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Travel
Rajasthan
Jodhpur
:
This bustling desert city is the second largest city in
Rajasthan after Jaipur and has landscape dominated by the
massive Meherangarh Fort topping a sheer rocky ridge.
The old city is fenced by 10 km long wall with eight Gates
leading out of it. The new city is outside the walled city.
Rao Jodha, a chief of the Rathore clan,
founded the city in 1459
and it is named after him.
Places To
Visit :
Umaid
Bhavan Palace :
Maharaja
Umaid Singhji who built this palace was fascinated with
western lifestyles so he marshalled the services of a
well-known Edwardian architect, Henry Vaughan Lanchester, a
creditable equal of Edward Lutyens (architect of New Delhi) to
construct a three hundred and forty seven roomed
Umaid Palace. This was to become India last of the great
palaces and the biggest private residence in the world.
Spectacular Central Rotunda, the cupola rises to a hundred and
five feet high; the Throne Room with its exquisite Ramayana
murals; an elegant wood-panelled library, and even a private
museum; an indoor swimming pool, a Billiards Room, tennis
courts and unique marble squash courts makes Umaid Bhawan
Palace is
unabashedly the most magnificent. The palace was also built
with superficial intentions of providing employment to famine
stricken farmers. The Palace now is a five star deluxe palace
hotel. The museum of the palace is highly recommended for its
display of weapons, an array of stuffed leopards, a huge
banner presented by Queen Victoria and an incredible
collection of clocks.
Mandore
Garden :
Mandore
was the former capital of Maharajas of Marwar and is
located about 5 miles north of Jodhpur, but was later
abandoned for the security of Mehrangarh fort. Here you will
find the dewals, or cenotaphs of Jodhpur's former rulers.
Unlike the usual chhatri-shaped cenotaphs typical of Rajasthan,
they were built along the lines of a Hindu temple, four
stories high, with fine columns and an elegant spire, all in
red sandstone. The most impressive is the dewal of Maharaja
Ajit Singh (reigned 1678-1724). These cenotaphs are set in
beautiful landscaped gardens. Nearby is the hall of heroes,
dedicated to various deities and fabled Rajput folk heroes,
whose statues are carved out of rock and painted in bright
colours. Next door is a larger hall called "The Shrine of
the Three Hundred Million Gods", filled with brightly
coloured images of the various Hindu Gods. As you climb up the
hill, you come to the ruined city of Mandore, with its old
palace. The beautiful Maharani's cenotaphs set apart on a
rocky outcrop - a ten-minute walk over the hill. Today its
extensive gardens with high rock terrace make it a popular
local attraction.
Next
courtesy - rtdc
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