Home > General Information > Introduction
Introduction
Situated in northwest, Rajasthan is the largest state of the India that shares its western border with Pakistan. The Pink City Jaipur is the state capital of Rajasthan. Rajasthan’s varied landscape ranges from thick forests to sandy desert environs. Colorful fairs and festivals, exotic traditions, majestic forts and palaces, flourishing flora and fauna in its wildlife sanctuaries, and historical heroic legends constitute kaleidoscopic beauty of Rajasthan.
The rich heritage, splendid architecture, regional arts and crafts, incredible frescoes, and camel safaris – all add up to make Rajasthan a treasure hunt for foreign travelers. For those who love thrill and adventure, Rajasthan offers horse safaris, camel safaris, elephant safaris or even jeep safaris that take you to rural Rajasthan, dynamic sand dunes that change their shapes with the direction of winds, famous tiger trails, and unbelievable bird watching experiences.
Topography
Rajasthan is home to the Aravali Range, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. The Aravalis stretch from Guru Peak in Mount Abu to Khetri in the northeast, dividing the state in 2 parts – 60% northwest and 40% southeast. Most of the northwest area falls under the Thar Desert region and hence, has arid and semi-arid landscape. The land becomes more fertile and habitable to the east. The plateau regions of Kota and Bundi in the southeast have rugged Chambal valley to its northeast, hills of Mewar to its south and plains further up in north. Chambal River is the only large and permanent river in the state that originates in Aravallis and flows in northeast direction. To the west, the only significant river is Luni that rises in the Pushkar Valley and falls in Rann of Kachchh. The salt lakes of Shekhawati are to the northeast of the Luni basin and have internal drainage, the most notable being the Sambhar Salt Lake.
Languages of Rajasthan
Folk literature of Rajasthan is quite rich and is mostly found in forms of songs, tales, riddles, plays known as khayals, and sayings. During the British period, Rajasthani literature suffered a temporary setback but the language is back in form with all its linguistic and orthographical peculiarities. The five main dialects of Rajasthan are – Dhundhari, Hadauti, Marwari, Mewari, and Mewati.
 Rajasthan People
Indigenous population of Rajasthan is divided in many groups and sub-groups. Meos and Banjaras most lead nomadic lifestyles and are artisans or tradesmen. Gadia Lohars are nomads too but are basically ironsmiths by profession who make and repair agricultural and household equipments. They usually live and travel in their bullock carts. Rabari or Raika nomads are categorized into camel breeders known as Marus and cattle breeders (who rear sheep and goats) known as Chalkias.
Minas (Minawati) reside in Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, and Dholpur areas. Bhils, known as skilled archers, are the oldest tribals of India and reside in the districts of Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, and Sirohi. Nomadic Khathodi and Gradia live in Mewar region, Sahariyas inhabit Kota, and Rabaris are cattle breeders of the Marwar region. Oswals from Osiyan near Jodhpur are generally Jains and very successful traders.
Mahajans or loan provider class consists of several groups who are either Jains or Hindus. Jats and Gujjars are largest agricultural communities of Rajasthan. Muslims constitute less than 10% of Rajasthani population and most of them are Sunnis. Small Shiaite community known as Bhoras that reside in southeastern Rajasthan is quite affluent. Most influential community in Rajasthan is undoubtedly – the Rajputs, former rulers of the area. They are however only a few in number but their noble ancestry and martial skills add to their medieval pride and honor.
Reservation Form |
