How do I begin with my memoir about my life-changing trip to Rajasthan? from campjcrdesert's blog

I've spent the last week struggling with that exact issue trying to decide what blog post to write first. I don't recall an experience that completely blew my mind like the three weeks I spent in Rajasthan have, and I'm speechless and stumble through sentences with a desperate desire to let people know the amazing place in our world truly is.

I truly enjoyed the time I spent in India's deserted state.

It's probably best that you focus on that and create today's blog post all about the things that helped me be enthralled by my beloved Land of Kings.

I do not know about you however, I put off travelling to India for many years because of one primary motive: being afraid.

I'd read numerous horror stories of women who'd been through nothing but awful times. While I wanted to experience India as a person, I was worried that it could turn out to be an unforgiving experience. I was afraid I'd be harassed by scammers, and lose my mind to the chaotic noise. Everybody seems to end up in a love-hate relationship in India and I was more than anxious about what would be the parts that I hated about my travels.

Well, I'm not sure what else other than admiration for Rajasthan.

When I'm writing this blog, I'm unable to recall a single negative incident that I experienced during my time on the road in this state. I felt safe, I felt welcomed, I felt looked-after by locals. It was simple to move around, I wasn't caught out, and I was not harassed. I didn't notice anyone paying attention to me. I was enthralled by everything about travelling there. If I was exploring alone I felt as secure as I am back home in the U.K.

If you're planning to travel in India for the first time in your life, then I cannot suggest Rajasthan enough.

The state is a favourite among travellers, so it's unlikely that you'll be noticed in a crowd. If you're not stepping out, you're unlikely to be viewed with suspicion or considered an outcast. Tourists are everywhere in Rajasthan and all kinds of women, from single ladies who are in their early 20s to couples in their 80s There's no reason to be concerned about getting lots of attention.

Additionally there's a well-traveled tourist route, making it easy to move around as tourist. It's also possible to visit the same spots as people you'll encounter, which makes it simple to establish friendships. It makes traveling in Rajasthan seem so easy even in a place which is known for being not at all.

I was surprised to find Rajasthan equally easy to explore as Thailand! Also, I rate Thailand to be one of the easiest countries to travel to. I booked all my trains on the internet and in advance with 12Go Asia. All of my travels were pleasant and all trains arrived on time and Uber helped make getting to the other cities extremely easy. Nearly everyone I came across in Rajasthan was fluent in English and all restaurants I ate at had English menus. When I was lost I would find someone who went to the extent of trying to assist me.

Rajasthan seemed like the ideal introduction to India as you experience the chaos, the color and incredible sights; however, you feel safe when you're doing it.

When I imagine my experience in Rajasthan I picture the vibrant cities. The major cities in Rajasthan are painted in different shades of colors. It's a great place to take photos.

Jaipur is known as the Pink City, Jodhpur is the Blue City, Udaipur and Pushkar are the White Cities, Jaisalmer is the Golden City, and Bikaner is the Red City. I believe Jodhpur is the one that was the most attractive city to me and Desert Camp In Jaisalmerbeing the second spot.

If you are a fan of vibrant colours and vibrant colours when you journey, Rajasthan is the place to be.

If Rajasthan was a nation that was a destination, you'd be told that you'd need at least one month to experience the entire area. It really impressed meHow many nations are there that you can go on a month exploring a region and feel that every single thing you saw was among the most breathtaking sights of your life? It's Rajasthan.

I was there for 3 weeks living in the desert of India, and I came back with an extensive list of places I'd left out. My friends I met quite a number of. I was with my family in Jaipur, Abhaneri, Bundi, Kota, Pushkar, Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Udaipur, Car Hire In Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer. I saw a lot of the state but...

I didn't have the time to go on a safari to view wild Bengal tigers in Ranthambore National Park. I did not get to explore Rajasthan's only hill station , Mount Abu. I didn't get to visit the famous Rat temple in Bikaner. I didn't have time to bird watch at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. I didn't have the time to visit the famous paintings of the Shekhawati region. I only spent a 30 minutes in Ajmer. The list of places to visit goes on.

It's possible to spend a whole month in Rajasthan and see nothing but stunning monuments and attractions yet feel like you've seen nothing. I'm sure that, after a three-week stay in the state, I'm still aching to come back.

Rajasthan is famous for its inaccessible hill forts that tower over busy cities and vast landscapes. Six of them are UNESCO World Heritage Site designation -the following: Chittorgarh; Kumbhalgarh; Sawai Madhopur; Jhalawar; Jaipur and Jaisalmer and it's easy to comprehend the reason. Each has something fresh and inspiring to share as well as many that took a good chunk of time to investigate.

I believe the most amazing for me was the sprawling Chittorgarh which is the biggest fort in the world -which is why I was glad I took the time to make a day trip from Udaipur to view it. I also enjoyed exploring Mehrangarh in Jodhpur admiring the view of the city from Jaisalmer Fort, marvelling at the crumbling Taragarh in Bundi and then taking a trip to Kumbhalgarh where you can find the where you can find the second-largest wall, second only to that of the Great Wall of China.

I was hoping to get fort-ed in India like I am temple-fatigued in Thailand However, it did not occur. Forts in India were so stunning in the sense that Dave and I were able to engage in a long discussion about which was our favourite and just narrowed the list to five by the end.

Don't forget to mention the palaces! Rajasthan is often referred to as"the Land of Kings and there are many palaces of the royals to visit. The design of these buildings was usually stunning, brimming with stained glass windows, grand rooms, and spectacular views. Udaipur's City Palace was easily my most cherished.

Every time I research any new destination, I search for obscure, unique attractions I could write about. What's the most common thing that gets me excited? Discovering the existence of a ghost city to explore. It's the abandoned areas that once thrived that captivates me. So far, I've visited Pripyat located in Ukraine, Al Thakhira in Qatar, The Monte Palace Hotel in the Azores and Kolmanskop within Namibia.

In the outskirts of Jaisalmer is an abandoned town with an interesting background.

300 years ago Kuldhara was one of the most prosperous Rajasthani villages that was located 12 miles to the south-west of Jaisalmer. In this period of Indian time, Salim Singh, the notorious minister from Taxi Service In Jaisalmerhad decided to wed the daughter of the head of Kuldhara. Determined to make her take his place, Salim Singh warned the protesting villagers not to resist his demands by threatening to charge them huge taxes in the event that they refused.

Beware of the minister, each and every Kuldhara resident took their belongings and left at the end of the night in one go. They left their possessions behind and cursed their home while they did it to ensure that no one will ever be able to reside in Kuldhara ever again. Anyone who's tried to relocate has told of a paranormal occurrence that scared them and has quickly fled. Perhaps most puzzlingly, no one was present to see the villager's departure and have not been seen since.

Some people believe that the inhabitants of Kuldhara were forced to leave after a massive earthquake or because of the shrinking supply of water. Therefore, you should consider the dramatic tale with the grain of salt.

It doesn't matter that it was fascinating to walk in the town that was once ghostly trying to avoid a single camel that was passing by, and pondering the bricks left behind thinking about where the villager's end came in.

It's not likely for a sand-saturated state to be home to a lot of wildlife however Rajasthan is the home of a surprising amount of wildlife sanctuaries and safaris.

A highlight of my visit to Rajasthan was the opportunity to go on an elephant ride through the Thar Desert Safari In Jaisalmer. The majority of tourists go on the safari from Jaisalmer near the Pakistan border However, you could also enjoy a desert adventure in Pushkar, Bikaner, Jodhpur and a few other destinations. I was enthralled by the entire experience from Jaisalmer and riding through the desert and enjoying The Camel Safari In Jaisalmer, Jeep Safari In Jaisalmer, Although I couldn't make time to visit Ranthambore National Park, it's surely one of the most enjoyable things to do throughout the entire state. With only three weeks to see as much of Rajasthan as I could, I was apprehensive about including Ranthambore on my itinerary; it would probably consume three days of my travels and there was no guarantee that I'd get to see anything. But once I was in the area and getting to know other travellers I was amazed by the number of people who stumbled across and saw one of the very few Bengal tigers. This will definitely be one of my goals for next time.

Alongside Ranthambore, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is among the top locations to view leopards, wolves and sloth bears. In Sariska National Park, growing numbers of tigers and leopards wander through the park. UNESCO World Heritage Site Keoladeo National Park is among the top spots in the world to observe birds. If you are lucky enough while travelling in Rajasthan it is possible to find the rare Ganges river dolphin swimming across the state.

India is known as being among the most inexpensive countries for tourists and can be a bargain. If you want to survive on dormitories that cost $1 per night or on $1.50 for meals, you could be able to do this without much effort.

If you have more money to spend you could find an impressive hotel.

The toughest part of finding lodging in India is choosing the best place to stay. Indian hospitality is on an entirely different level There are dozens of options to stay Booking in all cities that have an 9.8+ rating based on hundreds of genuine reviews. Every single one of the places I visited seemed like it could be among the top guesthouses I've ever stayed in, which is why it took several hours to narrow the options to just one.

Rajasthan is renowned for its gorgeous palaces that are now historical hotels, havelis and heritage resorts. I stayed in some amazing places in India and would suggest them all aside from the hotel I stayed in Kota which was awful. Here's the place you wouldsuggest staying:

Jaipur:I opted for the basic bedroom with a peaceful spot at $24 for the night. There was a fantastic breakfast available to grabs. The hotel was located near some fantastic eateries, and the proprietor was extremely friendly in the best kind of manner. The guesthouse is situated right on top of a fort which was a unique spot. I wasn't a fan of the more popular areas of Jaipur So staying in a less crowded area made our stay great. With Car Hire In Jaipur, Taxi Service In Jaipur

Jodhpur:I opted for this lovely hotel in Jodhpur for $29 per for the nightand I'd claim it was the most affordable hotel we've stayed in within India. Its Indian breakfasts were tasty and massive, and the proprietor assisted us in seeing some of the most beautiful things to see in the city, With Taxi Service In Jodhpurwhile the views of the roof terrace of Jodhpur were stunning. Also, the rooms were amazing! I loved the furniture and the overall vibe. I could easily spend a month there. Book Tent Camp In Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer:I chose this amazing guesthouse located in Jaisalmer for $45 per night. Jaisalmer is the home of an actual fort that allows you to stay within the walls. While it sounds cool however, I strongly advise against taking the plunge. Hotels are causing damage to the wall of fort because of the excessive use of water and there is a possibility that the Indian government is seeking to get hotel owners to quit to safeguard the fort. The guesthouse we stayed at was just a five-minute walk from the fort, and I loved the view onto the fort from my room. The staff was extremely chilled and friendly, and assisted us in booking a fun excursion to Ghost Town and the desert. The room was beautiful and spacious. The rooftop terrace offered a stunning perspective of the city.

Every time winter comes around across the Northern Hemisphere, I begin packing my bags to go to a warmer destination. Rajasthan is the ideal place to visit this time of year with December being one of the most enjoyable months to visit the region.

We enjoyed beautiful weather during the trip to Rajasthan. The temperature ranged from 26degC during midday, and 12 degrees at night. The majority of the time we saw nothing but blue skies. However, fog and pollution could be a concern during this time of the year. The only disadvantage is going to the area in December and January.

There was a day that it was very cold and colder in Jodhpur. The temperature dropped to 8 degrees however, aside from this, I usually was able to move around in my ideal temperature.