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Introduction
Delhi
Delhi
is a capital of the world’s largest democracy. Actually, Delhi is
India in miniature. Delhi is 32,87,263 sq. km of India’s fantastic
variety compressed into 1483 sq. km. Delhi has excellent tourist
spots, recreational facilities, and a history that goes back to
antiquity. The city offers a multitude of interesting places and
attractions to the visitor, so much so that it becomes difficult
to decide from where to begin exploring the city.
Old
Delhi
The important places in Old Delhi includes:
Red Fort The decision for constructing the fort
was taken in 1639, when Shahjahan decided to shift his capital to
Delhi. Within eight years, Shahjahanabad was completed with the
Red Fort—Delhi’s seventh fort. Though much has changed now because
of large-scale demolitions during the British occupation of the
fort, its important structures have survived, the glory faded with
age but still impressive.
Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk The
living legacy of Delhi is Shahjahanabad. Created by the builder
of Red Fort as the focal point and Jama Masjid as the praying centre,
Shahjahan planned Chandni Chowk so that his daughter could shop
for all that she wanted.
Raj Ghat On the bank of the
legendary Yamuna, which flows past Delhi, there is Raj Ghat—the
last resting place of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation cremated
here.
New
Delhi
On the other hand, is a modern city designed by Edwin Lutyens
and Herbert Baker. It is a spacious, open city that houses
many government buildings and embassies, besides places of historical
interest. Notable attractions in New Delhi includes:
Rashtrapati Bhawan It
is architecturally a very impressive building standing at a height,
flowing down as it were to India Gate. Rashtrapati Bhawan was once
the imperial residence of the British viceroys. This 340-roomed
structure has an imposing character overlooking India Gate and Rajpath.
It is now the official residence of the president of India.
India Gate memorial raised
in honour of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war.
Laxminarayan Temple also
called the Birla temple, the Laxminarayan Temple was built by the
Birla family in 1938. It is a temple with a large garden and fountains
behind it. Humayun’s Tomb was
built nine years after Humayun’s death by his wife Haji Begum. Designed
by a Persian architect named Mirak Mirza Ghujas, and completed in
1565.
Qutab Minar it was built by Qutub-ud-din
Aibek of the Slave Dynasty, It is a fluted red sandstone tower,
which tapers up to a height of 72.5 m. However, only the first storey
was completed by Qutb-ud-din. The other storeys were built by his
successor Iltutmish. In many ways, the Qutab Minar, the first monument
of Muslim rule in India, heralded the beginning of a new style of
art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style.
Bahai Temple situated in South
Delhi, is shaped like a lotus. It is an eye catching edifice worth
exploring. Built by the Bahai community, it offers the visitor a
serenity that pervades the temple and its artistic design.
Agra
Agra
is located about 204 km south of Delhi and is one of the most
famous tourist spots of the country. The city, situated on the west
bank of river the Yamuna, is known world over as home to a wonder
of the world, Taj Mahal. For most of the time Agra alternated with
Delhi as the capital of the Mughal Empire. As such one finds many
marvels of the Mughal architecture in and around the city, the most
famous of them being the following:
Taj
Mahal On the banks of the river Yamuna stands the Taj
Mahal, the epitome of love. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan
in the 17th century, the Taj today is source of attraction for millions
of tourists from all over the world. The white marble building appears
to change its hue according to variations in the daylight. In moonlight,
especially on the full moon night, the marble appears extraordinarily
luminescent. During winter months, the view of Taj at sunrise is
magnificent.
Agra Fort Built by Emperor Akbar
on the west bank of the river Yamuna. Agra Fort today dominates
the centre of the city. The crescent-shaped fort with its 20-metre
high, 2.4 km outer walls contains a maze of buildings that form
a small city within a city. The Diwan-i-Aam (hall of public audience)
and Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience) were built by Shahjahan
for receiving audiences. Jehangir’s palace built by Akbar was the
largest private residence in the fort. Close to Diwan-i-Khas, stands
an octagonal tower known as Musamman Burj. It was here that Shahjahan
breathed his last after seven years of imprisonment.
Other
main tourist attractions are Itmad-Ud-Dalauh
Tomb, Sikendra & Fatehpur
Sikri
Jaipur
Jaipur
is a city where royalty still lives in the grandeur of its palaces,
where fighting for the honour of the clan has never been a need
but a way of life, and where treating guests as gods has been a
tradition from time immemorial. The city is located at a distance
of around 258 km from Delhi and 232 km from Agra, making it a part
of the famed Golden Triangle tourist circuit of North India. Jaipur
got its name from its founder Sawai Jai Singh (1693-1743),
who had the vision to create a meticulously planned city as his
capital. All the houses in the old city are painted pink, including
the famous Hawa Mahal, thereby
giving the city its alternative name, the Pink
City.
Jaipur
offers a plethora of touristic attractions to the traveller. Some
of them are:
City Palace The City Palace is
now converted into a museum, except a small portion that is still
used by the royal family of Jaipur. Built in the fortified campus
style, the palace covers almost one-seventh part of the city. One
of the major attractions in the museum is the portion that is devoted
to the arms and ammunition used by the royal family in the past.
Jantar Mantar This largest
stone observatory in the world has a very interesting story behind
its construction. Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of five observatories
in India including this one. Before constructing this observatory,
he sent his emissaries to all corners to the world, who returned
with many manuals of cutting-edge technology including a copy of
La Hire/’s Tables.
Hawa Mahal Strange though
it may seem, this most famous landmark of Jaipur. This pink structure
was constructed so that the ladies of the palace could watch the
royal processions without being seen by any outsider.
Amber
Fort
Standing tall over a small hillock overlooking the Pink City,
Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthan fort-palace. Amber today
is nothing but a reflection of the glorious past of the fierce Kachwaha
Dynasty that ruled over this region from 12th to 18th century. Man
Singh I started the construction of this fort in 1592 and, perhaps,
it was the defence that topped his priorities before constructing
this fort.
Bharatpur
Bharatpur
was the premier Jat State in Rajasthan. Badan Singh established
and founded the fort and palaces of Deeg in 1725. Seven years later,
his son laid the foundation nearby of the fort of Bharatpur. It
was a formidable structure called Logagarh (iron fort), which lived
up to its reputation.
Keoladeo
Ghana National Park Once the royal hunting preserve of
the princes of Bharatpur, it is one of the finest bird sanctuaries
in the world inundated with over 400 species of water birds. Exotic
migratory birds from Afghanistan central .Asia, Tibet as well as
Siberian cranes from the arctic, greyleg geese from Siberia and
bareheaded geese from China , come here in July/Aug to spend the
winters in warmer climate and they breed till Oct/Nov
Mandawa
Located
in the semidesert region lies in the triangular area between Delhi,
Jaipur and Bikaner. Famous for its painted havelis (mansions) is
also called as " Open-Air Gallery of Rajasthan".
'Shekhawati ', meaning "the
land of Shekha 's dan " derives its name from Rao Shekha (1433
AD-1488 AD) a scion of the Kachhwah family of Jaipur. Earlier a
part of the former Jaipur state, it now comprises of the districts
of Jhunjhunu and Sikar.
Bikaner
Bikaner's
history dates back to 1488 AD, when a Rathore Prince, Rao Bikaji-a
descendant of the founder of Jodhpur (1459 AD), Rao Jodhaji,established
his kingdom here. Rao Jodhaji had five sons but Rao Bikaji was the
most enterprising of them. Bikaji chose a barren wilderness called
'Jangladesh' and transformed it to an impressive city, called Bikaner
after the founder's name.
Prime
sites are:
Junagarh Fort Built in 1593
AD by Raja Rai Singh, a general in the army of Emperor Akbar, the
fort is a formidable structure encircled by a moat and has some
beautiful palaces within.
Lalgarh Palace The architectural
masterpiece in red sandstone, the palace was built by Maharaja Ganga
Singh in the memory of his father Maharaja Lal Singh. The palace
has beautiful latticework and filigree work. Sprawling lawns with
blooming bougainvillea and dancing peacocks make it a not to be
missed visual treat.
Deshnok's Karni Mata Temple The
famous 600 year old temple on the Jodpur road is dedicated to Karni
Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The temple has huge intricately
craved silver gates which where donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh.
Jaisalmer
Deep
in the heart of the Thar Desert is Jaisalmer,
one of the last princely bastions in the region. Founded on what
was the cross-roads of lucrative trade routes, this remote settlement
came to be celebrated for the valour of its rulers, and for the
aesthetic sense represented by their palaces and havelis. The rich
merchants engaged stone-craftsmen who did work of great delicacy
on the sandstone mansions they built, filling up facades with sculptural
filigree, screen windows, delicate pavilions and beautiful balconies.
Today, these veritable art-museums are still inhabited, and their
colourful celebrations and festivals have placed Jaisalmer firmly
on the world tourism map.
Main
tourist attractions in Jaisalmer to offer are Sonar
Kila, Jain Temples, Patwon ki Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli, Gharisar,Amar
Sagar, Sam Dunes, Lodurva.
Jodhpur
Among
Rajasthan's many princely settlements,
Jodhpur is one of the most distinctive. This five hundred
year old settlement was the headquarters of the Rathore Rajputs
celebrated for their tales of daring. Located in the Thar Desert,
Jodhpur is known for its impressive fortified bastions, specially
those of Mehrangarh which have been witness to many battles and
were associated closely with the history of the region. The years
of peace that followed, resulted in the building of palaces that
were laid on open grounds and spread out in the elaborate European
manner.
Main
touristic attractions of Jodhpur are Mehrangarh
Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mandore
Udaipur
Udiapur
is the jewel of Mewar kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200
Years. The foundation of the city has an interesting legend associated
with it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was
hunting one day when he met a holy man medit The hermit blessed
the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at this favorable
located spot with a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake,
an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low mountains. Maharana
followed the advise of the hermit.
Major
attractions of the city are as follows:
City Palace A majestic architectural
marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded by crenelated
walls, it is a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces,
corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. The main entrance is through
the triple arched gate
the ‘Tripolia’ with eight marble porticos. The Maharana were weighed
under the gate in the gold, the equivalent amount of which was distributed
among the populace.
Saheliyo-ki-Bari This
small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing spot where royal
ladies came for a stroll and hence the name. The garden has many
fountains in its four delightful pools,chiseled kiosks and marble
elephants.
Moti Magri A top the Moti Magri
or pearl hill,overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of
the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana.
Fateh Sager (Nehru Park)It was
in 1678 by Mahrana Jai Singh,But was reconstructed by Maharana Fath
Singh after heavey rains destroyed the dam.
Pushkar
Amongst
the grandeur of Rajasthan, discover a unique gem - Pushkar.
Lord Brahma - The creator of the world in a search for
his abode on earth, performed the supremely spiritual vedic yagna
at Pushkar. It is thus the site of the only Brahma Temple in the
world.
A city of Pilgrimage from time immemorial with over 500 temples
and ghats Pushkar begets a legacy of timeless architectural heritage.
Pushkar radiates an ambience of peace and spirituality that casts
a lure to visit again and again.
Ranthambore
The
Ranthambore National Park is one
of the most popular tiger reserves in India. Spread across three
hundred and ninety two square kilometers Ranthambore is home to
a variety of wildlife. The prime attraction at Ranthambore remains
the Tiger, the national animal of India. The tiger's retreat of
Ranthambore ies at the foot of the Aravali Hills in the Royal Indian
state of Rajasthan. The Ranthambore National Park is easily accessible
from the town of Sawai Madhopur.
Earlier
a hunting ground of the Maharaja of Jaipur, Ranthambore is now a
must visit for the adventure seekers and the wildlife lovers alike.
Way back in 1955 Ranthambore was declared a game sanctuary. In 1973
Ranthambore was protected under Project Tiger. It was in the year
1980 that Ranthambore became a national park. The Ranthambore Reserve
comprises of the Kaila Devi Sanctuary, renowned for its tigers,
and Mansingh Sanctuary too.
Sariska
The
Sariska Sanctuary is a Project
Tiger Reserve with a rich wealth of fauna which includes mainly
the leopard, tiger, several species of deer, porcupine, etc.
It is also home to an exotic variety of birds. Dotting the Sariska
valley are facinating ruins which merge with the landscape and tell
tales of history, myth and legend to the traveler. The Sariska Palace
Hotel, located amidst this forest and the ancient.
Sariska National Park The 765.80 sq. km. Thickly wooded
reserve cradled in the picturesque valley of the Aravalis. Established
in 1955, it is an excellent tiger sancturary under the Project Tiger
The dry decidous forests of the Reserve are noted for their population
of tiger,nilgai,sambhar, cheetal, four horned antelope and wild
boarKankwari Fort Deep inside the santuary ,this small fort
offers incredible views over the plains of the national park,dotted
with red mud-brick villages.
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