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Capital city: Jaipur
Jaipur, the vibrant capital of Rajasthan, is popularly known as the 'pink city' because of the pink-coloured buildings in its old city. It sits on a dry lakebed in a somewhat arid landscape, surrounded by forts and crenulated walls. This buzzing metropolis is certainly a place of wild contrasts and a feast for the eyes.
Jaipur has long outstripped the confines of its city wall and is today among the most tumultuous and polluted places in Rajasthan. Despite this, it seldom disappoints the first-time visitor.
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Ajmer
Just over 130 km southwest of Jaipur is Ajmer, a burgeoning town on the shore of the Ana Sagar, flanked by barren hills. Historically, Ajmer had considerable strategic importance and was sacked by Mohammed of Ghori on one of his periodic forays from Afghanistan. Later, it became a favourite residence of the mighty Mughals. One of the first contacts between the Mughals and the British occurred in Ahmer, when Sir Thomas Roe met with Jehangir here in 1616.
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Alwar
Alwar was once an important Rajput state. It emerged in the 18th century under Pratap Singh, who pushed back the rulers of Jaipur to the south and the Jats of Bharatpur to the east, and who successfully resisted the Marathas. It was one of the first Rajput states to ally itself with the fledgling British empire, although British interference in Alwar's internal affairs meant that this partnership was not always amicable.
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Bharatpur
Bharatpur is renowned for its World Heritage-listed bird sanctuary, the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. This is one sanctuary which even non-ornithologists should visit. In fact, many travellers rate it as a highlight of their visit to India.
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Bikaner
This desert town in the north of the state was founded in 1488 by Rao Bika, a descendent of Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur. Like many others in Rajasthan, the old city is surrounded by a high crenallated wall and, like Jaisalmer, it was once an important stagind post on the great caravan trade routes. The Ganga Canal, built between 1925 and 1927, irrigates a large area of previously arid land around Bikaner.
As the tourist hype in Jaisalmer heightens, Bikaner is becoming more and more popular with travellers. It's easy to see why - Bikaner has a superb fort, camel safaris, and 30km to the south is the extraordinary Karni Mata Temple where thousands of holy rat are worshipped.
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Bundi
Bundi, 39 km north west of Kota, has a good deal of panache and rustic charm. It was the capital of a major princely state during the heyday of the Rajputs. Although its importance dwindled with the rise of Kota during the Mughal times, it kept its independence until it incorporation into the state of Rajasthan in 1947. Kota itself was a part of Bundi until its separation in 1624 at the instigation of the Mughal emperor, Jehangir. The town's Rajput legacy is well preserved in the massive fort, which broods over the town in the narrow valley below, and the imposing palace which stands beneath it. In this palace are the famous Bundi murals.
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Chittorgarh
The sprawling hilltop fort of Chiittorgarh epitomises the whole romantic, doomed ideal of Rajput chivalry. Three times in its long history, Chittor was sacked by a stronger enemy and on each occasion, the end came in textbook Rajput fashion as jauhar was declared in the face of impossible odds. The men donned the saffron robes of martyrdom and rode out from the fort to certain death, while the women and children immolated themselves on a huge funeral pyre. Honour was always more important than death.
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Deeg
Very few travellers ever make it to Deeg, about 36km north of Bharatpur. This is a pity because this small town with its massive fortifications, stunning palace and busy market is actually more interesting than Bharatpur itself (apart from the bird sanctuary, of course). It's an easy day trip from Bharatpur, Agra or
Mathura.
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Jaisalmer
Nothing else in India is remotely similar to Jaisalmer. This captivating sandy outpost has been dubbed the Golden City because of the honey colour imparted to its stone ramparts by the setting sun.
Its desert fort, which resembles a gigantic sandcastle, is straight out of the Thousand and One Nights.
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Jhalawar
Located 87km south of Kota, at the centre of an opium producing region, Jhalawar was the capital of a small princely state created in 1838. this little archeological town is well off the beaten track and sees very few travellers. In the centre of town is the run-down Jhalawar Fortwhich today houses government offices. There's also a small government museum which houses a collection of 8th century sculptures, gold coins and old weapons.
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Jodhpur
Jodhpur is at the edge of the Thar Desert and is the largest city in Rajasthan after Jaipur. The city is dominated by a massive fort, topping a sheer rocky ridge right in the middle of the town. Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rajput clan known as the Rathores. His descendents ruled not only Jodhpur, but also other Rajput princely states. The Rathore kingdom was once known as Marwar, the Land of Death.
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Kota
The city of Kota (previously spelt Kotah) is situated at the centre of the south-eastern region of Rajasthan, a region widely known as Hadaoti (Hadavati), the land of the Hadas. The Hadas are a major branch of the great Chauhan clan of the Agnikula (fire dynasty) Rajputs. They had settled in the hilly terrain of Mewar near Bijolian at Bambaoda in the 12th century A.D. and soon extended their rule, conquering Bundi in 1241 and Kota in 1264.
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Mount Abu
To discover a tropical hill-resort in the middle of the Rajasthan desert would appear impossible. Yet this is exactly what Mount Abu is. The broken ridges of the Aravalli hills attain the highest point at Guru Shikhar, the Saints Pinnacle, in the southwestern corner of Rajasthan, bordering the State of Gujarat. This range is separated from the main chain of the Aravallis by a valley about 15 miles (24 km) wide. In this vale are grown the fruits and vegetables that feed the surrounding region.
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Pushkar
Pushkar is perhaps best known for its Camel Fair which takes place here each October/November. This massive congregation of camels, cattle, livestock traders, pilgrims, tourists and filmmakers is one of the planets most incredible events. If you are anywhere within striking distance at the time, it's an event not to be missed.
Being a holy place, alcohol, meat and even eggs are banned.
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Shekhawati
Shekhavati lies in a triangle between Jaipur, Bikaner and Delhi. With the exception of the rocky Aravalli range that divides Shekavati diagonally, showing its jagged face here and there, the countryside is flat and almost monochromatic. Today, Shekavati comprises the administrative districts of Sikar and Jhunjhunu, which are together one-fifth of the Jaipur Division.
Since the middle of the 19th century, the inhabitants of Shekavati have patronised the art of fresco painting compensating, in a way, for the lack of colour in the landscape of their homeland.
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Udaipur
The sprit of Udaipur, someone has said, gazes toward Chittor, as at a lost and distant horizon. For it is from the misfortunes of that fort that this city of pleasure was born. Luxurious Udaipur is an interesting counterpoint to stark Chittor. While the fort stands rugged, battle- scarred, blending with the scrubby country, atop a stark plateau, Udaipur nestles like a gem in a valley surrounded by the green Aravalli hills, reflected smooth and white in the clear blue of Lake
Pichola.
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