CHAND BAOLI, ABHANERI

The ancient stepwell at Abhaneri as Chand Baoli, is approximately 65 feet deep, with 3500 steep steps making up 13 levels-much like an inverted pyramid.  The isolated and historic location of Abhaneri village, about 100 km from Jaipur, was probably once a great center of arts, as suggested by its sculpture and architecture.  Most of the areas monuments have fallen victim to ravages of time, but just across the stepwell lies the 7^th century Harshat Mata temple.  Its elaborate carvings evocative of the temples of Kajuraho.  However, Abhaneri is worth visiting the Chand Baoli alone.  The many baolis of Rajasthan once functioned as community centers, and are all impressive architectural structures.  Abhaneri’s stepwall is no exception; it is a huge, awesome construction inset with fine decorative panels and carved pillars.  Several balconies at various levels are set around the stepwall and you can almost hear the long-gone echoes of villagers gathered around the pool of water at the base.  Adjoining the Chand Baori, there is a temple, dedicated to Harshat Mata. This temple serves as the other tourist attraction of Abhaneri. Raised during the 10th century, the wrecks of the temple still boast of the architectural and sculptural styles of ancient India. Harshat Mata is considered to be the goddess of joy and happiness. The temple is worth visiting for its amazing architecture, which belongs to the medieval India. Abhaneri has a glorious past and, attracts tourists to its threshold, from all over the world.

Khichan

At first sight Khichan looks like any small Rajasthani village. But if you were to walk around, you would see hundreds of stately black and grey demoiselle cranes flying over the village and foraging in its fields and if you were to come to Khichan at the crack of dawn, you would find the sky obscured by thousands of these birds, as they wing their way to specially-constructed enclosures in the village. These birds, which migrate every winter from Central Asia, have been congregating in the village for as long as the villages can remember. They come to this area attracted by the vast open scrublands around the village. The villagers lay out grain for the birds twice a day and protect the birds from any disturbance. The birds are part of every aspect of village life, including their harvest songs.

Located 140km northwest of jodhpur, The welcomeheritage lalnivas-02925-223813

Devi Bhawan

At this serene retreat, don't expect the ancient trappings of your classic heritage hotel. Jodhpur's Devi Bhawan melds the amenities of a modern hotel with an intimate sense of being a Rajput family's guest. The cottages are threaded amidst lush gardens: divided into garden rooms, bunglaws and suites, each emphasises the peaceful surrounds. No fussiness and ornate fittings here: each room is cleanly designed, its simple period furniture creating a minimal, spacious atmosphere, TVs, Internet, room service, and massages-what more do you need? Lay out by the pool, lounge in the gazebo and take your meals out in the gardens: the beautiful lawns are the true hightlight of this peaceful sanctuary. Best of all, a stay at this oasis comes at super rates.

Desert National Park

If you thought deserts were dry and therefore boring, try walking through the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer. It covers over 3,162 km and is one of the best examples of desert habitat in the country. The animal and bird life here ranges from the endangered Great Indian Bustard to herds of chinkara, desert cat, desert fox, bird like sand grouses, buzzards, owls, and reptiles like the monitor lizard, saw-scaled viper and the spiny tailed lizard. A few areas of the park, like Sudashri, are enclosed with barbed wire to prevent grazing by cattle. The forest department has demarcated a few trails in this area-which make for a good 3-4 hour walk. To see the rest of the sanctuary, walk through, from Khuri towards Miajalar, Girab, Gadra, and back towards Munabao. You can stay at these villages.

Contact Deputy Director, Desert NP-02922-252498 for permissions. Gangaur Guest House in Khuri can organise 3-4 day Safaris.

Alwar

Alwar is not the most tourist-friendly destination, which is likely a good thing for those seeking classic Rajasthani attractions without the classic Rajasthani tourist hordes. Once the northern entryway to the region, Alwar's strategic location meant that it saw plenty of warfare in its time, until the 17th century when the Rajputs seized it from the jats. Today, Alwar's many palaces and forts reveal its Mughal and Rajput history, and its cuisine and hospitality characterise the best of Rajasthan. The main attraction is Bal Quila, a towering fort that affords a 300m-high view of its surrounds. Just below lies Sagar tank and the City Palace, worth visiting particularly for its museum, which contains a fine array of courtly memorabilia, weaponry, and Arabic and Sanskrit manuscripts. For the dose of Mughal culture, the gold-leaf decoratons and elegant balaconies of Vinay Vilas Palace are nice. Alwar is also the access point to Sariska National Park.

Alwar is 2hr30min from Delhi: Tourist Reception Centre: 0144-2347348.