards their mesmerizing charm. The attractions include Akshardham temple, Children’s Park, Sarita Udyan, Deer Park and Craftsmen’s Village.

Porbandar

The birth place of the “Father of the Nation” – M.K. Gandhi, Porbandar has got its name registered in the history of the country. It is also popularly known as the “White City” because of its white stone construction. Situated on the west coast of India, the city is remarkably planned with stone structures and rich carvings. The city has numbers of religious places and public buildings overlooking the vast expanse Arabian Sea. There are many attractions, which you would like to explore such as Kirti Mandir, Darbargadh, Sudama Mandir, Chowpati, Huzoor Palace and much more.

Junagadh

Situated at the foot of Girnar Hill, Junagadh takes its name from the ‘Old Fort’, which encircles the medieval town. It is a wonderful nature reserve for various flora and fauna and is also the dwelling of the majestic Asiatic Lion. It is an ancient city, which has many eye catching temples, museums, palaces and caves. Some of the tourist attractions of the city are Somnath, Girnar, Uparkot Fort, Chorwad Beach and Sasan Gir Forest and Sanctuary.

District of Surat is another major tourist and commercial destination in Gujarat. it is situated by the bank of Tapti River and is renowned for its textile and diamond businesses. It is also known as the diamond capital of the world and the textile capital of India. Besides these destinations, region of Kutch and destinations such as Lothal, an Archaeological Site and a major city during heydays of Indus Valley Civilization are much popular destinations when it comes to Gujarat tours. Despite its limited diversity in terms of geography, Gujarat certainly scores at the top when it comes to holidays in India, thanks to its industrialization and rapid growth in infrastructure and standards of living.

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A Trip to Bhimbetka: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India

India's Cultural Heritage for World
Rocks sure do have a way of their own. Whether carved or painted, they acquire a potency of their own and communicate a thousand words and emotions. Narrating a story of a bygone era and popular mythological beliefs translated into folk lore. India too has its fair share of rock structures. Bhimbetka Rock Shelters situated in the foothills of the Vindhyachal hills in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh in India are one such example of ancient heritage.

Bhimbetka Temple: A UNESCO World Heritage SIte

These rock shelters showcase the ancient traces of the human race in India which depicts a heritage nearly 1, 00,000 year old. Many paintings found in the Bhimbetka rocks can be signified as the remains of Stone Age. It is also being said that these rock shelters are associated with the great epic hero Bhima in “Mahabharata” known for his immense body strength and the name Bhimbetka has been derived from the name of Bhima itself.

The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, located in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh are only 46 kms away from the city of Bhopal. The entire area of Bhimbetka rock shelters is surrounded by rich and dense forests of flora and fauna.

The paintings found at Bhimbetka Caves, MP are about 10000 years old. A five or six thousand years old skeleton was also unearthed during the excavation of this site.

Major Attractions for Tourists
Bhimbetka Rock Shelters and caves are full of attractions for tourists consisting of various paintings that signify the culture of different people of different times. Created mainly in red and white with the casual use of yellow and green, the cave and rock paintings usually depicts the everyday events of the life of the people living in caves such as dancing, singing, hunting, horse and elephant riders, animal fighting, honey collection, decoration of bodies, disguises and masking and household scenes. Some of the cave paintings often depict the race of animal species of that time, religious rituals etc. The cave and rock paintings are categorized under 7 different periods:

1. Upper Paleolithic
The First period known as “Upper Paleolithic” was mainly consists of linear images made in green and dark red color. It shows huge figures of animals such as bison, tigers and rhinoceros.

2. Mesolithic
The second Period known as “Mesolithic” depicts the figures having linear decoration but smaller in size. It consists of both human and animal figures and majorly their hunting scenes which give an idea of the kind of weapons being used at that time.

3. Chalcolithic
This period was a transitory phase between the Stone Age to the Bronze Age characterized by the interaction between the cave dwellers and agricultural communities to fulfill each other requirements.

4-5. Early History
The fourth and fifth period known as “Early History” shows the religious symbols such as figures of gods, tree gods and sky chariots. Also the scriptures of different were painted on the rock caves.

6-7. Medieval
The sixth and seventh period mainly known as “Medieval” were mainly consists of geometric, linear and schematic paintings.

The white colour(bottom) was made from grinding limestone with vegetable oil. The rock shelters have preserved the paintings from rain water.

How to reach Bhimbetka

Travel By Bus: Since the destination of Bhimbetka rock shelters is about 46 kms away from Bhopal, it is easily accessible by Bus.

Travel by Train: The Bhopal route during Delhi- Madras and Delhi-Mumbai mainline is the easiest and most convenient route.

Travel by Airlines:  The cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Indore and Gwalior are connected with the Bhopal Airport which is about 40km away from the caves.

For more information about attractions and heritage sites in India or any other assistance and queries regarding tours to India, please feel free to contact me.

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Top 5 Summer Holiday Destinations in India

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” ~ Bill Bryson

Whether you are the intrepid back-packer variant seduced by the serene white expanse of the mighty Himalayas, or just a wanderlust-stricken traveler wishing to lose yourself in the “otherworldly” wonders of Mother Nature, hill stations in India during summer holidays offer perfect retreats to experience heaven on earth.

Summer vacations offer one of the best opportunities to spend some quality time with your family members, friends or colleagues. Owing to the amazing geographical diversity, India is blessed with an array of hill stations which are renowned for their spectacular summer vacation packages. Hill stations in India provide heavenly retreat far from the heat, sun and din of the hustle and bustle of life in cities. Here’s a compilation of the top 5 summer holiday destinations in India making up for a blissful travel experience.

Ladakh

Considered to be the final frontier for adventure tourist, Ladakh literally meaning land of high passes is the highest plateau in the state of Kashmir in India with most of its region above the height of 3000 meters above sea level. Isolation due to its extreme location and toils of climate and altitude has ensured an almost medieval way of life in Ladakh.

The sparsely populated valley of Ladakh is known for its snow covered mountain peaks, high altitude desert landscape, medieval culture and Buddhist monasteries. Snuggled between two sprawling mountains ranges, Ladakh offers an array of adventure tourism activities. Among the popular places of tourist interest include Leh, Drass valley, Suru valley, Kargil, Zangskar, Zangla, Rangdum, Padum, Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Changthang and Nubra Valley.

Ladakh is a picture perfect place with its high altitude desert-esque landscapes and one of the best places for landscape photography in India

Shimla

Situated amidst the verdant hills and valleys in Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is fondly referred to as ‘the Queen of Hill Stations’. It was when during colonial era British made Shimla their favored retreat and winter capital that Shimla shot into global fame. The distinct colonial flavor is still redolent in the ambiance of this sleepy hill station in India located in Himachal, a popular trekking destination in India. 

Shimla is one of the favored honeymoon destinations in India owing to tranquil environs and picturesque landscapes surrounding this hill down. Sweeping view of the undulating mountains and rolling valleys add to the romance of the urban oasis. Major attractions in the city include State Museum, Summer Temple, the Ridge and the Mall, Christ Church and Tara Devi temple. As you embark of local sightseeing, you could not but witness the seamless amalgamation of British influence and Indian culture and traditions making up for the irresistible allure of the city.

Frozen in Time: Streets of Shimla after Snowfall

Manali

Popularly known as the ‘Valley of Gods’, Manali’s picturesque location amidst the scenic Himalayan Mountain Range by the Beas River and an array of trekking trails makes it a popular tourist destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. The landscape at Manali is breathtaking with Beas River meandering through the town and panoramic view of the snow capped Himalayan peaks dotted with pine and deodar trees and lush fruit orchards.

Surrounded by incredible scenery of mountains, rivers and waterfalls, this hill station in India attracts all sorts of people like nature lovers, vacationers, honeymooners and adventure lovers. One can also enjoy different adventure sports here like trekking, skiing, river rafting, mountaineering, etc. The climate of Manali is predominantly cold during winters and moderately cool during summers.

Snow Capped Mountains near Rohtang Pass in Manali which is one of the post popular attractions

Darjeeling

“Flowers are everywhere. The days are cold and the sun almost seems to play hide and seek with us” ~ Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore

Nestled in the rolling mountains where the towering Kanchenjunga paints the canvas of azure sky, Darjeeling located in West Bengal is renowned for its tea gardens and tea industry which are revered by connoisseurs of tea around the world. Darjeeling rose into prominence after British annexed it and transformed it into sleepy Victorian Township during mid 1800s. The remnant of the colonial charm which suffuses this mesmerizing hill station in India is still instantly recognizable.

The major attraction of Darjeeling is the World Heritage Himalayan Mountain Railways, fondly referred to as the toy train of Darjeeling along with the soaring Mt Kanchenjunga. Other attractions of note which qualifies as must visit are the Tiger Hill, Himalayan Zoo and Japanese Peace Pagoda.

Steam Hauled Vintage Engine of the Darjeeling's Famous Toy Train or the Himalayan Mountain  Railways

Munnar

Situated in ‘God’s Own Country’ Kerala, Munnar is one of the most popular hill stations in India and is well known for its responsible tourism endeavors. Characterized by undulating hills with dense vegetation and plateaus and hillocks sprinkled with tea gardens, Munnar attracts tourists from around the world owing to its salubrious climate and picturesque landscape. Munnar’s salubrious weather, unruffled serenity, scenic countryside and bounty of nature make it one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in India. Major attractions of Munnar include tea plantations, bird sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park, Walk in the Clouds, several lakes and waterfalls.

Verdant Tea Gardens and Rolling Hills: Munnar, Kerala

Author Bio: Contributed by Nikhil Chandra

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