Rajasthan Travel
Guide
Rajasthan simply pulsates with life.
If
literally translated, it means 'Land of the Kings'. The land
is awash with beautiful palaces and majestic hilltop forts
set against diverse topography ranging from Aravali Hills to
the Great Indian Desert.
Rajasthan is one of India's prime travel destinations with
multitude of historic cities and formidable forts to
explore. From the pink capital city of Jaipur with its
Palace complex including the 18th century Jantar Mantar
Observatory; ambling around the Meherangarh Fort in the blue
city of Jodhpur, the beautiful temples and Lake Palace
floating on the azure waters of Lake Pichola in the romantic
city of Udaipur; the beautiful temple town and holy lake of
Pushkar; to the awesome medieval fort of the golden
Jaisalmer which rises from a stark desert landscape, you are
spoiled for choice.
Jaipur,
Jodhpur and Udaipur are historic yet vibrant cities of
Rajasthan. Throughout the cities, historical sites and
attractions are in plenty, offering tourists an interesting
and informative peek into the golden past of Rajasthan.
Apart from being the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is the
starting point for touring Rajasthan. . The rose-colored
sandstone architecture of this vibrant city has earned for
the city the sobriquet of Pink City. Its proximity to Delhi
and easy accessibility has made it a tourist haven for all
people across the world.
Appropriately called the City of Lakes, Udaipur is located
around an oasis of three lakes in amidst the verdant hills
of Aravalli. Incredibly romantic, the place is replete with
palaces, temples and havelis of beautifully crafted
elegance. The piece de resistance of Udaipur is undoubtedly
the Lake Palace hotel situated in the middle of the famous
Pichola Lake.
Jodhpur is defined by the most formidable fort of
Meherangarh in Rajasthan. The place provides the base for
exploring the rural Rajasthan and the extreme beauty of its
countryside.
Wherever you roam in Rajasthan you will be certainly struck
by the beautiful colors, friendly people and exquisite
beauty of its wilderness.
HISTORY OF RAJASTHAN :
Rajasthan
occupies a place of pride in the history of India since the
pre-historic period. The area where the state is presently
located is home to some of the famous Indus Valley sites,
notable among the being Kali Bangan. Many others are waiting
to be discovered.
That Rajasthan formed part the Great Mauryan Empire in the
3rd century BC, is attested by the presence of the Rock
Edict of Asoka at Bairat, forty-two miles northeast of
Jaipur.
However Rajasthan come to the center stage of history in the
seventh century AD. The turbulent history of Rajasthan,
characterized by supremacy among the different Rajput clans,
courtly intrigues and inter-state warfare, begins in the
sixth and seventh centuries AD, to which is ascribed the
origin of the Rajputs.
Noted for their chivalry, these Rajput clans fought among
themselves. Their heroics found fullest expression in the
famous battles such as Battles of Tarain. The First Battle
of Tarain witnessed a fierce battle between the Chauhans,
the ruling power of Delhi and Ajmer, and the army of
Muhammad Ghori. Muhammad Ghori has to acquiesce in to the
chivalry of the Rajputs. However, the Second Battle proved
to be a nemesis of the Chauhan power and as a result Muslim
rule was started in India.
Though the Muslim power took control of almost whole of
India at some time or another, Rajputana (former name of
Rajasthan) offered stiff resistance to the Delhi Sultanate
and the Mughal Power all throughout the period. Some of the
enlightened Mughals such as Akbar adopted a policy of
reconciliation towards the Rajputs, which found expression
the marriage alliances between the Mughlas and the Rajputs.
Akbar himself married Rani Jodha Bai, a princess from the
Kuchwaha family of Amber. Man Singh, one of the greatest
generals of the medieval period entered the court of Akbar
and held in high esteem.
Rajasthan had never been a political entity until its
subjugation by the Mughal Emperor - Akbar. However as said
earlier Akbar was wise enough to understand the amicable
relations with the Rajputs. He never interfered with the
internal affairs of the ruling states. But with the decline
of the Mughal Empire, the disintegration of Rajasthan was
also a forgone conclusion. The decline of the Mughlas paved
the way for a resurgent Marathas. They occupied Ajmer in
1755.
In 1817-18 the British Government concluded treaties of
alliance with almost all the states of Rajputana. Thus began
the British rule over Rajasthan, then called Rajputana.
At the time of independence the erstwhile province of
Rajputana comprised 19 princely states and all of these
merged to form the present state of Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Festivals
Rajasthan is where all the country's similes and metaphors
appear to have come together. Sand dunes, wooded
hills
and amazing lakes, palaces and rugged forts, men and women
in colorful turbans and skirts, bustling towns and quiet
villages, camels, elephants and tigers, harsh sunlight and
the cool evening breeze - are all there in abundance. But
they form only part of an intricate tapestry. Beneath the
surface, expect to find many contradictions. Where ever you
travel, particularly when you escape from the popular
tourist destinations you will come across the unexpected,
whether it is a local fair or breathtaking view. The mood
and the rhythm of the country side changes from one region
to another, and from season to season. It is a land of
surprises; it is a land of amazing natural beauty that can
fascinate even the most seasoned traveller.
The history of Rajasthan goes back 5000 years and boasts a
heritage as rich as its landscape, from the grand palaces
and rugged forts to its tranquil and camel safaris to
trekking. Those looking for taste of royal lifestyle just
need to check into one of the several palace hotels or
heritage hotels that will make it possible for them to be
treated like royal guests.
Whether you are visiting Rajasthan's big cities with a
fast-moving westernised lifestyle, or exploring historic
towns or quaint villages, you will always find the people
warm and friendly. And if you want to move away from the
regular tourist beat, it is very easy to organise your own
tour.
Accommodation could be a palace hotel, a smaller heritage
hotel in the country, a guesthouse, a tent or a village hut-
the choice is yours. But whatever you choose, you holiday in
Rajasthan will be an unforgettable experience and we hope
this publication will help you make the most of your time
here. Rajasthan has a superb range of shops, catering to
every taste and pocket. It is among the richest states in
the country as far as handicrafts are concerned. The
craftsmen here have been creating the most opulent and
richest of treasure. Stone, clay, leather, wood ivory, lac,
glass, brass, silver, gold and textiles are given the most
brilliant forms.
Each little village had its own mohulla of craftsmen who
were patronised by the local people as well as visitors to
the village. Today, the Government encourages the local
handicrafts as well as the small-scale industries and retail
outlets have been set up in the major cities. Tourists can
choose from the large variety on display, and at very
reasonable prices.
Rajasthan Music
& Dances
Music
and dance are deeply ingrained in Rajasthani life. The
stillness of the desert evening and the
upsurge of life n the short- lived rainy season or spring
are filled with soulful, full- throated music and rhythmic
dance, Instruments such as sarangi, kamaycha, satara, nad,
and morchang create a wide range of liting and melodious
sound in accompanment to the music of the Bhopas, Kalbeliyas,
Langas and the Manganiyars as well as the lively and
spontaneous dances, ghoomar, gair and chari. Through songs
the legendary battles of the Rajputs are told. The music
engenders both a spirit of identity and provides
entertainment as relief from the daily grind of wrenching a
living from the inhospitable land of heat and dust storms.
Folk
Music There is a great tradition of popular poetry, which is
written under the rival banners of Turru and Kalangi. This
is a sung in groups in Jikri, Kanhaiyya or Geet,
Hele-ke-Khyal and Bam Rasiya of Eastern Rajasthan. The Folk
music of Rajasthan is an indispensible component of
functions such as weddings, engagements, and births. There
is a plethora of songs for such occasions. There are also
many songs associated with planting and harvesting. In these
activities the villagers routinely sing of their hopes,
fears and aspirations. These songs are best enjoyed in the
Ratijagas- the nightlong soirees of devotional songs which
induces a trance-like spiritual milieu. Other traditional
songs that reflect the rich traditional heritage of
Rajasthan include Endooni, Morubai, Diggipura ka raja, Dhola
dhol majira baje re. Folk songs of Rajasthan depict various
moods including loneliness of lovers, their union,
inter-personal relationship, laughter, faith and happiness.
Folk music is also used for educational purposes.
Instruments
The haunting melody of Rajasthan evokes from a variety of
delightfully primitive looking instruments. The stringed
variety include the Sarangi, Rawanhattha, Kamayacha,
Morchang and Ektara.Percussion instruments come in all
shapes and sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols to the tiny
Demrus. The Daf and Chang are a big favorite of the Holi
(the festival of colors) revelers
Flutes and bagpipers come in local flavors such as Shehnai,
Poongi, Algoza, Tarpi, Been and Bankia.
Dances of Rajasthan
Kalbelia Dance
This
fascinating kalbelia dance is performed by the women of
Kalbelia community, age-old occupation being catching snakes
and trading snake venom. Hence the dance movements and the
costumes bear resemblance to that of the serpents. Dancers
are attired in traditional black swirling skirts, sway
sinuously to the accompaniment of pungi, dufli and plaintive
notes of the 'been' - the wooden instrument of the snake
charmers.
Two or three women sing in a high-pitched, free flowing
voice, while others join in the dance. The vigorous and
zestful display of their perfect movements to the enchanting
tune of musical instruments is a treat to the eyes.
Ghoomar Dance:-
This is basically a community dance for women and performed
on auspicious occasions. Derived from the word ghoomna,
piroutte, this is a very simple dance where the ladies move
gently, gracefully in circles. The Ghoomar is the
characteristic dance of the Bhils. Men and women sing
alternately and move clockwise & anticlockwise giving free
and intended play to the ample folds of ghagra.
The Kucchi Ghodi:-
Free dancing full of zest, with rows of dancers waving
colourful pennants makes the Bam Rasiya of the Braj region
spectacular. It is performed at Holi. The ‘Kucchhi Ghodi’ or
dummy horse dance is performed on festive occasions, by men
who are as colourfuly attired, as are their horses.
Caari or pot Dance:-
This dance requires a lot of patience and balance. The
dancers carry brightly lit brass pots on their heads,
displaying many flexible movements of the body. It is a
dance of gay occassions.
Gair Ghoomar :
This
is one of the many dance-forms of the Bhil tribals.
Performed during Holi festival, this is among a few
performances where both men and women dance together.
Terah Taal (Thirteen Beats) :
This is a dance of professional expertise where the dancer
performs with the help of hollow metallic discs (Manjeeras)
tied on the hands, legs and foreheads - a thirteen different
places. The performers, mostly ladies, start beating these
manjeeras at thirteen different places in rhythms with the
music.
Fire Dance :
The Jasnathis of Bikaner and Churu are renowned for their
tartaric power and this dance is in keeping with their
lifestyle. A large ground is prepared with live wood and
charcoal where the Jasnathi men and boys jump on to the fire
to the accompaniment of drum beats. The music gradually
rises in tempo and reaches a crescendo, the dancers seem to
be in a trance like state.
Drum Dance :-
This is a professional dance-form from Jalore. Five men with
huge drums round their necks, some with huge cymbals
accompany a dancer who holds a naked sword in his mouth and
performs vigourously by twirling three painted sticks
