Rajsthan
Kindness in Desert !!!
Rajasthan is a diverse state. There is an effortless conglomeration of ethnicity and urbanization. A village tour in Rajasthan is a must if you wish to explore the 'other' side of the region. Villages of Rajasthan will prove to be a wonderful getaway from the hustling city life.
The cities of Rajasthan are beautiful and follow an urban lifestyle that is replete with modern day luxuries. But, the villages of Rajasthan are simpler, grounded in tradition and yet have a charm of their own.
A village tour in Rajasthan will give you an insight into rural India. You will be enchanted by the simplicity of people's lifestyle here. Many of them might find it hard to earn two meals a day. Nevertheless, they live life to the fullest. It is a quality to be imbibed from these simple people.
The best way to tour villages here is a camel ride in Rajasthan. The bumpy ride on a camel will be some of the most exciting moments of your life.
During your Gajraj Travels tour of Rajasthan villages, you will get to see women chatting away around a community well, men seated in the shade of trees, engrossed in serious discussions, and children hovering all over the place.
The houses have thatched roofs and simple settings. Since almost everyone in a Rajasthani village knows the other, you will feel a strong sense of affability here. In Rajasthani villages you will find matchless hospitality. The villagers are more than ready to do anything for you.
For a perfect village tour in Rajasthan, you need to go to the Tikkhi Mangeri, because here you'll find the most colorful and lively villages in Rajasthan.
Dhariyawad is located at a distance of 120 kms away from Udaipur in Rajasthan. It was established by Sahasmal, the second son of Maharana Pratap in the 16th century. The Dhariyawad region is mainly surrounded by sub tropical forests and is home to a variety of exotic animals.
There is a rich presence of tribals in the Dhariyawad region with the Bhils forming a majority. Practically untouched by the forces of commercialization, Dhariyawad is a wonderful place to explore. Adventure freaks will love to explore the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary and the tribal villages located nearby. However, the most famous attraction of Dhariyawad is a 16th century castle that is a fine blend of European and Rajputana styles of architecture.
Main Attractions
Dhariyawad Fort : The most prominent attraction of Dhariyawad, this 16th century fort has been converted into a fine heritage hotel today. A wonderful base to explore the Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dhariyawad region, the fort cum hotel offers the best of modern day amenities to its delighted guests.
Sitamata Sanctuary : Located near the grand Dhariyawad fort, the sanctuary is home to many exotic varieties of animals and birds. From jeep safaris to treks, the sanctuary offers a wonderful time to adventure seekers.
Excursions
Baneshwar : Located 40 kms away from Dhariyawad, Baneshwar is known for its annual fair that attracts a huge number of tribals from the surrounding areas.
Village Tours : Visitors can look forward to an enjoyable time as they explore the colorful tribal villages located in and around Dhariyawad.
Castle Durjan Niwas is a small but beautiful fortress palace built in the early 19th century by Thakur Durjan Singh of the Champawat clan of Marwar. The Castle underwent many changes and additions in all these years. The present day structure of Durjan Niwas is a shadow of the original old fortress. Castle Durjan Niwas is located in the Daspan village of Jalore district of Jodhpur. The castle, which has been fully renovated now, was initially built in the Indo - European style of architecture with separate divisions for ladies and gents.
Location
Castle Durjan Niwas is located at Daspan, Distt. Jalore, Daspan, Rajasthan- 343029, India. The nearest airport is located at a distance of about 240 km, railway station at a distance of about 180 km and the bus stand is located at a distance of about 1 km.
Rajasthan is amazingly populated : its landscape scattered with a number of villages and hamlets, telltale signs of tree groves and populations of cattle being the only indication that there is such a settlement in close proximity.
The typical village has always been difficult to spot till one is actually upon it. Its simplest hamlets, the most basic form of civilization with a way of life that has probably remained unchanged since centuries, consists of a collection of huts that are circular, and have thatched roofs. The walls are covered with a plaster of clay, cow dung, and hay, making a termite-free (antiseptic) facade that blends in with the sand of the countryside around it. Boundaries for houses and land holdings, called baras, are made of the dry branches of a nettle-like shrub, the long, sharp thorns a deterrent for straying cattle.
Eco - friendly Houses
If a hamlet looks bleak, it is hardly surprising: the resources for building these homes, which are the most eco-friendly living unit, are made with what is available at hand, and in Rajasthan, and particularly so in its western desert regions. This can mean precious little. A village that is even a little larger may have pucca houses, or larger living units, usually belonging to the village Zamindar family. Consisting of courtyards, and a large Nora or cattle enclosure, attached to one side or at the entrance, these are made of a mixture of sun-baked clay bricks covered with a plaster of lime.
Decorative Facades
Decorative facades in such units are limited to creating a texture in the plaster in the facade, or using simple lime colours to create vibrant patterns at the entrance, and outside the kitchen. These homes capture, for many of its residents, the only cosmos they know. For the women, but for visits within the village community, the only social occasions were in the nature of pilgrimages which were usually combined with fairs. But it is when they step out that the stark desert and the village break into a feast of colour : turbans bob past in saffron and red; skirts billow beneath mantles that veil the faces of their women- if they didn't, the jewels that glint on their foreheads and faces would add to the shocking surprise of their magentas and their blues, greens and pinks.
A Multi-community Settlement
Each village is a multi-community settlement, the various castes creating a structure of dependence based on the nature of their work. While changes are being wrought in this structure, with ceilings on land holdings, and with young seeking employment opportunities in towns distant from their villages, the social fabric has still not been rent.
Rajputs - The Ruling Community
At the head of the village settlement are usually the Rajputs, the warrior race whose kings ruled, till recently, over these lands. The Rajputs served their kings, joining their armies, and raising their cavalries , but an attendant pursuit was as agriculturists. Often, they employed labour to work on their extensive fields, and kept cattle for dairy produce. In fact, the cattle density in Rajasthan is very high, and milk from desert settlements is supplied to the large cities close to the state, including Delhi.
Intensely Religious People
An intensely religious people, each home in Rajasthan will have a room or at least an alcove where they fold their hands and say their prayers before calendar images of their gods. To seek benevolence from their gods, for in this hostile landscape, it is easy to be superstitious, and they pray to the terrible image of Kali, the wrathful form of Shiva's consort, to protect them from the demons of the elements, and the scrounge of mankind.
Cusines
The principal meal for the family consists of dinner, when freshly baked bread and porridge is served with a yoghurt curry called karhi, and with vegetables that may consist of dried beans, or, now, increasingly fresh produce that is grown and transported from neighbouring states. For most families, breakfast is a glass full of hot tea gulped down with stale bread, before rushing off to attend to the day's tasks, and lunch is a frugal meal of unleavened bread eaten with a spicy chutney of chillies and garlic.
Most meals are vegetarian, and though they eat meat, the Rajputs too do not consume it regularly. In the old days, game would be hunted, and the spoils shared with families in the village. With the ban on hunting, meat now comes from the goats raised in the communities, but they are slaughtered only for special occasions, and at the time of festivals that demand offerings of blood. It is this frugal diet that keeps the people of Rajasthan in fine fettle, slender of build, and not given to fat, and with a posture that is erect.
Modern Bikaner is the result of the foresight of its most eminent ruler Maharaja Ganga Singh (1887 1943) whose reformative zeal set the pace for Bikaner transformation from a principality to a premier princely state.
The strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient caravan routes that came from West/Central Asia made it a prime trade centre in those times. Bikaner stands on a slightly raised ground and is circumscribed by a seven km long embattled wall with five gates. The magnificent forts and palaces, created with delicacy in reddish-pink sandstone, bear testimony to its rich historical and architectural legacy. Surging lanes, colourful bazaars with bright and cheerful folks make Bikaner an interesting experience to explore.
Bikaner lies north of Jodhpur, its reddish-pink stone rising out of miles of barren thorn and scrub.
Rao Jodha’s sixth son, Bika (after whom the city of Bikaner is named), must have found nothing more than this wilderness when he rode out here in search of greener pastures to conquer, but he was obviously undeterred. The Rathore clansmen set out from Mandore the same year that his father shifted his capital to Jodhpur. Taking with him three hundred zealous retainers, they massacred the first opposing clan they encountered. Next they came in touch with a branch of the Bhattis of Jaisalmer who had settled in the region, and Bika married one of the daughters of the chief. Using this settlement as a base he was able to extend his sway over the entire region. Having secured the submission of the Bhattis, and later of the Jats in the region, he founded his capital Bikaner here. 
Although Bikaner was intrinsically linked by blood to the rest of Rajputana, historically it charted a different course. The Rathore-Mughal friendship really flourished especially during Akbar’s reign. After the Maharaja of Jaipur and his son, Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner was the ‘highest ranked Hindu’ in Akbar’s court. Relations worsened later thanks to Aurangzeb’s bigotry, but Bikaner holds the distinction of maintaining its independence for the best part of 500 years. In a sense if Jaipur is called the pink city, Bikaner is no less with the colour a few shades deeper here, and a great deal more pervasive. Situated on elevated ground, the medieval city of Bikaner has all the romance of the Arabian nights. As you approach it, you half expect a few Rajput princes to come riding at you on their steeds, brandishing their weapons, challenging you to a duel.The fortifications of Junagarh include a 5-6 km long crenellated stone wall in rich pink sandstone. There are five gates and three sally ports, the walls varying in height from 15 feet to 30 feet.
Music & Dance
Bikaner is primarily an agrarian economy, dependent on farming. Cereal crops such as wheat, barley and millet are mainly cultivated, while the Rajasthan Canal provides irrigation to the arid town of Bikaner. Bikaner’s folk traditions, interlinked with Rajasthan’s have developed over the centuries. Itinerant balladeers like the Bhopas, Bhatts, Charans and Bandis developed their distinctive styles. In fact Karni Mata, the Kuldevi (family deity) of the Rathore clan of Bikaner was a daughter of a Charan (bard). Also, while in Bikaner don’t miss the fire dancers who keep their audiences enthralled as they tap-dance over red hot burning coal.
Embellished with colorful Cloths
Given the monotony of Bikaner’s barren landscape, it is natural that the people show a marked preference for bright costumes. They battle the desolation of the desert through the vibrancy of their clothes, while the women gather on festive occasions, in radiant colours and beautiful jewellery.
Arts & Crafts
From the 18th century onwards, the tie and dye textiles called bandhani has become an important craft of Bikaner. Tie and dye odhnis (long scarves worn around the neck or head by women) are very popular in Bikaner. If you tour the city, you’d come across dyers dipping fabrics in huge vats to make exquisite tie and dye odhnis, while in the shadow of ruined fortresses, the dyers dry hand-block printed fabrics.
Sculpture Work
Bikaner’s contribution to sculpture can be seen in the very fine examples of jali or stone tracery, worked on screens and panels on the palaces of the city. Jali screens sculpted from both sandstone and marble in intricate geometric patterns are found in the windows of the zenanas, or women’s quarters, enabling them to watch events unfolding in the court while remaining camouflaged themselves.
Work of Miniaturised Paintings
The most significant contribution of Bikaner in the field of art has been its miniaturised paintings. An illustration of the art can be found on the walls and ceilings of Junagarh fort, and inside the cenotaphs of the erstwhile rulers of Bikaner. Its rich craftsmanship was greatly influenced by the Mughals and many Mughal painters were encouraged to attend the court at Bikaner. In fact the Mughal influence on the Rajputs, led to a new style of painting: the royal portrait. Bikaner because of its intimate relations with the Mughals was one of the first schools to adopt this style. Also under the influence of the Mughals, the art of carpet weaving flourished in Bikaner. In fact, some of the most beautiful durries, or flat cotton carpets were produced by prisoners of the Bikaner jail, well known for their skills in carpet weaving.
Woodcarving Work
Bikaner is also an important centre for woodcarving, for its ornately carved doors and lintels, and particularly for latticed screen windows. Pidas, or low folding chairs featuring decorative carving is its speciality.
Other Traditional Arts
Unfortunately some of the traditional arts and crafts of Bikaner such as doll making, wherein artisans used to paint wooden figures with brightly coloured paints are now dying because of lack of official patronage. However the city is still reputed for its artists. While in Bikaner do not miss the Usta’s or painter’s paint, complicated designs on the walls of the palaces. Also well known are the goldsmiths who do minakari (coloured inlay work in gold or silver), metal and wood crafters. Bikaneri stone carvers, and craftsmen making traditional Rajasthani jooties (shoes decorated with beautiful embroidery). Bikaner is especially famous for its minakari on camel hide, and golden minakari in the palaces of Bikaner. This art form came to India from Iran via the Mughals, and later assimilated itself into Indian culture. It was Raja Rai Singh, then ruler of Bikaner, who brought minakari to the city and accorded it royal patronage. The city is also reputed for its textile printing, camel hide kupis (containers) and lamps, and you will even find table lamps shaped in the form of an ostrich egg. Bikaneri lois (woolen shawls) and namdas (heavy rugs) do credit to the artisans who construct them. The Urmul Trust, a voluntary organisation is trying to revive some of these traditional arts. Ikarer's delicacies and Bikaner is also a city well known for its culinary delights. The tastiest is a savoury called bhujia, sold in the Bhujia Bazaar. Bikaneri sev (biscuits made of flour), papad, rasgulla (cottage cheese balls cooked in syrup), supari (areca nuts), and misri (sugary substance) are also much sought after throughout northern India.
Fairs & Festivals
Bikaner’s cultural heritage is essentially indigenous as the harsh topography and climate makes frequent cultural intercourse with neighbouring regions difficult. But, despite the hardship, the people have developed a spontaneous capacity to happily observe festive occasions. The festivals celebrated in Bikaner are Shitla Ashthmi, Gangaur, Navratri, Ram Navmi, Akshya Tritya, Sawni Teej, Bhadva Teej, Deepawali, Makar Sankranti and Holi. Kolayat fair, Shivbari fair, Jetha Bhutta fair, Ramdeoji Fair, Dusshera fair are the main melas. Most of them are celebrated all over the country, and we shall restrict ourselves to discussing those events which are exclusive to Bikaner.
Akshya Tritya
The fair is the foundation day of Bikaner, it naturally has special significance in the erstwhile state. On both the days of Dwitia and Tritia, (literally meaning second and third) a pudding of wheat, moth and bajra (millet) is cooked in the households of Bikaner. A syrup of tartaric and jaggery is made. Ghee (clarified butter) is served with the food. Being an auspicious day, students are made to worship their slates (writing boards) and take earthern vessels filled with potable water for going to school. and while all over India kites are flown on MakarSankranti, in Bikaner they crowd the skies on Akshya Tritya day.
Camel Fair
Bikaner is really camel country, with the city famous for its bestriding humped creatures all over the world. The camel fair is a dazzling spectacle of camel perfomances held every year in January. Should not be missed if you are in the area, it is an experience to remember. Camel races, camel acrobatics, camel dances and even a camel milking competition are part of the festivities. The next fair will be around 20-21 January 2000.
What to see
Junagarh Fort: Revel in the architectural splendour, as you take an intimate look at this imposing fort, built by Akbar's contemporary Raja Rai Singh. Within the fort are thirty seven palaces, pavilions Suraj Pol or the Sun Gate is the main entrance to the fort. The palaces worth visiting are Chandra Mahal, Phool Mahal and Karan Mahal. The palaces, exquisitely built in red sandstone and marble are ornate with mirror work, carvings and paintings. An array of kiosks and balconies embellish the fort at intervals, breaking the monotony. A museum with valuable miniature paintings and rare antiques is also located in the Junagarh Fort.
Lalgarh Palace: The magnificent fort in red sandstone, a fascinating juxtaposition of the Oriental style and European luxury that leaves you truly mesmerised. Designed by Sir Swinton Jacob for Maharaja Ganga Singh almost -90 years ago, this is an extraordinary monument. The palace has a billiards room, a library, a cards room and a smoking room. Belgian chandeliers, cut–glass ornaments, oil paintings and lamps add to its charm.
Bhandeshwar Jain Temples: (5 km) Beautiful 16th century Jain temples, dedicated to the 23rd Tirthankar Parshvanathji.
Excursions
Bhand Sagar Temple 5 km, Camel Breeding Farm 10 km, Devi Kund 8 km, Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary 32 kms, Deshnok's Karniji Temple 33 kms.
Transportation
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Air : Nearest Airport is Jodhpur 240 kms.
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Rail : Bikaner is connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur.
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Road : Bikaner to Delhi 949 km, Jaipur 316 km,Jodhpur 240 km & Jaisalmer 330 km.
Pushkar is one of the important places in Rajasthan, because it is one of the five 'dhams' or pilgrimage centers for Hindus. The other four are, Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. The place is also very popular with the foreign tourists who love to visit the cattle fair that is held annually here. Travel to Pushkar and enjoy the many colors and traditions of Rajasthan.
Nestled in a valley, 14 kms from Ajmer is the beautiful Pushkar town. It is a pretty little town surrounded by hills on three sides in the state of Rajasthan in Western India.
Must See Places
While you are on a tour of Pushkar, you can visit the Brahma temple, which is possibly the only temple dedicated to Brahma in India. On the entrance of this temple is the sculpture of Hans or goose, which is the vehicle of Brahma. Another temple you can visit, is the Savitri temple. This temple dedicated to the wife of Lord Brahma, is located on the hilltop. It takes about an hour to reach the temple on foot, but it is really worth a visit, for the temple site offers a breathtaking view of the Pushkar Lake. Many say the best time to visit the temple is dawn, since then one can see the sun rising which adds more beauty to the view. You can also visit the various ghats by the lake, which are considered sacred.
Excursions
While you are on a tour to Pushkar, you can also travel to Kishangarh, which is famous for its miniature paintings and local crafts.
Pushkar is close to Ajmer, so you can also visit the Dargah at Ajmer and check out all the tourist attractions there, including the Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra and Taragarh Fort.
Getting There
The closest airport is at Jaipur, Rajasthan's capital, which is at a distance of 145 kms from Pushkar. The airport has frequent flights to Delhi and Mumbai.
The nearest railway station is at Ajmer, from where one can take a train to major places in Rajasthan and other cities in India. You can take a Shatabdi Express for Delhi, from this railway station, which not only saves time but also is a very comfortable way to travel. Jaipur-Bandra is perfect for those, who wish to go to Mumbai.
Pushkar can also be reached by road. One can take a bus or hire a cab or taxi from Ajmer, to reach Pushkar.
Events
There is hardly anyone who has not heard of the Pushkar festival. It is held annually on the 11th day of the bright half of the moon. It is held in the month of October/November.
People and Hindu devotees flock to Pushkar when all the gods visit this sacred place. People wash off their sins in the Pushkar Lake, which is considered very sacred. During this time, there are thousands of devotees and holy men who come from far off places. The whole atmosphere during this time is so devotional and pious that people find themselves in a strange trance and many claim that it is the time they feel most close to God. As for the cattle fair, it is a colorful and beautiful celebration of rural way of life. Villagers come to this fair with their cattle and animals from all over the state for trading. An interesting event that takes place during this time is the camel's beauty contest! Here tourists also get a chance to interact with the villagers dressed in their traditional turbans and colorful clothes.
Lying on the main Delhi-Mumbai railway line, Swai Madhopur is the gateway to the world renowned Ranthambhor National Park- the famous Tiger Reserve , just 12 km away from here. Ranthambhor has been a witness to the rise and fall of many rulers and a series of battle scenes. In the 13th century A.D. Govinda, the grandson of Prithviraj Chauhan took over the reign of the land. Later his successor Vagabhatta, beautified the city and built a noteworthy temple at Jhain.In the middle of the 15th century A.D. Rana Kumbha captured the fort and gifted it to his son to be occupied later by the Hada Rajputs of Bundi and Mughal Emperors Akbar and Aurangazeb. Mughal Emperor Shah Alam gifted it to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur in 1754 and since then it was maintained as the hunting preserve of the Maharaja. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh were part of the royal hunting who stayed here.
Ranthambore National Park is a beautiful national park that is surrounded by the Vindhya and Aravalli hills and is quite close to the Thar desert. Anyone who claims to be an animal lover should definitely visit this beautiful place that not only boasts of peaceful surroundings but is also home to many endangered species.
Transportation
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Air : Nearest airport is Jaipur (175 kms).
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Rail : Nearest railhead is Sawai-Madhopur (12 kms) which is on the Bombay-Delhi section of Western Railway.
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Road : Ranthambore is connected by regular bus service to Sawai-Madhopur 12 km, Agra 226 km, Bharatpur 166 km, Delhi 434 km, Kota 217 km, Jaipur 180 km.
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Local Transport : Private Horse driven tongas are available at the Railway Station. R.T.D.C. or private jeeps can be hired from Tourist Information Bureau, Sawai-Madhopur. Charges Rs.350-400 for full jeep for one trip to the National Park.
What to see
The Fort : Ranthambor’s royal past manifests itself in the well-preserved imposing fort, built in 994 A.D. atop a steep high creek 200 metres above sea level. Ruined pavilions, walls, chhatris and splendid monuments are interspersed within the majestic fort. An 8th century A.D. Ganesh temple on an open land attracts thousands of devotees and is the venue for an annual fair held on. Bhadrapad Sudi Chaturthi, fourth day of the bright half, in the month of Bhadra.
Ranthambhor National Park : The 392 sq. km. Park comprises of dry deciduous forests sprawling over an undulating terrain of the Aravalli and Vindhyan ranges .The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country under the Project Tiger. The majestic predators, assured of protection, roam freely during the day time and can be seen at close quarters. Ranthambhor sanctuary has a large number of sambhar, chital. Nilgai, chinkara, langur , wild boar and peafowl. A system of three pretty artificial lakes-Padam Talab,Rajbagh and Milak Talab, alongwith a number of anicuts are part of the biosphere. Besides enhancing the scenic beauty of the Park, they are an important source of water for the inhabitants of the park. While deer congregate here to drink water,fresh water crocodiles can be seen basking in the winter sun to regulate their body temperature. The lake also attracts a large number of migratory and local birds. The local fauna of the park includes leopard, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, sloth bear and a little population of pythons. The lovely Jogi Mahal overlooking the pretty Padam Talab at the foot of the fort has a Forest Rest House. Other accommodation outside the fort also ensures a comfortable stay.
The best time to visit is between November and April. Jeeps are available to take you around the park.
Excursions
Amreshwar Mahadev 8 kms, Mahavirji 110 kms, Kela Devi 125 kms, Shivad 30 kms, Khandar 60 kms, Rameshwaram 90 kms in Khandar Area.
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Ramendra Singh Bhadauria (Astrologer and Vastu-Shastri)
