RAJASTHAN
Location
of Rajasthan in India
Seal
Thar
desert
Ghateshwar
Mahadeva Temple in Chittorgarh
Jantar Mantar
Jodhpur "Blue city"
Mount
Abu
Amer Fort
Coordinates
(Jaipur) : 26.6° N 73.8° E
Country : India
Established : 30 March 1949
Capital : Jaipur
Largest city : Jaipur
Symbols
of Rajasthan
Emblem : Emblem of Rajasthan
Dance : Ghoomar
Mammal : Camel and Chinkara
Bird : Godawan
Flower : Rohida
Tree : Khejri
Game : Basketball
Rajasthan;
literally, "Land of Kings" is a state in northern India.
The state covers an area of 342,239 square kilometres (132,139 sq
mi) or 10.4 percent of the total geographical area of India. It
is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population.
Rajasthan is located on the northwestern side of India, where it
comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert (also known
as the "Great Indian Desert") and shares a border with
the Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to
the west, along the Sutlej-Indus river valley. It is bordered by
five other Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar
Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to the southeast; and Gujarat
to the southwest. Its geographical location is 23.3 to 30.12 North
latitude and 69.30 to 78.17 East longitude, with the Tropic of Cancer
passing through southernmost tip of the state.
Major
features include the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilisation at Kalibangan
and Balathal, the Dilwara Temples, a Jain pilgrimage site at Rajasthan's
only hill station, Mount Abu, in the ancient Aravalli mountain range
and in eastern Rajasthan, the Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur,
a World Heritage Site known for its bird life. Rajasthan is also
home to three national tiger reserves, the Ranthambore National
Park in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and Mukundra
Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota.
The
state was formed on 30 March 1949 when Rajputana – the name
adopted by the British Raj for its dependencies in the region –
was merged into the Dominion of India. Its capital and largest city
is Jaipur. Other important cities are Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Ajmer,
Bharatpur and Udaipur. The economy of Rajasthan is the seventh-largest
state economy in India with ?10.20 lakh crore (US$140 billion) in
gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of ?118,000 (US$1,700).
Rajasthan ranks 29th among Indian states in human development index.
Etymology
:
Rajasthan literally means "The Land of Kings". The oldest
reference to Rajasthan is found in a stone inscription dated back
to 625 CE. The print mention of the name "Rajasthan" appears
in the 1829 publication Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han or
the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India, while the earliest
known record of "Rajputana" as a name for the region is
in George Thomas's 1800 memoir Military Memories. John Keay, in
his book India: A History, stated that "Rajputana" was
coined by the British in 1829, John Briggs, translating Ferishta's
history of early Islamic India, used the phrase "Rajpoot (Rajput)
princes" rather than "Indian princes".
History
:
Ancient :
Parts of what is now Rajasthan were partly part of the Vedic Civilisation
and Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan, in Hanumangarh district,
was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Another archaeological excavation at Balathal site in Udaipur district
shows a settlement contemporary with the Harrapan civilisation dating
back to 3000 – 1500 BCE.
Stone
Age tools dating from 5,000 to 200,000 years were found in Bundi
and Bhilwara districts of the state.
Matsya
Kingdom of the Vedic civilisation of India, is said to roughly corresponded
to the former state of Jaipur in Rajasthan and included the whole
of Alwar with portions of Bharatpur. The capital of Matsya was at
Viratnagar (modern Bairat), which is said to have been named after
its founder king Virat.[need quotation to verify]
Bhargav
identifies the two districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar and parts of
Jaipur district along with Haryana districts of Mahendragarh and
Rewari as part of Vedic state of Brahmavart. Bhargav also locates
the present day Sahibi River as the Vedic Drishadwati River, which
along with Saraswati River formed the borders of the Vedic state
of Brahmavart. Manu and Bhrigu narrated the Manusmriti to a congregation
of seers in this area only. Ashrams of Vedic seers Bhrigu and his
son Chayvan Rishi, for whom Chyawanprash was formulated, were near
Dhosi Hill part of which lies in Dhosi village of Jhunjhunu district
of Rajasthan and part lies in Mahendragarh district of Haryana.
The
Western Kshatraps (405–35 BCE), the Saka rulers of the western
part of India, were successors to the Indo-Scythians and were contemporaneous
with the Kushans, who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent.
The Indo-Scythians invaded the area of Ujjain and established the
Saka era (with their calendar), marking the beginning of the long-lived
Saka Western Satraps state.
Classical
:
Ghateshwar
Mahadev temple at the Baroli Temple Complex. The temples were built
between the 10th and 11th centuries CE by the Gurjar-Pratihar dynasty.
Gurjar-Pratihar :
The Gurjars ruled for many dynasties in this part of the country,
the region was known as Gurjaratra. Up to the 10th century CE, almost
all of North India acknowledged the supremacy of the Gurjars, with
their seat of power at Kannauj.
The
Gurjar Pratihar Empire acted as a barrier for Arab invaders from
the 8th to the 11th century. The chief accomplishment of the Gurjar-Pratihar
Empire lies in its successful resistance to foreign invasions from
the west, starting in the days of Junaid. Historian R. C. Majumdar
says that this was openly acknowledged by the Arab writers. He further
notes that historians of India have wondered at the slow progress
of Muslim invaders in India, as compared with their rapid advance
in other parts of the world. Now there seems little doubt that it
was the power of the Gurjar Pratihar army that effectively barred
the progress of the Arabs beyond the confines of Sindh, their only
conquest for nearly 300 years.
Medieval
and Early Modern :
Rana
Kumbha was the vanguard of the fifteenth century Rajput resurgence
The
emperor Hemu, who rose from obscurity and briefly established himself
as ruler in northern India, from Punjab to Bengal, in defiance of
the warring Sur and Mughal Empires
Maharana
Udai Singh II founded Udaipur, which became the new capital of the
Mewar kingdom after Chittor Fort was conquered by the Mughal emperor
Akbar
Maharana
Pratap Singh, sixteenth-century Rajput ruler of Mewar, known for
his defense of his realm against Mughal invasion
Suraj
Mal
Suraj
Mal was ruler of Bharatpur, some contemporary historians described
him as "the Plato of the Jat people" and by a modern writer
as the "Jat Odysseus", because of his political sagacity,
steady intellect and clear vision.
Traditionally
the Brahmins, Rajputs, Gurjars, Jats, Meenas, Bhils, Dhanks, Rajpurohits,
Charans, Sunaars, Yadavs, Bishnois, Meghwals, Sermals, Rajput Malis
(Sainis) and other tribes made a great contribution in building
the state of Rajasthan. All these tribes suffered great difficulties
in protecting their culture and the land. Millions of them were
killed trying to protect their land.[citation needed]
Prithviraj
Chauhan defeated the invading Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle
of Tarain in 1191. In 1192 CE, Muhammad Ghori decisively defeated
Prithviraj at the Second Battle of Tarain. After the defeat of Chauhan
in 1192 CE, a part of Rajasthan came under Muslim rulers. The principal
centers of their powers were Nagaur and Ajmer. Ranthambhore was
also under their suzerainty. At the beginning of the 13th century,
the most prominent and powerful state of Rajasthan was Mewar. The
Rajputs resisted the Muslim incursions into India, although a number
of Rajput kingdoms eventually became subservient to the Delhi Sultanate.
The
Rajputs put up resistance to the Islamic invasions with their warfare
and chivalry for centuries. The Rana's of Mewar led other kingdoms
in its resistance to outside rule. Rana Hammir Singh, defeated the
Tughlaq dynasty and recovered a large portion of Rajasthan. The
indomitable Rana Kumbha defeated the Sultans of Malwa, Nagaur and
Gujarat and made Mewar the most powerful Rajput Kingdom in India.
The ambitious Rana Sanga united the various Rajput clans and fought
against the foreign powers in India. Rana Sanga defeated the Afghan
Lodi Empire of Delhi and crushed the Turkic Sultanates of Malwa
and Gujarat. Rana Sanga then tried to create an Indian empire but
was defeated by the first Mughal Emperor Babur at Khanua. The defeat
was due to betrayal by the Tomar king Silhadi of Raisen. After Rana
Sangas death there was no one who could check the rapid expansion
of the Mughal Empire.
Hem
Chandra Vikramaditya, the Hindu Emperor, was born in the village
of Machheri in Alwar District in 1501. He won 22 battles against
Afghans, from Punjab to Bengal including states of Ajmer and Alwar
in Rajasthan, and defeated Akbar's forces twice, first at Agra and
then at Delhi in 1556 at Battle of Delhi before acceding to the
throne of Delhi and establishing the "Hindu Raj" in North
India, albeit for a short duration, from Purana Quila in Delhi.
Hem Chandra was killed in the battlefield at Second Battle of Panipat
fighting against Mughals on 5 November 1556.
Akbar shoots the Rajput commander Jaimal using a matchlock, during
the Siege of Chittor (1567 – 1568)
During Akbar's reign most of the Rajput kings accepted Mughal suzerainty,
but the rulers of Mewar (Rana Udai Singh II) and Marwar (Rao Chandrasen
Rathore) refused to have any form of alliance with the Mughals.
To teach the Rajputs a lesson Akbar attacked Udai Singh and killed
Rajput commander Jaimal of Chitor and the citizens of Mewar in large
numbers. Akbar killed 20 – 25,000 unarmed citizens in Chittor
on the grounds that they had actively helped in the resistance.
Maharana
Pratap took an oath to avenge the citizens of Chittor, he fought
the Mughal empire till his death and liberated most of Mewar apart
from Chittor itself. Maharana Pratap soon became the most celebrated
warrior of Rajasthan and became famous all over India for his sporadic
warfare and noble actions. According to Satish Chandra, "Rana
Pratap's defiance of the mighty Mughal empire, almost alone and
unaided by the other Rajput states, constitutes a glorious saga
of Rajput valor and the spirit of self-sacrifice for cherished principles.
Rana Pratap's methods of sporadic warfare was later elaborated further
by Malik Ambar, the Deccani general, and by Shivaji".
Rana
Amar Singh I continued his ancestor's war against the Mughals under
Jehangir, he repelled the Mughal armies at Dewar. Later an expedition
was again sent under leadership of Prince Khurram, which caused
much damage to life and property of Mewar. Many temples were destroyed,
several villages were put on fire and women and children were captured
and tortured to make Amar Singh accept surrender.
During
Aurangzeb's rule Rana Raj Singh I and Veer Durgadas Rathore were
chief among those who defied the intolerant emperor of Delhi. They
took advantage of the Aravalli hills and caused heavy damage to
the Mughal armies that were trying to occupy Rajasthan.
After
Aurangzebs death Bahadur Shah I tried to subjugate Rajasthan like
his ancestors but his plan backfired when the three Rajput Raja's
of Amber, Udaipur, and Jodhpur made a joint resistance to the Mughals.
The Rajputs first expelled the commandants of Jodhpur and Bayana
and recovered Amer by a night attack. They next killed Sayyid Hussain
Khan Barha, the commandant of Mewat and many other Mughal officers.
Bahadur Shah I, then in the Deccan was forced to patch up a truce
with the Rajput Rajas. The Jats, under Suraj Mal, overran the Mughal
garrison at Agra and plundered the city taking with them the two
great silver doors of the entrance of the famous Taj Mahal which
were then melted down by Suraj Mal in 1763.
Over
the years, the Mughals began to have internal disputes which greatly
distracted them at times. The Mughal Empire continued to weaken,
and with the decline of the Mughal Empire in the late 18th century,
Rajputana came under the influence of the Marathas. The Maratha
Empire, which had replaced the Mughal Empire as the overlord of
the subcontinent, was finally replaced by the British Empire in
1818.
In
the 19th century, the Rajput kingdoms were exhausted, they had been
drained financially and in manpower after continuous wars and due
to heavy tributes exacted by the Maratha Empire. To save their kingdoms
from instability, rebellions and banditry the Rajput kings concluded
treaties with the British in the early 19th century, accepting British
suzerainty and control over their external affairs in return for
internal autonomy.
Modern
:
Modern Rajasthan includes most of Rajputana, which comprises the
erstwhile nineteen princely states, two chiefships, and the British
district of Ajmer-Merwara. Jaisalmer, Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner,
Mewar (Chittorgarh), Alwar and Dhundhar (Jaipur) were some of the
main Rajput princely states. Bharatpur and Dholpur were Jat princely
states whereas Tonk was a princely state under Pathans.
Geography
:
This section does not cite any sources.
Mount
Abu is a popular hill station in Rajasthan
The
Thar Desert near Jaisalmer
Aerial
view Udaipur and Aravali hills
The
geographic features of Rajasthan are the Thar Desert and the Aravalli
Range, which runs through the state from southwest to northeast,
almost from one end to the other, for more than 850 kilometres (530
mi). Mount Abu lies at the southwestern end of the range, separated
from the main ranges by the West Banas River, although a series
of broken ridges continues into Haryana in the direction of Delhi
where it can be seen as outcrops in the form of the Raisina Hill
and the ridges farther north. About three-fifths of Rajasthan lies
northwest of the Aravallis, leaving two-fifths on the east and south
direction.
The
Aravalli Range runs across the state from the southwest peak Guru
Shikhar (Mount Abu), which is 1,722 metres (5,650 ft) in height,
to Khetri in the northeast. This range 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. The area includes the
Thar Desert. The south-eastern area, higher in elevation (100 to
350 m above sea level) and more fertile, has a very diversified
topography. in the south lies the hilly tract of Mewar. In the southeast,
a large area within the districts of Kota and Bundi forms a tableland.
To the northeast of these districts is a rugged region (badlands)
following the line of the Chambal River. Farther north the country
levels out; the flat plains of the northeastern Bharatpur district
are part of an alluvial basin. Merta City lies in the geographical
center of Rajasthan.
The
Aravalli Range and the lands to the east and southeast of the range
are generally more fertile and better watered. This region is home
to the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion, with tropical
dry broadleaf forests that include teak, Acacia, and other trees.
The hilly Vagad region, home to the cities of Dungarpur, and Banswara
lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border with Gujarat and Madhya
Pradesh. With the exception of Mount Abu, Vagad is the wettest region
in Rajasthan, and the most heavily forested. North of Vagad lies
the Mewar region, home to the cities of Udaipur and Chittaurgarh.
The Hadoti region lies to the southeast, on the border with Madhya
Pradesh. North of Hadoti and Mewar lies the Dhundhar region, home
to the state capital of Jaipur. Mewat, the easternmost region of
Rajasthan, borders Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Eastern and southeastern
Rajasthan is drained by the Banas and Chambal rivers, tributaries
of the Ganges.
The
northwestern portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry. Most
of this region is covered by the Thar Desert which extends into
adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Range does not intercept
the moisture-giving southwest monsoon winds off the Arabian Sea,
as it lies in a direction parallel to that of the coming monsoon
winds, leaving the northwestern region in a rain shadow. The Thar
Desert is thinly populated; the town of Jodhpur is the largest city
in the desert and known as the gateway of the Thar desert. The desert
has some major districts like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner,
and Nagour. This area is also important in the defence point of
view. Jodhpur airbase is one of the largest airbases in India, BSF
and Military bases are also situated here. A single civil airport
is also situated in Jodhpur.
The
Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert,
between the desert and the Aravallis. This region receives less
than 400 mm of rain annually. Temperatures can sometimes exceed
54 °C in the summer months and drop below freezing point in
the winter. The Godwar, Marwar, and Shekhawati regions lie in the
thorn scrub forest zone, along with the city of Jodhpur. The Luni
River and its tributaries are the major river system of Godwar and
Marwar regions, draining the western slopes of the Aravallis and
emptying southwest into the great Rann of Kutch wetland in neighboring
Gujarat. This river is saline in the lower reaches and remains potable
only up to Balotara in Barmer district. The Ghaggar River, which
originates in Haryana, is an intermittent stream that disappears
into the sands of the Thar Desert in the northern corner of the
state and is seen as a remnant of the primitive Sarasvati river.
Flora
and fauna :
State
symbols of Rajasthan :
Formation day : 1 November
State animal : Chinkara and Camel
State bird : Godavan (great Indian bustard)
State flower : Flower – Rohida
State Tree : Khejri
The
great Indian bustard has been classed as critically endangered since
2011
Though
a large percentage of the total area is desert with little forest
cover, Rajasthan has a rich and varied flora and fauna. The natural
vegetation is classed as Northern Desert Thorn Forest (Champion
1936). These occur in small clumps scattered in a more or less open
form. The density and size of patches increase from west to east
following the increase in rainfall.
The
Desert National Park in Jaisalmer is spread over an area of 3,162
square kilometres (1,221 sq mi), is an excellent example of the
ecosystem of the Thar Desert and its diverse fauna. Seashells and
massive fossilised tree trunks in this park record the geological
history of the desert. The region is a haven for migratory and resident
birds of the desert. One can see many eagles, harriers, falcons,
buzzards, kestrels and vultures. Short-toed snake eagles (Circaetus
gallicus), tawny eagles (Aquila rapax), spotted eagles (Aquila clanga),
laggar falcons (Falco jugger) and kestrels are the commonest of
these.
The
Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur, one of the
well known tiger reserves in the country, became a part of Project
Tiger in 1973.
The
Dhosi Hill located in the district of Jhunjunu, known as 'Chayvan
Rishi's Ashram', where 'Chyawanprash' was formulated for the first
time, has unique and rare herbs growing.
The
Sariska Tiger Reserve located in Alwar district, 200 kilometres
(120 mi) from Delhi and 107 kilometres (66 mi) from Jaipur, covers
an area of approximately 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi). The
area was declared a national park in 1979.
Tal
Chhapar Sanctuary is a very small sanctuary in Sujangarh, Churu
District, 210 kilometres (130 mi) from Jaipur in the Shekhawati
region. This sanctuary is home to a large population of blackbuck.
Desert foxes and the caracal, an apex predator, also known as the
desert lynx, can also be spotted, along with birds such as the partridge,
harriers, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Pale Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Short-toed
Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Sparrow Hawk, Crested Lark, Demoiselle Crane,
Skylarks, Green Bee-eater, Brown Dove, Black Ibis and sand grouse.
The Great Indian bustard, known locally as the godavan, and which
is a state bird, has been classed as critically endangered since
2011.
Wildlife
protection :
Reclining
tiger, Ranthambore National Park
Rajasthan is also noted for its national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
There are four national parks and wildlife sanctuaries: Keladevi
National Park of Bharatpur, Sariska Tiger Reserve of Alwar, Ranthambore
National Park of Sawai Madhopur, and Desert National Park of Jaisalmer.
A national-level institute, Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI)
an autonomous institute of the ministry of forestry is situated
in Jodhpur and continuously works on desert flora and their conservation.
Ranthambore
National Park is 7 km from Sawai Madhopur Railway Station. it is
known worldwide for its tiger population and is considered by both
wilderness lovers and photographers as one of the best places in
India to spot tigers. At one point, due to poaching and negligence,
tigers became extinct at Sariska, but five tigers have been relocated
there. Prominent among the wildlife sanctuaries are Mount Abu Sanctuary,
Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary, Jaisamand Sanctuary,
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar sanctuary, and Sita
Mata Wildlife Sanctuary.
Communication
:
Major ISP and telecom companies are present in Rajasthan including
Airtel, Data Infosys Limited, Reliance Limited, Idea, Jio, RAILTEL,
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Tata Telecom and Vodafone.
Data Infosys was the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) to bring
internet in Rajasthan in April 1999 and OASIS was first private
mobile telephone company. Today the largest coverage area and the
clientele are with BSNL.
Government
and politics :
Main articles: Politics of Rajasthan, Government of Rajasthan, and
Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan.
The politics of Rajasthan is dominated mainly by the Bharatiya Janata
Party and the Indian National Congress.
Administrative
divisions :
Lake
Palace and Jag Mandir from a distance, Lake Pichola, Udaipur
Rajasthan is divided into 33 districts within seven divisions :
Division |
Districts |
Jaipur |
Jaipur,
Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Dausa |
Jodhpur |
Barmer,
Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Pali and Sirohi |
Ajmer |
Ajmer,
Bhilwara, Nagaur and Tonk |
Udaipur |
Udaipur,
Banswara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Dungarpur and Rajsamand |
Bikaner |
Bikaner,
Churu, Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh |
Kota |
Baran,
Bundi, Jhalawar and Kota |
Bharatpur |
Bharatpur,
Dholpur, Karauli and Sawai Madhopur |
Economy
:
Timeline of the Bhadla Solar Park (India) development, the World's
largest photovoltaic power plants cluster in 2020
Wind
Turbines near Bada Bagh, Rajasthan
Rajasthan's economy is primarily agricultural and pastoral. Wheat
and barley are cultivated over large areas, as are pulses, sugarcane,
and oilseeds. Cotton and tobacco are the state's cash crops. Rajasthan
is among the largest producers of edible oils in India and the second-largest
producer of oilseeds. Rajasthan is also the biggest wool-producing
state in India and the main opium producer and consumer. There are
mainly two crop seasons. The water for irrigation comes from wells
and tanks. The Indira Gandhi Canal irrigates northwestern Rajasthan.
The
main industries are mineral based, agriculture-based, and textile
based. Rajasthan is the second-largest producer of polyester fiber
in India. Several prominent chemical and engineering companies are
located in the city of Kota, in southern Rajasthan. Rajasthan is
pre-eminent in quarrying and mining in India. The Taj Mahal was
built from the white marble which was mined from a town called Makrana.
The state is the second-largest source of cement in India. It has
rich salt deposits at Sambhar, copper mines at Khetri, Jhunjhunu,
and zinc mines at Dariba, Zawar mines and Rampura Agucha (opencast)
near Bhilwara. Dimensional stone mining is also undertaken in Rajasthan.
Jodhpur sandstone is mostly used in monuments, important buildings,
and residential buildings. This stone is termed as "Chittar
Patthar". Jodhpur leads in Handicraft and Guar Gum industry.
Rajasthan is also a part of the Mumbai-Delhi Industrial corridor
is set to benefit economically. The State gets 39% of the DMIC,
with major districts of Jaipur, Alwar, Kota and Bhilwara benefiting.
Rajasthan
also has reserves of low-silica limestone. Nokha Brooms(Jhaadu)
industry is top brooms manufacturer in Rajasthan also one of the
leading small scale industry situated in Nokha (jhumarmal-ugamchand.ueniweb.com).
Nagaur is top Masala producer area in Rajasthan, including companies
such as Mayank Spices (Masale) and MDH Masale.
Rajasthan
connected 100% of its population to electricity power in 2019 (raising
the rate of electricity access from 71% of population in 2015).
Renewable energy sector plays the most important role in the increase
of generation capacities, with the main focus on solar energy. In
2020, Bhadla Solar Park was recognized as the largest cluster of
photovoltaic power plants in a single region in the World, with
the installed power exceeding the 2.2 GWpeak.
Agricultural
production :
This
section does not cite any sources.
Rajasthan is the largest producer of barley, mustard, pearl millet,
coriander, fenugreek and guar in India. Rajasthan produces over
72% of guar of the world and 60% of India's barley. Rajasthan is
major producer of aloe vera, amla, oranges leading producer of maize,
groundnut. Rajasthan government had initiated olive cultivation
with technical support from Israel. The current production of olives
in the state is around 100–110 tonnes annually. Rajasthan
is India's second largest producer of milk. Rajasthan has 13800
dairy co-operative societies.
Transport
:
Jaipur
International Airport
Maharajah's
Express dining saloon
The
Jaipur Metro is an important urban transportation link
NH
8 between Udaipur and Ahmedabad
Rajasthan
is connected by many national highways. Most renowned being NH 8,
which is India's first 4–8 lane highway. Rajasthan also has
an inter-city surface transport system both in terms of railways
and bus network. All chief cities are connected by air, rail, and
road.
Air
:
There are six main airports at Rajasthan – Jaipur International
Airport, Jodhpur Airport, Udaipur Airport and the recently started
Ajmer Airport, Bikaner Airport and Jaisalmer Airport. These airports
connect Rajasthan with the major cities of India such as Delhi and
Mumbai. There is another airport in Kota but is not open for commercial/civilian
flights yet.
Rail
:
Rajasthan is connected with the main cities of India by rail. Jaipur,
Kota, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Alwar, Abu Road, and Udaipur
are the principal railway stations in Rajasthan. Kota City is the
only electrified section served by three Rajdhani Expresses and
trains to all major cities of India. There is also an international
railway, the Thar Express from Jodhpur (India) to Karachi (Pakistan).
However, this is not open to foreign nationals.
Road
:
Rajasthan is well connected to the main cities of the country including
Delhi, Ahmedabad and Indore by state and national highways and served
by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) and private
operators. Now in March 2017, 75 percent of all national highways
being built in Rajasthan according to the public works minister
of Rajasthan.
Demographics
:
According
to the 2011 Census of India, Rajasthan has a total population of
68,548,437. The native Rajasthani people make up the majority of
the state's population. The state of Rajasthan is also populated
by Sindhis, who came to Rajasthan from Sindh province (now in Pakistan)
during the India-Pakistan separation in 1947. As for religion, Rajasthan's
residents are mainly Hindus, who account for 88.49% of the population.
Muslims make up 9.07%, Sikhs 1.27% and Jains 0.91% of the population.
According
to a report by Moneycontrol.com at the time of 2018 Rajasthan Legislative
Assembly election, the Scheduled Caste (SC) population was 18%,
Scheduled Tribe (ST) was 13%, Jats 12%, Gujjars and Rajputs 9% each,
Brahmins and Meenas 7% each. Brahmins, according to Outlook constituted
8% to 10% of the population of Rajasthan as per a 2003 report, but
only 7% in a 2007 report. According to a 2007 DNA India report,
12.5% of the state are Brahmins.
Language
:
Hindi
is the official and the most widely spoken language in the state
(90.97% of the population as per the 2001 census), followed by Bhili
(4.60%), Punjabi (2.01%), and Urdu (1.17%). Rajasthani is one of
the main spoken languages in the state. Rajasthani and various Rajasthani
dialects are counted under Hindi in the national census. In the
2001 census, standard Rajasthani had over 18 million speakers, as
well as millions of other speakers of Rajasthani dialects, such
as Marwari.
The
languages taught under the three-language formula are :
First
Language : Hindi
Second Language : English
Third Language : Gujarati, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi
or Urdu
Culture
:
Rajasthan
is culturally rich and has artistic and cultural traditions that
reflect the ancient Indian way of life. There is rich and varied
folk culture from villages which are often depicted as a symbol
of the state. Highly cultivated classical music and dance with its
own distinct style is part of the cultural tradition of Rajasthan.
The music has songs that depict day-to-day relationships and chores,
often focused around fetching water from wells or ponds.
Rajasthani
cooking was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants
and the availability of ingredients in this arid region. Food that
could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was
preferred. The scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables have
all had their effect on the cooking. It is known for its snacks
like Bikaneri Bhujia. Other famous dishes include bajre ki roti
(millet bread) and lahsun ki chutney (hot garlic paste), mawa kachori
Mirchi Bada, Pyaaj Kachori and ghevar from Jodhpur, Alwar ka Mawa
(milk cake), Kadhi kachori from Ajmer, Malpua from Pushkar, Daal
kachori (Kota kachori) from Kota and rassgullas from Bikaner. Originating
from the Marwar region of the state is the concept of Marwari Bhojnalaya,
or vegetarian restaurants, today found in many parts of India, which
offer vegetarian food popular among Marwari people.
Dal Bati Choorma, a traditional Rajasthani Dish
Dal-Bati-Churma is very popular in Rajasthan. The traditional way
to serve it is to first coarsely mash the Baati, and then pour pure
ghee on top of it. It is served with the daal (lentils) and spicy
garlic chutney. Also served with besan (gram flour) ki kadi. It
is commonly served at all festivities, including religious occasions,
wedding ceremonies, and birthday parties in Rajasthan.
The
Ghoomar dance from Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Kalbelia of the Kalbelia
tribe have gained international recognition. Folk music is a large
part of the Rajasthani culture. The Manganiyar and Langa communities
from Rajasthan are notable for their folk music. Kathputli, Bhopa,
Chang, Teratali, Ghindr, Gair dance, Kachchhi Ghori, and Tejaji
are examples of traditional Rajasthani culture. Folk songs are commonly
ballads that relate heroic deeds and love stories; and religious
or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis which are often accompanied
by musical instruments like dholak, sitar, and sarangi are also
sung.
Rajasthan
is known for its traditional, colorful art. The block prints, tie
and dye prints, Gota Patti (main), Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints,
and Zari embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan. Handicraft
items like wooden furniture and crafts, carpets, and blue pottery
are commonly found here. Shopping reflects the colorful culture,
Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror work and embroidery. A Rajasthani
traditional dress for females comprises an ankle-length skirt and
a short top, known as chaniya choli Mainly pure owned by traditional
people. A piece of cloth is used to cover the head, both for protection
from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually
designed in bright colors like blue, yellow, and orange.
The
main religious festivals are Deepawali, Holi, Gangaur, Teej, Gogaji,
Shri Devnarayan Jayanti, Makar Sankranti and Janmashtami, as the
main religion is Hinduism. Rajasthan's desert festival is held once
a year during winter. Dressed in costumes, the people of the desert
dance and sing ballads. There are fairs with snake charmers, puppeteers,
acrobats, and folk performers. Camels play a role in this festival.
Education
:
NIIT University in Neemrana, Rajasthan
During recent years, Rajasthan has worked on improving education.
The state government has been making sustained efforts to raise
the education standard.
Literacy
:
In recent decades the literacy rate of Rajasthan has increased significantly.
In 1991, the state's literacy rate was only 38.55% (54.99% male
and 20.44% female). In 2001, the literacy rate increased to 60.41%
(75.70% male and 43.85% female). This was the highest leap in the
percentage of literacy recorded in India (the rise in female literacy
being 23%). At the Census 2011, Rajasthan had a literacy rate of
67.06% (80.51% male and 52.66% female). Although Rajasthan's literacy
rate is below the national average of 74.04% and although its female
literacy rate is the lowest in the country, the state has been praised
for its efforts and achievements in raising literacy rates.
In
rural areas of Rajasthan, the literacy rate is 76.16% for males
and 45.8% for females. This has been debated across all the party
level, when the governor of Rajasthan set a minimum educational
qualification for the village panchayat elections.
Tourism
:
Rajasthan attracted a total of 45.9 million domestic and 1.6 million
foreign tourists in 2017, which is the tenth highest in terms of
domestic visitors and fifth highest in foreign tourists. The tourism
industry in Rajasthan is growing effectively each year and is becoming
one of the major income sources for the state government. [citation
needed] Rajasthan is home to attractions for domestic and foreign
travellers, including the forts and palaces of Jaipur, lakes of
Udaipur, Temples of Rajsamand and Pali, sand dunes of Jaisalmer
and Bikaner, Havelis of Mandawa and Fatehpur, Rajasthan, wildlife
of Sawai Madhopur, the scenic beauty of Mount Abu, tribes of Dungarpur
and Banswara, and the cattle fair of Pushkar.
Rajasthan
is known for its custom culture colors, majestic forts, and palaces,
folk dances and music, local festivals, local food, sand dunes,
carved temples, beautiful havelis. [citation needed] Rajasthan's
Jaipur Jantar Mantar, Mehrangarh Fort and Stepwell of Jodhpur, Dilwara
Temples, Chittor Fort, Lake Palace, miniature paintings in Bundi,
and numerous city palaces and Havelis are part of the architectural
heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient
houses made of a type of sandstone dominated by a pink hue. In Jodhpur,
maximum houses are painted blue. At Ajmer, there is white marble
Bara-dari on the Anasagar lake and Soniji Ki Nasiyan. Jain Temples
dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. Dilwara Temples
of Mount Abu, Shrinathji Temple of Nathdwara, Ranakpur Jain temple
dedicated to Lord Adinath in Pali District, Jain temples in the
fort complexes of Chittor, Jaisalmer and Kumbhalgarh, Lodurva Jain
temples, Mirpur Jain Temple of Sirohi, Sarun Mata Temple at Kotputli,
Bhandasar and Karni Mata Temple of Bikaner and Mandore of Jodhpur
are some of the best examples. Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore
National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, are
wildlife attractions of Rajasthan. Mewar festival of Udaipur, Teej
festival and Gangaur festival in Jaipur, Desert festival of Jodhpur,
Brij Holi of Bharatpur, Matsya festival of Alwar, Kite festival
of Jodhpur, Kolayat fair in Bikaner are some of the most popular
fairs and festivals of Rajasthan.
Camel rides in Thar desert
Folk
dance popular in Rajasthan
Demoiselle
cranes in Khichan near Bikaner
Hawa
Mahal
Amber
Fort has seen from the bank of Maotha Lake, Jaigarh Fort on the
hills in the background
Nakki
Lake, Mount Abu
Mehrangarh
Fort
Dilwara
Temples
Lake
Palace
Kirti
Stambh of Fort of Chittaur
Tiger
at Ranthambore Natonal Park
Jal
Mahal, Jaipur
Source
:
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Rajasthan