Rajasthan is the largest state of the Republic Of India in terms of area. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable GreatIndian Desert (Thar Desert), which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with Pakistan. The region borders Pakistan to the west, Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar pradesh and Haryana to the northeast and Punjab to the north. Rajasthan covers an area of 342,239 km² (132,139 mi²).
The state capital is Jaipur. Geographical features include the Thar desert along north-western Rajasthan and the termination of the Ghaggar river near the archeological ruins at Kalibanga, which are the oldest in the subcontinent discovered so far.
One of the world's oldest Mountain Ranges, theAravali Ranges cradles the only hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu , and its world-famous Dilwara Temples, a sacred pilgrimage forJains. Eastern Rajasthan has two national tiger reserves,Ranthambore and Sariska, as well as KeoladoNational park nearBharatpur, famous for its bird life.
Rajasthan was formed on 30 march 1949, when all erstwhile princely states ruled by Rajputs, known as Rajputana , merged into the Dominion of India. The only difference between erstwhile Rajputana and Rajasthan is that certain portions governed directly by theBristish Raj, in the former province of Ajmer-Merwara, were included. Portions lying geographically outside of Rajputana such as the Tonk state were given to Madhya Pradesh.
History
Historical traditions are that Rajputs, Naths ,Jats , Bhils , Ahirs, Gujars, Meenas and some other tribes made a great contribution in building the state of Rajasthan. All these tribes suffered great difficulties to protect their culture and the land. Millions of them were martyred for this land. ‘The Hinduan Suraj’ title to Udaipur was due to Bhils. Jats had been fighting since beginning. Gujars had been exterminated in Bhinmal and Ajmer areas fighting with the invaders. Bhils once ruled Kota and Bundi. Gujars were sardars in Alwar, Jodhpur and Ajmer areas. Meenas were ruler of Dhundhar. The earlier contributions of warriors and protectors of the land Jats, Bhils, Gujars and Meenas were neglected and lost in history.
Rajasthan includes most of Rajputana, comprised of a number of Rajput kingdoms as well as Jat kingdoms and a Muslim kingdom. The Jats were rulers in Bharatpur and Dholpur. Tonk was ruled by a Muslim Nawab. Jodhpur, Bikaner,Udaipur, and Jaipur were some of the main Rajput states. Rajput families rose to prominence in the 6th century CE. The Rajputs resisted the Muslim incursions into India, although a number of Rajput kingdoms eventually became subservient to the Delhi Sultanete and the Mughal Empire during those empires' peak of expansion.
