LIVING A LIFE FULL OF GRACE 💖

Note: Its with great pleasure informing my Co-bloggers/readers that this is my first attempt at poetry!I have been inspired by many of you to try something different in these Corona times when travelling is not encouraged till it is fully safe ! Pl comment for providing the much-needed encouragement ! Thank you all & Happy reading💖

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THE SECRET OF LIVING A HAPPY LIFE

Everyone wants happiness no one needs pain,
its not possible to get a rainbow without a little rain!
Happiness is not about getting all you crave,
Its about enjoying all you have!

If you are sad none can ever make you happy in life ,
If you want to be happy, practice love and compassion in life !
Happiness is never a destination, Its a method of life,
Nothing can be achieved without enthusiasm in life!

One who forgets the language of love & gratitude,
Can never be on talking terms with happiness!
We know everything in life is all vibrations,
Happiness is enhanced by good vibrations!

Constitution only gives you right to pursue happiness
Only your efforts make it possible to catch happiness!
He is the happiest be he a King or a peasant,
Who finds peace in his home of contentment!

To be happy or to be sad the choice is always yours,
Time flies fast whether you are having fun or tears!
Happiness of life depends upon quality of our thoughts,
It becomes our paramount duty to guard our thoughts!

When the symphony of life fills up your heart,
The chorus of contentment joins onto your heart!
You can’t be happy in life with the worldly possessions,
Without peace of mind that none can bring,but yourself !

Always be grateful to those who make us so very happy,
Those charming gardeners who make our souls blossom!
Secret of happiness in life is to be contented with all you have,
How much you enjoy it & how much you enjoy giving to others!

Always be positive like a potent searchlight:
capable of piercing clouds of darkness & despair ! 😫
One door closes another opens,
don’t look too long at the closed door,
That you don’t see the one opened for us !😀

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In Feb.2011 we,a family of four, set off on our LTC Tour of the amazing 1)Bhubaneshwar(popularly called’temple city of India’ with exquisite architecture) 2)Puri (with Rath yatra/Jagannath temple/priestine beaches) 3)Konark(with glorious architectural Sun temple/Black Pagoda) 4)Sambalpur(with temple of Maa Samaleswari,the presiding deity of Sambalpur) 5)Hirakud Dam(its multipurpose,longest Earthen dam of India built on Mahanadi) The ‘Swarn tribhuja’ is formed by three main beautiful temple-towns of Eastern Odisha namely: Puri-Bhubaneshwar-Konark :where the wheels of Chariot(time) never stops.We thoroughly enjoyed our Bhubaneshwar trip & will always cherish the lovely memories of our memorable visit!

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BHUBANESHWAR :

The capital of modern Orissa has a great historical importance having inherited a rich cultural & traditional heritage.Being the Kingdom of great rulers of past who were active in activities like temple building reflecting the architectural excellence of Oriya sculptors! Owing to the evolution of Kalinga Architecture from inception to maturity it has earned the title of Temple City of India.The main attractions are the temples of Parshurameshwer(7th.c AD),Vaital(8th.cAD),Mukteshwer(10th c AD),Rajarani(11th c AD),Brahmeswar and Lingaraja(11th c AD). While the tradititional heritage has been embraced the technological advancement with equal fervour .Amusement parks,star hotels,Discotheques & IT Parks in the city provide ample opportunities to chill out and enjoy life.There are some prime tourist destinations like Nandankanan,the open -air zoological park,Ekamra haat-the handicrafts & textiles market,state museum,the Tribal museum of Natural History,market building,Bigbazaar,Pantaloon,the World-Shoppers destinations,Ekamra Kanan.Regional plant Resource centre etc are other avenues which cater to the specific interests& tastes of various cross section of tourists.Bhubaneshwar has a great historical significance as it was the scene of some of the major turning point in history.The Great Kalinga war which led to the miraculous transformation of Emperor Ashoka was fought along the bank of river Daya on the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar in 261 BC.Now there stands a Peace Pagoda with the Ashokan rock-edicts.The city also has the oldest rock -cut caves in Khandagiri and Udayagiri.

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HISTORY OF BHUBANESHWAR :

Its an ancient city with many temples built from sandstone around Bindu Sagar lake including the Lingaraj temple.Outside the Rajarani temple are sculpted figures of the Guardians of the 8 Cardinal & Ordinal directions,Jain antiques,weaponary & indigenous Pattachitra paintings fill the Odisha state museum.Its dubbed as the temple city of India owing to the 700 temples which once stood there with Kalinga architecture.Its also called Kamra Kshetra(mango trees area).Established in 1948 its history can be traced back to 7th century BCE.Its the confluence of Hindu ,Buddhist and Jain heritage and includes several Kalingan cultures.Bhubaneshwar stands near the ruins of Sishupalgarh,the ancient capital of erstwhile province of Kalinga.Dhauli was the site of Kalinga war(c262-261BCE)in which Mauryan Emperor Ashoka invaded & annexed Kalinga.In 16th century the area came under Panchamani Moghul rule.In 1803 area came under British rule & was under Orissa province 1936-1947.The capital was Cuttack.In April 1948,PM Jawahar lal Nehru laid the foundation of new capital in Bhubaneshwar.The name of new capital came from Tribhubaneshwara or Bhubaneshwar-the lord of Earth-the name of Shiva-the deity of Lingaraja temple.

CULTURE :

Bhubaneshwar is supposed to have over 1000 temples once earning the tag of the ‘temple city of India’ made in Kalinga architecture style with a pine spire that carves upto a point over the sactum having the presiding deity and pyramid covered hall where people sit and pray.Famous temples include Lingaraja temple,Mukteshwar temple,Rajarani temple,Ananta Vasudev temple, Ram mandir & Iskon temple. Twin hills of Khandagiri & Udaigiri have amazing rock-cut caves with a huge statue of Mahavira worth visiting.Dhauli Hills has major Ashokan rock-edicts and a marble Peace Pagoda was built by the Japan- Buddha Sangha.Bhubaneshwar & Cuttack is the home to the Odia cinema industry dubbed as Ollywood where most of the Film Studios are situated.Odia culture survives in the form of Odissi dance,handicrafts , sand artistry ,sculpturing ,theatre ,music.Odissi, the oldest of the 8 surviving dance forms can be traced from archeological evidence from temples of Bhubaneshwar.

1)The Odissi state museum offers archeological artefacts,weapons,arts/crafts& history. 2)Tribal Research institute museum hosts authentic Tribal dwellings created by the Tribal Craftsmen.

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FAIRS & FESTIVALS :

1)RATHYATRA or Temple Car festival :Its the most important festival celebrated on the day of the Ashokastava in march/april.The images of Lingaraja(Shiva) & other deities are taken in a possession from Lingaraja temple to Mausi maa temple where the deities remain for 4 days.Hundreds of devotees participate in pulling the temple car carrying the deities known as Rukuna Ratna.The festival commomorates Lord Jagannatha who is said to be the incarnation of India’s reverred deities, Vishnu & Krishna. 2)Novakalebra & Chariot festival Jagannath Puri 3)Durga Pooja/Kali pooja 4)EKAMRA Festival with many cultural celebrations 5)Mahashivaratri 6)Ashokastami 7)Bali Yatra 8)Puri Beach festival 9)Adivasi Mela 10)Konark Dance festival 11)Chandrabhaaga Mela or Megha Saptami mela :Its a grand religious festival celebrated in Feb when thosands of pilgrims take a dip in the curative water of the pool & then go to the beach to witness the sunrise over the sea.This is then followed by Navagrih pooja. 12)Kalinga mahotsava 13)Dhauli mahotsava 14)Mukteshwara dance festival 15)Toshali National Craft mela 16)Khandgiri Utsava 17)Odisha literary festival

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CONNECTIVITY :

BHUBANESHWAR is connected very well to major cities of India through Air(Bhubaneshwar A/P is only 5km from the city), Railway(Rly Stn is only 2km from the city) &Road (NH-5 passes through BBNSR connecting to Kolkatta,Chennai,Tatanagar & Vishakapatnam.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

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TEMPLES-1)Lingaraja temple-,2)Parshurameswara temple,3)Rajarani temple,3)Mukteshwara tem ple,4)Vaital Deol temple,5)Swaranjaleshwar temple,6)Brahmeshwar temple,7)Kalijai mai temple in Chilka lake.8)Atri -temple dedicated to Lord Hatakeshwar &hot spring bathing complex,9)Udaigiri & Khandgiri Caves,10)Dhauli hills & Peace Pagoda -Ashokan rock edict is located here.Sculpted Elephant atop the edict signifies Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism after the Kalinga victory.The Vishwa Shanti stupa is located on the Dhauligiri hills -a magnificient Buddhist temple built built by Indo-Japanese collaboration.Below the Dhaulagiri hills river Daya flows peacefully. ,11)Nandankanan Zoological park-is endowed with a natural lake,its famous for the rare white tiger &migrating birds.It has countries largest Lion Safari with ropeway &Toytrain.,12)Hirapur -Hypaethral temple of 64 Yoginis,13)Pipli-home of Applique work &popular Craft items on sale,14)Konark-The crowning glory of Oriya temple architecture,the Sun temple is also known as the Black Pagoda built in the reign of Narsimhaden-I.Legends say that Samba the son of Lord Krishna was afflicted with leprosy brought about by his father’s curse on him.After 12 yrs of penance ,he was cured by Surya,the Sun God in whose honour this temple was built.Its a UNESCO World heritage site with unique architecture with images of Sun God!The temple depicts a 100ft high Chariot pulled by horses &wheels.The monument portrays the imposing chariot of the Sun God whose chariot is escorted by his charioteer Aruna.Its famous for Konark Sun temple,Chandrabhaga beach &the Ram Chandi beach ,15) Puri-Its one of the 4 dhams of Hindu pilgrimage sites of India.Puri is home to Lord Jagannath(lord of the universe),Subhadra(his sister)& Balabhadra (his brother),its renowned for the much worshipped Rath yatra and the serene beaches rather called the Golden beaches! Puri distt.encompasses most of the Chilka lake-Asia’s largest freshwater lake.Chilka lake-Its the biggest inland lake of India spreading over 1100 sqkm.Its a scenic spot for watching birds & dolphins.Also there is a Maa kalajai temple in the lake visited by many pilgrims,16)Rourkela-Its the steel city of Odisha having one of the largest steel plants-SAIL., 17) Sambalpur-Its the 5th largest city of Odisha located on the banks of Mahanadi.Its the home of Sambalpuri sarees which is world famous textile industry &diamond export to Rome,its renowned for Maa Samaleshwary(which is the presiding deity of Sambalpur) temple,Dr Abdul Kalam planetorium,IIM & Sitalsasthi Carnival,18)Hirakud Dam &Reservoir-Its built across Mahanadi river about 15km from Sambalpur in Odisha.Hirakud reservoir is 743 sqkm.The dam with 347.5 MW capacity hydoelectric station was completed in 1957.With 26km length Hirakud is the longest earthen dam in India.Its a composite structure of Earth,concrete & masonary.Its a multipurpose dam generating electricy,providing irrigation water & flood protection.

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My readers please note that all information on the above writeup has been collected from authentic sources & discrepancy if any may kindly be poited out on this site so that necessary corrections may be made!My sincere gratitude to the Wikipaedia &Incredible India for the related information & the photos! Happy Reading !

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Due to Almighty’s grace & as if a boon granted/dream fulfilled,I got a chance to visit Rawatbhata-the place so very close to my heart where I spent those marvellous years of childhood(1961-71),Schooling (1964-75) & later on by God’s grace getting appointed to serve R.A.P.S(1981-85).Afterwards I was transferred to NAPS,Narora in 1985.My readers may pl. refer my Rawatbhata blog dtd 19/11/20 for relevant details .I am associated with the place right since my father was working in Chambal Dam Project(1961-63)afterwhich he joined RAPP in 1963 when Rawatbhata was just like a small town famous for RPS Dam & the upcoming Nuclear power plants! I was a very small kid👦 then.

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On a very fine morning of 08/07/2021,I, alongwith my wife & mother started from Jaipur & reached Kota at 10am where we met some of our relatives(including my Uncle &Aunty after such a long time thanks to the Corona Pandemic)!After a nice lunch we started for Rawatbhata enjoying the picturesque journey on the way& reached my naphews house at 6pm to celebrate his birthday.It was a great feeling to be at RB.We thoroughly enjoyed our two days stay at Rawatbhata thus having some respite from the monotonous life but at the same time observing full precautions/Corona adaptive behaviour.Great outing 💖

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Happy Reading my dear Readers! Be Happy,Be Alert & Be Safe ,Friends !

1. Congratulations ! Your site , Travel and Share, passed  10,000 all-time views.Take a deep dive

I am once again grateful to all my lovely co-bloggers & valued readers for the constant support & encouragement without which achievement of this milestone couldn’t have been possible for me ! I sincerely hope & am sure that all of you will continue to support me in the future as well ! Keep healthy and be safe!Love you all 💖

TRAVEL AND SHARE

1,337 Likes

1. Congratulations on getting 1,337 total likes on Travel and Share.Your current tally is 1,338. THANK YOU ALL

I am very very grateful to all my readers for the great support & motivation💖

Hello Lovely Co-Bloggers & dear Readers💖 : Thank you everybody for your constant support & motivation without which this could not have been possible !

I started my blogging journey in Nov.2019 & am overwhelmed by the continued encouragement in the form of Likes & Comments from you all to which I have reciprocated with all warmth!Throughout my blogging journey till date my soul aim was to collate information on tourist destinations and share it with my valued readers for benefitting them as much I could.I sincerely hope & am sure that all of you will continue to support me in the future as well ! In these Covid times please keep safe & be optimistic as this phase(like dark clouds)will also pass bringing back(like sunnshine) bright smiles to our faces.Till then we can engage in virtual tourism & planning tours of the future.

Incidently,its also my birthday today & time for double Celebrations💞Love you all💖

TRAVEL AND SHARE

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BIKANER: WELCOME to the HARBOUR FOR SHIP OF THE DESERT: THE CAMEL. If ever you wanted to visit a place which encapsulates the beauty,culture and paradisiacal experience with luxury travelling with exposure to glorious history & amazing scenery of Thar desert,then you must pay a visit to Bikaner.Bikaner lies in medieval splendour,a royal fortified city lying in the middle of the Thar with a timeless appeal.It can be considerered an exotic beauty that attracts all kinds of travellers to indulge in the royal hospitality of the heartwarming people of Rajasthan. It has got every flavour of the land in its feathers starting from history &culture to tradition,adventure & cuisine.Its believed to be a cultural paradise as well as heaven for travellers with mesmerizing work of architecture.The glorious past surely astonishes & takes us back in time to learn about the bygone era.Bikaner still displays its ancient opulence through palace & forts built of redstone bear testimony to the architectural legacy that have withstood the test of time.Walk through cities lanes & colourful bazaars.Meet its cheerful folks and transport yourself to another place,another time .The city boasts of the worlds best riding camels and is aptly nicknamed as -”Camel Country” (Camel being the ship of the Thar desert),its having the largest Camel Research &breeding farms as well being known for having its own Unique temple dedicated to Karni mata at Deshnok called the rats temple.

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There are some great tourist attractions/thrilling off-beat activities like attending : 1)Famous Camel Festivals/Safaris, 2)Shopping at Kotgate,3)Tour of majestic Junagarh fort,4)Visiting the popular Karni mata,5) Witnessing the splendour of Lalgarh fort.6)Relishing the taste of local cuisines,7)Experience the luxury of Laxmi Vilas palace,8)Touring Wild life sanctuary at Gajner,9)Beating the heat at Skybird water park.10)Visit to the National research Centre on Camels, 11)Cow sanctuary.

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ABOUT BIKANER :

Bikaner is a city in Northwest of Rajasthan state,India at 330km from state capital Jaipur.Its the administrative H/Qs of BKN distt/BKN division located at an elevation of 242 mts above msl. Population is 6,44,406 as per the 2011 census.Languages spoken :Hindi,English & Marwari.Formerly the capital of Princely state Bikaner was founded by Rao Bikaji in 1488 & now it has developed into 4th largest city of Raj.The Ganga canal was completed in 1928,Indira Gandhi Canal was completed in 1987 facilitating the development of the district.Its surrounded by the thar desert& has a semi arid climate (with little rain fall)and with max.temperature reaching 48*in Summers& drops below freezing point in winters .Average rainfall is 241 mm per year &average temp. is 26.4*C.

MAHARAJAS OF BIKANER :

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H I S T O R Y of B I K A N E R :

Prior to 15th century, the now Bikaner region was barren wilderness called Jangladesh.Rao Bikaji Rathore(5Aug.1438-17 Jun 1504) was the founder of the kingdom of Bikaner in 1488 in the present day Rajasthan.He ruled from 1472-1504.He was the scion of the Rathore clan of Rajputs -son of Rao Jodha of Mandore who was the founder of the Marwar kingdom.His successor was Rao Naroji Singh.Being located in the Thar desert,BKN was considered a trade route between Central Asia and Gujarat Coast as it had adequate spring water.The strategic location of Bikaner on the ancient Caravan routes of west and central Asia made it the prime trade Centre in bygone years !Of all the 5 siblings,Rao Bikaji ,the most enterprising,chose the barren wilderness called Jangladesh and transformed it into a most impressive city! Bikaji built a fort in 1478 which is now in ruins.Another fort was built at 1.5km from the city centre known as the Junagarh fort(Chintamani Durg)by the next Maharaja VIth -Rai Singhji (1571 to 1611). Maharaja Karan Singhji(1631-1639) built the Karan mahal. Maharaja Gaj Singhji ( 1746-1787) refurbished the Chandra mahal. Maharaja Surat Singhji (1787-1828)decorated the audiece hall of Chandra mahal.Under Maharaji Surat Singhji ,Bikaner came under the Suzerainty of the British after which the Maharaja of Bikaner invested in refurbishing the Junagarh fort. Maharaja Lal Singhji (1831-1887) was the son of Sangat Singhji and father of Dungar Singhji & Maharaja Ganga Singhji. Maharaja Dungar Singh(1872-1887) built Badal mahalor the weather palace being so named in the view of the painting of clouds and falling rain ,a rare event in the otherwise arid Bikaner.

His Highness Ganga Singhji (1887-1943)is considered the visionary Maharaja of Bikaner, was best known for Raj.princes &favourites of British Viceroys of India.He was appointed Knight Commander.He also built the Ganga Niwas or Lalgargh Palace.He named it after his Father Lal Singhji.Its presently a heritage hotel &part of it is the residence of Royal family of Bikaner.He moved his official residence Junagarh fort to Lalgarh palace in 1902.The hall where he held his Golden Jubillee in 1938 is a museum now.Ganga Singhs son Lt.General Sir Sadul Singhji(1943-1950) ,the yuvraj of Bikaner ,succeeded his father in 1943 but acceeded his his state to the Union of India in 1949.Maharaja Sadul Singh was born in 1902 & died in 1950.He was succeeded in his title by his son Karni Singhji(1924-1988)

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TOP PLACES OF INTEREST IN BIKANER : 1)LALGARH PALACE,2)JUNAGARH FORT,3)LAXMI NIWAS PALACE, 4)GAJNER PALACE &WILDLIFE SANTUARY, 5)RAMPURIA HAVELI,6)BIKAJI KI TEKRI,7)SADUL SINGH MUSEUM,8)PRACHIN MUSEUM,9)GANGA SINGH MUSEUM,10)JAIN TEMPLE ,BHANDASAR,11)SHRI LAXMINATH TEMPLE,12)SHIVBARI TEMPLE,13)KARNI MATA,DESHNOK,14)KOLAYATJI,15)RATAN BIHARI TEMPLE,16)KODAMDESAR TEMPLE,17)KOT GATE,18)NATIONAL CENTRE ON ANIMALS,19)DEVIKUND SAGAR,20)SURSAGAR LAKE.

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W I L D L I F E : 1)A varity of birds and mammals and reptiles are found in Bikaners semi arid climate.2)Host to 1200 migratory birds vultures-Egyptian &king vultures.3)Saw scaled Vipers,4)Gajner wild life sanctuary(32km from Bikaner),5)Magra sheep ,also known as Chokhla or Chakri, is a breed of sheep found in Bkn, Jaisalmer and Churu.

TRANSPORTATION : Bikaner is very well connected to major cities of India through Railways& Roadways networks !At 15 kms from city is the domestic civil Airport (NAL A/P)with regular flights to Jaipur and Delhi.

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SHOPPING :Apart from the colourful garments and Gold &silver jewllery,the typical items of Bikaner are items made of camel hide,camel and sheep wool carpets!Bikanery Bhujia ,Rasgulla and sweets are popular all over India.Colourful shopping areas include Kot gate King Edward memorial Road,khadi shops ,Urmul trust near Central bus stand!

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CUISINE : 1)Most famous snacks is the Bikaneri bhujia,2)Bajre ki roti,3)Dal baati Choorma,4)Rasgulla and Gulab jamun,5)kachori/samosa.6)kair sangri sabji,7)Imli pani,8)Halwa and 9)Ghevar.

EDUCATION :1)Govt.Engg. college,2)Maharaja Ganga Singh U niversity,3)University of Veterinary and Animal sciences,4)Swami Keshwanand raj. Agricultural Univ.5)Bikaner technical University,6)Marudhar Engg college.

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Attending a Wedding in the Lakshmi Niwas Palace Heritage Hotel :

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FAIRS & FESTIVALS : 1)FOUNDATION DAY FESTIVAL on the Akshaya Tritiya Day : Flying kites ,eating special Rajasthani food.It lasts for two days -Chhoti & badi akha teej. 2) INTERNATIONAL CAMEL FESTIVAL :Its held in Jan every year organised by Deptt. of tourism,Art and culture.In honour of the ship of desert-Camel-beautifully adorned camels and the performance by artists for both domestic and foreign tourists.Other interesting activities are Camel dances,neckshaking Camel rides.There are some competitions-Mr Bikana and Miss Marwari taking place here.

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READERS may please report any incorrect information on this site which will be duly corrected! I am grateful to the Travel site-”Rajasthan -the Incredible state of India”for the great travel literature & few photographs of Bikaner (Rajasthan), Happy Reading, dear friends!

Congrats on getting 1,000 likes on ‘Travel and Share‘, Current tally is 1004

It was quite a pleasant beginning of my day yesterday when I received this notification. I hereby convey my gratitude to all my readers for the great support & encouragement which means a lot to me &without which it wouldn’t have been possible in the first place. It is just over an year now since I started blogging and have posted 33 blogs on my site which you all have appreciated so much with 829 positive & motivating comments. Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel to tourist destinations has almost come to a halt & also travelogue posts have understandably declined. As Corona has re-emmerged in a bigger way recently,lets all take stringent measures & follow all directives of the Government,prescribed from time to time,to contain the pandemic . Till then we must engage in virtual tourism in order to keep our interests alive! I ‘travel & share’ my experiences with my readers/other awesome bloggers who have set exciting travel goals for the future. Stay safe / healthy & always be optimistic in life. All the best dear ones.💖

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R A J A S T H A N :

The name evokes visions of royal splendor & tales of valour & sacrifice .Its a land of Kings,queens ,artisans,camel- herders,snake charmers,refined living & gentle ways.Its a magical land of heroism & chivalry where bloody battles were fought with utter ruthlessness,the land where jauhars were committed for the sake of pride.Land is known for the great sacrifice of Panna Dhai, bravery of Jaimal& Patta and Chivalry/Valour of great warriors Maharana Pratap & Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan & many more.In Rajasthan cities sprang up around citadels!They still retain their medieval flavour with Forts/Palaces and Havelis for people to stay in ,with temple/Mosques for people to pray. Vibrant Bazaars,selling fabrics and jewellery ,art and crafts that are millenia old.Yet here tradition goes hand in hand with the contemporary. Here Industry & commerce are flourishing very well.Come to Rajasthan,you will be mesmerized by the folk dances that have a unique rythem, ballads sung magically in the air. Temple bells chime to declare faith of the believers.Pilgrims throng to dedicate their belief to the Almighty above.Rajasthani art is a school by itself.Exquisite miniature painting & frescoes fit for the most discerning of Connoisseurs. Pamper your taste buds by enjoying the mouthwatering cuisine of the region-ranging from deserts to royal dishes.On your visit to Rajasthan, stay where the maharajas lived once.A wide range of accomodation is available all over the state to suit all budgets.Royal havelis transformed into heritage hotels with impeccable service fit royalty.We can also go for mid range budget accomodation key being the comfort of your room.Rajasthan is well connected through air ,rail& road with all major cities of the country. Conducted sightseeing tours,tourist taxies& RTDC Buses are available.Please come with time on your hands to soak in the charms of Rajasthan-a tourist paradise which stretches to the limits of your imagination.

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RAJPUTANA : The State of Rajasthan was part of Rajputana alongwith some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The main settlements to the west of the Aravali hills came to be known as Rajputana early in the medieval period.This name was adopted by the British in year 1800 AD until it was replaced by ‘THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN’ in the CONSTITUTION of 1949.

JAIPUR :

The capital of Rajasthan takes its name from its founder Maharaja Jai Singhji.Renowned as the Pink city its one of the most beautiful cities of India with great cultural richness and heritage .Jaipur is the very epitome of vibrant and colourful living traditions and its magic attracts one and all whether native or a foreigner-lover of art ,history and architecture.Shopping ,glammer of polo,film shoots to traditional art forms ,wildlife to urban lifestyle.Its a modern city retaining its medieval charm.Owing to citys strategic location,excellent infrastructure ,connectivity,low cost of transportation and living,its a mix of modern and talented manpower are ideal elements favouring its phenomenal riseas a leading business centre..Its developing into a perfect destination for real estate business for developers as well as indivisual invester.Also it is attracting investment in future fields of IT,ITES,BPO &KPO Services.Its the first planned city of northern India.Medical and healthcare services have come up in a promising way.World class hospitals like Fortis Escorts,Narain Hridayala,Reliance healthcare,EHCC, Bombay hospital ,Manipal group, Mahavir cancer hospital, SDMH, SMS Hospital, Jaipur Foot have come up very well providing destinations for medical tourism being very cost effective for foreigners.Its also destination for traditional & alternative medicines like Ayurveda,Homeopathy and other holistic methods like Accupressure. The pink colour of the city is related to hospitality .Jaiput offers a pink carpet for the visitors. Planning of city was done by Architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya built by Sawai Jaisingh II in 1727AD.Laid in a grid system with straight avenues ,roads ,streets,lanes criss cross the city with rows of shops on either side of the main bazaar arranged in nine rectangular city sectors (chowkris).Planning of city followed the principles of Shilpshastas ,an amazing monument of Hindu architecture.Displaying remarkable harmony,the heart of city still beats in the fairytale palaces and fortresses perched on the hills.Its encircled by a formidable wall .Jaipur is a blend of tradition & modernity .Beatifully laid out gardens & parks interperse the timeless appeal of its colourful bazars where one can stop for Rajasthani handlooms &sovernirs.A night spent at a heritage hotel,once the residence of Maharajas, takes one back to the royal times thus making yr trip a truly memorable one.

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HISTORY OF JAIPUR :

Raja Man Singh Kachhawah of Amber(Reign-1590 to 1614)was the chief of Mughal Army and Jaipur was a powerful regime. Kachhawas belong to the Ksatriya or warrior caste of the Hindus but they trace back their origin to the sun via Kush who was the twin son of Lord Rama. Jaipurs history dates back to the 12th century when Kachhawah clan of Rajputs arrived at the old fort palace of Amber in the Aravali hills. They ousted the Susawat Meenas who became the hereditary royal guards. Kachhawas with their brilliant soldiering and knack for lucrative alliances they developed with Moghuls that brought them real power,influence and wealth.Arriving from Jaipur through the narrow pass in the hills,you are presented with a view of the honey coloured Amber Fort palace that conforms to every expectation of a royal fort located on a rugged hill reflected in the maota lake below.The elephants plod up the ramparts roads and the Amber villagewhich clusters around the hill.Man Singh erected the renowned Amber fortin 17th century.Raja Jai Singh a scholor,architect,astronomer ,mathematician and a talentedresearcher succeeded him!He united he rajputs and the state of Amber flourished and in 1727,Sawai Jai Singh decided to move his capital to Jaipur.The power to create such a strong fort enclosing such beauty was built over several generations.Raja Biharimal made the first move.Recognising Mughal power,he paid homage to Emperor Humayun and led a 5000 strong army for him and made sure he was the first Rajput presented in Akbars court.His real chance came when Akbar made his first Annual Pilgrimage to Ajmer which lay in kachhhawa territory.On visiting Akbar,Biharimal gave his adopted grandson into royal service.Next ruler Bhagwan Das cemented the alliance as Man Singh was leadingGeneral under both Akbar and Jahangir and Jai Singh I was commanding the Moghul force for Jahangir and fought all over the Moghul Empire for Shah Jehan to become Auranjebs most prized commander later on Jai Singh II came to the throne and Auranjeb awarded him the title Sawai meaning one quarter apart from his soldiering abilities.He fulfilled his other passions -the art and Science where he devised the stone instruments for open air observatory at Jaipur, Delhi ,Varanasi &Ujjain.After asending the throne he shifted his capital to Jaipur.He consulted the best mathematician, astronmer and Shilpashastras before making a blue print of the new city. After building close bonds with Moghuls he envisaged his dream project -the building of Jaipur. The foundation was laid in 1727 and eminent architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya was asked to design the Pink city.The city was surrounded by ten Gates arranged in nine sectors(Chokris).The pink city symbolises warm ‘Welcome’ to receive guests whom they consider uGods.Also considering the intense hot glare of the sun,the buildings are painted rose pink.

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MAIN PLACES OF TOURISTS ATTRACTION:

1)The CITY PALACE COMPLEX : comprising the Diwane-aam, Diwane-khas, Chandra mahal & the museum. 2)GOVINDEVJI TEMPLE,3)JANTAR MANTAR,4)HAWAMAHAL,5)MOTI DUNGARI FORT, 6)LAXMI NARAIN BIRLA TEMPLE,7)JANTAR MANTAR-a medieval astronomical observatory.7)JAGAT SHIROMANI TEMPLE,8)JAIGARH FORT, 9)NAHARGARH FORT,10)JAL MAHAL,11)AMBER FORT &PALACE COMPLEX(with light & sound show),12)SWARGHASULI/ISHARLAT,13)RAMNIWAS BAGH & ZOO 14)DOLLS MUSEUM,15)SISODIA RANI BAGH,16)ALBERT HALL & Museum ,17)VIDHYADHAR GARDEN, 18)GAITORE,19)STATUE CIRCLE,20)GALTAJI,21)BIRLA PLANETORIUM, 22)ANOKHI MUSEUM OF HAND PRINTING ,23)TALKATORA.,24)MOTI DUNGRI GANESH MANDIR

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GUIDED WALL CITY TOUR:(Including 10 gates)1)Ajmeri gate ,2)Sanganeri gate,3)New gate,4)Chandpole bazar,5)Panch Batti,6)MI Road,7)Statue of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singhji,8)Rajmandir,9)Chhoti Chaupad,10)kishanpole bazar(known for its texlile and tie dye Bandhani and Loharia ,11)Maniharon ka Rasta,12)Tripolia gate, 13)Jantar mantar,14)Swarsguli or Ishar Lat,15)Joravar Singh gate,16)Surajpole gate, 17)Ghat Gate,18)Jaleb chowk,19)Tripolia bazar, 20)Chandpole,21)Hawamahal,22)Badi Chaupad.

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EXCURSIONS TO DESTINATIONS AROUND JAIPUR:1)Sanganer (block printing & garment Industry visit),2)Bagru( block printing & garment Industry visit),3)Ramgarh lake,4)Bairath,5)Sambhar salt lake(for details readers may kindly visit my blog on Sambhar lake),6)Karauli mataji ,7)Samode palace,8)Mehndipur ke balaji,9)Ranthambhore fort/national park & Tiger safari,10)Kaila devi,11)Bisalpur dam,12)Madhavgarh Tunga,13)Abhaneri, 14)Tonk, 15)Bhangarh ruins.16) Sariska

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15)Golden Triangle tour of Delhi/Agra/Fatehpur Sikri/ Jaipur(6-days tour) Day-1.Reach Delhi early morning stay at Hotel.After refreshments proceed for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi Day-2.Drive to Agra (203km/4.5hrs)Overnight at hotel. Day-3.Sightseeing of Agra monuments and worthvisiting spots. Day-4.Leave for Jaipur (250km/5.5hrs) Overnight at a heritage Hotel. Day-5.City tour of Jaipur spots & monuments. Day-6.Excursions to the nearby tourist destinations of Jaipur.

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DELHI :

Its a city of booming urban civilization,of Moghul splendor,of a colonial past. Delhi was ‘capital of 7 Empires’in Indian history and has over 60000 recognised monuments built over several millenia.King Angadpal Singh Tomar founded Delhi and later Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Angadpal to take the throne. Prithvi Raj Chauhan also built Surajkund near Tuglakabad.As per the Archealogical survey of India,it is believed that the site of Indraprasta, founded by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata more than 3000yrs ago.Delhi is now a throbbing metropolis with architectural marvels, traditional bazaars offering a unique shopping experience.Polo grounds ,imperial gardens& much more.The historic architecture of Delhi are its main tourist attractions. There are fascinating ruins of tombs, palaces & mosques.It depicts a picture rich in culture, architecture ,human diversity, monuments ,museums,galleries. Main tourist attractions :1)Birla temple,2)Akshardham temple,3)Gurudwara Bangla Sahib,4)Gurudwara Sisgang sahib,5)Humayus tomb,6)India Gate,7)Qutub minar,8)Jama masjid,9)Jantar mantar,10)Lotus temple,11)Rashpati bhawan,12)Rajghat ,13)Rajpath,14)Mehrauli park,15)Purana quila,16)Red Fort,17)Chandni Chowk, 18)Connaught place,19)Dilli haat,20)Janpath,21)Baba Kharak Singh marg with shopping complexes.22)Cottage Industry Emporium.

AGRA :

When we think of Agra,we invariably think of the Tajmahal. One of the seven wonders of the world, built entirely of white marble, Tajmahals architectural beauty, Fatehpur Sikri and Sikandra are famous sites. Agra is testimony to the legendary Moghul empire in the architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the grandeur of its forts& palaces & exquisitively laid out courts and gardens which are over 600yrs old. Craftsman of Agra are renowned for elegant Gold thread embroidered patterns, meticulously, crafted leather shoes and famous marble work. Places of interest:1)Agra Fort, 2)Tajmahal, 3)Akbars Tomb in Sikandra,4)Fatehpur Sikri,5)Sikandra, 6)Panch mahal.

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Jaipur Cultural Events: Rich tradition of customs and rituals.Kathak has its own famous as Raj Gharana,timeless tradition of of theatre play attracts audience at Ravindra manch ang the Jaipur Kala kendra for performances.Dhrupad singers and Rajasthani music has its own place with people from diverse religions , regional & educational backgrounds. Western influences have made inroads but Jaipur has not compromised with its culture and heritage.

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FESTIVALS:1)Ramnavami ,2)Budhpurnima, 3)Mahavir Jayanti, 4)Baisakhi, 5)Teej, 6)Rakshabandhan, 7)Janmastami, 8)Dussehra, 9)Durga pooja ,10)Diwali, 11)Guru parab ,12)Gangaur,13)Christmas, 14)New year,15)Muharram, 16)Idul Fitre, 17)Elephant festival with Polo matches ,procession of Elephants playing with colors, 18)Horse Polo.

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FAIRS :1)A Weeklong Annual foundation day is a cultural extravaganja starting on 30th march with musical evenings, craf exposition,food bazars,rural sports and dance performances all very colourfully celebrated,2) Gangaur festival Procession,

Heritage Hotels :1)Hotel Bissau Palace,2)Fort Chandragupta Hotel, 3)Hotel Diggi palace,4)Hotel Jais, 5)Hotel Meru palace,6)LMB Palace, 7)Vesta Maurya palace,8)Hotel Meru Palace, 9)Jas Vilas, 10)Maharani palace, 11)Hotel Ratnavali, 12)The Solitair palace,13)The Wall street, 14)Park Inn, 15)Hotel Man Singh,16)Le Meridian,17)Jal mahal palace,18)Umaid Haveli,19)Clarks Amer, 20)Pride Amber Vilas. 21)Chokhi Dhani

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Budget Hotels: 1)Arya niwas, 2)Jaipur Inn,3)Hotel Eurasis, 4)Hotel Pearl palace, 5)Rajdhani hotel,6)Hotel Red fox hotel, 7)Hotel Sai regency,8)Tara niwas. Restaurants :Dasaprakash, Garden Cafe,Fresh Flowers, Geetanjali, Gardiana,Handi, Indian coffee house,Jal mahal, Natraj Neel mahal,Niroj,Kanjee sweets, Rangoli,Ripples, Spices sances,Oasis, Pink city Restaurants,Suvarna mahal, Tulsi,Rang mahal.

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Shopping Malls :City pulse ,Crystal mall, Cryatal court, Crystal palm, Titan mall, GTC Mall, Ganpati plaza, Gaurav tower, Mall-21, Big bazar, Vishal mega mart, Reliance fresh, Cotton by century, Lifestyle, Shoppers stop, John players, Adidas, Arrow, Koutans, Lacoste, Lee, Lewis, Monte Carlo.Archies gallery, Mufti ,Nike, Pepe Jeans. Amusement Parks : Aapno Rajasthan,Chokhi Dhani, Fun kingdom,Kanchan Kesari, Pink Pearl, Purple..

Garments /Furnishings : Amrapali Exports, Abhinandan,Anokhi,Zari, Curio, Chandni Crafts, Fab India, Indi soul, Ateliar,Rasa, Ratan textile, Somendra textiles, Sri Neelkantha exports,Soma shop, Nikhar fashions, Taluka stores.

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Fashion &Jewellery : Casa de Plata, Dwarikas, Kothari Jewels,Sohit traders,Sunrise Silver Palace,Takat, Gem India, Alankriti,Birdichand Ghanshyamdas , Bhuramal Rajmal Surana, Divine jewellers, Gem paradise, Gem plaza, SJ jewllers, Jeypore Jewellers, Sanchi jewells, Tanishq -the Jewellers.

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Block Printing : 1) Sanganeri Prints, 2) Bagru Prints

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Pottery :1)Bharat potteries, 2)Kuber Handicrafts

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Climate : Jaipur is located at 413 mts above msl, Max. temperature in May/Jun is 45*C & mean temperature is 25*C. Dec./Jan is cold with min. temp. around 8.3*C and mean temp of around 22*C . Best time to visit Jaipur is from Sept. to April .

‘Aapno Rajasthan’ , ‘Atithi Deva Bhava’ & ‘Padharo mhare desh’ are the welcome themes of tourism in the state of Rajasthan

My readers please note that all information on the above writeup has been collected from authentic sources & discrepancy if any may kindly be poited out on this site so that necessary corrections may be made!My sincere gratitude to the Visitors Guide India,Discover Rajasthan & Mercury Travels for the related information & the photos!