Category: Rajasthan

Rajasthan is a state in India, bordering Pakistan. Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan.

Alila Fort Bishangarh – Get Treated like Royalty at this Heritage Palace Hotel

George T. George Leave a comment

Alila Fort alias Bishangarh Fort is a 230 year old fort on top of the only granite hill in the Aravalli Range of mountains,  at Bishangarh in Rajasthan, India. It is situated near to Jaipur city. The fort and the palace has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel named Alila Fort Bishangarh. There are 59 suite rooms in this heritage resort or hotel. The hotel is the fusion of its grand majesty with its well preserved history and modernity.

This ancient fort was is built in Jaipur Gharana architecture (a combination of Rajput and Mughal architecture styles). The Shahpura and Shekhawat royal families which built this fort, owed their allegiance to the Jaipur royal family.

This warrior fort is spread over an area of 100,000 square feet. 30,000 square feet area is covered with Rajasthani marbles, while the rest is covered with local sandstone. Royal residences and soldier’s quarters has all been renovated, keeping in mind the historical value of the buildings.

This fort has never seen any war.

The palace hotel is available for weddings and meetings.

How Do I Go to Alila Fort Bishangarh, the Heritage Palace Hotel?

Alila Fort Bishangarh is in Jaipur district. Alila Fort Bishangarh is situated at around six kilometers off National Highway 8 (Delhi-Jaipur National Highway) at Manoharpur in Bishangarh Village.  It takes around 1 hour to reach the fort from Jaipur airport, which is situated at a distance of around 60 kilometers.

Hawa Mahal Jaipur Palace is at around 57 kilometers away from this palatial  hotel.  Amber Palace Jaipur is at around 49 kilometers distance from the palace hotel at Bishangarh.

New Delhi International airport is at a distance of around 180 kilometers from Bishangarh  fort alias Alila Fort.  Agra Taj Mahal  is situated at around 260 kilometers from Bishangarh fort hotel. Fatehpur Sikri is at around 221 kilometers from this  heritage palace hotel, Alila Fort Bishangarh. 

 

Chand Baori! Can you imagine a Stepwell with 3500 steps across 13 stories?

George T. George 6 Comments

Chand Baori is an ancient step-well built by Nikumbh dynasty ruler King Chanda, between 800 CE and 900 CE. It is situated at Abhaneri village in  Dausa district, Rajasthan state, India.

Chand Baori step well
Chand Baori step well in Rajasthan state, India.

The step well here is made-up of 3500 steps across 13 stories. It has a depth of 30 meters, this making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India.

The state of Rajasthan is arid. Thar Desert is situated here in this state. To conserve water, a scarce resource in the state, the the ancient kings of Rajasthan state made a few massive step-wells like this one.

At one side of Chand Baori at Abhaneri, there is a resting room and pavilion for the royal family. This stepwell used to be the  gathering place for the locals, during the peak summer season.

Super hit movies like ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (Batman) and  ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ are two movies with scenes at Chand Baori step-well site. It has also been featured in many Indian movies.

Harshat Mata Temple

Ruins of Harshat Mata temple is a nearby ancient historic temple, situated very close to the step wells site. This temple is known for its exquisite carvings.

Harshat Mata Temple was built in-between 7th and 8th centuries.  The temple was destroyed by Islamic invaders, in the 10th century. The temple remains are proof to the of architectural and sculptural styles prevalent those days.

How Do I Go to Chand Baori?

Chand Baori step wells is situated at around 290 kilometers distance from Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan. Kota  is the nearest major town at around, 40 kilometers distance.

As the place is currently abandoned, there are no buses to Chand Baori step-wells site. From Sikandra town, you can hire a taxi or a jeep to go to Abhaneri village. The distance from Sikandra to the step wells site is  around 7.5 kilometers. The charges for a return journey is around Rupees 300. Before hiring the vehicle, please confirm the rates with the driver.

Chand Baori Stepwell Timings

The stepwell site is open on all days, except major public holidays. There are no entry fees to be paid at  this majestic stepwell.

Osian temple

Information on the 8th to 12th Century Temples at Osian

George T. George 5 Comments

Osian is an oasis in the Thar desert of Rajasthan, famous for 18 ruined Brahmanical & Jain temples.  These ancient temples were constructed in between 8th and  12th centuries. It is situated in Jodhpur district.

Osian temple
Osian temple

Sachiya Mata Temple, Mahaveera Jain Temple, Surya temple (Sun Temple) and Kali temple, situated in this historic city, are a real treat to your eyes. These temples are known for its exquisitely carved pillars. These temple resembles to the temples at Khajuraho.  Hence Osian  is also known as “Khajuraho of Rajasthan”.

Osian or Osiyan was a religious center during the  reign  of Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. During the reign of Guptas, this town was also a major trading center. It was also a major center of  Brahmanism and Jainism for hundreds of years till 1195, when the town  was attacked by the Turkish and Muslim armies of Muhammed of Ghor.  Many of the temples were destroyed at time. The residents of the city fled the area and never returned.  As per 2001 census report, there are 12,452 inhabitants at this historic city. This small town is famous for Osian sand dunes.

This historic town is an important pilgrimage town for Oswal Jain and Maheshwari communities. (Maheshwari  is a sub-section of bania caste). There is an ancient  Mahavira temple at this town. Lord Mahavira, who  also known as  Lord Vardhamana, was the  24th Tirthankara of Jainism. He who lived in 6th century BC. Vardhamana temple here was constructed in A. D. 783, during the reign of Vatsaraj. He was the Gurjara Pratihara ruler of that time.

At its peak, this historic town of Osiyan had over 100 Jain temples.

How Do I Go to Osian Temple Jodhpur?

NH 11  which starts at Jaisalmer and ends at Jhunjhunu (both in Rajasthan state), passes through Osian.

Osian Railway Station is the the nearest railway station. It is a small station. Jodhpur  railway station is a major railway station and is well connected to other parts of India. Osian to Jodhpur distance is 67.8 kilometers. The nearest airport is at Jodhpur.

Bikaner city is at around 183 kilometers distance. Jaipur, the pink city, is located at around 354 kilometers.

Osiyan Hotels

Rawla Resort, Safari Camp, Camp Thar, Hotel Ganpati Plaza, etc, are some of leading Osiyan hotels. Sand Dunes Resort & Camp is one among the leading resorts in jodhpur.

What You Know About Roopangarh Fort & What You Don’t Know About Roopangarh Fort.

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Roopangarh Fort is a 350 year old fortress at Roopangarh in  Rajasthan state, India. The fort and the palace inside the fortress is now converted into a luxury hotel by the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Kishangarh.

Roopangarh Fort

Roopangarh Fort – Image Courtesy – wikipedia.org

The Kigdom of Kishangarh was estblished in A.D. 1611. The fortress was originally built by Maharaja Roop Singh of Kishangarh in 1648. Roopangarh was made the capital of this kingdom in A.D. 1649. For around 100 hears or so, this city was at its glorious best.

The name of the city means ‘city of beauty’. It is situated atop a hill to the north of Kishangarh city. After the fort was constructed, a new town developed around the fort. It became a center of hub for artisans and manufacturers. For around a century or so, it also served as the primary residence of the Maharajas of Kishangarh and also the capital of the state. An ornate palace was built next to the fortress.

In 1999, this  fort was converted into a Luxury hotel. The interiors and exteriors were not changed much. There are 20 rooms. Some of these rooms are vast former royal suites.

How Do I Go to Roopangarh Fort?

Roopangarh Fort is at half an hour drive from Sawarda, on NH 48. This National Highway was previously known as NH8. National Highway No. 48 connects the following major cities directly; Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Mumabi , Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai.

Junagarh Fort

Junagarh Fort & Palaces in and Around the Fort

George T. George 2 Comments

Junagarh Fort is an ancient fort in in Bikaner city, Rajasthan.

Junagarh Fort
Junagarh fort

This fort in not on a hilltop, unlike other major forts in the state. The city is developed around this magnificent fort. Maharaja Raja Rai Singh constructed this fort. He was the sixth ruler of Bikaner, who reigned from AD 1571 – 1611. The work was started in 1589 and was completed by 1594. This fort built at a distance of one and a half kilometers from the old fort. Ruins of the old fort can be seen near the Lakshmi Narayan temple.

Except for a single day, Bikaner has never been defeated by enemies. Kamran Mirza, second son of the First Mughal Emperor Babur, occupied this fort in 1534, during the reign of Maharaja Rao Jait Singh.It was before this fort was constructed, when the old fort was there.

There are many palaces, temples, pavilions, etc, in the fort complex. They are of a mixture of architectural styles.  The total area of the fort is around 5.28 hectares. The fort and the city of Bikaner  is situated on the arid region of Thar desert.

This fort was renamed from Chintamani to Junagarh Fort (means “Old Fort”), after the Royal family  moved  from Junagarh Palace  inside the Junagarh fort, to Lalgarh Palace, outside this fort. Lalgarh Palace is the extended place constructed in between 1902 and 1926. It is an extension of Laxmi Niwas Palace built in between 1898 and 1902 and commissioned by His Highness Sir Ganga Singh Ji in 1904.

Luxury Heritage Palace Hotels Outside Junagarh Fort

Laxmi Niwas Palace  is the former residence of the reigning family. It is one of the most beautiful structures in Indo-Saracenic style of Architecture in India. This Palace is now a luxury hotel. It is managed by Golden Triangle Fort & Palace Pvt. Ltd., which was incorporated on the 16th  March 1999.

Lalgarh Palace is also constructed in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. This palace is named after  Maharaja Lall Singh, father of  Maharaja Ganga Singh who reigned from 1881–1942.  Lalgarh palace is is also a luxury heritage hotel. Lalgarh palace hotel is now known as The Lalgarh Palace.

Lallgarh Palace  is currently owned by Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji Trust, established in 1972. This trust was  established by Karni Singh, former titular Maharaja of Bikaner and son of Maharaja Sadul Singh, the last reigned Maharaja of Bikaner. It is now under the guidance of  Rajyashree Kumari, daughter of Karni Singh.

How Do I Go to Junagarh Fort?

Junagarh Fort is situated at the hear of Bikaner  city, founded by Rao Bika in 1488, first ruler of the new kingdom established by himself. This fort city is at around 330 kilometers northwest of  Jaipur, the capital of the state of Rajasthan.

Bikaner Junction railway station with station code BKN, is the railway station in the city.

The city is well connected by roads. N.H.  11, 15 and 89 meets at Bikaner. The airport at Bikaner connects the city with Jaipur and Delhi, daily.