Winter Festival

Winter Festival is held every year in the month of December in Mount Abu. Mount Abu known as the summer capital of Rajasthan is the only hill station in the entire North West India. It is attributed as “Oasis in Rajasthan”.

Situated on the highest peak of the Aravali range of mountains, Mount Abu is covered with lush green forests and splendid waterfalls.

Every year more then three million national and international tourists visit mount abu enjoying its scenic beauty, rich flora & fauna as well as the marble art of Delwara Jain temples.

This three-day colorful festival is organized by the Rajasthan Tourism and Municipal Board of Mt. Abu.

History of the Winter Festival in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The Winter Festival is a result of the joint initiative taken by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and the Municipal Board of Tamil Nadu to attract tourists as well as to give the citizens a break from the monotony of everyday existence.

Celebrations:

The winter festival of Mount Abu is a three day long festival that glorifies the beauty and warm heart of this hill station. The celebrations generally start from the RTDC hotel named Shikhar and proceed further through the hill.

Three main ingredients of the Festival that have given it a world platform today are the hospitality of the people, their colorful culture and exotic location. The processions ultimately end at the nakki lake chowk. Followed by the magnanimous procession there are folk songs and dances performed by troupes coming from Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and other nearby states and places.

Along with these cultural activities water sports also form part of the festivities. Rowing competitions are held on the lake. Cricket matches are organized.The grand finale of the festival is made brighter by a display of dazzling fireworks on three days.

Mount Abu:

GENERAL INFORMATION

Population: 30,000

Area: 25 Sq. Km.

Altitude: 1220 Meters.

Temperature : Summer 33.3 °C to 23.3 °C

Winters 23.3 °C to -2 °C

Rainfall : 153 to 177 mm.

Languages : Hindi, English, Gujarati, Rajasthani.

Time of Celebration:

The Winter Festival of Mount abu is celebrated in the last week of December. This year in 2009, the Festival will be observed from 28-30th December.

How to Reach:

By Air:

The nearest airport is Udaipur, which is 185 km away from Mount Abu. There are direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur.

By Rail:

Abu Road, 28 km from the main city is the nearest railway station. It is well connected by Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mumbai and Jodhpur.

By road:

Mount Abu is well connected by road with major cities of the country like Delhi, Ajmer, Bundi and Udaipur.Deluxe buses run by the Rajasthan roadways provide comfortable travel fro Jaipur and Abu road to Mount Abu.

Bundi Festival

Bundi one of the most attractive, beautiful locations in the Hadoti district Rajasthan comes alive during the Bundi Utsav held in the month of November every year. Bundi Utsav is a spectacular culmination of traditional art, culture and craftsmanship which surprises every visitor with its grandeur. 

Music, Dance, sports, sightseeing, competitions and many other events organized by the Rajasthan State Tourism Department are not only engaging but also present the scale of Indian Culture and traditions in front of Foreign tourists.

The people visiting the place during this Festival held in the month of Kartik are totally captivated with the scenaric and natural beauty.

Celebrations:

Held in the month of Kartik, there are a number of religious and traditional customs associated with the celebration of Bundi Festival.

The programme includes : a colorful Shobha Yatra , Arts & Crafts Fair, Ethnic Sports, Cultural exhibition ,DEEP DAAN ,Folk/Classical Music & Dance Programmes , Sight Seeing, Traditional Rural Sports, Turban competition, Bridal Attire , Musical Band Competition, Folk /Classical Music & Dance programme , & sparkling fireworks display etc. Early in the morning after the full moon night of kartik (Purnima), women and men are seen clad in attractive colorful costumes lighting diyas (lamps prepared by them from flour dough) on the banks of River Chambal and seeking blessings by offering prayers

“Keshorai Patan” a small township near Bundi is sometimes referred as “Mini Pushkar” especially on the full moon night of kartik.

About Bundi:

Bundi is one of the most picturesque locations of the hadoti district in Rajasthan. It is quite popular that the palaces and forts of Bundi have a fairy tale feel about them.The town is quite isolated from the maddening rush and crowd of adjoining cities and thus at times appears like a beautiful frozen painting,.

The town is surrounded by rock gorges and the adjoining river Chambal provides a perfect location for water activities. The zone with the lush green widespread jungles, the vast stretches of forests and wildlife, the sprawling rocks and ravines makes it a paradise for adventure lovers.

Bundi till date claims to be the house of World’s best paintings and their origins. Especially the paintings at Chitrashala are known across the world.

Rajput architecture and feel is still felt in its palaces as in the Bundi Palace.
 

How to reach:

By road:

Bundi is around 210 kms by road from Jaipur and about 110 kms from Sawai Madhopur. Bundi, Baran and Jhalawar are all easily accessible by road from Kota.

By rail:

Kota is connected on the broad gauge railway line on the Delhi-Mumbai route. Bundi

By air:

Nearest airport is Jaipur.

Time to celebrate:

The Festival is celebrated every year in the month of November. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival falls in the month of kartik.In 2009 the festival will be celebrated from 5th to 7th November 2009.