3322 INDIA (Rajasthan) - Rambagh Palace in Jaipur

The Rambagh Palace is the former residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and now a hotel, located 8 km outside the walls of the city of Jaipur on Bhawani Singh road. The first building on the site was a garden house built in 1835 for the wet nurse of prince Ram Singh II. In 1887, during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II, it was converted into a modest royal hunting lodge. In the early 20th century, it was expanded into a palace to the designs of Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. Maharajah Sawai Man Singh II made Rambagh his principal residence and added a number of royal suites in 1931.

3305 INDIA (Rajasthan) - Amber Fort - part of Hill Forts of Rajasthan (UNESCO WHS)

Situated on a forested hill promontory in Amer, at 11 kilometres from Jaipur, Amber Fort overlooks Maota Lake. The settlement was founded by Raja Alan Singh, a ruler from the Chanda clan of Meenas in 967 CE, and the fort, as it stands now, was built over the remnants of this earlier structure during the reign of Raja Man Singh, the Kachwaha King of Amer. The structure was fully expanded by his descendant, Jai Singh I. Even later, Amer Fort underwent improvements and additions by successive rulers over the next 150 years, until the Kachwahas shifted their capital to Jaipur during the time of Sawai Jai Singh II, in 1727.

3285 INDIA (Rajasthan) - Jaswant Thada and Mehran Fort

In the foreground of the postcard is Jaswant Thada, a cenotaph located in Jodhpur, commonly known as the Taj Mahal of Mewar. Built by Maharaja Sardar Singh of Jodhpur State in 1899 in memory of his father, Maharaja Jaswant Singh II serves as the cremation ground for the royal family of Marwar. The mausoleum is built out of intricately carved sheets of marble. These sheets are extremely thin and polished so that they emit a warm glow when illuminated by the Sun.The cenotaph's grounds feature carved gazebos, a tiered garden, and a small lake.

2551 INDIA (Rajasthan) - Folk musicians on the road

Folk music is a vital part of Rajasthani culture. Kathputali, Bhopa, Chang, Teratali, Ghindar, Kachchhighori, Tejaji, parth dance 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. The Ghoomar dance from Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance of Jaisalmer have gained international recognition.

1130, 1189, 2358 INDIA (Rajasthan) - Rajasthani people

2358 Rajasthan: 1. Pushkar lake; 2. Traditionally dressed Rajasthani men
 at Pushkar fair; 3. Camels for trade! 4. The busy Pushkar fair.

Posted on 07.07.2014, and 17.08.2014, 07.03.2016
Located on the western side of India, at the border with Pakistan, between Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, and comprising most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert, Rajasthan (which means "Land of Kings" or "Land of Kingdoms") is India's largest state by area. It has a mainly Rajasthani population of approximately 68,621,012, made up mainly of Hindus, who account for 88.8% of the population. Although history of Rajasthan goes back as far as Indus Valley Civilization, the foundation of Rajasthani community took shape with the rise of Western Middle Kingdoms such as Western Kshatrapas (35-405 BC).

1130 Rajasthan - Traditionally dressed woman

They were successors to the Indo-Scythians who invaded the area of Ujjain and established the Saka era, marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Satraps kingdom. With time their social structures got stronger reorganizations giving birth to several martial sub-ethnic groups. Some claim that Romani people originated in parts of the Rajasthan and Gujarat. Indian origin was suggested on linguistic grounds as early as 200 years ago. The roma ultimately derives from a form ḍōmba ("man living by singing and music"), attested in Classical Sanskrit.

1130 A Rajasthani little girl

Rajasthanis form ethno-linguistic group that is distinct in its language, history, cultural and religious practices, social structure, literature, and art. However, there are many different castes and communities, with diversified traditions of their own. Major sub ethnic groups are Ahirs, Jats, Gurjars, Rajputs, Rajput Mali, Meenas, Bhils, Kalvi, Garasia, Kanjar, etc. The garments are loose and flowing clothes and are generally cut out to cover up most of the body, to prevent sunburns. The textiles are mainly soft cottons during the summer, and wool for winter. The women wear either Sarees (a drape wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder, baring the midriff) or Ghaghra Cholis (skirt) and Kanchli (top).

1722 INDIA (Rajasthan) - The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (UNESCO WHS)

The Jantar Mantar is an equinoctial sundial, consisting a gigantic triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse parallel to the Earth's axis. On either side of the gnomon is a quadrant of a circle, parallel to the plane of the equator. The instrument is intended to measure the time of day, correct to half a second and declination of the Sun and the other heavenly bodies. There are four Jantar Mantar in India, of which the largest is the one in Jaipur, which features 19 architectural astronomical instruments, including the world's largest stone sundial. The monument was damaged in the 19th century. Early restoration work was undertaken under the supervision of Major Arthur Garrett, a keen amateur astronomer, during his appointment as Assistant State Engineer for the Jaipur District.

INDIA (Rajasthan) - Hill Forts of Rajasthan (UNESCO WHS)

Within the State of Rajasthan, six extensive and majestic hill forts together reflect the elaborate, fortified seats of power of Rajput princely states that flourished between the 8th and 18th centuries and their relative political independence. Enclosed within defensive walls are major urban centres, palaces, trading centres and other buildings including temples that often predate the fortifications within which developed an elaborate courtly culture that supported learning, music and the arts.

0691 INDIA (Rajasthan) - Chittorgarh Fort - part of Hill Forts of Rajasthan (UNESCO WHS)

0691 Vijay Stambha in Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort, sprawling on a 180m high hill, located on the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River, in the southern part of Rajasthan, is the largest fort in India. Built by the Mauryans during the 7th century AD, it was the capital of Mewar for 834 years, being ruled initially by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs. It was finally abandoned in 1568 after the siege of Emperor Akbar. In 1616, Jehangir returned in Chittor fort, but however it wasn't resettled, being refurbished only in 1905 during British Raj.