Google Map Of Rajasthan

• Official Website: http://www.rajasthan.gov.in/
• Established: 1 November 1956
• Capital: Jaipur
• Largest City: Jaipur
• Districts: 33
• Government Body: - Governor-Dr. Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister-Ashok Gehlot
• Legislature: Unicameral (200 seats)
• Parliamentary Constituency: 25
• High Court: Rajasthan High Court
• Area Total: 342,269 km2 (132,150.8 sq mi)
• Area Rank: 1st
• Population 2011: 68,621,012
• Population Density: 200.5/km2 (519.3/sq mi)
• Time Zone: IST (UTC+05:30)
• UN/LOCODE: NA
• ISO 3166 code: IN-RJ
• Vehicle Registration: NA
• HDI:  0.537 (medium)
• HDI Rank: 21st (2005)
• Literacy: 68% (20th)
• Official Languages: Marwaris, Rajasthani, Hindi

History behind the state name :

The word Rajasthan literally means the land of kingdoms. It is so because the region once had a great number of princely states ruled by Rajput kings. The region is also referred to as Rajputana meaning the abode of the Rajputs. The name Rajasthan owes its origin to the works of James Tod who first mentioned it in his work Annals (1829 AD). Historians are of the opinion that the name Rajasthan though essentially is in the Indian language but was coined by the British.

Population:

The people who live in Rajasthan are called Rajasthanis. They are the native inhabitants of Rajasthan comprising of Scytho-Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, Indo-Scythian, Indo-Greeks, Indo-Iranians, Aryo-Dravidian and Austro-Asiatic ancestries. Throughout the Indian subcontinent the Rajasthanis are popularly called as Marwari or people from the Marwar region. The total population of the state is about 6 crore 86 lakhs. bearing a sex ratio of 926 females per 1000 males with a density of 165 persons per square kilometer.

Geographical situation:

Rajasthan is the largest state of India according to the area covered by it. It covers an area of about 342,239 km2 amounting to almost 10% of India’s total land. Rajasthan is situated in the north western part of India encompassing the most parts of the Great Indian Desert or the Thar Desert. The western part of the state is bordered by the neighbouring country of Pakistan and the south-west by the state Gujarat. The state of Madhya Pradesh forms the south-eastern border while the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana form the north-eastern border. The northern part of Rajasthan is bordered by Punjab.

Weather conditions:

In a broader sense it can be said that Rajasthan has a tropical desert climate all over the year with extreme cold prevailing from October to February and scorching heat from March to September with rains in July and August. The rain fall is scanty as the climate is mostly arid to sub-humid. The state experiences the hottest weather conditions in June and coldest conditions in January.

History of the State:

The Rajput clan emerged into scenario at about 700 AD before which Rajasthan was ruled by Malavas, Arjunyas, Yaudhyas, Kushans, Saka Satraps, Guptas and Hunas. Among the Rajputs the Pratihars and then the Chalukyas, Parmars and Chauhans ruled Rajasthan after which at about 1200 AD most part of it was ruled by the Muslims. During Akbar’s reign Rajasthan was unified politically and he first created the unified province of Rajasthan. After the fall of the Mughal Empire the next great significant ruler was the British Government. 
Post Independence from the British rule saw the coming together of the 19 princely states, two chief-ships, and a British administered territory into one state of Rajasthan. This long process of integration started on March 17, 1948 and ended on November 1, 1956.

Demographics:

The total population of Rajasthan bears a sex ratio of 926 females per 1000 males with a density of 165 persons per square kilometer. The decadal growth rate is 28.41% and crude birth rate is 27.5% - both of which are higher than the Indian average. But the population below poverty line is 15.28% which is almost 10% lower than the average of India.

Economical Information:

The economy of the state depends mainly on its agriculture. But the state produces a large amount of foreign exchange through tourism. Textiles, agriculture based and mineral based industries form the major part of the industrial economy. At recent times the state has turned out to be a major destination for IT companies and boasts of the largest integrated IT hub of northern India.

Culture:

Rajasthan has a rich and artistic culture. It is predominantly folk in nature reflecting the ancient Indian ways of life. A definite sect of the Indian Classical Music and Dance is found within the rural culture of Rajasthan. It is so rich in content and color that it has become the symbolic representation of the state.

Cuisine:

Rajasthani cuisine is known all over the world for it’s hot spices. Red chillies and hot garlic paste is used to prepare a number of dishes. Traditionally scarcity of water, fresh green vegetables and war like attitude has helped the Rajasthani food to be tough. Here both vegetarian dishes and non-vegetarian dishes bear a mark of rajasthani cooking. Snacks like that of Bikeneri snacks are also world famous.

Festivals:

The festivals are always vibrant with rich colors, be it at any time of the year. The predominant festivals of the state are Holi, Dewali, Gangaur, Gogaji, shri Devnarayan Jayanti, Makar Sankranti and Janmastami. These festivals are predominantly celebrated all over the state. But some regional festivals like the Pushkar Mela at Pushkar also hold international fame. As the population in the state is predominantly Hindu so the major festivals are of Hindu religion, but the Muslim festivals like Id and Muharram are also celebrated here. Other than this the Rajasthani desert festival and the Rajasthan Diwas is also celebrated by people of all religions.

Religion:

The Rajasthani population is comprised of 88.8% Hindus and 8.5% Muslims. The Sikhs and Jains make up 1.4% and 1.2% respectively of the total population. The literacy rate in the state is 61.03%. The Sindhis or the people of the Sindh province (now in Pakistan) form the major part of the population.