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Rajasthan rendezvous

Sights and sounds encompassing stunning palaces, rich culture and unity and diversity

I travelled in 
Rajasthan for a month but could spend a lifetime in this enchanting state in North-west India. Trying to figure out what to see here is very difficult as you don’t want to miss out on anything. From stunning palaces to incredible music and culture, Rajasthan is a perfect representation of the diversity and richness of India. I started my month-long journey in the holy city of Pushkar and ended it in the small yet enchanting town of Bundi. Here is my photo tribute to the warm people and incredible architecture of a state that I will surely revisit.

Bundi

A small town to kick back and relax in with nothing much happening, Bundi is just the place to get away from the hordes of tourists in the other cities of Rajasthan. With its narrow blue lanes, charming old havelis and decaying fort, Bundi will draw you into its effortless ease immediately. Take a walk to Sukh Palace, Kipling’s home while he wrote Kim, and stay at the Elephant Stable guesthouse, attached to the palace. These are old elephant stables converted into amazing staying rooms.

Udaipur

Romantic Udaipur oozes elegance and splendour. It’s a beautiful city set around the huge Lake Pichola.

The city is divided by the lake into two sides — Lal Ghat and Hanuman Ghat. Most of the action is around Lal Ghat, where one can stay at the Island Tower Hotel at Hanuman Ghat — it’s a bright and airy hotel, ideal for budget travellers. Sunsets in Udaipur are incredible. You can sit on either side of the lake to really enjoy the white city turning into a dream-like pinkish orange. To get a great view of Ram Ghat and the palace, walk towards the Leela Palace hotel at Hanuman Ghat and go all the way along a narrow back lane towards the end, where there is an old rundown monument that gives splendid views.

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer rises like a mystical fairytale in the Thar Desert. The city and its people won me over instantly. Jaisalmer city is built around a walled fort that stands on top of Trikuta Hill. The walled city is built in sandstone that shines during the day and is a stunning pinkish-orange during sunset. Inside the walled area you will find the fort, museum, shops, guest-houses, restaurants, local homes, and the beautifully carved Jain temples. Walking into the walled city is free and since it’s built on a hill you can find these quiet rooftops and enjoy a stunning view of the city and the desert further on. Each little cobbled path within the walled city has something unique to offer the visitor. Outside the walled area, the city is just as spectacular. The old ‘havelis’ with their incredible carving in stone and the amazing lattice work windows are stunning! The city is a must-visit for timeless charm and beauty.

Jodhphur

The blue city is spread out on both sides of the amazing Mehrangarh palace which rises mystically above the hill that it is built on. It is one of the most beautiful and well-kept palaces I visited in Rajasthan. The lattice work and detail in stone is incredible, especially when you think that it was all done by hand. The sheer size of the palace is one to reckon with. To escape from this, I walked to Jaswant Thada, a beautiful marble memorial for a king. It is not too far away from the city but feels like another place. It’s set in a lovely garden next to a lake, perfect to laze around with a book.

The market around the clock tower is great if you want to find amazing knick-knacks and don’t mind the crowd. The Makhaniya Lassi at Shri Mishrilal in the bazaar is very famous and a must-taste if you are in town.

Pushkar

The sacred town of Pushkar with temples on the ghats of a holy lake, exotic market and scores of restaurants is a heaven for the backpacker tourists. The city has lost some of its charm with hordes of tourists and touts but step away from it all and walk around the town into nearby villages and you are greeted with warmth and splendid sights. Climb the nearby mountains to either the Gayatri or Savitri Temples that face each other and enjoy amazing views of the city. Even with all the action, there is something very special about this city that makes it a must-visit.

Text and Photos by Sana Rizvi

The writer is an avid photographer and travel writer who quit her full time job in 2009 and has been travelling since then. For more information, visit her blog: http://nomadbuzz.tumblr.com/archive.