Rajasthan Tourism
Rajasthan Cuisine- Rajasthan is known for tough people & tough food. Scarcity of water and lack of fresh green vegetables effected the Rajasthani cooking and resulted in a very different kind of cuisine. Rajasthan Cuisines varies from region to region.
The region of Bikaner is famous for its unique range of Mithais or sweets. Rajasthani Bhujia is now famous all over India, origin of which is in Bikaner. Haldiram’s shop is also renowned.
The region of Mewar or Udaipur is believed to have come up the form of barbecue called Sooley and Dil Jani. The region of Jodhpur is famous for Makhaniya Lassi, Mewa Laddu, Mewa Kachori, Pyaaz Kachori, hot green masala chilies, Mirchi pakodas & milk products.
In Jaipur, non- veg is Rajput food & veg is Marwari food here. So. There is a balance of veg & non –veg food. The veg menu Dal-Bati-Churma & no veg nemu Soola can be tasted here as Rajasthani specialty.
The region of Jaisalmer is famous for Laddoos. Pushkar is famous for Malpua, Ajmer is famous for Sohan Halwa, Alwar for Mawa and Bharatpur is famous for sweets made from milk.
Some Mouthwatering Delicacies of Rajasthan are: Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma, Lachhedar Paratha, Besan ki Missi Puri, Lassi. The Rajasthani sweet dishes are had before, during & after the meal. Famous sweet dishes are Churma, Gujjia, Imarti, Gehvar, Feeni, Besan Chakki, Milk cake [Alwar ka Mawa], Balusahi.
Typical Rajasthani meat dishes are Mohan Maas [meat cooked in milk], Laal maans [meat cooked in red chillies curry], Safed maans [meat cooked in curd], Khad khargosh [wild hare cooked & roasted underground].
Rajasthani Folk Dance & Music
Music & dance play a significant role in the life of colourful people of Rajasthan. Rajasthan has a diverse collection of musician castes, including langas, sapera, bhopa, jogi and Manganiar. Most religious songs are based on famous saints and spiritual leaders like Kabirdas, Surdas and Meerabai. Rajasthan famous puppet shows is incomplete without songs.
The desert comes alive when the local Rajasthani performer performs the folk dance that leave the tourists amazed. The colourful attires of the dances blended with the folk music transform the barren land into a colourful paradise of Stately charm. Some of the best known folk dances of Rajasthan are Gair, Ghoomar, Bhawai, Dandia, Terah thali, Kucchi Ghodi, Bhil Gawari, Kathputli, Sapera Dance, Garasai Dance.
Rajasthani Handicrafts & Souvenirs
Handicraft of Rajasthan is an add-on of attractions of the state. Rajasthan is world famous for its beautiful hand embroidery. Rajasthani handicrafts are riches in India. Rajasthan has the wealth of Kunndan & intricately designed golden Jewellery, Patri craftwork, Brasswork & some carvings, which makes it a shopper's paradise. Also attractive are the Rajasthani Bandhni sarees, Sanganer’s block parints, shoes of Jodhpur. Rajasthani Handicrafts are in all dimensions whether its Jewellery, leather work, marble work or wooden work.
The handicrafts of Bikaner are very attractive. The mementos which can be taken home are the Camel hide articles like shoes, purses, suchions etc. Handicrafts of Jaisalmer are very much praiseworthy in the tourist circle. The embroidery work, glass fitted dresses, Jewellary, stone articrafts, woolen blankets are admired. In Jodhpur Tripoliya Market’s shops are famous for tie & die printed clothes, embroidery dresses & shoes can be purchased from here. Another souvenir of Jodhpur is balaposh, in weight less then ½ Ks & other handicrafts of Bishnoi & other tribes. But selling & purchase of 100 years old antique pieces are banned. Udaipur is full of shops with variety of articles. But the ideal shopping areas will be chetak circle, Bapu bazaar, Palace road, Shastri circle. The products which sould be take home from Udaipur are silk block print, tie dying, Bandhini sarees, the wooden crafts & embroidery articles. In Jaipur all the shops are in the Hawa Mahal area so it is the bustling market area. In the right side is the Jahuri Market [Jewellary Shop], a little further away is the Bapuji Market [Scented articles & textiles], Tripolia for [brass & carving products] near old Jaipur’s market also can be seen by walking only. Enameled pottery, Bidri’s many carving articles, black print & Bandhini sarees are very famous in Jaipur Market.
The most important fact is that the tourist should take some mementos of Rajasthan like some handicrafts articles to home, to make Rajasthan visit a memorable one. The stone work or ivory work, the delicate crafts objects, then golden varnish or golden silver polishes ornaments, in block printed silk clothings, tie & die cloths & Pichoai or the paintings drawn on cloth, embroidered delicately designed Bahari shoes, the beautiful wooden models of folk tales.
Rajasthan is where all the country's similes and metaphors appear to have come together. Sand dunes, wooded hills and amazing lakes, palaces and rugged forts, men and women in colorful turbans and skirts, bustling towns and quiet villages, camels, elephants and tigers, harsh sunlight and the cool evening breeze - are all there in abundance. But they form only part of an intricate tapestry. Beneath the surface, expect to find many contradictions. Where ever you travel, particularly when you escape from the popular tourist destinations you will come across the unexpected, whether it is a local fair or breathtaking view.
Baneshwar Fair is held during Shivratri (January-February) at Baneshwar. The Baneshwar fair is a tribal fair where the Bhil tribals from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat assemble to worship Lord Shiva. The tribals set up camps in groups on the banks of Mahi and Som Rivers in the forested area around the border of Rajasthan that it shares with Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
One of the most popular among the festivals of Rajasthan, the Jaisalmer Desert festival is a journey into the heart of the Rajasthan desert, the golden city of Jaisalmer. A true show on the sands which attracts even the much traveled visitor. Folk performers like musicians, ballad singers, snake charmers, and puppeteers all exhibit their traditional skills.
Rajasthan with Feudal Hospitality
Places to Visit : Delhi - Jaipur - Samode - Nawalgarh - Fatehpur - Bikaner - Gajner - Jaisalmer - Osian - Khimsar - Khimsar - Jodhpur - Rohet - Mount Abu - Ranakpur - Udaipur - Dungarpur - Udaipur - Nagda - Deovgarh - Pushkar - Pachewar - Ranthambhore - Bharatpur - Agra - Sikandra - Delhi.
Duration: 19 Nights / 20 Days
Located at a distance of around 39 km off Kota, Taragarh Fort was the home of a major princely state at the height of the Rajput heydays
Places to Visit : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Ranthambhore - Kota - Bundi - Chittaurgarh - Bijaipur - Udaipur - Kumbalgarh - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa - Delhi
Duration: 20 Nights / 21 Days
The Amer palace was built by the Kachhwajas when they rose in eminence and power under the Mughals. Man Singh I built it in a style to rival Mughal grandeur and opulence.
Places to Visit : Jaipur - Mandawa - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Mount Abu - Udaipur - Chittaurgarh- Kota - Sawai Madhopur - Agra - Delhi
Duration: 23 Nights / 24 Days
Places to Visit : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Mahensar - Bikaner - Jaisalmer - Jodhpur - Rohet - Narlai - Bijaipur - Udaipur - Pushkar - Kishangarh - Delhi
Duration: 20 Nights / 21 Days
Nature trails and eco-tourism parks have been developed as an attempt to reverse the damage done by territorial encroachment and to recreate a pristine environment. There are several in Rajasthan. The Nahargarh Biological Park has a variety of vegetation and several species of wild beasts. The Jhalana Nature Trail, Arboretum Park, Amrita Devi Park and Machia Safari Park are the other popular ones.