 Rajasthan is the most colorful and vibrant state of India The kaleidoscope you are going to witness here is never going to be the same anywhere else. The palaces and forts straight out of story books, the tales and ballads of the heroes, the acrobatics that take your breath away, the exquisite paintings and the golden sand dunes- this is the stuff that Rajasthan is made up of. The sheer beauty of the place is lyrical and inspires poetry. Visit the forts and palaces to feel the grandeur of this place. Many of them have been converted into heritage hotels and museums, so now have a brush with the rich heritage, up close and personal.
Rajasthan's capital city Jaipur is also known as pink city as it's imbued with color pink.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II built the city in 1727 A.D. This city has a formidable number of forts and palaces. Jaipur now has very colorful and bustling markets where you can shop for traditional and ethnic stuff in vibrant Rajasthani hues. The markets have blue potteries, beautiful fabrics with block printing, tie and dye and amazing trinkets. Another city with a distinct hue of its own is the city of Jaisalmer. Standing majestically amidst the golden dunes is the Jaisalmer Fort. The view from atop the Fort is that of the magnificent city colored in gold.
Culture of Rajasthan
Rajasthan has a rich culture and heritage. The place has a very rich repertoire of folk music where there is a song available for every major occasion, be it an occasion marking life, change of seasons or harvest. There are a variety of dances in Rajasthan. One of them is the Kalbeliya dance form, belonging to the snake charmers community. The dancers dance lithely in black skirts with silver ribbons. Other popular dance forms are Ghoomar, Gair, Kacchi Ghodi, Kathak, Terah Taali. The music is played on the traditional instruments of sarangi, dhol and ektara. Rajasthan has also somehow managed to retain its puppetry tradition. The tales usually told are from the folklore as well as love ballads.
Rajasthan is home to many fairs and festivals. Pushkar Fair is one of the most popular fairs. In the Teej Festival, all the women dress up in finery. This festival basically marks the onset of monsoon. Jaisalmer is also home to the Desert Festival. The entire place comes alive with the traditional puppeteers, folk dancers, and musicians displaying their skills. Apart from this there are camel dances, acrobatics, tug-of-war between musclemen. The entire place bursts at seams with life with Rajasthani women wearing their traditional costumes of lehengas and colorful odhnis and men in their multi-colored turbans amidst the golden sands.
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