RAJASTHAN BUDGET TOURS - Key Persons
The legendary Amber Fort is a seven centuries old Rajputana palace located around 11 kilometers away from Jaipur. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is among the most magnificent architectural wonders of India. Set up on the Aravalli hills, the Amber fort (also known as Amer Fort) was constructed by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and was completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh. Built in red and yellow sandstone complemented by white marble, the splendid fortress offers a breathtaking view of the Maota Lake. The splendid palace is divided into four courtyards and includes attractions such as Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Siladevi Temple, and the Sheesh Mahal. The main entrances to the palace are Suraj Pol and Chand Pol, both of which lead to the main courtyard called Jaleb Chowk. You can enjoy an elephant ride to the fort entrance or take a car. After spending three to four hours exploring the fort you can dive into its history with the beautiful light and sound show.
The Arbuda Devi Temple is the most sacred site on Mount Abu. Out of 51 Shaktipeeth temples, this one is regarded as the sixth Shaktipeeth. According to legend, Katyayani Devi's incarnation is Arbuda Devi. On the festival of Navratri, Mount Abu transforms into a spiritual hub. Visitors from a great distance visit Arbuda Devi Temple. But it's quite a tough task to reach the temple as one has to climb 365 steps which are inside a cave. A sacred well with milk-colored water is rumored to exist close to the temple. The locals who live here view this as Kamadhenu. The primary water supply for the temple comes from this well. One of India's greatest examples of a rock temple is this one, which is made of an enormous, solid boulder.
Chamunda Mataji Temple was built by Raja Rao Jodha and is located inside Mehrangarh Fort. It is home to the main deity of the royal family and Maharajas, Isht Devi. The deity is worshipped by the locals, as well as tourists. The temple remains open from 5 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM on all days of the week.
Artificial lake, named after Maharana Fateh Singh, Fateh Sagar Lake is located on the northern side of Lake Pichola to which it is connected through a canal. Surrounded by hills and woods, this lake makes for a delightful visit. In this lake stands the Nehru Island and a small islet consisting of Udaipur Solar Observatory, also known as Connaught Bundh.
Govind Dev Ji Temple in Jaipur is among the seven revered temples of Vrindavan Thakur Ji. It is located in the City Palace complex and is famous among devotees of Lord Krishna. The temple is exquisitely designed with gold cased ceilings and intricately designed exteriors. The temple houses the idol of Govind Dev Ji, known as ‘Bajrakrit'. It is believed to resemble Lord Krishna and was sculpted by his great-grandson Bajranabh. The 5000 years old idol was brought to Jaipur from Vrindavan by Raja Sawai Jai Singh, who was a devotee of Lord Krishna. The temple was strategically placed between Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal in the complex to ensure the devout king could view the idol from his residence. To date 'Aartis' and 'Prasad' or 'Bhogs' are offered at seven different times during the day. You can plan your visit to the temple around Janmashtami to enjoy the celebrations during the festival.
Gul Mahal, garden courtyard, Datikhana, Bara patharon ka mahal, Zenana mahal and Kunwar pada ka mahal are few of the buildings inside the complex of Jag Mandir. It has been built in the style of Rajput architecture.
The most iconic landmark of Jaipur, Hawa Mahal is a 200-year-old monument in the heart of the city. Famous for its unique honeycomb design and Indo-Islamic architecture the five-storeyed palace has 953 lattice work windows. It was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh as a summer palace, painted in pink and adorned with floral motifs, dome-shaped arches, and patterned pillars. The palace was designed to offer unobstructed views of Jantar Mantar, the City Palace, and Sireh Deori Bazaar. Its intricately designed windows called ‘Jharokhas' enabled the royal ladies to enjoy royal processions and daily market activities on the street without being visible to the public. Royal celebrations took place on the first floor called the Sharad Mandir, the second floor called the Ratan Mandir was decorated with colorful glass work, the other two floors were named Vichitra Mandir and Hawa Mandir. The top floor known as Prakash Mandir had an open terrace on each side offering breathtaking views of the city. You can visualize their lives looking through the fretwork windows and experience the richness of Rajputana culture through the paintings and ceremonial armor preserved at the museum within the complex.
Built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh I, Jagdish Temple is another popular attraction to see in Udaipur. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple presents an mesmerising example of Indo-Aryan style of architecture.
With carved pillars, intricately painted walls and alluring ceilings, this temple is not just a place for devotees but for every history and architecture lovers.
Built on ‘Cheel ka Teela' or the Hill of Eagles, Jaigarh fort was built to secure the Amber Fort. Located 500 feet above sea level, the fort offers panoramic views of the Amber Fort and its lush surroundings. Constructed in 1726 under the aegis of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, the fort has a splendid blend of Indo-Persian architecture. Intricate lattice work windows adorn the cyclopean walls of the fort to offer unobstructed views of the vicinity. You can walk through the magnificent red sandstone fort and imagine life in the era of the warrior kings that inhabited it ages ago. One of the major attractions at the fort is 'Jaivana Cannon' which is the world's largest cannon on wheels and has been fired just once since it's existence. Other attractions include the central watchtower, the water heritage walk, Shubhat Niwas (the assembly hall of warriors), and armory. The complex also houses several prominent temples such as Kal Bhairav Temple, Ram Harihar Temple, Lalit Mandir, Aram Mandir, and Vilas Mandir.
Located 4 kilometer away from Jaipur, Jal Mahal is one of the most popular landmarks of the city. It was built in 1750 by Maharaja Madho Singh as a lodge and hunting retreat. The symmetrical five-story structure of the palace is set in the middle of an artificial lake known as Man Sagar Lake. The mesmerizing view of the beautiful palace against the backdrop of Aravalli hills and its reflection in the serene lake waters lures thousands of tourists from across the world. Jal Mahal is also recognized as the most photographed structure of India. Though entry into the palace is reserved, you can explore its beauty while enjoying a boat ride in the lake. You can also spend a rejuvenating evening watching local and migratory birds at the lake. Jal Mahal is a splendid monument located on the main Amer-Jaipur road and can be visited on your way to the Amber Fort.
Moti Doongri Ganesh Temple is among the most revered temples of Lord Ganesh in Jaipur. It was built by Seth Jai Ram Paliwal and Mahant Shiv Narain in 1761. Locals associate it with the legend of the King of Mewar who was heading back to his palace with a massive idol of Lord Ganesh on a bullock cart. As per the story, the king decided to build a temple at the first stoppage of the bullock cart. Locals believe that the foot of Moti Doongri Hill was the spot where the bullock cart stopped and the temple was constructed on the site. An exotic palace was built for Maharaja Madho Singh's son at the site encompassing the temple. The palace has exteriors similar to those of a Scottish castle and was the royal residence of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh. You can seek blessings at the Ganesh Temple and wow at the exteriors of the palace as it continues to be occupied by the royal family.
Shri Raghunath Ji Mandir on the site of Niki Lake stands as a 650-year-old monument dedicated to Lord Vishnu's rebirth. It is regarded as one of the holiest temples on earth and is mostly visited by Vaishnavites. It is said that Shri Raghunath Ji would shield his devotees from all-natural disasters. His followers believe he would save them from suffering and all the other life issues. With the aid of the inscriptions on the walls of this temple, the architectural history of Mewar can be observed. This temple features delicate sculptures and paintings as well. The primary draw of Mount Abu is Shri Raghunath Ji's wonderfully crafted idol.
Travers Tank is a popular destination for those who enjoy the outdoors, 5 kilometers from Mount Abu. It bears the name of the engineer called Trevor, who created it. The reservoir is still located in the remote forest, where people go to see crocodiles, birds, and other animals. Currently, both residents and the yearly visitors that come here enjoy picnicking there. You may enjoy a stunning view of the outdoors here.