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Jodhpur 
Jaisalmer
Pushkar Pushkar lake: It is surrounded by hills on three sides and desert on the other side. The cave of Saint Agasthya was located on the snake mountain here. There is one belief that Kalidasa, the Indian counterpart of Shakespeare, had this place as his locale for his Sanskrit drama, Shakuntalam. According to a legend, the lake was formed when Lord Brahma wanted to perform a yagna here. A temple dedicated to him can be seen here.
Kumbalgarh
Mount Abu
Nagaur
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Jodhpur,
once the capital of the former princely state of Marwar, is now the
second largest city of Rajasthan. Flanked on its western side by the
Mehrangarh Fort, and on the eastern side by the stately sandstone
Palace of Umaid Bhawan; the monuments temples and gardens of Jodhpur
depict a multi-faceted grandeur. Founded in 1459 AD by the Suryavanshi
Rao Jodha, Jodhpur gradually grew around the towering Mehrangarh Fort,
built as a stronghold on the advice of a sage. Alongwith Bikaner and
Jaisalmer, Jodhpur too is situated on the ancient silk route that
linked Central Asia and Northern India with the seaports of Gujarat.
As a result it became a major trading centre in the 16th century.
Reminiscent of the bygone years is the fact that Jodhpur is still
the leading centre for cattle, camels, wood, salt and agricultural
crops. The beauty and imagination that has gone into the making of
this monumental city proclaim the life-springs of creative genius
that appear incongurent with the harshness of this land and its climate.
Mehrangarh Fort- In the turbulent political times of 1459 AD. Rao
Jodha was adviced by a saint to establish an impregnable head-quarter
and so, the Mehrangarh Fort was built on a steep hill. This formidable
hill top fort is among the best in India with exquisitively latticed
windows in residential apartments within. Carved panels and porches,
elaborately adorned windows and walls of Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal,
Sheesh Mahal, Sileh Khana, seem to make the medieval splendour come
alive. A collection of musical instruments, palanquins, royal costumes,
furniture and the cannons on the fort's ramparts are preserved. 
Jaisalmer
– the golden beauty, etched in yellow sandstone. Perched atop
the Trikuta Hill, it stands tall against miles of gleaming sand. Epitomising
the desolate, awesome charm of the desert. Jaisalmer, the city of
the golden fort is a fantasy in yellow sandstone in the heart of the
Thar Desert. The city was founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal, a Bhatti
Rajput King. Legend has it, that Lord Krishna – the head of
Yadav Clan, foretold Arjuna that a remote descendent of Yadav Clan
would build his kingdom atop the Trikuta Hill. His prophecy was fulfilled,
when in 1156 AD Rawal Jaisal, a descendant of Yadav Clan and a Bhatti
Rajput, founded the city of Jaisalmer.
Pushkar
No pilgrimage is considered complete without a dip in the holy Pushkar
lake. Pushkar has as many as 400 temples and 52 ghats and the only
temple in the country that is dedicated to Brahma is found here. While
Pushkar is a haven for the religiously inclined, it is also the venue
of one of the country’s most colorful cattle fairs – the
Pushkar fair. This annual fair is an unforgettable event when the
entire little town is taken over by lakhs of animals and visitors.
This is certainly the right time to be in Pushkar. Just relax and
let yourself go, you’ll be carried away by the heady exuberance
that is so much a part of the mela. Ride camels, shop at the colorful
market, watch the sunset over the sand dunes...... you can even try
donning the local outfits--gorgeous odhnis (scarves) and turbans.
Do what you will, Pushkar fair is a once-in-a-lifetime experience
that you will want to repeat. 
The
formidable medieval citadel, Kumbhalgarh stands a wary sentinel to
the past glory. Rising from a prominent ridge, 1914 meters high from
the sea level, this mountain fortress in the wilderness is the principal
fortification after Chittaurgarh. This massive fort encompasses a
36 km long wall, has seven majestic gates and seven ramparts one within
the other. Rounded bastions and soaring watchtowers, offers a superb
birds eye view of the countryside, surrounding the fort. Most of the
ruins within the fort are of the temples, dating back to the Mauryan
period and of Jain temples of various periods.
Imagine
walking through a beautiful town nestled in the hills, marvelling
at the cool breeze blowing over you like a blessing in the middle
of this scorching desert land. Imagine exploring the land with your
luggage following you in a wheelbarrow, enjoying the lush greenery
of this hill station…only to discover that it is a pilgrimage
spot. Given the number of temples – both Hindu and Jain –
it isn’t surprising. But then, just when you reconcile yourself
to the fact that this is God’s own abode, it comes crashing
in on you that many come here only to feast their eyes upon the breath-taking
intricacy of Mount Abu’s architecture. 
A
rich history and the distinct Rajput-Mughal architecture give the
Ahhichatragarh a very special importance amongst India's heritage
sites. The architectural significance of the complex lies in its spatial
organization and the variety of spaces. The plastered stone buildings
in Rajput style have interesting architectural elements like protecting
jharokhas, cusped bracket arches, carved stone jaalies, wall paintings
of excellent quality and mirror work. The juxtaposition of open, semi-open
and enclosed spaces of the palaces and Baradaris are interwoven with
flow and stored water systems. Various levels of terraces and strategic
view points brilliantly combine security with aesthetics. Climatic
considerations govern the placement of solid and open spaces, which
are oriented to the north-west and south-east, offering cool summer
breezes and the warm winter sun. The expressions of water in the form
of aqueducts, wells, step-wells, underground storages, Hamams or Turkish
Baths and Kunds or tanks, are all carefully positioned to enhance
the aesthetic and environmental value of adjacent buildings and the
intensity of the water system here in unique.| Copyright
2001-2006 Marudhar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. |