Rajasthani Cuisines

Rajasthan is often in the news for the majestic forts and palaces. These beautiful monuments which are the pride legacy of former royal have become synonymous with Rajasthan. Apart from these structures, this state boast of delicious cuisines and culinary. A lot of persistence and effort were involve in the evolvement of Rajasthani cuisines. It is worth appreciating as people had to struggle against all odds and devise recipes which suits them. Ingredients have been selected keeping in mind the geographical nature of state. The style of cooking to varies from one region to another. In general Rajasthani curries appear red but they are not as spicy as they surface.

In most case pure ghee or butter are used as medium of cooking. Chutneys made out of local spices add to the flavour of Rajasthani curries. Rajasthani cuisines are more rich in butter and other milk products, like buttermilk, yogurt and ghee, as it substituted for the scarce water present in the region. Some crops like millet and barley which are grown in few areas of state is extensively used. Other ingredients include gram flour, dried lentils and local grown bean plants like sangri, ker etc. The most popular combination of Rajasthani food is that of dal, bati and churma (dal is lentils, bati is baked wheat ball and churma is powdered sweetened cereal). In contrast to the popular belief, all population Rajasthan of Rajasthan are not vegetarian.

Popular Dishes

Ker-Sangri on Bajara Roti: In this dish dried lentil, beans from local plants like sangri, ker, etc are used. Gram flour is used to prepare delicious dishes like khata, gatta ki sabzi and pakodi. Powdered lentils are used to make mangodi papad.

Rajasthani Dal-Bati-Churma: This is one of the most popular dish of Rajasthan. This mouthwatering curry composes of three separate dishes. Dal means the lentils, Bati is the puffed and baked wheat ball and Churma is the sweetened flour.

Chapatti: It is a flat unleavened bread. In the entire north India, this is very popular dish.

Sula - Tender Morsels of Meat: This is the most delicious Rajput cuisine. Sulas are made of chicken, pheasant mutton or fish. Meat is mixed with dry yogurt, browned onions, garlic ginger, red chilli and kachari.

Soup: Soup is an important part of the Rajasthani cuisines. Rajasthani soups are flavored with red chili peppers, yogurt or milk and sometimes vegetable like okra, jackfruit, eggplant, mustard or fenugreek leaf.

Apart from these delicious curry, Rajasthani people devour many more curries. They love to eat tasty and healthy food.

Hawa Mahal- Jaipur

Pink city Jaipur has been bestowed with some of the amazing historical monuments. These historical monuments are the legacy of former Rajput rulers of state. Of all, Hawa Mahal or wind palace is the most popular monument of this city. Constructed in the year 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, this magical monument since then has become the symbolizing factor of Jaipur. This palace was built specially for the royal women to watch various processions passing below street. Hawa Mahal is a significant part of the majestic City palace complex located in the heart of the Jaipur.

This five story building was designed by popular architect of that time, Ustad Lal Chand. Built using red and pink sand stone, this monument is a shining example of the Rajput architectural brilliance. The main entry to Hawa Mahal is from city palace side. It is a fifty feet high building and are made up of 953 small casements. Through out the day cool breeze keep blowing from these small windows.

Attractions of Hawa Mahal

One of the most popular attractions of Jaipur, Hawa Mahal is an incredibly beautiful monument. Moment tourists step inside this monument, they will be taken to another era. From roadside, it look like any other normal building, but when you enter inside your eyes will be wide open seeing the architecture of this monument. Hawa Mahal is famous for its beehive like structure. There is no gate at the front side and entry to the building is from the rear side. This palace houses a small archaeological museum in the courtyard. In this museum many arts and artifacts from former Rajput kingdom have been safely placed.

From Hawa Mahal visitors can have a fantastic view of the whole Jaipur city. The buzzing streets and markets of Jaipur can be viewed quite brilliantly from the balconies of Hawa Mahal. Best part of this majestic monument is its truly magnificent architecture. It has been often been noticed that most of Rajput architecture were influenced from the Mughals. They quite brilliantly adapted Mughal style and mixed it with traditional Hindu style, giving way to a new distinctive architecture. Hawa Mahal is surrounded by some amazing monuments like City Palace, Central museum and Jantar Mantar. Together they form the part of fascinating travel attractions of Jaipur.

Wildlife in Rajasthan

Think of Rajasthan and all that comes to mind is the deserts, forts, palaces and havelis. But Rajasthan is not only about Thar Desert. Rajasthan is also immensely rich in wildlife and the varied topography of Rajasthan has blessed it with large areas of wetlands, lush green landscapes and dense forests. From the majestic Tigers to the elegant peacocks, animals, birds and reptiles are found here in plenty. Rajasthan has 3 national parks and over a dozen wildlife sanctuaries.
Ranthambore National Park – Ranthambore national park is located in Sawai Madhopur district. It served as the hunting ground for the Maharajas of Jaipur. Established as wildlife sanctuary in 1955, it gained the status of a National Park in 1981. Major attraction of the Ranthambore national park is the Tiger. Other animals which one can sight in the park are leopards, hyenas, wild boar, chinkara, jackals etc.
Bharatpur National Park – Officially known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, it is a bird sanctuary and occupies an area of 29 sq km. Bharatpur bird sanctuary gained the status of World heritage site in 1985. Main attraction of the park is the migratory Siberian Cranes. Other birds which one can see are pelicans, geese, ducks, ibises, egrets, eagles etc.
Sariska National Park – Sariska forest reserve was the hunting ground of Maharaja of Alwar in the past. It got the national park status in the year 1979. The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kilometres, with a core area of approx. 47sq. Kilometres. Main attraction of the park is Tiger, other animals which can be seen here are Nilgai, Sambar, Chital, Hyena, Porcupine, Indian Palm Civet etc.

Jaisalmer Fort – Sonar Quila

Jaisalmer Fort is also famously called as the “Sonar Quila” or “Golden Fort”. It is the most famous tourist attraction of Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer Golden Fort is one of the oldest forts of Rajasthan. Bhatti King Jaisal laid the foundation of the fort in 1156 A.D. On Trikuta hill. It is famous for its antiquity and repertory of architectural wealth. The fort looks beautiful with the desert ambiance and setting sun, which gives the fort a golden look and hence the name, Golden fort. The interiors of the fort have been built and painted in Rajput style. A cross-culture merging of Rajput and Islamic architectural styles is visible in this fort.

At one point of time in history, fort housed entire population of Jaisalmer. Today, Jaisalmer can be divided into two parts. Good number of people still resides in the fort area. Rest of the population is at the foot of the Trikuta hill outside the fort. There are four massive gateways that lead to the fort – Akshaya Pol, Suraj Pol, Hawa Pol and Ganesh Pol. There are many monuments, palaces, temples and havelis inside the fort which are worth visiting. Best attraction of the fort are Jain temples which were built in it between 12^th and 15^th century. There is a beautiful palace, Raj Mahal which was once the residence of the royal family which has now been converted into a museum.

Camping in Rajasthan Desert

Ever thought of camping in desert beneath thousands of stars glittering in the sky. Thar desert in the state of Rajasthan provide several days of ideal camping opportunities in the middle of the desolate sand dunes. Desert of Rajasthan is different from any other desert of the world, it is the most populous desert of the world. Camping in Thar gives an opportunity to have an insight of the culture and lifestyle of the people living in the extreme conditions of Thar and wonder about the life in untamed countryside. Travel Rajasthan to experience the incredible sands and dunes of Thar.
Sam sand dunes, best place for putting up camps, is about 40 km from the desert city of Jaisalmer. Camping in Rajasthan desert offers mystical romance of night, which has kept the tourists engrossed in thoughts of the golden sands. Most amazing moment will be to witness the dunes shift places overnight. View of the sunrise and sunset is incomparable and is once in a lifetime experience.
Dance and music is a very important part of people living in the Indian desert. Watching woman dancing on the traditional folk song and music while enjoying bonfire on the desert is beyond imagination.

Neemrana Fort Palace

About Neemrana
Neemrana is a small town located in Alwar district of Rajasthan. Town is located on the Delhi Jaipur highway and is 122 km from Delhi. Neemrana is historically very important destination of Rajasthan, it was the third capital of the successors of Prithvi Raj Chouhan. Neemrana is located in the heart of Golden Triangle destinations and is an ideal base to visit Sariska national park, Neelkanth temples, Siliserh and Jaisamand lakes, Bharatpur bird sanctuary and Mathura.

The Fort Palace
Neemrana is the site of 14th century hill-fort, the Neemrana Fort Palace. Neemrana fort palace was built in 1464 AD and is among India's oldest heritage resort properties. Neemrana fort palace is spread in 25 acres area on a hill top. Fort offers splendid view of the whole area. Today this palace is a heritage hotel. Hotel provides all the facilities of a modern 5 star hotels. Staying in Neemrana heritage hotel is an experience of living in the past.
Neemrana fort palace offers 40 luxurious rooms spread at 10 levels. All the rooms have different decoration and offer splendid view of the village. Most of the rooms have private balconies and terraces. Facilities offered are Games room, Library, guided tour of the fort, yoga and meditation, ayurvedic rejuvenation treatments, swimming pool, jacuzzi and camel cart rides can be arranged.

City Palace Jaipur

The land of Royal people boasts of having a palace like 'City Palace'. An epitome of royal attainment each and every corner of the palace are filled with enticimg and interesting artiface. It is a blend of Raj put and Mughal architecture. This majestic palace was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of the Kachhwaha clan of Rajputs but there are many additions have been by his successors afterwards. Among all the forts and palaces of Jaipur this city palace stands apart with its excellent art and architecture.

Location – At the centre of the town, just next to the Hawa Mahal

Attractions – The attractions of the palace lies in Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Museum,

Chandra Mahal, Mubarak Mahal, Badal Mahal, Sukh Nivas & Shobha Nivas, Chhavi Nivas & Mukut Mahal.

The City Palace covers a huge area of Jaipur. It was once the royal residence of the Rajputs and now one portion of it are still houses of the Royal family and rest are for the public. The museum inside the palace attracts huge no of tourists. It contains amazing collections of paintings, manuscript, textile and extra ordinary weapons. The largest silver urns of the world are also displayed here.

The vast area of City Palace are divided in to a series of courtyards, gardens and buildings.

The first building of the palace is Mubarak Mahal, built by Maharaja Madho Singh. It has a beautifully carved marble gate with heavy brass doors on either side of this gate.

Here lies the famous halls of 'Diwan-E-Khas' or the 'Hall Of Private Audience' and 'Diwan-E-Am' or the 'Hall Of Public Audience',

Chandra Mahal, the residence of ex ruler is in the north west of the palace. It is considered as the best part of the whole City Palace. It is a seven storied Mahal and each story is known by different names. And the Mukut Mahal is the name of the top most Mahal. The wonderful architecture and painting, delicate mirror work on walls and different decorations lure every tourist.

Just opposite to Chandra Mahal is the Badal Mahaland between them is the Govind Ji temple. Though the City palace does not have much historical importance but it stands as a symbol of royal elegance which lures the tourists again and again.