Rajasthan: Encyclopedia - Rajasthan

Rajasthan

Rajasthan (राजस्थान) is the geographically largest state in northwestern India. It borders Pakistan to the west, Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast and Punjab to the north. Rajasthan covers an area of 342,239 km² (132,139 mi²;).

The state capital is Jaipur. Geographical features include the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan and the termination of the Ghaggar River. One of the world's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range, cradles the only hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, and its world famous Dilwara Temples. Eastern Rajasthan has two national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska, as well as Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, famous for its bird life.

Rajasthan - Geography

The main geographic feature of Rajasthan is the Aravalli Range, which runs through the state from southwest to northeast, almost from end to end. Mount Abu is at the southwestern end of the range, although a series of broken ridges continues into Haryana in the direction of Delhi. About three-fifths of Rajasthan lies northwest of the Aravallis, leaving two-fifths on the east and south.

The northwestern portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry, and most of the region is covered by the Thar Desert, which extends into adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Ranges intercept the moisture-giving southwest monsoon winds off the Arabian Sea, leaving the northwestern region in a rain shadow. The Thar Desert is thinly populated, and the town of Bikaner is the largest city in the desert. The Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert and the Aravallis. This region receives less than 750 mm of rain in an average year, and summer temperatures can exceed 45º C in the summer months, and drop below freezing 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. 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.

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 Kathiarbar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion, with tropical dry broadleaf forests that include teak, Acacia, and other trees. The hilly Vagad region lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border with Gujarat. 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 is 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.

Rajasthan - History

Rajasthan was earlier called Rajputana (state of Rajputs) after the ruling class of Rajputs. Rajput which literally means 'son of rulers'. Rajput clans rose to prominence in the 6th century, establishing kingdoms in Rajasthan and across northern India. The Rajputs resisted Muslim incursions into India, although a number of Rajput states became tributaries to the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire during those empires' peak of expansion. As these empires weakened, the Rajputs reasserted their independence. With the decline of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century, Rajputana came under attack from the Marathas and Pindaris, and the Maratha general Sindhia captured Ajmer. The Rajput kings concluded treaties with the British in the early 19th century, accepting British sovereignty in return for local autonomy and protection from the Marathas. Ajmer became a province of British India, while the autonomous Rajput states and a few non-Rajput states (Tonk, Bharatpur, and Dholpur) were organized into the Rajputana Agency.

The Rajputs' tradition of independence preserved Rajasthan's culture and society, but many argue that it also kept the state illiterate, backward and old fashioned, leaving it less advanced in industrialisation, education, female rights, and equality.

Rajasthan's independent kingdoms created a rich architectural and cultural heritage, seen today in its numerous forts, palaces and havelis, which are complemented by exceptional examples of Muslim and Jain architecture.

Rajasthan - Districts

Rajasthan has 32 districts:

These districts are grouped into seven divisions:

• Ajmer Division: Ajmer, Bhilwara, Nagaur, Tonk.
• Bharatpur Division: Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karuali, Swai Madhopur.
• Bikaner Division: Bikaner, Churu, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh.
• Jaipur Division: Jaipur, Alwar, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Dausa.
• Jodhpur Division: Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Pali, Sirohi.
• Kota Division: Baran, Bundi, Jhalawar, Kota.
• Udaipur Division: Banswara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Rajsamand.

Rajasthan - Famous people

The history of Rajasthan is very long and dramatic filled with lots of heroic stories and instances where people have put their life and families at risk and kept the pride and values like loyalty, freedom, truth, shelter etc intact. This is list of famous people in the history of Rajasthan:

• Baldev Ram Mirdha
• Chaudhari Kumbharam Arya
• Rana Pratap Singh
• Rana Sangha
• Mirabai
• Jaimal Rathore
• Veer Durgadas
• Panna Dhai
• Veer Teja
• Shekha Ji
• Maharani Gayatri Devi - Alive and active
• Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh
• Maharaja Sawai ManSingh
• Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh
• Maharaja Suraj Mal
• Maharaja Raja Babu
• Swami Keshwanand

Rajasthan - Statistics

• Population: 56.47 million (2001 Census, estimated at more than 58 million now)
• Cities and Towns: 222
• Major cities: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Bhilwara, Alwar
• Roads: 61,520 km. ( 2,846 km National Highway)
• National highways crossing Rajasthan: Delhi-Ahmedabad, Agra-Bikaner, Jaipur-Bhopal and Bhatinda-Kandla
• Climate: Generally dry with monsoon during July-August
• Districts: 32
• Languages: English and Hindi commonly used, as well as indigenous Rajasthani languages
• Literacy: 61.03 %

Rajasthan - Problems facing Rajasthan

The main problem in Rajasthan is its water scarcity. Many people in the desert region lack enough water. Because of the desert which constitutes western Rajasthan, the transport routes are few. The sex ratio in Rajasthan is also a problem. It has at times gone as low as 850 females to 1000 males.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rajasthan", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki