Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan

Tripoto
12th Oct 2012
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 1/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#ZenanaDeodi intricate #sandstone #carvings
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 2/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Jaswant Thada
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 3/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#MotiMahal #coloredGlassPanes
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 4/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
The view of #blueCity
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 5/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
An interesting vanity box
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 6/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 7/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#CanonBall dents
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 8/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#MehrangarhFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 9/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#SardarMarket - Girdikot, old city market gat
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 10/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JaswantThada #whiteMarble
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 11/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Daulatkhana #Palanquin
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 12/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#TitanicHotel the BEST
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 13/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JaisalmerFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 14/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
The lanes inside Jaisalmer fort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 15/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Jain temple inside Jaisalmer Fort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 16/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#NathmaljiKiHaveli
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 17/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#SalimSinghKiHaveli
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 18/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#PatwonKiHaveli inside
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 19/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Sunset
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 20/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
My ride, his care taker and me
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 21/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#SandDune #TharDesert
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 22/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Smile #camel
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 23/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#MarriageCounseling
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 24/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JaisalmerFort Entrance
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 25/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
The view of #brownCity
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 26/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#RajasthaniThali
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 27/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#GadisarLake home to the swampy #catfish
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 28/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#AmberFort and Palace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 29/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#GaneshPol #AmberFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 30/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#SheeshMahal #AmberFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 31/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#MaotaLake
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 32/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#CharBagh and #SukhNiwas #AmberFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 33/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
From underground passage to the tall fort wal
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 34/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JaigarhFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 35/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Worlds Largest Cannon on wheels
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 36/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
View from #JaigarhFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 37/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
View of #MaotaLaki from #JaigarhFort
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 38/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JalMahal #Jaipur
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 39/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#HawaMahal #Jaipur
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 40/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Jaipur street festive parade
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 41/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Gov.Central (#AlbertHall) Museum #Jaipur
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 42/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JantarMantar #Udaipur
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 43/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Jaipur
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 44/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Big Papad and #MalaiLassi
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 45/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#RajMandirCinema #Jaipur
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 46/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Accommodation in #Jaipur
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 47/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#LakePichola view of #NatniKaChabutara
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 48/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Tripolia #Udaipur #CityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 49/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#UdaipurCityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 50/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#ZenanaMahal #UdaipurCityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 51/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#SuryaGokhda #UdaipurCityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 52/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#MotiMahal #UdaipurCityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 53/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Ladies Chamber #UdaipurCityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 54/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#UdaipurCityPalace #Courtyard #MorChowk
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 55/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#KanchKiBurj #UdaipurCityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 56/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#BadiMahal #UdaipurCityPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 57/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JagdishTemple
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 58/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Udaipur streets
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 59/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
The view of #whiteCity
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 60/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#Swaroop Sagar
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 61/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
Street during Navratri
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 62/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#LakePichola #Sunset
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 63/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JagmandirIslandPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 64/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
either side of the same wall #Jagmandir
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 65/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#JagmandirIslandPalace
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 66/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#TajLakePalace #Octupussy
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 67/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#TajLakePalace #Octupussy #Sunset
Photo of Pink, Blue, Brown, White city - Colorful Rajasthan 68/68 by Samantha Mascarenhas
#NatniKaChabutara

Rajashtan! It is one of the most colorful (in culture, art, clothing, festivity, people) states in India. I am just in Love with this state and will definitely return for more. Rajasthan has many tourist cities and a week is just not enough to absorb the new experiences. The people are so FRIENDLY and so humble. In my opinion the non-"royal" folk of Rajasthan are the epitome of simplicity and content.

Getting there, it all depends on where you want to start your journey. There are train stations in every major city connecting to other states. By air the only international airport is in Jaipur. If you are traveling from India, the domestic airports are in Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur & Jaisalmer(which is open only during a specific part of the year)

As for me, I will always opt for the economical option TRAINS. My route was Jodhpur(blue city) - Jaisalmer(Brown city) - Jaipur(Pink city) - Udaipur(White city). I use a logical thumb rule while traveling...in order to avoid accommodation costs, travel between locations as much as possible during nights that way you have the entire day to browse the place and a place to rest at night. I had pre-booked all my train journeys a month in advance for this trip.

Accommodation tips, I cannot stress this any further but tripadvisor has varied options for hotels, be it luxury or budget; that is obviously in my opinion. Find the one that suits you the best, the reviews on tripadvisor will help you decide based on hotel up keep and accessibility to the main city and attractions. Most hotels will provide complimentary pick up and drop offs.

For this trip I made my accommodation choices in advance, I jotted down the phone numbers of the hotels and informed them of my arrival a day before. Some of them asked me to pay in advance in order to book a room. I chose to stay at Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Udaipur.

Food. Food. Food. The rajasthani people conformed to different cooking techniques in order to adapt to their water scarce region; the food is very rich as it cooked in Ghee, milk or yogurt; its very nutritional as it consists of Jowar and Bajra. Rajasthan offers gastronomic local delicacies, spicy curries and delectable sweets!!

In most of my trip I find that my fellow tourists hardly ever opt for the local cuisine and eat what they eat every other day(burgers,pizzas NO NO NO!). Its so sad that they miss out the best past of a regions culture. I walked helter-skelter to taste the distinct famed dal-baati-churma, and it was worth it! The rajasthani thali, gatte Ka saag, rajasthani Khadi, bajre ka sogra, Mirchi vada, Lahsun Chutney, Laal Maas, laapsi, the malai lassi, mawa kachori!! YUMMY! just re-collecting the names tickles my taste buds.

Things to do. known for its Lakes, desert, palaces and majestic forts, Rajasthan has plenty of those. One can sit by a lake and write a sonnet; roam the walls of the forts hoping to find spirits whose tales are better than anything a tour guide has to offer; watch the colors of city in their traditionally dressed women, men in colorful turbans; go for a desert safari (overnight to watch the sunset & sunrise OR just a day safari); have a glimpse of simplicity first hand in the lives of the people living in these deserts with their cattle(cow, camel, sheep, lamb); or listen to the folk music and watch the folk dance; see how the royals lived and still live by visiting some of the palaces; Or eating the local cuisine; just walk about the roads of the city

A few necessary and useful tips:

  1. For group travelers, try not to be so engrossed in your own group and mingle with the locals, you might learn a thing or two about the place.
  2. Carry a lot of water to keep yourself hydrated
  3. You HAVE to try the local rajasthani cuisine
  4. Do not liter on the roads or in the deserts

For a day visit you can keep your luggage at the railway cloak room and just take your valuables along. I did the same as I had a train to Jaisalmer the same night. You can hire a auto-rickshaw from outside the railway station, but only after settling on a decent fare.

Photo of Jodhpur Railway Station, Ratanada, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas

It is the old village market in the city and displays a lot of colorful options, be it handicrafts, fabric or spices. It is quite crowded and might be a bit too much for some people. A functional clock tower is right in the middle of this market.For quick bites, the famously hyped omelet guy will do and sweeten it down with some malai lassi.

Photo of Sardar Market, Sri Ganganagar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas

It is a large fort and there is a lot to see, from a family of 3 singing rajasthani songs while their kid puts on a dance; puppet show; the sea of blue houses from the top of the fort; the museums displaying old artifacts, artillery, palanquins; basically you can spend a lot of time here.

Photo of Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas

A white marble mausoleum, just a serene place to relax, very quiet and the cool breeze can put you to sleep.From here, I wiled away my time at the Umaid Palace museum and Zoo.A quick dinner(some Laal Maas) and mawa kachori at Janta sweet home was a perfect way to end the day and head to the railway station from my next destination.

Photo of Jaswant Thada, Lawaran, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaswant Thada, Lawaran, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas

By far the best in service and cost.

Photo of Titanic Hotel, Fort Road, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaisalmer Fort, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaisalmer Fort, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaisalmer Fort, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaisalmer Fort, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli, Sadar Bazar, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Salim Singh Ki Haveli, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Patwon-Ki-Haveli, Amar Sagar Pol, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas

Titanic hotel arranges for overnight desert safari at a very considerable rate for its guests or non guests. Unfortunately I missed this but made up for it partly with a morning desert safari which was a good experience too.

Photo of Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Gadisar Lake, Postal Colony, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaigarh Fort, Devisinghpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaigarh Fort, Devisinghpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaigarh Fort, Devisinghpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jaigarh Fort, Devisinghpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jal Mahal, Amer Road, Amer, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Hawa Mahal, Ajmer Road, Ganpati Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Albert Hall, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jantar Mantar - Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas

If you come upon this theatre on the outside it is very ordinary compared to the lavish settings of its interior. It was a pleasant surprise.

Photo of Raj Mandir Cinema, Ajmer Road, Ganpati Nagar, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jagdish Temple, Silawatwari, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jagmandir Island Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jagmandir Island Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas
Photo of Jagmandir Island Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India by Samantha Mascarenhas