The world famous marble has immortalized the name of this town. It was from here that the marble used for building the amazing Taj Mahal and Victoria Memorial in Calcutta was quarried. Taj Mahal is an outstanding example testifying to the excellent quality of the Makrana marble. Marble has been mined in Makrana for centuries. Numerous marble workshops dot the town; one can have a marble trinket made to order while you wait. Traditional artisans still work in tiny rooms, carving deftly, surely and intricately marble pieces to be sold all over India. Close to Makrana is the huge Sambhar Salt Lake, complementing the marble quarries beautifully. Founded sometime in the 3rd century AD, the town of Sambhar was the capital of the Chauhana dynasty and was later made famous by Prithviraj Chauhan. Legend has it that a king called Vasudeva on one of his hunting expeditions discovered the site for Sambhar. Saratha, the original old city, lies at a distance of about 18 kms. from the main town of Sambhar. Saratha’s name comes from the goddess Sakambhari initially located near a temple dedicated to the goddess. Here, the Devyani tank is an important pilgrimage spot for Hindus.