Barmer is a desert town in western Rajasthan, about 150 KMs from Jaisalmer. Though most of it is barren desert land with harsh climate for most part of the year, Barmer is famous for its historical sites such as Siwana fort and Juna ruins. Barmer is becoming famous for the cattle fair organized in the Tilwara and Thar festival as well. Travelers can get a glimpse of rich culture of Rajasthan and taste the local cuisines as well.
Bundi is a little known gem of a place not hounded by tourists yet like some of the more famous places of Rajasthan. Just about 40 KMs from Kota, Bundi is surrounded by the Aravalli hills on 3 sides. Bundi has managed to retain its centuries old magical charm. Bundi used to be the capital of the erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan. Bundi is rich in history and known for its forts and palaces and baolis (step wells).
My most memorable “Incredible India” moment of 2013 was laying on a mattress near the Lakhmana sand dunes in the Thar Desert, watching the Geminid Meteor Shower in the dark desert sky! We tracked the trajectory of the full moon through the sky, till it set on the other end. We spotted a million shooting stars and geminids. And this was undoubtedly the best bed to wake up in at sunrise.
Located in southeastern Rajasthan, Jhalawar is a former princely state known for its old temples, forts and palaces. Much of the city was destroyed during the reign of Aurangazeb, and one can find city dotted with many ruins of the past. Jhalawar Fort, popularly known as Garh Palace locally is the prime attraction here. There are some little known Buddhist Cavesin Kolvi near Jhalawar. There are more than 50 caves in this region belonging to 5th to 8th century AD.
The stunningly beautiful Tal Chhapar Sanctuary in Rajasthan is a delight for photographers and bird lovers. One of the last surviving grasslands in the plains, this regions witness hordes of Demoiselle cranes crossing over the great Himalayas to reach Keechan village. One can also spot the endangered Black bucks and Indian gazelle at close proximity here. The facilities are pretty basic but decent at Rajasthan Forest Dept. Guest House. Tal Chapar is about 350 KMs from Delhi and 200 KMs from Jaipur. Best time to visit would be from November to February.
Built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha, Kumbhalgarh is the birth place of Maharana Pratap. This glorious fort is testimony of the valour of the Rajputs and how even the mighty Mughals couldnÂ’t capture it alone! Kumbhalgarh Fort is protected by 13 mountain peaks of the Aravalis. The entrance is through seven imposing gates. A 36 kilometre wall, second only to the Great Wall of China, surrounds the fort. ItÂ’s 15 feet thick, broad enough for eight horses to ride alongside each other. There are 360 temples within the walls of the fort. Despite being 700 years old, Kumbhalgarh Fort is still intact and in good shape, truly making it one of the hidden gems of Rajasthan.
RAJASHTHAN
Some 95 km from Jaipur on the Jaipur-Agra Road is Chand Baori, one of the largest and deepest stairwells in India. Other than the architectural wonder that it evidently is, Chand Baori is one of the favourite haunts (pun intended) of travellers looking for something offbeat in Rajasthan. A majority of the locals believe that it was constructed by ghosts in just one night. If that doesn’t sound inviting enough, here’s a challenge. The locals and a lot of travellers say that you cannot put your foot on the same step again! Challenge accepted?​
At some 20 km away from Jaipur, Galta Monkey Temple is rarely on the visit list of travellers. A well-kept secret, this temple is wedged between two cliffs, looking quite surreal in its settings. Interesting architecture, intriguing tales and a lot of friendly monkeys await you here. A few houses around the temple complex lend this place an aura of some lost city.​
