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Archive for the ‘Deserts of India’ Category

Day 01 : Delhi
Arrive Delhi – one of the most important metropolitan, as it is the city of power. It has a very good combination of both modern, as well as ancient culture. Transfer to your hotel and rest of the day is at leisure to explore the city. Over night stay at the hotel.

Day 02 : Delhi – Jaipur
Today you will drive to the pink city of Jaipur (260 Kms). Enroute you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Check into your hotel on arrival and rest of the day is at leisure. This evening you may optionally visit to Chokhi Dhani, an ethnic Rajasthani village near Jaipur.

Day 03 : Jaipur
This morning visit the Amber fort, built in 16th century, enjoy an elephant ride at Amber. Drive past the Hawa Mahal, a Palace of winds. In the afternoon you will visit the city palace and museum, walk to adjacent Jantar Mantar an astronomical observatory. Rest of the evening is at leisure.

Day 04 : Jaipur – Jodhpur
After breakfast proceed by surface to Jodhpur (340 Kms), Upon arrival check-in to the Hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Over night stay at the Hotel.

Day 05 : Jodhpur – Jaisalmer
After breakfast drive to Jaisalmer (285 kms). Rising from the heart of the Thar Desert, like a golden mirage, is the magical city of Jaisalmer. With the crenellated golden sandstone town walls and narrow, streets, lined with exquisitely carved buildings, through which camel carts trundle leisurely, it has an extraordinarily medieval feel and an incredible atmosphere. Arrive and check in Hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at Jaisalmer.

Day 06 : Jaisalmer
After breakfast visit to the Fort, bazaars and the old mansions known as Havelis. People still live in these ancient buildings dating from 12th to 15th century. Every house has exquisite carvings and filigreed work. Over night stay at Jaisalmer.

Day 07 : Jaisalmer
The day is at leisure to explore the city and shopping. Over night stay at the hotel.

Day 08 : Jaisalmer – Bikaner
Breakfast at hotel. Later drive to Bikaner (333 Kms). Check in at the hotel on arrival. Later visit Junagarh fort, Lalgarh palace, Museum and the camel-breeding farm. Over night stay in hotel.

Day 09 : Bikaner – Pushkar
Breakfast at hotel. Later drive to Pushkar (250 Kms). Check in at the hotel on arrival. Later visit the Bramhas temple and the ghats on the banks of holy lake. Over night stay in hotel.

Day 10 : Pushkar – Delhi
After breakfast drive to Delhi (400 Kms). Arrive and check in at the hotel. Over night stay at the hotel.

Day 11 : Delhi
Transfer to the airport/ Railway station for homeward journey.

The city of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India is divided into two parts – the old city and the new city. Once surrounded by a now battered wall, the old city has seen ages coming and going on. Amongst the many attractions of the city, the main one is Jaisalmer fort. Built in the 12th century, this fort provides a magnificent view of the golden desert below. The other attractions include massive havelis built by wealthy merchants of Jaisalmer. Also, a desert safari of the city, providing a glimpse of sand dunes, will leave you with a sight forever etched in your memory.

Withstanding the harsh climate and battering winds of the desert, the city of Jaisalmer has kept its age-old charm. Jaisalmer travel and tourism will take you back to the royal bygone era of the once princely state. The age-old traditions and culture of the city makes it a unique experience. This desert city weaves magic on you, leaving you speechless and mesmerized. The hostile terrain of the city fades in front of the warmth and hospitality of its people.

Legendary Tales

According to myth, Lord Krishna, the head of Yadav Clan, foretold Arjuna that a remote descendant of the Yadav Clan would build his kingdom at the top of Trikuta Hills. His divination was fulfilled in 1156 A.D. When the Rawal Jaisal, a descendant of the Yadav Clan and a Bhatti Rajput, abandoned his fort at Lodhruva and founded a new capital Jaisalmer, nestled on the top of Trikuta Hills in Rajasthan.

Places Of Interest

Desert National Park

It is an excellent ecosystem and covers a total area of about 3162 square km and was notified a National park in the year 1980. The National park is rich in diverse varieties of fauna, important among them include the Chinkara, Desert Hare, Blackbuck, Desert Snake, fox and vultures.

Sonar Fort (Jaisalmer Fort)

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan sightseeing tour must include a visit to the Jaisalmer fort. Jaisalmer fort is the second oldest fort in the state of Rajasthan. It hovers on a 250 feet high hilltop, providing an amazing view of the vast desert below. The fort has five palaces namely, Sarvottam Vilas, Akhai Vilas, Gaj Mahal, Rang Mahal and Moti Mahal. Exquisitely carved jail screens were put up to protect the interiors of the palaces from the desert storms and sweltering heat. The arches and spandrels of the palaces have been painted with mesmerizing murals. The fort has four namely, Akhai Pole (Ganesh Pole), Suraj Pole, Bhuta Pole and Hawa Pole. There is also an umbrella, Meghadamber, perched on the highest point of the place that represents Lord Krishna.

Tazia Tower

Tazia Tower of Jaisalmer is one of the major tourist attractions. If you have done with the various Rajputana architectures scattered in the city, Tazia tower will come as a welcome break to you. It is situated in the excellent ‘Badal Palace’ complex located near Amar Sagar Gate. These were the homes of the former royal family. The Tazia tower is a 5-storied structure where each story has significance in its own. On each floor there is a balcony that is famous for their individual designs. This was built by Muslim craftsmen and is based on the shape of Tazia. Tazia is actually the replica of Mausoleum of various Imams. They are made of wood, thermocol and colored papers. The architects gifted it to the then royal patrons. Tazia Tower was erected in 1886 AD. The architecture is eye catchy and shades of brilliance often leave the observers spellbound. Each floor of the tower stands out with its unique style and the accompanied balconies exhibit artistic design and master craftsmanship, a testimony to Muslim architectural style of the ancient period.

Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli

Nathmal ji ki Haveli built it in the 19th century. Interestingly, while one concentrated on the right, the other concentrated on the left and the result is a symphony epitomising the side by side symmetry during construction. Paintings in miniature style monopolise the walls in the interior. Mighty tuskers carved out of yellow sandstone stand guard to the haveli.Barring that, this haveli is still considered the best in Jaisalmer in terms of grandeur. There are other minute details worth appreciation. For example there are two Elephants made of yellow stone. These life-size replicas have been put in front of the main entrance so that it looks as if they are guarding the Haveli. Other than these, there are pictures engraved on pillars and walls. These consist of Horses, Cattle, and depiction of Flora among other things.

The most convenient entry point into Gujarat is through the metropolis of Ahmedabad. The city contains some very fine museums, the Calico Museum of Textiles being considered among the world’s finest. Ahmedabad’s walled city is a living testimony to its heritage of crafts as women walk by in dazzling embroidered garments and flashing ethnic silver jewellery. Traditional Ahmedabad combines mosques of inspired workmanship, wooden Jain temples, unique stone stepwells and houses with ornately carved wooden balconies and window screens.

Modern Ahmedabad, just across the River Sabarmati spanned by four bridges, is a showpiece of contemporary architecture with designs by Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn and the best known Indian architects. Ahmedabad is a convenient base for a number of excursions, Modhera being the best known. 106 km away, this is one of the very few sun temples in the country.

Places To Visit

Kusum Vilas Palace

Kusum Vilas Palace conglomerates the architectural style found in Champaner, elevators and modern functional requirements. Kusum Vilas Palace of Gujarat is a picturesque and historically significant tourist destination in Gujarat.

Kusum Vilas Palace along with Prem Bhawan Palace are two of the finest examples of 12th century palace architecture in Gujarat. History of Kusum Vilas Palace in Gujarat: Kusum Vilas Palace was constructed by one of the most famous architectural firms of Mumbai, Bhatkar and Bhatkar, in the early 1920s.

Dwarkanath Temple

The Dwarkanath Temple is situated in Dwarka which is about 145 kilometers from Jamnagar and considered as the the entrance of Western India. The Dwarkanath Temple of Dwarka is the holiest temples of the Hindus and is dedicated to Lord Krishna, the eighth Avatara of Vishnu and the hero of the Mahabharata epic. According to the legend, Lord Krishna left his birth place Mathura and came to this place where he settled down with his �Yadava� clan. Here he constructed the golden city and named it as Kushasthali or Dwaravati which later came to be known as Dwarka.

Marine National Park

Marine National Park of Gujarat encloses an area of 458 square kilometers in the Gulf of Kutch, that is 30 kilometers from Jamnagar. Marine National Park of Gujarat is the first marine park of the country, acknowledged in 1982. The protected area of Marine National Park of Gujarat comprises of an archipelago that is made up of 42 islands in the Gulf of Kutch.

Introduction

Ludhiana is the largest city in Punjab and also one of the important town in North India with an estimate population of 1.4 million people. Ludhiana is one of the richest town in Punjab state and also the industrial capital of the state because of the largest hosiery and woolen garments industry is set up there which produces one of the fine quality textile products famous all over the world. The land used for irrigation and farming is the most fertile and expensive land all over India.

It is also a home of dozens of NRI who comes every year to invest their money in hotels and condos. Apart from industrial capital, there are many places to visit in Ludhiana like it is a home of the finest Gurdwaras and other sacred shrines. Ludhiana is a famous tourist destination and a important stopover for the tourist doing the Punjab tour. Tourist will surely like the culture and warm hospitality of the people which gives a home feel to tourist. The city holds a long history and before tourist start a trip to the place it is advisable for them to get some information about the city.

Originally known as Lodi-Ana, meaning Lodi’s Place, Ludhiana was formed during the Lodi Dynasty. Lodi chiefs, Yusaf Khan and Nihang Khan, fixed the present site of Ludhiana that was a village called Mir Hota. Nihang Khan renamed the place to Ludhiana after he stayed back at the village as the Emperor’s Lieutenant. The Fort of Ludhiana was constructed by Jalal Khan.

Considered as the “Manchester of India”, Ludhiana is a major industrial hub of Punjab and is one of the high capita income cities of India. The city largely consists of knitwear factories, hosiery yarn mills and worsted and woollen yarns. It is also the location of the Punjab Agricultural University, which is one of the largest agricultural universities in Asia.

Tourist Places

Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum
Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum is situated about 5 KM from Ludhiana Railway Station, near Hotel Amaltas and it spread over an area of 4 acres. The museum was instituted in 1990 with a motive to give tribute to the gallant soldiers and to create awareness among the people about the role of defence services and how it can strengthen Indian National integration and unity. Punjab Government is still in a process of establishing a War Museum of International standard at Ludhiana, consisting of galleries like History, War Heroes, Uniforms, Air and Navy Gallery, Signal and Medical Corps, Kargil. There is a light and sound hall in a museum which conducts regular shows highlighting the stories of brave Indian soldiers especially Punjab Soldiers.

Gurdwara Charan Kanwal Sahib (Machhiwara)
Gurdwara Charan Kamal Sahib is the important Sikh shrine having a beautiful building situated on the Charan Kamal named after this Gurdwara in the city of Machiwara. Gurdwara marks the site of the garden where the 10th Guru – Guru Gobind Singh had a sip of water from the same well which is believed to be used for watering the garden on that time and then after he took a good sleep. Anyone can reach Gurdwara easily as it is well connected by Ludhiana to Chandigarh highway at Samrala (42 Kms) and to Ropar (46 Kms) by Guru Gobind Singh marg. It is known as the place where his three devotees had joined him whose names are Dhram Singh, Daga Singh and Manu Singh.

Lodhi Fort
The fort was built by the Muslim ruler Sikander Lodhi now has gone to ruin and rack. Lodhi Fort was constructed on 16th century on the strategic location near River Sutlej which earlier used to flow near it but now has changes his direction. Due to the lack of protection and conservation by ludhianvis, the fort today is only a ruin having few structures in good condition. The residents are equally responsible as they have weakened the structure by digging up borrows to make space for construction of houses and shops. The State Conservation Department, the District Administration, and the Municipal Corporation still have been showing no interest to its conservation and protection.

The Mehrangarh Museum Trust was settled in March,1972 by His Highness The Maharaja Gaj Singh II with the principal objective of setting up a world class museum in Jodhpur. It was intended that this museum eventually house and display the Maharaja’s substantial collections; of miniature paintings, portraits, books and manuscripts, weapons, textiles and tents, elephant howdahs and palanquins, and various objets’ d art.

Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur is one of the largest forts in forts. It is also the most magnificent fort in Jodhpur, infact, in the whole Rajasthan. The fort is amongst the popular tourist places in India. It is situated on a 150 m high hill. It was founded by Rao Jodha in 1459. The Mehrangarh Fort can be reached from the city, 5 kms below, through a circular road.

Early on the Trust was fortunate enough to obtain the services of Thakur Sagat Singh, a retired curator from the Rajasthan Governement Museum, and he was given a clear brief; to locate and clear suitable areas in the fort for the museum; to compile inventories of the collections both at the Mehrangarh Fort and at the Umaid Bhawan Palace, the Maharaja’s residence; and, finally, to put together the exhibitions themselves.

New dimensions have been added to the Trust’s activities since then; the active patronage of the arts and music; the promotion of the handicrafts of the region; and the study and research of the rich archival and other material available in the Trust’s manuscript library, the Maharaja Maan Singh Pustak Prakash Research Center. With the Trust’s strong and ever-widening social and cultural inter-action with the city and region the Mehrangarh Fort today finds itself once again, after over a hundred years, very much at the center of things in Marwar.

The Museum has participated in many international exhibitions all over the world, including the Festival of India in America in 1985, displaying and sharing the rich heritage of Marwar, and interacting with prestigious institutions in the field. It has also attracted numerous scholars and researchers, in many different fields, to Jodhpur.

Jaisalmer, popularly referred as the “the Jewel of the Desert,” is one of the most fascinating cities of Rajasthan, India. Also known as “the Golden City of India,” Jaisalmer is popular for its centuries old magnificent forts, palaces havelis (mansions) and amber-hued houses. Jaisalmer is also known for its exotic sand dunes, offering exciting and unforgettable camel safaris. The vivid and colorful festivals of Jaisalmer are other major attractions for tourists visiting the city.

Situated amid picturesque Thar Desert, the Jaisalmer city commands premiere position among the tourist attractions scattered all over Rajasthan. The Jaisalmer city is revered both by Indian as well as foreign tourists.

Who would have dreamt in such a vast sand oasis a castle worthy of an ancient throne, such an art in carven work of stone? It is like straight out of an Arabian Nights fable. The name Jaisalmer induces a dramatic picture of utter magic and brilliance of the desert. The hostile terrain not withstanding the warmth and color of people is simply over whelming.

Like various other cities of Rajasthan, in Jaisalmer too you will find different facets of its own glorious heritage too. Tough you can find historical monuments scattered all over the city, the Jaisalmer Fort will immediately command your attention. Made of sand stones and locally known as Sonar Quila, the Jaisalmer Fort is a dominating structure between the sands. The Jaisalmer city is also revered for its Havelis. Among many of them you will find Salim ji ki haveli and Nathmal ji ki haveli as the most striking. There are other monuments too, which are equally important because of there distinct and individual architecture. The amalgamation of ancient and the medieval era architecture will catch your fancy.

Jaisalmer Fort: The 12th century Jaisalmer Fort has been regarded as one of the most magnificent and invincible forts in Rajasthan. Built over the Trikuta hill, Jaisalmer Fort is 250 ft tall structure surrounded by a 30 ft high sandstone wall with 99 bastions. The Fort houses the famous Jain Temple, a place worth visiting on your Jaisalmer tour.

Jaisalmer Havelis: Built by the wealthy merchants, the havelis (mansions) of Jaisalmer are famous for their exclusive cutwork, yellow and red stone treatment and the bracket-shaped decoration of peacocks. The splendid havelis like the Patwon-ki-Haveli, Salim-Singh-ki-Haveli and Nathmalji ki haveli are major tourist attractions in Jaisalmer.

Gadsisar Sagar Tank: Gadsisar Sagar Tank is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Jaisalmer. A famous picnic spot, the Tank attracts hundreds of migratory birds during the winter season.

Bara Bagh: Baba Bagh is an oasis on the bank of Gadsisar Sagar Tank. It has greenery all around to give a much-needed relief to the local people.

Tazia Tower: The Pagoda like Tazia Tower rises from the Badal Mahal (Palace of Clouds). Each storey of this five-tiered tower has a beautifully carved balcony.

Ludhiana, the largest city of Punjab, boasts of being a popular tourist spot. It has both historical monuments as well as religious centers that attract tourists from all over the world. Ludhiana is situated on the Amritsar-Delhi Grand Trunk Road. New Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh and other major cities in Punjab are well linked with Ludhiana through road. The city lies about 305 km northwest of Delhi and is 100 km away from Chandigarh

Ludhiana is on the banks of River Sutlej. in 1481, Ludhiana used to be an insignificant village that was under Yodha, Gupta and Rajput rule for centuries. It was much later during the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singhji that Ludhiana began developing. In the later years British captured and developed it as it stands today. It has 500-year old Lodhi Fort that was constructed by the Sikander Lodhi when he ruled the plains near River Sutlej.

The Museum of Rural history of Punjab is on the University campus. The museum building resemble the traditional houses of rural Punjab . A 100 yard long path, flanked on both sides by water channels, leads to the finely carved doors of the museum. There are exhibits of old bronze utensils, farming equipment etc. Open from 9 am to 1.00 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.

Tiger Zoo is located on GT Road (Ludhiana-Jalandhar Highway) and is just 6 km away from the main city. It consists of varieties of majestic tigers moving freely in the protected jungles. The tigers are viewed from a distance and offer exciting sight. People come from far and wide to enjoy a tiger safari at the place.

Gurdwara Charan Kanwal Sahib (Machhiwara) is located on Charan Kamal Road, in the small town of Machhiwara, Gurdwara Charan Kanwal Sahib is at a distance of 35 km from Ludhiana. There are many religious connotations associated with the place the gurdwara is built on. It marks the site of the garden where Guru Gobind Singh had a sip of water and a spell of small sleep. He had rested here while fighting a guerrilla war against the massive Mughal force. This is the place where his three devotees – Dharam Singh, Daga Singh and Manu Singh joined him. A religious fair is held here every year, to commemorate the memory of the saint.

The various hotels packages in and around Ludhiana offer the best of facilities. There is a range of luxury and budget hotels in and around Ludhiana besides the star categorized accommodation hotels .

It was constructed after the completion of the Baradari by levying a contribution of a damri or quarter of a dub on all laborers employed.

The Damri Mahal which is close by was built after the completion of the Barra Darri. It is so named because it was constructed by levying a contribution of a ‘damri’ or the quarter of a dub, on an laborers employed on Barr Darri. An arcaded verandah projects in front like a portico, and contains five scolloped arches. Behind are ten rooms of varying sizes, arranged in a line. To the right are seven atom chambers with antechambers. The entrance is in the right corner. Close by, on a slightly higher level than the rest is another small but detached building. The roof is arched. There are also two cisterns, one in front of the verandah and another outside the building.
The Revenue Office building was known as the Damri Mahal. It was built after the completion of the ‘Barra Darri’. The building was built by imposing a donation of a damri which is equivalent to a quarter of a dub. The contribution was collected from all the labourers employed.

The front of the building has an arcaded verandah. This verandah just in front like a portico. The portico consists of 5 scalloped arches.

Behind the verandah there are 10 rooms of varying sizes. They are arranged in a line. There are 7 chambers and antechambers to the right. The roof is arched.