Fifteen reasons to visit and re-visit Rajasthan

The land that is home to the largest subtropical desert in India, is dotted with many majestic hill forts, has many pilgrimage sites, comes alive with melodious music and dances, hosts many migratory birds, serves up the best to your taste buds does not need any introduction nor any reasons enumerated to attract visitors but does it not feel good to count your medals and certificates on your finger tips? Here we tried to assimilate most of the wonders in just fifteen points. Read on …

1. Colours, dialect, attire change here every fifty kms

The land of Maharajas serves up a cocktail in terms of an eclectic mix of culture and tradition. People speak so many different tongues here, dress up differently and have diverse customs. Something as Rajasthani as the Bandhej also has different styles in different cities. And what’s more, the cities themselves too are categorised by colours; Jaipur is Pink, Jodhpur is Blue and Jaisalmer is Golden.

2. Fascinating, alluring, tantalising and intriguing places and stories

Rajasthan has Bhangarh, the fort-town counted among top-ten most haunted places in India. A visit to this town is a must and trust us can garner enough goosebumps with its many spooky stories. 

Rajasthan also has Kuldhara, the abandoned village. Kuldhara has its own unique story to tell too. Do these trivia interest you? Here’s the fodder http://rajasthanroutestrails.blogspot.com/2018/06/kuldhara-mystery.html . 

Then, Rajasthan also has Chittorgarh, the fort that is an epic in itself. The fort has seen the lives and times of many a legends from Meera Bai to Rani Padmawati to the valiant King Rana Sanga. The fort also houses the chill inducing Jauhar Kund. Then, Kumbhalgarh with its own stack of facts and tales. The many temples in the state also have very many interesting stories to keep a curious tourist amused.

3. The most magnanimous Forts and most luxurious Palaces

The land that proudly boasts of the best forts - intact, restored, and preserved to take you back to the era gone by and the opulent palaces that show you what the days of Maharajas were like. The maximum number of forts and palaces are here in this beautiful desert state - wear your most comfortable walking shoes when you go sight seeing - the forts are expansive and sweeping with many slopes and inclines and stairwells to tread.

4. As many as ten GI tagged products are from Rajasthan

You know what the GI tag means, right? It is the geographical indication tag that specifies that a certain product is indigenous to the mentioned geographical location. For example, no other place in the world can lay a claim on the origin of Bikaneri Bhujiya as the product is GI tagged from Bikaner in Rajasthan or for that matter Blue Pottery of Jaipur can not be said to originate from any other place other than Jaipur. The list for all you interested friends is mentioned below :

Kota Doria 

Blue Pottery of Jaipur http://rajasthanroutestrails.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-town-within-city-industries-of.html

Molela Clay Work

Kathputlis of Rajasthan

Sanganeri Hand Block printing http://rajasthanroutestrails.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-town-within-city-industries-of.html

Phulkari

Bagru Hand Block Printing http://rajasthanroutestrails.blogspot.com/2018/05/bagru-hub-of-block-printed-textile.html

Thewa Art Work

Bikaneri Bhujiya

Makrana Marble

5. Many World Heritage Sites and World Heritage City too

Picture Courtesy : Mr.Hemant Sharma

The culturally rich heritage of Rajasthan is recognised world over. UNESCO has tagged many sites in Rajasthan as World Heritage Site with Jaipur now proudly gracing the list of world Heritage Cities too. All the Hill Forts, Jantar Mantar and Keoladev National Park are all a part of this tribe!

6. Vibrance of many fairs and festivals

So, there is an yearly fair and festival calendar in Rajasthan with each festival unique and different in its own way. Each festival is associated with a different dance form, folk art, special delicacy and a unique purpose too. While there are animal fairs like Pushkar and Nagaur, there also are processional fairs like Teej and Gangaur, vibrant funfares like the Kite Festival, Holi and Desert festivals and then some associated with the prominent monuments like the Kumbhalgarh Fair, Abhaneri Festival too. Religious festivals like Ranakpur fair and Khwaja Mounuddin Chishti’s Urs at Ajmer are also celebrated with much fervour. Follow this link to keep abreast of the upcoming fairs and festivals http://rajasthanroutestrails.com/upcoming-events

7. Home to the Aravalis

Did you know that Aravali ranges are India’s oldest mountain ranges? Well, yes they are and they are right here in Rajasthan nestling the many beautiful temples and forts and forests, home to diverse flora and fauna.

8. Shoppers’ Paradise

Each city here has a distinct product that it is known for and equally distinct markets where these products are displayed and sold. Be it the Tie and Dye or the Bagru or Sanganeri Block prints or potteries from different areas, leather craft from Jaisalmer or Bikaner or Kota Doria from Kota, Thewa from Pratapgarh… the list goes on and on and on… Visit one such vibrant bazaar here http://rajasthanroutestrails.blogspot.com/2018/06/rural-market-at-jojawar-shopping-with.html and take a shopping tour through the Pink City by following this link : https://rajasthanroutestrails.blogspot.com/2019/06/when-in-jaipur-part-1-shopping-guide.html

9. Largest subtropical desert and the ship of the desert

See the marvel of the shifting sand dunes and go for a camel safari. Rajasthan houses the world’s 18th largest desert, India’s largest. The deserts are alive though, with folk music and dance and fairs and festivals and many tourists who visit this mesmerising land to witness the horizons and sunrises and sunsets.

10. Many pilgrimage sites for people from all religions

Jain temple trail in Rajasthan attracts pilgrims and tourists alike all the year round. These temples are an example of architectural wonder in themselves. Carved out of marble, most of these temples are intact and well-preserved. Besides the Jain temples, we have the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Govind Dev Ji temple, Karni Mata Temple at Deshnok where you witness a million rats being worshipped and taken care of, Tannot Mata Temple right near the International Borders and Baba Ramdevji’s Shrine too. And some very unique ones like the Bullet Bike temple - http://rajasthanroutestrails.blogspot.com/2018/03/of-many-intriguing-stories-that-are.html

11. Cities that hold unique records

Kota holds the record of housing maximum number of students in the country and also for producing maximum number of future Engineers and Doctors. Udaipur holds the record for hosting maximum number of destination weddings and corporate events, Jodhpur has Umaid Bhawan Palace which is one of the world’s largest private residences and Amer Fort gets maximum tourist visits in the country to a fort (very close to The Taj Mahal’s visitors’ numbers) and Abhaneri holds the record of having the largest step well. The longest wall after the Great Wall of China is right here in Kumbhalgarh - 36km! Want to walk, anyone?

12. The diversity of cuisine - sweet and spicy

Dal Bati Churma, mirchi bada, pyaaz kachori, Kota kachori, Ghewar, Pheeni, Gulab Halwa, Ghodwa, Lal Maas, Safed Maas, Masala Bati, Kadhi or Khato, Ker Sangri, Gatte ki Sabji, Rabori, the list is endless my dear friends. Rajasthan’s kitchens cook up some most amazing curries, namkeens and mithais. Imagine a dish so unique as Gulabjamun ki sabji and you know what we are talking about! Indulge in a Rajasthani Thali to satisfy your taste buds. Take away some different varieties of mouth watering Churma boxes with you.

Picture Source : Trip Advisor

13. Folk dances and Music

Artistically inclined, the folk artists from Rajasthan have earned many a national and international laurels. So many dance forms and so many musical instruments that Bollywood music directors come here to seek inspiration. Ghoomar, Gowari, Kaalbeliya, Chari, Kathputli, Bhawai are the many dance forms from the state. And Ravanahatha, Kamaicha, Morchang, Sarangi, NaagPhani, Khartal and Algoja are just a few of the many musical instruments that are indigenous to this land. Manganiyars, Langas, Kaalbeliyas, Sapera, Bhopa, Jogi are few of the tribes that have still preserved this musical heritage of theirs and are now owning the World Stage with flamboyance.

14. Padharo Mhare Des

True to this tagline, the people of Rajasthan are the most hospitable and amiable hosts. Maximum number of village safaris, rural visits, rural home stays and cook-in sessions happen here. People are more than willing to open their homes and hearts for the tourists. People here take pride in showcasing their culture and traditions. You come as a visitor and go back as a family member to return more and more often.

15. Distinct and clearly demarcated seasons : each with its own colours and hues

Summers are scorching hot and dry with a dusty yellow haze, Monsoons bring in the colour green, winters surprise you with a variety of lovely flowers and an icy tint on everything and then again the colours change as we move from winters through Holi festival to summers again. Stay a whole year to experience this magic.

We are sure after reading this, first break and you are packing your bags and heading here. Let us guide and help you in exploring the Best of Rajasthan. Click here to start planning your tour.

A town within a city - The industries of Sanganer

Sanganer in Jaipur is synonymous with the Jaipur International Airport and the bed sheets that are exported world over. But Sanganer has many other facets to it that are hidden from the world and definitely from the tourists who visit Jaipur; because Jaipur itself has so many wonders to explore that one does not even get to visit Sanganer in the rush of covering the other end of the Pink City. Let us today take you on a walking tour of Sanganer and in turn invoke your interest in visiting this small district that exports more goods than the entire city of Jaipur put together. Sanganer has the maximum number of manufacturing units that produce Sanganeri Printed fabrics, Hand Made Paper and Blue Pottery artefacts. Besides the manufacturing units, Sanganer has some centuries old monuments and temples too that must be visited.

Let’s begin our journey on foot and go on a learning expedition through our “school without walls”. 

Part One : Sanganeri Prints

The printing technique aptly named after the city itself originated in the late 16th or early 17th century. The craftsmen who hailed originally from Gujarat, were displaced due to the upheavals caused by Maratha and Mughal tussles and migrated and settled in various places in Rajasthan including Sanganer. The wooden blocks that are used in printing are made by artisans from Uttar Pradesh, Farrukhabad to be precise. The fine craftsmanship of these men and women has been passed onto them from generations and generations of highly skilled hands. The block printing industry took a beating in Uttar Pradesh but was thriving in Rajasthan owing to which these craftsmen migrated to and settled in Rajasthan. The skill with which these wooden blocks are carved is unmatched. Very fine and intricate patterns are carved onto the blocks giving Sanganeri prints a distinct identity. 

The printing industry in Sanganer found its patrons in the East India Company as long ago as the turn of the 18th century when the exports of these fine printed textiles initiated. From thence the industry got a boost and found its way with exports which is still going strong and earned Sanganeri Prints a GI Tag too!

The prints usually are of fine flowers and human and animal figures. Cavaliers, horses, camels, elephants and peacocks are the most common motifs. Printing is done in ek-rukhi and do-rukhi patterns, which simply means printing on one side of the fabric or both sides. Paisleys are another very popular print pattern. Sanganeri prints can be easily identified by their typical use of bootis (small motifs) systematically printed all over the fabric with distinct borders bracketing the bootis. The printing is usually done on off-white or beige backgrounds that makes the bright colours really stand out. Sand and water is used to prep up the raw fabric for printing. This pre-treatment in Calico printing enables the fabric to absorb the dyes properly with a lasting effect. 

Sanganeri printing primarily uses wooden blocks but screens also are preferred for fine prints. The outlines are printed first and then the colours are filled into the patterns. For the blocks, the fabrics are stretched and marked to make it easier for the artisan to print at equal distances. 

Most preferred fabric material is cotton, mulmul and silks. The prints can be seen on anything and everything from wearables to tapestry to upholstery to wall papers and even on gift wrapping material. The classiest and most stylish prints, favourites of top fashion designers across the world are Sanganeri prints. Do not forget to pick a dupatta, a scarf, a skirt, a shirt, or maybe a lively bed spread to enliven your room back home.

Part Two : Hand Made Paper

As we move on after a detailed tour of the printing units, we come to the Kagzi Mohalla - the settlement of Paper craftsmen. The skilled craftsmen use natural fibres (cotton waste, wood chips and other such cellulose fibres) and water to make a suspension which is then drained and dried and matted, pressed into sheets and kept out to dry thus making unique interwoven patterns of fibres on the sheet of hand made paper. These sheets are then decorated with various colours and prints and are ready to be retailed or exported. The craftsmen make paper and cardboard with this very simple technique. The hand made paper ranks pretty high on the artistic scale and finds its use among all things beautiful and stylish. This industry not only supports the artisans involved in the manufacturing but also helps keep our planet clean and green by recycling various kinds of wastes to produce much useful paper. A great souvenir to carry from here would be a hand -made paper bound diary or gift packing material.

Part Three : Blue Pottery

Rajasthan has eleven GI tagged products which are absolutely ingenious and original from the land of Maharajas; and Sanganer alone boasts of two out of these eleven products. First being the Sanganeri prints and second, blue pottery. This art of making clay pottery and using cobalt blue dyes to decorate the wares is very unique to this land. Originally Turko-Persian, this beautiful art came to Rajasthan many centuries ago and thrived here so well that Rajasthan got recognised world over for its blue pottery. 

Under the encouragement of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II, artisans were sent to Delhi to learn the craft. Initially the craft was used to make decorative tiles. Many heritage buildings in Rajasthan have walls and floor decorated with these tiles. Later the craftsmen became a bit creative and innovative and used the craft to design decorative plates, vases, pots and figurines of animals and people. Some of the designer studios in the Blue Pottery lane in Sanganer make attractive buttons, jewellery and door knobs too. Exported world over, the blue pottery has seeped deep into the daily lives of locals as well. A blue pottery pot for making curds is a very standard piece of crockery that can be found in most of the Jaipur homes. You may pick various articles from an array of decorative things made with this craft. But ladies, you must have a blue pottery bead necklace and ear rings in your jewellery box.

Part Four : Heritage

Sanganer though is more of a manufacturing town now, but it holds within itself some cherishingly safeguarded historical monuments. The main gates  called Tripolia, are now in ruins but the structure still reflects the architectural wonder they once were. 

Walk a little towards inside and beautifully carved Jain temples will beckon you for a closer look. Often compared to the Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu, these temple complexes also are ancient and very beautifully hand-carved out of Red Sand Stone. The temple is seven storied and has sky-high spires or shikharas. The inner sanctum of the temple has eight shikharas. It is a stone shrine with three beautifully decorated pinnacles. Jain architecture uses a lot of arches and Toranas at all the entrances and doorways. The same can be seen here too. The temple holds a little secret as well. It has an underground chamber where idols of Teerthankaras made out of precious stones are kept. These idols can be touched only by a saint / sage and can be brought out to the main temple only by him.

Besides the Jain temples, Sanganer also has the ruins of what once was a majestic fort. Visit the fort ruins before you bid adieu to the quiet and calm town of Sanganer which keeps humming with the life of hubbub of the many manufacturing units that support many families.

Picture Source : Wikipedia

If this tour interests you and you want to visit Sanganer with an expert guide, click here