The province of Rajasthan is not only the largest in area; it is also rich in history and culture. The different rulers have left their mark on the place. The big cities of Rajasthan are reflective of this fact with many fascinating places to visit and many things to do while one is in the city. For a tourist, Rajasthan offers many delightful places to explore.
Ranthambhore National Park
Built on an area of 1,334 square kilometer Ranthambhore National Park is located on Aravalli and Vindhya hills and provides home to hundreds of birds, mammals and reptiles. It’s noted for its tiger and leopard population. The best season to see the tigers is summer when they come out to drink water from small holes. Apart from that, numerous peacocks, deers, gazelle and bears can be spotted. It is a fascinating place to visit after paying a small fee. In the off-hours, you can explore the surrounding region; the 10th century Ranthambhore Fort, perched on a nearby hill which is one of Rajasthan's more spectacular military strongholds.
Shilpgram
Shilpgram is the rural arts and craft village 3 km west of Udaipur which includes recreation of furnished huts. The village comes alive in December with the Shilpgram festival when people and craftsmen from all over India arrive here to display and sell their pieces of art. Puppet shows, dances, music and handicraft sales take place all the year.
Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is one of the world’s finest observatories. Made by Jai Singh in 1726, it’s a place to see. It is made up of brass and marble. It’s equipped with solar instruments called yahtras which look like large abstract sculptures but are remarkably precise in measuring celestial data. It is a fascinating place to see.
Mount Abu
A small tropical hilly resort in the middle of the Rajasthan desert surrounded by the flowering shrubs and forests is the Mount Abu. It was selected as the site of the most sacred mystic rites in old times. It is also a center of Jain pilgrimage. The intricate carvings of marble at the Dilwara temple are worth seeing.
Camel Safari
Camel Safari is the ideal way of spending time exploring rustic Rajasthan. A camel safari moves through the golden sands of the Thar Desert passing through the remote villages. The fortified cities of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner are best areas to be explored by camel safari carried out in a comfortable manner with all the necessary equipments.
Bird Watching
Bird watching is the thing to do when one is in Rajasthan during the months of October as approximately 337 birds arrive from central Asia, Mongolia and Siberia. Bharatpur is known for having its share of migrating birds.
Rajasthani cuisine
Rajasthani cuisine is the thing to try while one is on a visit to the province. The main meal consists of daal, bati, choorma also known as picnic food. Daal is the lentil curry, while bati is a round ball of bread cooked in charcoal fire. Choorma is a sweet dish made of sugar and oil.
Mehndi
Mehndi or putting of Henna on hands is now a fashion for women; the hands of women are well decorated in Rajasthan with designs of peacock, lotus flower and elephant with a raised trunk. The patterns are made beautifully with relish. The women of Rajasthan are experts in the application of henna.
Paintings
The Paintings in Rajasthan can be traced back to the prehistoric times. Fragments of paintings on pottery have been discovered from various areas of Rajasthan. The most fascinating of them are miniatures, small paintings made on non ivory marble and leather.
