Rajasthan

"Padharo mahare desh mein"

Welcome! Welcome to my land

Introduction :

Rajasthan – the Land of Kings, is a majestic tapestry of camels plodding over soft sand dunes of the Thar desert. Its imposing forts and grand palaces, remind one of the sophisticated lifestyles of the maharajas. It is a kaleidoscope of brightly turbaned men with proud mustaches & women with twinkling anklets in colourful swirling ghagras. The land is synonymous with romance and chivalry. Immensely rich in culture, history and natural beauty, is always teeming with colour, joy and friendliness. The cities of Rajasthan, still retain the medieval flavour, keeping alive the timeless traditions in their rich art and crafts, colourful bazaars and vibrant people. The land comes alive with exuberant folk dances and music, ballads and spectacular festivities that are an inseparable part of Rajasthan’s culture. Rajasthan is renowned for miniature paintings and frescoes, fabulous Rajasthani fabrics and jewellery along with a wide range of beautiful handicrafts.

Facts :

Rajasthan is situated in the North Western part of India, & borders Punjab in the north, Haryana & Uttar Pradesh in the northeast, Madhya Pradesh in the east & Gujarat in the south. On the western side it shares a long stretch of border with the neighbouring country Pakistan. It has a total area of 3,42, 239 sq.km & is the second largest state in the country. The state is divided into 31 districts. The state capital is Jaipur.

Climatically, Rajasthan is the driest part of India. The Aravali mountains, stretching diagonally across the state, from the South-West to North-East, separate the desert areas to the west from the sub-humid areas in the East. The official language of the state is Hindi.

History :

The earliest inhabitants of Rajasthan belonged to the Great Harappan Civilization. This area saw the arrival of the horse riding Aryans from central Asia in about 2000 BC. The Mauryan dynasty-one of the first dynasties to rule over large parts of India controlled this area in about 400 AD. With the passing of time however this arid region became the scene of the ravaging onslaught brought about by the Huns and the Scythians. The settling of the Scythians in Rajasthan set the stage for the rise of the Rajputs who were the offspring's of the Indo-Scythians.

With the passing of time this new race proliferated into a number of new clans. Rajasthan thus became the homeland of these groups of warrior clans, collectively called Rajputs, who dominated this region for over a thousand years. They carved out small kingdoms in this region during the 9th and 10th century AD that were often at war with each other. Due to this lack of unity, the Rajputs were unable to present a combined front against a common aggressor. This weakness ensured that every foreign aggressor in India created enough trouble for the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan. All this resulted in them being defeated or subjugated by the Mughals, who reduced them to the status of the vassals.

Nevertheless the bravery and, sense of pride and honor amongst Rajputs is unparalleled in the history of India. Chivalry was the hallmark of the Rajputs. They fought with courage and determination. Death to defeat was the theme of Rajput warring ideology. They would face the enemy with all the might even if defeat were imminent; in which case jauhar was performed. In this grim ritual, women and children would commit suicide by immersing themselves in a huge funeral pyre. It was for these qualities that some of the Rajputs rulers and chieftains adorned the court of most of the Mughal rulers especially Akbar. Their warring skills were used to the fullest by Akbar who very effectively used the services of these brave fighters for the protection of his vast kingdom. He also entered into matrimonial alliances with prominent Rajput families, most important being the one with princess Jodha Bai, daughter of the Maharaja of Amber.

With the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Rajputs were gradually able to recover their lost territories and status. These turn of events were however short-lived, as very soon the British set foot on the Indian mainland marking the beginning of one of the most eventful phase of Indian history. The British Raj, as it was popularly called, was characterized by many anew trends and practices. One of these was their policy of signing articles of alliances with most of the princely states in India that ensured their independent existence subject to certain political and economic restrictions. This marked the decline of the once mighty & powerful Rajput dynasties of this region.

After independence Rajasthan became an integral part of the Union of India under the new constitution.

Highlights :

Ø Bharatpur :

Famous for its 29 sq km bird sanctuary, which has the largest concentration and variety of birdlife in Asia.

Ø Jaipur :

The capital of Rajasthan, was the stronghold of a clan of rulers, whose three hill forts and series of palaces in the city are important attractions.

Ø Jodhpur :

Exquisite forts and palaces

Ø Jaisalmer :

Located in the heart of the desert, it is surrounded by sand-dunes.

Ø Bikaner :

Its sandstone palace, temples and cenotaphs, echo the past.

Ø Shekhavati :

The greatest attractions here are the deserted mansions of local merchants, decorated with a profusion of wall paintings.

Ø Dundlod and Mandawa :

They are forts, now converted into charming hotels.

Ø Bundi :

It is remarkable for its palace fort and gallery of fine frescoes.

Ø Ajmer :

Its pre-eminence is due to the shrine of a Muslim saint, who is believed to fulfill one’s wishes.

Ø Pushkar :

It has one of the very few temples, dedicated to Brahma the creator. India’s most splendid camel fair, takes place every year in November for 10 days, in Pushkar.

Ø Sariska :

The wildlife sanctuary of Sariska, includes the tiger, panther, deer and antelope.