Travel agent in Jaipur offering Rajasthan your packages, car rental Jaipur and Hotel booking in Jaipur

Adventures in Rajasthan

» Shopping in Rajasthan » Rajasthan Crafts  » Adventures in Rajasthan
» Climate of Rajasthan » Cuisines of Rajasthan » Rajasthan Fairs and Festivals
» Wildlife of Rajasthan

Seeped in tradition and heritage, the culture of Rajasthan is evident in its enchanting forts & monuments, the exquisite ornaments that adorn the women, the colourful garb of the natives and the carvings & paintings. Every aspect of this marvelous place is a pleasure for the senses and speaks volumes about the passion of life and legacy of this place. Various adventurous sports include:

Camel Safari: - The camel is not only common in the Thar desert, but is also the only means of transportation in remote areas. People use it to ride through sandy tracks, passing through remote villages. The safari is organized to take tourists through the golden sands of the vast Thar desert and untamed countryside, so that one can create his/her memoirs in the peaceful desert life. Tourists can stay close to life in very remote villages by pitching tents every night at different venues, spend evenings next to the camp fire and dance to the folk music.

Horse & Jeep Safaris: - Like camel and horse safaris, another popular form is the jeep safari wherein one can drive through the quiet and beautiful countryside to cruise by forts, palaces historical landmarks and villages. The average daily move is about 150 kms. Consisting of approximately five to six hours of jeep driving. Spend lazy evenings in bed or swing to the folk dances. Jeep safaris are organized in every part of Rajasthan, but safaris organized to the Bishnoi village near Jodhpur have a special attraction for tourists.

Elephant Polo: - An exciting sport is Elephant Polo, which provides a spectacle for the audience and enjoyment to the participants. The bulky animals move around with surprisingly speed and poise.

 

Water Sports: - The lakes of Rajasthan are ideal for water sports. Throughout the year, water sports of all kinds can be arranged here. Ramgarh lake is a man-made reservoir around 4 kms. in length and 2 kms. in width. Facilities for swimming, boating etc. are available. Boating is a regular feature, conducted by trained.

Rajasthan also offers angling sites. Bandh Baretha in Bharatpur, Siliserh and Jaisamand in Alwar, Mansarover near Sariska, Kukas, Chhaparwara and Ramgarh in Jaipur are an angler's paradise. However, the enthusiasts are advised to carry their own equipment and obtain permission from the Fisheries Department. Patience and perseverance in angling, as in life, has rich rewards.

Trekking: - Although Rajasthan is a desert, the lofty hill ranges of the Aravallis (one of the oldest mountain ranges of the world, extending from north-east to south-west have some beautiful forest areas), that make it a destination for trekker's. There are many beautiful meadows, dense forests, crystal lakes, waterfalls and rivulets flowing through the countryside.

Trekking routes in Mount Abu, Kumbhalgarh and Rawali Tatgarh are not restricted to any particular area. The entire mountain system offers exciting trails which originate at starting points spread over the entire length and breadth of the Aravallis. One can trek from Abu road to Guru Shikhar( the highest peak of Aravalli), Thandi Beri to Kumbhalgarh fort or Ranakpur to Rawali Tatgarh.

Golf: - The desert is an unusual place for a golf course but as the aristocracy was enamored with this sport, golf courses were laid and maintained. Jaipur has an 18-hole golf course, where you can have a round of golf, in the picturesque surroundings including a palace.

Kite Flying: - The Rajputs traditionally and now Rajasthani’s have always been passionate about flying kites and there are clubs in various cities where this sport is ardently practiced. An international kite flying competition is held in Jaipur, which adds to the fervor. You can buy a couple of colorful kites and join the Rajasthani people in this zestful activity. We can organize kite-flying activity, if required.

A little further away from the city is Balsamand lake and gardens, Mandore with its unusual Hall of Heroes, Mahamandir temple, and Kailana lake. The observant visitor will notice that most of the houses here use the red stone typical of Jodhpur, giving a rather near and uniform look to the city.

Today, craftsmen use the stone to produce a wide range of gift items that the visitor can take away as a memento. There is also a greater demand for this stone from other cities where carved pillar and balconies are shaped to give a unique look to houses.

Another thriving desert city, though not on the usual tourist circuit, is Barmer, a city that can trace its origins to the 12th century. Once on the ancient camel trade route, barren land and rough terrain surround the town. It is a lively town but the harsh climate has also kept this town a little isolated from growing into a major tourist center. The town, however, does have its little areas of interest. The ruined fort and some Jain temples should be visited.

A little away from Barmer is the famous town of Kiradu, an archaeologist's dream, where ruins of some beautiful 12th century temples should not be missed. Barmer is famous for its carved wooden furniture and hand block printing industry. This area is best visited to gain an insight into the desert life and admire the decorative skills of the simple village folk. Undaunted by the harsh, unfriendly climate, the villagers have some of the most beautiful mud huts that are decorated with delicate folk motifs. The neat huts are a wonderful backdrop for the colorfully dressed men and women. Try and visit Barmer when it is festival time, the Tilwara cattle fair is a good time to be here. Don't make the mistake, of thinking that if you've visited one desert city you've seen them all. Desert cities are not all alike.

A visit to Jaisalmer will make you realize just how different each desert city can be. No matter what you may have heard about this golden city, nothing can quite prepare you for the sheer magic and poetry of this brilliant city. Very few cities can boast of the magnificence that surrounds Jaisalmer. The fort seems to rise out of the desert haze, its yellow sandstone walls and bastions taking on a golden hue in the afternoon sun. In fact, at whatever time of the day you look at the sonar kila, or golden fort, it looks like a fairy tale creation.

The fort dominates the small city that spreads around it. History records the fact that the Bhati Rajputs of Jaisalmer lived off the forced levis on the great caravans that crossed their area enroute to Delhi, or Central India. Those caravans, laden with precious cargoes of spices and silk brought great wealth to this town. The princes prospered and so did the merchants. They displayed their wealth in the exquisitely carved and ornamented havelis that lined the narrow cobbled streets.

In the past, getting to Jaisalmer was not easy. Its remote location kept it safe from external influences, very few invading armies had the courage to cross the harsh desert to attack Jaisalmer. Even during the British ''Raj, Jaisalmer was the last to sign the Instrument of Agreement with the British. This remote citadel is today famous for its carved havelies, its narrow cobbled streets and its well-preserved Jain temples.

The small market located just outside the fort is the main hub of activity; you can pick up a large variety of local crafts here and explore the streets on foot. In fact, the streets do seem like a walker's dream - no traffic, no crowds and clean lanes. Just follow your instincts and you'll have covered the entire town on foot. If you can pull yourself away from the charm of the carved havelies then the to the places that you can see are Gadsisar Lake, Ludrava Aakal and the royal cenotaphs at Bada Bagh. For a closer look at the sand dunes, get somebody to take you to Sam. Ride a camel on the dunes and gear yourself up for an unforgettable experience of watching the sunset over the desert. This lonely area comes alive at the time of the desert festival every spring. Some more desert life awaits you at Bikaner. This city lies on the northern point of the triangle of the desert cities. A city that goes back over 500 years when it was founded by one of the princes of Jodhpur clan. One rather interesting element about the history of these deserts cities is that though they were located on the major trade routes that connected Central Asia and North India with the Gujurat ports, outside influences were minimal. This is true of Bikaner as well. Like most of the other cities of the desert region, Bikaner has been able to keep its medieval flavor alive. Water has been limited here so the customary water palaces and pleasure gardens are missing.

The wealth of its architectural heritage lies in its fort, palaces and temples. Two outstanding palaces of Bikaner are the Lalgarh Palace and the Gajner Palace. Other important sights are Junagarh Fort andthe Camel Breeding farm. For those inclined towards archaeology, it would be interesting to know that the Rajasthan State Archives is located here. The Ganga Golden Jubilee museum here has a vast collection of rare exhibits covering almost every period of Indian history.

When in Bikaner don't miss the famous temple of Karni mata at Deshnok, it is a beautiful temple where the humble rats are also venerated, Gajner, for lovers of wildlife, and Kolayat, an ancient pilgrimage center. Visitors will love the camel wool products of this region. Carpets, durries, carved wooden furniture, stone carving and block printing are popular items to pick up from here. Other desert crafts like leather work, basket weaving and pottery are interesting.
 

» Shopping in Rajasthan » Rajasthan Crafts  » Adventures in Rajasthan
» Climate of Rajasthan » Cuisines of Rajasthan » Rajasthan Fairs and Festivals
» Wildlife of Rajasthan

Travel Care - D-1, 2-A, Ground Floor, Jaipur Tower. Opp. A.I.R. M.I. Road, Jaipur 302012
Rajasthan (INDIA) Tel: +91-141-2371832, 2372210, 2371828 Fax: +91-141-2373810 
Email: travelcare4444@gmail.com, arun@travelcareindia.com