History of Rajasthan

The history of this mind-blowing state goes back to more than 5000 years & this History boasts of a very rich culture & tradition. This state has given the country much as far as tourism is concerned. The tradition of this state has been very rich from the prehistoric times & continues to do so. There were very powerful rulers who ruled this state from the times that goes back to the (7 AD) till the founding of the Delhi Sultanate, Rajasthan was a state which was in fragments & all these fragmented kingdoms were fighting amongst each other. & it was this era, during which the mighty Rajputs influnced the Brahmins to link them with the sun, moon & the fire god. As time passed, this state came under the rule of the powerful Rajputs who ruled this state for quite a long time till the Mughals came & defeated them in bloody battles & took over the reigns of the state into their hands. As the Rajput rulers were constantly with war among themselves, the Mughals took advantage & took the power into their ownhands.Around the 14th century, the power of the Rajputs was on the decline. The Mughal emperor Akbar the Great, was in the scene by this time & with his far sight,he was very successful in conquering thesmall but mighty Rajputs one by one. He did one very good thing by not snatching their kingdoms, & allowed them to be in power under his rule which was the supreme rule consisting of many a small states. As time passed the kings of these small kingdoms became very loyal to the Mughal supreme & Akbar also own over some of the very powerful Rajput kings by getting into matrimonial relationship with them. He also gave a lot of high official posts to the Rajput kings to keep them under his control & even married Jodha Bai the daughter of Maharaja of Amber. But as long as he was in power, everything was going all right. But after him, the Rajputs were left with out a powerful Mughal ruler & they again took over the reigns of their separate kingdoms themselves. In fact till today, the people of this state worship the Rajput rulers for their valor & bravery.

Art & Crafts

Rajasthan handicraft is richest in India. The Land of the Kings, is a part the colour belt of western India. It is not only during festivals or ceremonies that Rajasthan looks bright, it is everyday. By the side of the well, at the village haat, weekly market place, at fairs & festivals, in the temple, on the streets, at weddings, rituals & ceremonies, everywhere Rajasthan displays the most brilliant of colors Textiles : Bandhani or Bandhej is the name of the tie & dye technique used commonly in the region. Coming from the Hindi word Bandhan meaning to tie, this technique has a self explanatory name. The fabric is tied at various places with the help of a thread, in a way that it makes some pattern. After the tying is done, the fabric is dipped in the desired colour. After it is completely dried, the ties are opened & the amazing designs come to reality. The threads prevent the tied area from absorbing the colour & hence the desired pattern is realized.

Carpets & Durries : The hand knotted woolen carpets of Tonk, Bikaner & Jaipur, are generally based on Persian styles. The traditional cotton durries of Jaipur, Jodhpur are, mostly in pastel shades with geometrical motifs design. These can brighten any dullest floor. Woolen Namda of Tonk (non woven) are equally popular. Jewelry : Rajasthan is rich in jewelry, each area having it's own unique style. Some of the traditional design are rakhri, bala, bajub&, gajra, gokhru, jod, etc. tribal women wear heavy, simply crafted silver jewelry . Men also wear ornaments in the form of chockers & earrings. During Mughal Empire, Rajasthan became a major canter for production of fine kind of jewelry It was a true blend of the Mughal with the Rajasthani craftsman ship. The Mughals brought sophisticated design & new technical know-how of the Persians origin with them. Leather-ware : Particularly jooties with embroidered uppers are famous & popular. Today even designer hand-bags with graphic embroideries make a good buy. Wood, metal & Stone are used by todays craft persons to create decorative & utility items that shoppers often find irresistible. Miniature paintings : Of the finest quality continue to be executed in Rajasthan both on paper & on large pieces of cloth. Different regions maintain their own style, known as different schools of painting. Some well-known schools of painting are Marwar, Mewar

Culture of Rajasthan

A lot has been said & talked about the culture & tradition of this state as this is one of the most important tourist states of India. Situated in the Northen side if the country, this state has a very alluring history & is extremely rich in heritage. There are so many monuments of historical importance in this state. The people of this state are extremely humble & hospitable. They are very hard working & steardy as they can endure the extreme climatic condition of this place. There are a lot of festivals & fairs that make this state a important one when it comes to pulling tourists. The fairs of this state are world famous. As this state is culturally rich, the people of this place are also rich in the field of handicrafts & this is not limited to any one particular field. One will find that this is the only state that boasts of craftsmen who specialize in stone ,wood, ivory, clay,leather, brass,glass lac & textiles & create records by creating the most wonderful & rare architectural specimenin the world. During the festivals, the people of this state celebrate in their own grand style. The festivals of this state are a time for the people to get together & rejoice & also exhibit the rich cultural tradition of this state. Men & Women sing a lot of devotional songs as well as festive songs during the festivals The people of this state believe in enjoying their festivals to the hilt & they sing a lot of devotional songs during the festivals.The songs of some of the famopus poets are very famous like Kabir,Malookdas & Meera.There are certain songs which are sung through out the night to thank the particular deities for whom that festival is celebrated.These songs are orchestrated by simple musical instruments like the Baara & Algoza that give these songs a great melodious support. The Fairs & festivals of this state bring a lot of life into the lives of the people of this state.Holi, the festival of colours is celebrated with a lot of excitement in this state.The famous Holi songs are really foot tapping & create a lot of dhamaal in the celebrated regions. Be it a marriage ceremony, the birth of a child or the visit of the son-in-law, all these ceremonies call for variety of songs.there are songs for the children called the Saanjhi & the Ghulda.Some of the favourite songs that are sung all the time are Panihari Endoni & the famous Kurjan-Digipuri-ka raja & even the Rasiya song of the braj region. The hard life of the desert dwellers made them seek means of making life more pleasant by developing their artistic

talents. There are many traditional communities who are professional performers & their skills are handed down from generation to generation. The Bhat & Charans are bards, who could inspire the Rajput warriors with accounts of heroic deeds by whipping up patriotic flavor or even ridiculing the royal families with their satire. The people who are wanderers & sing ballads are called the Bhopas who sing about the Marwar folk hero-Pabuji, & these people travel from village to village with their phad painting & rawan hahha entertaining people with their ballad. There are many singing communities in Rajasthan known as the Dholis.. Also known by other names like Mirasis, Dhadhis, Langas, Manganiyars, Kalbelias, Jogis, Sargaras, Kamads, Nayaks or Thotis & the Bawaris. Today their musician be heard all over the state & are popular even on the national & international circuits. The best flavor of this rich artistic talent can be savored during various fairs & festivals of the state, especially during the Desert Festivals (Jan-Feb), the Pushkar Fair (Oct-Nov), the Marwar Festival (Sept-Oct) & the Camel Festival (Jan-Feb).

Music & Dances of Rajasthan

The origin of the Rajputs remains somewhat in doubt. That they were of foreign origin is suggested by the elaborate genealogies that the Brahmins (the priest of the Indian Varna or caste system) created to accord them the Kshatriya (warrior) caste. Which status they always insisted upon with almost undue vehemence. The Rajputs traced their lineage from a mythical fire atop Mt Abu, a mountain in Rajasthan, (Agni Kula or the Fire Family), the sun (Suryavanshi or the Sun Family) & the moon (Chandravanshi or the Moon Family). Whatever was their origin, the Rajputs certainly were the living image of the state where they were worshipped as the mighty, the noble, the handsome & awesomely brave people.The legendary stories of their valour still do the rounds of the mother & the child during the sleeping hours.Even during the British rule, the Rajputs were given the due respect they deserved & gained importance with 21 gun salutes, royal polo matches & durbars, just as they lost its meaning. Yet today the tales of the chivalrious Rajput warrior kings like Prithviraj Chauhan, Rana Kumbha, & Bhappa Rawal, continue to echo in the golden sands of the state in the people's folklore, music & dance. When India became independent 23 princely states were combined to form the State of Rajasthan or the abode of rajas & now has become the foremost destination in India. So because of this extremely rich historical base, Rajasthan as a state has a lot of very important

palaces & forts which give this state that edge for monumental history over the other Indian states. This state is very famous for its deserts,colourful lifestyles of the people, the Landscapes & the humbleness & hard-working attitude of the people. Changing Times: As times have changed, the lifestyles of the people of thisstate have changed too. This is also because of the tourists inflow to the state. The people of this state have adopted to the new ways of the world & with education reaching to the grass root levels, the mind set of the people is also changing. with more cosmopolitan crowd filtering in to the state, the ways & habitats of the people are also changing. So if any tourist seeking a royal treatment, has to just check into one of the several palace hotels that will; make their wishes come true. Whether it is the cities with a westernized life style or the villages, you will always find the people warm, friendly & humble. & if you want to move away from the regular tourist itenary, one can organize his or her own it nary. The Accommodation part for you could be a beautiful palace hotel or a small heritage hotel in the countryside, a guesthouse or a village hut whichever you & your purse can manage. Rajasthan has a wide variety of shopping complexes which cater to every type of taste & purse. It is among the richest states in the country as far as handicrafts are concerned. The craftsmen here have been creating the most opulent & richest of treasure. Stone, clay, leather, wood ivory, lac, glass, brass, silver, gold & textiles are given the most brilliant forms. Each little village had its own mohulla of craftsmen who were patronised by the local people as well as visitors to the village. Today, the Government encourages the local handicrafts as well as the small-scale industries & retail outlets have been set up in the major cities. Tourists can choose from the large variety on display, & at very reasonable prices. But they form only part of an intricate tapestry. Beneath the surface, expect to find many contradictions. Wherever you travel, particularly when you escape from the popular tourist destinations you will come across the unexpected, whether it is a local fair or breathtaking view. The mood & the rhythm of the countryside changes from one region to another, & from season to season. It is a Land of surprises; a Land of amazing natural beauty that can fascinate even the most seasoned traveller.

Cuisine

Rajasthan Cuisines were influenced by the geomorphology & political conditions of the region. The availability of all types of food was a rarity here & the preservation of the food was the main criteria because of the desert conditions & war situations. Therefore Rajasthanis preferred food that could last for several days once prepared & could be eaten with out the need to heat. Scarcity of water & lack of fresh green vegetables effected the Rajasthani cooking & resulted in a very different kind of cuisine. In the desert zones of Jaisalmer, Barmer & Bikaner, food that requires the minimum of water is prefer. The people use more of milk, buttermilk & clarified butter & liberal use of spices especially red chilly powder to compensate for the lack of water &fresh vegetables. Dried lentils or beans from plants like sarigri, ker etc. are used more often. Gram flour is a major ingredient here & is used to make some of the fascinating delicacies like khata, gatta ki sabzi & pakodi. Lentils are also powdered to prepare mangodi, badi & papad. Bajia & corn are used over a large area of the state to prepare rabdi, kheechdi & rotis. Various fascinating chutneys are made from locally available spices like turmeric, dried mangoes, cori&er, mint, onion, ginger & garlic. The most fascinating Rajasthani recipe is the combination of dal or lentil, baati or baked wheat balls & churma or powdered sweetenedcereal. Fascinating Rajasthan Cuisines varies from region to region with different castes & different regions having slightly different preferences. The people of Rajastan also prefer non-vegetarian food perhaps due to lack of easy availability of fresh vegetables. Fascinating Rajasthan Cuisines also comprises of a lot of sweet dishes. The Kachchwaaha family of Jaipur is the originator of the delicacy called Safed Maans or white meat. The preparation is white in color & is prepared from white mutton. The curry is prepared from cashew nuts, almonds, fresh coconut kernel paste, white pepper & poppy seeds. Besides, Mishri Mawa, Kalak& & Ghevar of Jaipur are also very famous. The region of Bikaner is famous for its spicy Aloo Bhujiya, Papads & Rasgulla. The region of Mewar or Udaipur is believed to have come up the form of barbecue called Sooley & Dil Jani. The region of Jodhpur is famous for Makhaniya Lassi, Kachoris, hot green masala chilies & Laddoos. The region of Jaisalmer is famous for Laddoos, Pushkar for Malpua, Ajmer for Sohan Halwa, Alwar for Mawa & Bharatpur for Sweets made from milk.

Climate of Rajasthan

Nestled in the foot hills of the Aravalli Mountain Range, a Tour to Rajasthan is considered to be a definite must include if you are planning a tour itinerary to India. The Land of the Rajputs, the entirety of the province of Rajasthan is resplendent in its rich & varied culture, a culture that has been influenced to a large extent by the varied topography of Rajasthan which has also influenced the Climate of Rajasthan. Thus, if you are planning a holiday in Rajasthan, it is best to be prepared with some of the main points of the Rajasthan General Info, which can help you, understand the province as well as know its attractions even better. The Climate of Rajasthan: Influencing several theories on the Best Time to Visit Rajasthan, the climate of Rajasthan can be divided into four basic sub divisions which are:

Summers Monsoon Post-Monsoons Winters

Summers which are hot & dry is considered to be the hottest period in Rajasthan with the temperature rising to almost as high as 45 degrees Celsius at its highest. The hill station of Mount Abu, the only hill station of Rajasthan, however, remains a blessed exception in this mercurial madness with temperatures at this important tourist destination of Rajasthan hovering around comfortable lows.

The period between the months of July to September sees the mercury dropping to a more moderate temperature, with a comparatively higher level of humidity which is to set the stage for the next season or the monsoons, when the tourist attraction of Rajasthan reaches an all time high. The monsoons make this already beautiful province prettier than ever by adding their cool moisture to the hot, golden sands of the Thar Desert, which adds an even greater incentive in planning a trip to Rajasthan during this period. Perhaps, one of the most pleasant times to visit Rajasthan, the winters in Rajasthan stretch between the months of December to March. January is seen to be the coolest month of the year, which often sees a temperature drop that is as drastic as 0 degrees Celsius.

Architectural Heritage

The country of Temples & Monuments, country having a rich tradition & culture & a country with a lot of diversity, that's what INDIA is. A country so different from the rest in the world, a country which is blessed with Nature & a country which can boast of a lot of peace & tranquility entices every single individual in the world to pay a visit to this wonderful Mystical & Mesmerizing place. & in this country, the state of Rajasthan is again a jewel in the necklace of this adventurous country India. Rajasthan is situated in the north part of the country & is most famous for its deserts. To the outer world, this state is basically famous for its vast deserts & rich cultural & traditional heritage & artifacts. The mixture & brilliance of Rajasthan's architectural heritage can amaze a visitor. Majestic forts, intricately carved temples & havelis (meaning mansion) & even step well make Rajasthan a paradise for an architecture buff. The desert state of Rajasthan is a Land of irony & extremes. This vibrant & striking region is the home of the Rajput warrior clans who had ruled here for many years. Rajasthan is also home to some of India's most romantic cities. The Rajputs were prolific builders & have dotted the arid Aravali Landscape with their legacy of some most imposing & magnificent forts & palaces in the world. Today the structures defy time to tell the story of gallantry, courage & tragedy of the bygone era & its story of survival in the harsh Thar Desert.

Tribals

Rajasthan according to the 2001 census has a population of 56.5 million. Rajasthan has a large indigenous populace Minas (Minawati) in Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, & Dholpur areas. The Meo & the Banjara are travelling tradesmen & artisans. The Gadia Lohar is the Lohar meaning ironsmith who travels on Gadia meaning bullock carts; they generally make & repair agricultural & household implements. The Bhils are one of the oldest peoples in India, inhabit the districts of Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, & Sirohi & are famous for their skill in archery. The Grasia & nomadic Kathodi live in the Mewar region. Sahariyas are found in the Kota district, & the Rabaris of the Marwar region are cattle breeders. The Oswals hail from Osiyan near Jodhpur are successful traders & are predominately Jains. While the Mahajan (the trading class) is subdivided into a large number of groups, some of these groups are Jain, while others are Hindu. In the north & west, the Jat & Gujar are among the largest agricultural communities. The Gujars who are Hindus dwell in eastern Rajasthan. The nomadic Rabari or Raika are divided in two groups the Marus who breed camels & Chalkias who breed sheep & goats. The Muslims form less than 10% of the population & most of them are Sunnis. There is also a small but affluent community Shiaite Muslims known as Bhoras in southeastern Rajasthan. The Rajputs though represent only a small proportion of the populace are the most influential section of the people in Rajasthan. They are proud of their martial reputation & of their ancestry. Hinduism, the religion of most of the population, is generally practised through the worship of Brahma, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, & other gods & goddesses. Nathdwara is an important religious centre for the Vallabhacharya sect of Krishna followers. There are also followers of the Arya Samaj, a reforming sect of modern Hinduism, as well as other forms of that religion. Jainism is also important; it has not been the religion of the rulers of Rajasthan but has followers among the trading class & the wealthy section of society. Mahavirji, Ranakpur, Dhulev, & Karera are the chief centres of Jain pilgrimage. The Dadupanthi forms another important religious sect the followers of Dadu (d. 1603), who preached the equality of all men, strict vegetarianism, total abstinence from intoxicating liquor, & lifelong celibacy. Islam, the religion of the State's second largest religious community, expanded in Rajasthan with

the conquest of Ajmer by Muslim invaders in the late twelfth century. Khwajah Muin-ud-Din Chishti, the Muslim missionary, had his headquarters at Ajmer, & Muslim traders, craftsmen, & soldiers settled there. The State's population of Christians & Sikhs is small. Shopping A magical sojourn reverberating with age old culture & traditions, the state enfolds in its lap a diverse kaleidoscope of breathtakingly beautiful & fascinating art-de-facts. The range is unparalleled even while it is sophisticated in its simplicity. It has something for almost every kind of traveler, revealing a vast range of arts & crafts, which is a treat for the visuals & are ready to be picked. The Bazaars spill with products & there is a magnificent glow of colours all over. Intricate work carved on handicrafts or the wonders of gems & stones, it has it all & even more like the colours dancing on the textiles & fabrics with silver or gold threads settings & complimented with the variety of Silk-threads, Beads, Gota, Zari, Zardosi, Banarasi, etc. designed by the age old families of skilled artisans. The amazing use of clay in the form of sculpture & decorative arts, the paintings from different schools like Miniature, Mughal & the different Rajasthani shailis (school of art) & more are piled up, revealing the medieval splashes & recording historic & dramatic events. Almost capturing the senses! The age old art of dyes & colours hold the centre of attraction. Every part of the state, every town, every village is associated with the rich heritage of craftsmanship so particular to Rajasthan. Entire villages practice crafts - sometimes a vast spectrum, on other occasions just a single skill that can range from dhurrie weaving to terracotta products. These traditions once helped to form the different layers of a self-supporting society in villages & towns, & it is this that has ensured their survival. Most crafts are still practiced because they find use in local society - the painters, for example, still do frescos on temple walls, & the village cobbler makes thick-soled shoes for the farmers, reserving the more delicate versions for visitors. Today, Rajasthan's markets spill with an exciting array of goods: paintings, jewellery, fabrics & textiles, soft-as-gossamer quilts, clay pottery & blue pottery, dhurries & carpets, wood, metal & stone sculpture, leatherware & terracotta...

Little bells dance in the breeze, puppets dangle from strings, embroidered footwear brightens up stores, lights glow in huge glass candelabra & gemstones spill across pavements: in Rajasthan's treasure-trove, you could spend days simply exploring the world of the artisan. Famous Tourist Attraction Jaipur - The capital of Rajasthan, famous for its rich history and royalarchitecture. Jodhpur - Fortress-city at the edge of the Thar Desert, famous for its blue homesand architecture. Udaipur - Known as the "Venice of India. Jaisalme r - Famous for its golden fortress, havelis and some of the oldest JainTemples and libraries. Bikaner - Famous for its havelis, palaces and temples. Mount Abu - Highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan. Famous for 11thcentury Dilwara Jain Temples. Pushkar - It has the first and one of the very few Brahma temples in the world. Ranakpur - Large Jain Temple complex with near 1444 pillars and exquisitemarble carvings. Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the famous temple of Shrinathji. Ranthambore Situated near Sawai Madhopur, this town has one of the largestand most famous national parks in India. Shekhawati - Located are small towns such as Mandawa and Ramgarh withfrescoed havelis between 100 years to 300 years old. Barmer - Barmer and surrounding areas offer perfect picture of typicalRajasthani villages.

Rajasthan Fairs & Festivals Camel Festival A lively & colourful event, the Camel Festival is organised by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan in Bikaner every year. January is just the right month for a desert spree, & Bikaner just the right place to see the Ships of the Desert. In the camel country Bikaner, these desert leviathans pull heavy cart loads, transport grain & even work at the wells. Desert Festival Once a year in winters & on the middle of the continually rising & falling stark yellow sands of the great Thar Desert, the empty sands around Jaisalmer come alive with the brilliant colour, music & laughter of the Desert Festival. The festival is organised by the tourist authorities as tourist entertainment around January-February. Elephant Festival, Jaipur The Elephant Festival is an inimitable event held annually in Jaipur. Groomed flawlessly, rows of elephants do a catwalk before an enthralled audience liked best fashion models to make this festival an amazing one. The elephants move with poise in pageant, run races, play the regal game of polo, & finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. Gangaur Festival, Jaipur A festival devoted to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Ishar & Gangaur are the divine male & female ho embody marital love. Dedicated to goddess Gauri (Parvati), the festival commences on Holi/ Young girls pray for rooms of their choice while married women seek a long life for their husbands. Kaila Devi Fair The annual fair of Kaila Devi, (Mahalakshmi or the goddess of wealth), is held at the village Kaila (24 kms to the south west) in Karauli district in the month of Chaitra (Mar-Apr), lasting for a fortnight. The temple of Kaila Devi is located on the banks of the Kalisil river in the hills of Trikut, 2 Kms. to the north-west of Kaila village.

Pushkar Fair, Pushkar Pushkar is a small holy town in Rajasthan located at about 135 km from Jaipur & 10 km from Ajmer. The Pushkar Lake situated here is considered to be one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in India. Besides, being an important pilgrimage center for Hindus, Pushkar is also known for its annual Pushkar fair, which has a religious as well as traditional character. Teej Festival Teej is the festival of swings. It marks the advent of the monsoon month of Shravan (August). The monsoon rains fall on the parched Land & the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air. Swings are hung from trees & decorated with flowers.

Urs Fair, Ajmer The urs, acommomerative celebration is held in the solemn memory of Khwaja Muin-nddin Chisti, a prighly respected sufi saint fondly revered as the benefactor of the poor, popularly known as Gareeb Nawaz. The Dargah Sharif in Ajmer, is the place where the Saints mortal remains lie burried & is the site of the largest Muslim Fair in India.