Rajasthan’s first Citizen- Airline Partnership flights to begin from today| Jaisalmer

Recently, airlines have discontinued flight connectivity to Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer being a tourist destination of Rajasthan has 60% of its economy dependent on tourism. The block in the air connectivity would further affect the tourism footfall in Jaisalmer, drastically . In post-Covid-19 times, the citizens of Jaisalmer and the tourism fraternity have come together to face this challenge. An NGO of Jaisalmer’s working towards the transformation of Jaisalmer into a resilient, self-sustaining community, hosted a series of conversations with the State and Central Government, District Administration and the Airline company to sign an MoU that will ensure flight connectivity to Jaisalmer.

This first of its kind Citizen-Airline Partnership will ease tourism and bring self-reliance to the city by strengthening its socio-economic ecosystem. The city of Jaisalmer and local administration have also started massive cleanliness drives to welcome tourists in a much cleaner heritage city.

SpiceJet reopens flight bookings for routes Delhi-Jaisalmer-Delhi (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and Ahmedabad-Jaisalmer-Ahmedabad (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) starting 12 February 2021.

Ropeway to Savitri Mata Temple Pushkar

Rajasthan, known as the Land of Kings is famous for its architectural marvel, either its forts, palaces or the magnificent temples which reflect the rich Indian history and culture. So, if you are planning a trip to Rajasthan, consider going to Pushkar, one of the oldest cities in India. It is also one of the five pilgrimage sites for the Hindu in a small town near Ajmer.

It has many religious sites and picturesque gems hidden for both, the devotees and tourists. One such place is the Savitri Mata Temple which attracts millions of tourists every year. The temple is one of the gems of Pushkar city located at a high altitude on a hillock amidst expansive greenery. Located near the popular Brahma Temple, only one in India, it is said a trip to Pushkar is incomplete without a visit to both the Brahma temple as well as Savitri Mata temple, not only for religious reasons but also for the majestic views. The view from the Savitri Temple is literally the best viewpoint in Pushkar!

Now imagine you can take the ropeway to the Savitri Temple too which is constructed at such a great height and offers unparalleled views.

It gives a bird’s eye view of the entire town of Pushkar. The ropeway has been making the holy journey to the temple convenient and memorable with its aerial passenger ropeway system erected on difficult terrain. The Aerial Ropeway constructed at a height of 202 metres, covers a distance of 720 meters in just 6 minutes, easing the strenuous climb for all age-groups of devotees and letting them be close to the divine. Ropeway has been built and continues to be operated and maintained by Damodar Ropeway & Infra Limited.

So, are you ready to rope your way to Savitri Mata Temple to witness the panoramic and scenic view of Pushkar?

Rajasthan Monuments re-open after 2 months of closure!

The Rajasthan government has announced that with restrictions being lifted under Lockdown 5.0, it will be reopening monuments under its archaeology and museum department for tourists. Starting from Monday, 1st June 2020 All monuments—except those in containment zones and curfew areas—are now open four days a week for two weeks. Hours will be staggered at first, but from the third week onward, tourists will be able to visit the monuments daily.

Tourism stakeholders have welcomed the government decision to allow reopening of these places but are also concerned as the coronavirus outbreak is still raging.

On the first day of reopening, the tourism department organised cultural performance by folk artistes at 32 monuments in the state including in capital city. It was to mark the reopening of the monuments.

Starting June 1, from when the Centre”s Unlock 1 guidelines come into force, monuments, except those falling in the containment or curfew areas, will open four days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) for the first two weeks and social-distancing protocols will be followed properly.

Tourist travel timing is kept between 9 am to 2 pm in the first week and from 9 am to 1 pm and then 3 pm to 5 pm in second week. They will open daily from the third week. Entry to the 32 ticketed monuments is free in the first and the second week, and 50 per cent ticket amount will be charged from third week, the official said.

Tourism is the lifeline of Rajasthan and a key industry. Reopening of monuments will help the trade and those earning their livelihood from the tourism sector.

The re-opening will also delight the local travellers who are locked down in their homes and wish to visit these monuments.

Jaisalmer Desert Festival to begin from 7th February 2020

Rajasthan’s much-awaited festival of the year, “Desert Festival” pulls thousands of tourists from across the world to the desert land of Jaisalmer. The festival takes place over the sand dunes that are iconic to the area.

Image via Rajasthan Tourism Official

Jaisalmer Desert Festival is a cultural extravaganza, which is curated specially for tourists and travelers. It showcases the colourful culture of Rajasthan in the backdrop of mundane desert land. The festival offers to witness amazing musical performances, fascinating competitions, unique beauty pageants and decadent local favorites with a showcase of exquisite handicrafts hard to find anywhere else in the world.

The visitors also get to try their hands on entertaining sports and activities like cricket with local sports lovers or a camel ride etc. If adventure, fun and exploring different cultures is your calling then a visit to the sand dunes of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan during the Desert Festival is a must.

The festival goes on for 3 glorious days every year. This year’s dates are 7th -9th February 2020. Follow the schedule given below- 

The augment of blossom: Basant Panchami

Basant Panchami, the fifth day of spring, is celebrated by propitiating Goddess Saraswati.  As she symbolizes the constant flow of wisdom, she also represents the full blossoming of multi-hued Nature, kindling the light of inspiration and hope.

Basant Panchami is also believed as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati. The spring festival of Basant Panchami is specially celebrated in the institutions of learning. As Saraswati is the goddess of learning, Students observe the blessings from Maa Saraswati. Spring is the season when crops are fully bloomed, so people also celebrate this occasion by flying kites.

 

Yellow color is given special attention and dominates everywhere on this particular day. Yellow color is associated with Goddess Saraswati as well as the mustard crop.

 

People wear bright colored clothes; make yellow color sweets on this day of Saraswati Puja. The Goddess of art, learning, knowledge and wisdom, Maa Saraswati is worshipped with full dedication. On this day, People also feed Brahmans with the feeling that their ancestors are accepting the food. Kite-flying has become part of this festival and people really enjoy this event.

Basant Panchami is a festival full of religious, seasonal and social significance. It is celebrated by Hindus all over the world with enthusiasm and a new sense of optimism.

”Incredible India” vintage car rally to cross Udaipur next month

To promote India as a global heritage motoring tourism destination, a nearly 4,000-km expedition of iconic vintage cars will kick off from the national capital on February 17, traversing through 17 historic cities across the country and making several pit stops at royal palaces

The 23-day ”Incredible India Rally” organized by a heritage trust will culminate in the City of Lakes, Udaipur, on March 10 where the participants, comprising nearly 15 global vintage car aficionados and some Indian heritage automobile enthusiasts, will experience the festival of Holi in all its glory.

The ”Incredible India Rally” is being organised by the trust in association with the Ministry of Tourism, he said.

About 150 cars, including 15 from abroad, will be showcased during the Concours d”Elegance at India Gate on February 15 which will then be driven by their proud owners to Karma Lake Lands, Gurgaon.

“Indian culture and heritage motoring are the two strong pillars of our Concours. Both aspects highlight that the 21 Gun Salute vintage cars show is of special importance and attract both participants and visitors. For the past eight years, the event has grown in all aspects to become a magnificent show that attracts tourists and motoring buffs from around the world.

The ”Incredible India Rally” seeks to promote India as a global heritage motoring tourism destination. It will start from Delhi and traverse through Agra, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Gajner, Jaiselmer, Khimsar, Jodhpur, Mt Abu, Rann of Kutch, Mandvi, Rajkot, Gir, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Dungarpur and Udaipur among other historic cities.

“On the way, participants will have 17 pit stops and stay in different cities at palaces and iconic heritage buildings. It will also be a celebration of India”s cultural heritage,” Mohan added.

Mount Abu Winter Festival concluded with fanfare

People from across the globe visited the renowned Mount Abu Winter Festival which concluded today at the resplendent hill station. The festival embodied the true cultural and traditional spirit of Rajasthan with mesmerizing dance performances, local sports, processions, activities and much more.

The earlier two days of the festival witnessed numerous attractions, performances, competitions and activities as well. These included – Dog Show, Turban Tying Competition, Mehendi Competition, Best of Rajasthan and Live Musical Performances. Much to the delight of the visitors there were also several competitions between the locals and tourists like – Matka Race and Matka Fod as well as Tug of War. Yet another feature of the festival was a grand procession, which started from the Bus Stop and ended at Nakki Lake.

The concluding day of the festival began with ‘Cycling’ in the morning. This was followed by Mr & Miss Aravali competition in the afternoon and a Heritage Walk in the evening. The evening also witnessed vibrant and colorful cultural performances by Nagar Palika at the  Polo Ground followed by a beautiful display of fireworks in the night at the same venue.

Rajasthan Tourism Beat wishes you a Happy New Year

A very happy and joyful New Year to all our readers. May 2020 bring in the best holidays, experiences and adventures to all of you!  Undoubtedly, we all had a magnificent 2019, thanks to the wonderful destinations, events, and festivals in Rajasthan!

You all have been great readers in all these years. Gear up as you are going to read a lot of exciting news and blogs on this site, which will help you plan your holidays in Rajasthan this year as well.  2019 saw us reporting the latest tourism updates from all over Rajasthan and bringing you up to  Rajasthan cultural event updates and many exclusives!  Several cultural festivals in 2020 are round the corner and this year is again full of celebrations and events in Rajasthan.  So stay tuned to Rajasthan Tourism Beat as we continue to bring you the latest and greatest information from the world of travel and tourism in Rajasthan.

We hope you stick with us as we strive to continue the trend into the next year as well!

Have a fun-filled Year Ahead!

16th Jaipur Jewellery Show- an explode of opulence and glamour

There’s one thing, which will always be synonymous with Jaipur is its jewellery, for sure. Unarguably, Jaipur’s quintessential jewellery is widely acclaimed not just for its superior craftsmanship but also for emotions that each creation is able to garner.

Jaipur Jewellery Show popularly known as JJS, the largest Jewellery Show in North India, has been proactively promoting various precious stones and Jewellery items through a unique theme every year since 2004.

The opulent jewellery show has begun at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre, Sitapura yesterday and Jaipur Beat decided to bring the first-hand experience of the jewellery show for our dear followers.  The magnificence has been at the 16^th edition of the grand show with the theme “inspire to create a fashion statement” and best of the best brands and the biggest ones have displayed their gleaming sets of inspiring jewels at the exhibition. Every jewellery brand has put their heart and soul into the thematic description of their booth with floral to contemporary, colours and themes. While some brands kept it simple, the other ones have exhibited their jewels with the entire extravaganza, claiming the nominations and winning Best Booth Award.

The Jaipuri chhatri displayed at the event exudes the essence of our Pink City in true sense. One thing that’s catching the attention, this year, is the artwork of Jaipur’s landmark building, Hawa Mahal.  The windows of Hawa Mahal are equipped with augmented reality mirrors wherein you can take the look and feel of the displayed jewellery without getting it out of the showcase.

Brands like Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers, Ghatiwala Jewellers, Exquisite, Savio, Agarwal &Co, Kalajee Jewellers, Adiyogi Jewellers, RK Gems, Narayandas and many more are displaying their most scintillating set of jewels. Your wedding shopping needs for this year are all sorted with an array of the most royal jewels being showcased at the exhibition.

Different variety of gems and jewels like diamond jewellery, jadau jewellery, gemstones and polki jewellery is being showcased at the event. Some unique artifacts and jewels are also on the display for art collectors.

Musical evening and awards night yesterday had the starlet Vaani Kapoor, who presented the awards to the winning jewelers and Kiku Sharda tickled the audiences’ bones with his standup comedy acts.

So if you fancy gems and jewels, the 16^th edition of the Jaipur Jewellery Show is the place to get drenched in the glamour of jewellery from all over the world.

Date: 20th-23rd December 2019 Venue: JECC, Sitapura

 

Jaipur – A Jewellery Destination 

The gems and jewellery industry of Jaipur have come a long way, from being known as the cutting and polishing centre of precious and semi-precious gems, colored and diamond jewellery, for the art of meenakari, for amazing Jadau Jewellery , Jaipur Jewellery is always in high demand at national and international markets.

It’s probably the only city in the world that hosts two grand jewellery shows. Both the shows that are known as Decemeber Show and April Show dazzle the Pink City with its charm.

After the December Show, the April Show– Jewellers Association Show (JAS’2020) is all set with the theme “A Majestic Fusion of Gems and Jewellery”. After the ongoing December show, brace yourself for another grand extravaganza of gems and jewels from 10th -13th April 2020 at the JECC, Sitapura!

Here’s a glimpse of the grand celebration of life and luxury that took place at Jewellers Association Show 2019. The colours and talents of last year are all set to notch up the madness again in 2020!

 

Pushkar Fair to begin from 4th November 2019

There’s nothing like Pushkar Camel Fair. It’s a celebration of the uniqueness of Rajasthan and experiencing the festival is the dream of every traveler. This is the time when Pushkar comes truly alive with multiple hues. The small sleepy town comes out of its hibernation mode and becomes the playground of people from the world over.

The history of Pushkar Fair is a hundred years old but the festival keeps not only that historic spirit alive but also has new age elements to it now. This year the much-awaited fair will begin on 4th November and will culminate on 12th November on the day of Hindu festival Kartik Purnima.

Apart from the buying and selling of livestock, the fair has become an important tourist attraction. Competitions such as the ‘matka phod’, ‘longest moustache’ and ‘bridal competition’ are the main draws for this fair, which attracts thousands of tourists. In recent years, the fair has also included an exhibition cricket match between the local Pushkar Club and a team of foreign tourists. Pushkar Camel Fair has so many events and activities that your day will be full but we advise you to take out a little time to stroll in the narrow lanes of the town. Also, don’t forget to try local foods and do indulge in retail therapy. Spend some time at the famous Brahma Temple and watch the evening Aarti at Pushkar Lake too.

For your convenience, here’s a tentative impression of the flow of events at Pushkar Camel fair 2019.

4th to 9th November – Cattle Trading
Cattle trading is at its peak during these days along with a variety of cattle contests.

10th to 11th November –  Cultural Galore
These two days will see some cultural activities like dance shows, music performances sponsored by the Rajasthan State Government.

12th November – Holy Dips
This is the Holy Day when people take dips in the Pushkar Lake, and other religious ceremonies take place.