India Travel: Magic Rajasthan

There’s no place in India, which appeals more to the imagination of poets and painters, travelers and writers, than the magic of Rajasthan. And of all princely Rajasthan, Rajput forts, palaces and mansions that tell the tale of a bygone era, few are so magic as the lovely lakeside capital of Mewar, Udaipur. It’s one the most picturesque cities in India, set as it is on three beautiful Lakes and surrounded by hills. The city’s inherent romance and beauty, and its remarkable past, bristling with episodes of heroism and splendor, continue to enthrall the visitor.

There are many great fortresses all over Rajasthan, but very few can compare with Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. Perched on a rocky cliff, it has a commanding view of the surrounding landscape. This Palace complex was first built in the 15th Century and later added to, over the centuries by successive generations of Maharajas. It is one of the most impressive and rustic palace complexes of Rajasthan.

No matter how you’ll tour Rajasthan, you will pass through the new city of Jaipur at least once. Built in early 18th century, the city is well-planned one, based on the ancient Hindu treatise on architecture. The sprawling City Palace was an integral part of Raja Sawai Jai Singh II’s urban plan. Today it’s a museum that displays some of the finest collection of paintings, costumes, carpets and armory of that period.

But it’s Rajasthan medieval fortresses that lure most the visitor. One you’ll never forget is the medieval fortress town of Jaisalmer which rises out of the remote deserts of Rajasthan like a city at the very end of the world. The city even today has an exotically medieval flavor to it. Most of the town lies within the thick sand stone walls of the fort, and wandering through it is almost like stepping into the pages of the Arabian Nights. It’s bazaars are evocative of the days of the medieval camel caravans when the region was a trading emporium for splendid carpets, stallions from Arabia and wines from Shiraz.

To sample the opulence of princely Rajasthan you must spend at least one night in the Samode Palace, transformed into one of the premium palace hotels of India. The winner of the award for the best Heritage hotel in the country for five consecutive years, the Palace has been meticulously restored. Offering a retreat into the era of the Zamidars, the landlords of Samode and the principal thakurs, the village chieftains, who were a branch of the house of Kingdom of Amber, tracing their relation to the fabled Maharaja Prithviraj Singhji of Jaipur, Samode was one of the wealthiest territories in the Amber kingdom.

And not to forget, you can certainly end, or begin, your journey of Rajasthan with a vist at dawn to the legendary Taj Mahal, the most extravagant monument ever built for love. This wonder in white marble, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in memory of his wife Mumtaz in the year 1631, will never disappoint. It took 22 years and 20,000 craftsmen and laborers to complete the construction of this historic tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the chosen one of Emperor Shah Jehan.