Rajasthan, the largest state of India was formed on 30 March 1949 with Jaipur as the state capital. Once known as the 'Land of the Kings', the state still retains the glory and richness of those times with its marvelous monuments, colourful traditions and customs. It covers most of the area of the Great Indian desert (Thar Desert) with one edge paralleling the Sutlej - Indus river valley along with its border with Pakistan. It borders Pakistan to the west, the Indian state of Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast and Punjab to the north. Rajasthani and Hindi are the widely used languages in the state.

State Bird -Great Indian Bustard, State Animal - Chinkara
State Flower- Rohira State, Tree - Khejri

Land
Rajasthan is the largest state in the Indian Union. Geographically, the land of Rajasthan is more varied than any other region. It is a region of lofty rocks, rolling sand dunes, of burning heat and freezing cold, of fertile plains and deep wild glens and jungles. The Aravalli range, which is the oldest folded range in the world, divides the area into two natural divisions-North-West and South-East. North-West area is a sandy and ill watered tract emerging gradually from a mere desert in the west and North-West to comparatively fertile land towards the East and North-East in the neighborhood of the Aravallis and the track bordering Haryana. The South-Eastern division which is more elevated and fertile than the North-West, has a very diversified character with extensive hill ranges, pockets of woodland, several large rivers, fertile tablelands and stretches of excellent soil. The Arid high plateau of South-Western Rajasthan is broken by wild cliffs and hill ranges. Irrigation dams or deep wells are the source of water for the fields in the oases lying within the Valleys.

Cliffs form the backdrop of Jodhpur, disappear into the endless barren plain from which the medieval fort of Nagaur rises as a landmark. Beyond this is the Thar desert which is a part of the great Indian desert-Burning like a furnace even in early March, it is the 'Maru-kantar', the region of death. Aravalli range starts from the borders of Delhi and becomes well defined before Alwar. The forests of Alwar, Bharatpur and Sawai- Madhopur are the home of the tiger, the panther, the wild boar, the blue bull and the more graceful and agile animals of the deer family.

The plains here are level and flat, with rich alluvial loam. Down south, in Kota and Bundi, in the Chittorgarh and Bhilwara districts, wheat, maize, paddy and sugarcane fields sprawl along the river-banks.

The very opposite of its western counterpart, Eastern Rajasthan has much that belies the notion of Rajasthan being a desert state. The plateau on which this picturesque city stands marks the highest elevation of the plains of North India and it is called the watershed of India. Guru Sikhar or the Hermit's peak which is the highest point of the range near Mount Abu may be described as the roof of this region.

Fairs and Festivals
Rajasthan has an unending cycle of fairs and festivals throughout the year. They are perhaps the most colourful and spectacular in the whole of India. Besides the festivals born out of age old traditions, there are others which celebrate seasons, cattle marts which turn out to be enthralling fairs, craft fairs that highlights the crafts of the different regions and so on. Rajasthani festivals give an insight to the colourful life style of the Rajasthani people and are mesmerizing with their folk dances, music, drama and animal races. Some of the main Fairs and festivals are Teej, Gangaur and the Pushkar Fair, Desert festival, Elephant Festival and the Camel festival which are now known worldwide.



Tourism
Known as the 'Land of Palaces and Forts', Rajasthan situated in the Northern part of India is decked with alluring palaces, magnificent forts, a rich culture and heritage. The state encompasses most of the area of the Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert).Mount Abu, known as one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world is famous for its Dilwara Temples. October to March is the best time to visit Rajasthan.

Archaeological excavations establish a connection with the Harappan culture which dates to about 1000BC. In the period from 3000-500BC this region formed a part of the river valley inhabitation. The relics of Virat also speaks of the area being inhabited by the Pre-Aryan people of the oldest called Push Karara Nanya (modern Pushkar in Ajmer). The first Aryan settlement here was at Dundhmer in modern Dundhar. The influence of Jainism and Buddhism, also spread to this region. It witnessed the rule of the Magadha, Kushanas and the Guptas, during which it was divided into Mahajanapadas and Janapadas. Rajasthan formed part of the Mauryan Empire in about 130-150AD and the Guptas ruled it in the 4th century.

From about 640AD the Gujars, Pratiharas, Chauhans, Gahlots etc established their independent Kingdoms. Internal rivalry between the Rajput Kingdoms led to the establishment of many strong Rajput Kingdoms which resisted the supreme domination of the Mughals. The Mughal rule declined by about 1707AD and gave way to the Marathas. The Marathas were subdued by the British who disintegrated many of its areas. After Independence Rajasthan was organised into a state in 1956.

People
Rajasthan is thickly populated in Bharatpur area in the east and sparsely populated tracts with a density as low as about four people per square kilometer in Jaisalmer in the extreme west.
Rajasthan is the region of the proud Rajputs who are generally regarded as the personification of Chivalry and whose exploits and bravery in battle are legendary. Rajputs are Scythian descent- a stock which moved out from the Caucasus in Central Asia towards the Indus Valley on the one side and the Germanic parts of Europe on the other.

In 'Rajasthan Ki Jatiyan' written by Bajranglal Lohia, according to 1891 census report the society in Rajasthan is divided into castes, sub-castes and group under eight broad heads. The martial Rajputs not only belong to the well-known clans such as the Sisodias, Rathors, Chauhans, Kachawahas, Bhattis, Panwars and Solankis but have-off-shoots known as Musalman Rajputs or 'Musalman Sipahis'. The Bhatti Rajputs who were forced to embrace Islam between 1193 and 1684 were called Sindhi Sipahis and the Chauhans who were subjected to this conversion around 1383 formed the sizeable group called Kaimrhani in the Shekhawati and Nagaur areas.

Besides the Rajputs and the Musalmans, western region of the state enumerates at least 34 castes and sub-castes of Brahmins and seven interesting groups under the head 'Bards and other communities' among them being the Charan - the friend, philosopher and guide of the Rajput and the Bhat, who maintains the family tree and other chronological records of his patrons.

Rajasthan has eight, communities classified as 'writers and chroniclers'. They are Kayasthas, Khatris, Orwals, Mohnots, Bhandaris, Singhis, Lodhas and Mohatas, whose members are in the field of business, industry and administration.

The seven communities namely the Dholi, Dhadhi, Hinjara, Jagri-Patur, Bhagtan, Kalawat and Bhand are grouped under 'Minstrels and Instrument Players'. Among these the Hinjaras, Kalawats and Bhands are entertainers, jokers and festers.

The trading and business communities generally called Marwaris include the Mahajans, Sarawagis, Porals, Shrimals, Shrishrimals, Agarwals, Maheswaaris, Vijayvargias, Sunlas, Bohres, Pheriwalas, Baldias and Lohias.

Carpenters, barbers, tailors, black-smith, utensil makers, cloth-printers, dyers and tiers, patwaris, weavers, washer men, potters, cobblers sweepers, stone-dressers, nats, sansis, badris and scores of other workers, all belong to the artisan community.

Tribes
Two prominent scheduled Tribes of this region are the Bhils and the Meenas. The total population is about 31,25,506 of the Scheduled Tribes in the State. The Bhils are mostly concentrated in the hill-locked districts of Udaipur, Dungarpur and Banswara while the Meenas are settled mainly in the Jaipur, Sawai- Madhopur and Udaipur districts.

Other Scheduled Tribes are the Garasias and the Sahrias. The Garasias are concentrated in the Pali and Sirohi districts, while the Sahrias are limited to a pocket of two tehsils in the Kota district.

The Bhils form the most significant tribal group in the State. The Most undeveloped tribal group are the Sahrias. All the Scheduled Tribes of Rajasthan are incorporated in the Hindu social order.