Rajasthan Travel Trip Planner

We offer tourists a genuine flavor of traditional Rajasthan culture, crafts, music, dance, village life, festivals, forts and temples. One can see the famous sight of the "pink city" of Jaipur, or travel to view the detailed wall paintings of the Sekhawati region. The temple of Ranakpur, home to some of the most beautiful Jain temples in India, and camel safaris to remote village areas far beyond the golden sandstone walls of Jaisalmer. For most of the travelers, the entry point to Rajasthan is Jaipur, near the eastern border. A traveler should choose to start his trip here, you are in fact well-positioned to visit some of Rajasthan's top sites: Only a few hours from the city is the Ranthambore National Park -- where, given 2 days, you are virtually assured of spotting a wild tiger -- and Bharatpur's Keoladeo National Park, a must-see for birders, and virtually on the way from Agra. Jaipur is also within easy striking distance of Bundi, an untouched, off-the-beaten-track rural town that lies some hours away by train or car, as well as nearby Ajmer, gateway to the sacred lake of Pushkar and site of the state's most famous camel fair.

About the city
Set at the edge of the Thar desert, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity in the emptiness of the desert. Once the capital of the Marwar state , it was founded in 1459 A.D. by Rao Jodha-chief of the Rathore clan of Rajputs who claimed to be descendants of Rama - the epic hero of the Ramayana.

Accessibility
Airways: Airport is 5km from downtown and well connected through Indian Airlines to all the major cities.
Railways: The region is well connected through express and passenger trains. It is well connected to Cities within Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra. Roadways: RTDC (Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation) connects the city to all the major cities within Rajasthan and to outside states

Umaid Bhawan Palace
Umaid Bhawan palace, built by the late Maharaja Umaid Singhji, is one of the world's Largest and Grandest Royal Residences. Over three thousand artisans from the region worked every day for thirteen years to transform the British architect, H.V. Lanchester's master plan into this magnificent marble and sandstone edifice.

Exquisite Architecture
The majority of the 'fine buildings' was actually one single complex ! An architectural extravaganza called the Umaid Bhawan Palace - among the biggest private residences in the world. A colossal 347 room structure with two monumental wings separated by a central dome soaring to a height of 185 feet. Umaid Bhawan as a Heritage Hotel.

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Jaisalmer
Founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156 A.D., Jaisalmer is situated deep in the heart of Thar Desert and abounds ancient palaces, temples and quaint settlements. As the sun sets, the sandstone buildings emit a lustrous glow, that make Jaisalmer the "Golden City".

Jaisalmer Fort
Built in 1156 A.D., the Jaisalmer fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan after Chittaurgarh. It was founded by the Bhatti Rajput chieftain Rawal Jaisal. The fort is made in soft The ramparts, bastions and the long-stretching walls of the fort dazzle gloriously during early morning and at sunset. Two hundred and fifty feet tall and reinforced by an imposing crenellated sandstone wall 30 feet high, it has 99 bastion, out of which 92 were built between 1633 and 1647.

Architecture
The five story edifice adorns itself with balconies and windows that displays some of the finest masonry work, while the interior is painted and tiled in typical Rajput style. The main attractions within the fort are a group of beautifully carved Jain temples built between the 12th and 15th century.

The fort stands almost 30 meters over the city and unbelivebly houses an entire living area within huge ramparts. It is approached through Ganesh Pol, Suraj Pol, Bhoot Pol and Hawa Pol.There are several entrances, called 'pols' that guard the Megh Durbar and the Jawahar Mahal, which bear the imperial symbols of the Bhatti clan's lunar lineage. Outside the fort, is the main market place called Manek Chowk.

Hawa Mahal
Hawa Mahal, a classical monument that reciprocate a fresh feeling within the minds of the onlookers. The building was constructed by Maharaja Jai Singh II in 1799. Maharaja Jai Singh had a specific purpose behind constructing this multilayered edifice. The main purpose was that royal females, who used to follow stringent purdah system, could easily see the ceremonial processions on the streets. For this specific purpose, the building was designed in such a manner that it had 900 peepholes. Hawa Mahal is an exotic cenotaph in Jaipur, the pink city of Rajasthan and one can also cover this edifice within the famous package Golden triangle.

Exquisite Architecture
The five storeyed facade entrusted with the elegant trellis work on the windows and small balconies with around 900 niches. The upper floor is reached through a raised ramp rather than stairs a device to facilitate movement by palanaquins carried out by servants. The beautifully carved doors opens into the majestic courtyard. The courtyard has a double story building on the three sides. There is a small archeological museum here. Only the eastern wing has three more storeys above, which are just a single room thick. The building, standing on a high podium, is a fifty-foot high thin shield, less than a foot in thickness, with small intimate chambers, which give this palace its unique facade.

Best time to visit Hawa Mahal: The best time to view Hawa Mahal is during sunrise when sunlight through the latticed peepholes falls across and gives it a unique glow.

Lake Palace
The Lake Palace is located in Udaipur, the land of lakes and palaces. The Palace swiftly nestles itself on the Jagniwas island and cover 1.5 hectares of the island in the middle of the pichola lake.

Initially, the lake palace was known as Jag Niwas and was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1754. The palace beautifully encompassed by the majestic hills and blue sparkling water of the Pichhola Lake. Today, the enchanting palace is converted into a luxury hotel.

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Lake Pichhola
The picturesque lake that entranced Maharaja Udai Singh. It was later enlarged by the founder. The lake is surrounded by hills palaces temples bathing ghats and embankments.

Architecture
The lake palace is beautifully crafted in pure white marble. The palace adorn itself with slender carved columns, fountains, filigreed screens, domed chattris and swimming pool that were created for royal princes. It is a three storeyed palace embellished in yellow sandstone and marble slabs. The interior of the palace is decorated with coloured stones.

Boat rides
This is the main attraction at the palace. Since most tourist who visit the exotic monument thrill themselves with boating in Lake Pichola that surrounds the palace.

Lake Palace as Heritage hotel
The palace has been converted into a royal hotel managed by the Taj group of hotels since 1971. Various apartments in the palace like: the Bada Mahal, Kush Mahal, Sajjan Niwas, Phool Mahal and Dhola Mahal, compliment the enriching interiors offering a romantic appeal. There are 84 centrally air-conditioned rooms including 17 suites and 53 Deluxe rooms with attached bathrooms.

Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is the a masterpiece of architecture situated in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur constructed 5 observatory in west central in India between 1727 to 1734. And Jantar Mantar in Jaipur is the largest of all.

The Jantar Mantar was essentially a Sanskrit word yantra mantra meaning instruments and formulae but later due to mispronunciation it was changed to the known name. Jantar Mantar was built not only to verify astronomical observations made at Jaipur, but also to stimulate interest in astronomy, which had become enmeshed in theory, superstition and religious jargon.

Sawai Jai Singh sent his colleagues to all parts of the world before starting the construction of this observatory. They all returned with many manuals on astronomy containing cutting-edge technological information. One of these manuals was a copy of La Hire's "Tables". The king ordered the observatory to be built according to the details contained in this manual.

The Observatory
Jai Singh had the choice either to construct the observatory with metal instruments or masonry instruments. The metal instruments, constructed according to the texts of the Islamic school of astronomy, did not measure up to Jai Singh's expectations. So, he discarded them in favor of the instruments of stone and masonry that he himself designed.

The observatory at Jaipur endorses the samrat yantra, the jaiprakash yantra, ram yantra and the 'composite instrument' that includes a sundial and a massive hemisphere on the northern wall.

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City Palace
City Palace is one of the major tourist attraction in Jaipur. The palace was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kacchawaha clan of Rajput and later on completed by his successors. It also houses a museum that showcases the grand collection of 2000 weapons that date back to 1580. It has a good collection of various types of Rajasthani dresses a fascinating armoury of Mughal and Rajput weapons.

Exquisite Architecture
The palace showcases an impressive blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.
Built in the capital city of Rajasthan, city palace is segregated into series of courtyard, gardens and buildings. It houses several palatial structures like the Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Badal Mahal, Sri Govind Dev Temple and the City palace museum.

Chandra Mahal/ Moon Palace:
It is a seven story building and still is a home to the present Maharaja of Jaipur, Bhavani Singh. The palace offers a palace offers a panoramic views of the garden and the city. The palace is adorned by a traditional paintings, floral decoration,mirror walls and ceilings. The Mahal also houses a museum of Maharaja Sawai Mann Singh II on the ground floor that showcases collection of art chapel,enamel ware and weapons.

Mubarak Mahal :
This mahal was built by Maharaja Madho Singh II in late 19th century. The mubarak mahal displays a textile section of the Maharaja Sawai Mann Singh II museum.

Diwan-I-Khas:
Close to Mubarak Mahal lies the Diwan-I- Khas or the hall of the private Audience- an open hall adorned with a double row of columns with scalloped arches.

Badal Mahal
Opposite to Chandra Mahal lies the Badal Mahal. In the centre of the Chandra Mahal and the Badal Mahal lies the Govind JI Temple. The place is surrounded with beautiful gardens. Outside the building is a large silver vessel, which the Maharaja used to take on his trips to England to carry drinking water.

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Kerala Travel Trip Planner

Kerala is truly the undiscovered India. It is God's own country and an enchantingly beautiful, emerald-green sliver of land. It is a tropical paradise far from the tourist trial at the southwestern peninsular tip, sandwiched between the tall mountains and the deep sea. Kerala is a long stretch of enchanting greenery. The tall exotic coconut palm dominates the landscape.

Art & Culture
Spectacular visual effects and stunning music are hallmarks of Kerala's performing arts. in a land which cannot boast of monumental architectural feats, unlike many other parts of India, the performing arts, both individually and collectively, make up for the lost magnificence. No other State in India can match the grandeur and creativity of Kerala's performing arts. The classical and ritual arts of Kerala have always enjoyed a rich patronage, from the former kings who ruled the state to the latter day democratic governments.

The green, sinuous, palm-hung backwaters of Kerala are unique. More beautiful than the canals in Thailand, infinitely less crowded than those in Milan, the backwaters of Kerala offer an enchanting experience of fun and relaxation and a chance to see authentic local life. Out of their uniqueness has been born a way of life that today is attracting thousands of travellers from all over the globe seeking serenity in this flowing, emerald land for vacations.

For many years the backwaters remained Kerala's best-kept secret. Once just the state's trade highways, the palm-fringed, tranquil waterways are now a major tourist attraction in Kerala. The best way to enjoy the Kerala backwaters is to take a cruise on a Kettuvallam (house-boat). The point is not to get anywhere, but to drift languidly through ethereal beauty. It is astonishingly romantic to watch the sunset from one Kettuvallam among several, as you pass a world of coconut trees, marshy groves, shallow lakes, deep canals, and long boats. Your backwater odyssey will have twittering kingfishers, eye-catching cormorants and gliding ducks. The coastline of Kerala is dotted with delightful backwater destinations.

Alappuzha Backwaters
Alappuzha is one of the major centres for backwater tour in Kerala. The intricate network of canals through this town has earned it the sobriquet "The Venice of the East". Small but long country boats are the taxies of the water. The coir workers present an interesting sight as they soak coconut fibre in pools, beat them and wind the strands on long spindles stretched between an endless line of coconut trees.

Veli Aakulam Backwaters
A short distance from Thiruvananthapuram, is the Veli Aakulam lagoon. Water sports, a floating restaurant, an amusement park, speedboats and other facilities make this a hot-spot tourist destination in Kerala. The east end of the lake is flanked by two scenic hillocks.

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Kollam Backwaters
The charming old port city of Kollam on the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake is known as the centre of the cashew industry. It is one of the oldest ports of the backwaters, with the ferry to Alappuzha taking more than 8 hours.

Kumarakom Backwaters
A small village 12 kilometre west of Kottayam town, on the banks of the beautiful Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is 14-acre bird sanctuary known for local varieties of water fowl, cuckoo, water ducks, and migrating Siberian storks. Just 80 kilometres from Kochi (Cochin), this area has unique Kettuvalloms, boat racing, motorboat and water sport facilities. The houseboats, plied by local oarsmen, are simply furnished with a living room, bedroom with attached bath and a raised central deck for lazing on cushions while watching the world go by.

Kozhikode Backwaters
In north Kerala, the cool backwaters of Kozhikode lie waiting to be explored. This old commercial town attracts travellers for its history, wonderful backwaters and leisure sports.

Alumkadavu Backwaters
Alumkadavu, in the town of Karunagapally hardly 20 kilometres north of Kollam, is where Kettuvalloms are built. These huge, long and tapering barges were traditionally used to carry tonnes of goods, with a portion covered with bamboo and coir servicing as a rest room and kitchen for the crew. Gliding down the calm and serene backwaters in a Kettuvallom, embraced by green leaves and palm, see a rural Kerala preserved through the ages, completely hidden from the road, and it is not surprising that this is called God's Own Country.

Ernakulam - Kochi Backwaters
Famous for its natural harbour, one of the best in the world, Kochi has earned the sobriquet "Queen of the Arabian Sea". All the islands that make up Kochi are well connected by ferry. The Chinese fishing nets, a method of fishing established in Kochi during the times of Kubla Khan line the waterfront.

Besides these backwaters, other equally beautiful water bodies elsewhere are Veli (in South Kerala), Kadinamkulam, Edava, Anjengo, Madayara, Peravur, Ashtamudi, Kayamkulam, Kodungalur, Chetuva and Valiyaparamba (in North Kerala).

In the monsoon months, the backwaters reverberate with the sound of the traditional snake boat races, featuring the 130-feet-long chundan boats. Up to 16 of them, with over a hundred rowers each, compete for the honours during the races. The most important of these races is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. The Aranmula Boat Festival of the Parthasarathy Temple of Aranmula on the banks of the holy River Pamba, is the more traditional race. The boat carnival starts on the day of Thiruonam, the most auspicious day of the Kerala festival, Onam.

Whether by Kettuvalloms or by a simple vallom (river boat), the experience of gliding through the backwaters of Kerala is an experience that is undeniably unforgettable.

Kerala Ayurveda
Ayurveda in Sanskrit means the science of life. This traditional Science has been handed over through the centuries by ancient physicians who greatly valued health and fitness of the human body. This science is well accepted as a natural and affective way of keeping the body healthy and free of toxins. True to its name, Ayurveda is 3000 years old. Indian system of medicine prescribes time tested and trusted methods to improve physical and mental activity measurably using botanical preparation is Ayurveda, the 3000 years old Indian system of medicine has global acceptance today. The world health Organisation recognises it as an alternate system of medicine. Ayurveda is the world's most eco-friendly system of medicine, since it does not use any material unfriendly to the eco-system. Ayurveda is the safest system of medicine as it is practically free from side effects.

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