Welcome to the desert.
Welcome to Marwar. Jodhpur, the sun city, its principal
town, is rugged, weather-beaten and built to withstand
the sand and the harsh sun. Mehrangarh Fort dominates
that spirit standing and brooding 125 meter above the
town with solid walls and tiny slits for offensive action.
Nothing prepares you for what you see inside the fort.
It is exquisite as the exterior is robust. Carved panels
and latticed windows make the Moti Mahal, Phool Mahal,
Sheesh Mahal and the Daulat Khana magnificent. The palanquins,
howdahs, miniature paintings, musical instruments, costumes
and furniture of the Jodhpur royalty makes the palace
museum one of the finest in Rajasthan.
Around Jaipur, Jaswant Thada, Girdikot, Sardar Market
and the 20th century Umaid Bhawan Palace offer
delights. Balsamand lake is a little far but Mandore has
an unusual Hall of Heroes. Most Jodhpur houses are built
with red jodhpur stone that are now also being fashioned
into gift items.
12 the century Barmer is west of Jodhpur but its harsh
climate has choked its tourism potential. Yet the doughty
villagers of Barmer decorate their beautiful mud huts
with delicate motifs. A glimpse of traditional craftsmanship
can be gauged from the ruins of the beautiful 12 the century
Kiradu temples. Barmer is well known for carved furniture
and is most charming during the Tilwara cattle fair.
Jaisalmer is quite another experience, though. Satyajit
Ray turned it up in one his Feluda detective stories and
sonar kela entirely captures the surreal quality of Jaisalmer
rising over the desert haze in dazzling fold colours.
The colour is because of its yellow sandstone walls. A
whole city lives in the fort whose narrow cobbled winding
streets, carved hawelis and well-preserved Jain temples
are endlessly enchanting.
Bikaner is more like a desert town with out water palaces
and pleasure gardens but the Lalgarh Palace and Gajner
Palace have enormous heritage value while the Ganga Golden
Jubilee museum has the rarest exhibits of Indian history.
Try visiting the Karni Mata temple where rats are venerated.
Camel wool products, carpets, durries and carved wood
furniture are specialties of Bikaner. |
