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Rajasthan
attract thousands
of tourists every
year, in facts,
every third tourist
coning to India
visits Rajasthan.
This number grows
each year and there
is a constant effort
to present something
new and unexplored
to the tourist who,
it was felt, would
enjoy a taste of
the rural India
or real India, and
perhaps move away
from the standard
five-star holiday.
In keeping with
the demands and
the changed atmosphere,
terms like Adventure
Tourism, Horse and
Camel Safaris, Village
Excursions have
been gaining popularity
and the tourist
seemed more than
willing to be steered
away from the crowded
cities. Other than
encouraging rural
tourism, there are
also a growing awareness
towards conservation
of our cultural
and architectural
heritage, and the
time was just right
for prompting the
Heritage Hotels
concept.
Rajasthan has been
the home of the
Maharajas and there
nobles. Legends
the grew around
these warriors have
now passed into
history - tales
of blood and blade,
of heroic deeds
on the battlefields
and of undaunted
spirit in the face
of defeats.
However, it was
not only on the
battlefields that
these brave men
excelled - they
gave equal attention
to their places
of residence. From
the dramatic hilltop
fortifications,
to the isolated
and often unapproachable
hunting pavilions,
garden palaces,
pleasure pavilions,
to the grand palaces
with Belgian crystal
furniture, Italian
marble, intricately
carved columns and
the most amazing
frescoes - these
palaces have continued
to attract tourists
for year now.
While the rulers
of the princely
states built their
massive forts and
stately palaces,
the nobles were
not far behind in
building suitably
impressive fortresses
and smaller palaces,
in keeping with
there status. Following
them in order of
rank came other
important jagirdars
who had their own
palatial residences
- not big enough
to be rated as palaces
yet too elaborate
to be called ordinary
places of residence,
these were the havelies
which can be found
in almost every
village and town
of Rajasthan - the
size and workmanship
varying according
to the status of
the owner.
While grandiose
palaces like the
Rambagh in Jaipur,
Umaid Bhawan in
Jodhpur and Lake
Palace in Udaipur
were converted into
luxury hotels almost
three to four decades
ago, it is the smaller
palaces and havelies
which have recently
opened their doors
to the tourist.
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