Amer Fort- Jaipur
The Fort's in-house Kali temple popularly referred to as the Shila Devi Temple is shrouded in mystery. The temple is conspicuous by its awesome silver doors and silver lions.
City Palace Jaipur
The city palace was built by Raja Sawai Jai Singh and the royal family still uses a section of the palace.
Hawa Mahal Jaipur
The Hawa Mahal was designed by renowned architect Lal Chand Usta and is built of red and pink sandstone and is a living testimony of Rajput architectural grandeur.
Jantar Mantar Jaipur
antar Mantar was conceptualised with the primary aimof unraveling the mystery of outer space. In the days of yore, Jantar Mantar served the purpose of carrying out astronomical observations and also inspired and motivated many to become interested in the science of astronomy, at a time when the society at large had become entangled in silly superstition and religious bigotry.
Chittorgarh Fort
The Fort has several Majestic Palaces, each one more beautiful than the other. For instance the Rana Kumbha Palace, the Fateh Prakash Palace, Rani Padmini's Palace to name just a few of the palaces that are housed inside the fort all exemplify with the saga of gallantry, courage and heroism of the redoubtable Rajputs.
Fateh Prakash Palace, Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh Fort is a massive structure with a 1 kilometre zigzag accent to it. The road leads through seven gates to the main gate Rampol (meaning Gate of Ram).
Lake Palace, Udaipur
The LakePalace is located on the Jag Niwas Island and covers the whole of 1.5 hectare of the island in the middle of the Pichola Lake. Built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1743 it was meant as a royal summer palace and now converted in to a five star palace hotel.
Luni Fort, Jodhpur
The fort is composed of a lyrical complex of courtyards towers, water, wheels, stables, passages and unexpected stairways to secret pavilions and panoramic roof tops spanning the village below and the Thar horizon beyond.
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
The palace was also built with superficial intentions of providing employment to famine stricken farmers. The Palace now is a five star deluxe palace hotel.
Lalgarh Palace, Bikaner
The Palace has an amazing collection of well-maintained paintings and hunting trophies. Sprawling lawns with blooming bougainvillea and dancing peacocks make a visual extravagance.
Junagarh Fort, Bikaner
This fort and it's palaces were built between 1588-1593 by raja Raj Singh, a general in the army of the Mughal emperor Akbar. It has a 96 mt long wall, with 37 bastions and 2 entrances. The main entrance of the fort is Suraj pol or sun gate.
Bikaner Fort
The fort's 37 bastions are nicely complimented with a number of palaces, towers, pavilions and temples. There is the exquisitely beautiful Chandra Mahal which is adorned with mirrors and art works.
Jaisalmer Fort
The fort has 99 towers some of which possess cannons even today. In the Chauhata Square the majestic palaces of Maharawals are located. To reach the palace, one has to climb a flight of steps.
Mehrangarh Fort
The majestic MehrangarhFort is one of India's largest forts and located in the picturesque city of Jodhpur.
Today's Rajasthan
Modern Period (1707 - 1947)
The demise of Aurangzeb marked the end of the Mughal Dominion around 1707 and the Marathas headed by Shivaji, gained supremacy in Northern India including Rajasthan. In 1775 they captured Ajmer.
However the British colonial power put an end to the Maratha ascendancy in the late 17th century and established their suzerainty in the state of Rajasthan and other parts of India. In 1817-18 the British Raj resolved treaties of alliance with most of the states of Rajputana (currently known as Rajasthan).
The Rajput rulers were allowed to maintain their prestige and positions but the original powers were transferred into the hands of the British; in fact the Rajput Rajas became mere puppets in the hands of the British rulers.
However over-dominance of the British colonial powers led to discontentment and discord and this resulted in the sepoy mutiny and the great revolt of 1857 wherein the political powers of the East India Company was transferred to the British Crown.
Emergence of the state of Rajasthan- The Rajputana State of Rajasthan consisted of nineteen princely states and at the time of Indian Independence which was later united into a single whole following a prolonged process of integration.
At first in 17th March, 1948, the south-eastern and the southern states of Rajputana and Mewar merged together to form the United State of Rajasthan.
At that time Udaipur became the capital of the state and the Maharaja or the chieftain of Udaipur was conferred upon the title of Rajpramukh (head of state) and the Manikya Lal Varma became the prime minister of the new state.
Then in 1949, the kingdoms of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur signed the Instrument of Accession and united with the state of Rajasthan and the Maharaja of Jaipur - Man Singh II became the Rajpramukh. Later the state of Matsya consisting of Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli and Dholpur was integrated with Rajasthan.
In 1stNovember, 1956, finally the entire state of present day Rajasthan came into existence with the amalgamation of Ajmer-Merwara, Abu Rd and a portion of Dilwara. It became the largest state in geographical expanse.
Constitutionally, the chieftains or princes of the kingdoms of Rajasthan were granted adequate remuneration known as privy purses to fulfill their financial obligations. Some of the most eminent states of Rajasthan that enjoyed the privilege of privy purses were- Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Tonk, Dholpur, Jaisalmer and Nimrana .However in 1970, the prominent political personality put an end to this practice.
Currently, including the new district of Karauli, there are 32 districts, 105 sub-divisions, 37889 villages, 241 tehsils and 222 towns in Rajasthan.
Overall Rajasthan is a vibrant state where tradition and history blend with contemporary life styles. People are proud of their heritage and yet open to change western values.
The demise of Aurangzeb marked the end of the Mughal Dominion around 1707 and the Marathas headed by Shivaji, gained supremacy in Northern India including Rajasthan. In 1775 they captured Ajmer.
However the British colonial power put an end to the Maratha ascendancy in the late 17th century and established their suzerainty in the state of Rajasthan and other parts of India. In 1817-18 the British Raj resolved treaties of alliance with most of the states of Rajputana (currently known as Rajasthan).
The Rajput rulers were allowed to maintain their prestige and positions but the original powers were transferred into the hands of the British; in fact the Rajput Rajas became mere puppets in the hands of the British rulers.
However over-dominance of the British colonial powers led to discontentment and discord and this resulted in the sepoy mutiny and the great revolt of 1857 wherein the political powers of the East India Company was transferred to the British Crown.
Emergence of the state of Rajasthan- The Rajputana State of Rajasthan consisted of nineteen princely states and at the time of Indian Independence which was later united into a single whole following a prolonged process of integration.
At first in 17th March, 1948, the south-eastern and the southern states of Rajputana and Mewar merged together to form the United State of Rajasthan.
At that time Udaipur became the capital of the state and the Maharaja or the chieftain of Udaipur was conferred upon the title of Rajpramukh (head of state) and the Manikya Lal Varma became the prime minister of the new state.
Then in 1949, the kingdoms of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur signed the Instrument of Accession and united with the state of Rajasthan and the Maharaja of Jaipur - Man Singh II became the Rajpramukh. Later the state of Matsya consisting of Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli and Dholpur was integrated with Rajasthan.
In 1stNovember, 1956, finally the entire state of present day Rajasthan came into existence with the amalgamation of Ajmer-Merwara, Abu Rd and a portion of Dilwara. It became the largest state in geographical expanse.
Constitutionally, the chieftains or princes of the kingdoms of Rajasthan were granted adequate remuneration known as privy purses to fulfill their financial obligations. Some of the most eminent states of Rajasthan that enjoyed the privilege of privy purses were- Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Tonk, Dholpur, Jaisalmer and Nimrana .However in 1970, the prominent political personality put an end to this practice.
Currently, including the new district of Karauli, there are 32 districts, 105 sub-divisions, 37889 villages, 241 tehsils and 222 towns in Rajasthan.
Overall Rajasthan is a vibrant state where tradition and history blend with contemporary life styles. People are proud of their heritage and yet open to change western values.
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