Jaipur Forts and Palaces

Jaipur, “the Pink City Of India”, is an ideal reservoir of architectural wonders of yesteryears. Embracing the rich legacy of Rajputana empire, Jaipur boasts some of the most outstanding monuments within its territory.

Thanks to these architectural treasures of the city, Jaipur is counted among one of the most popular tourist destinations of India. These remnants of bygone era beckons large number of tourists every year. Jaipur has endless arrays of forts and palaces which are created by some of the avant-garde and extravagant rulers of the Rajputana dynasty. Globetrotters from various corners of the world comes here to behold the artistic skill of these unmatched monuments.

Some of the famous monuments of Jaipur are as follows:
Monuments Within Jaipur:
City Palace Complex: City palace is a complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings. Located at the centre of old city, City Palace complex is a striking landmark of Jaipur. The

outer wall of this beautiful monument was  built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh during his reign but within it the palace has been enlarged and adapted by the succeeding rulers over the centuries. It includes Mubarak Mahal, Rajendra Pol, Diwan-i-khas, Diwan-i-aam, the Armoury, Pitam Niwas, Chandra Mahal, and Govind Devji Temple etc.

Hawa Mahal: Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of Winds' is another important tourist spot of Jaipur city. This honey-combed structure palace was built by Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799 A.D to enable the ladies of royal court to view the colorful processions of the old city. Hawa Mahal is positioned nearby to City Palace Complex and provides a panoramic glimpse of the entire city.

Jantar Mantar: Jantar Mantar is a huge astronomical observatory, which was created by Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh, an avant-garde ruler of Rajputana dynasty. It is counted as a world's largest stone observatory and houses some massive astronomical devices which are used in measuring the positions of the stars, altitude, and azimuth and calculating eclipses.

Jal Mahal: It is an 18th century pleasure palace, built amidst Mansagar Lake in Jaipur. This palace is well known for its unique designs and grand architecture. The first four floors of this building is under water, only the top floor remains outside. During the bygone royal era, this palace was used as royal duck shooting parties. The lake also serves as feeding ground for numerous migratory and residential birds.

Statue Circle: Statue Circle is another major landmark of the city. It is located on a busy crossing and got its name from the statue of Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur city.

Monuments Nearby To Jaipur:
Amber Fort: Situated just 11 km from Jaipur, Amber Fort is one of the formidable forts of Rajasthan state. Amber fort serves as the power seat of Kachhwaha clan, till Jaipur was established as official capital in 1727. All built in white marble and red sand-stone, Amber Fort is a stunning fort. Azure water of Maotha Lake makes the foreground of Amber Fort.

Jaigarh Fort: Jaigarh Fort or Victory Fort is located on the top of the hill, Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles), at a distance of 15 km from Jaipur. Considered as one of the spectacular forts in India, Jaigarh Fort is another important excursion site near Jaipur.

Nahargarh Fort:  Stands atop a rugged point of the Aravallis mountain ranges, Nahargarh Fort is the first of three forts built by Maharajah Jai Singh of Jaipur. Due to its positions, Nahargarh Fort was used to support the security of Amer.

Gaitore: Gaitore is a royal cremation site of Rajputana rulers of Jaipur. This site is located on the Jaipur-Amber Road, about 15 km from the city. This place has cenotaph for each Maharaja which are created to honor them. These are commonly known as 'Chhatris'.

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Lavasa - India's First Planned Hill City

Lavasa Hill Station in Maharashtra (Sahayadri Mountains in the Western Ghats)

Traveler Amit Chauhan shares his traveling experience to Lavasa ( pictures © Amit )

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Visit Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola of Udaipur is one of the most picturesque lake in Rajasthan. This tranquil lake is the oldest and one of the largest lake of the city and famous as a popular tourist spot.

During the reign of Maharana Lakha in the year 1362 A.D, Picchu Banjara has built this beautiful lake. But, later on Maharana Udai Singh II has extended the lake and established Udaipur city on its bank. He has created a masonry dam in the Badipol region on the shore of the Lake.

Location Of Lake Pichola:
Lake Pichola is located at the heart of Udaipur City. This placid lake is fed by a big stream from the western mountains and stretches to 3 miles in length, 2 miles in width and has depth of 30 feet.

Tourist Attractions Of Lake Pichola:
Pichola lake is encircled on all sides by some beautiful palaces, marble temples, family mansions, dark hills and rows of bathing ghats. People loves to throng this ghats at dawn and take a dip in the azure water of the lake.

The lake is dotted with some islands at regular intervals. These islands houses either palaces or pavilions on them. Three of the most popular islands within this lake are Jag Niwas Island, Jag Mandir Island and Arsi Villas Island.

1)Jag Niwas Island is famous for Jag Niwas Palace. It is also known as Pichola Palace or Lake Palace. Situated in the middle of Lake Pichola, Lake palace is a beautiful white marble palace. Maharaja Jagat Singh has built this palace as his summer home. It has been now converted into a heritage hotel, so that vacationers could get a glimpse of royal lifestyle. .

2)Jag Mandir Island is located at the middle of Lake Pichola. This island houses Jagmandir, which was built by Maharana Karan Singh in 1622 AD. Jagmandir palace used to serve as a pleasure palace for regal parties and functions. It also served as a refuge for Mughal emperor Shah Jehan when he was a prince.

3)Arsi Villas Island of this lake is famous as a bird sanctuary. Birds lovers loves to visit this island to have a close look on variety of bird species.

Other attractions of this lake
Mohan Mandir in the northeast corner of the lake was built by Jagat Singh between 1628 and 1652.

Natini ka Chabutra was constructed in memory of a natani or tightrope walker who has tried to cross the width of the lake on a tightrope from a village on the west bank of the lake to the City Palace on the east bank.

Boat Rides On Lake Pichola:
A boat ride on the pristine turquoise water of Lake Pichola is an ideal way to explore the beauty of Lake Pichola. Boat ride especially at the time of dusk is very popular among the travellers.

Access To Lake Pichola:
Lake Pichola is easily approachable. Dabok Airport is 25 km form the lake. This airport connects to Delhi and Bombay. Udaipur Railway Station and Maharana Pratap Bus Stand are both 3 km away from the lake. Local transports like buses, tongas, auto-rickshaws and taxis are available in the city which will are best to reach lake.

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Agra Travel

"Once served as a capital of Mughal empire, Agra is one of the most hottest tourist destination of India. Thanks to its endless arrays of architectural masterpieces of Mughal period, Agra still seems to linger into the past."

Agra is an ancient city of Uttar Pradesh and is located on the west bank of river Yamuna. It serves as one of the significant destination of golden triangle circuit of our country. Every year large number of both National and International tourists comes to this for a wonderful vacation amidst its numerous architectural treasures.

Agra History:
Agra has a rich historical background which dates back to the time of Mahabharta. Agra came into prominence in the year 1501 A.D,when Sikandar Lodi from Lodhi dynasty has made it as his capital. Babar, the founder of Mughal dynasty also stayed in this city and introduced the concept of square Persian-styled gardens here. After Babar, Agra came under the rule of Mughal emperor Akbar, who has constructed Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Akbar's son, Jahangir has also contributed a lot to beautify the city.

But, when ShahJahan, the grandson of Mughal Emperor Akbar ascended to the throne of Mughal Empire. He has built the most wonderful monument known as Taj Mahal which is the pride possession of India. After ShahJahan, the throne of Mughal dynasty came into the hands of Aurangzeb, who has ruled Mughal empire from Agra.

Travel Attractions In Agra:
All these aforementioned Mughal rulers has contributed a lot to adorn this city. People from far flung visits Agra to behold the charm of these outstanding monuments and gardens of erstwhile Mughal era. Some of the most beautiful monuments of Agra are as follows:

Taj Mahal: Considered among one of the “Seven wonders of the modern world”, Taj Mahal is a perfect exemplar of Mughal architectural zenith. This white marble monument is a mausoleum created by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Located on the banks of Yamuna river, Taj Mahal stretches to a vast area and woos people from all corners of the world.

Agra Fort: Agra Fort or Red Fort of Agra is another main attraction of the city. Located just 2.5 km from Taj Mahal, Agra Fort is a massive red sand stone monument. It was built on the banks of Yamuna river and possesses some beautiful palaces and mosques within its premises by Emperor Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Some of the prominent palaces and mosques of this fort are Jahangir's palace, Khas Mahal,Shish Mahal (Mirror Palace), Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and Nagina Masjid (Gem Mosque). Other attractions are Diwan-I-Khas, Diwan-I-Am, Ladies' Bazaar, Amar Singh Gate and Musamman Burj.

Jama Masjid: This dome shaped mosque, located close to Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb was built by Shah Jahan in 1648 A.D. Jama Masjid is named after Jahanara, the daughter of Shah Jahan. The beauty of this mosque is unique in its own sense. It has minaret-less courts.

Akbar's tomb: As the name reflects, this tomb is dedicated to Akbar, a great Mughal Emperor. This mausoleum is built of red sandstone and marble, showcases the motifs and designs of Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain and Christian architecture. Supervised by Akbar himself, this tomb is located in Sikandra.

Chini-Ka-Rauza(China tomb): It is another tourist attraction in Agra. This tomb is made up of glazed tiles and is dedicated to the memory of Afzal Khan, prime minister in the court of Akbar.

Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb: This tomb is another visual retreat of Agra. It was built by Empress Nur Jahan(Jahangir's wife) in memory of her father Itimad-ud-Daulah. Built from 1622 to 1628 A.D, the tomb makes use of pietra dura (the delicate marble work) that was later to become the hallmark of Taj Mahal.

Agra Festivals:
Apart from its architectural treasures, Agra city is also famed for its colorful festivals. This city comes alive with 10 day long fiesta, popularly known as Taj Mahotsva.This festival of Agra is an annual affair which is organized by tourism ministry of the state to showcase the vibrant culture of India as well as Uttar Pradesh in particular.

Held at Shilpgram in the month of February, Taj Mahotsva attracts lots of spectators every year. It is the ideal place to witness the classical dance and music programmes of our country as well as ghazal praogrammes. Other attractions of this festival are art and craft exhibition, Camel and Elephant rides and various games.

Other festivals for which Agra is well known are Id Melas and colorful Tazias taken out Muharram.

Best Season To Visit:
As Agra is located in northern plains of our country, this city becomes excessive hot during summers and unbearable cold during winters. So, it is advisable to visit Agra in between the months of March and October.

How To Reach Agra:
Agra is well connected to major Indian cities by all modes of communication. Vast networks of smooth roads joins Agra to Delhi, Jaipur and nearby towns. Even it is well connected by rail communication and air travel.

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Udaipur Travel Guide

"Are you looking for a romantic gateway to spend some memorable moments with your beloved person? Than you must visit Udaipur famed as “Venice of East”. Hemmed by lush hills of Aravalli and embellished with some tranquil lakes, Udaipur is a fascinating city well known for romantic vacations. Encompassing several romantic tales within its lap, Udaipur beckons hoards of lovebirds every year."

Heralded as the jewel of erstwhile Mewar kingdom, Udaipur was reigned up by Sisodia dynasty for nearly 1200 years. This beautiful city seems to be an oasis amidst the vast expanses of golden sands and is decorated with some of the finest gardens of the state.

Travel Attractions: Located in the southern Rajasthan, Udaipur , the “lake city of the state” is beautified with numerous eye -catching monuments, tranquil lakes and gardens of Rajputana artistic designs. Some of the most popular visual retreats of the city are

City Palace and museum: One of the most prominent tourist spot of Udaipur is City Palace complex which is a conglomeration of buildings added by various Maharanas of the city. Surprisingly all these buildings manages to retain a uniformity in their designs. The main entrance to the palace is from Baripol and Tripolia Gate. With the passage of the time many changes have been made within the palace.

The main part of the palace is now preserved as the City Palace Museum. It showcases large and varied collection of artifacts of Sisodia dynasty. Downstairs from the entrance is an armoury section, exhibiting a collection of old weapons including a lethal two-prolonged sword.Beside City Palace, Udaipur also has some more beautiful palaces such as Fateh Prakash Palace, Lake Palace, Sajjan Garh Palace etc

Maharana Pratap Memorial: As the name reflects, this memorial is dedicated to Maharana Pratap, one of the most brave son of Uadaipur. Built atop Moti Magri (Pearl Hill), overlooking Fateh Sagar lake, the statue of Maharana Pratap over his beloved horse Chetak is one of the striking landmark of the city. The path to the top meanders through some pleasant gardens including a Japanese rock garden.
 
Jagdish Temple: Built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651 A.D, Jagdish Temple is located just 150m north of the entrance to the City Palace. This beautiful Indo-Aryan temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Jagannath. A black stone image of the deity is present inside the temple and a brass image of Garuda is placed in front of the temple.

Museums: Udaipur city also has some of the best museums of the country which are famous for their unique collections of Rajputana artifacts and royal antiques. Some of the famous museums are Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum, Ahar Museum and Vintage Collection of Classic Car Museum etc.

Lakes: Udaipur city is dotted with some of the most exhilarating lakes of the state such as Lake Pichola, Fateh Prakash Sagar, Jaisamand Lake etc

Best Time To Visit: The most suitable time to visit Udaipur is from September to March as the climate become little bit pleasant for sightseeing.

Access To Udaipur:
Thanks to its significance in tourism map of India, Udaipur is well connected to all major Indian cities as well as other cities of the state by all modes of communication. By Air: Udaipur city has a airport which is 24 km from the city centre. It is named as Debock Airport. Daily Indian Airlines flights connect Udaipur with Jodhpur, Jaipur, Aurangbad, Mumbai and Delhi.

By Rail: Indian railways also joins Udaipur to some of the major Indian cities. 9643 Express starts from Delhi and reaches to Udaipur, traversing the following destinations such as Sarai-Rohilla-Jaipur-Ajmer-Chittaurgarh.

By Road: A vast network of private and state run bus services link Udaipur with several destinations. Some of the important destinations are Jaipur 406 km, Agra 630km, Ahmedabad 262 km, Jodhpur 275km and Mount Abu 185km.

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Sarahan Travel

Soaked in the beauty of Mother Nature, Sarahan is an alluring place, located on the banks of meandering Satluj river. Unlike the other hill stations of India, Sarahan is a more serene place for holidaying. Nestled in Himalayan mountain ranges at an altitude of  2,165 m above the sea level, this intriguing place is one of the hidden charms of Kinnaur valley in Himachal Pradesh.

Approximately, 17 kms off National Highway 22,Sarahan is a tiny but tranquil hilly town blessed with panoramic views all around. Although Sarahan has lack of commercialization and good staying options, this quaint town still attracts numerous National and International tourists.

Legends Associated with Sarahan :

Apart from its scenic beauty, Sarahan is also famous for interesting history. Several enthralling legends of yesteryears are linked to this picturesque town. One of the important legend which is related to Sarahan is of Goddess Bhimkali or the first Shakti known as“Adishakti”.  According to this legend, once there was a time when demons used to torture the Gods and the saints (rishis). So, to fight with these demons, Gods and Goddess lead by Lord Vishnu breathed fire and poured their strength to a focus. A huge flame rose and as the clouds of smoke dispersed, they saw that a young girl had taken birth. She was the first Shakti - “Adhishakti”. Various Gods like Hemkunt gave her a white tiger to ride on, Kuber gave her a crown, Varun gave her clothes and water and others gave her Lotus, Garlands, a Conch, the Chakra, so that she can destroy the demons. Adhishakti appeared at Sarahan, as Goddess Bhimkali. The place where the Goddess has appeared is referred as one of the major Shaktipeeths or Shaktipeethas or ‘Places of Strength’.

Major Attractions Of Sarahan:

Bhimkali Temple:Bhimkali temple, dedicated to Goddess Adishakti is considered among one of the few early timber temples left in the Sutlej valley. This temple has two multi-tired sanctuary towers, elegantly sloping slate-tiled roofs, gleaming golden spires and a pair of massive silver doors. In the mid 19^th century, Raja Shamsher Singh has built this doors. The sanctum of this temple possesses a fine collection of Hindu and Buddhist bronzes.

Shrikhand Peak:Another attraction of Sarahan is the sparkling peak of Shrikhand, which can be easily view from Sarahan. This mountain is famed as a parental abode of Lakshmi and has ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees whosoever visits this temple pay their devotion by burning a cup of charas (cannabis sativa) in front of the stone image of Lord Shiva.

Raja Bushahr Palace:Famous as one of the perfect testimony of hill architecture, Raja Bushahr Palace cum temple complex of Sarahan was built in the timber-bonded style. This 2000 years old monument is made up of layers of rubber masonry and beams of cedar wood.

Sarahan Peasentry:
Sarahan also has a peasantry breeding centre. This peasentry is located 0.5 km near the Nalati stadium and provides shelter to seven pheasant species including the state bird Monal, which is a great attraction to the visitors.

Best Time To Visit:The most suitable time to visit Sarahan is during April to June and September to November.

Adventure Sports In Sarahan:Sarahan serves as a base for some of the finest treks of Himachal Pradesh. It also serves as an ideal gateway to Kinnaur valley's unspoiled beauty. Some of the trekking routes which starts from Sarahan are Sarahan–Badahal trek, Sarahan–Sangla trek, and Sarahan-Shrikand Peak. April to June and September to October is considered as the best season for trekking in Sarahan.

Access To Sarahan:Sarahan is easily accessible by all mode of communications. It is 564 km from Delhi and 174 km from Shimla. If you are traveling by surface, first reach Shimla-by road or train (till Kalka). From Shimla, taxis or jeeps can be hired and a bus service is available for the 6-hour journey. But, if you want to do air travel, than the nearest airport to Sarahan is at Chandigarh.

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