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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Tonk

Tonk is a small town, located at a distance of 96 kms from Jaipur. This little town of Tonk is also known as the "Lucknow of Rajasthan" due to its elegance. Tonk is popular among tourists for its magnificent mosques, mansions and havelis. In the ancient times, Tonk was ruled by the tribes of 'Pathans' from Afghanistan. The old town boasts of the architecture prevalent in Mughal era. The highlight of Tonk is the Sunehri Kothi, the Golden Mansion.
Sunheri Kothi is situated near Bada Kua on Najar Bagh road in Tonk City. On looking the exteriors of Golden Mansion, you will find it like any other ordinary monument, but from inside, the fort is stunning with lavish interiors. The walls of the mansion are golden polished, which looks fascinating. The mansion has a big hall, which is known as 'Shishmahal'. The walls of the hall are decorated with glass work, flower paintings, mother-of-pearl and the exquisite work of 'Pachhikari' & 'Meenakari'.
The Golden Mansion is declared to be a Historical Place, by the Government of Rajasthan. To preserve this historical monument, repair work is going on. While moving around the town, you will find many old buildings, which used to serve the British offices. If you are interested in Literature, Tonk offers a huge library that was built by the Nawab of Tonk. The library has a great collection of Arabic and Persian manuscripts. The Persian art and craft are prevalent in Tonk as the Nawab of Tonk was fond of them. One can also check out the Institute of Arabic and Persian Research.
Jama Masjid is another attraction in Tonk, which is one of the biggest mosques in India. The construction of the mosque was started by the first Nawab of Tonk, Nawab Amir Khan in 1246 A.D. The mosque took its present form during the rule of Nawab Wzirudhoula in 1298 A.D. The gigantic minarets of this mosque can be seen from a long distance. The massive doors of the Masjid represent the Mughal style of architecture.
Apart from these attractions, Tonk is famous for its leather industry. So, you can shop nice leather items and accessories for a bargain. In totality, Tonk is a small decent town of a rich cultural heritage, where one you can spend a quality holiday.

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