Tag: rajasthan

September 16, 2020 India, Jodhpur, Rajasthan Post a Comment

Road trip to Sun City@ Jodhpur

A Road Trip to The Sun City

Days required– 2 days

Nearby places to go – Jaisalmer, Osian

Best time to visit – winter season(October to February). As the name suggests, the city burns like the sun in summers so it is better to avoid March to June.

Lake near Jaswant Thada

How to reach–

By air – Jodhpur has a domestic airport with direct flights from Delhi, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad.

By train – Jodhpur is well connected to all major cities in India by rail route.

By road – you can easily find state-run and private buses from all major cities in North India.

Self-drive – roads in Rajasthan are perfect for road trips.

How we traveled – We did a road trip to Jodhpur twice. One was with family and another was for the conference. The route to Jaisalmer is via Jodhpur so anyone with few more days to spare can extend their trip to Jaisalmer.

Where to stay – You have plenty of options to stay in Jodhpur. From Heritage Hotels like Umed Bhawan and Ajit Bhawan to hostels like Zostel and Moustache. Paota circle area and Ratanada have most of the accommodation options(Here it is easy to get accommodation, transportation, and all attraction are only a few km away).

How to go around – Jodhpur is a small city. You can easily get a shared auto or rickshaw here. Ola/Uber is also there.

Places to visit

  1. Mehrangarh Fort – One of the major tourist attractions in Jodhpur. Built over the hilltop, it gives a panoramic view of the city. 2-3 hours are needed to explore it. There are a museum and restaurant inside the premises. It is advisable to come here early morning(less crowded and good weather).
  2. Jaswant Thada- Visit to Mehrangarh fort is incomplete without coming here. These beautiful Cenotaphs are built with white marble. Fort looks majestic from here.

    Jaswant thada
  3. Umed Bhawan palace- one of the most beautiful and largest private residences in the world. You will be amazed to see the place. The royal family of Jodhpur still resides here. Most of the Palace is converted to Hotel and closed for the general public. They have a small museum and vintage car collection for display. It is said that it was built during the drought period by the king to employ his people.

    Umed Bhawan Palace
  4. Osian is 90 min road trip from the main city and is home to many Hindu and Jain temples. Most of them are ruined.
  5. There are two lakes in the desert city – Balsamand and Kailana. Balsamand is an artificial lake with a heritage hotel(once a summer resort of the king) built over it. Kailana lake is more popular among the general public and is a favorite picnic spot for the locals.

    Kaylana Lake
  6. One can also visit Mandore Gardens and Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park if time allows.

 Things to do

  1. Zipline – must-do activity if you are not afraid of heights. It is managed by Flying Fox inside the Mehrangarh fort. Charges are Rs.2000 per person for 6 ziplines. It can be booked online through the flying fox website. Wear sports shoes and jeans. Book morning or evening slots. Bring your camera for videos and photos. The crew is very friendly. Ask them to make videos of yours.
  2. Dinner with a view – There are numerous restaurants in the old city where you can dine and enjoy the view of the Mehrangarh Fort in the backdrop. The Fort is illuminated till 10 pm(just guessing). Have a Candlelight dinner at a famous Indique restaurant at Pal Haveli with the breathtaking view of the Fort.
  3. Tour of the old city – You must have seen the pictures of Jodhpur Old city on Instagram- Houses painted in blue. It is not so much blue now as people have started to paint their houses in different colors but still view from Mehrangarh is stunning.

Where to eat

You get to try authentic Rajasthani cuisine in Jodhpur. There are many fine-dining restaurants like Jharokha, Baradari, and Darikhana.

Try Rajasthani thali at Gypsy.

Visit Shandar sweet home and Janta sweet home for the Mirchi vada and Kachori and traditional Rajasthani food at very reasonable prices.

Quick tips for fellow travelers –

  1. It is always better to ask the locals for directions if you are exploring the old city. Google will not help here.
  2. Be hydrated. Take water with you everywhere.
  3. Wear comfortable clothes. The weather is usually hot and humid there. Carry sunglasses, cap, and sunscreen with you.

Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)

Destination overall rating 8/10 – The people, food, and the culture make this place a must-visit destination during the Rajasthan trip.

Travel Expense 1/10 – Nothing is expensive here. There is everything for everyone here.

Travel ease 9/10 – It is very easy to travel to the city and travel within the city.

Food 9/10 – You will love the food here. Be it the royal delicacy or the Mirchi vada at the street corner.

August 23, 2019 Bikaner, India, Rajasthan Post a Comment

A Weekend trip to Bikaner

This trip served us two purposes – My state conference and family visit. My in-laws live in this desert town of Rajasthan. Bikaner is very famous for its Bhujiya, Rasgulle, Rat Temple(Karni Mata Temple) and Camels.

Days required – 2 days

Nearby places to go – Deshnok (Karni Mata Temple)

Best time to visit – October to February (Summer in this region can be very harsh)

How to reach

By bus – Bikaner is well connected to all the neighboring cities by state-run bus services and private bus services. It is the most convenient and fastest way to reach Bikaner.

By Train – Bikaner has a well-linked rail system which connects it to all major Indian cities.

By Road/Self drive – You can hire a cab or self-drive there. Roads connecting cities in Rajasthan are very good.

By air – Bikaner has an airport with limited connectivity but there is a direct flight from Delhi and Jaipur. Other nearest airports are 250km (Jodhpur) and 330km (Jaipur) away.

How we traveled – we traveled by bus from Jaipur. People from Jaipur and Jodhpur can plan a road trip also.

Where to stay – We stayed with our family but there are many budget hotels around the railway station area. You can easily find a place to live and eat and easily get a taxi/cab to explore the city. If you want to taste the royalty, stay at Lalgarh Palace or Laxmi Niwas Palace.

How to go around – Bikaner can easily be covered by cab/taxi/auto-rickshaw. Deshnok visit can be done by state-run buses which are cheap but not comfortable or you can hire a taxi for the complete trip.

Places to visit

  1. Junagarh Fort – One of the few forts in Rajasthan that is not built on a hilltop and only one that was never captured. Constructed in red stone, this fort is a must-visit place in Bikaner.

    Inside Junagarh Fort
  2. National Research Centre on Camel – One of its kind in whole Asia, this is research and breeding center for camels.
  3. Lalgarh Palace – Once the residence of the royal family, now most of the Palace is converted to a heritage hotel and is inaccessible for the general public. Tourist can visit the Sadul museum inside the Palace.
  4. Rampuriya Havelis – Once the home of the influential merchant family of Bikaner, Rampuriyas, these Havelis were known for their grandeur and beautiful architecture.
  5. Jain Temple Bhandasar- Located in Old City, this beautiful three-storeyed Jain temple is built with white marble and red stone.
  6. Karni Mata Temple – 30km from Bikaner, Deshnok is well known among devotees for the Karni Mata Temple which is home to thousands of rats which roam freely in the premises. No one can kill or even hurt these rats. Sighting of a white rat is considered good luck here.

    a common sight inside Karni Mata Temple

Where to eat–

Bikaner serves you sweetest Rasgullas to spiciest Laal Maans. Here are some of the legendary outlets of Bikaner loved by locals and tourists alike.

Chhotu Motu Joshi sweet shop – Rasgulla, ras malai, kachori, and puri sabji

Bhikharam Chandmal Bhujiyawala – This is the place where famous Bikaneri Bhujiya was created.

Chhapan bhog – a very old outlet serving the tasty Bikaneri Rasgullas, Laddoo, and kachori.

Itinerary –

We boarded the bus to Bikaner at night to reach there early morning. My brother-in-law was waiting for us there at the bus stop to pick us up. We reached home and took the rest. After breakfast, we took their car and reach the Conference venue. It was boring so we headed back home and spent time with family. In the evening, we went to see the Fort which was walking distance from our home. We took all our nephews and niece with us and enjoyed the fun trip.

One from the previous trip

Next day, we visited the old city on a bike. My brother-in-law suggested taking the bike there as lanes are very narrow at some places. Traffic was just terrible in the city. We first visited Shri Laxminath temple but it was closed at that time. Jain Temple Bhandasar is walking distance from the Laxminath Temple. After that, we asked the locals about the Rampuriya Havelis and reached the area. We were amazed to see these beautiful lanes with Havelis on both the sides and equally disappointed to see the deserted ruined ones because of lack of maintenance. All these Havelis are closed and locked. You can’t visit them from inside. One is restored and converted to the Heritage Hotel. We got to see this one from inside on requesting the manager.

Rampuriya Havelis

In the evening, all family members decided to pay a visit to Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok which is a 50-minute drive from Bikaner. I had visited this temple once before a few years back. Karni Mata Memorial has been developed nearby which is a new attraction for the visitors. It was dark when we reached Bikaner and had dinner at home.

Quick tips for fellow travelers –

  1. Rampuriya Havelis and Jain Temple are located in the old city so it is better to avoid driving car there. Take a bike or hire an auto to visit the place.
  2. Ask the locals to locate the Rampuriya Havelis. Don’t trust Google in the old city.
  3. Thousands of devotees come to Karni Mata Temple on some special occasion like Navratri so avoid these dates or you will have to spend hours in a long queue.

Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)

Destination overall rating 7/10 Not much to explore in the city but Bikaner is a whole package when it comes to food, History, travel, and adventure.

Travel Expense 1/10 – my trip was extremely inexpensive as I didn’t spend any money on accommodation and travel.

Travel ease 8/10 – Bikaner is well-connected city via rail and road network.

Food 8/10 – You will love the Rajasthan food here and don’t forget to pick Bhujiya and Rasgullas for your family back home.

August 22, 2019 Ajmer, India, Rajasthan Post a Comment

Road Trip to Ajmer-Pushkar

Ajmer gets its name from Ajay Meru meaning “invincible hill” and is a major pilgrimage in Rajasthan. I somehow managed to convince my whole family for Sunday road trip.

Days required – 1-2 days

Nearby places to go – Pushkar

Best time to visit – monsoon and winter season (October to February). Pushkar Fair (very famous cattle fair) usually happens in November.

How to reach –

By Air – Kishangarh Airport is 30 KM from the Ajmer city but has limited connectivity. A direct flight from Delhi is available.

By Train – Ajmer is well connected to all major cities in India by rail route.

By Road – Ajmer is joined to all cities in North India by road. Delhi is connected to Ajmer by expressway.

How we traveled – We did a Sunday road trip with the family. It was a 2-hour drive from Jaipur.

Where to stay – Though we didn’t stay in Ajmer, I can suggest you some of the best options available there. Don’t stay in Ajmer. Pushkar has wide astonishing options of luxurious resorts to stay. Westin Resort is a 5-star property and best among all resorts in Pushkar. Other options are Ananta, Aaram Bagh, and Dera Masuda.

How to go around – Ajmer is a small city and can easily be covered by auto-rickshaws which are easily available around the city. You can also hire cabs/taxi for the whole day.

Places to visit:

Ajmer Sharif Dargah – Very famous shrine of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti visited by Muslims and Non-Muslims alike is in the old city. You must park your vehicle and then walk some distance through the narrow lanes of the old city to reach the shrine.

Ana Sagar – Built by the Chauhan rulers and later improvised by Mughal Emperors, this is the major tourist attraction for people visiting Ajmer.

Nasiya Jain Temple – This astounding example of architecture dedicated to Lord Adinath is made of red stones. One section of the temple is dedicated for prayers and another section has a museum and a hall decorated with gold plated figures and glasswork.

Nareli Jain Temple – Situated on the Ajmer-Jaipur highway, this is the main point of pilgrimage for Digambar Jains.

Adhai Din ka Jhopda – Originally a Sanskrit college and later converted to a mosque, this is the elderly structure of the Ajmer is the perfect blend of Indo-Islamic architecture.

Taragarh Fort was built to guard the Ajmer city and home of the Chauhan rulers, this is one of the oldest forts of India.

Mayo College – One of the oldest and prestigious boarding schools in India is the perfect example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. It started with an ambition to provide education to Indian Princes that matches the standard of England.

Foy Sagar Lake – Built to remove the water scarcity in Ajmer region, this man-made lake was designed by architect Mr. Foy. It imparts a very beautiful view of the Aravali Range.

Pushkar – 13 km from the Ajmer city, it attracts thousands of devotees from all over the country. It is said that Pushkar is the ultimate pilgrimage that must be undertaken to attain salvation. There are hundreds of temples in Pushkar. One should not miss visiting Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple, Savitri Temple, and Varaha Temple. Brahma temple, Savitri Temple and Varaha Temple are one of its kind dedicated to Lord Brahma, Goddess Savitri and Varaha incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Pushkar Lake

Where to eat–

Pushkar is food heaven for vegetarians. Yes, you heard it right. You will not find meat serving outlets here, not even eggs but that doesn’t mean you will not have many options. Pushkar has a blend of Indian and Hippie culture, thanks to many international tourists visiting here mainly Israelis. They roam around the town as if they belong to this place (and maybe some are). You will find falafel as easily as Kachori in Pushkar.

Desi Khana

Poha Pizza Pakwan is the fusion dish of Pushkar Breakfast corner and If you are late to reach here, then you might not get a chance to taste it.

Malpua of Sarvadia Sweet House is a must-try sweet dish.

Shree Karni Maa Restaurant – a small restaurant serves the tasty Desi Rajasthani thali.

Videshi Khana

La Pizzaeria Garden Restaurant makes the best pizza in the town.

Ganga Restaurant serves the Falafel in a desi style.

Do try juices or better to say the fusion of juices at Sonu Juice centre.

Itinerary – Jaipur is our home town, so we have visited almost every other city in Rajasthan multiple times. This was our family Road trip to offer prayers at Pushkar. I suggest you make a 2 day trip to Ajmer and spend one day each at Ajmer and Pushkar. They are just 30 minutes apart.

Day 1 – Visit all point of your interest in Ajmer by the evening and spend your evening at Anasagar. Stay in Ajmer in any budget hotel.

Day 2 – Reach Pushkar in the morning and visit Lake and temple by noon and check-in your Luxury Resort and enjoy the evening around the pool with Aravali ranges in the background.

We started our trip early in the morning as we had to cover Ajmer and Pushkar and come back home on the same day. We were 10 members in 2 cars. Highway to Ajmer is 6-lane but there is a traffic of heavy vehicles, so it took us two and a half hours to reach Ajmer and we headed straight for Ajmer Sharif Dargah. We had to park way ahead because it is a very congested area. There is private parking charging Rs.50-100 for a vehicle. We crossed the narrow lane to Dargah’s main gate, washed our face and hands and went to offer prayers inside Dargah. Beware of frauds, pickpocketers and touts there.

Nasiyan Jain Temple is very close to Dargah. Here some areas are not open for the general public. You can still visit the Museum inside. Our next stop was Anasagar. Lake and garden inside are well maintained. You will see a huge crowd there on weekends enjoying Sunday picnic there.

Our last stop was Pushkar Dham which was a 30-minute drive from Ajmer. On the way, we stop by to see the recently built monument of Maharana Pratap with his horse Chetak. Many people were stopping there to enjoy the panoramic view of the valley.

4 wheelers are to be parked outside the main market and then we had to walk through the market to reach the Lake and the temple. The market was full of food outlets serving Indian, Italian and Lebanese cuisines. It is amazing to see so many Firangis among the crowd, I had no idea that Pushkar was so popular among them. They were many doing Yog and performing Pujas around Lake and riding the bike on the market road. We visited Brahma Mandir and Pushkar lake and performed Puja there as a couple (it was our first visit here after marriage).

There are hundreds of temples nearby, but we couldn’t visit them as we had to reach home by night. It was a short road trip to Pushkar, but I have tried to give all relevant information to plan for your trip here.

Outside Brahma Temple

Quick tips for fellow travelers –

  1. Avoid visiting Ajmer-Pushkar from March to July as the weather is quite hot and the temperature may even cross 48 degrees.
  2. Avoid touts and beggars at Pushkar and Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Ratings (it is subjective and based on personal opinion)

Destination overall rating 7/10 – You get to see everything on this trip – Lakes, Temples, Shrine, historical monuments, desert safari and luxury at Resort stay.

Travel Expense 1/10 – if you don’t stay in any of the resorts in Pushkar, this trip will cost you almost nothing.

Travel ease 8/10 – Ajmer is easily accessible and can comfortably be explored by auto-rickshaw or taxis.

Food 8/10 – Pushkar provides you the fusion of Indian, Italian and Lebanese cuisines. You can get Malpua and Falafel on the same lane.

India, Rajasthan, Sambhar 1 Comment

Trip to Rajasthan’s “Rann Of Kutch”

Sambhar lake is India’s Largest inland salt lake. I used to see this lake from our train journey to Jodhpur.  I decided to plan a day trip to our own mini “Rann Of Kutch” with my family.

Days required– Day trip (If you planning for night camping or star gazing then plan accordingly)

Nearby places to go – Shakambari Mata Temple

Best time to visit – October to February. It is better to avoid summer (temperature rising to 45 degrees) and monsoon season (you will not be able to enjoy driving on white sand and camping is also not possible at that time).

How to reach – Sambhar is 80 km from Jaipur city. You can self-drive or hire a taxi/cab from the city. Follow the Google map. There are two routes to reach there – one is Jaipur-Jobner-Phulera-Sambhar and another one is Jaipur-Ajmer Highway to Sambhar. You can choose any of them.

Nearest airport is Sanganer Airport, Jaipur.

Sambhar town has a railway station which is on the Jaipur-Jodhpur Rail route.

Where to stay – We didn’t stay there as Jaipur is just 2-hour drive from here. If you are planning for camping here, you have to bring your camping equipment. I don’t think you will need permission for night stay there but surely there is a safety concern as, after dark, this place becomes scary.

There are few guesthouses on highway and Phulera for night stay. There is Sambhar Heritage Resort in the town for your comfortable stay.

How to go around – You will need a car to explore and enjoy the place. Use Google maps until you reach near Sambhar. Don’t enter the town. Follow the signboard for Shakambari Mata Temple. On the way, you will see heaps of salt, a small train, and track solely for the salt production purpose. From the temple, you will see vast plain covered with white sand with no animal or any vegetation. Near the temple, turn your car into this white sparkling land where you will find no road but you can follow tyre marks or make your own.

Activities to do–

Visit Shakambari Mata Mandir – Visit the temple built on a hilltop by the Chauhan Rulers of this region centuries ago. It is devoted to Shakambari Devi.

Driving on the Salt Lake – Enjoy driving on the long stretches of white sand with no one to interrupt you.

Night Camping- Away from all the chaos and pollution of the city, enjoy camping with your friends.

Photography and star gazing – Don’t forget to bring your tripod, lenses, and telescope to enjoy the unobscured view of the night sky with zillions of sparkling stars. This is an unexplored paradise for photography enthusiasts and stargazers with almost zero pollution and clear sky.

Bird Watching – Sambhar is a Ramsar site( wetlands where thousands of pink flamingo and other birds migrate from northern Asia)

Where to eat– Arrange for your meals before reaching Sambhar. You may find some small Dhabas on the way. Carry food and water along with you. You will have to go to Sambhar town for the supplies. Better to purchase them beforehand. We took home-cooked food with us and had Aloo-puri-pakoda picnic somewhere near the Sambhar.

Quick tips for fellow travelers –

  1. No restaurants/dhabas are there around Sambhar Lake. You may find something to eat in Sambhar town or on the highway so make arrangements accordingly.
  2. If you are planning a night out in camps there, then you are on your own. This concept is new at least in this part of the country. Bring your supplies for the night.
  3. Plan your camping around new moon night for star gazing and night photography.

Ratings (it is subjective and my personal opinion)

Destination overall rating 7/10 – This place is still unexplored and under-rated but that is the reason why this area is saved from being converted into piles of garbage.

Travel Expense 1/10 – You just need a car, a camera, and food.

Travel ease 8/10 – Public transport is available but not preferred by visitors. You can easily reach this place by car.

Food 1/10 – Carry your food supplies from the city and as no restaurants are available near the Lake.

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