Camel declared state animal for Rajasthan

Rajasthan government on June 30, 2014 decided to declare Camel as the state animal.
Earlier Chinkara was the state animal of Rajasthan but now the “Ship of Desert” will get the honor of being state animal of Rajasthan.

The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Vasundhara Raje on the last day of the ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ campaign in Bikaner. The cabinet also gave its nod to prepare an act for the protection and conservation of the animal which will help in checking smuggling and migration of the animal.

Now, don’t miss the royal camel safari on your next trip to Rajasthan!

Rally of Jaypore 2014

Love Adrenaline Rush! If you are one of those who love adventures of Time, Distance and Speed then this event is for you!

Scheduled for June 28 and 29, 2014, Thar Motorsports in Rajasthan brings you its second round of the FMSCI Indian National TDS Rally Championship 2014. The Rally will cover adventurous terrains of hills, deserts and some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth.

The winners will be awarded with Rs. 4 Lacs worth of total prize money.

For more details you can visit the official website of Thar Motorsport. http://www.tharmotorsport.co.in/

Jaisalmer Desert Festival

If you hanker to explore the many facets of Rajasthan, then a visit to Jaisalmer during Jaisalmer Desert Festival is something you would not want to wish at this time of the year. Colorful desert festival in ‘The Golden City’ Jaisalmer is organized for three days from 12 to 14 February 2014.

One can witness real cultural and heritage at its full bloom during Jaisalmer Desert Festival. From folk artists dancing and songs, this desert festival has everything to allure domestic and international tourists. Jaisalmer Desert Festival is organized by Rajasthan Tourism Department at Sam Sand Dunes located at 40 km from Jaisalmer city.

Events At Jaisalmer Desert Festival 2014

• Dance & Songs by Folk artists
• Acrobatics by Local Nomadic Gymnasts
• Entertaining Puppet Shows
• Snake Charmers Dance
• Turban tying competition
• Longest moustaches competition
• Mr. Desert contest
• Camel Race
• Camel Polo
• Camel Dance competition
• Camel Decoration competition

Venue: Sam Sand Dunes, Jaisalmer

 

Six Hill Forts of Rajasthan wins World Heritage Site title by UNESCO

Cheer spread in the tourism as well as the art and culture sector today in Rajasthan when its 6 hill forts were selected to be in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The hills forts are – Amber, Chittorgarh, Gangron, Jaisalmer, Kumbhalgarh and Ranthambore. The Tourism, Art & Culture Minister, Ms. Bina Kak said: “the selection of these forts is a reflection of our work done in the past. We stand by our commitment towards conservation and protection of our rich cultural heritage, of which we are immensely proud.”

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Gagron Fort

Jaisalmer Fort

Chittorgarh-Fort

Amer Fort, Jaipur

RANTHAMBHORE-Fort

These hill forts were approved in the 37^th Meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Cambodia on 21 June. The selection of these forts, located in different cities, as a serial cultural property, is the first of its kind ever by UNESCO.

Now with the selection by UNESCO these six forts will receive enhanced international recognition the way the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur did after being selected in the World Heritage List in 2010. This selection will also pave way for other monuments to be nominated for being included in the World Heritage List. In fact, the work relating to Stepwells of Abhaneri, Bandikui, Bundi as well as the Fresco paintings of Shekhawati region for being submitted for consideration to UNESCO list has already started.

All these efforts will sure reinforce positioning of Rajasthan on the world tourism map as a favored tourist destination.

It is to be recalled that several missions of ICOMOS (advisory body to UNESCO) visited Rajasthan since 2011 and discussed the nomination in great detail with State Archaeology Department, ASI and the Indian Advisory Committee on the World Heritage under the Ministry of Culture.

Within the State of Rajasthan, six extensive and majestic hill forts together reflect the elaborate, fortified seats of power of Rajput princely states that flourished between the 8th and 18th centuries and their relative political independence. The extensive fortifications up to 20 kilometres in circumference optimized various kinds of hilly terrain, specifically the river at Gagron, the dense forests at Ranthambore, and the desert at Jaisalmer, and exhibit important phase of development of an architectural typology based on established “traditional Indian principles”.

Follow the link to know more about these forts in Rajasthan… https://rajasthantourismbuzz.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/6-rajasthan-forts-poised-to-get-world-heritage-status/

 

Rajasthan gets Third Tiger Reserve

Royal Rajasthan, Roaring Rajasthan!

More of the big cats will be glorifying the timeless heritage of Rajasthan. Rajasthan will home a third tiger reserve in the Mukundra Hills, as notified by the Govt. of Rajasthan.

Covering the four districts of Kota, Bundi, Chittorgarh and Jhalawar.Its reserve area will spread over 759 sq km. Nearly 417 sq km have been earmarked as the core tiger habitat, while 342.82 sq km has been notified as the buffer zone where human interference is prohibited.

The other two tiger reserves of Ranthambore and Sariska have a core area nearly thrice this size.

Mukundra Hills are also connected with the Ranthambore National Park, located in the state’s Sawai Madhopur district.

Moreover, the core area of the Mukundra reserve currently has six villages, two of which are uninhabited. Eventually all these villages will have to be relocated funded by the NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority). The sanctuary currently has wolves, sloth bear, chinkaras and leopards!
Officials added that at a later stage, tigers will be relocated from Ranthambore reserve so as to provide optimum space for the majestic dwellings.

The objective was to link this to Ranthambore so as to let the tigers that stray from the park come and breed here. It was the next best forest after Ranthambore for rehabilitation of tigers.

 

 

Udaipur is keeping the tradition alive of celebrating “Vikram Samvat”

Festive vibes truly swathes the city with colors and auspicious chimes. Vikram Samvat is welcomed & celebrated grandly across the whole Udaipur city including each crossings and lanes. Passerbies are embraced with “Roli-Kumkum Tilak” which signifies respect to them & are given the solemn offerings of “Black Pepper, Misri (sugar) & Meetha neem”.

 

Fatehsagar gets decked up with city crowed and bright decorative stuff, all set for evening processions.

Udaipur Municipal Corporation along with Alok  association organizes 4 day mass celebration which is studded with huge fete & fireworks. Various competitions like Turban tying & Kite flying enhances the vibrancy of the fete.

Pic-courtesy- Udaipurtimes

Colorful and sparking firework presentations at “Fatehsagar ki paal” usually blow off the showers of auspiciousness in the city.  Traditional dance and folks festival is conducted at the shore of “Pichhola Lake” to mark farewell to the past year.

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A large rally is preceded from Nathdwara to Pichhola Lake, and it becomes a colossal affair when a mass from adjacent villages & localities adjoins it. Grand “Kalash-yatras” enroute, makes the “Upcoming Year” most special.

Also the consecrating soil is brought from “Haldighati” to worship the valor of “Maharana Pratap”.

The tradition of Surya Puja in the morning and beckons of reverence by small kids soaks everybody in the occasion.

Amid of loud festive aura, city folks welcomes the new year with all heart and hale with action packed evening at Lok Kala Mandal too.

The celebration of “Vikram Samvat” culminates with a great religious fervor.

Picture Courtesy: Manmohan Bhatnagar

Celebration of immortal love- Faag Utsav!!

For the locale folks of the desert state, Rajasthan, the festival of Holi is a whimsical event which takes on an altogether special meaning and hue, colour and paint notwithstanding.

During the Hindu month of Phagun, Rajasthanis celebrate Holi by singing special songs called “Faag”, which celebrate the triumph of good over evil and the onset of spring.

The tradition of celebrating faag season has its own significance in the rural society which lasts till holi. There are reportedly different types of faags, for instance Krishna faag, which is voiced as a verse to Lord Krishna’s romps during the festival of Holi.

Apparently faags are eminently celebrated all over the India, especially in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Mathura and Rajasthan according to their traditions.

In Jaipur, except Janmashtami, Holi is celebrated grandly in Govind Dev ji Temple of Jaipur. During the festival, Faag, Raas and special Jhankis start from one month before holi festival.

Instead of color or gulal powders, flowers are used to play Holi here. The celebration shows the re-enactment of Lathmar Holi of Braj and Muslim artists pay homage to the immortal love of Radha and Krishna.

The history of Faag Utsav is growing since 300 years and the raison d’être for using flowers instead of color stanches from the belief that the use of the color hurts the idol of Krishna. The colorful affair is eventually marked by many cultural exuberant processions, like dancers wearing colorful dresses and painting their bodies in anticipation of a performance before the public.

The legends of Radha and Krishna are showcased through vibrant folk songs & dances of Holi at the temple for more than a week during the faag festival.

At the temple, the greatest artist of the world, Krishna, witnesses the art of numerous performers which are performed as offering to Krishna. The celebration of Faag utsav certainly broadens the meaning of Holi.

Dear Barber, Make me Beautiful!

Shahrukh is ready to mesmerize with a stylish hair-do, while Salman with his rippling muscles is getting geared up with clothes and accessories. No, he isn’t taking his shirt off. Rather, both these ‘studs’ are being dressed at a camel parlour in Jaisalmer for the Desert Festival that starts on February 23, 2013.

Since camels are the most special and sought after attractions at the Desert Festival for everyone, you would find many veteran barbers particularly at the beautification of these four-legged creatures. They are endearingly called the beauticians and have been practicing the art of catering to the ship of the desert since their forefathers.

The camel population in Rajasthan is approximately three lakh, of which some 50,000 are used in the tourism industry. These salons are popular among camel owners who wish to participate in various competitions during Festival.

The salon comprises of a fancy and colourful cart in the golden sand with a few iron boxes, which contain scissors of different shapes and razors. It takes three hours to decorate Shahrukh and Salman with colourful tassels, beads and mirrors. Even the tail is a sight to see. By the end of it, both look as beautiful and bashful as brides. The process of beautification would be an exciting and delightful sight for the tourists attending Jaisalmer Desert Festival.

Decorating the camels is a very special art!! Earlier, camel raisers/owners would themselves be barbers. People would gather the camels in one place and collectively cut their hair. But now, this work is being done at special salons in style.

Another art form used on these animals is tattoos. Many camel owners have their animals take part in festivals and compete during races and polo matches. Having a decked-up camel can help them win prizes and they are ready to go that extra mile.    Wonder what the camels would say 😉

But you don’t miss to witness the infatuating ramp and play of these flaunting beauties during Jaisalmer Desert Festival, starting from February 23 to 25, 2013!!