RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan is India's largest state by area
(342,239 square kilometres (132,139 sq mi) or 10.4% of India's total area). It
is situated on the western side of the country, where it comprises most of the
wide and inhospitable” Rajasthan Desert” (also known as the "Thar
Desert" and "Great Indian Desert") and shares a border with the
Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to the west, along the
Sutlej-Indus river valley. Elsewhere it is bordered by five other Indian
states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya
Pradesh to the southeast; and Gujarat to the southwest.
Important features include the ruins of the
Indus Valley Civilization at Kalibanga; the Dilwara Temples, a Jain pilgrimage
site at Rajasthan's only hill station, Mount Abu, in the ancient Aravalli
mountain range; and, in eastern Rajasthan, the Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur,
a World Heritage Site known for its bird life. Rajasthan is also home to three
national tiger reserves, the Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur,
Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and Mukundra Hill Tiger Reserve in Kota.
The state was formed on 30 March 1949 when
Rajputana – the name adopted by the British Raj for its dependencies in the
region – was merged into the Dominion of India. Its capital and largest city is
Jaipur, also known as Pink City, located on the state's eastern side. Other
important cities are Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Kota and Ajmer.
Map
The first name "Rajasthan"
appears in the 1829 publication Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han or the
Central and Western Rajpoot States of India, while the earliest known record of
"Rajputana" as a name for the region is in George Thomas's 1800
memoir Military Memories. John Keay, in his book India: A History, stated that
"Rajputana" was coined by the British in 1829, John Briggs,
translating Ferishta's history of early Islamic India, used the phrase
"Rajpoot (Rajput) princes" rather than "Indian princes".
Ancient
Parts of Rajasthan were partly part of the
Vedic Civilization and Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan, in Hanumangarh
district, was the most provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Matsya Kingdom of the Vedic civilization of
India, is said to roughly corresponded to the former state of Jaipur in
Rajasthan and included the whole of Alwar with portions of Bharatpur. The
capital of Matsya was at Viratanagar (which is known as Bairat), which have
been named after its founder king Virata.
Bhargava identifies the two districts of
Jhunjhunu and Sikar and parts of Jaipur district along with Haryana districts
of Mahendragarh and Rewari as part of Vedic state of Brahmavarta. Bhargava also
locates the present day Sahibi River as the Vedic Drishadwati River, which
along with Saraswati River formed the borders of the Vedic state of
Brahmavarta. Manu and Bhrigu narrated the Manusmriti to a congregation of seers
in this area only. Ashrams of Vedic seers Bhrigu and his son Chayvan Rishi, for
whom Chyawanprash was formulated, were near Dhosi Hill part of which lies in
Dhosi village of Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan and part lies in Mahendragarh
district of Haryana.
The Western Kshatrapas (405–35 BC), the
Saka rulers of the western part of India, were successors to the
Indo-Scythians, and were contemporaneous with the Kushans, who ruled the
northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The Indo-Scythians invaded the area
of Ujjain and established the Saka era (with their calendar), marking the
beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Satraps state.
Classical
Gurjars
Gurjars ruled many dynasties in this part
of the country, the region was known as Gurjaratra. Up to the tenth century
almost the whole of North India, acknowledged the supremacy of the Gurjars with
their seat of power at Kannauj.
Gurjara-Pratihara
The Gurjar Pratihar Empire acted as a
barrier for Arab invaders from the 8th to the 11th century. The chief
accomplishment of the Gurjara Pratihara empire lies in its successful
resistance to foreign invasions from the west, starting in the days of Junaid.
Historian R. C. Majumdar says that this was openly acknowledged by the Arab
writers. He further notes that historians of India have wondered at the slow
progress of Muslim invaders in India, as compared with their rapid advance in
other parts of the world. Now there seems little doubt that it was the power of
the Gurjara Pratihara army that effectively barred the progress of the Arabs
beyond the confines of Sindh, their first conquest for nearly 300 years.
Medieval and Early Modern
Historical
tribes
Traditionally the Rajputs, Jats,
Meenas,Rebari, Gurjars, Bhils, Rajpurohit, Charans, Yadavs, Bishnois, Sermals,
PhulMali (Saini) and other tribes had made a great contribution in building the
state of Rajasthan. All these tribes suffered many difficulties in protecting
their culture and the land. Millions of them were killed while trying to
protect their land. A number of Gurjars had been killed in Bhinmal and Ajmer
areas,while fighting with the invaders. Bhils once ruled Kota. Meenas were
rulers of Bundi, Hadoti and the Dhundhar region.
Meenas
The powerful Meenas ruled over Dhundhar
region,Hadoti and many other places in Rajasthan until 12th 20th century.
Major
rulers
Hemu, the Hindu Emperor, was born in the
village of Machheri in Alwar District in 1501. He had won 22 battles against
Afghans, from Punjab to Bengal including states of Ajmer and Alwar in
Rajasthan, and defeated Akbar's forces twice at Agra and Delhi in 1556 at
Battle of Delhi before something added to the throne of Delhi and establishing
the "Hindu Raj" in North India, albeit for a short duration, from
Purana Quila in Delhi. Hem Chandra was killed in the battlefield at Second
Battle of Panipat fighting against Mughals on 5 November 1556.
Maharana Pratap of Mewar resisted Akbar in
the famous Battle of Haldighati (1576) and he operated later from hilly areas
of his kingdom. The Bhils were Maharana's main allies during these wars. Most
of these attacks were repulsed even though the Mughal forces outnumbered Mewar
Rajputs in all the wars fought between them. The Haldighati war was fought
between 10,000 Mewaris and a 100,000-strong Mughal force (including many
Rajputs like Kachwahas from Dhundhar).
Jat king Maharaja Suraj Mal (February 1707
– 25 December 1765) or Sujan Singh was ruler of Bharatpur in Rajasthan. An old
historian has described him as "the Plato of the Jat people" and by a
modern writer as the "Jat Odysseus", because of his political
sagacity, steady intellect, and clear vision.
Rajput
era
Rajput families had rise to prominence in
the 6th century CE. The Rajputs puts up a valiant
resistance to the Islamic invasions and
protected this land for more than 500 years. They also resisted Mughals
invasion into India and thus contributed to their slower-than-anticipated
access to the Indian subcontinent. Later, the Mughals, through skilled warfare,
were able to get a firm grip on northern India, including Rajasthan. Mewar led
other kingdoms in its resistance to outside rule. Most important is that, Rana
Sanga fought the Battle of Khanua against Babur, the founder of the Mughal
empire.
After many years, the Mughals began to have
internal disputes which greatly distracted them at times. The Mughal Empire
continued to weaken, and with the decline of the Mughal Empire in the 18th
century, Rajputana came under the suzerainty of the Marathas. The Marathas, who
were Hindus from the state of what is now Maharashtra, ruled Rajputana for most
of the eighteenth century. The Maratha Empire, which had replaced the Mughal
Empire as the overlord of the subcontinent, was finally replaced by the British
Empire in 1818.
After facing a rapid defeat, the Rajput
kings concluded treaties with the British in the early 19th century, accepting
British suzerainty and control over their external affairs in return for
internal autonomy.
Modern
Modern Rajasthan includes most of Rajputana,
which includes the nineteen princely states, two chiefships, and the British
district of Ajmer-Merwara. Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner, Mewar (Chittorgarh),
Alwar and Dhundhar (Jaipur) were some of the Rajput princely states. Bharatpur
and Dholpur were Jat princely states whereas Tonk was a princely state under a
Muslim Nawab.
Rajasthan's formerly independent kingdoms
created a rich architectural and cultural heritage, seen even today in their
numerous forts and palaces (Mahals and Havelis), which improved the features of
Islamic and Jain architecture.
The development of frescos in Rajasthan is
linked with the history of the Marwaris (Jodhpur-pali), who played an important
role in the economic development of the region. Many wealthy families
throughout Indian history have links to Marwar. These include the legendary
Birla, Bajaj, Dalmia, and Mittal families.
Climate
In May and June, the dry western region of
Rajasthan records a maximum temperature of 48 ºC. On the other hand, Mt. Abu,
the only hill station of Rajasthan (situated at the highest peak of the Aravali
at an altitude of 1220 meters) registers the lowest temperatures ranging from
33 ºC to 23 ºC during this period.
Culture
Rajasthan is culturally rich and has artistic and cultural
traditions which reflect the ancient Indian way of life. There is rich and
varied folk culture from villages which are often depicted as a symbol of the
state. Highly cultivated classical music and dance with its own distinct style
is part of the cultural tradition of Rajasthan. The music has songs that depict
day-to-day relationships and chores, often focused around fetching water from
wells or ponds. Rajasthani cooking was influenced by both the war-like
lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in this arid
region. Food that could last for several days and could be eaten without
heating was preferred. The scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables have
all had their effect on the cooking. It is known for its snacks like Bikaneri
Bhujia. Other famous dishes include bajre ki roti (millet bread) and lashun ki
chutney (hot garlic paste), mawa kachori Mirchi Bada, Pyaaj Kachori and ghevar
from Jodhpur, Alwar ka Mawa (Milk Cake), malpauas from Pushkar and rassgollas
from Bikaner. Originating from the Marwar region of the state is the concept
Marwari Bhojnalaya, or vegetarian restaurants, today found in many parts of
India, which offer vegetarian food of the Marwari people.
The Ghoomar dance from Jodhpur Marwar and Kalbeliya dance of
Jaisalmer have gained international recognition. Folk music has an important
part in Rajasthani culture. Kathputli, Bhopa, Chang, Teratali, Ghindr,
Kachchhighori, and Tejaji are examples of traditional Rajasthani culture. Folk
songs are commonly ballads which relate heroic deeds and love stories; and
religious or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis which are often
accompanied by musical instruments like dholak, sitar, and sarangi are also
sung.
Rajasthan is known for its traditional, colourful art. The block
prints, tie and dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints, and Zari embroidery
are most important export products from Rajasthan. Handicraft items like wooden
furniture and crafts, carpets, and blue pottery are commonly found here.
Shopping reflects the colourful culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of
mirror work and embroidery. A Rajasthani traditional dress for females
comprises an ankle-length skirt and a short top, also known as a lehenga or a
chaniya choli. A piece of cloth is used to cover the head, both for protection
from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually designed
in bright colours like blue, yellow and orange.
The main religious festivals are Deepawali, Holi, Gangaur, Teej,
Gogaji, Shri Devnarayan Jayanti, Makar Sankranti and Janmashtami, as the main
religion is Hinduism. Rajasthan's desert festival is held once a year during
winter. Dressed in costumes, the people of the desert dance and sing ballads. There
are fairs with snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels
play a role in this festival.
The phenomenon of spirit possession has been documented in
modern Rajasthan. Some of the spirits that are claimed to possess Rajasthanis
are seen as good and beneficial while others are seen as malevolent. The good
spirits include murdered royalty, the underworld god Bhaironji, and Muslim
saints. Bad spirits include perpetual debtors who die in debt, stillborn
infants, deceased widows, and foreign tourists. The possessed individual is
referred to as a ghorala ("mount"). Possession, even if it is by a
benign spirit, is regarded as undesirable, as it entails loss of self-control
and violent emotional outbursts.
Traditional musical instruments of Rajasthan
FOOD
Dal-Bati-Churma is most popular dish in Rajasthan. The
traditional way to serve it is to first coarsely mash the Baati then pour pure
Ghee on top of it. It is served with the daal (lentils) and spicy garlic
chutney. Also served with Besan (gram flour) ki kadi. It is normally served at
all festivities, including religious occasions, wedding ceremonies, and
birthday parties in Rajasthan. "Dal-Baati-Churma", is a combination
of three different food items — Daal (lentils), Baati and Churma (Sweet). It is
a typical Rajasthani dish.
Special Jodhpuri
Mirchi vadan region of
Rajasthan records a maximum temperature of 48 ºC. On the other hand, Mt. Abu,
the only hill station of Rajasthan (situated at the highest peak of the Aravali
at an altitude of 1220 meters) registers the lowest temperatures ranging from
33 ºC to 23 ºC during this period
Tourism
Rajasthan attracted 14 percent of total
foreign visitors during 2009–2010 which is the fourth highest among Indian
states. It has fourth place in Domestic tourist visitors. Tourism is a
flourishing industry in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur and Ajmer-Pushkar, the
lakes of Udaipur, the desert forts of Jodhpur, Taragarh Fort (Star Fort) in
Ajmer, and Bikaner and Jaisalmer rank among the most preferred destinations in
India for many tourists both Indian and foreign. Tourism accounts for eight
percent of the state's domestic product. Many old and neglected palaces a
nd forts have been converted into heritage
hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector.
Pushkar Lake, a sacred Hindu lake, is
surrounded by fifty-two bathing ghats
Rajasthan is famous for its forts, carved
temples, and decorated havelis, which were built by Rajput kings in pre-Muslim
era Rajasthan. Rajasthan's Jaipur Jantar Mantar, Mehrangarh Fort and Stepwell
of Jodhpur, Dilwara Temples, Chittorgarh Fort, Lake Palace, miniature paintings
in Bundi, and numerous city palaces and haveli's are part of the architectural
heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made
of a type of sandstone dominated by a pink hue. In Jodhpur, maximum houses are
painted blue. At Ajmer, there is white marble Bara-dari on the Anasagar lake.
Jain Temples dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. Dilwara
Temples of Mount Abu, Ranakpur Temple dedicated to Lord Adinath in Pali
District, Jain temples in the fort complexes of Chittor, Jaisalmer and
Kumbhalgarh, Lodurva Jain temples, Mirpur Jain Temple, Sarun Mata Temple
kotputli, Bhandasar and Karni Mata Temple of Bikaner and Mandore of Jodhpur are
some of the best examples.
1.Jaipur
- Famous for: Heritage, Forts, Shopping, Cuisine.
- Major Attractions: City Palace, Amer Fort, Pink City Bazaars.
- Nearby Places: Ajmer, Sawai Madhopur, Pushkar.
The capital of
the state, Jaipur is also the largest city in the princely state of Rajasthan.
It was founded in 1727, by the Kachwaha Rajput Ruler Sawai Jaisingh II, who was
the ruler of Amber. Also known by the nickname ‘Pink City of India’ which is
due to the distinctive saffron or pink color of the buildings. The planning of
the city was done according to the Vedic Vastu Shastra (Indian architecture).
The well planned streets and detailed and artistic architecture make it one of
the top preferred tourist locations.
2.
Udaipur
- Famous for: Heritage, Forts, Lakes, Weddings.
- Major Attractions: City Palace, Lake Pichola, Lake Palace.
- Nearby Places: Nathdwara, Kumbhalgarh, Mount Abu.
While in a few texts, it has been termed as
the Venice of the East, the City of Udaipur is known by its common moniker, the
city of lakes. The city was the capital of the Sisodiya Rajputs of Mewar and is
famous for its palaces that exemplify the finesse of Rajputana Style
architecture. Udaipur was founded in 1553 by the Sisodiya Rajput Ruler Maharana
Udai Singh II. The Mewar Rajputs founded the city to relocate their capital
from Chittor to a more secure location. Today, most of the palaces have been
converted into hotels, thus attracting a huge no. of tourist crowd to this
city.
3.
Jodhpur
Famous for: Heritage, Forts, Cuisine.
Major Attractions: Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid
Bhawan.
Nearby Places: Osian, Phalodi, Ranakpur.
The second largest City of Rajasthan,
Jodhpur is also the second most populated city of Rajasthan after Jaipur. The
city was founded in 1459 by the Rathore Rajput Ruler, Rao Jodha Singh of
Marwar. The city was founded as Marwar’s new capital after the fall of the
former capital of Mandore. Jodhpur is also called the Sun City as it enjoys a
bright sunny weather all year round. Strategically, it is considered to be the
most important city of western Rajasthan as it lies only at a distance of 250
kilometers from the Indo-Pakistan border.
4.Ajmer
.Famous for: Sufism, Dargah.
- Major Attraction: Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
- Nearby Places: Pushkar, Jaipur.
Ajmer is surrounded by Aravalli ranges and
is a city seeped in both history and culture. It lies near Pushkar, a major
Hindu pilgrimage site and is the home of the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin
Chishti. This makes it a unique pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Muslims.
Apart from being a pilgrimage site, it is also the home of many fascinating
historic sites and therefore welcomes tourists from all over the world. In
2015, Ajmer was selected as a heritage site for the HRIDAY - Heritage City
Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India.
5.
Bikaner
- Famous for: Heritage, Cuisine, Rat Temple.
- Major Attractions: Junagarh Fort, Karni Mata Temple.
- Nearby Places: Churu, Salasar, Nagaur.
The city of
Bikaner was founded in 1488 by the Rathore Rajput Ruler Rao Bika. Rao Bika was
the son of the Rathore Ruler Rao Jodha who founded Jodhpur. The land was
usurped from the rivaling Jat rulers of that time. However, no matter how many
wars the ancient city has seen in the past, today Bikaner is another prime
tourist destination and is famous for its sweets and snacks. The place is known
for its forts and food.
Hotels
1. Yogis Guest House
Located in Jodhpur, Yogis Guest House is
just 500 metres from the Clock Tower and within 1 km from the city centre. It
operates a 24-hour front desk and provides free Wi-Fi access in its public
areas....
2. Roop Niwas Kothi
Offering an outdoor swimming pool and a
restaurant, Roop Niwas Kothi is located in Nawalgarh. Free Wi-Fi access is
available. It has a 24-hour reception for the convenience of the guest.
3. Samsara Resort and Camp
Offering an outdoor swimming pool, a
massage parlour and a spa and wellness centre, Samsara Resort and Camp is
located in Jodhpur. The accommodation will provide you with a seating area and
a
minibar....
4. Dreamtime Bunglaow
Operating a 24-hour front desk to assist
guests, Dreamtime Bungalows is located in Jaisalmer. It is 10 km from Amar
Sagar Lake, Khabha Fort and Kuldhara Village.
5. Ranbanka Heritage Resort
Featuring free WiFi and a barbecue,
Ranbanka Heritage Resort offers accommodation in Bhilwara. The resort has a sun
terrace and views of the garden, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
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