JANUARY 15, 2000 VOL. 157 NO. 2

Web Cr@wling

TRAVEL WATCH Live Like a King in the Castles of Rajasthan From the comfort of our hotel room, we watch the sun burst through a curtain of crimson, swirling across the drowsy dawn sky above Udaipur's massive citadel Hot Spot The Maharaja who ruled Marwar during the first half of the 19th century was either a magnificent leader or a colossal fool Short Cuts Riding through the desert on the back of a Marwari war horse is a proud Rajasthan tradition, and one you can take part in if you sign up for a trek with Shekhawati Brigade Horse Safaris Web Crawling Among the possibilities on this quirky website: following in the footsteps of the U.S. President's recent trip through India Detour The vast Thar desert sprawls across western Rajasthan and spills deep into Pakistan Travel Watch Archive Browse hundreds of Asian travel tips

Rajasthan Diary
(www.rajasthandiary.com)

CLINTON WAY Among the possibilities on this quirky website: following in the footsteps of the U.S. President's recent trip through India. Other tours include "A Taste of Everything," "Kipling's Country" and "Journey Through the Royal Past." Irreverent but informative, the site includes loads of links along with lively sections with names such as: "Where the heck is Rajasthan and what is it like?" It packs a healthy dose of history as well as a section devoted to coming festivals.

Palace on Wheels
(www.palaceonwheels.net)

RAIL ROADED Southeast Asia has its E&O rail line, but nothing quite compares to Rajasthan's Palace on Wheels. The state's main attractions are its castles, and there is no better way to transit between them than via this plush railway of royal carriages. Whistle-stops include the major attractions as well as a few remote wildlife parks, plus Agra—all for $250 to $500 a night per person. A variety of tour options can be explored and booked online.

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