Rajasthan is among those important Indian states you should not ignore when you when you visit India. After all, it is also known as the ‘Land of the Kings’, or ‘Rajputana’, and it happens to be the largest state in the country. In fact, its land area covers 10.4 percent of the country or 342,239 square kilometers, making it just below the size of Germany.
However, much of the state is covered by the great Indian desert of Thar, which is parallel to the valley of the Sutlej-Indus rivers. Because of the state’s history, each area within it has different styles of arts that make it highly diverse, so read on to find out some of those places you should put on your bucket list.
Kota
Aside from holding the title of the state that makes one of the lightest sarees in India known as Kota Doria (these are made from a mixture of silk and cotton and made in checked patterns known as khat), this place is also the third-largest city in the state. it is located on the banks of the Chambal River, and is widely known for its unique approach to art through its places of worship, paintings and so on; as well as the sarees, gold jewellery, and the famous Kota stones.
The history of the city goes back to the 12th Century, and it became an independent state from 1631 – although it has a long history of raids by the Marathas, Mughals and so on.
Some interesting places to visit include Garh Palace (also known as the City Palace) that showcases the combination of Mughal and Rajput architecture, Kota Barrage that gives you an interesting view of water flowing through its gates, and Chambal Garden that is popular for its boat rides and the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary to protect the marsh crocodiles.
Jaipur
This is the capital and largest city of Rajasthan, with its history dating back to 1727 and known as the ‘Pink city of India’ because of its distinct pink or saffron buildings. It has well designed streets and great buildings that make it a popular tourist destination in the country.
Even if you are the most average tourist, Jaipur still offers you many things, including its culture, crafts and arts that happen to have more than 20 specialties. Some of these places include Jal Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, and the Jantar Mantar. In fact, this city has so many sites, you might want to create an itinerary that covers at least two days for it alone.
Udaipur
You might also know this as the ‘Venice of the East’, although it is more common to call it ‘The City of Lakes’. It was the capital of the Sisodiya Rajputs from Mewar, so it contains many palaces that bear the unique aspects of Rajputana architecture. The city was founded in 1553, while the Mewar Rajputs built palaces in this city as it was more secure for them (although these palaces are hotels today).
The location of the city is on the base of the Aravalli Mountains, and it contains various temples that are the cause of its increasing popularity with tourists. These attractions include Lake Garden Palace, Lake Pichola, Jagdish Temple, Bore Ki Haveli, and Mati Magri.
Jaisalmer
Also referred to as ‘The Golden City’ because of the daytime views it has, it is located in the middle of the Thar Desert. Its name derives from the desert itself as well as the golden colour sandstone that is prominently used in the architecture of the city.
The most interesting aspect of the city would be its architecture, though. Because of its history as a walled city, it is among the biggest forts in the world today – and that means you need quite a number of days to explore the city completely. There are also many eateries that offer cuisines from around the world such as French and Italian. Other attractions include Gadisar Lake, Sam Sand Dunes and Bada Bagh.
Jodhpur
This is the second largest city and second highest in population in the state. the history of the city dates back to 1549, and it is known as ‘The Sun City’ because it enjoys sunny weather throughout the year. It is also a very important tourist destination because it is located at the center of the state.
Some of these attractions include the Jaisalmer Fort, various Jain Temples, Thar Heritage Museum, Patwon-Ki-Haveli and the Thar Heritage Museum.
Pushkar
This is among the holy cities in India (thought of as one of the top cities of pilgrimage sites in the country) and is located on the shores of Lake Pushkar. In fact, its origin is largely unknown and it is among the oldest cities in the country that bears heavy associations to Hindu mythology.
According to the religion, the lake waters are thought of as sacred, although that is not the only thing that brings people to this town – it is actually the camel fair and camel races. Others include Man Mahal, Brahma Temple, Savitri Temple and Varaha Temple.
Bikaner
The city dates back to 1488, thanks to the Rajput Ruler Rao Bika, who was the son of the Rajput that founded Jodhpur, Rao Jodha. It has also seen its fair share of ancient wars in its past, but is now known for its snacks and sweets, as well as forts.
The crafts and arts are also special from the rest of the state, such as the jharokhas, or windowpanes that have very detailed carvings. If you would like to get the actual taste of rajasthani cuisine, then Bikaner is the place you should visit. The city also holds a large number of fairs that attract many tourists.
Some of the attractions include Sadul Singh Museum, Lalgarh Palace, Ganga Singh Museum, and Junagarh Fort.
Final thoughts
Rajasthan is clearly a state that has numerous attractions that are too many to exhaust in this list alone, and it will offer you a real treat in each of them. Each city within it has a different history, and the many aspects of its regal history are enough to keep you occupied for days.