Rajasthan:
Land of Kings

by Susanne & Andy Carvin

camels dot the hillside during the Pushkar Camel Fair
In November 2001, we spent two weeks touring India's Rajasthan state. Famous for its medieval forts and maharaja palaces, Rajasthan is one of the most visited places in India. But with our trip coming less than two months after the September 11 attacks, Rajasthan was largely devoid of tourists, giving us a unique opportunity to explore the region and experience it without the usual crowds.

Below you'll find a collection of photo galleries highlighting some of the places we visited during our trip. We hope you enjoy the photos!


the streets of Jaipur Jaipur & Amber Fort: The Pink City of Jaipur is the historic gateway into Rajasthan, while Amber Fort stands as a reminder of the power of the early Rajput maharajas.


camels The Pushkar Camel Fair: One of the most famous livestock fairs in the world, the Pushkar Camel Fair attracts people from all over India.


sunrise over Jaisalmer Fort Jaisalmer & the Thar Desert: Jaisalmer, the golden city of the Thar Desert, is a throwback to the heydays of the Silk Road. The only inhabited medieval fort city in India, Jaisalmer is unlike any other place in the subcontinent.


the lake palace Udaipur: Perhaps the most romantic city in India, Udaipur is a city of grand palaces and shimmering water, perhaps most famous for the Lake Palace, now a luxury hotel.


ruins of Chittorgarh palace Chittorgarh: The ruined fortress of Chittorgarh, several hours' drive from Udaipur, is a stark reminder of Rajasthan's lost kingdoms. Three times in its history, Chittorgarh was destroyed by invaders. Rather than surrender, the residents of the fortress committed suicide -- the men fighting to their deaths in battle, the women self-immolating themselves on a funeral pyre.


Additional Resources:

Andy Carvin's Waste of Bandwidth
(Andy's Blog)

photo.spotlight
(Susanne & Andy's Photo Journal)

Susanne and Andy's Subcontinental Adventure
(India travelogue from November 1996)


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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Please contact Andy Carvin at andycarvin @ yahoo.com for more information about this website.