What is Rajasthan known for?

Rajasthan is a beautiful state in Northern India, covering 10% of the country’s geographical area. A holiday in Rajasthan is an incredible experience, providing a fascinating insight into India’s eclectic culture and access to a plethora of awe-inspiring attractions. What is Rajasthan known for? Rajasthan is famous for its many incredible historical forts and palaces, religious temples, a collection of traditional festivals, spectacular wildlife, and beautiful scenery.

In this guide, we are going to dive a little deeper and introduce you to some of the many wonderful things that Rajasthan is known for, celebrating this wonderful part of India and inspiring you ahead of a future visit.

Historic forts & palaces

Rajasthan is certainly famous for its wonderful collection of historic forts and palaces and no itinerary to the area would be quite complete without visiting one or two. For example, Umaid Bhawan Palace is the largest royal palace in Rajasthan and is in fact, one of the largest residences in the entire world, located in the city of Jodhpur. Then there is Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, sporting one of the most spectacular facades you will ever see, made of striking red and pink sandstone. It is known as the ‘Palace of Wind’ since it is home to more than 953 windows. These are just two fantastic examples among many more in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan is also known for its forts, with a series of six incredible hill forts forming part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rajasthan is home to more than 100 hill forts in total which were built between the 5th and 18th centuries by various kings. For example, there’s the magnificent Chittorgarh Fort, the former capital of Mewar, containing 65 historic structures, such as palaces and temples.

The 6 UNESCO Hill Forts of Rajasthan

· Chittorgarh Fort

· Kumbhalgarh Fort

· Ranthambore Fort

· Gagron Fort

· Amer Fort

· Jaisalmer Fort

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Visual splendour

An India tailor made holiday to Rajasthan has so much going for it, including the state’s visual splendour. Rajasthan is a very picturesque location, with its beauty being one of many things the location is known for. From the lakes of Udaipur to the sand dunes of Jaisalmer and Bikaner, the scenery is wonderfully varied. There’s always something interesting to look at in Rajasthan, with postcard-worthy vistas everywhere you look. There’s the scenic brilliance of Mount Abu, the pretty and traditional Havelis of Mandawa, and, of course, the previously mentioned fortresses and palaces, all coming together for scenery like no other place in the world.

Festivals

The cultural life of Rajasthan is yet another highlight, forming a key part of the state’s claim to fame. A series of fairs and festivals are organised every year, showcasing Rajasthan’s culture, and have proven to be popular attractions for those visiting the area. One of Rajasthan’s most famous festivals is the Camel Fair, held every year in the stunning pilgrimage city of Pushkar. The celebrations last for five days and include camel races and camel dances as part of the festivities. It’s an experience not to be missed when in Rajasthan.

There are so many festivals and fairs of note in Rajasthan, each one well worth experiencing during your India holiday, but you can find a few specific examples below to consider.

Six amazing festivals in Rajasthan

· Camel Festival

· Kolayat Fair

· Chandrabhaga Fair

· Bundi Utsav

· Matsya Festival

· Teej Festival

Wildlife sanctuaries and national parks

India has amazing wildlife, some of the very best in the world in fact, and one of the best places to experience it for yourself is at Rajasthan’s wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Ranthambore National Park is one place you can look forward to visiting, named after the historic Ranthambore Fort. The park features an amazing range of animal species, including the iconic Bengal tigers, Indian elephants, leopards, and water buffalo.

Another option is Keoladeo National Park, an incredible bird sanctuary of 360 different species and thousands of birds in total, including the rare Siberian crane. Scores of zoologists flock here every season to study the birds, and such is the importance of the park as a habitat that it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Experiencing the wildlife of India is a must during your visit to the country, and incredible Rajasthan experiences, such as India safari holidays, and the parks mentioned above, are just some of the ways to do so.

Religious temples

Rajasthan is also known for its religious sites, including a range of prominent temples. There’s Eklingji Temple in Kailashpuri village, completed in the eighth century, dedicated to the ruling Hindu god of Mewar. Shrinathji Temple is an important place of pilgrimage for one of the main Hindu denominations, Birla Mandir is perched on a hill 280 feet high and is one of the most visited in Rajasthan. Or how about Ranakpur Jain Temple? Covering an area of 48,000 square feet, its brilliant architecture is a feast for the eyes, with the complex standing on 1,444 carved pillars. Speaking of beautiful temples, Ambika Mata Temple is right up there, 50 km from Udaipur, it is well known for its exquisite carvings and sculptures.

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