Often referred to as the Land of Kings, Rajasthan is one of the top places to visit in India as it is known for its history and heritage. Formerly known as Rajputana, Rajasthan was divided into various regions, which were ruled by various clans like Meenas, Gurjars, Rajputs, and Jats which were responsible for the building of various historical forts, palaces, and temples in Rajasthan. Scattered all around in the state, these architectural marvels depict the glorious past of various Rajput rulers whose name is written in golden letters in history. Some of these monuments were recognized as world heritage sites by UNESCO and can be visited by a large number of tourists as part of their Rajasthan tour packages.
Check below the list of UNESCO Heritage Sites in Rajasthan.
Keoladeo National Park
Keoladeo National Park is one of the popular national parks situated in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, it is one of the top places to visit in Rajasthan and among the must-visit tourist places near Agra, especially bird lovers. Created by Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur in the 18th century, the place was formerly used as a duck shooting reserve of the Maharajas and the British Officials. Established as a bird sanctuary on 13th March 1976, it was later designated as a national park in the year 1982 and renamed Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Later, this national park was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1985. Covering an area of 29 sq. km, the park is famous for its species of birds, including Cranes, Spoonbills, Herons, Pelicans, and the rare Siberian Cranes. Every year thousands of migratory birds visit the park for breeding. It is also an excellent place to watch mammals like Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena, Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat, Nilgai, Sambar, Blackbuck, and Wild Boar that attracts thousands of tourists, especially wildlife lovers. Besides, it is also possible to see large Indian Pythons during the cool winter months.
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Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
Jantar Mantar is one of the must-visit Jaipur tourist places. This monument is the largest of the five astronomical observatories present in India. The other four astronomical observatories are located at Delhi, Varanasi, Mathura, and Ujjain. Built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh II in 1738 AD, it was functional for seven years only which is then restored in the year 1901 and was declared as a national monument in the year 1948. It got the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag in the year 2010. This monument features masonry, stone, and brass instruments that were built using astronomy and instrument design principles of ancient Hindu Sanskrit texts. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. Along with the world’s largest stone sundial Samrat Yantra, Jantar Mantar also includes about 15 astronomical instruments of various geometrical shapes and sizes that are used for measuring time, accurately determining the celestial altitude, and predicting the occurrence of eclipses.
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Hill Forts of Rajasthan
Rajasthan, also known as the Land of Kings, was ruled by various clans and they were responsible for the building of various hill forts. Mostly based in the Aravalli Mountain Range, these hill forts, built between the 5th century AD and 17th – 18th century AD, are the top places of heritage in Rajasthan. Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Ranthambore, Amber, and Jaisalmer Fort are the most impressive ones and are all listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites in the year 2013. The sheer length and expanse of these forts are enough to portray the power and strength of the Rajputana rulers and chieftains. These forts contain huge water harvesting structures or pools that are still used today. The stunning artwork and decorations of these forts captivate the attention of the tourists who visit these marvelous architectural wonders as part of their Golden Triangle Tour Packages.
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Jaipur City
Popularly called the Pink City, Jaipur is one of the renowned tourist places to visit as part of the Rajasthan tour, and among the top weekend getaways from Delhi. Along with Delhi and Agra, Jaipur forms the Golden Triangle of Indian tourism. Regarded as one of the most popular tourist places near Udaipur, the city was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites on 6th July 2019 due to its magnificent palaces, ancient forts, havelis, exotic jewelry, and rich culture that are frequented by thousands of tourists from all over the world. Amber Fort, Sheesh Mahal, Ganesh Pol, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Nahargarh Fort, etc. are the important places to visit in Jaipur. Besides, adventure activities like paragliding, hot air ballooning, rock climbing, camel riding, can also be done here.
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