Rajasthan Handicraft: a Magnificient Blend of Colours and Culture
Arun Gangwar asked:
Reflecting the true culture of the state, handicrafts of Rajasthan are known for their unique designs. The art seems to be influenced by the Rajputs and the Mughals. Besides the Historical Monuments, Exotic Wildlife, and Vibrant Culture and Traditions, Rajasthan specialises in Handicrafts. These unique items make Rajasthan a shopper’s paradise. One can spend hours browsing through the handcrafted items displayed in the bazaars and government emporiums like the Rajasthali in Jaipur. The major specialties in Rajasthani Handicrafts are:
Jewellery and Gemstone Cutting
Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur are some of the best places to buy ethnic Rajasthani jewellery. Rajasthan is world famous for jewellery items like rakhri, gokhru, timamyan, bala, bajuband, etc. Jaipur is the world’s largest gem cutting center and a great hub for Minakari (a process of colored glass). The Thewa pendants of Rajasthan are made in Jaipur by inlaying gold and semi precious stones (rubies, emeralds and diamonds) into a grooved template. Bikaner and Jodhpur are quite popular for Kundan, the art of setting stones in gold.
Textiles
Rajasthani Textiles, on the dyed and printed fabric adorned with embroidery and mirror work, display the unmatched art of the Rajputs and the Mughals. The Jauhri Bazaar in Jaipur is a renowned place to get a huge variety of handmade textiles. Bandhani or Bandhej is a unique tie and dye technique of Rajasthan providing a different texture and design to the textiles.
Paintings
This fascinating art of the state is mostly popular in Marwar, Mewar, Hadoti, Kishangarh, Dhundhar and Alwar. The miniature and the folk styles, and Kota Style paintings depict a unique blend of vibrant colours, composition and themes. These paintings are made by using natural colors like vegetable alkaloids and minerals.
Durries and Carpets
Durries came into existance with Afghanis in the 17th century. Today, this segment is among the most popular handicrafts of Rajasthan. These carpets are generally hand knotted woolen products and have a great resemblance with the Persian carpets.
Stone and Marble Handicrafts
Marble sculptures, statues, stone artifacts, religious idols and stone carvings etc. are something Rajasthan is known for. These showpieces can prove to be great decoratives for your home. The unique stone carvings can be seen in various palaces and havelis, as well as ordinary homes.
Rajasthani Jootis
These jootis are an important part of Indian ethnic dresses. Originated from Jaipur and Jodhpur, the Mojaris Jootis of Rajasthan with exquisite embroidery form another specialty of Rajasthani Handicrafts.
Rajasthani Wooden Furniture
The most famous work on furniture in Rajasthan is the latticework. This is one of the best art work found in Rajasthan popular for its intricate carvings on small chairs and tables, bajots and chowkis, stools with string seats, boxes, cabinets, mirror and picture frames, doors and windows etc. Jodhpur and Kishangarh are the renowned cities to buy these wooden handicrafts.
While exploring the handicraft specialties in Rajasthan, one cannot ignore the matchless and extraordinary red terracotta pottery, Bikaner pottery, Blue pottery crafts, Ivory bangles and the feather-soft and feather-light quilts (razai). These dynamic craft traditions reflect the true culture and royal splendour of Rajasthan.
Reflecting the true culture of the state, handicrafts of Rajasthan are known for their unique designs. The art seems to be influenced by the Rajputs and the Mughals. Besides the Historical Monuments, Exotic Wildlife, and Vibrant Culture and Traditions, Rajasthan specialises in Handicrafts. These unique items make Rajasthan a shopper’s paradise. One can spend hours browsing through the handcrafted items displayed in the bazaars and government emporiums like the Rajasthali in Jaipur. The major specialties in Rajasthani Handicrafts are:
Jewellery and Gemstone Cutting
Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur are some of the best places to buy ethnic Rajasthani jewellery. Rajasthan is world famous for jewellery items like rakhri, gokhru, timamyan, bala, bajuband, etc. Jaipur is the world’s largest gem cutting center and a great hub for Minakari (a process of colored glass). The Thewa pendants of Rajasthan are made in Jaipur by inlaying gold and semi precious stones (rubies, emeralds and diamonds) into a grooved template. Bikaner and Jodhpur are quite popular for Kundan, the art of setting stones in gold.
Textiles
Rajasthani Textiles, on the dyed and printed fabric adorned with embroidery and mirror work, display the unmatched art of the Rajputs and the Mughals. The Jauhri Bazaar in Jaipur is a renowned place to get a huge variety of handmade textiles. Bandhani or Bandhej is a unique tie and dye technique of Rajasthan providing a different texture and design to the textiles.
Paintings
This fascinating art of the state is mostly popular in Marwar, Mewar, Hadoti, Kishangarh, Dhundhar and Alwar. The miniature and the folk styles, and Kota Style paintings depict a unique blend of vibrant colours, composition and themes. These paintings are made by using natural colors like vegetable alkaloids and minerals.
Durries and Carpets
Durries came into existance with Afghanis in the 17th century. Today, this segment is among the most popular handicrafts of Rajasthan. These carpets are generally hand knotted woolen products and have a great resemblance with the Persian carpets.
Stone and Marble Handicrafts
Marble sculptures, statues, stone artifacts, religious idols and stone carvings etc. are something Rajasthan is known for. These showpieces can prove to be great decoratives for your home. The unique stone carvings can be seen in various palaces and havelis, as well as ordinary homes.
Rajasthani Jootis
These jootis are an important part of Indian ethnic dresses. Originated from Jaipur and Jodhpur, the Mojaris Jootis of Rajasthan with exquisite embroidery form another specialty of Rajasthani Handicrafts.
Rajasthani Wooden Furniture
The most famous work on furniture in Rajasthan is the latticework. This is one of the best art work found in Rajasthan popular for its intricate carvings on small chairs and tables, bajots and chowkis, stools with string seats, boxes, cabinets, mirror and picture frames, doors and windows etc. Jodhpur and Kishangarh are the renowned cities to buy these wooden handicrafts.
While exploring the handicraft specialties in Rajasthan, one cannot ignore the matchless and extraordinary red terracotta pottery, Bikaner pottery, Blue pottery crafts, Ivory bangles and the feather-soft and feather-light quilts (razai). These dynamic craft traditions reflect the true culture and royal splendour of Rajasthan.
Hello From Nova Scotia – Part 2 – Acadian History At The Grand Pré National Historic Site
Susanne Pacher asked:
It’s always exciting to arrive in a new city. I like arriving at night, so the suspense of this new place stretches into the next morning. After a late arrival via Westjet at about 11:30 last night at the Halifax Airport, I picked up my rental car at the Thrifty Counter from a very friendly customer service representative on duty who inquired whether he was going to be mentioned in my Nova Scotia travel experiences – so here you go, this is a little shout-out to the friendly young man working the late shift at Thrifty’s who gave me my first welcome in Nova Scotia.
I then checked into the nearby Hilton Garden Inn for a brief, but hopefully effective night of rest. Early this morning I got into my rental car and on my way to my first destination: the Grand Pré National Historic Site which commemorates the lifestyle and expulsion of the Acadians, original French settlers that came to this area in the 1600s. I first drove south from the airport to locate Highway 101 and after several unsuccessful attempts to find the right exit I finally linked up with the big highway that connects Halifax with Nova Scotia’s western shore. The interior of the peninsula is made up of gently rolling forested hills and as you reach the northern shoreline, the land flattens out into tidal mudflats. Windsor, Hantsport and Wolfville are the major local settlements and the main body of water, the Minas Basin, features the highest tides on earth.
Less than an hour and a half after my departure I reached the Grand Pré, French for “large meadow” where I met Victor Tétrault, Executive Director of the Société Promotion Grand-Pré, who filled me in on the history of this site. The Grand Pré is an ancient settlement of the Acadians, descendants of the original French settlers in north-eastern North America. Acadians originally settled the areas around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in the 1600s and are culturally distinct from the French immigrants that settled in Quebec. The earliest Acadian settlement took place in Port Royal, less than two hours west of the Grand Pré, in 1604.
Acadians were astute farmers and through an ingenious system of ***** they managed to reclaim large tracts of land from the ocean. Victor explained that studies have shown that many farming communities of this era were really based on subsistence farming, where the average wealth base was “one unit of livestock” per person . The Acadians were rather wealthy since their average wealth per person was estimated at 8 to 9 units of livestock. They generated more agricultural products than they needed for their own consumption and started trading their surpluses with surrounding communities.
The Acadian settlers were also a peaceful group and got along well with the local Mi’kmaq Indians, even learning their time-honoured fishing and hunting techniques. The Mi’kmaq had developed a fishing technique that involved a network of criss-crossed stakes that would be set up in the tidal flats during low tide and when the water levels rose, this mesh of wooden sticks would simply trap fish and all that was necessary was just to go out there and pick up the fish.
Territories in north-eastern North America changed hands numerous times between the English and the French in the 1600 and 1700s and the Acadians decided to remain neutral, refusing to take either side. In the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 France ceded Acadia as a British procession, at which point the area became known as Nova Scotia. During the following years, the British Governor Richard Phillips tried to coerce the Acadians to swear an oath of allegiance to the British Crown, but the Acadians steadfastly refused. Consequently, the decision was made that the “French Neutrals” needed to be removed and deported from their territories. Thus the Great Expulsion, the “Grand Dérangement”, a brutal act of ethnic cleansing, began.
Between 1755 and 1763 about 10,000 Acadians were rounded up and deported to locations in New England, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, even as far awa as Martinique and St. Domingue. Some Acadians were deported back to France, while others tried to hide in the woods, often sheltered by their friends, the Mi’kmaq. Some Acadian settlers made their way to relative safety in Quebec. Many families were torn apart, their houses were burnt, their livestock killed and fields destroyed. A great many Acadian settlers ended up in the former French territory of Louisiana where the Acadians became known as the “Cajuns”. Some families were expelled five or more times from different locations they were deported to.
Although there were numerous deportations of different groups during these turbulent historic times, the deportation of the Acadians was unusual because so many were not sent back to France, their country of origin, or another French colony. Instead they were deported to British territories where Anti-Catholicism was rampant, and in the southern colonies it was feared that the Acadians would join slaves in a general uprising.
Once peace returned in 1763, some Acadians started to migrate back but they never settled in their original settlement areas again. Instead, many Nova Scotia Acadians moved into the area around Baie Ste-Marie or St. Mary’s Bay between Digby and Yarmouth where they took up fishing as a livelihood. Today hundreds of thousands of people across all of North America and beyond can trace their origins to the Acadian Diaspora.
After giving me a brief introduction to Acadian history Victor took me on a tour of the facilities. The Grand Pré National Historic Site is actually a large piece of land that was donated about 100 years ago by a local businessman by the name of John Frederick Herbin who was an Acadian descendant. He gave the land to the Dominion Atlantic Railway with the condition that it be made accessible to Acadians forever. The company later gave the site to Parks Canada which turned it into a National Historic Site.
The New Visitors and Interpretation Centre houses a multimedia theatre, an exhibit hall, a gift shop, a multipurpose room and administration area along with other visitors’ facilities such as restrooms, public phones, etc. The entire facility is run jointly by Parks Canada and the Société Promotion Grand Pré, which represents the Acadian community. The grounds around the Centre are made up of flat farmland, a winding river and railway tracks that still serve for freight transportation.
We walked outside the Centre and Victor pointed out to me a metal sculpture on the side of a long, low-lying hill that consists of 4 life-sized individuals, representing an Acadian family that is being torn apart by the deportation. This sculpture was unveiled just a few weeks ago, on September 3, 2006. Victor mentioned that the sculptor was looking for an appropriate place to position the sculpture once it had been transported to the Grand Pré site from Montreal. The sculptor was unable to find a proper location for his masterpiece, pacing for hours through the entire property. Finally he found a spot, right there on the hillside. He just knew that this was where the sculpture would have to go. Through archeological research it had been discovered earlier, unbeknownst to the sculptor, that an Acadian house had been located right next to the sculpture and the foundation of this house is now outlined by wooden stakes. Hearing about this psychic connection between Acadian history and a present day sculptor gave me the goose bumps, and this example just underscores the spiritual and historic significance of the Grand Pré National Historic Site.
Victor also enlightened me that the Grand Pré is a location of reconciliation. During the 2004 celebrations to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Acadians, tens of thousands of Acadian descendants congregated in the Grand Pré area for a reunion. The local Shaw family, a Planter family who was assigned to settle the area after the expulsion of the Acadians, invited the descendants of the Thibodeau family, who had come from all over North America, to stay on their property. Only two families had ever lived on this stretch of land: the Thibodeaus and the Shaws. The Shaws as a matter of fact, had coined a phrase “Be careful of the tippie-toes”, which really meant “Be careful of the Thibodeaus”. Both groups of families celebrated together and the Shaws stated that they were not the owners, but rather the keepers of this land, and that their home would always be open to the Thibodeaus.
The celebrations proceeded with exuberance until one man, a Thibodeau family member from Quebec stated in front of everyone “I only have one thing to say: we Thibodeaus are going to come back and take this land”. The entire crowd gasped at the thought of implied conflict until he continued “I am going to marry Sarah”. Sarah was a member of the Shaw family. The audience breathed a collective sigh of relief. This vignette is just one of many stories of reconciliation and forgiveness that have taken place here in the Grand Pré area.
Victor and I crossed the railway tracks and approached the Memorial Church, built in 1922. In front of the church is a statue of Evangeline, heroine of an 1847 poem by American author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. “Evangeline” tells the story of a young Acadian woman who dedicates her entire life to searching for the man she loves from whom she was separated at the time of deportation. The tragic story concludes with Evangeline finding Gabriel, her true love, on his death bed in Philadelphia.
Beside the church Victor pointed out some archeological excavations to me. The Grand Pré site is a significant historic site and ongoing archeological research has turned up more clues about early Acadian life in the Grand Pré area. When Victor had to say goodbye to me as he was on duty at the Memorial Church, I went back inside the Visitors Centre and watched a brief yet extremely informative video about the history of the Acadians which effectively tied it all together for me.
After leaving the Visitor Centre I decided to drive a few kilometers east to the actual deportation site in the Minas Basin. The Deportation Cross was erected in 1924 to commemorate the deportation of 2000 Acadians who were deported from this very site.
As I started to make my way westwards towards Annapolis Royal, another originally Acadian settlement, I reflected on the significance of this site for one of the founding cultures of Nova Scotia. I was amazed at the perseverance and the power of the human spirit displayed by hundreds of thousands of Acadian descendants who have lived in diaspora all over the world and for centuries have managed to survive and hold on to their cultural heritage despite much adversity that they have experienced. Despite all this human tragedy and upheaval, the stories of reconciliation and forgiveness found here at the Grand Pré National Historic Site are a sign of hope for all us.
For the entire article including photos please visit
http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/grand_pre.htm
It’s always exciting to arrive in a new city. I like arriving at night, so the suspense of this new place stretches into the next morning. After a late arrival via Westjet at about 11:30 last night at the Halifax Airport, I picked up my rental car at the Thrifty Counter from a very friendly customer service representative on duty who inquired whether he was going to be mentioned in my Nova Scotia travel experiences – so here you go, this is a little shout-out to the friendly young man working the late shift at Thrifty’s who gave me my first welcome in Nova Scotia.
I then checked into the nearby Hilton Garden Inn for a brief, but hopefully effective night of rest. Early this morning I got into my rental car and on my way to my first destination: the Grand Pré National Historic Site which commemorates the lifestyle and expulsion of the Acadians, original French settlers that came to this area in the 1600s. I first drove south from the airport to locate Highway 101 and after several unsuccessful attempts to find the right exit I finally linked up with the big highway that connects Halifax with Nova Scotia’s western shore. The interior of the peninsula is made up of gently rolling forested hills and as you reach the northern shoreline, the land flattens out into tidal mudflats. Windsor, Hantsport and Wolfville are the major local settlements and the main body of water, the Minas Basin, features the highest tides on earth.
Less than an hour and a half after my departure I reached the Grand Pré, French for “large meadow” where I met Victor Tétrault, Executive Director of the Société Promotion Grand-Pré, who filled me in on the history of this site. The Grand Pré is an ancient settlement of the Acadians, descendants of the original French settlers in north-eastern North America. Acadians originally settled the areas around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in the 1600s and are culturally distinct from the French immigrants that settled in Quebec. The earliest Acadian settlement took place in Port Royal, less than two hours west of the Grand Pré, in 1604.
Acadians were astute farmers and through an ingenious system of ***** they managed to reclaim large tracts of land from the ocean. Victor explained that studies have shown that many farming communities of this era were really based on subsistence farming, where the average wealth base was “one unit of livestock” per person . The Acadians were rather wealthy since their average wealth per person was estimated at 8 to 9 units of livestock. They generated more agricultural products than they needed for their own consumption and started trading their surpluses with surrounding communities.
The Acadian settlers were also a peaceful group and got along well with the local Mi’kmaq Indians, even learning their time-honoured fishing and hunting techniques. The Mi’kmaq had developed a fishing technique that involved a network of criss-crossed stakes that would be set up in the tidal flats during low tide and when the water levels rose, this mesh of wooden sticks would simply trap fish and all that was necessary was just to go out there and pick up the fish.
Territories in north-eastern North America changed hands numerous times between the English and the French in the 1600 and 1700s and the Acadians decided to remain neutral, refusing to take either side. In the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713 France ceded Acadia as a British procession, at which point the area became known as Nova Scotia. During the following years, the British Governor Richard Phillips tried to coerce the Acadians to swear an oath of allegiance to the British Crown, but the Acadians steadfastly refused. Consequently, the decision was made that the “French Neutrals” needed to be removed and deported from their territories. Thus the Great Expulsion, the “Grand Dérangement”, a brutal act of ethnic cleansing, began.
Between 1755 and 1763 about 10,000 Acadians were rounded up and deported to locations in New England, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, even as far awa as Martinique and St. Domingue. Some Acadians were deported back to France, while others tried to hide in the woods, often sheltered by their friends, the Mi’kmaq. Some Acadian settlers made their way to relative safety in Quebec. Many families were torn apart, their houses were burnt, their livestock killed and fields destroyed. A great many Acadian settlers ended up in the former French territory of Louisiana where the Acadians became known as the “Cajuns”. Some families were expelled five or more times from different locations they were deported to.
Although there were numerous deportations of different groups during these turbulent historic times, the deportation of the Acadians was unusual because so many were not sent back to France, their country of origin, or another French colony. Instead they were deported to British territories where Anti-Catholicism was rampant, and in the southern colonies it was feared that the Acadians would join slaves in a general uprising.
Once peace returned in 1763, some Acadians started to migrate back but they never settled in their original settlement areas again. Instead, many Nova Scotia Acadians moved into the area around Baie Ste-Marie or St. Mary’s Bay between Digby and Yarmouth where they took up fishing as a livelihood. Today hundreds of thousands of people across all of North America and beyond can trace their origins to the Acadian Diaspora.
After giving me a brief introduction to Acadian history Victor took me on a tour of the facilities. The Grand Pré National Historic Site is actually a large piece of land that was donated about 100 years ago by a local businessman by the name of John Frederick Herbin who was an Acadian descendant. He gave the land to the Dominion Atlantic Railway with the condition that it be made accessible to Acadians forever. The company later gave the site to Parks Canada which turned it into a National Historic Site.
The New Visitors and Interpretation Centre houses a multimedia theatre, an exhibit hall, a gift shop, a multipurpose room and administration area along with other visitors’ facilities such as restrooms, public phones, etc. The entire facility is run jointly by Parks Canada and the Société Promotion Grand Pré, which represents the Acadian community. The grounds around the Centre are made up of flat farmland, a winding river and railway tracks that still serve for freight transportation.
We walked outside the Centre and Victor pointed out to me a metal sculpture on the side of a long, low-lying hill that consists of 4 life-sized individuals, representing an Acadian family that is being torn apart by the deportation. This sculpture was unveiled just a few weeks ago, on September 3, 2006. Victor mentioned that the sculptor was looking for an appropriate place to position the sculpture once it had been transported to the Grand Pré site from Montreal. The sculptor was unable to find a proper location for his masterpiece, pacing for hours through the entire property. Finally he found a spot, right there on the hillside. He just knew that this was where the sculpture would have to go. Through archeological research it had been discovered earlier, unbeknownst to the sculptor, that an Acadian house had been located right next to the sculpture and the foundation of this house is now outlined by wooden stakes. Hearing about this psychic connection between Acadian history and a present day sculptor gave me the goose bumps, and this example just underscores the spiritual and historic significance of the Grand Pré National Historic Site.
Victor also enlightened me that the Grand Pré is a location of reconciliation. During the 2004 celebrations to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Acadians, tens of thousands of Acadian descendants congregated in the Grand Pré area for a reunion. The local Shaw family, a Planter family who was assigned to settle the area after the expulsion of the Acadians, invited the descendants of the Thibodeau family, who had come from all over North America, to stay on their property. Only two families had ever lived on this stretch of land: the Thibodeaus and the Shaws. The Shaws as a matter of fact, had coined a phrase “Be careful of the tippie-toes”, which really meant “Be careful of the Thibodeaus”. Both groups of families celebrated together and the Shaws stated that they were not the owners, but rather the keepers of this land, and that their home would always be open to the Thibodeaus.
The celebrations proceeded with exuberance until one man, a Thibodeau family member from Quebec stated in front of everyone “I only have one thing to say: we Thibodeaus are going to come back and take this land”. The entire crowd gasped at the thought of implied conflict until he continued “I am going to marry Sarah”. Sarah was a member of the Shaw family. The audience breathed a collective sigh of relief. This vignette is just one of many stories of reconciliation and forgiveness that have taken place here in the Grand Pré area.
Victor and I crossed the railway tracks and approached the Memorial Church, built in 1922. In front of the church is a statue of Evangeline, heroine of an 1847 poem by American author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. “Evangeline” tells the story of a young Acadian woman who dedicates her entire life to searching for the man she loves from whom she was separated at the time of deportation. The tragic story concludes with Evangeline finding Gabriel, her true love, on his death bed in Philadelphia.
Beside the church Victor pointed out some archeological excavations to me. The Grand Pré site is a significant historic site and ongoing archeological research has turned up more clues about early Acadian life in the Grand Pré area. When Victor had to say goodbye to me as he was on duty at the Memorial Church, I went back inside the Visitors Centre and watched a brief yet extremely informative video about the history of the Acadians which effectively tied it all together for me.
After leaving the Visitor Centre I decided to drive a few kilometers east to the actual deportation site in the Minas Basin. The Deportation Cross was erected in 1924 to commemorate the deportation of 2000 Acadians who were deported from this very site.
As I started to make my way westwards towards Annapolis Royal, another originally Acadian settlement, I reflected on the significance of this site for one of the founding cultures of Nova Scotia. I was amazed at the perseverance and the power of the human spirit displayed by hundreds of thousands of Acadian descendants who have lived in diaspora all over the world and for centuries have managed to survive and hold on to their cultural heritage despite much adversity that they have experienced. Despite all this human tragedy and upheaval, the stories of reconciliation and forgiveness found here at the Grand Pré National Historic Site are a sign of hope for all us.
For the entire article including photos please visit
http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/grand_pre.htm
Rajasthan Tour – Arts and Entertainment in Rajasthan
Manish Sinha asked:
Dominating a large part of Rajasthani culture, the arts and entertainment in Rajasthan never fail to capture the hearts of tourists. Famous or its arts and crafts across the world, this desert land made a great contribution to Indian culture. The skilled artists and craftsmen have long perfected the art of making extraordinary art pieces with ordinary raw material like wood, stone, glass, brass, leather, clay and textile. The cave paintings and sculptures excavated from various archaeological sites in the state clearly show that art and craft has been intricately woven into the fabric of this land since ages.
High on quality and beauty quotient, some of the famous handicrafts of Rajasthan are tie and dye fabrics, miniature paintings, ornaments studded with finely cut precious and semi-precious stones, wood and ivory carving, lacquer work, block-printed textile, pottery and the list seems to be endless. The Raja-Maharajas of this legendary land were great patrons of arts and crafts and made remarkable contributions to the field of art and entertainment. Their passion clearly reflect in the forts, palaces, havelis and monuments constructed by them. The architectural brilliance of these establishments have brought them in international limelight. The best examples of architectural wonders in the state include Dilwara Temples, Lake Palace, City Palaces, Jantar Mantar and Jaisalmer Havelis.
Punctuating the dull life of the desert of Rajasthan, the dance and music play a significant role in the life of the people. Dance and music are a great source of entertainment here. No celebration in this land is complete without dance and music. Some of the famous folk dances are the Ghoomar dance and Kalbeliya dance. It’s a wonderful experience to see such graceful and energetic dance performances.
Dominating a large part of Rajasthani culture, the arts and entertainment in Rajasthan never fail to capture the hearts of tourists. Famous or its arts and crafts across the world, this desert land made a great contribution to Indian culture. The skilled artists and craftsmen have long perfected the art of making extraordinary art pieces with ordinary raw material like wood, stone, glass, brass, leather, clay and textile. The cave paintings and sculptures excavated from various archaeological sites in the state clearly show that art and craft has been intricately woven into the fabric of this land since ages.
High on quality and beauty quotient, some of the famous handicrafts of Rajasthan are tie and dye fabrics, miniature paintings, ornaments studded with finely cut precious and semi-precious stones, wood and ivory carving, lacquer work, block-printed textile, pottery and the list seems to be endless. The Raja-Maharajas of this legendary land were great patrons of arts and crafts and made remarkable contributions to the field of art and entertainment. Their passion clearly reflect in the forts, palaces, havelis and monuments constructed by them. The architectural brilliance of these establishments have brought them in international limelight. The best examples of architectural wonders in the state include Dilwara Temples, Lake Palace, City Palaces, Jantar Mantar and Jaisalmer Havelis.
Punctuating the dull life of the desert of Rajasthan, the dance and music play a significant role in the life of the people. Dance and music are a great source of entertainment here. No celebration in this land is complete without dance and music. Some of the famous folk dances are the Ghoomar dance and Kalbeliya dance. It’s a wonderful experience to see such graceful and energetic dance performances.
Car Hire Barcelona
Fiona Hiliard asked:
Barcelona car hire provides you with a world of fantastic day trip options. From Gaudi’s otherworldly designs to coastal getaways, boredom is never an option in Barcelona. The following is a guide to the best ways to spend your time in Barcelona.
Barcelona Airport Mini Guide:
Barcelona El Prat Airport is located 12km to the southwest of central Barcelona. Barcelona Airport offers passengers a good range of facilities including ATMs, currency exchange, banks, shops and restaurants.
Things To See/Do in Barcelona:
Brimming with more than enough culture to satisfy city break tourists, but close enough to the beach for sun-soaked fun, Barcelona offers myriad travel possibilities. Barcelona car hire provides many more options. The city is regarded as the gateway to the Costa Brava and its pretty resorts of Sitges and Vilanova. A visit to Barcelona also offers the chance to experience the wonderfully weird creations of architect Antonio Gaudi and a wonderful collection of works by Pablo Picasso. The best time to visit Barcelona is between June an September.
Eating Out in Barcelona:
Dining out in Barcelona allows you to sample some of the most delicious cuisine in Spain. It’s the wonderful mix of ingredients defines catalonian food. If you’re looking for value for money, it’s best to avoid the usual tourist traps located along the Ramblas. Instead, venture a little further, preferably with your hire car and you’ll discover something cheaper and in most cases, tastier. Typical dishes include Faves a la Catalana (meat, vegetables and mushrooms) served up in a clay pot. Escalivada, a dish of aubergine and red pepper makes for another tasty dish. Pa amb tomáquet (bread served with tomato and sausages) makes for another delicious snack.
Day Trips/Events in Barcelona:
Barcelona is an excellent base from which to explore a range of exciting day-trip destinations. The monastery of Montserrat is one of the most visited sights in Catalonia. The monastery is famous for its array of strange rocky crags and caves. It has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Spain, sitting a top a 1200m high mountain and housing around 80 monks. The monastery’s biggest draw is its 12th century wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary known as La Moreneta. For the best view, it’s worth taking a cable car to the mountain’s summit.
The medieval town of Tossa de Mar makes for another memorable excursion. It is situated 90km to the north of Barcelona and is recognised as one of the most attractive towns on the Costa Brava, offering long sandy beaches and a vibrant atmosphere. Tossa was once the main port for exporting cork, but is now dependent on tourism. The main reason why people travel to Tossa is Vila Vella, a beautiful walled town where ancient battlements, walls and towers enclose a charming historical labyrinth. There are four beaches within the town itself and a number of others flanking the city on either side. Of course, these beaches are never far away with car hire.
Barcelona plays host to a number of colourful events throughout the calendar year including April’s Spanish F1 Grand Prix, August’s Barcelona Summer Festival, February’s Carnival and May’s primavera Sound Festival.
Barcelona car hire provides you with a world of fantastic day trip options. From Gaudi’s otherworldly designs to coastal getaways, boredom is never an option in Barcelona. The following is a guide to the best ways to spend your time in Barcelona.
Barcelona Airport Mini Guide:
Barcelona El Prat Airport is located 12km to the southwest of central Barcelona. Barcelona Airport offers passengers a good range of facilities including ATMs, currency exchange, banks, shops and restaurants.
Things To See/Do in Barcelona:
Brimming with more than enough culture to satisfy city break tourists, but close enough to the beach for sun-soaked fun, Barcelona offers myriad travel possibilities. Barcelona car hire provides many more options. The city is regarded as the gateway to the Costa Brava and its pretty resorts of Sitges and Vilanova. A visit to Barcelona also offers the chance to experience the wonderfully weird creations of architect Antonio Gaudi and a wonderful collection of works by Pablo Picasso. The best time to visit Barcelona is between June an September.
Eating Out in Barcelona:
Dining out in Barcelona allows you to sample some of the most delicious cuisine in Spain. It’s the wonderful mix of ingredients defines catalonian food. If you’re looking for value for money, it’s best to avoid the usual tourist traps located along the Ramblas. Instead, venture a little further, preferably with your hire car and you’ll discover something cheaper and in most cases, tastier. Typical dishes include Faves a la Catalana (meat, vegetables and mushrooms) served up in a clay pot. Escalivada, a dish of aubergine and red pepper makes for another tasty dish. Pa amb tomáquet (bread served with tomato and sausages) makes for another delicious snack.
Day Trips/Events in Barcelona:
Barcelona is an excellent base from which to explore a range of exciting day-trip destinations. The monastery of Montserrat is one of the most visited sights in Catalonia. The monastery is famous for its array of strange rocky crags and caves. It has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Spain, sitting a top a 1200m high mountain and housing around 80 monks. The monastery’s biggest draw is its 12th century wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary known as La Moreneta. For the best view, it’s worth taking a cable car to the mountain’s summit.
The medieval town of Tossa de Mar makes for another memorable excursion. It is situated 90km to the north of Barcelona and is recognised as one of the most attractive towns on the Costa Brava, offering long sandy beaches and a vibrant atmosphere. Tossa was once the main port for exporting cork, but is now dependent on tourism. The main reason why people travel to Tossa is Vila Vella, a beautiful walled town where ancient battlements, walls and towers enclose a charming historical labyrinth. There are four beaches within the town itself and a number of others flanking the city on either side. Of course, these beaches are never far away with car hire.
Barcelona plays host to a number of colourful events throughout the calendar year including April’s Spanish F1 Grand Prix, August’s Barcelona Summer Festival, February’s Carnival and May’s primavera Sound Festival.
Peles Castle – One of the Most Beautiful Castles in the World
CreativitySpot asked:
Peles Castle from Sinaia (Romania), is nested at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, in the Prahova Valley and is one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe and in the world.
Short history of Peles Castle
The magnificent Peles Castles, with its fairytale turrets and pointed towers rising above acres of green meadows sprinkled with haystacks, was built as a summer residence by Romania’s longest serving monarch, King Carol I, who died and was buried here in 1914, just months after the castle’s completion.
The building of the Peles Castle began in 1873 under the direct order of the Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer and was continued in 1876 by his assistant, Johann Schultz de Lemberg. During 1877-1879 because of the war they abandoned work. The castle was inaugurated on October 7, 1883. The location for the Peles Castle was chosen by the prince Carol I de Hohenzollern, who was to become a king and it draws its name from the neighboring brooks which passes through the courtyard.
Peles Castle was the first castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity. During Ceausescu’s era, its 160 rooms, each furnished to reflect a different European country, were used as a private retreat for leading communists and statesmen from around the globe as US president Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi and PLO leader Yasser Arafat.
Peles Castle´s architecture and design
Inaugurated in 1883, Peles Castle is not only a pleasant place during the summer day; it has been conceived to be also a national monument, meant to keep the trophies of the Plevna victory, which explains the castle´s majestic style.
Peles Castle was built in wood, stone, bricks and marble and comprises more than 160 rooms. The representative style used is German Renaissance, but one can easily discover elements belonging to the Italian Renaissance, Gothic, German Baroque and French Rococo style.
Peles Castle is surrounded by seven terraces decorated with statues (sculptured by the Italian, Romanelli), stone-made-wells, ornamental vases and Carara marble. The architects used an abundance of wooden decoration, both for the exterior and for the interior of the castle, which confers a very special quality to the building.
Peles Castle´s courtyard in Bramantes style with a fountain in the middle, in the most accurate Renaissance style, pleasantly surprises the visitor. The courtyard has a merry decoration, made out of plants and flowers; all round, the building’s facades are animated by elegant drawings. The interior of the castle is a true wonder, due to the beauty and richness of the sculpted wood and the stained glass windows. As you get in the vestibule, you are on the Honor Staircase, in front of the most important rulers of old Romania: Holy Stephen the Great, and Michael the Brave.
Peles Castle’s interiors are an opulent display of elegant design and historical artifact. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures.
Peles Castle most outstanding rooms are the Big Armory Room, the small Armory Room, the Florentine Room, the Reception Room (where paintings and wooden sculptures depicting 16 castles of the Hohenzollerns are exhibited), the Moresque Room, The French Room, the Turkish Room, the Council Room, the Concert Room as well as the Imperial Suite.
Other exquisite attractions at Peles Castle are the statues, the ceramics, the gold and silver plates, the Meissen and Sevres porcelain, as well as the extensive weapon collections are worth mentioning. It is also important to know that Peles Castle shelters one of the most important and most valuable painting collections in Europe, almost 2.000 pieces.
Rembrandt reproductions line the walls of the king’s office at Peles Castle while rows of books in the library conceals a secret passage leading to the 2nd floor of the castle. There is a gallery of mirrors and the dining room has a leather clad ceiling. Scenes from age old Romanian fairytales adorn the stained glass windows in the poetry room.
In the Florence hall, Michelangelo’s reproductions hang below a ceiling carved from glide linden wood. The Venetian room is equally impressive.
Several other buildings, annexed to Peles Castle, were built simultaneously: The Guard’s Chambers, The Economat Building, The Foisor Hunting House with 42 rooms designed in Swiss style, The Royal Stables, and the Electrical Power Plant. The Sipot Villa was constructed later. This would serve as the work site of architect Karel Liman. Liman would later supervise the building of Pelisor (1889-1903, the future residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Mary of Romania). as well as of the King’s Ferdinand Vila in the Royal Sheepfold Meadow
Almost adjacent to Peles Castle is Pelisor (“Little Peles”). King Ferdinand, who succeeded Carol I, intended to use Peles Castle as a summer residence. Supposedly he found Peles too big and overwhelming, so he commissioned the smaller, art-nouveau style, Pelisor Castle. Pelisor’s 70 rooms feature a unique collection of turn-of-the century Viennese furniture and Tiffany and Lalique glassware.
Peles Castle opening hours:
June through September
Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Closed: Monday
October through May
Open: Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Closed: Monday and Tuesday
Please note that Peles Castle is closed during the whole month of November.
Access to Sinaia: road and rail.
Nearby attractions: the city of Brasov, Bran Castle or Dragula´s Castle, Rasnov Fortress, the ski resorts in Predeal and Poiana Brasov, Bucharest, Sighisoara, Sibiu.
Peles Castle from Sinaia (Romania), is nested at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, in the Prahova Valley and is one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe and in the world.
Short history of Peles Castle
The magnificent Peles Castles, with its fairytale turrets and pointed towers rising above acres of green meadows sprinkled with haystacks, was built as a summer residence by Romania’s longest serving monarch, King Carol I, who died and was buried here in 1914, just months after the castle’s completion.
The building of the Peles Castle began in 1873 under the direct order of the Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer and was continued in 1876 by his assistant, Johann Schultz de Lemberg. During 1877-1879 because of the war they abandoned work. The castle was inaugurated on October 7, 1883. The location for the Peles Castle was chosen by the prince Carol I de Hohenzollern, who was to become a king and it draws its name from the neighboring brooks which passes through the courtyard.
Peles Castle was the first castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity. During Ceausescu’s era, its 160 rooms, each furnished to reflect a different European country, were used as a private retreat for leading communists and statesmen from around the globe as US president Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi and PLO leader Yasser Arafat.
Peles Castle´s architecture and design
Inaugurated in 1883, Peles Castle is not only a pleasant place during the summer day; it has been conceived to be also a national monument, meant to keep the trophies of the Plevna victory, which explains the castle´s majestic style.
Peles Castle was built in wood, stone, bricks and marble and comprises more than 160 rooms. The representative style used is German Renaissance, but one can easily discover elements belonging to the Italian Renaissance, Gothic, German Baroque and French Rococo style.
Peles Castle is surrounded by seven terraces decorated with statues (sculptured by the Italian, Romanelli), stone-made-wells, ornamental vases and Carara marble. The architects used an abundance of wooden decoration, both for the exterior and for the interior of the castle, which confers a very special quality to the building.
Peles Castle´s courtyard in Bramantes style with a fountain in the middle, in the most accurate Renaissance style, pleasantly surprises the visitor. The courtyard has a merry decoration, made out of plants and flowers; all round, the building’s facades are animated by elegant drawings. The interior of the castle is a true wonder, due to the beauty and richness of the sculpted wood and the stained glass windows. As you get in the vestibule, you are on the Honor Staircase, in front of the most important rulers of old Romania: Holy Stephen the Great, and Michael the Brave.
Peles Castle’s interiors are an opulent display of elegant design and historical artifact. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and ivory sculptures.
Peles Castle most outstanding rooms are the Big Armory Room, the small Armory Room, the Florentine Room, the Reception Room (where paintings and wooden sculptures depicting 16 castles of the Hohenzollerns are exhibited), the Moresque Room, The French Room, the Turkish Room, the Council Room, the Concert Room as well as the Imperial Suite.
Other exquisite attractions at Peles Castle are the statues, the ceramics, the gold and silver plates, the Meissen and Sevres porcelain, as well as the extensive weapon collections are worth mentioning. It is also important to know that Peles Castle shelters one of the most important and most valuable painting collections in Europe, almost 2.000 pieces.
Rembrandt reproductions line the walls of the king’s office at Peles Castle while rows of books in the library conceals a secret passage leading to the 2nd floor of the castle. There is a gallery of mirrors and the dining room has a leather clad ceiling. Scenes from age old Romanian fairytales adorn the stained glass windows in the poetry room.
In the Florence hall, Michelangelo’s reproductions hang below a ceiling carved from glide linden wood. The Venetian room is equally impressive.
Several other buildings, annexed to Peles Castle, were built simultaneously: The Guard’s Chambers, The Economat Building, The Foisor Hunting House with 42 rooms designed in Swiss style, The Royal Stables, and the Electrical Power Plant. The Sipot Villa was constructed later. This would serve as the work site of architect Karel Liman. Liman would later supervise the building of Pelisor (1889-1903, the future residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Mary of Romania). as well as of the King’s Ferdinand Vila in the Royal Sheepfold Meadow
Almost adjacent to Peles Castle is Pelisor (“Little Peles”). King Ferdinand, who succeeded Carol I, intended to use Peles Castle as a summer residence. Supposedly he found Peles too big and overwhelming, so he commissioned the smaller, art-nouveau style, Pelisor Castle. Pelisor’s 70 rooms feature a unique collection of turn-of-the century Viennese furniture and Tiffany and Lalique glassware.
Peles Castle opening hours:
June through September
Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Closed: Monday
October through May
Open: Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Closed: Monday and Tuesday
Please note that Peles Castle is closed during the whole month of November.
Access to Sinaia: road and rail.
Nearby attractions: the city of Brasov, Bran Castle or Dragula´s Castle, Rasnov Fortress, the ski resorts in Predeal and Poiana Brasov, Bucharest, Sighisoara, Sibiu.
Taormina Car Hire Adventures
Fiona Hiliard asked:
Granita, Gangsters and Gorgonzola, Sicily is famous for many things, but car hire gives you the freedom to find a picture of Sicily that is unique to you alone. Driving through Sicily, you have the independence to explore a range of spectacular sights, from stunning seaside cliffs to fragrant orange groves. Just like countless artists and poets who have fallen in love with Sicily over the years, you too are sure to fall under her magical spell. Touring this beautiful island with a rental car, inspiration comes easy. Taormina is an excellent base from which to begin your Sicilian car hire adventure. The following article should provide you with some helpful tips for travelling around Taormina and beyond.
Taormina Mini Guide:
Taormina is Sicily’s most famous resort town and is situated on the east coast of the island. The resort is popular with both Italian and foreign tourists and offers some of the most stunning scenery in Sicily.
Things To See/Do in Taormina:
While in Taormina, a visit to the stunning Giardini Naxos beach is a must. Taormina has a fascinating history, which is a joy to explore. Renting a car in Taormina means you have the freedom to explore the many famous attractions at a pace that suits you. Places that merit further investigation in Taormina include Duomo Cathedral, also known as the Church of San Nicola. Built around 1400, the church is unusual in appearance, from its wooden Arabic style beams to its cross-shaped structure. The Sicilian Museum of Art and Folk Traditions is also well worth a look. Located in Palazzo Corvaja, the museum features a range of fascinating exhibits, from figurative art to wooden sculptures, ceramics and puppets. The Regional Archaeological Museum in the Badia Vecchia is another popular draw. Here artefacts on show include sculptures, ceramics and an alabaster urn and Byzantine sword found on the sea board close to Isola Bella.
Eating Out in Taormina:
Being an island, you’ll find fish is definitely the dish of the day in Taormina and the all of the other villages that you’ll encounter on your travels around Sicily. Traditional favourites include grilled swordfish, seppia (cuttlefish) and finnochio con sarde (fennel with sardines). Non-seafood lovers needn’t despair, Taormina caters to every possible budget and taste. Other tasty options include delicious chicken alla marsala and the ubiquitous pizza and pasta dishes. If you’re counting the pennies while on vacation in Taormina, you really can’t go wrong with a pizza. Cheap, yet substantial enough to sustain hunger, pizza is always an excellent menu choice.
Day Trips/Events in Taormina:
Let Taormina act as a base from which to explore the beautifully scenic Sicilian countryside. A short 5km drive will take you to the pretty hilltop village of Castelmola, which offers stunning coastal views over the island.
Taormina has a lively events calendar, with the city playing host to a number of vibrant Festivals throughout the year including the summer’s vibrant Taormina Arts Festival, a cultural extravanza that takes place over three months. Other events of note include June’s Taormina Film Festival and September’s Madonna della Rocca procession.
Granita, Gangsters and Gorgonzola, Sicily is famous for many things, but car hire gives you the freedom to find a picture of Sicily that is unique to you alone. Driving through Sicily, you have the independence to explore a range of spectacular sights, from stunning seaside cliffs to fragrant orange groves. Just like countless artists and poets who have fallen in love with Sicily over the years, you too are sure to fall under her magical spell. Touring this beautiful island with a rental car, inspiration comes easy. Taormina is an excellent base from which to begin your Sicilian car hire adventure. The following article should provide you with some helpful tips for travelling around Taormina and beyond.
Taormina Mini Guide:
Taormina is Sicily’s most famous resort town and is situated on the east coast of the island. The resort is popular with both Italian and foreign tourists and offers some of the most stunning scenery in Sicily.
Things To See/Do in Taormina:
While in Taormina, a visit to the stunning Giardini Naxos beach is a must. Taormina has a fascinating history, which is a joy to explore. Renting a car in Taormina means you have the freedom to explore the many famous attractions at a pace that suits you. Places that merit further investigation in Taormina include Duomo Cathedral, also known as the Church of San Nicola. Built around 1400, the church is unusual in appearance, from its wooden Arabic style beams to its cross-shaped structure. The Sicilian Museum of Art and Folk Traditions is also well worth a look. Located in Palazzo Corvaja, the museum features a range of fascinating exhibits, from figurative art to wooden sculptures, ceramics and puppets. The Regional Archaeological Museum in the Badia Vecchia is another popular draw. Here artefacts on show include sculptures, ceramics and an alabaster urn and Byzantine sword found on the sea board close to Isola Bella.
Eating Out in Taormina:
Being an island, you’ll find fish is definitely the dish of the day in Taormina and the all of the other villages that you’ll encounter on your travels around Sicily. Traditional favourites include grilled swordfish, seppia (cuttlefish) and finnochio con sarde (fennel with sardines). Non-seafood lovers needn’t despair, Taormina caters to every possible budget and taste. Other tasty options include delicious chicken alla marsala and the ubiquitous pizza and pasta dishes. If you’re counting the pennies while on vacation in Taormina, you really can’t go wrong with a pizza. Cheap, yet substantial enough to sustain hunger, pizza is always an excellent menu choice.
Day Trips/Events in Taormina:
Let Taormina act as a base from which to explore the beautifully scenic Sicilian countryside. A short 5km drive will take you to the pretty hilltop village of Castelmola, which offers stunning coastal views over the island.
Taormina has a lively events calendar, with the city playing host to a number of vibrant Festivals throughout the year including the summer’s vibrant Taormina Arts Festival, a cultural extravanza that takes place over three months. Other events of note include June’s Taormina Film Festival and September’s Madonna della Rocca procession.
