The city has seen the rise and fall of many kingdoms. The city was founded by Raja Ajai Pal Chauhan in the 7th Centuary A.D. and continued to be a major center of the Chauhan power till 1193 A.D. when Prithviraj Chauhan lost it to Mohammed Ghauri.
Since then, Ajmer became home to many dynasties, which came and left-leaving behind indelible marks of their culture and traditions on the city's history, converting it to an amalgam of various cultures and a blend of Hinduism and Islam.
Ajmer is a major center for Muslim pilgrims during the fast of Ramazan, and has some impressive Muslim Architecture. The annual Urs at Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is held on a grand scale and attracts pilgrims from all over the world irrespective of their caste and religion. Ajmer is also the base for visiting Pushkar (11 km), the abode of Lord Brahma, lying to its west with a temple and a picturesque lake. The Pushkar Lake is a sacred spot for Hindus.
Jaipur
Jaipur is better popular as "Pink city" for the travelers. The city is named as so because of the pink sandstones, which were used to construct the buildings. Jaipur, which is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. This pink city was founded in 1727 AD by one of the greatest rulers of the Kachhawaha clan, the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh.
Jaipur is also in the highlight for shopping and handicrafts paradise, Jaipur has become well known for its breezy Hawa Mahal, its startling stone observatory, its many gardens and pavilions, and its calendar of festivals. The city is one of the most important centers in the world for cutting of small diamonds. Diamond studded jewellery in gold and silver, steals anyone's heart at jaipur.
The local 'Kundan' style jewellery finds a market throughout the world. The exotic blue pottery, the batik painting, block printed textiles of sanganer and bagru, tie and die fabrics, mojari - the local shoe, beautiful stone carvings etc. have made Jaipur proud of itself in the entire world.
Bikaner
240 km far from Jodhpur Bikaner is situated in the central heart of the hottest desert Thar. More popularly called the camel country, the city is renowned for the best riding camels in the world. The ship of the desert is an inseparable part of life here. Be it pulling heavy carts, transporting grains or working on wells, camels are the prime helpers.
The wells of Bikaner an important source of water are other attractions of the city. Bikaner is situated directly on the ancient caravan routes that came from Africa and West Asia . It was therefore a great center of trade in the ancient world. This gave rise to a curious phenomenon: the establishment of enormously wealthy Marwari families who are today's leading industrialists and bankers, such as the Birla family who have founded the Engineering Institute of Pilani.
Kota
It is the 12th century A.D when this city came into existence, when the Hada Chieftain, Rao Deva, conquered the territory and founded Bundi and Hadoti. Later, in the early 17th century AD during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the ruler of Bundi -Rao Ratan Singh gave the smaller principality of Kota to his son, Madho Singh.
Since then Kota became a hallmark of the Rajput gallantry and culture. Kota city lies on the eastern bank of Chambal River . The commanding fort stands overlooking the modern Chambal Valley Project with its many dams- Kota Barrage, Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar. Today Kota serves as army headquarters. It is also Rajasthan's industrial center (mainly chemicals), powered by the hydroelectric plants on the Chambal River .
Jodhpur
Jodhpur is one of the most favorite tourist spot for all over the world. It is also the second largest city in the state of Rajasthan. Jodhpur city at the edge of the Thar Desert was 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. A major trade center of the 16th century A.D. The city is like an oasis in the vast desert, with a variety of thorny shrubs all over the area. It also has some of the animal species that can survive in an arid and dry environment.
Shopping in Jodhpur bazaars is a heady experience with a colorful display of the rich collection of exquisite handicrafts. The tie and die fabrics, embroidered 'jutis' or slippers in suede, cancel skin, velvet and more color to the city. It was form here that the popularly worn baggy-tight horse riding trousers - Jodhpuris - took their name. The countless festivities celebrate the rich past and culture of the princely state. The Marwar Festival held annually is one such spectacular bonanza to be witnessed during vacations in Jodhpur .
Sawai Madhopur
Sawai Madhopur is one of the famous destinations of the western state of India , Rajasthan. Sawai Madhopur is the gateway to the world the famous tiger Reserve, just 12 km away from here. Surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravali hill ranges and located very near to the outer fringes of the Thar Desert , Sawai Madhopur offers you the best of the desert land as well as plain area near the hills. Due to its proximity to the Thar Desert , the vegetation here is that of deciduous forest. Remnants of marvelous architectural monuments, ponds and lakes attract a number of tourists. There are various places of historical interest inside the fort. The Ganesha temple is a major attraction of the Fort. The region around Sawai Madhopur is thick with remnants of its past history. Renowned Ranthambhor National Park |
