About Rajasthan
Rajasthan is where all the country's similes and metaphors appear to have come together.
Sand dunes, wooded hills and amazing lakes, palaces and rugged forts, men and women
in colorful turbans and skirts, bustling towns and quiet villages, camels, elephants
and tigers, harsh sunlight and the cool evening breeze - are all there in abundance.
History of Rajasthan
Rajasthan was inhabited by the Rajput clan in the 8th century. The waning of their
power led to the emergence of Jats, Nath, Ahirs, Gujars, Bhils and Meenas, who established
their dominance in the different districts of Rajasthan. It is noteworthy that these
clans largely influenced the culture of Rajasthan. The 12th century heralded the
rule of the Muslims, who were followed by the Mughals. The people, culture and architecture
of Rajasthan largely owe to the Mughal Empire.
The state, covering an area of 342,239 square kilometers, is dotted with marvelous
palaces and forts. Rajasthan had been a part of the republics of Saka Satraps, Hunas,
Arjunyas, Malavas, Yaudhyas, Kushans and Guptas and was also a constituent of the
Mauryan Empire. The forts and palaces sprawled across the territory bear the rich
imprints of the past rulers
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Geography of Rajasthan
Rajasthan, situated at the northwestern part of India is the biggest state in the
country of India and lies between 23º30´ and 30º 11’ North latitude and 69º 29’
and 78º 17’ East longitude. The state shares its north-western and western boundary
with the Indo-Pakistan international border that extends about 1,070 km and touches
the major districts Barmer, Bikaner, Ganganagar and Jaisalmer.
Rajasthan is bordered by Pakistan in the west and northwest, the states of Punjab,
Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in the north and northeast. The state of Madhya Pradesh
lies in the southeast and Gujrat in the southwest.
The huge portion of the state of Rajasthan is desiccated and houses the biggest
Indian desert- the Thar Desert known as the 'Maru-kantar'. The oldest chain of fold
mountains- the Aravalli Range splits the state into two geographical zones- desert
at one side and forest belt on the other. Only 9.36% of the total geographical region
lies under forest vegetation.
The Aravalli Range literally meaning 'line of peaks'
, is a range of mountains in western India running approximately 800 km from northeast
to southwest across states of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat.
The Aravali Range runs across the state from the southwest peak Guru Shikhar (Mount
Abu), which is 1,722 m in height, to Khetri in the northeast. This divides the state
into 60% in the northwest of the range and 40% in the southeast. The northwest tract
is sandy and unproductive with little water but improves gradually from desert land
in the far west and northwest to comparatively fertile and habitable land towards
the east
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The Thar Desert of Rajasthan is situated partly
in India and partly in Pakistan. Bordering the desert on four sides are, Indus plains
to the west, Aravalli Range to the southeast, Rann of Kutch to the south, and Punjab
plains to the north and northeast.
Also known as the "Great Indian Desert", Thar covers an area of approximately 77,000
square miles (200,000 square km)
...more on Thar Desert
in Rajasthan
Weather in Rajasthan
Varies with the seasons of the year. The weather in Rajasthan ranges from very hot
in summer to chilly in winter.
Rajasthan has four distinct seasons - Summer, Monsoon, Post- Monsoon and Winter.
- Summer - April to June
- Monsoon - Late June to September
- Post-Monsoon - October to November
- Winter - December to March
The best time to visit Rajasthan is during the cooler months from October to March,
when the Rajasthan climate is very pleasant
...more on
Weather in Rajasthan
Flora and Fauna
The extreme climatic conditions of Rajasthan make the state experience scorching
heat during the summers and chilling cold during the winters. Those who wish to
visit Rajasthan are advised to avoid the summer months, as the temperature during
this time ranges between 32ºC and 45ºC. During the winter months, the temperature
falls below 0ºC. Tourists prefer to come to Rajasthan between July and September.
During this period, the weather condition of the state remains quite pleasant and
suitable for tourism.
The Rajasthan state has a lot to offer in terms of flora and fauna. The state possesses
about 32549.64 square kilometers of forest area spread across northern, eastern,
south-eastern and southern parts of the territory. Being a rich reserve of wildlife,
Rajasthan is known for panther, blue bull, jackal, fox, hyena, sambhar, wild boar,
jungle cat and many other species of animals.
Location of Rajasthan
Rajasthan is located in the northwestern part of India and is bounded by Punjab,
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. With its rich cultural heritage, sand dunes, safaris
and wildlife, the state has a lot to offer in terms of tourism. Rajasthan seems
to be an open museum, where the tourists can get a glimpse of the socio-cultural
pattern of the state.
The state of Rajasthan is well connected with an excellent network of transportation
to the different parts of the country. Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur are the three
main airports in Rajasthan, which are regularly operated by domestic and international
flights. Some of the major railway stations in Rajasthan are at Jodhpur, Udaipur,
Ajmer and Jaipur. Besides, the state is also known to possess a well-knit network
of roads. The National Highways and State Highways connect the different towns and
cities of Rajasthan within the different parts of the country.
Tourists can get a glimpse of the Mughal architecture at different forts and palaces
situated at various parts of Rajasthan. Rajasthan also possesses a number of other
appeals that attract tourists from all corners of the world.
Districts in Rajasthan
Rajasthan is divided into 33 districts and seven divisions:
- Ajmer Division : Ajmer, Bhilwara, Nagaur, Tonk
- Bharatpur Division : Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur
- Bikaner Division : Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh
- Jaipur Division : Jaipur, Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Dausa
- Jodhpur Division : Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jodhpur District, Pali, Sirohi
- Kota Division : Baran, Bundi, Jhalawar, Kota
- Udaipur Division : Banswara District, Chittorgarh District, Pratapgarh District,
Dungarpur District, Udaipur, Rajsamand
Fact File of Rajasthan
Population : 64.07 million (2006-07)
Area : 3,42,239 sq km
Location : North-western India; shares domestic borders with Punjab, Haryana,
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Population Density : 165 (per sq km), Population Growth: 28.4%
Principal Languages : Rajasthani & Hindi
Capital : Jaipur
Time Zone : GMT + 5 hours, 30 minutes
Currency : Indian Rupee (Rs)
Districts : 33
Urban Population : 23.38%
Cities and Towns : 222
Religion : Hindu 89%, Muslim 7%, Jain 1.8%, Sikh 1.5%, Christian 0.1%.
Best Time To Visit : November-March
Climate : Generally dry with extreme temperatures; and rains during July-August
Major Cities : Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Bhilwara,
Alwar
Major Crops : Jowar, bajra, wheat, maize, pulses, barley, gram, oilseeds,
cotton, tobacco, sugarcane.
Minerals : Gypsum, mica, copper, tungsten, emerald, asbestos, felspar, glass-sand
gypsum, iron ore, lead, zinc, limestone, marble, salt, silver, soapstone & marble.
Industries : Textiles, cement, sugar, chemicals, glass, wool, handicrafts.
Roads : 83,469 km
Railways : 6,228 km
