Different places to travel » Rajasthan

Trip to Jaipur – the Amber Fort 11 km from Jaipur – a major tourist attraction, an imposing structure

Traveller — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:46:42 +0000

After visiting various tourist locations inside and near Jaipur such as Chokhi Dhani, City Palace, it was time to visit another incredible location for which Jaipur was famous, and this was the Amber Fort, located 11 KM outside Jaipur, and the former royal seat of the Kachhawa clan of Amber (before they decided to move to Jaipur). The fort is a magnificent structure, located at a high, and close to the Maota Lake. The Amber Fort was originally built by the Meenas in the name of Amba, the Mother Goddess. The current structure was built more than 400 years back, started by Raja Man Singh.
We reached the base of the Fort where there is a path to the top of the Hill on the original stone / concrete path. You can go on this path through either elephants that can be hired from the base or from jeeps (both of which can be hired at the base of the hill). From the path, there are a number of views such as the skyline of Jaipur, the extended walls of the Fort on the neighboring hills (which were the original city walls before the population moved to the current location).

Location of Amer Fort on Google Maps:

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If you are visiting the fort for the first time, it is recommended that you take a local guide; else, since not many of the buildings are marked, you will be at a loss to figure out what some of the older structures inside the Fort are. And there are a number of different palaces, halls, gardens, and other locations inside the Fort complex. Make sure that you do visit the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) inside the Fort.
The Fort is divided into 4 sections, with access to each of the sections from a central location through a staircase, or through a wide enough pathway. When you enter the Fort through the main gate, the first place you reach is the Jaleb Chowk, the main courtyard. Here, in the past, when a returning army would return to the city, they would be paraded in this Chowk. There is also a famous temple inside the Palace called the Kali Temple (with enormous silver lions). The fort is constructed of white and red sandstone.

View of elephant and mahout near the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Boundary wall on the hilltops near the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Ramparts of the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Musicians on the walls of the Amer Fort near the entrance

At one of the many gateways inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

View of the Diwan-i-Aam – the public audience hall inside the Amer Fort

An ambulance inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

View of the huge courtyard inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

People inside the Amber Fort – with some wonderfully carved buildings

View of a wonderfully carved doorway inside the Amber Fort in jaipur

View of canons outside a doorway inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

The board for Diwan-i-Aam inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

The hall between the pillars inside the Diwan-i-Aam the Amer Fort in Jaipur

The carved pillars inside the Amber Fort in the Jaipur

Cross section of pillars inside a hall in the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Carvings in the shape of a flower on the wall of the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Darkened view of a room with a view of the window inside the Amber Fort

View of a slightly older section of the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Overhead view of the garden inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

A windows lattice work inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

The outer edge of the walls in the Amber Fort in Jaipur

View of an entire housing community (town) viewed from the Amer Fort

View of one of the Halls inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Doorways in the wall inside the Amber Fort in Jaipur

Tourists inside one of the halls (between the pillars) in the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Security personnel inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Pigeons on the walls and windows inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Trees inside the courtyard in the Amer Fort in Jaipur

Ranthambore National Park – A famous wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan, India

Traveller — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:42:33 +0000

Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most famous national parks in northern India. It is situated in Sawai Madhopur district of southeastern Rajasthan. Ranthambhore was established as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India, and was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973. Ranthambhore became a national park in 1980. In 1984, the adjacent forests were declared the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and Keladevi Sanctuary, and in 1991 the tiger reserve was enlarged to include Sawai Man Singh and Keladevi sanctuaries.

The Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is the single largest expanse of dry deciduous Anogeissus pendula Forest left intact in India. Such forests were found all along the North and Central Aravalis but in the last few decades they have been badly degraded and right now this Tiger Reserve is their last strong hold. The areas surrounding the Tiger reserve have been totally deforested and as a result, the Ranthambore tiger reserve is now an “ecological island surrounded by farmlands and overgrazed pastures.”

Panthera tigris tigris – the Indian or the Bengal Tiger is the flagship species of Rantambhore and right now it is the only place in Rajasthan where tigers exist. The Ranthambore tiger reserve is also a crucial link and wildlife corridor between a chain of Protected areas from Dholpur district in the North-East to the Kota district in the South-West. This Project tiger reserve is also an invaluable watershed for the surrounding areas, a fact that is made more significant considering that the surrounding areas have low annual rainfall. Ranthambhore is an important catchment area for the river Chambal, which in turn, is an important river in the Gangetic system.
The terrain of Ranthambhore tiger reserve is mostly rugged and hilly and is intimately related to the Great boundary fault.
The hills to the northwest of fault-line are the Aravalis and typically have ridges on one side and gentle slope on the other.
The hills south west of Great boundary fault are the Vindhyas. The sand stone beds of these hills are flat-topped and form extensive table lands known as “Dangs”. The ravines are prominent feature of both the rivers, the Chambal and the Banas. These ravines are formed due to sandy nature of the soil along the banks of the rivers.

How to reach

By Air – The nearest airport to Ranthambore is Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan. Jaipur is located at a distance of 140 Km from Ranthambore. You can arrive in Jaipur by flights from any major city in India, such as Delhi or Mumbai and then travel to Sawai Madhopur by train or road transport.

By Road – You can easily travel to Ranthambore by road from anywhere in Rajasthan. Both the Rajasthan Tourism Department and many private operators run road transport services to Ranthambore. You can choose from local buses, luxury coaches or private taxis to travel by road to Ranthambore National Park.

By Rail – The main railway line from Delhi to Mumbai runs past Sawai Madhopur, which is connected by regular trains from cities across Rajasthan and India. You can travel to Sawai Madhopur by train and then cover the remaining 11 Km to Ranthambore by taxi.

Flora and Fauna

Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is a breeding ground to a number of wild animals such as Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common langurs, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Black bucks, Rufoustailed Hare, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, Common Palm Civets or Toddy cat, Common Yellow Bats, Desert Cats, Civets and Common mongoose.
The park is acclaimed for its diurnal tigers and a range of fascinating reptiles such as Snub Nosed Marsh Crocodiles, Desert Monitor Lizards, Banded Kraits, Cobras, Common Kraits, Indian Pythons, Rat Snakes, Russel’s Vipers, Saw-scaled Vipers and the Indian Chameleon. The Ganga Soft Shelled Turtles, and North Indian Flap Shelled Turtles are among the famous amphibious species commonly spotted here.

Climate

The Ranthambhore tiger reserve, with its sub-tropical dry climate, has three very well defined seasons – summers, winters and monsoons. October and March are the time when the weather changes from monsoons to winters and from winters to summers, respectively.

Park Visitation Timings
- Between October To March: 6.00 am – 9.00 am & 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm”
- Between April To June: 6.30 am – to 9.30 am & 3.30 pm – 6.00 pm”

Other Tourist Attractions

- Bakaula – The Bakaula area is an area dotted with little water holes and thick foliage. you’ll get a shivering environment here. Even in peak summers it feels like an air-conditioned room.
- Lakarda & Anantpura – These areas located in the North-Western and Northern regions of the park are ideal locations to visit if looking for Sloth Bears. These areas have a lot of ant hills, which are a favourite of the beers.
- Raj Bagh Ruins – These ruins are located between the Padam Talao (lake) and the Raj Bagh Talao. These ancient stone structures like arches, palace outhouses, domes and steps give the area an aura that is not possible to find anywhere else in the world.
- Padam Talao – This is the largest of the lakes present in the park. The famous and beautiful Jogi Mahal is located at the very edge of this lake.
- Ranthambore Fort – This fort stands majestically atop a hill overlooking the entire park. The walk up, one of the only places this mode of transport is possible, is a very refreshing and exciting one as even the big cats have been spotted up there.
- Rajabagh Talao – This is probably the most picturesque of the three lakes. This mostly due to the ruins that can be seen along it’s edges. Yet, it owes some of it’s beauty to the animals that seem to always flock to it’s waters.
- Malik Talao – This is the smallest of the three lakes in Ranthambore National Park. But, as they say, all the best things come in small packages.
- Kachida Valley – This valley, which consists of many rocky outcrops and low hills, is located close to the outskirts of the park. A jeep would be the ideal mode of transport when trying to visit this area.

Places to stay in Ranthambore

High End Resorts /Hotels in Ranthambore
- Vanya Vilas Resort : The Oberoi Group’s new luxury resort is located adjacent to the famous Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve.
- Aman-I-Khas
- Tiger Den Resort, Ranthambore
The Tiger Den resort is located in village Khilchipur that is very close to Ranthambhor National Park. It is at a distance of 450-kms from Delhi and 185-kms from Jaipur.
- Tiger Moon Resort, Ranthambore
The Tiger Moon resort is located in village Sherpur adjoining Ranthambhor National Park. It is at a distance of 450-kms from Delhi and 185-kms from Jaipur.
- Hammir Wildlife Resort : It is named after the Hindu ruler “Hammir” of Ranthambore in Rajasthan. Located on the main Ranthambore road at an easily accessible distance from the park as well as from the town of Sawai Madhopur, Hammir Wildlife Resort enjoys the privilege of an ideal location. The resort has ultra-modern facilities and friendly staff.
- Ranthambore Regency : The lovely hotel is situated on the way to the Ranthambore national Park. The Hotel is beautifully landscaped and has peaceful and enchanting ambiance.
- Ranthambore Bagh : It is located near The Rathambore National Park. The hotel is rated as a resort. Tented area at night.

Bharatpur National Park and Bird Sanctuary – the place for bird lovers (India)

Traveller — Sat, 15 May 2010 10:40:02 +0000

One of the finest bird parks in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana National Park) is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as well. Nesting indigenous water-birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by Sambar, Chital, Nilgai and Boar. It is visited by a large number of visitors since it is on the tourist circuit of Delhi-Agra-Jaipur, and also visited by photographers wanting to capture birds in all their glory.
The Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan, India is a famous avifauna sanctuary that sees (or saw) thousands of rare and highly endangered birds such as the Siberian Crane come here during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to have made the National Park their home. It is also a major tourist centre with scores of ornithologists arriving here in the hibernal season. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a declared World Heritage Site.

Flora in Bharatpur

More than 300 species of birds are found in this small wildlife park of 29-sq-kms of which 11-sq-kms are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the centre of the park. ‘Ghana’ means dense, referring to the thick forest, which used to cover the area.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is famous as an ‘Ornithologist’s Paradise’. The sanctuary is the only manmade wildlife sanctuary in India, developed by an erstwhile Maharaja of Bharatpur. The sanctuary covers an area of approximately 29 sq km, 10 sq km of which comprises of fresh water marshes, shallow lakes and bogs. The favorable environmental conditions combined with enough nutritious food for the birds at Bharatpur Bird sanctuary attracts thousands of indigenous as well as migratory birds every year including the world-renowned Siberian Cranes.
The park houses more than 300 species of birds and is spread over 30 square kilometers. It is the perfect place to introduce your child to the wonderful world of animals and birds. The migratory birds arrive by August and leave in February. You can find several species of Cranes, Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Shanks, Stints, Wagtails, Warblers, Wheatears, Flycatchers, etc. The migratory birds include the Coot Snipes, Spanish Sparrow, Red Crested Porhard, Rosy Pelican and Flamingo. The star of the show is, however, the Siberian Crane. You can also find many mammals and reptiles in the park apart from birds. Pythons, Sambhars, Jackals, Otters, Spotted Deer, etc. are some of the other inmates here.

Location of Bharatpur National Park and Bird Sanctuary on Google Maps:

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Other places to visit around Bharatpur

- Bharatpur Palace : Not far from the museum is the Bharatpur Palace, an marvellous structural blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture.
- Deeg Palace : Situated just 32-kms away from Bharatpur is the Deeg Palace. A strong and massive fortress, Deeg Palace was the summer resort of the rulers of Bharatpur and houses numerous beautiful palaces and gardens.
- Bharatpur Government Museum : One of the major attention grabber after the Bharatpur sanctuary is Government Museum of Bharatpur, which provides a glimpse of the past royal splendour of Bharatpur.
- Lohagarh Fort : The invincible Lohagarh Fort, which remained unconquered despite several attacks by the British regime.

Best time to visit Bharatpur Sanctuary

Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary is open throughout the year, still the ideal visiting months are from August-November for resident breeding birds and October- February for migrant birds. There are well-defined forest trails, which can easily be covered on foot or on a cycle or you can also hire a rickshaw that are available on hire. An early morning boat trip or a late evening one is quite a rewarding experience to check out the hidden surprises of Bharatpur.

How to get there

The sanctuary is located in east Rajasthan just 50 kilometers from Agra and can make for an ideal weekend vacation.
You can get to Bharatpur by bus (operated by the state transport and private operators) from Delhi, Agra or Jaipur.
Bharatpur also has a train station in case you decide to get there by train. It connects to all the major cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai Jaipur and Agra. The nearest airport is situated in Agra. You can also get to Bharatpur by road as an excellent network of roadways connects Bharatpur to all the major cities.

Important things to take along

- Bharatpur has a very tropical climate as is located on the fringes of the Thar Desert. Wear light cottons during the summer and woolens during winter.
- Carry a pair of binoculars for bird watching.
- While restaurants are located within the park, they are very basic. It is preferable to carry your own food.
- There is an entry fee to visit the park. Extra charges are levied for cameras and photographic equipment.

Where to stay in Bharatpur

Perhaps no other wildlife sanctuary in India offers the range of accommodation as in Bharatpur. There are
rest houses, lodges, dormitories and hotels.
- Hotel Bharatpur Ashok
India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. Inside Keoladeo National Park Bharatpur , PIN – 321001
- Hotel Udai Vilas Palace
Fatehpur Sikri Road, Bharatpur , PIN – 321 001
- Kadam kunj
NH-11, fatehpur Sikri Rd, Bharatpur
- The Birders Inn
Bird Sanctuary Road Bharatpur

Rajasthan Tourism provides good accommodation at its hotel, ‘Saras’. Inside the park, the Bharatpur Forest Lodge is maintained by the ITDC. Shanti Kuteer, Circuit House, Dak Bungalow are also good for a comfortable stay. Park Palace, Govind Niwas and the Tourist complex are the other choices

Trip to Jaipur – Jaipur City Palace, a beautiful and well maintained palace in the middle of the city

Traveller — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:33:46 +0000

After coming back from Chokhi Dhani (visit to Chokhi Dhani), it was pretty late at night, and tiring (plus all the delicious food we had eaten there had made us more tired), so we came back to our friend’s place and decided that it was now sleep time. The next day promised another day of visit to a tourist location.
The next day was about the visit to the Jaipur City Palace, the well maintained quarters of the former royal family of Jaipur, located in the heart of the old section of Jaipur. It is almost at the center of the old part, located slightly to the northeast of the actual center. It was originally designed to be located at a site of a royal hunting lodge, located eight kilometers distant from the then base of Amber (including the current Amber fort). The City Palace was built between 1729 and 1732, with the first construction having been carried out by the then ruler of Amber, Sawai Jai Singh II (who also shifted the capital of his kingdom from Amber to Jaipur, to deal with an increasing population and a shortage of water). Future rulers added and modified the structures inside, right upto the 20th century. Now the City Palace is actually a tourist haven, with cloth and arms museums (no photography allowed); however, there is a larger portion of the Palace that is meant as a private residence for the royal family and no tourists allowed.

Location of Jaipur City Palace on Google Maps:

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The City Palace complex covers a huge area, with gardens, buildings and structures, and courtyards. There are various buildings in the complex such as the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Mukut Mahal, Maharani’s Palace, Shri Govind Dev Temple and the City Palace Museum. The Mubarak Mahal is a museum visible as one enters the complex, with the museum being a costume museum, displaying the attires worn by the kings (including one huge dress worn by a very heavily endowed king).
Once you cross the cloth museum, you come across an open hall called the Diwan-I-Khas, which was a hall meant for the king for the private audience (as opposed to the public visiting hall). In this open hall, there are 2 huge silver vessels on display. They were made for a special purpose, to carry enough water of the Holy Ganga (Ganges) for the then Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II when he wanted to visit England. You can also see the Diwan-i-Aam, meant for the public audience by the Maharajah.

Tourists passing through a gate allowing movement between different sections of the Jaipur City Palace

The Ganga Jali meant for carrying holy water to purify the ruler Sawai Madho Singh on his trips

Row of canons parked outside the Jaipur City Palace

Rifles arranged around a central shield just next to the silver urns in Jaipur City Palace

Another museum in the complex is inside the Mahrani’s Mahal (Palace of the Queen, meant for the queens) showcasing a number of weapons starting from the 15th century. You get to see swords, guns, rifles, shields, daggers, and many other weapons. The museum could look much better, since when we went, it seemed much more dusty than normal.

Light and shade in the hall containing the silver urns in the Jaipur City Palace

Guards at the entrance to the cafe of the Jaipur City Palace

Entering the Jaipur City Palace through its main gate

Dolls of different shapes and colors inside the Jaipur City Palace

A beautiful long corridor inside the Jaipur City Palace

A closer view of weapons mounted on a wall in the Jaipur City Palace

Angular view of the beautiful central part of the City Palace in Jaipur

Beautiful buildings and gate inside the City Palace in Jaipur

A view of the cloth museum and beautiful colors of the sky in the Jaipur City Palace

A very well maintained inner section of the Jaipur City Palace

A pigeon walking on the floor of the Diwan-i-Khas (also known as the Sarbato Bhadra)

A music performance and dolls exhibited inside the City Palace in Jaipur

A more detailed look at the private residential part of the Jaipur City Palace

A detailed view of the clock-tower in the Jaipur City Palace

An ornate gate leading to the residential portion of the Jaipur City Place

Canons at the entrance to the private residence of the Jaipur City Palace

A view of the outside gate (form the inside) in the Jaipur City Palace

Trip to Jaipur – Chokhi Dhani, details of the village and its attractions – a tourist village portraying traditional Rajasthani culture

Traveller — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:54:55 +0000

In the previous post (visit to Chokhi Dhani), I had talked about a visit to Chokhi Dhani (on the outskirts of Jaipur) and gone upto the point where we took the entry ticket (Rs. 250) and were welcomed in a ritual way, but had not gone inside. This post will cover details of Chokhi Dhani including its attractions, the food, and so on.
After we entered the gates of Chokhi Dhani, we were welcomed with a tika on the forehead and with garlands. Once inside, we started looking at what all were the attractions inside. After you enter, you see a directory map of the places inside that points you to 2 separate parts; and you can start either way.

It will take around 2 hours to cover the entire complex. Some of the attractions in the place are:
- A birdhouse with some beautiful birds
- A small lake with a cascade of water (like a miniature waterfall) at one end

- A Bhul-bhulaiya (a maze where you can get lost)

- Dance shows (with the dancers also doing spectacular shows such as dancing on steel tumblers and with pots on their heads)

- A puppet show

- An astrologer

- Bullock cart and camel ride

- A small cave underground (rather actually a tunnel)

- Exhibitions of artisans doing their work creating stuff from clay

- Small displays of animals to attract children

- A small stream with a wooden bridge

- Portrayal of rural huts

- Exhibition of pots and pans, and cooking instruments; as also weapons

- Ladies cooking hot breads along with gur (jaggery) and honey
- A restaurant where you eat sitting on the floor, and eating traditional food (very delicious, but apt to massively fill your stomach)
- A normal chair and table type of restaurant

- A fair type of environment where you can even enjoy a Ferris wheel with the movement being done by humans

- A magician (with his exhibit enclosed by massive stone snakes)

Some more photos from Chokhi Dhani:

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – Milk and peanuts for sale

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – A view of the cooking area

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – A lane running through the inside

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – The great slide for kids to enjoy

Trip to Jaipur – Visit to Chokhi Dhani – a tourist village portraying traditional Rajasthani culture

Traveller — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:03:06 +0000

We wanted to get out of Delhi, and decided to meet some friends in Jaipur, and also get some sight-seeing done in the Pink City. Given that the distance between Delhi and Jaipur is only 259 kilometers, it takes around 3-4 hours to get from Delhi to Jaipur on a good day. We set out a bit early in the day, and headed off to Gurgaon (since Gurgaon is where the starting point for the Delhi-Jaipur road is). The new highway between Delhi and going upto almost Manesar is a fast journey, where except for the first toll between Delhi and Gurgaon (just before the large Ambi Mall, where the amount of time required to be spent at the toll booth depends on what time in the day you reach there), the journey is smooth and fast.
Once you are out of Manesar, you get onto the main highway, and in the past, the highway was supposed to be one of the best; however, this is no longer the case since the road seems narrow in places, and pitted with potholes in sections. Further, there are 3 more toll booths on the way, and some of them are pretty unorganized, with traffic all over the place. I really did not enjoy avoiding the big trucks and trailers who were trying to make their way to the toll lanes with the shortest lines (it can seen pretty dangerous if the back of such a loaded container changes direction in front of your vehicle and can cause you to suddenly slam on the brakes). However, we eventually reached Jaipur and located the house of our friends in due time. The journey was not very tiring, and we spent some time catching up with our friends.
We decided to venture out in the evening, and decided to reach a tourist village called Chokhi Dhani, located some distance from Jaipur. The place is located around 15 km from the city on a fairly decent road, and it takes a maximum of around 30 minutes to get there. Chokhi Dhani was created in 1989, and was located on a 10 acre complex, meant to depict the culture and customs of traditional Rajasthan, and is now a must watch place if you are traveling to Jaipur (website). Chokhi Dhani also has accommodation in terms of 59 cottages, 33 royal cottages, and 8 Haveli Suits. However, I had talked to a few people about staying there (just interested, since I was staying with my friends) and the recommendation was that the place was worth a visit (and was great), but there was not much fun staying there (and I could be wrong in that).
Address and contact details:
Chokhi Dhani Resort,
12 Miles, Tonk Road,
Jaipur – 303905 Rajasthan (India)
The entrance is a bit expensive, at Rs. 250 per head, which includes entry to the village, along with dinner (more about the dinner later). As you enter, the staff greets you in a proper ceremonial way, with a tikka on the forehead and a garland. Even the exterior of the village looks attractive, and there is a temple as soon as you enter.

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – The entry gate to the village

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – View of the outside from the interior

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – Welcoming visitors to the village

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – An angular view of the temple at the entrance

Chokhi Dhaani in Jaipur – A temple at the entrance of the village

External article: Sariska – one of the nature reserves in India

Traveller — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:32:45 +0000

The Sariska Tiger Reserve is one of the most famous national parks in India located in the Alwar district of the state of Rajasthan. This area was a hunting preserve of the erstwhile Alwar state and it was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955. In 1978, it was given the status of a tiger reserve making it a part of India’s Project Tiger scheme. The present area of the park is 866 km². The park is situated 107 km from Jaipur and 200 km from Delhi.
Some of the wildlife found in the Sariska Tiger Reserve include the Bengal tiger, leopard, jungle cat, caracal, striped hyena, golden jackal, chital, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara, four-horned antelope ‘chousingha’, wild boar, hare, hanuman langur, and plenty of bird species and reptiles. The reserve’s tiger population disappeared in 2005.

Brief excerpts from an article detailing a trip to Sariska on Ghumakkar.com (link)

On a hot summer day, one thing which you can do, apart from sipping an equally hot cup of tea, is to visit Sariska. It’s a big ‘Tiger Reserve’ in India’s biggest state, Rajasthan. Its close to Alwar city and is at a 4.5 hrs driving distance from Delhi. So that’s what a group of young software engineers did on March 31, 2007.
Sariska, essentially has one long tar road which is flanked by dry-rocky forest on both sides. There are tracks which fork from the main road, travel inside the jungle for a mile or two and then again join the main road. You can only drive on the main road in your own car and you don’t miss much if you don’t venture inside. But it’s a good idea to rent a jeep which can be had at RTDC office at the gate which will take you inside these tracks. At the gate, you car is frisked to check for any liquor so be warned and have the right preparation. After about 10 KMs the road reaches a point where one end goes to Pandupole, the Hanuman temple, which is the traditional or more common road, the other goes to Kali Ghati. Apart from Pandupole, the other big milestone within Sariska is the fort, which is an old ruined structure and it can get scary since you don’t find any one there, but an ok adventure to have.

Map of Sariksa on Google Maps:

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Jaisalmer, enjoy the desert

Traveller — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:50:21 +0000

Climate: Summer- 42° C to 25° C, Winter- 24° C to 7° C
Best time to visit: October to March
Altitude : 486 meters
Clothing : Summer light tropical; Winter: light woollen

Jaisalmer is a wonderful tourist destination in the state of Rajasthan. The desert citadel is truly a golden fantasy located in the harsh Thar Desert. Bhatti Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal, after whom the city finds its name, founded Jaisalmer in 1156. He hailed from the Yadav and Rajput kin group. His Yadav descent can be traced back to the Mahabharata and the Rajputs were famed for courage and gallantry. On advice of a local hermit Eesaal he chose the Tricut Hills as his new abode abandoning his vulnerable old fort at Luderwa just 16 kilometres northwest.
Jaisalmer’s strategic location on the camel train contours, between India and Central Asia, brought it great wealth. The Jaisalmer Rajputs brimmed their treasure chests with immoral gain, won through cattle maneuvering and by more orthodox methods such as imposing excise duties on the caravans, which passed through their kingdom to Delhi.
Far from the noise and pollution of cities, Jaisalmer is an exciting tourist destination that offers historical forts and majestic havelis. Situated amid the picturesque and harsh Thar Desert, Jaisalmer city commands a premiere position among the various tourist attractions scattered all over the desert land of Rajasthan. The Jaisalmer city is visited in large numbers, both by Indians as well as foreign tourists. The perfect time to visit the golden city is during the Desert Festival, held in Jan/Feb every year, when the city reverberates with the sound of melodious tunes and rhythms. There are folk dances and several innovative competitions and contests, including a turban-tying contest, longest moustache competition and the famous camel races which can really charge up the atmosphere. The Desert Festival comes alive with the foot tapping beats of Dhap, Ghoomar, Gair among a host of other traditional dance forms, in accompaniment with several musical instruments like sarangi, matka and minla. The Gangaur festivities are also major crowd pullers.
Jaisalmer has a very hot and dry climate (you really can’t expect anything else from a city located in the desert) and is very hot in daytime during the summers but as the night falls, typical of the deserts, the temperature cools down dramatically.

Map:

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Places to See:
Jaisalmer Fort: Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure amidst sands. The awesome splendour of a commanding and exotic fort that seems to rise out of a desert haze with its yellow sandstone walls and bastions bathed in a golden hue in the afternoon sun looks incredible. The golden hued fort stands about 80 meters over the city and houses an entire township within its huge ramparts. This magnificent fort, with its 99 bastions, is probably the planet’s only living fort, with about a quarter of the old city’s population dwelling in it.
Havelis: Jaisalmer is known for its havelis (mansions). The merchants built magnificent mansions (Havelis), all carved from wood and yellow sandstone. The Salim ji ki haveli and Nathmal ji ki haveli are known as the most striking. Intricately latticed and with conspicuous facades, the havelis are quite unique.
Gadi Sagar Lake: A scenic rain water lake with beautiful shrines. Like many such lakes, a good spot for picnics and for boating. This tank, south of the city walls, once held the town water supply, and befitting its importance in providing precious water to the inhabitants of this arid city, it is surrounded by small temples and shrines.
Lodurva: The ancient capital of the Bhattis with Dilwara style paintings scattered all around the ruins. “Toran” or the ornate arches at the main entrance and splendid carvings are noteworthy.
Amar Sagar Lake: Amar Sagar is a small and beautiful lake cum Oasis and is adjacent to a 17th Century palace called the Amar Singh Palace. The Amar Sagar is a five story high haveli and is famous for its murals. Wherever you go in this haveli, you will notice beautiful murals. Beautifully carved Jain temples add to its splendour.
Wood Fossil Park Jaisalmer: Located around 16 Km from Jaisalmer near the Barmer road. Fossil trunks lie scattered in this park. Fossilized tree trunks are of various sizes with the largest being 13 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width. Covering about 10 sq. Km of bare hillside, the Fossil Park contains 25 petrified trunks, in total.
Tazia Tower: During Moharram, beautiful ‘Tazias’-ornately decorated bamboo, paper and tinsel replicas of a bier, are carried out in procession by Muslims. Each storey of this five-tiered tower has a carved balcony.
Sam Sand Dunes (42 km): The ripples on the wind-caressed dunes, that create an enchanting mirage, are a delight for a trigger -happy photographer. Various cultural programmes are organised against the backdrop of these fascinating sand dunes. Camel rides on the sand dunes are an unforgettable experience, as is the sunset. One can spend an enchanting evening on the sands watching the sensuous snake dance of the Kalbeliya gypsies and listening to the full-throated folk songs of the Manganiyars.
Desert National Park: The landscape of the Desert National Park is dominated by rolling sand dunes and scrub covered hills. The prominent fauna of the park includes black buck, chinkara, desert fox and the great Indian bustard. The Sudashri forest post is the most ideal place for observing wildlife in the Desert National Park. One also hear the morning call of the grey partridge.

How to get there:
Air: Jaisalmer is connected with Jaipur as well as other major cities.
Rail: Connected through a rail connection with Jodhpur (300 Km).
Road: There are frequent deluxe buses to Jodhpur and Bikaner. 18 hrs drive from Delhi, 14 hrs from Jaipur, 6 ½ hrs – Bikaner, 5 hrs- Jodhpur.

Places to stay:
- Gorbandh Palace (3 Star Hotel): An actual desert retreat, yet close to the havelis and the fort.
- Fort Rajwada (4 Star Hotel): Located on the Jaisalmer-Barmer link road.
- Heritage Inn (3 Star Hotel)
- Narayan Niwas Palace (Heritage Hotel): An actual 19th century palace.
- Taj Rawal Kot (4 Star Hotel): This hotel gives a great view of the city.
- Himmatgarh Hotel (2 Star Hotel): Situated right outside the fort.
- Jawahar Niwas Palace (Heritage Hotel)
- Hotel Rang Mahal (Heritage Hotel): Located around 2 kilometers from the railway station (link)
- Hotel Killa Bhawan: Located in the Jaisalmer Fort
- Nachna Haveli (Heritage Hotel): Inhabited by the same family for 300 years.
- Mandir Palace (Heritage Hotel): This hotel is more than 2 hundred years old.
- Jaisal Castle (Heritage Hotel): An elaborate haveli (link).

Mt. Abu, the cool place in hot Rajasthan

Traveller — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:25:47 +0000

Height: 1,219 meters above sea level
Temperature in Summer: 33.8 C (Max) – 23.3 C (Min)
Temperature in winter: 20.3 C (Max) – 0 C (Min)
Highest place: Guru Shikhar, 1722 meters above sea level
Rainy Season : from July to Mid Sept, and very humid (Upton 90%)
Good time to visit: From the autumn months to the end of winter. Mt Abu can be very hot in summers.
Languages: Rajasthani, Hindi, English

Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India and is located in Sirohi district. Mount Abu is known for its precipitous rocks, serene lakes, picturesque locations and lovely climate. As per mythological reference, in the Puranas, the region has been referred to as Arbudaranya, (“forest of Arbhu”) and ‘Abu’ is a dimunitive of this ancient name. It is believed that sage Vasishtha retired to the southern spur at Mount Abu following his differences with sage Vishvamitra. Mount Abu has been home to many sages and saints. Most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha (just mentioned in the previous paragraph) who is believed to have created four Agnikula Rajput clans from a fire-pit by performing a ‘yagna’ or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.
Because it is a mountain peak, and much cooler than the scorching desert in most of Rajasthan, Mt. Abu has been a popular retreat from the heat of Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat for centuries. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range, the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. The road leading to Mount Abu is a curved one characterized by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds.
During the British rule in India, it was regarded as the favorite leisure destination of the British, who came here to escape the dusty, dry heat of the desert.

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Attractions:
Dilwara Temples: This holiest shrine of Jainism is amongst the finest illustration of Jain architecture in India. It is a cluster of temple, with two main shrines, superbly curved in white Marble, and were built around 11th to 13th century A.D. The oldest of these is the Vimal Vasahi temple, built in 1031 AD by Vimal Shah and dedicated to the first of the Jain Tirthankaras.
Adhar Devi Temple : The temple is chiseled out of a huge rock reached by a flight of 360 stairs. A favourite tourist spot. Located 3 km from the north of town.
Nakki Lake: A tiny lake, picturesquely set amid hills. Set in the heart of the town, the lake gets its name from the legend that it was scooped out by the gods with their finger nails or ‘Nakh’.
Guru Shikhar (15 km): The highest peak on the mount and allows a bird’s eye view of the surroundings of Mt. Abu.
Gaumukh Temple: A natural spring flowing through a sculpted cow’s head gives the shrine its name. The famous ‘yagna’ of sage Vashishtha was performed here.
Sunset Point: Spectacular sight of the setting sun when the hills are covered in the golden glow can be viewed from here.
Shri Raghunathji Temple: Situated near the ‘Nakki lake’ is the temple dedicated to Shri Raghunathji with a beautiful image of the deity that was placed here in 14th century A.D. by Sri Ramanand – the famous Hindu Preacher.
Museum and Art Gallery: Located at the Raj Bhawan, it has a collection of archaeological excavations dating back to 8th -12th century A.D.
Trevor’s Tank(some distance – 5 km away): Named after the British engineer who constructed it, Trevor’s Tank is a delight for birdwatchers with densely wooded hills that are a haven to pigeons, peacocks, and partridges.
Achalgarh(8 km away) : An impressive fort with some beautiful Jain temples enclosed within. Among the noteworthy temples are Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412 A.D) and Kantinath Jain Temple (1513 A.D).
The world headquarters of the Brahma Kumari order of lady renunciates is also located here, as is the World Spiritual University of the same denomination.

Access:
Train: The nearest railway station is at Abu Road, in the lowlands 27 km southeast of Mount Abu town. The station is on the main Indian Railways line between Delhi and Ahmedabad.
Airport: Nearest airport is at Udaipur. A number of domestic and international airlines connect Udaipur with Indian major cities.
Road: Mount Abu is well connected by roads and is slightly close to 2 National Highways – No 8 and 14, which connect Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Delhi. Some of the city distances Mount Abu are Udaipur is 185 km, Ahemadabad is 214 km, Agra is 737 km and Delhi is 768 km.

Places to stay (a sample set):
Connaught House Mount Abu: Railway station – 15 km, Bus Stand – 2 km
Carma Rajputana Club Mount Abu: Located near Nakki Lake, with fabulous sightseeing and lake cruise.
Hillock Hotel Mount Abu
Hotel Sunrise Palace, at Bharatpur Khoti road
Bikaner House: was the summer residence of the royal family of Bikaner. A heritage hotel.
Kesar Bhawan Palace: the Oldest Palace in Mount Abu. A heritage hotel.
Jaipur House: used to be the summer retreat of the Royal family of Jaipur. It was built with Rajput Architecture overlooking the famous Nakki Lake. A heritage hotel.
Palanpur Palace: Palanpur Palace was constructed more than a century ago by Nawab Sher Mohammed Khan of Palanpur. A heritage hotel.
Silver Oak: A resort

Shiva Oasis Resort in Behror Rajasthan

Traveller — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 19:04:04 +0000

It was in the middle of summer, and neither me nor the spouse had the luxury of being able to take a holiday on the same day. So, combining Friday with a Saturday and Sunday was out, and as it turned out, it was not much of a long holiday since we only left Saturday evening (work intruded and we decided to go rather than cancel).
As a prequel to this decision, we spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out where to go. But given the luxury of 2 days that we had, it was very difficult to think of going to hill stations other than Mussoorie, and going to Mussoorie in the middle of the summer with the jam-packed tourist season was not exactly very pleasurable, and more important, Mussoorie was where we had gone last. So I opened some books like the Outlook Guide to nearby places and also a website called AroundDelhi.com. In the meantime the spouse was getting a trifle impatient at my indecision in recommending places.
I first thought of Neemrana, but no rooms available. After a bit more perusing, I finally settled on a place called Shiva Oasis in Behror. Made a booking for Saturday night, so cost me around Rs. 4000, a trifle expensive I thought.

It was around 120 km away when looking from Gurgaon, and in the evening when I set out, was hoping that Gurgaon traffic would not torture me. I took the new eight-lane highway, and it was fun most of the way except for a 20 min stop in a mini-jam. But after that, it was all nice and fast, even though it was dark. I did not take more than a hour and a half to reach the place, and this was after taking a pit stop along the way (nature sometimes reminds you that you need to take a break).

Finally I reached when it was getting dark. The place looked nice and clean, and the room was pretty decent, and the AC worked. I would have had a heart attack and probably murdered the manager if the AC did not work. So relaxed for some time in the room, took off shoes and socks, and then wanted to wander around a bit. The first thing I saw was the pool, and boy did it look clean.

Since our cost included dinner and breakfast, we settled down to some dinner. Maybe because it was so hot, there were not many people there and dinner was okay, not great. But service was okay. Anyhow, pool not a good option at night given that there was nobody else there, so the morning it was.
In the morning, we spent more time looking around the resort. It is essentially a very well maintained place with a central pool surrounded by rooms; the perfect place if you go with friends in a group for the weekend and when it is slightly less hotter. Relax with plenty of drink and booze, and once you have unwound enough, you can go back home. And that is precisely what we did come afternoon. Even though we did not spend too much time, it was still a relaxation and I felt better heading back home.