About Rajasthan
Rajasthan
is where all the country's similes and metaphors appear to have come together.
Sand dunes, wooded hills and amazing lakes, palaces and rugged forts, men and
women in colorful turbans and skirts, bustling towns and quiet villages, camels,
elephants and tigers, harsh sunlight and the cool evening breeze - are all there
in abundance.
But they form only part of an intricate tapestry. Beneath the surface, expect
to find many contradictions. Where ever you travel, particularly when you escape
from the popular tourist destinations you will come across the unexpected, whether
it is a local fair or breathtaking view.
The mood and the rhythm of the country side changes from one region to another,
and from season to season. It is a land of surprises; it is a land of amazing
natural beauty that can fascinate even the most seasoned traveller.
A magical sojourn reverberating with age old culture and traditions, the state
enfolds in its lap a diverse kaleidoscope of breathtakingly beautiful and fascinating
art-de-facts. The range is unparalleled even while it is sophisticated in its
simplicity.
It
has something for almost every kind of traveler, revealing a vast range of arts
and crafts, which is a treat for the visuals and are ready to be picked. The
Bazaars spill with products and there is a magnificent glow of colours all over.
Intricate work carved on handicrafts or the wonders of gems and stones, it has
it all and even more like the colours dancing on the textiles and fabrics with
silver or gold threads settings and complimented with the variety of Silk-threads,
Beads, Gota, Zari, Zardosi, Banarasi, etc. designed by the age old families
of skilled artisans.
The amazing use of clay in the form of sculpture and decorative arts, the paintings
from different schools like Miniature, Mughal and the different Rajasthani shailis
(school of art) and more are piled up, revealing the medieval splashes and recording
historic and dramatic events. Almost capturing the senses!
The age old art of dyes and colours hold the centre of attraction.
Every
part of the state, every town, every village is associated with the rich heritage
of craftsmanship so particular to Rajasthan. Entire villages practice crafts
- sometimes a vast spectrum, on other occasions just a single skill that can
range from dhurrie weaving to terracotta products.
These traditions once helped to form the different layers of a self-supporting
society in villages and towns, and it is this that has ensured their survival.
Most crafts are still practiced because they find use in local society - the
painters, for example, still do frescos on temple walls, and the village cobbler
makes thick-soled shoes for the farmers, reserving the more delicate versions
for visitors.
Today, Rajasthan's markets spill with an exciting array of goods: paintings,
jewellery, fabrics and textiles, soft-as-gossamer quilts, clay pottery and blue
pottery, dhurries and carpets, wood, metal and stone sculpture, leatherware
and terracotta...
Little bells dance in the breeze, puppets dangle from strings, embroidered footwear
brightens up stores, lights glow in huge glass candelabra and gemstones spill
across pavements: in Rajasthan's treasure-trove, you could spend days simply
exploring the world of the artisan.
About Rajasthan —› History
of Rajasthan —› Culture
of Rajasthan 
—›
Music & Dance of Rajasthan —›
Architectural Heritage of
Rajasthan —›
Tribals of Rajasthan —›
Shopping in Rajasthan —›
Gems & Jewellery of Rajasthan —›
Map
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan Other Links
Rajasthan Fairs & Festivals
—› Rajasthan
Heritage Places —› Rajasthan
Travel Guides —› Rajasthan
Tour Packages —›
Rajasthan Adventure
