Friday, December 28, 2007

Wild Species In India

The Indian Tiger has a small head in proportion to his body. He's not cold- blooded, but a warm-blooded mammal who weighs 400-569 lbs. The measurement of the Indian Tiger, from the balancing tail, to the strong, pointed teeth, measures around 10 ft.

Behavioural Characteristics: The Indian Tiger cub stays with its mother and siblings until about the age of two when they move on to establish its own territory. The tiger is usually a solitary animal except during the breeding season. During breeding season, which most commonly takes place during the winter and spring, last about 20 to 30 days. During this time, tigers communicate with each other with loud and distinct calls that travel great distances.

Diet: The Bengal tiger is a meat eater with a diet that includes deer, pig, buffalo. Occasionally the tiger will eat birds and fish.

Environment: The Indian Tigers lives in the country of India, on the continent of Asia. This Tiger is happy in his habitat as long as he lives near tall grass, wet swamps, dim forests and prey.

Current Status Of Tigers in India : The Indian Tiger is being killed for sport and for profit. People kill them every day for their teeth, fur, and body parts. The Indian Tigers is losing lots of their territory, because its habitat is being disturbed. But it needs more territory in order to survive. We hope the Indian Tiger doesn't become extinct.

India holds over half the world's tiger population. Though referred to by experts as a "guesstimate", the last all-India census in 1993 estimated a total of 3,750 tigers. The figure was a sharp decline from the previous census four years earlier. Of these only 1,266 (34%) of the total were found within the boundaries of the then 19 (there are now 25, covering an area of over 33,000 sq km) Project Tiger Reserves. The current estimate of the number of tigers in India is from 3,000 to 3,500 tigers. Many of the tiger populations, particularly those outside protected reserves, are fragmented, suffer from intense poaching pressure, a dwindling prey base and over-used habitat.

Popular Tiger Reserves in India:

The various kinds of Wild Species in India are :

Indian Tiger (Royal Bengal Tiger) : Indian Tiger Popularly known as Royal Bengal Tiger is a national animal of India.

Indian Black Buck : The Black Buck (Antelope cervicapra) (Krishna Saar) is an endangered and fully protected species in Nepal. The adult male Black Buck has striking Black and white pelage (fur) and long spiral horns.

Indian Crane : The Sarus crane is the world's tallest flying bird; a large male may stand six feet tall. There are three recognized subspecies of the sarus crane. The Indian sarus cranes live, as their name implies, predominately in Asia's subcontinent. In areas dominated by the Hindu religion.

Indian Deer : The Brow-antlered Deer (Cervus eldi) of Manipur (northeast India), or Sangai, or Thamin. One of the rarest and most localised deer in the world - and quite obviously, the most endangered deer species in the world. The Sangai is confined to a wetland area to the south of Logtak lake in Manipur (northeast India). Captive breeding efforts have helped bolster its zoo population.

Indian Elephant : The Asian elephant is one of three species in the order Proboscidea, the others being the Savanna elephant and the Forest elephant.elephants until the Pleistocene Era (2 million years ago) had spread throughout the world except for Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.

Indian Lion : Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) One of the largest of Indian cats, and the last remnant of the low-three digit population is confined to at Sasan Gir forests (Gujarat), where less than 300 remain. There are plans to translocate this highly endangered animal to Kuno sanctuary in M.P. (Central Indian Provinces).

Indian Leopard : Leopard (Panthera uncia), the elusive, only truly alpine cat of the world. These cats have an elongate and muscular body. Their paws are broad and their ears are short. In tropical regions their coats tend to be shorter and sleeker, whereas in colder climates their fur is longer and denser.

Indian Rhino : Related to tapirs, horses, and zebras, rhinocersoses are "odd-toed ungulates" (Order: Perissodactyla), rhinos are large herbivores that occur in Africa and tropical Asia. Read the table below for a summary of the major characteristics of the 5 rhinoceros species.

Indian Horse : The purpose of these breed standards we are concerned only with that portion of horses produced or shown by conscientious breeders to meet the stringent demands of excellence in type and conformation leading to the expectation of judging standards.

Indian Birds : Indian Birds With more than 1250 species of birds, India and South Asia are a paradise for bird watching. There are over 925 breeding species (~920 residents). The Indian birds belong to 16 groups called 'Orders', which are further divided into 'Families', 'Sub-families' and 'Genera'. For birding in India.

White Bengal Tiger : Bengal tigers are also called as Indian tiger, they are the most numerous in population than any other tiger subspecies. They were killed as a part of sport carried out by Indian and British royalties. There number declined at a fast rate.

Project Tiger : India contains 60% of the world's tigers; as recently as 1970 it was still legal to hunt them and to export skins. During the 1950s and early 1960's it is recorded that more than 3,000 tigers lost their lives to trophy hunters, most of these being tourists.

Indian Peacock : The male Indian Peafowl, commonly known as the peacock, is one of the most recognizable birds in the world. These large, brightly colored birds have a distinctive crest and an unmistakable ornamental train.

Cobra In India : The Indian Cobra is known around the world as highly venomous snake that feeds on rodents, lizards, and frogs. As well as biting, the Indian cobra can attack or defend itself from a distance by "spitting" venom, which, if it enters the opponent's eyes, causes severe pain and damage.

Great Wilds Of India : India has a wealth of about 80 National Parks and 441 sanctuaries. Many of the wildlife sanctuaries and a few national parks have been established in erstwhile private hunting reserves of the British Raj and Indian aristocracy. often, a park is better known for a particular animal.

Royal Bengal Tiger : The Royal Bengal tiger, the national animal of India is an incredible sight. With its orange hide marked with dark stripes, its white underbelly, long tail, huge paws and fearsome teeth, the Royal Bengal Tiger of India is justifiably called the "King of the Jungle." It is the largest of the Big Cats. There are several subspecies of Tiger of which the Siberian Tiger is the largest.

Nilgiri Tahr : The Nilgiri Tahr, is an endangered mountain goat, found primarily in the Western Ghats including the Nilgiri Hills of South India. Also known as the Nilgiri Ibex, this endangered animal is severely under threat, though conservation efforts have resulted in its numbers increasing in the later half of the 20th century.

Barasingha In India : The Barasingha or Swamp Deer, is an endangered species of deer, and can be seen in protected sanctuaries in India. They derive their name from the large antlers of the adult male Barasingha, which may grow to have more than 12 points, hence the translation of its name in Hindi, 12- antlered Deer.

Asiatic Lion : The Asiatic Lion has been known in India for centuries. The Ashoka Pillar, which is the national emblem of India, depicts three snarling Asiatic lions with beautifully carved curling manes and expressions. Their accurate depiction testifies to the skill of the sculptors of Mauryan times, as well as their awareness of this magnificent animal, the Asiatic Lion, often called "The King of Beasts".

King Cobra : The King Cobra, found in India is the largest venomous snake in the world. In a single bite it can inject enough venom to kill an elephant - up to 6- 7 ml. This is enough to kill up to 20 people. The King Cobra is worshipped in India, particularly on the festive occasion of Nag Panchami and is depicted in sculptures on temple walls and celebrated in myth and legend.

Siberian Cranes In India : The crane bird is a wild north american bird and can be seen on most bird photos sites. The bird is a symbols of longevity and represented with other symbols of long life, the pine and bamboo, and the tortoise.

Wild Cats In India : The Martelli's wild cat is believed to be the ancestor of the modern small cat, which resulted in the modern wild cat. The wild cat can be categorized into sub sections; the European Wild Cat, the Asiatic desert Cat and the African Wild Cat. Our much loved domestic cat is thought to be a descendant of the African Wild Cat.

Gaur (Indian Bison) : The Gaur or Indian Bison is a large endangered herbivore, and can be seen in protected sanctuaries in India. In the wild its young are preyed upon by tigers and leopards and the loss of its habitat due to human encroachment has led to the reduction in its population across India.

The Ganges River Dolphin : The Ganges River Dolphin or Gangetic Dolphin is a freshwater dolphin that is found primarily in the River Ganges.

India`s Tiger Poaching Crisis : The trade in tiger bones, destined for use in Oriental medicine outside India's borders, is posing an even larger threat. Having decimated their own sources, Far Eastern traditional medicine manufacturers are now targeting India for their supply of tiger bones. Poaching of tigers for the traditional Chinese medicine industry started in northern India in the mid-1980's.

Click Here to know more about Indian Wild Species

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Important Telephone Numbes of Jaipur City :

Jaipur Emergency Police Telephone Numbers : 100

Jaipur Emergency Fire Telephone Numbers : 101

Jaipur Emergency Ambulance Telephone Numbers : 102

Jaipur Emergency Crime Police Telephone Numbers : 1090

Dances in Rajasthan

Dance is an expression of human emotion as mush as music and it is found in almost limitless variations in Rajasthan. Simple unsophisticated, dancing is seen in their fairs and festivals in the kudakna of the Meena boys, the dancing which goes with the Rasiya songs of Braj, and the dancing by women and men where the women carry a pot or a lighted lamp on their head. In the Charkala dance of Braj, an elaborate lampstand replaces the single lamp.

Some of the famous dances of Rajasthan are :

Chari Dance : This dance requires a lot of patience and balance. The dancers carry brightly lit brass pots on their heads, displaying many flexible movements of the body. It is a dance of gay occassions.

Bhavi : One of the state’s most spectacular performances, it consists of veiled women dancers balancing up to seven or nine brass pitchers as they dance nimbly.

Ghoomar Dance : This is basically a community dance for women and performed on. auspicious occasions. Derived from the word ghoomna, pirouette, this is a very simple dance where the ladies move gently, gracefully in circles.

Fire Dance : If there is divine protection to be offered, the Jasnaiths of Bikaner and Churu must be responsible for cornering most of it.

Kachhi Ghodi : This is a dance performed on dummy horses. Men in elaborate costumes ride the equally well decorated dummy horses.Kathak Dance : This formal, classical dance evolved as a gharana in the courts of Jaipur where it reached a scale that established it as distinct from the other centre of Kathak, Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Even today, the Jaipur gharana is well established.

Folk Dance : A fascinating folk dance of Sherdukpens - a small community of West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, Bardo Chham depicts the victory of good over evil. The dance has an interesting background.

Sapera Dance : One of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan, performed by the Kalbeliya snake-charmer’s community, the sapera dancers wear long, black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons.

Drum Dance : This to the accompaniment of his troupe that consists of musicians holding aloft drums around their necked and cymbals in their hands. A stirring performance from a martial race.

Maand Dance : Rajasthan’s most sophisticated style of folk music and has come a long way from the time it was only sung in royal courts, in praise of the Rajput rulers.

Terah Talli : Another devotional form of dance practiced by theee Kamad community of Pokhran and Deedwana, to honour their folk hero, Baba Ramdeo, it consists of women sitting on the floor before his image.

Caari Or Pot Dance : This dance requires a lot of patience and balance. The dancers carry brightly lit brass pots on their heads, displaying many flexible movements of the body. It is a dance of gay occassions.

Holi Dance : This exuberant dance is connected with the seasonal festival of spring. When the rural community rejoices and relaxes after the completion of their agricultural operations.

Kathputli Dance : Puppet Shows wire (Kathputli) accompanied by traditional music. The legend said that the Kathputli are celestial beings sent to earth by the gods to entertain men.

Ranthambore National Park Travel Guide

Ranthambore National Park is positioned at the convergence of the Vindhyan plateau and Aravali hill, in the Eastern region of Rajasthan. Two rivers, namely Banas in the North and Chambal in the South, flow through this National Park. You can also find six artificial lakes and quite a few perennial streams passing through the Ranthambore National Park. In the year of 1955, this Park got declared as a game sanctuary. However, its status of a National Park came in the year of 1980. The year 1972 marks the commencement of Project Tiger. It was at this point of time when this park was conferred the status of a tiger reserve in the country. Ranthambore National Park is spread on an area of 1,334 sq kms together with its neighboring sanctuaries - The Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary. In this park, there are some areas earmarked for the tourists where they can wander at their heart’s will and explore the fauna and flora housed here. In fact, this distinctive feature of the park is a much loved one, particularly among the tourists. The rugged topography and the intense deciduous forests are key characteristics of this Park, which plays host to one of the most diverse and biggest group of wildlife species in the country. This Park is also declared a heritage site because of the scenic ruins of a fort that dots it.

Ranthambore National Park located in Rajasthan is easily accessible via road, rail and air. If you take the road to this place, you may use private taxis, AC luxury coaches or local buses run by the Rajasthan Transport Corporation. For tourists coming by train, the nearest rail head is at Sawai Madhopur, 11 Kms from this Park. For air-travelers, the closest airport is at Jaipur, 140 Kms from Ranthambore National Park. It is best to visit Ranthambore between February and April when the climate is mild. As the weather of this place is pretty extreme at other times of the year, if you visit it during the aforesaid period, you would enjoy seeing the animals sans any discomfort.

Ranthambore National Park is renowned for its magnificent Royal Bengal Tigers. In India, this Park is one of your best bets to observe tigers amidst their wild habitat. You can watch these royal beasts on the prowl in the forest, resting lazily on the ruins of the picturesque fort, or moving with grandeur around the lakes as well as the watering holes.

So, make a beeline for Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan without any further delay. You would definitely adore your visit to the place. Take our words when we say that after coming here for once, you would yearn to come back again for more.

Ranthambore National Park Travel Guide

Ranthambore National Park is positioned at the convergence of the Vindhyan plateau and Aravali hill, in the Eastern region of Rajasthan. Two rivers, namely Banas in the North and Chambal in the South, flow through this National Park. You can also find six artificial lakes and quite a few perennial streams passing through the Ranthambore National Park. In the year of 1955, this Park got declared as a game sanctuary. However, its status of a National Park came in the year of 1980. The year 1972 marks the commencement of Project Tiger. It was at this point of time when this park was conferred the status of a tiger reserve in the country. Ranthambore National Park is spread on an area of 1,334 sq kms together with its neighboring sanctuaries - The Mansingh Sanctuary and the Kaila Devi Sanctuary. In this park, there are some areas earmarked for the tourists where they can wander at their heart’s will and explore the fauna and flora housed here. In fact, this distinctive feature of the park is a much loved one, particularly among the tourists. The rugged topography and the intense deciduous forests are key characteristics of this Park, which plays host to one of the most diverse and biggest group of wildlife species in the country. This Park is also declared a heritage site because of the scenic ruins of a fort that dots it.

Ranthambore National Park located in Rajasthan is easily accessible via road, rail and air. If you take the road to this place, you may use private taxis, AC luxury coaches or local buses run by the Rajasthan Transport Corporation. For tourists coming by train, the nearest rail head is at Sawai Madhopur, 11 Kms from this Park. For air-travelers, the closest airport is at Jaipur, 140 Kms from Ranthambore National Park. It is best to visit Ranthambore between February and April when the climate is mild. As the weather of this place is pretty extreme at other times of the year, if you visit it during the aforesaid period, you would enjoy seeing the animals sans any discomfort.

Ranthambore National Park is renowned for its magnificent Royal Bengal Tigers. In India, this Park is one of your best bets to observe tigers amidst their wild habitat. You can watch these royal beasts on the prowl in the forest, resting lazily on the ruins of the picturesque fort, or moving with grandeur around the lakes as well as the watering holes.

So, make a beeline for Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan without any further delay. You would definitely adore your visit to the place. Take our words when we say that after coming here for once, you would yearn to come back again for more.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Travel To Jaipur India

The Rose Pink City founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II (1693-1743), is the capital of Rajasthan. It is a major attraction for the first-time visitor. Jaipur is surrounded on all sides by rugged hills, crowned with forts & enclosed by embattled walls. Houses with latticed windows line the streets with their rose pink colour, lending enchantment to the scene, which is almost magical at sunset.

The Old City (Known as the Pink City) is a great place to wander around. The whole city was painted in Pink colour by Maharaja Man Singh II when Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, visited Jaipur in 1876 AD. Today, every home within the city is obliged by law to maintain its facade. It is a very well planned city laid out in a grid pattern and was designed by a young Bengali engineer and scholar by the name "Vidyadhar Bhattacharya".

Jaipur was and remains the only city in the world, symbolising the nine divisions of the universe, through nine rectangular sectors sub-dividing it. Jaipur is a royal city & this is its most noticeable aspect, small buildings & festivals testify it.

Jaipur & its surroundings are rather like an endless museum. The city also offers an endless variety of crafts. Jewellers here still fashion the beautiful enamel-on-gold pendants, studded on the reverse with precious stones or pearls & turquoise that one sees in miniature paintings. Jaipur's lacquer bangles are famous all over the world.

Jaipur, the pink city was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II, a Kachhwaha Rajput, who ruled from 1699-1744. Initially his capital was Amber, which lies at a distance of 11kms from Jaipur. He felt the need of shifting his capital city with the increase in population and growing scarcity of water. Jaipur is the first planned city of India and the King took great interest while designing this city of victory. He consulted several books on architecture and architects before making the lay out of Jaipur.

After several battles with Marathas, Jai Singh was keen on the security aspect of the city. Due to this reason, he focused on his scientific and cultural interests to make a brilliant city. Being, a lover of mathematics and science, Jai Singh sought advice from Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, a Brahmin scholar of Bengal, to aid him design the city architecture. Vidyadhar referred the ancient Indian literature on astronomy, books of Ptolemy and Euclid, and discussed the plan with the King.

With a strategic plan, the construction of the city started in 1727. It took around 4 years to complete the major palaces, roads and square. The city was built following the principles of Shilpa Shastra, the Indian Architecture. The city was divided into nine blocks, out of which two consist the state buildings and palaces, whereas the remaining seven blocks were allotted to the public. In order to ensure the security, huge fortification walls were made along with seven strong gates.

According to that time, architecture of the town was very advanced and certainly the best in Indian subcontinent. In 1853, when Prince of Wales visited Jaipur, the whole city was painted in Pink color to welcome him. Still, the neat and broadly laid-out avenues, painted in pink provide a magical charm to the city. Jaipur is rich in its cultural and architectural beauty, which can be traced in the various historical and aesthetic places that reside in the city. This city of victory really wins the hearts of the people with its splendid charisma.

Fair & Fastival in Jaipur :

Makar Sankranti :
The festival is celebrated on the 14th of January every year. This has now become the festival of kite-flying which does not spare the soaring spirits of anyone in Jaipur. The devoted ones, however, take a holy dip in the kund at Galtaji. The traditional sweet associated with it is Phirni, made in abundance by the halwais of Jaipur.

Gangaur :
Young girls and newly married women praying for their loved one or husband respectively, offer prayers to Goddess Parvati in spring (March-April). A colourful procession follows the silver and gold palanquins of Goddess Parvati brought out from the City Palace. Ghever, the traditional sweet associated with this festival is prepared all over in Jaipur city.

Elephant Festival :
This festival is held on the day of Holi, the festival of colours, at the Chaughan stadium. Beautifully decorated and caparisoned elephants assemble to participate in the royal procession. Elephant polo, Elephant race, Elephant tug-of-war with a few tourist and holi on elephant back are some of the exciting events.

Teej Festival :
To celebrate the advent of the monsoon, girls and young women dressed in colourful leharia sarees or costumes, sing songs and offer puja to goddess parvati, and pray for conjugal bliss and happiness. An elaborate procession comes out of the City Palace for two consecutive days. Villagers come to watch it in large numbers and buy knick-knacks from the stalls on the footpaths of the main bazars.

Dussehra Festival :
Dussehra is celebrated by staging Ramlila in different parts of the city and cuminating in the ceremonial burning of the giant effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath, celebrating Lord Rama's victory over the Demon King, and victory of Good over Evil.

Diwali Festival or Deepawali Festival :
Celebrated every year in October- November, Diwali is perhaps the most popular of all Indian festivals. The origin of this festival can be traced back to the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, when Lord Rama returend to this kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.

Shopping in Jaipur :
The builders of Jaipur took special care to provide ample space and facilities for the production and marketing of hadicarfts which made the place famous throughout India and abroad. An entire street and several city sectors were earmarked for artisans and traders. The main Shopping markets in Jaipur are along Jauhari Bazar, Bapu Bazar, Nehru Bazar, Chaura Rasta, Tripolia Bazar, Raja Park, Ganpati Plaza and M.I. Raod. Shops specialising in Jaipur precious and semi precious stones, Jaipur ornaments and Jaipur silver jewellery are to be found on and along Jauhari Bazar. Jaipur enjoys a high reputation for the manufacture of jewellery. It is one of the most active jewel markets of the world and is famous for precious and semi-precious stones and also for the cutting, polishing and setting of these stone, particularly that of diamonds, topaz and emeralds.

Tourist Places in Jaipur :

Hawa Mahal :
Built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799, the Hawa Mahal is one of Jaipur's major tourist attractions. Shaped like a pyramid, this five-storeyed palace is also known as the Palace of Winds. Consisting of arched roofs and small windows, the Hawa Mahal has become the biggest landmark in the city.

Jaigarh Fort :
Known as the Fort of Victory, Jaigarh Fort is the most imposing tourist attraction in Jaipur. At a distance of about 15 kilometers from the city, perched in the midst of thorny hills, the Jaigarh Fort offers a panoramic view of the city below.The fort houses the world's largest cannon on wheels. Known as Jaivana, it was built in 1720. It is believed, out of the three underground tanks in the fort, one could store up to 60,00,000 gallons of water. The museum and armory inside Jaigarh Fort are must-sees.

Nahargarh Fort :
Built in 1734 by Maharaja Jai Singh, the Nahargarh Fort, also known as the Tiger Fort, was meant to bolster the defense of Amer. This tourist attraction in Jaipur offers an incredible view of the Man Sagar Lake.

Laxmi Narayan Temple :
Also known as the Birla Mandir Temple, the Laxmi Narayan Temple is one of the religious tourist attractions of Jaipur. Beautiful idols of Hindu gods and goddesses adorn the temple, Birla Laxmi Narain Temple looks amazing in the night.

Rambagh Palace :
This palace was built in 1835 by the Queen of Jaipur. In the year 1972, the Rambagh Palace was converted into a heritage hotel and is now one of the premier attractions on your Rajputana Splendour itinerary.

Amber Fort :
Jaipur Attractions Standing tall over a small hillock overlooking the Pink City, Amber is the classic romantic Rajasthan fort & palace. Amber today is nothing but a reflection of the glorious past of the fierce Kachwaha Dynasty that ruled over this region from 12th to 18th century. Man Singh I started the construction of this fort in 1592 and, perhaps, it was the defence that topped his priorities before constructing this fort. The rugged walls of this fort may not look beautiful from outside, but the interior is a virtual paradise and painted scenes of hunting and wars adorn the walls along with precious stones and mirrors set into the plaster. Half the fun at Amber Fort is the walk from the road to the fort with majestic views of the surrounding valley. An elephant ride up to the fort is also an unforgettable experience. Not to be missed if you plan to travel to Jaipur.

Jantar Mantar :
Jaipur Attractions This largest stone observatory in the world has a very interesting story behind its construction. Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of five observatories in India including this one, was a great admirer of developments in science and technology, especially astronomy. Before constructing this observatory, he sent his emissaries to all corners to the world, who returned with many manuals of cutting-edge technology including a copy of La Hire's Tables. He built the structures following every detail given in the manual, but at the end, he found to his astonishment that the observatory was 20 seconds more accurate than that given by La Hire. Situated near the gate of the City Palace, the observatory has 18 large instruments, many of them still in working condition. The Jantar Mantar is not to be missed if you plan to travel in Jaipur.

How to reach Jaipur city :

Jaipur by Air :
Jaipur has its own airport, and is well connected to all other tourist and business centres.

Jaipur by Rail :
An excellent connection to Delhi by Shatabdi Express and the Pink City Express. Other connections to Jaipur are from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ahemadabad, Secunderabad and Lucknow.

Jaipur by Road :
A network of reasonably comfortable tourist buses, run by road corporations of Rajasthan, Haryana and other states of India.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Pushkar Information Guide

About Pushkar in Rajasthan :

Nestled between spectacular mountain ranges and trespassed by a scenic lake, the city of Pushkar is home to a number of tourist attractions. Known as a 'pilgrim city', Pushkar is renowned for Pushkar Temples and serene surroundings that combine to present a perfect holidaying experience.

With The Rajputana Experience, travel to Pushkar becomes all the more interesting and lucrative. The various tourist attractions of Pushkar are straddled around the beautiful Pushkar Lake.

Some major Tourist Attractions In Pushkar :

Pushkar Lake : One of the most sacred sites for Hindus, Pushkar Lake is the most famous tourist attraction in the holy town of Pushkar. It's a beautiful semi-circular lake with 52 lovely ghats surrounding it. According to beliefs, a dip in the Pushkar Lake on the auspicious occasion of Karthik Poornima brings salvation to devotees.

Brahma Temple : It's the only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe according to Hindu mythology, in all over India. The beautiful marble temple is famous for its four-headed idol of lord Brahma. It's decorated with silver coins and a silver turtle on its black and white chequered floor.

Savitri Temple : Dedicated to goddess Savitri, the first wife of Lord Brahma, it's the second most important temple in Pushkar. Located just behind the Brahma Temple on a hilltop, it provides a panoramic view of the scenic Pushkar Lake and exotic sand dunes nearby.

Rangji or Rangnath Temple : Rangji Temple is known for its gracious south Indian style of architecture. The temple houses a huge image of Lord Vishnu. It has a high rising 'Gopuram' (large gate) and Garuda pillars studded with a mythical bird styled in gold.

Varah Temple : One of the most sacred temples in Pushkar, Varah Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has an image of Vishnu in the incarnation of wild boar. According to a legend, Lord Vishnu visited the earth in the incarnation of a Varah (Wild boar) to kill an atrocious demon Hirnayaksh.

Jagat Pita Shri Brahma Temple :
The only temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, the universe's creator, is housed in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Standing on a high pedestal, this 14th century temple can be reached through marble steps.

Pushkar Camel Fair :
One of the biggest fairs in India, the cattle fair of Pushkar attracts buyers and sellers from all over the country who travel to Rajasthan to participate in this annual event.

Held in October or November on Kartik Purnima, the five-day Pushkar Fair is the ultimate showcase of the culture of Rajasthan. Cultural performances, folk music and dance, camel and horse races, etc light up the festivities during the fair. It is indeed a boon to travel to Pushkar during the peerless Pushkar Fair.

Apteshwar Temple : Another important temple in Pushkar, this 12th century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Saraswati Temple : Saraswati is the wife of Brahma. Literally her name means 'the flowing one' . In the Rig Veda she represents a river deity and is connected with fertility and purification.

Ramavaikunth Temple : The Ramavaikunth temple is an intricately carved Hindu temple dating to the 1920 and has images of 361 deities.

Bathing Ghats In Pushkar : Pushkar town is setup around a tiny little lake that has 52 bathing ghats around it and is surrounded by three mountains.

Man Mahal : The Man Mahal palace is very close to the Pushkar lake and Pushkar Temples, as well as within walking distance from here.

Pushkar Palace : Pushkar Palace was built about 400 years ago by the Maharaja of Kishangarh. Situated on the edge of the lake it offers a panoramic view of 400 temples, banks, sand dunes and the Aravalli hills.

How to Reach Pushkar :

By Air : The nearest airport to reach Pushkar is Jaipur Airport, which is about 138 kms from Pushkar. One can get direct flights from /to Delhi and other cities in India.

By Rail : Ajmer is the nearest railway station (about 11kms) and is connected to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Jodhpur by regular trains. Two of the best trains of the Indian Railways, Pink City Express and Shatabdi Express connect Ajmer to Delhi and Jaipur.

By Road : Pushkar has two bus stands--The Marwar bus stand which has buses to some long distance places including Delhi, Jodhpur and Bikaner while the Ajmer bus stand is located east of the Pushkar town and offers bus services to Ajmer and Jaipur. There are regular buses from Pushkar to Ajmer.

Domestic and International Airlines offices in Jaipur

Airlines Name
Address
Phone / Fax No's.
Alitalia AirlinesJaipur 2369920 / 2369120
Air France112/113, Jaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur 2377051 / 2370509
Air India101, Ganpati Plaza, Jaipur2368569 / 2368821
American AirlinesJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2375430
Austrian AirlinesJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2377695
British AirwaysG-2, Usha Plaza, M.I. Road, Jaipur2370374
Gulf AirwaysJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2375430 / 2367409
Indian AirlinesNehru Place, Tonk Road, Jaipur2743500 / 2743324
Jet AirwaysJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2370594 / 2360763
KLMJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2367773 / 2360053
Kuwait AirwaysJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur---
Lufthansa127, Saraogi Mansion, M.I. Road, Jaipur2561360
New ZealandJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2361487 / 2370062
Pakistan International AirlinesE-2, Jaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2361460
Royal JordanJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2375430
Royal Nepal AirlinesD-46, Subhash Marg, Jaipur2376485 / 2364775
SASJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2361487 / 2370062
Sahara Airlines293, Shalimar Complex, Church Road, M.I. Road, Jaipur2377637
South African Airways101/106, Jaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2361487
Syrian Arab Airlines101/106, Jaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2361487
Thai Airways InternationalJaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2361519 / 2360188
United Airlines101/106, Jaipur Towers, M.I. Road, Jaipur2361487 / 2370062
Virgin Airlines
Ganpati Plaza, M.I. Road, Jaipur2372998 / 2372997

Kerala Beaches Tour Package

Tour Duration : 06 Nights / 07 Days
Destinations Covered - Cochin - Varkala - Kumarakom - Periyar - Cochin.

Day 01 : Cochin - Varkala
On arrival at Airport or The Railway Station in Cochin, Traditional welcome by our representative and transferred to the Hotel in Cochin and relax. Later proceed to Barkala by Road. Arrival at Varkala in the evening, chek in into the hotel and overnight stay at hotel in Varkala.

Day 02
: Varkala
After breakfast in the hotel, proceed for sight seeing tour of Varkala. Varkala, an important religious place for the Hindus, is the only place in southern Kerala where one can find cliffs adjacent to the Arabian Sea. Located at Pythal Mala hill station, 45 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the main beaches and tourist areas of Varkala are located at the cliff top, which is about 7 minutes walk from the Janardhana Temple. Also visit the Portugese church of Anjengo. Evening free for leisure acitivites. Overnight stay at hotel in Varkala.

Day 03 : Varkala - Kumarakom
After taking breakfast in the hotel, then you will proceed to Kumarakom by Road. Arrival at Kumarakom in the evening, check in into the hotel and overnight stay at hotel in Kumarakom.

Day 04 : Kumarakom
After breakfast in the hotel, you would be taken for a full day sightseeing visit of Kumarakom. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 acres is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise. Egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live there in flocks are a fascination for visitors. The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands. Overnight stay at hotel in Kumarakom.

Day 05 : Kumarakom - Periyar
After morning breakfast in the hotel, you can drive to Periyar by Road. Arrival at Periyar in the noon, check in into the hotel and relax. Later proceed to Periyar Wild life Sanctuary. Periyar Wildlife Sanctury is one of the most prestigious regions on the high ranges of the western ghats. One of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, Includeing bison, antelopes, sambars, wild boars, monkeys, langurs, a wide variety of birds, and some 750 elephants. Game viewing by private motor boat in the evening, Overnight stay at hotel in Periyar.

Day 06 : Periyar
After taking breakfast in the hotel, spend the day in relaxing or leisure to explore the neighboring spice market. Overnight stay at hotel in Periyar.

Day 07 : Periyar - Cochin
After breakfast in the hotel, you can drive to Cochin by Road. Arrival at Cochin in the afternoon, check in into the hotel in Cochin and having lunch. Later proceed to sea boat ride to visit Various Islands and Churches, Santa cruz Basilica, Mattancherry Palace, Jewish synagogue, Dutch palace and St. Franchis. Evening transferred to Cochin airport in time to board flight for onward destination.

Pushkar Travel Guide

Pushkar is a well-known Hindu pilgrim centre. It is just 10 km from Ajmer. The Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple are the most important sites here. Pushkar is better known for the cattle fair.

Location : Located in the state of Rajasthan in the north India.
Major Tourist Attractions : Pushkar Lake, Brahma Temple, Nag Pahar, The Ghats.
Best Hangouts : Pushkar Lake
Best Buys : Cattle during the cattle fair (Pushkar Camel Fair)
Best Activity : Camel Ride during the Camel Fair
Festival : Pushkar Camel Fair
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Ajmer, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur.

About Pushkar
Pushkar is a sacred town for the Hindus, situated 11 kms. to the North-West of Ajmer. The charm of this sleepy, lakeside settlement so captivated the great Indian poet, Kalidas, that it found a place in his classic, Abhigyan Sakuntalam. The Great Hindu epics of Mahabharat and Ramayana make references to this religious place regarded to be Adi Tiratha. Evidence points to its having existed during the fourth century B.C. lake in the inhospitable surroundings of a desert is no less than a miracle.

The legend about the Creator God, Bramha describes the creation of this lake. When the demon Vajra Nabha killed Brahma's children, he in turn struck him with his weapon, a lotus flower. Vajra Nabha died with the impact, and the petals of the lotus fell at three places. One of them is Pushkar, where a lake sprung into being. Brahma is supposed to have performed sacrifice at this lake on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day of the Kartik month), hallowing the place. Sacred to Brahma, Pushkar boasts of its temple dedicated to him, which is the only one of its kind in the world. A dip in the waters of Pushkar and worship at his temple ensure salvation. So thousands flock to Pushkar to observe the ritual on kartik Purnima, or on any of the four days preceding it.

Tourist Attractions in Pushkar :

Pushkar Temples
One can see numerous temples of all sizes here. The most famous temple is the Brahma Temple, said to be only one temple dedicated to Brahma in India. Another important temple is that of Goddess Savitri Temple, wife of Lord Brahma located on a hilltop. It takes a one-hour trek to reach the temple, but it has an amazing view of Pushkar Lake in the morning.

The Ghats
You can have a great spiritual experience at the numerous ghats of Pushkar running down the lake. The holy lake has 52 ghats and piligrim taking a ritual dip in the lake is a common sight.

The Pushkar Lake
The Pushkar Lake is considered no less sacred than the Holy Ganges. The lake has a mythological significance associated with it. On the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima, devotees from all over the country throng the lake for a holy dip, which is believed to wash away the sins.

Pushkar Cattle Fair
Although a peaceful town, Pushkar bustles with life with the arrival of much awaited joyous celebration held on Kartik Purnima. Every year thousand of devotees pull into the town and throng the lake around the full moon day of Kartik Purnima in October-November to take a holy dip in the lake. A huge and colourful the Pushkar Camel Fair, is also held during this time. The festival is marked with dance, music and cultural events with several colourful shops springing up around to add more colours to this fair. Also on sale are mouth-watering traditional delicacies. Colourfully attired village folk enhance the fun of the occasion. Cattle auction and camel races are also a part of the festivities.

Getting There
Air : The nearest airport is Jaipur Airport (145 km), from where one can take flights for Delhi and Mumbai.
Rail : Ajmer is the nearest railway station from where one can take trains for the major destinations in Rajasthan and other parts of India.
Road : Pushkar is connected to Ajmer by road. Buses, jeeps and taxis are also available.

Accommodation in Pushkar
There are several luxury accommodations available in Pushkar. The Pushkar Hotels ranges between luxury and budget. We offer you best accommodation option available in Pushkar, keeping your interests and expenses in mind.

Temples in Pushkar & Ghats in Pushkar

Varah Temple
The Varah temple of Hindu was built in the 12th century and, and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is said to have destroyed it. Aurangzeb was understandably rather upset with the huge statue of Varah, the god with the body of a man and the head of a boar. However, Raja Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur thought differently, and in 1727 reconstructed the temple which now has a highly decorated inner sanctum where an idol of Varah is placed.

Mahadeva Temple
The 19th century Mahadeva temple with its five-faced statue of Mahadeva is made entirely of white marble. This Hindu temple is remarkable for its elegance of structure, and is perhaps the finest of all temples in and around Ajmer and Pushkar.

Ramavaikunth Temple
The Ramavaikunth temple is an intricately carved Hindu temple dating to the 1920 and has images of 361 deities. Its high stone spires atop pagodas and the rest of the temple were built by masons especially brought for this purpose from south India. The Savitri temple is located on top of a hill overlooking the lake. The hike up the hill is long and arduous via a stairway built in the 4th century, and if panoramic views are a necessity for you, the trek will be worth it. This temple is dedicated to Brahma’s wife Savitri and its origin dates back to over 2,000 years.

Gayatri Temple
The Gayatri temple on the other side of Pushkar is in honour of the wife who sat by Brahma’s side in Savitri’s absence during Brahma’s ceremonial sacrifice. Legend says that Gayatri was an untouchable and to purify her she was put into the mouth of a cow and taken out from the other end. To reach the Gayatri Hindu temple the best route to take is from behind the bus stand and walk up a hill. Both the Savitri temple in Pushkar and Gayatri temple in Pushkar are closed – so to say – during lunch hours and the best time to go is either before noon or in the evening.

Raghunath Temples
Two Raghunath temples exist in Pushkar; one is the old one and the other is relatively new. The Old Raghunath temple was built in 1823 and houses images of Venugopal, Narasimha (Vishnu’s fourth incarnation) and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. But there’s a bit of a problem for foreign tourists visiting these two temples because of one little sign which says "Foreigners not allowed." These are probably the only binary temples in India where such segregation exists.

Pap Mochini Temple
Towards the northen section of Pushkar is the Pap Mochini temple, not really popular for its architecture or deity but for the simple belief that anyone who kills a Brahmin will be purified of this deed by visiting the Hindu temple, of course, all that was applicable in olden times, for today a murder is a murder and the law would hear nothing else.

Bathing Ghats
Where there is a mass of holy water there will be bathing ghats, and in Pushkar it is the same as all over India. Pushkar lake is surrounded by hundreds of ghats where Hindu pilgrims assemble to bathe, pray or just loiter around. Removing ones shoes would be a good idea unless you want to be glared or shouted at! Photography is a strict no-no, especially of bathing women. Pushkar is quite used to tourists, but unlike Varanasi, is home for orthodox Hindus, and a little care to observe Hindu traditions can help.

Shopping & Recreation in Pushkar :
The contrast to the blank desert is the riot of Colours - the large gaudy turbans of the native males arriving here to trade their animals or to set up the stalls to cater to the booming captive market, and the loud hues of the pleated ghagaras (ankle-length skirts) of the belles bangled by the armful, be jewelled from head to toe-adding charm and zest to the massive affair. A large number of traders gather at the Pushkar Fair and set up shops. They sell a host of products like bead necklaces of Nagaur, woollen blankets of Merta, textiles printed in Ajmer and Jodhpur, brassware of Jodhpur and Jaipur etc. Also on sale are saddles, ropes, and assorted household items. Vendors peddle their dazzling range of wares at hundreds of roadside stalls. Small groups of men and women can be seen tatooing names and pictures on their hands and other parts of the body. During the fair, cultural shows and exhibitions are organized to enliven the event.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Moti Doongari Ganesh Temple

Temple in Jaipur - Moti Doongari Temple of Lord Ganesha is a small palace, this is a replica of a Scottish castle, and perched on a hilltop. Once occupied by Maharaja Madho Singh's son who was confined here, it was also for a while home to Maharani Gayatri Devi.

In the middle of Jaipur rises a small hill Moti Dungri meaning pearl hill, because it looks hill a drop of pearl. An exotic palace is parched which is a replica of Scottish castle once occupied by Maharaja Madho Singh's son. From There on remained as a private property of the ruling family. In the recent past it served as a home for Rajmata Gaytri Devi and her estranged son Jagat Singh. The mere view of this castle is exotic enough. The highlight of this place is the famous and auspicious temple of Lord Ganesh, which is frequently visited by almost whole of Jaipur and people from outside.

Movie Halls In Jaipur

Theaters in Jaipur

S.No.Theaters
Address
Location
Contacts
01.
Alka
Opp Vidhyadhar ka Mod, Chomu Road
Vidhyadhar Nagar, Jaipur
0141-2231892
02.
The Golcha
New Gate Chaura Rasta, Jaipur
0141-2565083
03.
AnkurGhat Gate Agra Road, Jaipur 0141-2600531
04. Space-1 City Plaza, opp. Subhash Nagar Shopping Centre Bani Park, Jaipur 0141-2208444
05.
Space-2 City Plaza, opp. Subhash Nagar Shopping Complex Bani Park, Jaipur 0141-2208444
06.
Space-3 City Plaza, opp. Subhash Nagar Shopping ComplexBani Park, Jaipur 0141-2208444
07.
Bollywood Vaibhav Complex, Amrapali Circle Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur 0141-2416802, 2416803
08.
Cine Star1 B-6, Central Spine, Vidhyadhar Nagar Vidhyadhar Nagar, Jaipur0141-2233958, 2233975
09.
Coral Entertainment Paradise, Jawahar Circle Malviya Nagar, Jaipur 0141-2427777
10.
EmeraldEntertainment Paradise, Jawahar CircleMalviya Nagar, Jaipur 0141-2427777
11. KohinoorNear Sanganer AirportSanganer, Jaipur0141-2732772
12.
MinervaSanganeri GateSanganeri Gate, Jaipur0141-2600531
13.
Laxmi MandirTonk PhatakTonk Road, Jaipur0141-2741504
14.
Moti MahalSawai Jai Singh HighwayBani Park, Jaipur0141-2201723
15.
NeelamMurlipuraSikar Road, Jaipur0141-2530288
16.
Raj MandirB-16, Bhagwandas RoadPanch Batti, M. I. Road, Jaipur0141-2379372
17.
SamratSubhash ChowkAmer Road, Jaipur0141-2635814