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Explore Rajasthan |
| Explore Rajasthan |
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Rajasthan renown for its majestic forts and palaces, fairs
and festival, music and dance and handicrafts is very colorful and vibrant state
of India. It is also famous for its rich cultural heritage. Rajasthan is widely
known for its fine miniature paintings, fabulous fabrics and Jewelry and a host
of beautiful handicrafts. Rajasthan has some of the finest national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries.
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| Rajasthan Travel Facts |
| Area |
342,239 sq km. |
| Population |
56.5 million. |
| Major Languages |
Hindi, Marwari, and Rajasthani |
| Capital |
Jaipur |
| Location |
Western Part of India |
| Climate |
The climate of Rajasthan is generally hot and dry, with scorching summers
and cool winters. |
| Best Time to Visit |
Mid October to mid March |
| International Airport |
Jaipur |
| Domestic Airports |
Jodhpur,
Udaipur |
| Major Festivals |
Desert
Festival, Camel
Festival, Kajli Teej, Gangaur
Festival, Teej
Festival, Marwar
Festival, Brij
Festival, Mewar
Festival, Summer
Festival, Raksha
Bandhan, Holi,
Dussehra,
and Diwali |
| Major Fairs |
Banganga Fair, Gogaji Fair, Kapil Muni Fair, Karni Mata Fair, Khatu Shyamji
Fair, Nagaur
Fair, Pushkar
Fair, Sheetla Mata Fair, Shri Mahavirji Fair and Urs
Fair |
| Tourist Attractions |
Forts, Palaces, Havelis, Wildlife, Sand dunes, Religious places, Fairs and
Festivals, Safaris, Handicrafts, etc. |
| Literacy rate |
61.03 % (As per 2001 census) |
| Major Industries |
Cement, Chemicals, Handicrafts, Sugar, and Textiles. |
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People and Religion
 According
to the 2001 census, Rajasthan has a population of 56.5 million. Rajasthan has large
indigenous populace–The Meo and Minas (Minawati) in Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, and
Dholpur areas. The Banjara are travelling tradesmen and artisans. The Gadia Lohar
is the ironsmith (lohar) who travels in bullock carts (Gadia); they generally make
and repair agricultural and household implements. The Bhils are one of the oldest
peoples in India, and inhabit the districts of Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh, Dungarpur,
Banswara, Udaipur, and Sirohi and are famous for their skill in archery. The Grasia
and nomadic Kathodi live in the Mewar region. Sahariyas are found in the Kota district,
and the Rabaris of the Marwar region are cattle breeders.
The Oswals hail from Osiyan near Jodhpur are successful traders and are predominately
Jains. While the Mahajan (the trading class) is subdivided into a large number of
groups, some of these groups are Jain, while others are Hindu. In the north and
west, the Jat and Gujar are among the largest agricultural communities. The Gujars
who are Hindus dwell in eastern Rajasthan. The nomadic Rabari or Raika are divided
in two groups the Marus who breed camels and Chalkias who breed sheep and goats.
The Muslims form less than 10% of the population and most of them are Sunnis. There
is also a small but affluent community Shiaite Muslims known as Bhoras in southeastern
Rajasthan.
 The
Rajputs though represent only a small proportion of the populace are the most influential
section of the people in Rajasthan. They are proud of their martial reputation and
of their ancestry
Religion
Hinduism, the religion of most of the population, is generally practiced through
the worship of Brahma, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, and other gods and goddesses. Nathdwara
is an important religious centre for the Vallabhacharya sect of Krishna followers.
There are also followers of the Arya Samaj, a reforming sect of modern Hinduism,
as well as other forms of that religion.
Rajasthani Art:
The miniature paintings of Rajasthan are renowned the world over. The famous schools
of painting in Rajasthan are: the Mewar School, Bundi-Kota Kalam, Bikaner, Jaipur,
Marwar and Kishangarh Schools. Artists engaged in miniature paintings exist in Jaipur,
Jodhpur, Nathdwara and Kishangarh and continue to work on handmade paper. Rajasthan's
popular dance is Ghoomer which gets its name from ghoomna. The other graceful dance
is Kalbelia. Jaipur, the Pinkcity of Rajasthan, is famous for its Blue Pottery.
It is also famous for precious and semi-precious gem stones. Jaipur has been famous
for the diamond industry throughout the world.
 Rajasthani
craft:
The range of Rajasthani textile is very huge. Block prints, tie & dye and embroidered
fabrics. The Bandhani (tie & dye and leharia) work from Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur
is world famous. Printed Kota Doria sarees are also famous. Hand block printed bed
sheets in Ajrak prints come from Barmer; sarees, wraps and kerchiefs from Nathdwara
and embroidered textiles from Bikaner and Barmer are well known. Jaipur, Jaisalmer,
Alwar & Bikaner are famous for terracotta craft.
Culture & Tradition:
Fairs and festivals of Rajasthan reflect its rich culture and tradition. Gangaur
festival, Teej festival, Pushkar fair, Desert festival, Marwar festival, Camel festival,
Urs fair, Nagaur festival, Summer festival and Elephant festival are some of the
popular festivals in Rajasthan. People of Rajasthan love celebrations.
 Music
of Rajasthan:
Rajasthan Music adds more symphony to the art & culture of Rajasthan. There is abundance
and diversity in Rajasthani music, which is rich, heroic, melancholic and joyful,
and governs all aspects of Rajasthani lives. The music of Rajasthan is compelling
and intoxicating.
Cuisine:
Rajasthan has a rich tradition of cuisines – for this land of princes had some of
the finest cooks in the palaces. The common-folk also took epicurean delight in
the culinary art. Aptly has it been said that the royal kitchens of Rajasthan raised
the preparation of food to the level of a sublime art. It is not surprising therefore
that the 'Khansamas' (the royal cooks) who worked in the State palaces kept their
most prized recipes to themselves. Some recipes were passed on to their descendants
and the rest were passed on as skills to the chefs of semi States and the branded
hotel companies.
One special feature of the Rajasthani cooking is that it has its roots in the lifestyle
of the medieval Rajasthan when the chieftains were mainly at war. The focus was
on edible items that could last for several days and could also be eaten without
heating. Food was also prepared out of necessity rather than choice. It depended
on the items available in particular regions. Furthermore, the scarcity of water
as well as fresh green vegetables have had some impact on their art of cooking.
In the desert belt of Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner, cooks use a minimum of water
and prefer, instead, to use more milk, buttermilk and clarified butter. A distinct
feature of the Maheshwari(a trading company) cooking is the use of mango powder,
a suitable substitute for tomatoes, scarce in the desert, and asafetida, to enhance
the taste in the absence of garlic and onions.
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