Certificate

This is to certify that this project report is been prepared by Sanjukta Roy a student of BTTM 5th semester of Roll no 08181039008 Registration no 081811610009 of batch 2008-2011, for the partial fulfillment of the award of the degree in Travel and Tourism Management under West Bengal University of Technology. I do hereby certify that this is his/her original work and has not been published elsewhere

Dr.Moumita Poddar

Lecturer, PSIS.

CONTENTS

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i) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTii) PREFACE1) DECLARATION2) METHODOLOGY3) INTRODUCTION4) TOURISM5) TOURISM AS AN INDUSTRY6) RECENT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT7) CHATTISSGARH-ANDHRA PRADESH

Destination 1: Raipur-Jagdalpur-Vizag

8) HIMACHAL PRADESHDestination 2: Shimla-Kullu-Manali’

9) RAJASTHANDestination 3: Jaipur-Mount Abu-Jaisalmer- Jodhpur.

10) SWOT ANALYSIS

11) BIBLIOGRAPHY

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i) Acknowledgement I, (Sanjukta Roy) am overwhelmed to express my foremost gratitude towards the ones without whom this Field Trip Report would not have been a success. To name a few I would like to thank at first my parents. Without their blessings and extreme support I could have done nothing. I would also like to thank my brother who helped me in doing some parts regarding the project. Secondly, I would like to thank my friends and faculty members as they hold the major part in organizing the three tours on which this entire field trip is based on. At last in personal, I would like to thank our respected teacher and Lecturer, Dr.Moumita Poddar, for her innumerous help on this Project and guiding us throughout the process. I, acknowledge her for enjoining this wonderful project on me.

THANKING YOU, Sanjukta Roy

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ii) PREFACE

In this Field Trip Report a detail Study about the Tourism Industry and the three tours has been given thoroughly.

Lastly the SWOT Analysis of the respective tours, its surveys and what can be done in order to overcome the weaknesses and upcoming threats are also been mentioned carefully and tactfully. Hopefully, it will provide a lot of Information which will serve as a useful guide to all.

I take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to everyone who has helped me out in this very project to be a successful one.

iii) Declaration

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I, Sanjukta Roy a student of Bachelor in Travel and Tourism Management 5th semester under West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) hereby declare that this Field Trip Report has been prepared by me under the guidance of Dr.Moumita Poddar abiding all the rules and regulations is specified by the university.

Signature

iv) Methodology

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In order to compile record a secondary research collection of important information of the three tours (including 11destinations) have been done through intensive research from books, websites, and journals.Datas and information have been carefully and tactfully selected and presented here.

A sample survey as a part of primary research has also been taken up among the destination visited with a sample size of thirty tourists in three tours to Chhattisgarh ,Andhra Pradesh ,Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan with for it each destination including 5 domestic and 5 foreign tourists.

Based on the sample survey I have tried to focus on tourism and its destination marketing strategy.

1) INTRODUCTION This is the detail study of the Field Trip report of the three consecutive tours which were organized by our college and our respective faculties. It was carried out by the travel agencies who accompanied us throughout the tours. We the students along with our faculties made it a great successful.

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According to our syllabus, each year we had a different destination to visit. Our 1st tour to Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh circuit was made by the travel agency named “Destination Travels” who accompanied us throughout the tour. The places we covered are Raipur-Jagdalpur-Vizag.

Our 2nd tour was made by the travel agency named “Dear travels” along with our faculty members and the destination was Himachal Pradesh where we visited Shimla-Kullu-Manali and made it a successful Trip.

The 3rd and the final tour of our batch was again carried out by “Dear travels” and this time we visited Rajasthan and the places covered were Jaipur-Mount Abu-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur.

In this project the detail study about the above mentioned three tours are given.

TOURISM

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited."

Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2008, there were over 922 million international tourist arrivals, with a growth of 1.9% as compared to 2007. International tourism receipts grew to US$944 billion (euro 642 billion) in

2008, corresponding to an increase in real terms of 1.8%.

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As a result of the late 2000’s recession, international travel demand suffered a strong slowdown beginning in June 2008, with growth in international tourism

arrivals worldwide falling to 2% during the boreal summer months.

This negative trend intensified during 2009, exacerbated in some countries due to the outbreak of the H1N1 Influenza virus, resulting in a worldwide decline of 4% in 2009 to 880 million international tourists’ arrivals, and an estimated 6%

decline in international tourism receipts.

Tourism is vital for many countries, such as Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Spain, Malaysia and Thailand, and many island

nations, such as The Bahamas, Fiji, Maldives, Philippines and the Seychelles, due to the large intake of money for businesses with their goods and services and

the opportunity for employment in the service industries associated with tourism. These service industries include transportation services, such

as airlines, cruise ships and taxicabs, hospitality services, such as accommodations, including hotels and resorts, and entertainment venues,

such as amusement parks, casinos, shopping malls, music venues and theatres.

TOURISM AS AN INDUSTRY(A SPECIAL FOCUS ON INDIA)

India’s tourism industry is experiencing a strong period of growth, driven by the burgeoning Indian middle class, growth in high spending foreign tourists, and

coordinated government campaigns to promote ‘Incredible India’.

The tourism industry in India is substantial and vibrant, and the country is fast becoming a major global destination. India’s travel and tourism industry is one of

them most profitable industries in the country, and also credited with contributing a substantial amount of foreign exchange. This is illustrated by the

fact that during 2006, four million tourists visited India and spent US $8.9 billion. Several reasons are cited for the growth and prosperity of India’s travel and tourism industry. Economic growth has added millions annually to the ranks of India’s middle

class, a group that is driving domestic tourism growth. Disposable income in India has grown by 10.11% annually from 2001-2006, and much of that is being spent on travel Thanks in part to its booming IT and outsourcing industry a growing number of

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business trips are made by foreigners to India, who will often add a weekend break or longer holiday to their trip. Foreign tourists spend more in India than

almost any other country worldwide. Tourist arrivals are projected to increase by over 22% per year through till 2010, with a 33% increase in foreign exchange

earnings recorded in 2004.The Tourism Ministry has also played an important role in the development of the industry, initiating advertising campaigns such as the

'Incredible India' campaign, which promoted India’s culture and tourist attractions in a fresh and memorable way. The campaign helped create a colorful image of

India in the minds of consumers all over the world, and has directly led to an increase in the interest among tourists. The tourism industry has helped growth in other sectors as diverse as horticulture, handicrafts, agriculture, construction and even poultry. Both directly and indirectly, increased tourism in India has created jobs in a variety of related sectors. The numbers tell the story: almost 20 million

people are now working in the India’s tourism industry. India’s governmental bodies have also made a significant impact in tourism by requiring that each and

every state of India have a corporation to administer support issues related to tourism.

A new growth sector is medical tourism . It is currently growing at around 30% per annum. Medical tourist arrivals are expected to reach one million soon. The

tourism industry of India is based on certain core nationalistic ideals and standards which are: Swaagat or welcome, Sahyog or cooperation, Soochanaa or

information, Sanrachanaa or infrastructure, Suvidha or facilitation, Safaai or cleanliness and Surakshaa or security.

The following table provides the major tourist attractions in India by state :

Tourist Attraction State

Charminar Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Kaziranga National Park Assam

Qutub Minar Delhi

Mangueshi Temple Goa

Shimla Himachal Pradesh

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Dal Lake Jammu and Kashmir

Kovalam Beach Kerala

Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh

Ajanta Maharashtra

Puri Orissa

Golden Temple Amritsar, Punjab

Jaipur Rajasthan

Badrinath Temple Uttarakhand

Varanasi Uttar Pradesh

Victoria Memorial Kolkata, Bengal

RECENT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

There has been an upmarket trend in the tourism over the last few decades, especially in Europe, where international travel for short breaks is common. Tourists have high levels of disposal income, considerable leisure time, are well educated, and have sophisticated tastes. There is now a demand for better quality products, which has resulted in a fragmenting of the mass market for beach vacations; people want more specialized versions, quieter resorts, family-oriented holidays or niche market-targeted destination hotels.

The developments in technology and transport infrastructure, such as jumbo jets, low-cost airlines and more accessible airports have made many types of tourism more affordable. WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any time. There have also been changes in lifestyle, such as retiree-age people who sustain year round tourism. This is facilitated by internet sales of tourism products. Some

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sites have now started to offer dynamic, in which an inclusive price is quoted for a tailor-made package requested by the customer upon impulse.

There have been a few setbacks in tourism, such as the September 11 attacks and terrorist threats to tourist destinations, such as in Bali and several European cities. Also, on December 26, 2004, a tsunami, caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, hit the Asian countries on the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives. Thousands of lives were lost and many tourists died. This, together with the vast clean-up operation in place, has stopped or severely hampered tourism to the area.

The terms tourism and travel are sometimes used interchangeably. In this context, travel has a similar definition to tourism, but implies a more purposeful journey. The terms tourism and tourist are sometimes used pejoratively, to imply a shallow interest in the cultures or locations visited by tourists.

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ANDHRA PRADESHAndhra Pradesh is a state situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Hyderabad,Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry,Kakinada, Guntur, Warangal and Tirupati are other major cities. The State has the second longest coastline 972 km among all the States in India. The official language of Andhra Pradesh is Telugu, while other languages spoken in Andhra Pradesh are Kannada, Urdu, English, Tamil, and Hindi.

Andhra Pradesh lies between 12°41' and 22°N latitude and 77° and 84°40'E longitude, and is bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Orissa in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the East, Tamil Nadu to the south and Karnataka to the west. Andhra Pradesh is historically called the "Rice Bowl of India". More than 77% of its

crop is rice; Andhra Pradesh produced 17,796,000 tonnes of rice in 2006. Two major rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna, run across the state. The small enclave

(30 square kilometres (12 sq mi)) of Yanam, a district of Puducherry, lies in the Godavari Delta in the northeast of the state.

On 1 November 1956, the States Reorganization Act formed Andhra Pradesh by merging Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad State and the Telugu-speaking part

of the Madras Presidency.

HISTORY An Andhra tribe was mentioned in the Sanskrit epics such as Aitareya Brahmana (800 BCE)

and Mahabharata (400 BCE).[4] The Natya Shastra written by Bharatha (1st century BCE) also mentions

the Andhra people. The roots of the Telugu language have been seen on inscriptions found near

the Guntur district. And from others dating to the rule of Renati Cholas in the 5th century CE.

Megasthenes, a Greek traveller and geographer, who visited the Court of Chandragupta Maurya (322–

297 BCE), mentioned that the region had three fortified towns and an army of 100,000 infantry, 200

cavalry, and 1,000 elephants. Buddhist books reveal that Andhras established their huts or tents near the

Godavari River at that time.

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Inscriptional evidence shows that there was an early kingdom in coastal Andhra (Guntur District) ruled

first by Kuberaka and then by his son Varun, with Pratipalapura (Bhattiprolu) as his capital. Around the

same time, Dhanyakatakam/Dharanikota (present day Amaravati) appears to have been an important

place, which was visited by Gautama Buddha. According to the ancient Tibetan scholar Taranatha: "On

the full moon of the month Chaitra in the year following his enlightenment, at the great stupa of

Dhanyakataka, the Buddha emanated the mandala of 'The Glorious Lunar Mansions' (Kalachakra)".

The Mauryans extended their rule over Andhra in the 4th century BC. With the fall of the Maurya Empire

in the 3rd century BC, the Satavahanas became independent. After the decline of the Satavahanas in 220

CE, the Ikshvaku dynasty, Pallavas, Ananda Gotrikas, Rashtrakutas,Vishnukundinas, Eastern Chalukyas,

and Cholas ruled the land. During this period Telugu emerged as a popular language,

supplanting Prakrit and Sanskrit. Telugu was made the official language by the Vishnukundina kings (5th

and 6th centuries) who ruled from their capital city of Vengi. Eastern Chalukyas ruled for a long period

after the decline of Vishnukundinas; their capital was Vengi. As early as the 1st century

CE, Chalukyas were mentioned as being vassals and chieftains under the Satavahanas and later under

the Ikshvakus. The Chalukya ruler Rajaraja Narendra ruled Rajahmundry around 1022 CE.

The battle of Palnadu (1182) resulted in the weakening of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty and led to the

emergence of the Kakatiya dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries CE. The Kakatiyas were at first vassals

of the Rashtrakutas, and ruled over a small territory near Warangal. Eventually all the Telugu lands were

united by the Kakatiyas. In 1323 CE, Delhi Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq sent a large army under Ulugh

Khan to conquer the Telugu country and capture Warangal. King Prataparudra was taken

prisoner.Musunuri Nayaks recaptured Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate in 1326 CE and ruled for fifty

years. Inspired by their success, the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the greatest empires in the history of

Andhra Pradesh and India, was founded by Harihara and Bukka, who served as treasury officers of the

Kakatiyas of Warangal. In 1347 CE, an independent Muslim state, the Bahmani Sultanate, was

established in south India by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah in a revolt against the Delhi Sultanate. The Qutb

Shahi dynasty held sway over the Andhra country for about two hundred years from the early part of the

16th century to the end of the 17th century. In Colonial India, Northern Circars became part of the

British Madras Presidency. Eventually this region emerged as the Coastal Andhra region. Later the

Nizam rulers of Hyderabad had ceded five territories to the British which eventually emerged

as Rayalaseema region. The Nizams retained control of the interior provinces as the Princely

state of Hyderabad, acknowledging British rule in return for local autonomy. Meanwhile, the French had

occupied Yanam, in the Godavari delta, and (save for periods of British control) would hold it until 1954.

GEOGRAPHY and climateGeographically, Andhra Pradesh is composed of most of the eastern half of the Deccan plateau and the

plains to the east of the Eastern Ghats. It is the fourth largest state in India. The northern part of the

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plateau is the Telangana region and the southern part is known as Rayalaseema. These two regions are

separated by the River Krishna. The plains to the east of Eastern Ghats form the Eastern coastal plains.

The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and individual sections have local names. The Kadapa

Basin formed by two arching branches of the Eastern Ghats is a mineral rich area. The coastal plains are

for the most part delta regions formed by the Godavari, Krishna, and Penner rivers. The Eastern Ghats

are a major dividing line in the state's geography. The Ghats become more pronounced towards the south

and extreme north of the coast. The Eastern Ghat region is home to dense tropical forests, while the

vegetation becomes sparse as the Ghats give way to the Deccan Plateau, where shrub vegetation is

more common. Most of the coastal plains are put to intense agricultural use. The west and southwest

parts of Andhra Pradesh have semi-arid conditions.

The climate of Andhra Pradesh varies considerably, depending on the geographical region. Monsoons

play a major role in determining the climate of the state. Summers last from March to June. In the coastal

plain the summer temperatures are generally higher than the rest of the state, with temperature ranging

between 20°C and 41°C.

July to September is the season for tropical rains in Andhra Pradesh. The state receives heavy rainfall

during these months. About one third of the total rainfall in Andhra Pradesh is brought by the Northeast

Monsoon. October and November see low-pressure systems and tropical cyclones form in the Bay of

Bengal which, along with the Northeast Monsoon, bring rains to the southern and coastal regions of the

state. November, December, January, and February are the winter months in Andhra Pradesh. Since the

state has a long coastal belt the winters are not very cold. The range of winter temperature is generally

12°C to 30°C.

Hyderabad is the capital and, along with the adjoining twin city Secunderabad, is the largest city in the

state. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh's main seaport, is the second largest city and is home to

the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command. Due to its location and proximity to major rail and road

routes, Vijayawada is a major trading center and the third largest city. Rajahmundry which is situated on

the banks of Godavari River, is the fourth largest city. Other important cities and towns

are Kakinada, Warangal, Guntur,Tirupati, Srikakulam,Machilipatnam, Tenali, Ongole, Kurnool, Anantapur, 

Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Nirmal, Nellore, Bhimavaram, Narsapuram, and Eluru.

Vishakhapatnam

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Visakhapatnam (also Vizag, shortened and 15arbor15zed: Visakha/Vizag or Vasaka) is a major port and the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India with a population of approximately 1.3 million. It is located 593 kilometres (368 mi) east of state capital, Hyderabad. The city is nestled among the hills of the Eastern Ghats and faces the Bay of Bengal to the east. It is the administrative headquarters of Visakhapatnam district and is also home to the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. Visakhapatnam is often referred to as The Jewel of The East Coast or The City of Destiny.

Visakhapatnam (Vizag) is second largest city in Andhra Pradesh with an area of 550 km² and eleventh largest city in India. It is primarily an industrial city, apart

from being a port city. It is also home to the Eastern Naval Command. Visakhapatnam has seen rapid development in the past decade.

The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) will get a new master plan consequent to the increase in its purview from 170 km² to 550 km². The

earlier master plan was approved by the government in 2006. VUDA’s jurisdiction has been expanded in mid-2008.

The city sometimes goes by its now mostly defunct colonial British name, Waltair. During the colonial era, the city’s hub was the Waltair railway station, and that

part of the city still is still called Waltair. It is sometimes referred to as the “City of Destiny”

Visakhapatnam is home to several state-owned heavy industries, one of the most advanced steel plants and has one of the country’s largest ports and its

oldest shipyard. It has the only natural 15arbor on the eastern coast of India.

Tourist attraction of vizagRISHIKONDA BEACH

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Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Rishikonda Beach is the perfect destination for people on a holiday. The untouched sandy stretches and warm

waves of the ocean make this beach definitely worth-visiting. Sited at a comfortable distance of 8 km from Visakhapatnam, Rishikonda is one amongst

the best beaches of Andhra Pradesh. The term 'serene landscape' fits perfectly for the beach, where blue waters extend till the golden horizon.

SHIMHACHALAM TEMPLESimhadri or Simhachalam temple is a Hindu temple located

near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, South India. It is dedicated to the incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu known as Narasimha (the man lion). Simha:

Lion; Adri or Achala: Hill (one which cannot be moved, viz. hill).

Atop the hill is a famous temple said to be the abode of Varaha Narasimha Swami, and hence the hill itself is called (nara) simhachalam. The temple is situated in the

city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

It is one of the eighteen "Naarasimha Kshetras" i.e. shrines of Lord Narasimha in India. Simhachalam temple is known as the second richest temple in India

(after Tirupati) earning a revenue of Rs. 520 million. The statue of the deity gives "nijaroopa darshan" (holy appearance in true form) for only 12 hours in a year i.e.

on Akshaya Tritiya day, the rest of the time the statue is covered with Sandalwood paste. The darshan described as 'Chandana yatra' or

'Chandanotsavam' falls every year in Vaisakha masa (May).

Kailasa GiriAn attractive and local favourite hill station, Kailasa Giri offers a spectacular view of the sea. It has serene and beautiful Rushikonda beach and the Rama Krishna

beach on the left and hillock on the right. As the name suggests, the hill is Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva and Parvathi, massive sculpture of Shiva and Parvathi is

seen here.

It is evidenced by many visitors to the hillock, with ropeway facility and Children’s playing field that they had fallen in love with this mount and surroundings due its picturesque and serene atmosphere. Imposing view of the city with illuminations

in the evening can be enjoyed from the ropeway.

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Submarine MuseumSubmarine Museum, 'Smritika' set up nearby the Vishakhapatnam port, is located

at the serene beach named the Rama Krishna Beach. The museum started functioning in 2001 was converted from INS Kusura, a Russian built submarine. Only one of these kinds in India and Asian continent, this Submarine Museum

attracts many.

ARAKU VALLEYAraku Valley is a famous hill station and a Mandal in Visakhapatnam in the state

of Andhra Pradesh in India. It has got an amazing nature with thick forests surrounded all over. Araku is popular for its world famous coffee plantations. For every traveller it gives a wonderful and a unique experience. It is located 115 km from Vishakhapatnam, close to the Orissa state border. This place lures people with pleasant weather, hills and valleys. The natural beauty of this valley comes

alive with its rich landscape. The area of the valley is roughly 36 km², and the altitude is between 600 and 900 meters above sea level.

The journey to this place on the Ghat road with thick forests on either side is in itself interesting and pleasant. One can have a wonderful trekking trip. Traveling

on train gives you a memorable experience. A total of fifty-seven tunnels and numerous bridges will greet you on the way. The Ananthagiri hills on the way to Araku Valley are famous for coffee plantations. The Borra caves, located 29 km

from Araku Valley, are a nearby tourist attraction full of stalactites and stalagmites.

Located on the Eastern Ghats of India, the valley is inhabited by tribal people. One of the other attractions of this valley is a Tribal Museum.

The valley is connected through both rail and road to the city of Vishakhapatnam. There are two railway stations at Araku and Araku Valley on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway, on

the Indian Railways network.

There is a Museum of tribal handicrafts and lifestyle, a Yatri Nivas and a Government Guest House, for accommodation; it's situated near the city of

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Visakhapatnam. One can relax while looking at the beautiful scenery and the lovely bonfires in the cottages.

BORRA CAVESThe Borra Caves, also called Borra Guhalu in Telugu language (‘Borra’ means

something that has bored into the ground and ‘guhalu’ means caves), are located on the East Coast of India, in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku valley (with hill

ranges elevation varying from 800 m (2,624.7 ft) to 1,300 m (4,265.1 ft)) of the Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh. The Caves, one of the largest in the country, at an elevation of about 705 m (2,313.0 ft), distinctly exhibit a variety of impressive speleothems(pictured) ranging from very small to big and irregularly

shaped, stalactites and stalagmites... The Caves are basically Karstic limestone structures extending to a depth of 80 m (262.5 ft)

(considered the deepest cave in India) n 1807, William King George of the Geological Survey of India discovered the caves.

LEGENDOn the discovery of the caves, there are several legends, which the tribals (Jatapu,

Porja, Kondadora, Nookadora, valmiki etc. ) who inhabit the villages around the caves narrate. The popular legend is that a cow, grazing on the top of the caves,

dropped 60 m (196.9 ft), through a hole in the roof. The cowherd while searching for the cow came across the caves. He found a stone inside the cave that

resembled a Lingam, which he interpreted as the Lord Shiva who protected the cow. The village folk who heard the story believed it and since then they have

built a small temple for Lord Shiva outside the cave. People flock to the temple for worship and the cave to get a glimpse of the Lingam.

CHHATTISGARHChhattisgarh is a state in central India, formed when the sixteen Chhattisgarhi-speaking southeastern districts of Madhya gained statehood on 1 November 2000.

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Raipur serves as its capital. It is the 10th largest state of India by area of 52,199 sq mi (135,194 km²). Chhattisgarh takes its name from 36 princely states that constitute

this region ('Chhattis' is thirty-six and 'Garh' is Fort). They are : 1- Ratanpur, 2- Vijaypur, 3- Kharound, 4- Maro,5- Kautgarh, 6- Nawagarh, 7- Sondhi, 8- Aukhar, 9- Padarbhatta, 10-

Semriya, 11- Champa, 12- Lafa, 13- Chhuri, 14- Kenda, 15- Matin, 16-Aparora, 17- Pendra, 18-Kurkuti-kandri, 19- Raipur, 20-Patan, 21- Simaga, 22- Singarpur, 23- Lavan, 24- Omera, 25- Durg,

26- Saradha, 27- Sirasa, 28- Menhadi, 29-Khallari, 30- Sirpur, 31- Figeswar, 32- Rajim, 33- Singhangarh, 34- Suvarmar, 35- Tenganagarh and 36- Akaltara.

Chhattisgarh borders Madhya Pradesh on the northwest, Maharashtra on the west, Andhra Pradesh on the south, Orissa on the east, Jharkhand on the northeast and Uttar Pradesh on the

north.

The Chhattisgarhi language, a dialect of eastern Hindi, is a predominant language in the state, recognized along with Hindi as the official language of the state. Many tribal and some

Dravidian influenced dialects or languages are spoken in various parts of Chhattisgarh. Nearly half million people speak Sambalpuri language in Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh is primarily a rural state with only 20% of population residing in urban areas. Chhattisgarh's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at 12 billion USD in current prices. After partition, this mineral-rich state produces 30% of the output of the old Madhya

Pradesh state.

The state's economy is further fuelled by the presence of Bhilai Steel Plant, S.E.C.Railway Zone, BALCO Aluminium Plant (Korba), and NTPC(National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd) at Korba

and Sipat (Bilaspur) and S.E.C.L. (South Eastern Coalfields Limited). Korba & Bilaspur are the power hubs of the state, from where the electricity is supplied to several other Indian states. Chhattisgarh's southern area contains iron ore which NMDC is mining to meet iron demand in

India as well as export. NMDC is located in Dantewara district. Recently ESSAR has started transporting iron ore through pipe lines to Vizag. Recently Three New Power Plant is proposed

in Bhaiyathan and Premnagar of Surajpur District. Many Private companies individually and with collaboration with C.G govt. has sign a memorandum for power plant.

The state is also launching an ambitious plan to become biofuel self-sufficient by 2015 by planting crops of jatropha.

GEOGRAPHYThe north and south parts of the state are hilly, while the central part is a fertile

plain. Forests cover roughly forty-four percent of the state.

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The northern part of the state lies on the edge of the great Indo-Gangetic plain: The Rihand River, a tributary of the Ganges, drains this area. The eastern end of the Satpura Range and the western edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau form an

east-west belt of hills that divide the Mahanadi River basin from the Indo-Gangetic plain. The central part of the state lies in the fertile upper basin of the

Mahanadi and its tributaries, with extensive rice cultivation. The upper Mahanadi basin is separated from the upper Narmada basin to the west by the Maikal Hills, (part of the Satpuras), and from the plains of Orissa to the east by ranges of hills.

The southern part of the state lies on the Deccan plateau, in the watershed of the Godavari River and its tributary the Indravati River.

The Mahanadi is the chief river of the state. Other main rivers are Hasdo (a tributary of Mahanadi), Rihand, Indravati, Jonk and Arpa.It is situated in the east

of Madhya Pradesh. Maoist insurgency has been main source of instability, recently they ambushed to kill 40 policemen.

TOURISM IN CHHATTISGARHChhattisgarh, situated in the heart of India, is endowed with a rich cultural

heritage and attractive natural diversity. The State is full of ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, waterfalls, caves,

rock paintings and hill plateaus. Most of these sites are untouched and unexplored and offer a unique and alternate experience to tourists compared to

traditional destinations which have become overcrowded. Chhattisgarh offers the tourist a Destination with a Difference. For those who are tired of the crowds at

major destinations, Bastar district, with its unique cultural and ecological identity, will come as a breath of fresh air. The Green State of Chhattisgarh has 41.33% of its area under forests, and is one of the richest bio-diversity areas in the country.

RAIPURRaipur is the capital city of the state of Chhattisgarh,India. The city is the administrative headquarters of Raipur District. It was formerly a part of

Madhya before the state of Chhattisgarh was formed on November 1, 2000. The population is 6, 05,131 (as per census of India, 2001).

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JAGDALPURJagdalpur is a city and a municipality in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is the administrative headquarters of Bastar District and Bastar Division, and was the capital of

the erstwhile princely state of Bastar. Jagdalpur and its surrounding area comprise a major part of the Bastar District. The area is famous for age old wooden handicrafts. These are in high

demand among both local as well as foreign tourists. The city is located on the south bank of the Indravati River.

ATTRACTIONSCHITRAKOOT FALLS

The Chitrakoot Falls (alternative spelling Chitrakut) is a waterfall located near Jagdalpur, in Bastar district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh on the Indravati River. The height of the falls

is about 29 metres (95 ft). The breadth of the waterfall varies, as the water level in the river goes down drastically during summer. However during a monsoon the river touches both the

banks and is filled with silt. In contrast, during summer the water carries no silt and looks different. This is a contrast to Jog falls which has water that looks white even during monsoon.

The area around the falls is largely forested.

TIRATHGARH FALLSTirathgarh falls are located approximately 38km from Jagdalpur in Bastar district. The water

falls from a height of 100 feet on a river which originates in a lake not very far away from this point. The lake is locally known as Phool. The surroundings are pristine and covered with thick

vegetation. There are many natural vantage points where one can observe the falls.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over 21,495 sq mi (55,673 km²), and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana

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and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet autonomous region on the east. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Region of snowy mountains.

Himachal Pradesh was also known as Deva Bhumi (the land of the gods). The Aryan influence in the region dates back to the period before the Rig-Veda. After the Anglo-Gorkha war the British colonial government came into power. It was initially part of Punjab, except the Siba State of Punjab Hills which was under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh until 1857. In 1950 Himachal was declared as a union territory but after the State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971, Himachal emerged as the 18th state of the Indian Union. Himachal has many prestigious boarding schools. Hima means snow in Sanskrit. It was named by one of the great Sanskrit scholars of Himachal Pradesh, Acharya Diwakar Datt Sharma.

Himachal Pradesh has one of the highest per capita incomes of any state in India. Due to the abundance of perennial rivers, Himachal also sells hydro electricity to other states such as Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. The economy of the state is highly dependent on three sources: hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture.

Hindus make up 95% of the state population, making it the most Hindu state (proportionally), in India. According to a 2005 Transparency International survey, Himachal Pradesh is ranked the second-least corrupt state in the country after Kerala.

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The 12 Districts of Himachal Pradesh

The Map of Himachal Pradesh showing the tourist places and its state capital Shimla

HISTORYThe history of the area that now constitutes Himachal Pradesh dates

back to the time when the Indus Valley Civilization flourished between 2250 and 1750 BCE.Tribes such as the Koilis, Halis, Dagis, Dhaugris,

Dasa, Khasas, Kinnars and Kirats inhabited the region from pre-historic era. During the Vedic Period, several small republics known as "Janapada" existed which were later conquered by the Gupta

Empire. After a brief period of supremacy by king Harshavardhana, the region was once again divided into several local powers headed by

chieftains, including some Rajput principalities. These kingdoms that enjoyed a large degree of independence were devastated by Muslim invaders a number of times. Mahmud Ghaznavi conquered Kangra at

the beginning of the 10th century. Timur and Sikander Lodi also marched through the lower hills of the state and captured a number of forts and fought many battles. Several hill states acknowledged Mughal

suzerainty and paid regular tribute to the Mughals. The Gorkhas, a martial tribe came to power in Nepal in the year 1768. They

consolidated their military power and began to expand their territory. Gradually the Gorkhas annexed Sirmour and Shimla. With the

leadership of Amar Singh Thapa, Gorkhas laid siege to Kangra. They managed to defeat Sansar Chand, the ruler of kangra, in 1806 with the

help of many provincial chiefs. However Gorkhas could not capture Kangra fort which came under Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1809. After the defeat the Gorkhas began to expand towards the south of the state. However, Raja Ram Singh, Raja of Siba State re-captured the fort of Siba from the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Samvat 1846.This led

to the Anglo-Sikh War. They came into direct conflict with the British along the tarai belt after which the British expelled them from the provinces of the Satluj. Thus the British gradually emerged as the

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paramount powers. The revolt of 1857 or first Indian war of independence resulted due to the building up of political, social,

economic, religious and military grievances against the British government. People of the hill states were not as politically active as the people in other parts of the country. They remained more or less

inactive and so did their rulers, with the exception of Bushahr.Some of them even rendered help to the British government during the revolt. Among them were the rulers of Chamba, Bilaspur, Bhagal and Dhami. The rulers of Bushars rather acted in a manner hostile to the interests of British. The British territories in the hill came under British Crown

after Queen Victoria's proclamation of 1858. The states of Chamba, Mandi and Bilaspur made good progress in many fields

during the British rule. During World War I, virtually all rulers of the hill states remained loyal and contributed to the British war effort both in

the form of men and materials. Amongst these were the states of Kangra, Jaswan, Datarpur, Guler, Nurpur, Chamba,

Suket, Mandi and Bilaspur. After independence the Chief Commissioner's Province of H.P. came into being on 15 April 1948. The

province comprised the hill districts around Shimla and southern hill areas of the former Punjab region. Himachal became a part C state on 26 January 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India. Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory on 1 November 1956.On 18 December 1970 the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971.

Thus Himachal emerged as the eighteenth state of the Indian Union.

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Geography and Climate

Himachal is situated in the western Himalayas. Covering an area of 55,673 kilometers. Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous state with

elevation ranging from about 350 meters (1,148 ft) to 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) above the sea level . The drainage system of Himachal is

composed both of rivers and glaciers. Himalayan rivers criss-cross the entire mountain chain. In fact the rivers are older than the mountain

system. Himachal Pradesh provides water to both the Indus and Ganges basins. The drainage systems of the region are the Chandra Bhaga or the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas, the Sutlej and

the Yamuna. These rivers are perennial and are fed by snow and rainfall. They are protected by an extensive cover of natural

vegetation.There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variation in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation.[16] The state has areas like Dharamsala that receive very heavy rainfall, as well as those like Lahaul and Spiti that are cold and almost rainless.

Broadly Himachal experience three seasons; hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. Summer lasts from mid April till the

end of June and most parts become very hot (except in alpine zone which experience mild summer) with the

average temperature ranging from 28 °C (82 °F) to 32 °C (90 °F). Winter lasts from late November till mid March. Snowfall is common

in alpine tracts (generally above 2,200 meters (7,218 ft) i.e. in the Higher and Trans-Himalayan region).

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FLORA AND FAUNAAccording to 2003 Forest Survey of India report, legally defined forest areas constitute

66.52% of the area of Himachal Pradesh, although area under tree cover is only 25.78%. Vegetation in the state is dictated by elevation and precipitation.

The southern part of the state, which is at the lowest elevations, has both tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests.[17] These are represented by northwestern thorn scrub forests along the border with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and by Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests in the far southeast. Sal and shisham are found here.

Rising into the hills, we find a mosaic of western Himalayan broadleaf forests and Himalayan subtropical pine forests. Various deciduous and evergreen oaks live in the broadleaf forests,

while Chir pine dominates the pine forests. Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests grow near tree line, with species that include East Himalayan Fir, West Himalayan

Spruce, Deodar (State tree), and Blue pine.

In the uppermost elevations we find western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows in the northeast and northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows in the northwest. Trees are sturdy with a vast network of roots. Alders, birches, rhododendrons and moist alpine

shrubs are there as the regional vegetation. The rhododendrons can be seen along the hillsides around Shimla from March to May. The shrublands and meadows give way to rock

and ice around the highest peaks.

Himachal is also said to be the fruit bowl of the country with orchards scattered all over the place. Meadows and pastures are also seen clinging to steep slopes. After the winter season,

the hillsides and orchards bloom with wild flowers, while gladiolas, carnations, marigolds, roses, chrysanthemums, tulips and lilies are carefully cultivated. The state government is

gearing up to make Himachal Pradesh as the flower basket of the world.

Himachal Pradesh is a well known habitat to a variety of animals. There are around 1200 bird and 359 animal species in the state. This includes the Leopard, Snow leopard (State animal), ghoral, musk deer and Western Tragopan. It has 12 major national parks and sanctuaries –

the largest number in the Himalayan region. The Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district was created to conserve the flora and fauna of the main Himalayan range, while the Pin Valley National Park to conserve the flora and fauna of the cold de

SHIMLA

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Shimla originally called Simla is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the

"Queen of Hills" (a term coined by the British). Located in the north-west Himalayas at an average altitude of

2,205 meters (7,234 ft), the city of Shimla, draped in forests of pine, rhododendron, and oak, experiences

pleasant summers and cold, snowy winters. The city is famous for its buildings styled in tudorbethan and neo-

gothic architecture dating from the colonial era. Shimla is connected to the city of Kalka by one of the

longest narrow gauge railway routes still operating in India, the Kalka-Shimla railway. Shimla is approximately 115 km (71.4 miles) from Chandigarh, the nearest major

city, and 365 km (226.8 miles) from New Delhi, the national capital. The city is named after the goddess

Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali.

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ATTRACTIONSMall Road is the main street in Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, India. Constructed during

the British colonial rule, the Mall road is located a level below the ridge. The offices of Municipal

Corporation, fire service, and police headquarters are located here. Automobiles, except emergency

vehicles are not allowed on this road. For this reason, the locals — and tourists — are often found

strolling on this road in the evenings.

Mall road has a number of showrooms, department stores, shops, restaurants and cafes. A

Himachal emporium that offers handicraft products of Himachal Pradesh like locally designed woolen

cloths, branded cloths, pottery items, and jewellary is also located here.[1] There are at least three books

shops including one that sells old books.

SCANDAL POINT

Scandal point is where the Mall road joins the ridge road on the west side. The name, scandal, arose from

the commotion caused by the supposed elopement of a British lady with the Maharaja of Patiala during

the British Raj. A statue of Lala Lajpat Rai (no relation to the scandal), is also located here. Next to

Scandal Point there is General Post Office, Shimla.

Gaiety Theatre

Gaiety Theater, located on the Mall, was opened on the 30th of May, 1887. Many popular film

personalities have performed on its stage.

Today, the Gaiety is primarily known for its social club. Schools in Shimla use this theater for arts. The

Theater has been renovated with the original structure untouched to keep its heritage preserved while

making it more attractive.

KALI BARI TEMPLE

The temple was built in the year 1845. It is dedicated to goddess Kali. It is believed that an ancient temple

of Shamla i.e. goddess Kali existed near Jakhoo. In the temple a wooden image is worshipped locally.

TOWN HALL

The recently renovated Municipal Corporation building of Shimla adds to the surrounding architecture

reminiscent of the pre-independence era. The Building is preserved in its original form. The large steps

and the entrance to this building is a common site for pictures depicting the Mall at Shimla. More than 5

crore Rs were spent in renovating this ancient architectural marvel.

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MANALIManali (alt. 1,950 m or 6,398 ft), in the Beas River valley, is an beautiful hill station in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, India, near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is located about 250 kilometers (155 mi) north of state capital, Shimla.

Manali is administratively a part of the Kullu district, with population of approx. 30,000. The small town was the beginning of an ancient trade route to Ladakh and, from there, over then Karakoram Pass on to Yarkand and Khotan in the Tarim Basin.

Manali is named after the Brahmin lawgiver Manu. The word Manali literally means “the abode of Manu”. Legend has it that sage Manu stepped off his ark in Manali to recreate human life after a great flood had deluged the world. Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh in which Manali is known as the "Valley of the Gods". The Old Manali village has an ancient temple dedicated to sage Manu. Manali and the surrounding area is of great significance to Indian culture and heritage as it is said to be the home of the Saptarshi, or Seven Sages. Manali is located at 32.16°N 77.10°E The town ranges in elevation from 1,800 m (5,900 ft) to, in the uppermost "Old Manali" section, 2,000 m (6,600 ft).

DEMOGRAPHICS

Manali is a cosmopolitan town. People from different parts of India have settled here. As of 2001 India census, Manali had a population of 6265. Males constitute 64% of the population and females 36%. Manali has an average literacy rate of

74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 63%. In Manali, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

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Tourism in ManaliManali is a popular Himalayan tourist destination and accounts for nearly a quarter of all tourist arrivals in

Himachal Pradesh. Manali's cool atmosphere provides a contrast to hot Indian summers.

Manali is famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, trekking,

kayaking, and mountain biking. Yak skiing is a sport unique to this area. Manali also featured in Time

magazine's "Best of Asia" for its "Extreme Yak Sports". Manali also offers hot springs, religious shrines

and Tibetan Buddhist temples.

Manali has become a favorite destination for honeymooners since the last few years. Statistics show that

around 550 couples reach Manali daily for honeymoon in season (May, June, December, January) and

around 350 couples reaches Manali daily in rest time.

Manali is known for its shiny gompas or Buddhist monasteries. With the highest concentration of Tibetan

refugees in the entire Kullu valley, it is famous for its Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa, built in 1969. The

monastery is maintained by donations from the local community and through the sale of hand-woven

carpets in the temple workshop. The smaller and more modern Himalayan Nyingamapa Gompa stands

nearer the bazaar, in a garden blooming with sunflowers.

PLACES OF INTERESTNaggar Fort, south of Manali is a reminder from the Pala Empire made from rocks, stones, and

elaborate wood carvings, it is an ensemble of the rich and elegant art works of Himachal. The castle was

later converted to a hotel and is currently under Himachal tourism Hadimba Temple, erected in 1553, is

dedicated to the local deity Hadimba, wife of the Pandava prince, Bhim. The temple is noted for its four-

store pagoda and exquisite wooden carvings.

Rahla waterfalls lie some 27 km (17 mi) from Manali at the start of the climb to the Rohtang Pass, are

the beautiful Rahla Falls at an altitude of 2,501 m (8,205 ft).

Solan valley, popularly known as Snow Point, is 13 km northwest of Manali.

Manikaran, located about 45 km. from kullu on the way to Manali is known for its hot spring near the

river Parvati.

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Rohtang, located about 40 km from manali is one of the most famous snow point, but its closed

during winters due to snow. The height of this place is 13000ft above the sea level.

KULLU

Kullu, once known as Kul-anti-peetha - "the end of the habitable world”, is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about ten kilometers north of the airport at Bhuntar. Kullu is a broad open valley formed by the Beas river between Manali and Largi. This valley is famous for the beauty and its majestic hills covered with Pine and Deodar Forest and sprawling Apple Orchards. The course of the Beas River presents a succession of magnificent, clad with forests of Deodar, yowering above trees of Pine on the lower rocky ridges. Kullu valley is sandwiched between the Pir Panjal, Lower Himalayan and Great Himalayan range. Kullu Valley, also known as the "Valley of Gods", is well known for the seven day festival of Kullu Dussera, a celebration of the mythical Lord Rama's victory over the evil king Ravana.The festival takes place in the months of October or November, depending upon the Hindu calendar.

Due to it being the commercial and economic center, the township of Kullu has had an eclectic influx of nearby village/district inhabitants, shop owners and government employees from bordering states who give a different feel from the rest of the valley. This has also contributed to a stronger sports and educational infrastructure in the town.

Kullu ShawlsHandloom Kullu Shawl is the best treasure one can look for. Kullu Shawls are made of many natural fibers such as pashmina, sheep-wool, angora etc.

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Some Places Of attractions

KULLU VALLEYKullu Valley is the largest valley in the Kullu District, in Himachal Pradesh, India the Beas River runs through the middle of the valley. It is also called the "Valley of the Gods".

It connects with the Lahul and Spiti valleys via Rotang Pass, situated at 13,051 ft (3,978 m), 51 km from Manali city.

GURUDAWARA MANIKARAN SAHIBGurdwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is an historical Sikh shrine present there which was discovered by Baba Narayan Hari, the history of the Gurdwara sahib is mentioned in Bhai Bala Janamsakhi and Twarikh Guru Khalsa. Gurdwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is located where Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was with his Sikhs in the Himalaya Mountains of

India. His Sikhs were hungry and there was no food. Guru Nanak sent his Good Friend Bhai Mardana to collect food for langar (the

Community Kitchen). Many people donated rice and flour (atta) to make parsadas (bread). The one problem was that there was no fire to

cook the food. Guru Nanak than lifted a rock and a hot spring (hot water) appeared. The Sikhs were able to make rice and beans. Bhai

Mardana was having trouble making parasadas (chapatis) because they kept sinking. Bhai Mardana said, "I am going to donate my life in the

name of God". The parsada amazingly floated. Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that anyone who donates his life in the name of God, All his (or her)

drowned items will float. This was a miracle. The place is famous for its hot boiling sulphur springs, which are revered by lakhs who come here

for a dip in the curing waters. It is believed that the hot springs can cure

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skin diseases or even ease the swelling caused by gout. A huge Gurdwara has been erected in the memory of Guru Nanak who is

believed to have visited this place. A number of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims visit the Gurdwara every year. The Ram Temple mentioned above, built

in the 16th century, is situated near the Gurdwara. Langar cooked in the hot springs. Sikhs Pilligrimage to Manikaran The village 'shatt' is on the way where once a cloudburst had turned the village into a nullah.

An awe-inspiring experiment at Manikaran is that of cooking rice or dal in the boiling hot waters. Tourists can experience this by purchasing

'chawal potli' (rice in a muslin bag) from the nearby market. The gurdwara management prepares tea and food by putting huge

vessels in the water. There is a water pool in the gurdwara where one can enjoy a hot bath. The local residents use hot water in narrow

bazaar through pipes. Tibetans dominate the market here where one can buy religious idols, offerings, books, prasad, and Tibetan products.

The amazing union of cold water and boiling springs in the Parvati River has mystified many a scientist and the devout alike. Nature has used an array of colours, textures and materials to form fascinating mountains

with many medicinal herbs. Transparent stone crystals, which resemble topaz, can be found at some points. Water flowing through the curves

of hill land shapes has given rise to driftwood in various shapes and forms. Due to the climate, local vegetables and pulses like rajmah and urad are of rare quality and taste different from those available in the

plains.

Other places of interest in the area include Manikaran (famous for its hot springs) and hot water springs at Vashisht village near Manali, 40 km north of Kullu, a hub for tourists and rock climbers. Malana,

Kaish-Dhaar in Lug Valley, Bijli Mahadev, Bhekhli and Bajaura house the famous temples of the region and places like Kasol and Gohar. Manali is

perhaps the most famous town and center of all tourist attractions in the state. Manali also has a well-known temple dedicated to the

mythical princess Hadimba. The economy of the town largely depends

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on tourism, horticulture (apples, plums, pears, and almonds) and handicrafts (shawls, caps, etc.).

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RAJASTHANRajasthan is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It encompasses most of the area of the

large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert), which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river

valley along its border with Pakistan. It is one of the most beautiful states of India which attracts very large

number of domestic and foreign tourist in India. The state borders Pakistan to the west, Gujarat to the

southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast and Punjab to

the north. Rajasthan covers an area of 132,150 sq m or 342,239 km². The proportion of the state's total

area to the total area of the country is 10.41 per cent. Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist

destinations in India, for both domestic & international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourist for its historical

forts, palaces, art and culture. Every third foreign tourist visiting India also travel to Rajasthan as it is part

of the Golden Triangle for tourists visiting India. Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, tourism

is a flourishing industry in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur, lakes of Udaipur, and desert forts

of Jodhpur, Bikaner & Jaisalmer are among the most preferred destination of many tourists, Indian and

foreign. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the state's domestic product. Many old and neglected

palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the

hospitality sector. Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the state. Geographical features include the

Thar Desert along north-western Rajasthan and the termination of the Ghaggar River near the

archaeological ruins at Kalibanga, which are the oldest in the subcontinent discovered so far.

One of the world's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range, cradles the only hill station of

Rajasthan, Mount Abu, famous for Dilwara Temples, a sacred pilgrimage for Jains. Eastern Rajasthan

has the world famous Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, once famous for its bird life and is a World

Heritage Site and two famous national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949, when all erstwhile princely states ruled by Rajputs, known

as Rajputana, merged into the Dominion of India.

It was essentially the country of the Gurjars. Historian R. C. Majumdar explained that the region was long

known as Gurjaratra (Country protected by the Gurjars or Gurjar nation), early form of Gujarat, before it

came to be called Rajputana, early in the Muslim period. The historian John Keay in his book, India: A

History stated that, Rajputana name was given by Britishers and The word even achieved a retrospective

authenticity, in 1829 translation of Ferishta's history of early Islamic India, John Briggs discarded the

phrase Indian princes, as rendered in Dow's earlier version, and substituted Rajpoot princes.

The only difference between erstwhile Rajputana and Rajasthan is that certain portions of what had

been British India, in the former province of Ajmer-Merwara, were included. Portions lying geographically

outside of Rajputana such as the Sumel-Tappa area were included in Madhya Pradesh.

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HISTORYThe Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's first and oldest civilizations, was located in parts of what

is now Rajasthan. Kalibangan in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan was a major provincial capital of the

Indus Valley Civilization.[4] It is believed that Western Kshatrapas (35–405 BC) were Saka rulers of the

western part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan).

They were successors to the Indo-Scythians, and were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the

northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Indo-Scythians invaded the area of Ujjain and establish the

Saka era (with Saka calendar), marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Satrapskingdom.

Traditionally the,Meenas , Rajputs, Yadavs, Jats,Bhils, Gurjars, Bishnois and other tribes made a great

contribution in building the state of Rajasthan. All these tribes suffered great difficulties in protecting their

culture and the land. Millions of them were martyred trying to protect their land. Gurjars had been

exterminated in Bhinmal and Ajmer areas fighting with the invaders. Bhils once ruled Kota. Meenas were

rulers of Bundi and Dhundhar region.

Gurjars ruled many dynasties in this part of country.In fact this region was long known as Gurjaratra. Up

to the tenth century almost the whole of North India, excepting Bengal, owned supremacy of Gurjars with

their seat of power at Kannauj. Gurjar Pratihars acted as barrier for Arab invaders from 6th to 11th

century. The chief credit of Gurjar Pratihar empire lies in its successful resistance to the foreign invasions

from the west, from the days of Junaid. Majumdar says that this was frankly recognized by the Arab

writers themselves.

He further clears that Historians of India have wondered at the slow progress of Muslim invaders in India,

as compared with their rapid advance in other parts of the world. Now there can be little doubt that it was

the power of the Gurjara Pratihara army that effectively barred the progress of the Muslims beyond the

confines of Sindh, their first conquest for nearly three hundred years.

The earlier contributions of warriors and protectors of the land (Vishnoi,Ahirs, Gurjars, Jats, Bhils

and Meenas) were neglected and lost in history due to stories of valour shown by certain specific clans in

later years graining more prominence over older acts of bravery. Rajasthan means the Land of the

Kings. Modern Rajasthan includes most of Rajputana, which comprises mainly the erstwhile Rajput

kingdoms as well as two Jat kingdoms and

a Muslim kingdom. Marwar (Jodhpur),Bikaner, Mewar (Udaipur), Alwar and Dhundhar (Jaipur) were some

of the main Rajput states. The Jats were rulers in Bharatpur and Dholpur. Tonk was ruled by

a Muslim Nawab. Rajput families rose to prominence in the 6th century CE. The Rajputs put a very valiant

resistance to the Islamic invasions and protected this land with their warfare and chivalry for more than

500 years.

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GEOGRAPHYThe main geographic features of Rajasthan are the Thar Desert and the Aravalli Range, which runs through the state from southwest to

northeast, almost from one end to the other, for more than 850 km. Mount Abu is at the southwestern end of the range, separated

from the main ranges by the West Banas River, although a series of broken ridges continues into Haryana in the direction of Delhi where it can be seen as outcrops in the form of the Raisina Hill and the ridges farther north. About three-fifths of Rajasthan lies northwest of the

Aravallis, leaving two-fifths on the east and south.

The northwestern portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry. Most of the region is covered by the Thar Desert, which extends into

adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Range does not intercept the moisture-giving southwest monsoon winds off the Arabian Sea, as it lies in a direction parallel to that of the coming monsoon winds, leaving

the northwestern region in a rain shadow. The Thar Desert is thinly populated; the town of Bikaner is the largest city in the desert. The

Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert and the Aravallis. This region receives less than

400 mm of rain in an average year. Temperatures can exceed 45 °C in the summer months and drop below freezing in the winter.

The Godwar, Marwar, and Shekhawati regions lie in the thorn scrub forest zone, along with the city of Jodhpur. The Luni River and its

tributaries are the major river system of Godwar and Marwar regions, draining the western slopes of the Aravallis and emptying southwest

into the great Rann of Kutch wetland in neighboring Gujarat. This river is saline in the lower reaches and remains potable only up to Balotara

in Barmer district. The Ghaggar River, which originates in Haryana, is an intermittent stream that disappears into the sands of the Thar Desert in

the northern corner of the state and is seen as a remnant of the primitive Saraswati river.

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TOURISMRajasthan attracted 14% of total foreign visitors during 2009-2010 which is fourth highest in all states of

India. It positioned fourth place also in Domestic tourist visitors. World's best hotel of 2010 is awarded to

Oberoi Vanyavilas ranthambhore which is located near the sanctuary of Ranthambhore. Two out of 10

World's best hotels is located in Rajasthan. And India's best 4 hotels are in Rajasthan. Endowed with

natural beauty and a great history, tourism is a flourishing industry in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur,

lakes of Udaipur, and desert forts of Jodhpur, Bikaner & Jaisalmer rank among the most preferred

destinations in India for many tourists both Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the

state's domestic product. Many old and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage

hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector.

Rajasthan is famous for the majestic forts, intricately carved temples and decorated havelis, which were

built by Rajput kings in previous ages; they were the soul of pre-Muslim era Rajasthan.Jantar

Mantar, Dilwara Temples, Chittorgarh Fort, Lake Palace, City Palaces, Jaisalmer Havelis are part of the

true architectural heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made of a type of

sand stone dominated by a pink hue. At Ajmer, the white marble Bara-dari on the Anasagar lake is

exquisite. Jain Temples dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. Dilwara Temples of Mount

Abu, Ranakpur Temple dedicated to Lord Adinath near Udaipur, Jain temples in the fort complexes

of Chittor, Jaisalmer and Kumbhalgarh, Lodarva Jain temples, Bhandasar Temple of Bikaner are some of

the best examples.

Rajasthan is often called a shopper's paradise. Rajasthan is famous for textiles, semi-precious stones

and handicrafts. The attractive designs of jewellery and clothes are eye-catching and invite shoppers.

Rajasthani furniture has intricate carvings and bright colours. Rajasthani handicrafts are in demand due to

the intricate work on them. Above all, Rajasthan's shopping appeals to both tourists and people from

other parts of India due to its cheap prices for quality goods.Bikaner is famous for its namkeens, Jaipur for

its jewellery, Jodhpur for sweets and Jaisalmer for yellow stone.

CULTURERajasthan is culturally rich and has artistic and cultural traditions which reflect the ancient Indian way of life. There is rich and varied folk culture from villages which is often depicted and is symbolic of the state. Highly cultivated classical music and dance with its own distinct style is part of the cultural tradition of Rajasthan. The

music is uncomplicated and songs depict day-to-day relationships and chores, more often focused around fetching water from wells or ponds.

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The Ghoomar dance from Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance of Jaisalmer have gained international recognition. Folk music is a vital part of Rajasthani culture.

Kathputali, Bhopa, Chang, Teratali, Ghindar, Kachchhighori, Tejaji etc. are the examples of the traditional Rajasthani culture. Folk songs are commonly ballads

which relate heroic deeds and love stories; and religious or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis (often accompanied by musical instruments

like dholak, sitar,sarangi etc.) are also sung. Rajasthan is known for its traditional, colorful art. The block prints, tie and dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints,

and Zari embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan. Handicraft items like wooden furniture and handicrafts, carpets, and blue pottery are some of the

things commonly found here. Rajasthan is a shoppers' paradise, with beautiful goods found at low prices. Reflecting the colorful Rajasthani culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror-work and embroidery. A Rajasthani traditional dress

for females comprises an ankle length skirt and a short top, also known as a lehenga or a chaniya choli. A piece of cloth is used to cover the head, both for

protection from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually designed in bright colours like blue, yellow and orange. The main religious

festivals are Deepawali, Holi, Gangaur, Teej, Gogaji, Shri Devnarayan Jayanti,Makar Sankranti and Janmashtami, as the main religion is Hinduism.

Rajasthan's desert festival is celebrated with great zest and zeal. This festival is held once a year during winter. Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people

of the desert dance and sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. There are fairs with snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers.

Camels, of course, play a stellar role in this festival.

FLORA AND FAUNAThough a large percentage of the total area is desert, and even though there is little forest cover, Rajasthan has a rich and varied flora and fauna. The natural vegetation is classed as Northern Desert Thorn Forest (Champion 1936). These occur in small clumps scattered in a more or less open forms. Density and size of patches increase from west to east following the increase in rainfall.

Some wildlife species, which are fast vanishing in other parts of India, are found in the desert in large numbers such as the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), the Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), the Indian Gazelle (Gazella bennettii) and the Indian Wild Ass.

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The Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, spread over an area of 3162 km², is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert, and its diverse fauna. Great Indian Bustard, Blackbuck, chinkara, desert fox, Bengal fox, wolf, desert cat etc. can be easily seen here. Seashells and massive fossilized tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert. The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of the desert. One can see many eagles, harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrel and vultures. Short-toed Eagles (Circaetus gallicus), Tawny Eagles (Aquila rapax), Spotted Eagles (Aquila clanga), Laggar Falcons (Falco jugger) and kestrels are the commonest of these.

The Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur, is one of the finest Tiger Reserves in the Country which became a part of Project Tiger in 1973.

The Sariska Tiger Reserve located in Alwar district, 200 km from Delhi and 107 km from Jaipur covers an area of approximately 800 km2.The area was declared a National Park in 1979.

Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a very small sanctuary in Sujangarh , Churu District, 210 km from Jaipur, in the Shekhawati region. This sanctuary is home to a large population of graceful Blackbuck. Desert Fox and desert cat can also be spotted along with typical avifauna such as partridge and sand grouse.

WILDLIFERajasthan is also noted for National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. There are four national park and wildlife sanctuaries named the Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur, Sariska Tiger Reserve of Alwar, Ranthambore National Park of Sawai Madhopur, and Desert National Park of Jaisalmer.

Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary both are known worldwide for their tiger population and considered by both wild lovers and photographers as the best places in India to spot tigers. some time before due to poaching and negligence tiger became extinct here, but recently 5 tigers have been shifted here to make them inhabit here. Besides, it houses several small wildlife sanctuaries and eco-tourism parks . Prominent among them are Mount Abu Sanctuary, Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary, Jaisamand Sanctuary,Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar sanctuary and Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary.

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JAIPURJaipur also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. During the British rule in India, Jaipur was the

capital of the princely state of Jaipur. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of

more than 3.5 million.

Jaipur is the first planned city of India, located in the semi-desert lands of Rajasthan. The city which once had been the capital of the royalty now is the capital city of Rajasthan. The very structure of Jaipur resembles the taste of the Rajputs and the Royal families. At present, Jaipur is a major business centre with all requisites of a metropolitan city.

The city is remarkable among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity of its streets which are laid out into six sectors separated by broad streets 111 ft (34 m) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter, with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses a sprawling palace complex, (Hawa Mahal), formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort, which was the residence of the King Sawai Jai Singh II, crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city. The observatory, Jantar Mantar, is one of the World Heritage Sites. Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in Rajasthan and India.

Amber FortAmber Fort is located in Amber, 11 km from Jaipur, Rajasthan state, India. It was the ancient citadel of the ruling Kachhawa clan of Amber, before the capital was shifted to present day Jaipur. Amber Fort is known for its unique artistic style, blending both Hindu and Muslim (Mughal) elements, and its ornate and breathtaking artistic mastery. The fort borders the Maota Lake, and is a major tourist attraction in Rajasthan.

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Jantar mantarThe Jantar Mantar is a collection of architectural astronomical instruments, built by Maharaja (King) Jai Singh II at his then new capital of Jaipur between 1727 and 1734. It is modeled after the one that he had built for him at the Mughal capital of Delhi. He had constructed a total of five such facilities at different locations, including the ones at Delhi and Jaipur. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved of these. It has been inscribed on the World Heritage List as "an expression of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince at the end of the Mughal period". Early restoration work was undertaken under the supervision of Major Arthur folliott Garrett, a keen amateur astronomer, during his appointment as Assistant State Engineer for the Jaipur District.

CITY PALACECity Palace, Jaipur, which includes the Chandra Mahal and Mubarak

Mahal palaces and other buildings, is a palace complex in Jaipur city, the capital of the Rajasthan state, India. It was the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur, the head of the Kachwaha Rajput clan. The Chandra Mahal palace now houses a museum but

the greatest part of it is still a royal residence. The palace complex, which is located northeast of the centre of the grid patterned Jaipur city, incorporates an impressive and vast array of courtyards, gardens and buildings. The palace was

built between 1729 and 1732, initially by Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber. He planned and built the outer walls, and later additions were made by successive

rulers right up to the 20th century. The credit for the urban layout of the city and its structures is attributed to two architects namely, Vidyadar Bhattacharya, the chief architect in the royal court and Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, apart from the

Sawai himself who was a keen architectural enthusiast. The architects achieved a fusion of the Shilpa shastra of Indian architecture with

Rajput, Mughal and European styles of architecture.

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MOUNT ABU

Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India. It is located in Sirohi district. Mount Abu is 58 km from Palanpur

(Gujarat). The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar, at 1722 meters above sea

level. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert', as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests. The ancient name of Mount Abu is "Arbudaanchal"Mount Abu has been home to many sages and saints. Most famous of them was Sage Vashishtha who is believed to have created four

agnikula Rajput clans from a fire-pit by performing a yagna or fire sacrifice, to protect the earth from the demons.

The Yagna was performed besides a natural spring situated below Abu, emerging from a rock shaped like a cows head and hence the site was called Gaumukh.

SUNSET POINT

Sunset Point located in South West of Nakki Lake provides you a scenic view of the setting sun. Hundreds of people swarm this area in the evening amidst a carnival atmosphere. Food stalls, souvenir

shops abounds the area. The scenic hills, tranquil surrounding, and the pleasant climate makes it a favorite spot of the tourists. The Honeymoon Point located close by is another attraction of Mount

Abu. Sunset Point is a good place to pick up trinkets and knick knacks. Carved marble statues, sandalwood idols, wooden toys and the likes can be seen all over the spot. Food stalls are a regular

here. Pony rides are a favorite with toddlers. Baylay’s Walk, another Viewer’s spot lies just 5 kilometers from Sunset Point. Sun Set can also be seen from the Guru Shikhar - the highest point at

Mount Abu. From this place, thousands of feet down in the plains the charming sight of distant places, villages and beautiful green valley’s represents very attractive atmosphere.

NAKKI LAKENakki Lake is one of the most famous lakes in Mount Abu. Though there are a number of

other lakes in Rajasthan yet this lake manages to attract a large number of tourists. The calm and beautiful lake in Rajasthan not only has its own beauty to offer. It also enhances the overall beauty of Rajasthan. Hence, it has great contribution in enhancing the appeal of

Mount Abu tourism. Though lakes are mostly instances of natural wonders but this one is

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one of the exceptions. It is an artificial lake that also has provisions for boating. Tourists visiting this place thoroughly enjoy their experience. Moreover, one can also enjoy the

excitement of horse riding along the bank of the lake. It will surely be a memorable experience for one.

Legend has it that this small lake, virtually in the center of Mount Abu, was scooped out by god using only his nails, or nakh. Some Hindus thus believe it to be a holy lake. The lake is

surrounded by hills, parks and strange rock formations. The best known, Toad Rock, looks just like a toad about to hop into the lake. The 14th Century Raghunath Temple stands beside the

lake. Several maharajas built lavish summer houses around Nakki Lake. Nakki Lake is the heart of all activity in Mount Abu. It is a short and easy stroll around it and

there are juice stalls, ice-cream parlours, balloon vendors, souvenir shops and small food stalls.

DILWARA JAIN TEMPLEThe Jain Dilwara temples of India are located about 2½ kilometers from Mount

Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. These temples built by Chalukya between the 11th and 13th centuries AD are world famous for their stunning use of marble. The five legendary marble

temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains. Some consider them to be one of the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world. The marble temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality.

The temples are in the midst of a range of forested hills. A high wall shrouds the temple complex. Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, some believe that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection. The ornamental

detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvellous.For the people who come to perform puja here, there are facilities to bathe and get ready. The facilities use passive solar power to heat up the water for bathing and other

things. Guided tour hours for tourists are posted outside the temple. You might see occasional monkeys looking for food outside the temple area.

JAISALMERJaysalmer nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in

the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located 575 kilometers (357 mi) west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer

state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by

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a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured. It lies in the

heart of the Thar Desert and has a population of about 78,000. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District. Jaisalmer is named after its founder Rao Jaisal."Jaisalmer" means "the Hill Fort of Jaisal". Jaisalmer is sometimes called the "Golden City of India" because the

yellow sand gives a yellowish-golden tinge to the city and its surrounding area. District JAISALMER is located within a rectangle

lying between 26°.4’ –28°.23' North parallel and 69°.20'-72°.42' east meridians. It is the largest district of Rajasthan and one of the largest

in the country. The breath (East-West) of the district is 270 km and the length (North-South) is 186 km. On the present map, district Jaisalmer is bounded on the north by Bikaner, on the west & south-west by the

Pakistani border, on the south by Barmer and Jodhpur, and on the east by Jodhpur and Bikaner Districts. The length of international

boarder attached to District JAISALMER is 471 km.

ATTRACTIONS OF JAISALMERGOLDEN FORT

Golden Fort is situated in Jaisalmer. Bhatti Chief Jaisal laid the foundation of the Golden Fort in 1156 A.D on Trikuta hill. The fort is also called Sonar Kila or

Golden Fort because it is made up of yellow sandstone and seems to ignite into a golden flame when scorched by the desert sun. Even today, one fourth of the old city's population resides within the fort. A cross-cultural merging of Rajput and Islamic architectural styles is visible in the Golden Fort. Ganesh Pol, Akshya

Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol are must see for tourists. Jain temples built between 12th to 15th centuries and dedicated to Rikhabdevji and Sambhavanthji are

another attractions close to the Golden Fort. This 12th century Jaisalmer Fort has been regarded as one of the most

magnificent and invincible forts in Rajasthan. Built over the Trikuta hill, Jaisalmer Fort is 250 ft tall structure surrounded by a 30 ft high sandstone wall with 99

bastions. The Fort houses the famous Jain Temple, a place worth visiting on your

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Jaisalmer tour.

Sam Sand Dunes Situated at the edge of the Thar Desert, Sam Sand Dunes are major tourist

attractions near Jaisalmer. Enjoying Camel safaris on the sand dunes are truly an unforgettable experience. Sam Sand Dunes is also famous for its breathtakingly

beautiful sunset.

Another not to be missed tourist attraction in Jaisalmer is the vibrant and colorful Desert Festival held in Jan-Feb every year.

Hotel Jaisalmer Desert Camp Sam, Jaisalmer ,   Rajasthan. Jaisalmer Desert Camp is a deluxe safari camp at the famous Sam Sand Dunes at

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is located 42 kms from Jaisalmer in the midst of the desert wilderness of the Thar Desert. The Camp consists of Deluxe Tents

accommodation. The tents have large bedrooms with well-appointed ensuite bathrooms, shower and hot/cold running water. The public areas of camp consist

of an open-air restaurant which offer fabulous views of the Desert. The Camp comes alive in the evening with campfire, mashaals, musicians, dancers, camel

safaris & traditional live cultural entertainment.Facilities & Services Deluxe Tents (attached bathroom) Rajasthani folk music & dance Camel Safari / Jeep Safari / Village Safari Desert Safari / Desert Wildlife Safari Camp FireBird Watching trips

Gala Dinner Conference facilities Travel Assistance Shopping Assistance Doctor on call How to get there. The Camp can be accessed by road from Jodhpur 350 kms

from Bikaner 370kmBY AIR :- The nearest Airport is Jaisalmer( seasonal flights Oct. to March links Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur) Jodhpur 307km, (Regular flights. Mumbai -Delhi) BY TRAIN: - Jaisalmer Station is connected by Regular train from Delhi and

Jodhpur.

JODHPURJodhpur is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located 335 kilometers (208 mi) west from the state capital, Jaipur. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the

47Camel ride in the Thar Desert

near Jaisalmer

same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar. Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts and temples, set in the stark

landscape of the Thar Desert

The city is known as the Sun City for the bright, sunny weather it enjoys all year. It is also referred to as the Blue City due to the blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort.

Jodhpur lies near the geographic centre of Rajasthan state, which makes it a convenient base for travel in a region much frequented by tourists. The old city of Jodhpur is surrounded by a

thick stone wall.

Located on the foothill of a sandstone hillock, the city of Jodhpur seems like an oasis in the vast desert. Jodhpur is one of the favorite tourist destinations in Rajasthan. People from India as

well as all over the world visit Jodhpur every year. There are a number of tourist attractions in Jodhpur, enchanting the tourists.

Jodhpur tourist spots stand as a living proof of the splendor, traditions and culture of the Jodhpur. The glorious past of Jodhpur is personified through the various forts, palaces and

other monuments of Jodhpur. The main places to see in Jodhpur Rajasthan are:

Mehrangarh Fort:The most magnificent fort in Jodhpur is the Mehrangarh Fort. It is situated on a 150m high hill.

Rao Jodha, the then chief of Rathore clan, constructed it in 1459. There are a number of attractions within the fort like several palaces, galleries, a museum, temples and so on.

Umaid Bhavan Palace:One of the fascinating palaces of Jodhpur is the Umaid Bhavan palace. Maharaja Umaid Singh constructed it in 20th century. A part of the palace has now been converted into a hotel and a

museum.

Jaswant Thada:Jaswant Thada lies to the left of the Mehrangarh fort complex. It is a royal cenotaph made up of white marble. It was built to commemorate Maharaja Jaswant Singh. Some rare portraits of the

former rulers of Jodhpur are also displayed here.

SWOT ANALYSISSWOT Analysis is a Strategic planning method used to evaluate

the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project. It involves

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specifying the objective project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieve that objective. A SWOT analysis must first start with

defining a desired end state or objective or suggestion. A SWOT analysis may be incorporated into the strategic planning model. Strategic Planning has been the subject of much research.

The SWOT analysis is often used to highlight and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It is particularly helpful in identifying areas for development.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF RAJASTHAN

S TRENGHTS

1) World Famous Tourist Destination which attracts both Domestic and International Tourists.

2) Several important tourist attractions in the form of palaces, museums, forts etc present.

3) Famous for its heritage and culture.

4) Important centre for stone mining.

5) Good civic awareness on Heritage and conservation

6) Well accommodation and Transportation

7) Presence of a number of development bodies and NGO’s

W EAKNESSES

1) Infrastructure Facilities like sewerage, drainage and solid waste management coverage less than 50%.

2) Lack of proper traffic management3) High rate of population growth leading in congestion4) Lack of Infrastructure facilities near and around tourist places5) Degraded water quality6) Increasing levels of Poverty which leads to slum.

O PPORTUNITIES

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1) Protection, Restoration and overall environmental improvement of Lakes to attract tourist activities.

2) Developing a tourist circuit connecting places of tourist interest, which would involve development of related infrastructure.

3) Prioritizing sewage and sanitation systems, which would reduce ground water, and surface water pollution.

4) It can attract many tourists because of its rich heritage and culture, and picturesque and congenial natural setting in Rajasthan.

T HREATS

1) Ahar River in Udaipur has become a waste water drain and is heavily polluted as a result of raw sewage inflow and dumping of solid waste.

2) Competing Investment in Tourism Infrastructure in other cities.

3) Increasing levels of water and air pollution due to insufficient drainage/sanitation and increasing traffic respectively.

RECOMMENDATIONS1) Threats primarily exist weakness, which if not addressed

adequately might pose as threats for development. So at first the threats should be dispersed.

2) Water facilities should be improved to develop the state so that tourist inflow is increased.

3) Sanitation, drainage facilities should be increased in number.

4) Mass education should be improvised to a greater extent so that environmental awareness could be created among the locals.

5) Replacements of slums are needed to keep the places more hygienic.

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6) Tourists spots; such as forts, palaces should be well –maintained in order to attract more tourist globally.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF CHHATTISGARH

S TRENGHTS

1) Well connected by Railways and Roadways.2) The land is fertile for agriculture due to the presence of rivers.3)  The soil is very suitable for paddy production.4) Increased revenue from Mineral Royalty.

   5) The average cost of land per Ha is much lower than similar places in other neighboring states.

W EAKNESSES

1) It being a land locked State the export/import activities are hampered. 2) Markets are not well developed 3) Most of the employment opportunities are due to forest and agricultural sources that varies as per climatic conditions. 4) Education facilities in the state are not evenly developed in all the districts.

O PPORTUNITIES

1) Measures should be taken to promote export-processing units to assist export-import activities, especially for food-processed products with the aid of APFDA.

  2) The densely forested areas in State provides opportunities for setting forest based industries

  3) The main source of livelihood is from agricultural field.  4) There are many Tourist spots in the state

  5) The four lines NH connecting Mumbai to Kolkata, which is passing through CG state, will open new opportunities.

T HREATS

1) Ecological Imbalance-There is the possibility of creating an ecological imbalance because of felling of trees, changing topography of the land, utilization of large quantity of ground water, digging of mines etc

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2) Pollution-Creation of unacceptable levels of pollution in water, sound and air etc by the industries can be health hazard to men and animals.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

S TRENGHTS

1) Pleasant weather which is ideal for tourists to come for the annual summer holiday to escape the scorching heat of the plain.

2) Scenic Beauty of the Himalayas, which draws tourists away from the crowded and polluted towns and cities.

3) Terrain is ideally suited for various adventure activities.4) Some very well-known tourist hill stations5) It can attract tourists throughout the year.6) Hospitable people.

W EAKNESSES

1) Inadequacy of transport facilities.2) Inadequacy of information channels.3) Overcrowding of popular tourist centres.4) Some places are inaccessible, especially in winter.5) Inadequacy of marketing.6) Lack of adequate infrastructure support.7)

O PPORTUNITIES 1) The concept of holidaying gaining popularity in India among various

classes of people2) Increased disposal incomes of the Indian middle class.3) Adventure sports and Trekking.4) Eco-tourism is gaining popularity.5) Himachal contains many unexplored regions.

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T HREATS

1) Kashmir is being opened up and could divert a large portion of tourists to itself.

2) Various other places in are providing stiff competition3) Environmental factors also impose a threat.

RECOMMENDATION

1) Role of Government and travel agents needs to be emphasized.2) Orchards and forests may be promoted as a tourist picnic spots.3) Congestion in popular tourist spots must be dispersed.4) Eco tourism must be developed and promoted.5) Local culture and handicrafts must be promoted.6) Facilities for higher education must be improved.7) Shopping facilities need a boost.8) Entertainment facilities must be provided in order to ensure a longer

stay by the tourists. They must have a unique thing to take back with them.

9) Basic necessities must be provided. Water availability has to be catered to. A diverse range of culinary must be provided to cater to the wants of tourists from various places across the globe.

10) Basic Infrastructure facilities have to be developed further. Roads need to be improved. Parking space must be provided too.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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I took help from the following websites--1. Wikipedia : http://www.en.wikipedia.org/

2. Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (Official Website): http://www.rtdc.in/

3. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (Official Website): http://aptdc.in/

4. Chhattisgarh Tourism Development Corporation (Official Website): http://chhattishgarhtourism.net/

5. Himachal Pradesh tourism development corporation (OFFICIAL WEBSITE): http://hptdc.nic.in/

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