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Must have Travel Experiences: Road Trip Rajasthan

 
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Driving down on the fantastic roads through the deserts of Rajasthan is not that easy to imagine
Quick Facts | Eating out in Rajasthan
| Best time to visit | Driving routes

With state-of-art infrastructure, colorful people & historic forts, Rajasthan the largest state of the Republic of India offers a brilliant road trip experience. Nowhere in the country would you be so comfortable yet adventurous to go around all by road. The state being close to Delhi & because of the vivid culture, it has become one of the must-visit destinations for foreigners & Indians alike.

Still resounding legends of Rajputana heroism, the timeless monuments, the rich architectural heritage & the colorful desert captivates everyone. The mystical Rajasthan is known for its rich heritage & culture, the safaris, the breath-taking sand dunes and lush green forests with its wildlife. The dry desert of Rajasthan also has a plethora of flamboyant & colorful celebrations to offer. All festivals which are born out of age-old traditions, lend themselves to the spirit of Rajasthan (heroism & romance).

Driving down hundreds of kilometers on the fantastic roads through the deserts of Rajasthan is not that easy to imagine. It’s not impossible either! A small yet memorable road trip recipe can be Delhi Jaipur – Samode – Shekhawati – Mandawa – Bikaner - Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Ranthambore – Delhi. The trip would need minimum 7-8days, which can always be extended as per choice.

Jaipur

Jaipur - A 258 kms drive from Delhi is the first stretch. The superb roadways connecting Delhi – Jaipur, not only make the drive comfortable but surely enjoyable & delightful. The ‘pink city’ of India, the state capital is not only famous for its historic splendor & magnificence but also because it’s the first planned city. The timeless Hawa Mahal, the magnificent City Palace, the Albert Hall, Jantar Mantar, Amber Palace, Jaigarh & Nahargarh Forts & Jal Mahal besides other monuments & gardens make Jaipur a great place to explore. Halt overnight at Jaipur & move on for Bikaner next morning.

Samode

Shekhawati - Around 180kms from Jaipur lies the quiet town of Jhunjhunu. Places to see are Khetri Mahal, Bihariji Temple, Modi & Tibrewala Haveli besides the chhatris & temples. On the way to Bikaner from here, in the heart of Shekhawati region lies the beautiful town of Mandawa, dotted with magnificent forts & havelis. Mandawa Fort, the Binsidhar Newatia Haveli, Chokhani & Ladia Havelis, Saraf havelis are worth visiting. Sikar, another region of Shekhawati is known for its Sikar Fort & Madho Niwas Kothi.

Bikaner – 200 kms from Mandawa, is the next halt of the trip at the city of imposing palaces, beautiful and richly sculptured temples, Bikaner. The meticulously detailed Junagarh Fort, the splendid Lalgarh Palace, Gajner Palace, Prachina Museum, Devi Kund Sagar (Cenotaphs), Shri Laxminath Temple, Camel Breeding Farm, Bikaner Havelis, Rajasthan State Archives are must visit.

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer - Located in the heart of Thar Desert, it’s only 340 kms from Bikaner. Jaisalmer stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone crowned by a fort & is also known as Golden City because the sand gives a golden-yellow touch to the city. The Jaisalmer Fort (the Golden Fortress), the Patwon-ki-Haveli, Salim Singh-ki Haveli, Nathmalji-ki Haveli, Desert Museum, Folklore Museum, Gadsisar Lake, the famous Sam sandunes, Desert National park & more are the attractions of this place. One must not miss the camel safaris as well, even if that means halting for an extra day.

Jodhpur – 285 kms from Jaisalmer, is the next destination to halt at. The quiet, graceful medieval city of Jodhpur is home to probably one of the best Heritage hotels of India. The Mehrangarh Fort, the Jaswant Thada and Umaid Bhawan (now a heritage hotel) are must-visit.
From Jodhpur one can go back to Jaipur via Ajmer (the mecca of India) or Ranthambore (National Park), depending on personal preferences.

Quick Facts
Capital: Jaipur  

Area : 342,239 sq km
Language: Rajasthani, Hindi

Climate
Summer: 32°-45°C
Winter: 28°-5°C.

Ajmer – The Mecca of India is more famous as a pilgrimage site than a historical, even though it also holds great historical importance. The foremost place to see is the Dargah Sharif, the tomb of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, who is revered & worshipped by thousands of devotees from all faiths. Other places to see are Taragarh – fort of ajmer, Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra, City Museum, Ana Sagar etc. Around 11kms from Ajmer lies Pushkar, the only pilgrim for the Brahma devotees. Pushkar is famous for the extravagant Pushkar Fair which is held during November.

Ranthambore

Ranthambore – 360 kms from Jodhpur is Ranthambore, a national park and tiger reserve located in Sawai Madhopur district. Early morning & evening jungle rides in the famous Ranthambore National Park would complete the tour. Bakaula, the historic Ranthambore Fortress, Lakarda & Anantpura, Rai Bagh ruins, Padam Talao, Kachida Valley are some more places to visit here.

Eating out in Rajasthan
Best time to visit

Late-October to early-March

Each region in Rajasthan has its own traditional dishes and specialties. If Bikaner is famous for its savouries, especially bhujiya then Jaipur and Jodhpur are also not behind. Bikaner, however is also famous for the quality of its papads, lean mutton of the desert goats and badi for which it still remains unrivalled. Jodhpur has its kachoris, while in Bharatpur, milk sweets, rarely commercially available, occupy a niche place. A Rajasthani delicacy, linked with the monsoon festival of Teej, is called ghevar, consisting of round cakes of white flour over which sweetened syrup is poured. Today, variations include lacings with cream and khoya, making it a delightful concoction. Muslim food has also occupied a place in the overall cuisine of the state, not just in pockets such as Tonk and Loharu, but also in Jaipur.


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