Tuesday 30 October 2012

Rajasthan: The Reminder of Romance and Royalty

Rajasthan, a state situated in the western province of India has captured the imagination of people, rulers and invaders from time to time. At present, Rajasthan serves as one of the prime tourist destinations where millions of foreign as well as national tourists flock every year to explore its rich treasure trove of destinations, monuments, cultures, traditions, cuisines and festivals. Once known as the Rajputana or the land of brave Rajputs, Rajasthan is still a varicolored state that has retained its bygone era regality in a beautiful manner.
Jaisalmer, the camel city
The state was ruled for over 1000 years by the Rajputs, a warrior clan who are believed to be the descendants of the Suryavanshis and the Chandravanshis. The Rajputs built massive forts, palaces and established various cities in different parts of the state. This scattering of majestic buildings draws a vivid picture of the royalty that the people of medieval era used to bask. The forts portray a picture of great defensive quality of the Rajput warriors, while the palaces and gardens speak of the clan’s inclination towards art and architecture.

Rajasthan displays a riot of colors where brilliant red, vibrant orange, sublime pink, shocking yellow, emerald green, turquoise blue and several others find a just expression. One can experience this celebration of color everywhere be it the densely crowded market streets, the silently whispering jungles, the battle scattered forts, the exotic palaces or even the middle of the desert.

For those who are travel addicts, Rajasthan is no less than a fantasy world; cities after cities, the state gives life to the ancient folklores of kings, knights and of their dreamy kingdoms. While in Rajasthan one gets a chance to explore the gigantic forts and palaces of Jaipur and Jodhpur, the lake bestowed cities of Udaipur and Pushkar, the painted town of Sekhawati, the golden forts and sand dunes of Bikaner and Jaisalmer, and the thrilling national parks of Bharatpur and Ranthambore.

Though Rajasthan is well connected to different parts of the country, the best way to travel across this land of Rajput warrior is a journey aboard a luxury train. A total of four luxury tourist trains run through Rajasthan among which Palace on Wheels and Maharaja Express luxury train tours are the most celebrated ones. In fact, it was Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) who first introduced the concept of luxury train travelling in India in the year 1982 with Palace on Wheels. The carriages of both the luxury trains are decorated like palace rooms and houses technologically advanced and modern amenities. These trains offer a host of journeys from which the travelers can chose their preferred one.

There are myriad factors that attract global tourists to Rajasthan and one of the most prominent among them is certainly the people of the state who treat the tourists as their privileged guests.

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