Kerala

God owned retreat

Sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the hill ranges of the Western Ghats, Kerala is made of the coastline and the beaches, the forests and the wildlife, the backwaters and the houseboats, the therapeutic Ayurvedic and Yoga Spas, pure green of tea-leaves and fresh aroma of spices, a culture and a way of life jealously guarded against the onslaught of time and civilizations. Kerala has shot South India to fame in the globe-trotters bluelist. Records quote 3.46 lakhs foreign tourists in Kerala in 2005 and an increase of 15% is expected the following year.

It is both easiest and most difficult to write about something that inspires an endless flow of lexicon. And beautiful Kerala is emblematic of such perplexities. No wonder God called it His Own Country!

Rajasthan

Of Kings and Retro beats

From Delhi drive South, beyond Gurgaon, and notice the vegetation getting sparser, trees dwarfing and their ‘green’ fading to something that is best termed ‘dull’ and then suddenly a ‘flash of colors’ almost blindfolds you and you know you have reached Rajasthan! Almost the size of France, Rajasthan, is an arid desertland lorded by the Thar (desert), veined with numerous lakes and the Aravalli range running across to cradle the lands only hill station Mount Abu. Over the years, Rajasthan the post-independance name for Rajputana or the ‘land of princes’ has more than made-up for what Nature overlooked, by carving an irrefutable niche as a tourist favorite joint in India. So much so that some actually believe: Visit Rajasthan and you have seen everything that is India.

The Best of Rajasthan

A truly palatial State, Rajasthan is best known for its imposing Forts and palaces a classic showcase of Indian heritage. ‘Pink City’ Jaipur (capital) and ‘Blue City’ Jodhpur are famed best for their well-preserved Forts and palaces. Impregnable havelis (mansions), still peopled, adorn the Shekhawati and Jaisalmer region. Pilgrims trek up Mount Abu for the famous Dilwara Temples (Jain), while the Dargah Sharif at Ajmer draws believers from across the globe. Flanking Ajmer is the tiny town of Pushkar that hosts the Asia’s largest camel fair (the Pushkar Mela). Nature enthusiasts head straight for tiger tracking at the two national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska, while ornithologists have Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur with Asia’s largest concoction of avifauna, and famed for the Siberian Cranes. Our Destination Guide has a city-wise Culinary and Shopping gossip. Tie your belts for a virtual tour of what we believed will interest you most in Regal Rajasthan.

Festivals

The retro facade of this rustic land is best noted during Festivals. And the good news is, the land sees one Festival or the other, at one place or another, round about the whole year.

Culture

The Rajputana cultural diaspora is diverse but something typical and unique binds them together so that it never takes another Indian too long to single them out.

Best Sites of Rajasthan:

Ajmer, Bikaner, Udaipur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Mount Abu, Ranthambore National park, Sariska National Park, Bharatpur National ParkWhat not to miss:
Camel Safari, Elephant Safari, Camping in the Desert, Trekking at Mount Abu, Stay at a Heritage Resort, Pushkar Camel fair, Handicrafts, Rajasthani Cuisine Some News of Use
Adopt-A-Monument: A fine stance of involving the public in the conservation efforts of the heritage monuments of Rajasthan, is this new scheme of Government of Rajasthan that calls upon the NRIs, Non-resident Rajasthanis, Individuals, Organisations and Corporate houses to contribute for their Heritage Fund and help them preserve the treasures of the past (For details you can email: rajfound@raj.nic.in).

Reaching Rajasthan:

The Airport in the Capital, Jaipur is served by both domestic and International flights. The Indian Airlines, Air India, Sahara and various other private airlines operate flights between Jaipur and Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Udaipur, Aurangabad, Jodhpur and other important cities. The other major domestic airports are in Udaipur and Jodhpur. The luxury train “Palace on Wheels” begins from Rajasthan and entails Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Agra.
The most convenient option is to drive from Delhi (distance is 259 km/5 hours) and reach the State capital of Jaipur, near the eastern border. Jaipur is also the third point (the others being nearby Delhi and Agra/Taj) of the much-traveled Golden Triangle. Should you choose to start your trip here, you are in fact well positioned to visit the rest of Rajasthan. Agra is just 232 km from Jaipur.

When to Go:

Pre-monsoons in Rajasthan extends from April to June, and is the hottest season, with temperatures ranging from 32°-45°C. At this time, Mount Abu remains the only option to head for. Come Monsoons (July to September) temperature drops but humidity increases making it very uncomfortable. January-March is winters when temperature even drops to 0°C at places. The best time to visit Rajasthan is during the cooler months from October to March.