Rajasthan is a place of camels plodding over soft sand dunes. It is a state of men with proud mustaches and women with twinkling anklets in colorful swirling ghagras.
The landscape is dotted with island palaces shimmering on idyllic blue lakes, temples and fortresses situated on hilltops of the rugged and rocky Aravalli, exquisite palaces built during the reign of some of its many erstwhile Rajput dynasties and well laid out gardens with pavilions and kiosks, all of which add to the splendor and whimsical charm of this majestic land.
When was Rajasthan Born?
Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949, when all the princely states ruled by Rajputs(formerly known as Rajputana) merged into the Dominion of India.
The only difference between erstwhile Rajputana and Rajasthan is that certain portions of what had been British India, in the former province of Ajmer-Merwara, were included. Portions lying geographically outside of Rajputana such as the Sumel-Tappa area were given to Madhya Pradesh.
Geography of Rajasthan
Rajasthan, lying between 23º30′ and 30º11′ North latitudes and 69º 29′ and 78 º 17′ East longitudes at the northwestern part, is one of the biggest state of India.
Rajasthan is edged 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 Tropic of Cancer passes across the southern point of the state in the Banswara district.
Rajasthan Covers 11% of the Total Geographical Area of India
Rajasthan has an area of 3, 42,239sq.km comprising of the 11% of the total geographical area of India. The extensive topography includes rocky terrain, rolling sand dunes, wetlands, barren tracts or land filled with thorny scrubs, river-drained plains, plateaus, ravines and wooded regions .
Main features of Geography of Rajasthan – Thar desert and Aravali range.
A massive portion of the state of Rajasthan( about 70% of total landmass) is desiccated and encloses the biggest Indian desert – the Thar Desert known as the ‘Maru-kantar’. This desert region embraces the districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur.
The Aravali mountain ranges that run from Delhi to Gujarat cut through the State almost vertically. The Aravali ranges divide the State through south-east and north-west. The north-west region covering two-thirds of the state consist mostly of a series of sand dunes. Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and part of the Jhunjhunu districts form” part of this region. The eastern region has large fertile tracts.
District Map of Rajasthan - Source: Wikimedia
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
