Tourism in Rajasthan

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Schematic map of Rajasthan Travel map Schematic map of Rajasthan Travel map by Surbhi Tak.jpg
Schematic map of Rajasthan Travel map

Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, for both domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture with its slogan "Padharo Mhare Desh (Welcome to my land.)" [1] The capital city, Jaipur, also known as Pink City, is a very popular tourist destination and is a part of the Golden Triangle. The Walled City of Jaipur is only the second Indian city to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, [2] after Ahmedabad.

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The palaces of Jaipur, lakes of Udaipur, and desert forts of Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer are among the most preferred destinations of many tourists, Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for almost 15% of the state's domestic product. [3] In 2019, 52 million domestic tourists visited Rajasthan. [4]

Palaces

Rajasthan is known for its historical hill forts & palaces, it is claimed as the best place for tourism-related to palaces.

Forts

Rajasthan is known for its forts. Hill Forts of Palaces in Rajasthan are also a part of world heritage. [5]

Hill forts in the World Heritage list

The six Hill Forts of Rajasthan, spread across Rajasthan state in northern India, clustered together as a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forts are mainly based in the Aravalli Range, [6] and were built and enhanced between the 5th and 18th centuries CE by several Rajput kings of different kingdoms. They comprise:

  1. Chittor Fort at Chittorgarh
  2. Kumbhalgarh Fort at Kumbhalgarh
  3. Ranthambore Fort at Sawai Madhopur
  4. Gagron Fort at Jhalawar
  5. Amer Fort at Jaipur
  6. Jaisalmer Fort at Jaisalmer
  7. Khejarla Fort at Khejarla, Jodhpur

Some of these forts have defensive fortification wall up to 20 km long, still surviving urban centers and still in use water harvesting mechanism. [7]

Other forts

These are some of the prominent forts of rajasthan:

Fairs and Festivals

Department of Tourism of Rajasthan Government organizes multiple fairs & festivals during the year. These festivals & fairs are great tourist attractions. Fairs organized in Rajasthan include:

Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks

Rajasthan has many wildlife and bird sanctuaries. Prominent among them are Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Ranthambore National Park, Mukundara Hills National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve and Desert National Park.

Religious Sites

Rajasthan has many famous temples from medieval times. Some prominent temples include Ghushmeshwar Temple, Eklingji Temple, Shrinathji Temple, Trinetra Ganesh Temple, Ranthambore, Mehandipur Balaji, Govind Dev Ji, Salasar Balaji, Ranakpur Jain temple, Osian temple, Brahma Temple, Pushkar and Dilwara Temples. Along with temples, there are a few important Sufi shrine too, most famous among them is Dargah (Tomb) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Outline of tourism in India

See also

Related Research Articles

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Rajasthan is a state in northern India. It covers 342,239 square kilometres (132,139 sq mi) or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern side, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert and shares a border with the Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to the west, along the Sutlej-Indus River valley. It is bordered by five other Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to the southeast; and Gujarat to the southwest. Its geographical location is 23°.3' to 30°.12' North latitude and 69°.30' to 78°.17' East longitude, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its southernmost tip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Western Railway zone</span> Zones of Indian Railways

The North Western Railway is one of 19 railway zones in India. It is headquartered at Jaipur, Rajasthan and has 59,075+ employees, 658+ stations and a route length of more than 5,761 kilometres (3,580 mi) across the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. NWR operates international rail service Thar Express from Jodhpur to Karachi. This zone is the key enabler of the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project by virtue of running railways 1,500 km long Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaisalmer</span> City in Rajasthan, India

Jaisalmer, nicknamed "The Golden city", is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west of the state capital Jaipur. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District. Before Indian independence, the town served as the capital of the Jaisalmer State, ruled by the Bhati Rajputs. Jaisalmer stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone and is crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort. This fort contains a royal palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples of both the fort and of the town below are built of finely sculptured yellow sandstone. The town lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and has a population, including the residents of the fort, of about 78,000. Jaisalmer ranked 9th on Booking.com's Top 10 The Most Welcoming cities in the world. The only indian city to make in the list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumbhalgarh</span> Fort at Rajsamand District of Rajasthan

Kumbhalgarh, also known as the Great Wall of India, is a fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills in the Rajsamand district of the Rajasthan state in western India. It is located about 84 km from Udaipur. It was built during the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. It is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. The wall of Kumbhalgarh is the second longest continuous wall in the world, spanning 38 kilometers, second only to the Great Wall of China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawai Madhopur</span> City in Rajasthan, India

Sawai Madhopur is a city in the Sawai Madhopur District in the southeastern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is the administrative headquarter of Sawai Madhopur District in Rajasthan. It is renowned for its historical and cultural significance, with one of its main attractions being the Ranthambhore National Park. Ranthambore National Park which is 13 km from the city, and Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site are located near Sawai Madhopur.

Gogunda is a town and tehsil headquarters of Gogunda Tehsil in Udaipur district, located about 35 km (22 mi) in north-west from Udaipur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated on a high mountain in Aravalli hills and is reached by crossing a difficult mountain pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jainism in Rajasthan</span>

Rajasthan, a state in western India, has had a close historical connection with Jainism. Southwestern Rajasthan was the main centre for Svetambara Jainism. Major Digambara centres are in the northern and eastern parts of Rajasthan. Central and Northern Rajasthan are the main centres for the Terapanth sect of Svetambara Jainism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaisalmer Fort</span> Fort in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India

Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the city of Jaisalmer, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is one of the very few "living forts" in the world, as nearly one fourth of the old city's population still resides within the fort. For the better part of its 860-year history, the fort was the city of Jaisalmer. The first settlements outside the fort walls, to accommodate the growing population of Jaisalmer, are said to have come up in the 17th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranthambore Fort</span> Fort in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India

Ranthambore Fort lies within the Ranthambore National Park, near the city of Sawai Madhopur in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, India. the park being the former hunting grounds of the Maharajahs of Jaipur until the time of India's Independence. It is a formidable fort having been a focal point of the historical developments of Rajasthan. The fort is believed to be constructed by numerous kings from Several Dynasties including Yadav lineage, Chahamana Rajputs, Hada Rajputs, Mewar Rajput Kings and then the Delhi Sultanate captured it for a brief time. The fort provides a panoramic view of the surrounding Ranthambore National Park and is now a popular tourist attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Rajasthan</span> Architecture in the Indian state of Rajasthan

The architecture of the Indian state of Rajasthan has usually been a regional variant of the style of Indian architecture prevailing in north India at the time. Rajasthan is especially notable for the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers, which are popular tourist attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Rajasthan</span>

Rajasthan is a mineral-rich state and has a diversified economy having agriculture, mining and tourism as its main engines of growth. The state mines produce gold, silver, sandstone, limestone, marble, rock phosphate, copper and lignite. It is the second-largest producer of cement and contributes one tenth of the salt produced in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Rajasthan</span> Overview of Rajasthans culture

The culture of Rajasthan includes many artistic traditions that reflect the ancient Indian way of life. Rajasthan is also called the "Land of Kings". It has many tourist attractions and facilities for tourists. This historical state of India attracts tourists and vacationers with its rich culture, tradition, heritage and monuments. It also has some wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hill Forts of Rajasthan</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern India

Hill Forts of Rajasthan are six forts, spread across Rajasthan state in northern India. They have been clustered as a series and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. The hill forts series include—Chittor Fort at Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh Fort at Rajsamand, Ranthambore Fort at Sawai Madhopur, Gagron Fort at Jhalawar, Amer Fort at Jaipur and Jaisalmer Fort at Jaisalmer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gagron Fort</span> Fort in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India

Gagron Fort is a hill and water fort and is situated in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan, in the Hadoti region of India. It is an example of a hill and water fort. The fort was built by Bijaldev Singh Dod in the twelfth century. Later, the fort has also been controlled by Sher Shah and Akbar. The fort is constructed on the confluence of Ahu River and Kali Sindh River. The fort is surrounded by water on three sides and a moat on the forth side and hence earned the name Jaladurg . It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 as a part of Hill Forts in Rajasthan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajput architecture</span> Overview of the architecture by the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan

Rajput architecture is an architectural style notable for the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers, which are popular tourist attractions, many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples</span> Jain temple in the state of Rajasthan

Jaisalmer Fort Jain temples is a group of seven Jain temples inside Jaisalmer Fort in state of Rajasthan. The Jaisalmer Fort is UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Hill Forts of Rajasthan and is famous for its ancient Jain temples. The temples are well known for their intricate carvings and attract many tourists and religious devotees.

References

  1. "'Padharo Mhare Desh': Rajasthan govt reverts to old tourism slogan". Hindustan Times. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Jaipur City, Rajasthan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. "Rajasthan Economy". business.mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  4. "Tourism Department Annual Progress Reports - Rajasthan Tourism". www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  5. "Hill Forts of Rajastan and Wooden Churches of the Carpathian region inscribed on World Heritage List". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  6. Kohli, M.S. (2004), Mountains of India: Tourism, Adventure, Pilgrimage, Indus Publishing, pp. 29–, ISBN   978-81-7387-135-1
  7. UNESCO Hill Forts of Rajasthan, UNESCO website