Rajasthan Travel
About Rajasthan
Rajasthan is one of the most fascinating regions of the world, one of its
oldest civilizations with an extremely rich cultural heritage. Today, it is
one of India's top performing regional economies. In 1999-2000, Rajasthan
was the fastest growing state in the country with a compounded annual growth
rate of 9.18 per cent.
Rajasthan is a predominantly agrarian state where agriculture contributes about
25 to 40 per cent of the State's Domestic Product, and about 70 per cent of
the population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities. The main crops
of the State are food grains, pulses and oilseeds. The State has emerged as
a leading oilseed producer in the case of rape-seed, soyabean and mustard.
Administrative System
Rajasthan is one of the 27 states of India. The State, in its present form,
came into existence as a conglomeration of 19 princely states and 3 chiefships
which varied in size, administrative efficiency and socio-economic development
at the time of the formation of the State. At present, Rajasthan is divided
into 32 districts which are further divided into 241 tehsils, 183 municipalities,
237 Panchayat Samities and 9,184 village panchayats. Karauli District is the
latest addition in the category of districts in the State
Geography
Rajasthan has a total area of 0.342 million sq kms, making it geographically
the largest state in the country. The State shares its geographical boundaries
with the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Its north-western and western regions, comprising 11 districts covering 61 per
cent of the total area and 40 per cent population of the State, form the "Great
Indian Thar Desert".
Rajasthan is situated in the north-western part of India. It covers 3,42,239
square kilometres (1,32,139 square miles). Rajasthan lies between latitudes
23 degree 3' and 30 degree 12', north and longitudes 69 degree 30' and 78 degree
17', east. Compared to many countries that are located in a similar latitudinal
belt, such as in northern Arabia, Rajasthan has a less harsh climate. The State's
scorching and dry summers and its parched landscape are undergoing significant
changes because of the developmental efforts that have led to the spread of
the Indira Gandhi Nahar.
The southern part of Rajasthan is about 225 km from the Gulf of Kutch and about
400 km from the Arabian Sea. Rajasthan is bounded by Pakistan in the west and
north-west; by the State of Punjab in the north; by Haryana in the north-east;
by Uttar Pradesh in the east, by Madhya Pradesh in the south-east and Gujarat
in the south-west.
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 consists
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.
Topography
Land Area
3,42,239 sq km (1,32,139 sq miles)
Location
North-western India shares an international border with Pakistan and domestic
borders with Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It
lies between 23 degree 3' and 30 degree 12', north latitudes and 69 degree 30'
and 78 degree 17', east longitudes.
Climate
The climate of Rajasthan varies from semi-arid to arid. The mercury touches
49 degrees centigrade at some places during summer and drops below freezing
point during winter. Though the average annual rainfall ranges between 200-400
mm, it is as low as 150 mm in extreme arid zones and as high as 1,000 mm in
the south-eastern part of the State. Most of the rainfall (60-80%) is received
with the south-west monsoon in the period from July to September. The average
number of rainy days vary from 6 to 42, depending on the aridity of the area.
Time Zone
GMT + 5 1/2 hours
Demography
Population 56.5 million (2001)
Density of population 165 per sq km (2001)
Urban Population 23.38 per cent of population (2001)
Literacy Rate 61 per cent
Languages Spoken
Hindi and Rajasthani are the principal languages prevalent in the State. English
is the preferred business language.
Major Religion
Majority are Hindus. Jains also form a sizeable part of the population. Other
religions also include Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs
Economic Profile
Industries
Cement, textiles, oilseeds processing, engineering, chemicals.
Principal Exports
The main items of export are gems and ornaments, woollen carpets, handprint
clothes, tie and dye clothes, handicrafts, marbles and marble idols, engineering
goods, etc.
Principal Crops
Barley, millet, maize, gram, wheat, oilseeds, pulses, cotton and tobacco,
orange, chillies, mustard, cumin seeds, methi and soyabean.
Principal Minerals
Jasper, garnet, wollastonite, copper ore, iron ore, manganese ore, tungsten
ore, pyrites, ceramic minerals, building stones.
Airports
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Jaisalmer.
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