Jodhpur - Barmer - Jaisalmer - Bikaner
Rajasthan has long been synonymous with camels, sand dunes and women dressed
in bright colorful hues. Many are pleasantly surprised however, when they
come here setting their eyes on expanding stretches of greenery. Lush green
hills and deep valleys, the lake palaces and gardens. If you are wondering
just where the deserts lies, welcome to Marwar. This is your desert
land. Come and explore sand dunes, taste the thrill of riding on camel backs.
Drink in the dazzle of colors in ethnic art and costumes of the folks from
Marwar.SIGHTSEEING Jodhpur can be your ideal starting
point. Popularly called the Sun City, Jodhpur gives the impression
of being a rugged, no-nonsense city that has little time for decorations and
artistic details. But take a look at Mehrangarh Fort, one of the most
impressive and formidable structures that looks down from a height of 125
m.>Once you’ve entered, it's another world altogether – magnificent palaces
with marvelously carved panels and latticed windows like the Moti Mahal,
Phool Mahal, Sheesh Mahal and the Daulat Khana, Spend a lot of
time in the museum, one of the best in Rajasthan, and see the fabulous collection
of Jodhpur royalty – palanquin, howdahs, furniture, miniature paintings,
musical instruments, and costumes. There are other interesting areas in and
around Jodhpur like the Jaswant Thada, Girdikot and Sardar Market,
and the 20th century Umaid Bhavan Palace. A little further
away from the city is the Balsamand lake and gardens, Mandore
with its unusual Hall of Heroes, Mahamandir temple, and Kailana
lake, it's more than a handful for sore eyes. The observant visitor will
notice soon that most of the houses here use the red stone typical of Jodhpur,
tainting it as a city wearing the red uniform look. Today, craftsmen, use
the stone to produce a wide range of gift items that the visitor can take
away as souvenirs. There is a great demand for this stone from other cities
for making carved pillars and balconies shaped to give a unique look to houses.Barmer
is another thriving desert city, not yet polluted by the tourist population.
A city that traces its origins to the 12th century. Once you're
mounted on the ancient camel route; adventurous barren land and rough terrain
surrounding the town wait to the explored. Barmer is famous for its intricately
carved wooden furniture and the hand block printing industry. The ideal timeto
visit Barmer is during its grand festival time, the Tilwara Cattle Fair.
Kiradu, near Barmer is famed as an archaeologist’s dream; with ruins
of beautiful 12th century temples well preserved for the beholder's
pleasure.
Jaisalmer the golden city, nothing can quite prepare you for the magic
and artistic brilliance of this city. Do not wrongly assume that visiting
one desert city means having seen them all. A visit to Jaisalmer will prove
this. Worth a visit is the fort which seems to emerge out of the desert haze,
its yellow sandstone walls and bastions taking on a golden hue in the afternoon
sun. The fort dominates the small city that spreads around it. In the past,
getting to Jaisalmer was a task. Its remote location kept it safe from external
influences, very few invading armies had the courage to cross the harsh desert
to attack Jaisalmer. Even during the British ‘Raj’, Jaisalmer was the last
to sign the Instrument of Agreement with the British. This remote citadel
is today famous for its carved havelis, its narrow cobbled streets and its
well preserved Jain temples. The small market located outside the fort is
the main hub of activity, you can pick up a large variety of local crafts
here and explore the streets on foot. The other places that you would like
to see are Gadsisar lake, Ludrava, Aakal and the royal cenotaphs at
Bada Bagh. For a closer look at the sand dunes, get somebody to take
you to Sam! Ride a camel on the desert dunes and gear yourself for
an unforgettable experience of watching a sunset over the desert horizon.
some more desert life awaits you here. This city lies on the northern
tip of the triangle among the desert cities. A city that goes back over 500
years when it was founded by one of the princes of the Jodhpur clan. An interesting
bit of history about these desert cities is that although they were located
on the major trade routes that connected Central Asia and North India with
the Gujarat ports, outside influences were minimal. This is true of Bikaner
as well. Like most of the other cities of the desert region, Bikaner has been
able to maintain its medieval flavor.
The wealth of its architectural heritage lies in its forts, palaces and temples.
Two outstanding palaces of Bikaner are the Lalgarh Palace and Gajner
Palace. Other important sights are Junagarh Fort and the Camel
Breeding farm. For those inclined to archaeology, it would b interesting
to know that the Rajasthan State Archives is located here. The vast
collection of rare exhibits covering almost every period of Indian history.
When in Bikaner don’t miss the famous temple of Karni Mata at Deshnok,
Gajner, for lovers of wildlife, and Kolayat, an ancient pilgrim
center.
Visitors will love the camel wool products of this region. Carpets, durries,
carved wooden furniture, stone carving and block printing are popular items
to pick up from here. Other desert crafts like leather work, basket weaving
and pottery are as interesting.
