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Rajasthan - Destinations |
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| AJMER - INDIA |
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| Dargah Sharif |
 Ajmer
is venerated as a holy place for both
Hindus and Muslims. It has the mausoleum
of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin
Chishti, whose blessings are eagerly
sought by pilgrims to his dargah.
Known as the 'Dargah Sharif', the
last resting place of the saint who
died in 1235 lies at the foot of a
barren hill. The saint's marble domed
mausoleum is India's most important
shrine for Muslims and receives an
endless flow of visitors of all religions
as the sick, the troubled and the
childless come here seeking a boon,
a blessing or just peace of mind.
Legend has it that the Mughal emperor,
Akbar came here to the saint in the
16th century in quest of a boon for
an heir and the saint obliged.
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| Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra |
 located
beyond the Dargah, on the outskirts
of the town are the ruins of this
mosque. According to legend, its construction
in 1153 took 2 ½ days (adhai din),
hence the name. It was originally
a Sanskrit college, built within a
temple. But In 1193 AD Mohamed Ghouri
seized Ajmer and converted the building
into a mosque by adding a seven-arched
wall in front of the pillared hall.
The building is a fine piece of Indo-Islamic
architecture. The pillars are all
different and the arched screen with
its minarets is noteworthy. Mohhamed
Ghauri conquered Ajmer and converted
the building into a mosque by adding
a sevenarched wall in front of the
pillared hall in just two-and-half
days(adhai-din) and hence the name.
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| BIKANER - INDIA |
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| Bika ki Tekri (old fort) |
In the amidst of the magical landscape that Rao Bika started the construction of this fort in 1485 .Situated on the rocky ground south west of the city, the fort preceded the city by three years. |
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| Junagarh Fort |
 This
fort was constructed by Rai
Singh. The foundation of the
fort was laid down in the year
1589and the work was over in
1594. The fort has a circumference
of 985 meters. Being on ground
level, a moat was constructed
around the fort as security
cordon. The fort complex is
considered as an architectural
feat. The important portions
of the fort are Anup Mahal,
Ganga Niwas, Durbar Hall, Har
Mandir, Gaj Mandir, Sheesh Mahal,
Karan Mahal, Phool Mahal, Chandra
Mahal, Chini Burj etc. but Anup
Mahal is the best place to be
viewed.
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| Lalgarh Palace |
 The
architectural masterpiece in
red sandstone, the palace was
built by Maharaja Ganga Singh
in the memory of his father
Maharaja Lal Singh. The palace
has beautiful lattice work and
filigree work. Sprawling lawns
with blooming bougainvillea
and dancing peacocks make it
a not-to-be missed visual treat.
Part of the palace has been
converted into a luxury hotel
and a museum known as Shri Sadul
Museum.
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| PUSHKAR - INDIA |
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| Brahma Temple |
 This
is the only existing temple of lord Brahma and
was constructed in the 14th century, standing
on a high plinth with marble steps leading up
to it. A beautiful carved silver turtle sits on
the floor facing the sanctorum or Garbha Griha.
The marble floor around the silver turtle is embedded
with hundreds of silver coins, with donors name
engraved on them. A beautiful and certainly the
most important temple in Pushkar. It is said to
be the only temple in the world dedicated to Brahma,
the Creator in the Hindu Trinity of Gods. A four-armed
life-sized statue of Brahma is enshrined inside
the temple.
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| Pushkar Lake |
 Anything
even remotely related to Pushkar Lake has a halo
of sacredness and divinity. Legend has it that
a dip in its waters cleanses all the sins and
is the surest way to achieve salvation from the
cycles of life. Circled by some five hundred odd
temples, the lake has 52 ghats, which connect
the temples to the water. These ghats were constructed
by the rulers of the different erstwhile princely
states of Rajasthan and some of them are aptly
named after the states. Prominent among the ghats
are Gau Ghat, Brahma Ghat and Varah Ghat. Also
called Main Ghat, Gau Ghat is the place from which
ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were sprinkled into the
lake. Brahma Ghat is believed to be the spot where
Brahma himself is said to have worshipped.
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| RANTHAMBORE |
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| Ranthambore National
Park |
 Ranthambore
National Park is famous for its Tigers and
is a favorite with photographers. For a
relatively small area, the park has a rich
diversity of fauna and flora - species list
includes 300 trees, 50 aquatic plants, 272
birds, 12 reptiles including the Marsh Crocodile
& amphibians and 30 mammals.
For the wildlife savvy, Ranthambore wildlife
sanctuary today offers an intense diversity
of flora and fauna. Tigers, the park's pride
makes it one of the best places in the country
to observe them. Apart from that a large
numbers of Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Gazzelle,
Boars, Mongoose, Indian Hare, Monitor Lizards
and a large number of birds
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| Ranthambore fort &
Jogi Mahal |
 With
a coverage area of 392-sq-kms, this park
got its name from the Ranthambhore Fort,
which sits on a rocky outcrop in the heart
of the Park. The fort, which dates back
to the 10th century and is probably the
oldest existing fort in Rajasthan, was a
vital citadel for control of Central India
and particularly the Malwa plateau.
The entry point to the Ranthambore National
Park, goes straight to the foot of the fort
and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The
latter boasts of the second-largest Banyan
tree in India.
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