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Rajasthan - Udaipur
 Udaipur, better known as the City of Lakes, is
the most romantic city of Rajasthan. Built as a city of pleasure by Maharana
Udai Singh, the City Palace, with its carved balconies, arches and decorated
pillars, is a major attraction. Close to the palace is the temple dedicated to
Lord Jagannath. With pretty gardens, museums and a picture postcard setting on
the hillside, Udaipur attracts a lot of tourists.
A good place to stay
is Shiv Niwas Palace, run by the erstwhile rulers of Udaipur and
providing five facilities. It is one of the most exotic palaces of Udaipur and
you can live in it like royalty.
Lying 48 kms north of Udaipur is
Nathdwara, a renowned centre of pilgrimage for devotees of Lord Krishna
and Vishnu. It is said that when the statue of Shrinath (Krishna) was being
moved to a safer place to escape the wrath of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the
wheels of the chariot carrying the statue got stuck in the mud. Taking this as
a divine message that Lord Krishna wished to live there, a temple was erected
and the holy township grew around it. The cloth paintings, or
Pichhawais, of Nathdwara are famous and even today artists can be seen
making them.
Ranthambhor - The fort of Ranthambhor has been
abandoned to nature for in this national park, the tiger has right of stay. One
of the country's finest tiger reserves, its topography of low hills and large lakes provides a tranquil
idyll.
Sariska - A tiger reserve, Sariska is densely
wooded, making sightings difficult, though the picturesque park is also home to
deer, langurs and avifauna.
Shekhawati - A region of small towns, Shekhawati
is primarily known for its havelis or mansions richly ornamented with frescos
that, over time, ranged from the sacred to the secular, and from the sublime to
the ridiculous.
Siliserh - Just 13 kms on the road to Jaipur, has
become a popular picnic spot. Built as a summer retreat, it is a delightful
little place overlooking a lake and has an abundance of wild life. In fact,
with Alwar and Siliserh you can take in
the wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve, Sariska. You could stay at
the Sariska Palace, just outside the Park. Once a royal hunting lodge,
today it is a well run heritage hotel. The sanctuary has several archaeological
features and there is a constant procession of pilgrims to the old temple of
Nilkanth Mahadev.
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