Jal Mahal: a fascinating reverie in Jaipur

January, that time of the year when everybody be it Jaipurites or tourists always ask for this one place, Jal Mahal. Yes! Jal Mahal is in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan and no, it is not built on an island like other water palaces. This 5 storied building continues to stand still in Man Sagar Lake with 4 floors immersed in water and dare anyone come near it. You can watch, behold the sight and, capture its beauty only from a distance as it is too introverted to let anybody close to it. We’re sure you must have visited this eyeful multiple of times, but let’s enlighten you today on these unknown facts about your favourite “Water Palace”.

• Initially, Jal Mahal welcomed the royal family with open arms and let them have a gala time here. Back then it served as a host to duck hunting parties for the royals. Years passed by and it started getting shy. And now, you can only have a look at it wondering what makes this architectural marvel stand tall in the water body.

• Come February, and you can spot a large number of migratory birds dancing here and there, enjoying the serenity of water at Jal Mahal. This once again revives the liveliness in it.

• Chameli Bagh of Jal Mahal was a grand spectacle to watch back when beautiful dance and musical performances painted this splendor in its own colours.
• Built in red sandstone, Jal Mahal is one of the most photographed monuments in Pink City. With tranquil waters by the side and birds sitting on top of the chattris giving it a picturesque view, tourists and locals love to spend their evenings here, clicking selfies with it in the soothing backdrop.

• Catch the sight of this exquisiteness this weekend with your loved ones, but only from the outside as no one can actually go inside it to see it.

Most people view the architectural brilliance of Jal Mahal from across the Jaipur-Delhi Road but if you take a walk for a kilometer or two into the valley behind the lake, its true beauty will reveal.

Did we just make you love Jal Mahal even more? If yes, then we think we have sorted your weekend evening plans! 😉

Why You Shouldn’t Miss Makar Sankranti of Jaipur

Hundreds of kites dancing in the sky, and us- on our terrace. That’s the memory every Jaipurite has of Makar Sankranti. Kite-flying is one of the most favorite and zealous festivals in Jaipur. It’s not just about flying kites but also about the battleground that the sky becomes and the way the whole group of family and friends gather up on their terraces and hoot and shout along with the music.

But this is not all! There’s so much more to this festival and the day marks as one of the most auspicious occasions of the year. Here are some of the reasons Jaipurites put their heart and soul into celebrating Makar Sankranti.

1. Pavitra Snaan and Daan
While lakhs of people take dips into the Ganges on Makar Sankranti around the nation, scores of people also arrive at Galta Ji Temple in Jaipur to bathe in the seven holy kunds there. The day is celebrated to worship the Sun God. It is considered that taking dips in the kund at Galtaji on Makar Sankranti absolves us of all our sins.

To take a dip in the kund at Galta Ji Temple, you might as well trek up the small hill that exits the city from Galta and Surajpole gates. It’s a sight to behold when you see the amount of faith that Jaipurites put into worshipping on Makar Sankranti.

People around the country also believe that donating clothes, jaggery, corn, ground peanuts and sesame is a good omen and brings prosperity.

2. Harbinger of spring
Makar Sankranti falls on the equinox and the day and night are equally long. After this day, the days start to get longer and nights shorter. It also marks the onset of spring season. This also brings a welcome relief from the cold wave of the bygone winter.

3. The Harvest Festival
Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year as the harvest festival of the country. The Rabi crop is harvested in the month of January and corn, mustard, peanuts, sesame etc. are the major crops harvested at this time. One day before Sankranti, i.e. on Lohri the new crop is offered to god through worshipping fire.

4. Kite Buying
Kite buying is a serious affair in Jaipur. People don’t just by any random kites. They especially head to kite markets like Handipura, Haldiyon Ka Rasta, and Kishanpole bazaar to buy the best kites. It takes an understanding of the science behind the designing of kites in order to buy the best ones. You can find hundreds and thousands of kites in all shapes, sizes and designs according to your preference. Some of the popularly known designs of kites are Chaand-dara, Glass-dara, Mangal-dara, Aankhal-dara, Tripatta, Dadhiyal etc.

5. Kite- Flying

A true jaipurite knows how to fly a kite and the science applied behind it.

It takes a lot of patience, time and effort to prepare for kite flying. The night before Sankranti the whole family sits together to put ‘tang’ in kites with white saddha.

On Sankranti, everyone’s duty is sorted! Makar Sankranti food is all about pakode, moongfali, popcorn, khichadi, gajak, feeni, ladoo and papdi-chatand the children in the house go up and down the terrace for serving them. The youngsters become DJs playing the best songs the loudest.

And oh! What an art kite flying is. As soon as the ‘Dangal’ starts in the sky, you can hear “Woh kaata” every five seconds from a terrace or two around!

7. The evening sky

As the day sets in, the kites start to come down and gradually the whole sky is lit up with fireworks and paper lanterns known as “Tukkals” or “Kandeel.” The night view on Sankranti is absolutely mesmerizing and one of those experience that is hard to get over!

So if ever you plan to visit Jaipur during winter, make sure you don’t miss the intoxicatingly enthusiastic vibe of Makar Sankranti!

All you wanted to know about the Bikaner Camel Festival

Numerous tourists from the land and abroad visit the Bikaner Camel Festival, which is organized especially, for promoting the camel breeders of Rajasthan and to revive the age-old traditions of taming and training camels.
Camel festival begins with a pompous procession of decorated camels heading to the open ground. A camel pageant is held on the first day. Here the camel owners show off their adorned camel’s. Camel dance performances are a sight to behold. The colourful bridles, bejeweled necks, and jingling anklets of these camels cast a magical spell on the audience.

On the second day, the fleetest camels of the region take part in the camel races. The excited tourists and locals cheer the favorites. Various sports competitions enthrall the participants and spectators alike.

On both days the evenings end with spectacular performances by folk artists of Rajasthan. The jubilant, skirt swirling dances, the awe inspiring fire dances and many other equally interesting performances entertain the visitors.

TIME	EVENT	VENUE
	12TH JANUARY 2019, Saturday
8:00 – 10:00 am	Camel Safari & Camel Riding for Tourists (Free of Cost)	Village Raisar (15km from Bikaner City on Bikaner – Jaipur Highway)
11:30 – 12:30 pm	Ceremonial Procession	Junagarh Fort to Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
12:30 – 12:50 pm	Inauguration	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
12:50 – 1:10 pm	Bagpiper Band Recital by Army	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
1:10 – 1:50 pm	Camel Decoration Competition	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
1:50 – 2:30 pm	Camel Fur Cutting Competition	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
2:30 – 2:50 pm	Band Recital by R.A.C.	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
2:50 – 3:30 pm	Camel Dance Competition	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
3:30 – 4:00 pm	Miss Marvan (Beauty Pageant) Competition	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
4:00 – 4:30 pm	Mr. Bikana Competition	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
6:30 – 8:30 pm	Cultural Evening By Rajasthani and Artists from various parts of India	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium

 

13TH JANUARY 2019, Sunday
10:00 – 11:00 am	Heritage Walk (Rampuria haveli to Bikaji ki tekri)	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
12:00 – 12:30 pm	Tug of War Competition, Indians v/s Foreigners (Male)	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
12:30 – 1:00 pm	Tug of War Competition, Indians v/s Foreigners (Female)	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
01:00 – 01:30 pm	Villagers Wrestling Competition	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
01:30 – 02:00 pm	Kabaddi Display Match	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
02:30 – 03:00 pm	Turban Tying Competition (For Foreigners)	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
03:00 – 03:30 pm	Camel Dance Show	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
03:30 – 04:00 pm	Women Water Pot Race Competition, Indian & Foreigners	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
04:00 – 04:30 pm	Women Musical Chair Competition, Indian & Foreigners	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
04:30 – 05:30 pm	Prize Distribution	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
06:00 – 08:30 pm	Cultural Performances by Artists from various parts of India	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
08:30 – 09:00 pm	Fire Dance	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
9:00 pm	Fire Works Display	Dr. Karni Singh Stadium

 

(*Events are subject to change)

Other Programme:-

1. OPENING RUSSIA-2019: Painting Exhibition by Russian Masters at Laxmi Niwas Palace Bikaner from 6-1-2019 to 15-1-2019
2. Exhibition & Sale of Camel Products by National Research Center on Camel, Bikaner at Dr. Karni Singh Stadium
3. Exhibition by National Equines Center, Bikaner at Dr. Karni Singh Stadium

January festivals and events in Rajasthan you shouldn’t miss

Happy 2019! Here comes the season when Rajasthan becomes a canvas of colours and merry day and night! It’s that time of the year when the land of Maharajas gives you an opportunity to live through the best celebrations of life, opulence, and chivalry through dance, music, colours, lights and food! Whenever a person thinks about Rajasthan, the first thing that comes to mind is the lively culture, courteous hospitality, soul-stirring music & dance, and royal heritage! You’re in a mood to drink in the vibrant galore of festivities in Rajasthan and Rajasthan Tourism Beat is ready with the first list of the festivals of 2019! Come, witness or take part in some of the most exciting, and amazing festivals of the state. Come; live through the best festival experience in Rajasthan.

 Bikaner Camel Festival
12-13 January 2019

A vibrant event in the desert land of Bikaner, Camel Festival is organized by the Department of Tourism, Art & Culture Rajasthan every year. In the chilling winter of desert, Camel Festival fills the warmth with cultural evenings, local sports, art and craft fair and business of livestock. Watching decorated camels and men in attractive turbans offers an interesting frame to the photography enthusiasts.

 

Lohri
13th January 2019

Lohri is a festival connected with the solar year. The festival is celebrated mark the harvest season’s bliss. This is particularly a happy occasion for the couples from Sikh community, who would sing and dance around the campfire and share delicious delicacies made from jaggery and sesame.

 

 Makar Sankranti
14th January 2019

Makar Sankranti festival coincides with the beginning of the sun’s northward journey, and falls on January 14 according to the solar calendar. Kite festival is the biggest attraction of Makar Sankranti in the pink city of Rajasthan. In Jaipur, this festival is a wonderful spectacle as kites take to the sky all across the state. While one can enjoy colourful kites in a variety of shapes and sizes, the celebration takes a mesmeric turn after sunset. Thousands of lanterns and firecrackers fill the sky with the light of joy on this festival. The Jal Mahal ki paal in Jaipur also hosts an international level Kite flying competition, which sees experts from across the world taking participation.

Jaipur Literature Festival
24th – 28th January 2019

 

As the largest FREE literary festival on earth, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival brings together some of the greatest thinkers and writers from across South Asia and the world. From Nobel laureates to local language writers, Man Booker prize winners to debut novelists, every January the most remarkable, witty, sensitive and brilliant collection of people thong the Jaipur Literature Festival for not just literary sessions but for fashion update too, yeah you read it right!