Tell about Rajasthan?

It is not amazing therefore that Rajasthan has been the birthplace of many noted artists of India including the internationally known Sitar maestro Pt. Ravi Shankar

Many people know the story of Padmini, the queen of Chittaur, whose surpassing beauty led Alauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, to wage a ruthless war. The same beauteous women are also known in history for their “Jauhar”—an act they used to perform to save themselves from falling into impious hands.

When their husbands died in the battles and enemies invaded their forts, they would enkindle wood fire and jump into it to join their husbands in the next world. In this same land of sacrifice, men of eminent valour were produced who lived and died for the sake of dignity.

Here was born Rana Sanga, the great lion of the medieval India, who was alleged to have lost his one eye, one leg and one arm in the battles and had 80 wound marks on his body.

Yet when he would enter the battlefield on his stallion, he would create havoc in the mughal ranks. Created in the Mughal army.

And here was born Maharana Pratap of Chitaurgarh who lost his kingdom, suffered extreme hardships and exile with his family members but did not succumb to Akbar, the Mughal emperor, who wanted Chittaur to accept his sovereignty.

Being a land of valour and struggle and cradle of so many Rajput kingdoms, almost the whole of Rajasthan seems teeming with palaces, royal monuments and, above all, picturesque forts’ Forts are many and it is difficult for anyone to survey them all as one can find a number of forts even in deep jungles.

Some of them, which deserve special attention, are Gagron Fort, Mehrangarh Fort

of Jodhpur, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Amber Fort, Fort of Jaisalmer and, last but not the least, Chittaurgarh Fort.

Chittaurgarh Fort, associated with Maharana Pratap, always bears a special significance as it stands for a warrior king’s love and sacrifice for the freedom of his motherland. For those who believe in luxury and can afford it, the best way to explore Rajasthan is through “Palace on Wheels”.

Palace on Wheels (POW), a luxurious air-conditioned train service inaugurated in 1982 by Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation in collaboration with the Indian Railways, provides a unique and memorable experience to the tourists visiting Rajasthan.

It has 14 Saloons decorated with royal taste and equipped with bath and shower, lounge, library, music channel, bar and a sophisticated pantry providing traditional Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine.

'Raja' means 'King' and 'Sthan' means place. Put together, Rajasthan is the 'Land of The Kings'.

It was previously called Rajputana. Over the years it has been ruled by various kings including the Rajput, Marathas and even Muslim rulers, which have resulted in Rajasthan, bearing numerous beautiful forts with a wide variety in its architecture and diverse language and culture of its people.

Rajasthan, in spite of being a desert, has been endowed with such beautiful sites that include various palaces, forts and pilgrim centres that define what Rajasthan is. Rajasthan is famous for its prestigious past and its various customs and traditions. It truly gives an insight into historical India and its remarkable diversity.

'Attithi Devo bhavo' means to treat your guests like as you would treat God. This principle is a part of the Rajasthani Culture.

They treat their guests well and make them want to visit again. Most of the people in Rajasthan are involved in tourism-related jobs and hence take this principle very seriously as they earn their revenue due to the tourists and have pledged to serve them.

Since many rulers ruled Rajasthan, each region has its own folk culture.

The folk music and dance of Rajasthan are similar due to their geographical confinement, but each differs in their unique style. Manganiyars and Langas are two prominent groups that contributed to the Rajasthan folk music. They perform 'ragas' (songs) for different purposes. Like during the pre-monsoon time, they would perform ragas to call forth the rains. Other famous groups are Banjaras, Mirasis, Jogis, and much more.

Many traditional instruments are used by them that include sarangi, kamayach, dhols, shenhai, and been.

The dance is varied as well. Dance differed among different tribes. It was mainly for the entertainment of the people and the king.

Some of the dances include chang, ghoomer, bhopa, tejali, and kathipuli. Ghoomer dance, which originated in Udaipur, has gained international recognition and appreciation.

As a tourist, there are some foods that you need to try. Rajasthani food is known for its various spices and also its sweetness.

Rajasthan is most famous for dalbati - A dish comprising of dal and wheat flour kneaded with yoghurt and dressed in ghee. It is also famous for kachori - the kachori in Rajasthan are of two types - sweet and spicy. The spicy kachori is called the pyaaz or onion kachori, and the sweet kachori called the mawa kachori. Both these kachoris are easily available in any food stalls in Rajasthan.

Ghewar and gheriya are some delectable sweet dishes originating from Mewar, available in most restaurants at Rajasthan. Most of the Rajasthani dishes are made in ghee. More than 70% of people in Rajasthan are Lacto vegetarian making it one of the most vegetarian states in India.

The architectural style in Rajasthan is as diverse as its people. You get to evidence some of the exemplary sites of Islamic, Hindu, colonial and even modern architecture. Rajasthan should be your next place to visit if you are a lover of architecture and appreciate monumental buildings, heritage sites and different styles of design