View source for Rajasthan

{{Short description|State in northwestern India}}
{{About||the film|Rajasthan (film){{!}}''Rajasthan'' (film)|other uses}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox Indian state or territory
| name = Rajasthan
| official_name = State of Rajasthan
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 280
| image_style              = 
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2/1
| caption_align = center
| image1   = Thar Khuri.jpg
| caption1 = [[Thar desert]]
| image2   = Jodhpur mehrangarh fort (enhanced).jpg
| caption2 = [[Mehrangarh]]
| image3   = Udaipur-Stadtpalast-42-vom Picholasee-2018-gje.jpg
| caption3 = [[City Palace, Udaipur]]
| image4   = Baroli temple.jpg
| caption4 = [[Ghateshwar Temple]]
| image5   = Whole image of kumbhalgarh.jpg
| caption5 = [[Kumbhalgarh]]
| image6   = Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam, Banswara.jpg
| caption6 = [[Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam]]
| image7   = Jain Temple Ranakpur.jpg
| caption7 = [[Ranakpur Jain temple]]
| image8   = Amber palace, Jaipur.jpg
| caption8 = [[Amer Fort]]
 }}
| type = State
| image_seal = Emblem Rajasthan.png
| seal_size = 100
| etymology = Land of [[Rajput|Kings]]
| motto = [[Satyameva Jayate]] <br/>
(Truth alone triumphs)
| image_map = IN-RJ.svg
| coordinates = {{coord|26.6|73.8|region:IN-RJ_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| region = North India
| before_was = [[Rajputana Agency]]
| formation_date4 = 30 March 1949
| capital = Jaipur
| largestcity = capital
| districts = [[List of districts of Rajasthan|50 (10 divisions)]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=17 March 2023 |title=Ahead of Assembly polls, Gehlot announces formation of 19 new districts in Rajasthan |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ahead-of-assembly-polls-gehlot-announces-formation-of-19-new-districts-in-rajasthan/article66632231.ece |access-date=17 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317180332/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/ahead-of-assembly-polls-gehlot-announces-formation-of-19-new-districts-in-rajasthan/article66632231.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Governor = [[Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde]]<ref>{{cite news |title=BJP's Veteran Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde Named Rajasthan Governor: 5 Points |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjps-veteran-haribhau-kisanrao-bagde-named-rajasthan-governor-5-points-6207173 |work=NDTV |date=28 July 2024 |access-date=28 July 2024}}</ref>
| Chief_Minister = [[Bhajan Lal Sharma]]
| party = [[BJP]]
| Deputy_CM = [[Diya Kumari]] ([[BJP]]) <br/>
[[Prem Chand Bairwa]] ([[BJP]])
| legislature_type = Unicameral
| assembly = [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
| assembly_seats = 200 seats
| rajya_sabha_seats = 10 seats
| lok_sabha_seats = 25 seats
| judiciary = [[Rajasthan High Court]]
| area_total_km2 = 342239
| area_rank = 1st
| length_km = 826
| width_km = 869
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Physiography of Rajasthan |url=https://environment.rajasthan.gov.in/content/environment/en/rsbb/about-rajasthan/physiography-of-rajasthan.html |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=Environment Portal |publisher=Government of Rajasthan |archive-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324211322/https://environment.rajasthan.gov.in/content/environment/en/rsbb/about-rajasthan/physiography-of-rajasthan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| elevation_m = 225
| elevation_max_m = 1,722
| elevation_max_point = [[Guru Shikhar]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2009 |title=Guru Shikhar...Mount Abu |url=http://sirohi.nic.in/guru.htm |access-date=24 March 2023 |publisher=National Informatics Centre |archive-date=10 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410000632/http://sirohi.nic.in/guru.htm |url-status=dead }}{{better source needed|{{subst:DATE}}|date=May 2023}}</ref>
| elevation_min_m = 100
| elevation_min_point = Bhim block
| population_footnotes = <ref name="RjPOP">{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/stock/profiles/en/IND008_Rajasthan.pdf|title=Rajasthan Profile|publisher=[[Census of India]]|access-date=21 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916102940/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/stock/profiles/en/IND008_Rajasthan.pdf|archive-date=16 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_total = {{Increase}} 68,548,437
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 7th
| population_density = 200
| population_urban = 24.87%
| population_rural = 75.13%
| population_demonym = [[Rajasthani people|Rajasthani]]
| 0fficial_Langs = [[Hindi]]<ref name=nclmanurep2010>{{cite web |url = http://www.nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |title = Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 52nd report (July 2014 to June 2015) |pages = 34–35 |publisher = Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |access-date = 16 February 2016 |df = dmy-all |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171523/http://www.nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |archive-date = 28 December 2017}}</ref>
| additional_official = [[English language|English]]<ref name=nclmanurep2010/>
| official_script = [[Devanagari script]]
| GDP_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Finance Department, GoR |url=https://finance.rajasthan.gov.in/docs/budget/statebudget/2024-2025%20(Modified%20Budget)/EconomicReviewE.pdf |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=finance.rajasthan.gov.in |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223083234/https://finance.rajasthan.gov.in/website/StateBudgetAll.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>{{nonspecific|date=May 2023}}
| GDP_total = {{Increase}}{{INRConvert|15.28|lc|lk=r|year=2022}}
| GDP_year = 2023-24
| GDP_rank = 7th
| GDP_per_capita = {{Increase}}{{INRConvert|167964|lk=r|year=2022}}
| GDP_per_capita_rank = 22nd
| HDI = {{Increase}} 0.629 {{color|#fc0|Medium}}<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database |website=Global Data Lab|access-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|archive-date=23 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| HDI_year = 2018
| HDI_rank = 22nd
| literacy = {{Increase}} 66.11%<ref name="pc-census2011">{{cite web |title=Census 2011 (Final Data) – Demographic details, Literate Population (Total, Rural & Urban) |url=http://planningcommission.gov.in/data/datatable/data_2312/DatabookDec2014%20307.pdf |publisher=Planning Commission, Government of India |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127163347/http://planningcommission.gov.in/data/datatable/data_2312/DatabookDec2014%20307.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
| literacy_year = 2011
| literacy_rank = 33rd
| sex_ratio = 1009[[female|♀]]/1000 [[male|♂]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sex ratio of State and Union Territories of India as per National Health survey (2019–2021)|url=https://main.mohfw.gov.in/basicpage-14|website=Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India|access-date=8 January 2023|archive-date=8 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108164803/https://main.mohfw.gov.in/basicpage-14|url-status=live}}</ref>
| sexratio_year = 2021
| sexratio_rank = 30th
| iso_code = IN-RJ
| registration_plate = RJ
| website = Rajasthan.gov.in
| mammal = [[Camel]] and [[Chinkara]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rajasthan.gov.in/StateSymbols.aspx?menu_id=42|title=Symbols of Rajasthan|publisher=Government of Rajasthan|access-date=13 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114002041/http://rajasthan.gov.in/index.php/home/about-rajasthan/state-symbols/|archive-date=14 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| bird = [[Great Indian bustard|Godawan]]
| flower = [[Tecomella|Rohida]]
| tree = [[Prosopis cineraria|Khejri]]
| image_highway = SH IN-RJ.png
| SH_numbers = [[List of state highways in Rajasthan|RJ SH1 -RJ SH138]]
}}

'''Rajasthan''' ({{IPAc-en|r|a:|dZ|@|'|s|t|a:|n}}; {{IPA|hi|raːdʒəsˈtʰaːn|lang|Rajasthan.ogg}}; [[Literal translation|lit.]] 'Land of Kings')<ref name=etymology /> is a [[States and union territories of India|state]] in [[northwestern India]].<ref name="Indian Zonal Council">{{Cite web|url=http://interstatecouncil.nic.in/iscs/genesis/|title=Inter-state Council Secretariat – Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|access-date=1 December 2018|publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217223824/http://interstatecouncil.nic.in/iscs/genesis/|archive-date=17 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=MoC-North>{{cite web|title=North Zone Cultural Centre|url=http://www.culturenorthindia.com/|publisher=Ministry of Culture, [[Government of India]]|access-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019132454/http://www.culturenorthindia.com/|archive-date=19 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Language">{{cite web |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013) |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |archive-date=8 July 2016 |access-date=26 December 2014 |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |page=22}}</ref> It covers {{convert|342239|km2|mi2}} or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the [[List of states and union territories of India by area|largest Indian state by area]] and the [[List of states and union territories of India by population|seventh largest by population]]. It is on India's northwestern side, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable [[Thar Desert]] (also known as the Great Indian Desert) and shares a border with the [[Pakistan]]i provinces of [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] to the northwest and [[Sindh]] to the west, along the [[Sutlej]]-[[Indus]] River valley. It is bordered by five other Indian states: [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] to the north; [[Haryana]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]] to the northeast; [[Madhya Pradesh]] to the southeast; and [[Gujarat]] to the southwest. Its geographical location is 23°.3' to 30°.12' North latitude and 69°.30' to 78°.17' East longitude, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its southernmost tip.

Its major features include the ruins of the [[Indus Valley civilisation]] at [[Kalibangan]] and [[Balathal]]<!--{{spaced ndash}}the oldest yet discovered on the [[Indian subcontinent]]-->, the [[Dilwara Temples]], a [[Jainism|Jain]] pilgrimage site at Rajasthan's only [[hill station]], [[Mount Abu]], in the ancient [[Aravalli Range|Aravalli mountain range]] and eastern Rajasthan, the [[Keoladeo National Park]] of [[Bharatpur, India|Bharatpur]], a [[World Heritage Site]]<ref name="WorldHeritageList">{{cite web |title=World Heritage List |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/340 |access-date=18 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030050702/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/340/ |archive-date=30 October 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> 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 the [[Mukundara Hills National Park|Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve]] in [[Kota district|Kota]].

The State of Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the [[Rajputana Agency]] of the erstwhile [[British Empire in India]] were merged into the new [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]]. Its [[List of state and union territory capitals in India|capital]] and largest city is [[Jaipur]]. Other important cities are [[Jodhpur]], [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]], [[Bikaner]], [[Ajmer]], [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]] and [[Udaipur]]. The [[economy of Rajasthan]] is the [[List of Indian states and union territories by GDP|seventh-largest state economy]] in India with {{INRConvert|10.20|lc}} in [[gross domestic product]] and a per capita [[GDP]] of {{INRConvert|118|k}}.<ref name="MOSPI">{{Cite web|url=http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_releases_statements/State_wise_SDP_28_02_2020.xls|title=MOSPI Net State Domestic Product, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India.|access-date=7 April 2020|archive-date=23 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323204745/http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/press_releases_statements/State_wise_SDP_28_02_2020.xls|url-status=live}}</ref> Rajasthan ranks [[List of Indian states and territories by Human Development Index|22nd]] among [[India]]n states in [[human development index]].<ref name="GlobalDataLab"/>

== Etymology ==
Rajasthan means "The Land of Kings" and is a portmanteau of [[Sanskrit]] "Rājā" ('King') and Sanskrit "Sthāna" ('Land') or [[Persian language|Persian]] "St(h)ān", with the same meaning.''<ref name="etymology">{{cite book |last1=Boland-Crewe |first1=Tara |last2=Lea |first2=David |title=The Territories and States of India |date=2003 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135356255 |page=208 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M2uPAgAAQBAJ&q=Tara+Boland-Crewe,+David+Lea,+The+Territories+and+States+of+India+rajasthan&pg=PA213 |access-date=26 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>'' The oldest reference to ''Rajasthan'' is found in a stone inscription dated back to 625 CE.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=K. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKsqzB4P1ioC&q=rajasthan|title=Rajasthan|date=1998|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=9788171547661|language=en|author-link=Kumar Suresh Singh}}</ref> The first printed mention of the name ''Rajasthan'' appears in the 1829 publication ''Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan 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 (soldier)|George Thomas]]'s 1800 memoir ''Military Memories''.<ref name="Kapil1999">{{cite book|author=F. K. Kapil|title=Rajputana states, 1817–1950|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCZuAAAAMAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Book Treasure|page=1|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101121202/https://books.google.com/books?id=eCZuAAAAMAAJ|archive-date=1 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Keay]], in his book ''India: A History'', stated that ''Rajputana'' was coined by the British in 1829, John Briggs, translating [[Firishta|Ferishta]]'s history of early Islamic India, used the phrase "[[Rajput|Rajpoot (Rajput)]] princes" rather than "Indian princes".<ref>{{cite book|title=India: a history|author=John Keay|publisher=Grove Press|year=2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibLUu6RlvqwC&pg=PA231|pages=231–232|quote=Colonel James Todd, who, as the first British official to visit Rajasthan, spent most of the 1820s exploring its political potential, formed a very different idea of "Rush boots" […] and the whole region thenceforth became, for the British, 'Rajputana'. The word even achieved a retrospective authenticity, [for,] in [his] 1829 translation of Ferishta's history of early Islamic India, John Bridge discarded the phrase 'Indian princes', as rendered in Dow's earlier version, and substituted 'Rajpoot princes'.|isbn=978-0-8021-3797-5|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101121202/https://books.google.com/books?id=ibLUu6RlvqwC&pg=PA231&dq|archive-date=1 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Rajasthan|List of battles of Rajasthan}}

=== Ancient times ===
Parts of what is now Rajasthan were partly part of the [[Vedic Civilisation]] and the [[Indus Valley civilisation]]. [[Kalibangan]], in [[Hanumangarh district]], was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazines.com/Indus_Valley_Civilization_related.html|title=Indus Valley Civilization Related Articles arsenical bronze writing, literature|publisher=Amazines.com|access-date=5 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220003630/http://www.amazines.com/Indus_Valley_Civilization_related.html|archive-date=20 December 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Andrew Topsfield|Topsfield]]<ref name=":0" /> writes that the [[Rajput]]s first entered India from the north west in the first millennium A.D. They established kingdoms in western India in the region that is now known as Rajasthan.<ref name=":0" />

An [[Archaeology|archaeological]] excavation at the [[Balathal]] site in Udaipur district shows a settlement contemporary with the Harrapan civilisation dating back to 3000–1500 BCE. Stone Age tools dating from 5,000 to 200,000 years were found in [[Bundi district|Bundi]] and [[Bhilwara district|Bhilwara]] districts of the state.<ref>{{citation |last=Pillai |first=Geetha Sunil |title=Stone age tools dating back 200,000 years found in Rajasthan |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/udaipur/stone-age-tools-dating-back-200000-years-found-in-rajasthan/articleshow/57385393.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=28 February 2017 |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417224702/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/udaipur/stone-age-tools-dating-back-200000-years-found-in-rajasthan/articleshow/57385393.cms |archive-date=17 April 2019 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
[[File:Bhabru inscription.jpg|thumb|The [[Minor Rock Edict]] 3 of Ashoka, found on the platform in front of the [[Bairat Temple]] of [[Viratnagar]], Rajasthan.<ref name=ASI>{{cite book |title=Archaeological Survey Of India Four Reports Made During The Years 1862 - 63 - 64 - 65 Volume Ii |date=1871 |pages=242–248 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3s4OAAAAQAAJ |last1=Cunningham |first1=Sir Alexander |access-date=31 October 2023 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031092627/https://books.google.com/books?id=3s4OAAAAQAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> ]]
The [[Matsya (tribe)|Matsya kingdom]] of the [[Vedic civilisation]] 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.<ref>{{cite book|author=Chatterjee|first=Ramanand|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPkEAAAAMAAJ|title=The Modern review|publisher=Prabasi|year=1948|volume=84|type=History|author-link=Ramananda Chatterjee}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Sita Sharma|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZvWAAAAMAAJ|title=Krishna Leela theme in Rajasthani miniatures|author2=Pragati Prakashan|year=1987|page=132}}</ref> The capital of Matsya was at [[Bairat|Viratanagar]] (modern Bairat), which is said to have been named after its founder King [[Virata]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|title=Rajasthan aajtak|isbn=978-81-903622-6-9}}</ref>{{Request quotation|date=July 2018|reason=Non-english source}}

Bhargava<ref>Sudhir Bhargava. "Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati river is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati river". Seminar, ''Saraswati river: a perspective'', 20–22 November 2009, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, organized by Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, Haryana. Seminar report: pages 114–117</ref> 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 Period|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.<ref>[[Manusmriti]]</ref> Manu and [[Bhrigu]] narrated the [[Manusmriti]] to a congregation of seers in this area. The 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 of which lies in [[Mahendragarh]] district of [[Haryana]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jain|first=M. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gUfaAQAACAAJ|title=Concise History of Modern Rajasthan|date=1 January 1993|publisher=Wishwa Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7328-010-8|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Western Kshatrapas]] (405–35 BCE), 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 [[Saka calendar|calendar]]), marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka [[Western Satraps]] state.<ref>John Rosenfield, ''The dynastic art of the Kushans'', p. 130.</ref>

=== Classical era ===
==== Gurjara-Pratihara ====
[[File:Baroli temple.jpg|thumb|left|Ghateshwara Mahadeva temple at the [[Baroli Temples|Baroli Temple Complex]]. The temples were built between the 10th and 11th centuries CE by the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty]].]]

The Pratiharas ruled for many dynasties in this part of the country; the region was known as ''[[Gurjaratra]]''.<ref name="RC MajumdarThe Age of imperial Kanauj vol 4">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/ageofimperialkan0000unse/page/19/mode/1up|chapter=Ancient India |title=The Age of imperial Kanauj | publisher = Motilal Banarsidassr| year = 1994| page = 263| editor-first=R. C. |editor-last=Majumdar| isbn = 978-81-208-0436-4| access-date = 15 November 2015}}</ref> Up to the 10th century CE, almost all of [[North India]] acknowledged the supremacy of the Imperial Pratiharas, with their seat of power at [[Kannauj]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay |volume=21 |author=Asiatic Society of Bombay|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Bombay Branch|year=1904|page=432|quote=Up to the tenth century almost the whole of North India, excepting Bengal, owned their supremacy at Kannauj.}}</ref>

The [[Gurjara-Pratihara|Gurjara 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 Pratihara army that effectively barred the progress of the Arabs beyond the confines of [[Sindh]], their only conquest for nearly 300 years.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Ancient India: Earliest Times to 1000 A.D.|author=Radhey Shyam Chaurasia|pages=207–208|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cWmsQQ2smXIC&pg=PA207|publisher=Atlantic|year=2002|isbn=978-81-269-0027-5}}</ref>

=== Medieval and early modern eras ===
{{Rajputana 1525 CE}}
The [[Ghurids]] had made an attempt to invade India through southern Rajasthan, however they were defeated in the [[Battle of Kasahrada]] on 1178 by a confederacy of Rajputs under [[Mularaja II]] of the [[Kingdom of Gujarat]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Bhatia|first=P.|title=The Paramāras: (c. 800 - 1305 A.D.) ; a Study in the Political and Cultural History of Their Kingdoms|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal|year=1970| isbn=978-81-215-0410-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CW6oyAEACAAJ|access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref> [[Prithviraj Chauhan]] led a confederacy of Rajput clans and defeated the invading Ghruids under [[Muhammad Ghori]] in the [[First Battle of Tarain]] in 1191. In 1192 CE, Muhammad Ghori decisively defeated Prithviraj at the [[Second Battle of Tarain]]. After the defeat of Chauhan in 1192 CE, a part of Rajasthan came under Muslim rulers. The principal centers of their powers were [[Nagaur]] and Ajmer. [[Ranthambore Fort|Ranthambhore]] was also under their suzerainty. At the beginning of the 13th century, the most prominent and powerful state of Rajasthan was [[Mewar]]. Since the invasion of the Muslim Turks from the 13th century onwards, the Rajputs resisted the Muslim incursions into India, and preserved [[Hindu culture]] at their courts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Jain |first=Kulbhushan |title=Paradigms of Indian Architecture |publisher=Routledge |year=1998 |isbn=9780700710386 |pages=159 |chapter=Spatial Organisation and Aesthetic Expression in the Traditional Architecture of Rajasthan}}</ref> 
 
The Rajputs put up resistance to the Islamic invasions with their warfare and chivalry for centuries. The Ranas of Mewar led other kingdoms in their resistance to outside rule. Rana [[Hammir Singh]] defeated the [[Tughlaq dynasty]] and recovered a large portion of Rajasthan. The indomitable [[Kumbha of Mewar|Rana Kumbha]] defeated the Sultans of [[Malwa Sultanate|Malwa]], Nagaur and [[Gujarat Sultanate|Gujarat]] and made Mewar the most powerful Rajput Kingdom in India. The ambitious [[Rana Sanga]] united the various Rajput clans, including the [[Khanzadas of Mewat|Muslim Khanzadas of Mewat]] under [[Hasan Khan Mewati|Raja Hasan Khan Mewati]], and fought against the foreign powers in India. Rana Sanga defeated the Afghan [[Lodi Empire]] of Delhi and crushed the Turkic Sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat. Rana Sanga then tried to create an Indian empire but was defeated by the first [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] Emperor [[Babur]] at [[Khanwa]]. The defeat was due to betrayal by the Tomar King [[Silhadi]] of Raisen. After [[Rana Sanga]]'s death, [[Marwar]] rose as a power center in Rajasthan under Rao [[Maldeo Rathore]]. He conquered Jaisalmer, parts of Gujarat, Jalore, Nagaur, Ajmer, Sanchore, Bhinmal, Radhanpur, Bayana, Tonk, Toda and Nabhara. He expanded the territories of Marwar up to Sindh-Cholistan in west and his northern boundary was just fifty kilometres from Delhi.<ref>Rima Hooja, "The State of Marwar/Jodhpur", in ''History of Rajasthan'', pp. 520–522</ref><ref>Majumdar, R.C., ed. (2006). ''The Mughul Empire''. Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 81–82.</ref> After defeating Humayun, Sher Shah came towards Rajputana. He defeated Chiefs of Rathore army by trickery in [[Battle of Sammel]] and captured some territory of Marwar but it was recovered by Rathores in 1545.<ref>Mahajan, V. D. (1991, reprint 2007). ''History of Medieval India'', Part II. New Delhi: S. Chand. p. 43.</ref>

[[Hem Chandra Vikramaditya]], the Hindu emperor,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sarkar|first=Sir Jadunath|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoRDAAAAYAAJ&q=brahmin|title=Military History of India|date=1960|publisher=Orient Longmans|isbn=9780861251551}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Coetzee|first1=Daniel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DW2jAQAAQBAJ&q=brahmin+hemu&pg=PA43|title=Philosophers of War: The Evolution of History's Greatest Military Thinkers|last2=Eysturlid|first2=Lee W.|date=21 October 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-07033-4}}</ref> was born in the village of Machheri in [[Alwar District]] in 1501. He won 22 battles against Afghans, from [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] to [[Bengal]] including the states of [[Ajmer]] and [[Alwar]] in Rajasthan, and defeated Akbar's forces twice, first at [[Agra]] and then at [[Delhi]] in 1556 at [[Battle of Delhi (1556)|Battle of Delhi]]<ref>Bhardwaj, K. K. ''Hemu: Napoleon of Medieval India''. New Delhi: Mittal Publications, p.25</ref> before acceding to the throne of [[Delhi]] and establishing the "Hindu Raj" in [[North India]], albeit for a short duration, from [[Purana Qila]] in Delhi. Hem Chandra was killed in the battlefield at [[Second Battle of Panipat]] fighting against Mughals on 5 November 1556.

[[File:Akbar shoots Jaimal at the siege of Chitor.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Akbar]] shoots the Rajput commander [[Jaimal Rathore|Jaimal]] using a [[matchlock]], during the [[Siege of Chittorgarh (1567–1568)|Siege of Chittor (1567–1568)]].]]
During [[Akbar]]'s reign most of the Rajput kings accepted Mughal suzerainty, but the rulers of Mewar (Rana [[Udai Singh II]]) and Marwar (Rao [[Chandrasen Rathore]]) refused to have any form of alliance with the Mughals. To teach the Rajputs a lesson Akbar attacked Udai Singh and killed Rajput commander Jaimal of Chitor and the citizens of Mewar in large numbers. Akbar killed 20,000–25,000 unarmed citizens in Chittor on the grounds that they had actively helped in the resistance.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Richards|first1=John F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HHyVh29gy4QC&pg=PA26|title=The Mughal Empire|date=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-56603-2|page=26|author-link=John F. Richards}}</ref>

[[Maharana Pratap]] took an oath to avenge the citizens of Chittor; he fought the Mughal empire till his death and liberated most of Mewar apart from Chittor itself. [[Maharana Pratap]] soon became the most celebrated warrior of Rajasthan and became famous all over India for his sporadic warfare and noble actions. According to [[Satish Chandra]], "Rana Pratap's defiance of the mighty Mughal empire, almost alone and unaided by the other Rajput states, constitutes a glorious saga of Rajput valor and the spirit of self-sacrifice for cherished principles. Rana Pratap's methods of sporadic warfare were later elaborated further by Malik Ambar, the Deccani general, and by Shivaji".<ref name="Satish Chandra">{{cite book|last1=Chandra|first1=Satish|title=Medieval India|year=2000|publisher=National Council of Educational Research and Training|location=New Delhi|page=164}}</ref>

Rana [[Amar Singh I]] continued his ancestor's war against the Mughals under [[Jehangir]], he repelled the Mughal armies at Dewar. Later an expedition was again sent under the leadership of Prince [[Shah Jahan|Khurram]], which caused much damage to life and property of [[Mewar]]. Many temples were destroyed, several villages were put on fire and women and children were captured and tortured to make Amar Singh accept surrender.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pant |first=Ashok |date=2012 |title=The Truth of Babri Mosque |isbn=9781475942897 |page=129|publisher=iUniverse }}</ref>

During [[Aurangzeb]]'s rule Rana [[Raj Singh I]] and Veer [[Durgadas Rathore]] were chief among those who defied the intolerant emperor of Delhi. They took advantage of the Aravalli hills and caused heavy damage to the Mughal armies that were trying to occupy Rajasthan.<ref>[[Niccolò Manucci]], {{lang|it|[[Storia do Mogor]]}}</ref><ref>''Cambridge History of India'', p. 304</ref>

After Aurangzeb's death [[Bahadur Shah I]] tried to subjugate Rajasthan like his ancestors but his plan backfired when the three [[Rajput]] [[Raja]]s of [[Jaipur State|Amber]], [[Udaipur State|Udaipur]], and [[Jodhpur State|Jodhpur]] made a joint resistance to the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]]. The Rajputs first expelled the commandants of [[Jodhpur]] and [[Bayana]] and recovered [[Amer, India|Amer]] by a night attack. They next killed Sayyid Hussain Khan Barha, the commandant of [[Mewat]] and many other Mughal officers. [[Bahadur Shah I]], then in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] was forced to patch up a truce with the Rajput Rajas.<ref>''The Cambridge History of India'', Volume 3, p. 322</ref> The [[Jat people|Jats]], under [[Suraj Mal]], overran the Mughal garrison at Agra and plundered the city taking with them the two great silver doors of the entrance of the famous [[Taj Mahal]] which were then melted down by Suraj Mal in 1763.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Dwivedi|first1=Girish Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AR5uAAAAMAAJ|title=The Jats, Their Role in the Mughal Empire|last2=Prasad|first2=Ishwari|date=1989|publisher=Arnold Publishers|isbn=978-81-7031-150-8|pages=56–61|language=en}}</ref>

Over the 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 late 18th century, [[Rajputana]] came under the influence of the [[Maratha Confederacy|Marathas]]. The Maratha Empire, which had replaced the Mughal Empire as the overlord of the subcontinent, was finally replaced by the [[British Empire]] in 1818.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hallissey|first=Robert C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jRuAAAAMAAJ|title=The Rajput Rebellion Against Aurangzeb: A Study of the Mughal Empire in Seventeenth-century India|date=1977|publisher=University of Missouri Press|isbn=978-0-8262-0222-2|pages=34–41}}</ref>

In the 19th century, the Rajput kingdoms were exhausted, they had been drained financially and in manpower after continuous wars and due to heavy tributes exacted by the [[Maratha Empire]]. To save their kingdoms from instability, rebellions and banditry 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.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bhargava|first=Visheshwar Sarup|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbY9AAAAIAAJ|title=Marwar and the Mughal Emperors (A.D. 1526–1748)|date=1966|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal|pages=123–126|isbn=9788121504003}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Maharana Kumbhakarna of Mewar.jpg|[[Rana Kumbha]] was the vanguard of the fifteenth century Rajput resurgence.<ref name="sen2">{{Cite book|last=Sen|first=Sailendra|title=A Textbook of Medieval Indian History|publisher=Primus Books|year=2013|isbn=978-9-38060-734-4|pages=116–117}}</ref>
File:Maharaja Hemu Bhargava - Victor of Twenty Two Pitched Battles, 1910s.jpg|The emperor [[Hemu]], who rose from obscurity and briefly established himself as ruler in northern India, from Punjab to Bengal, in defiance of the warring [[Sur Empire|Sur]] and [[Mughal Empire]]s.
File:Durgadas Rathore painting.jpg|Durgadas Rathore, a Rathore Rajput warrior of [[Jodhpur]] who played an important role in protecting the [[Rathore dynasty]] of [[Marwar]] and for his rebellion against [[Aurangzeb]].
File:Akheraj rajpurohit.jpg|Patshah Akheraj Rajpurohit, Sewad warrior and Rajguru, along with [[Durgadas Rathore]], protected Marwar, [[Ajit Singh of Marwar]] and rebelled against [[Aurangzeb]]
File:RajaRaviVarma MaharanaPratap.jpg|[[Maharana Pratap|Maharana Pratap Singh]], sixteenth-century Rajput ruler of [[Mewar]], known for his defence of his realm against Mughal invasion.
File:Maharaja Suraj Mal.jpg|[[Suraj Mal]] was ruler of [[Bharatpur State|Bharatpur]]. Some contemporary historians 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.<ref>R. C. Majumdar, H. C. Raychaudhury, ''Kalikaranjan Datta: An Advanced History of India'', 4th ed., 1978, {{ISBN|0-333-90298-X}}, p. 535</ref>     
</gallery>

=== Modern era ===
{{See also|List of palaces in Rajasthan}}
The State of Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the [[Rajputana Agency]]<ref name="GuptaBakshi2008PA143">{{cite book|author1=R.K. Gupta|author2=S.R. Bakshi|title=Studies in Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs (Set Of 5 Vols.)|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_S7dCkiyLJ6EC|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-841-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_S7dCkiyLJ6EC/page/n151 143]–|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref> of the erstwhile [[British Empire in India]] were merged into the new [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]]. Modern Rajasthan includes most of [[Rajputana]], which comprises the erstwhile nineteen [[princely state]]s, three chiefships, and the British district of [[Ajmer-Merwara]].<ref name="GuptaBakshi2008">{{cite book|author1=R. K. Gupta|author2=S. R. Bakshi|title=Studies in Indian History: Rajasthan Through the Ages the Heritage of Rajputs |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_S7dCkiyLJ6EC|date=1 January 2008|publisher=Sarup & Sons|isbn=978-81-7625-841-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_S7dCkiyLJ6EC/page/n151 143]–|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref> [[Jaisalmer State|Jaisalmer]], [[Marwar]] (Jodhpur), [[Bikaner]], [[Mewar]] (Chittorgarh), [[Alwar]] and [[Dhundhar]] (Jaipur) were some of the main Rajput princely states. [[Bharatpur, India|Bharatpur]] and [[Dholpur]] were Jat princely states whereas [[Tonk (princely state)|Tonk]] was a princely state under [[Pathan]]s. The three chiefships were Lawa, Neemrana and Kushalgarh.<ref name="Lodha">{{cite book |last1=Lodha |first1=Sanjay |editor1-last=Kumar |editor1-first=Ashutosh |title=Rethinking State Politics in India: Regions within Regions |date=2011 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0415597777 |page=400 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ypKoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA400 |access-date=12 December 2019 |chapter=Subregions, Identity and Nature of Political Competition in Rajasthan |quote=The 19 independent ruling houses were governed by different Rajput clans, Jats and Pathans. The Chauhan Rajputs ruled Bundi, Kota and Sirohi; the Gehlot Rajputs ruled Banswara, Dungarpur, Mewar, Pratapgarh and Shahpura; the Jadon Rajputs ruled Jaisalmer and Karauli; the Jhala Rajputs were the rulers of Jhalawar; the Kachhawaha Rajputs controlled Alwar, Jaipur and the Lawa Estate; and the Rathore Rajputs looked after Bikaner, Marwar, Kishangarh and the chiefship of Kushalgarh. Bharatpur and Dholpur were under Jat rule and Tonk was ruled by the Pathans.}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Climate of Rajasthan}}
The geographic features of Rajasthan are the [[Thar Desert]] and the [[Aravalli Range]], which runs through the state from southwest to northeast, almost from one end to the other, for more than {{convert|850|km}}.<ref name="TharD">{{cite web |title=Southern Asia: Western India into Pakistan |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/im1304 |publisher=WWF |access-date=3 August 2023 |archive-date=12 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412045553/https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/im1304 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mount Abu]] lies at the southwestern end of the range, separated from the main ranges by the [[West Banas River]].<ref name="MountabuOnline">{{cite web |title=Geography of Mount Abu |url=https://www.mountabuonline.in/city-guide/geography-of-mount-abu |publisher=Mountabu Online |access-date=3 August 2023 |archive-date=3 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803103706/https://www.mountabuonline.in/city-guide/geography-of-mount-abu |url-status=live }}</ref> Although a series of broken ridges continues into [[Haryana]] in the direction of [[Delhi]] where it can be seen as outcrops in the form of the [[Raisina Hill]] and the ridges farther north. About three-fifths of Rajasthan lies northwest of the Aravallis, leaving two-fifths on the east and south direction.

[[File:Mount Abu.jpg|thumb|[[Mount Abu]].]]

The Aravalli Range runs across the state from the southwest peak [[Guru Shikhar]] (Mount Abu), which is {{convert|1722|m}} in height, to [[Khetri]] in the northeast.<ref name="Topographical">{{cite web |title=Topographical divisions |url=https://foundation.rajasthan.gov.in/Topographicaldivisions.aspx |publisher=Rajasthan Foundation |access-date=3 August 2023 |archive-date=3 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803103903/https://foundation.rajasthan.gov.in/Topographicaldivisions.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> This range divides the state into 60% in the northwest of the range and 40% in the southeast. The northwest tract is sandy and unproductive with little water but improves gradually from desert land in the far west and northwest to comparatively fertile and habitable land towards the east. The south-eastern area, higher in elevation (100 to 350&nbsp;m above sea level) and more fertile, has a very diversified topography. In the south lies the hilly tract of Mewar. In the southeast, a large area within the districts of [[Kota district|Kota]] and [[Bundi]] forms a tableland.<ref name="Topographical"/> To the northeast of these districts is a rugged region (badlands) following the line of the [[Chambal River]]. Farther north the country levels out; the flat plains of the northeastern [[Bharatpur district]] are part of an [[alluvial]] basin. [[Merta City]] lies in the geographical center of Rajasthan.<ref name="Topographical"/>

The Aravalli Range and the lands to the east and southeast of the range are generally more fertile and better watered. This region is home to the [[Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests]] ecoregion, with [[tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|tropical dry broadleaf forests]] that include [[teak]], ''[[Acacia]]'', and other trees. The hilly [[Vagad]] region, home to the cities of [[Dungarpur]], [[Pratapgarh, Rajasthan|Pratapgarh]], and [[Banswara]] lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border with Gujarat and [[Madhya Pradesh]]. With the exception of Mount Abu, Vagad is the wettest region in Rajasthan, and the most heavily forested. North of Vagad lies the [[Mewar]] region, home to the cities of [[Udaipur]] and [[Chittaurgarh]]. The [[Hadoti]] region lies to the southeast, on the border with Madhya Pradesh. North of Hadoti and Mewar lies the [[Dhundhar]] region, home to the state capital of [[Jaipur]]. [[Mewat]], the easternmost region of Rajasthan, borders [[Haryana]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]]. Eastern and southeastern Rajasthan is drained by the [[Banas River|Banas]] and [[Chambal River|Chambal]] rivers, tributaries of the [[Ganges]].

The northwestern portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry. Most of this region is covered by the [[Thar Desert]] which extends into adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Range does not intercept the moisture-giving southwest [[monsoon]] winds off the [[Arabian Sea]], as it lies in a direction parallel to that of the coming monsoon winds, leaving the northwestern region in a [[rain shadow]]. The Thar Desert is thinly populated; the City of [[Jodhpur]] is the largest city in the desert and a major metropolitan area of India which is known as the gateway of the Thar desert. The desert has some major districts like [[Jodhpur district|Jodhpur]], Jaisalmer, Barmer, [[Bikaner]], and [[Nagaur district|Nagaur]]. This area is also important from a defence point of view. [[Jodhpur]] airbase is one of the largest airbases in India, BSF and Military bases are also situated here. Currently four civil airports are located here: Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Nagaur, of which Jodhpur is the major civil airport, being the 44th busiest airport in India and one of the oldest air strips of India, being built in the 1920s.

The [[Northwestern thorn scrub forests]] lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert and the Aravallis. This region receives less than 400&nbsp; mm of rain annually. Temperatures can sometimes exceed 45&nbsp;°C in the summer months and drop below freezing point in the winter. The [[Godwar]], [[Marwar]], and [[Shekhawati]] [[List of regions in India|regions]] lie in the thorn scrub forest zone, along with the city of Jodhpur. The [[Luni River]] and its tributaries are the major river system of Godwar and Marwar regions, draining the western slopes of the Aravallis and emptying southwest into the great [[Rann of Kutch]] wetland in neighbouring [[Gujarat]]. This river is saline in the lower reaches and remains potable only up to Balotara in [[Barmer district]]. The [[Ghaggar River]], which originates in [[Haryana]], is an intermittent stream that disappears into the sands of the Thar Desert in the northern corner of the state and is seen as a remnant of the primitive [[Sarasvati river]].
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Mt. Abu.jpg|[[Mount Abu]] is a popular hill station in Rajasthan.
File: A sunset on the dunes of the Great Indian Thar Desert Rajasthan India.jpg|The [[Thar Desert]] near [[Jaisalmer]].
File: An aerial view of Udaipur and Aravali hills Rajasthan India 2012.jpg|Aerial view Udaipur and Aravali hills.
</gallery>

== Flora and fauna ==
{{main|Wildlife of Rajasthan}}
{| class="wikitable"  style="margin:1em; float:right; width:25%;"
|+ State symbols of Rajasthan
|-
| '''Formation day'''
| 1 November
|-
| '''State animal'''
| [[Chinkara]]<ref name="Rajasthan State Symbol">{{cite web|title=States and Union Territories Symbols|url=http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#raj|access-date=7 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112080035/http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/national_symbols.php?id=16#raj|archive-date=12 November 2013}}</ref> and [[camel]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Now the state animal camel|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/now-the-state-animal-camel/1015253|access-date=7 July 2014|work=Patrika Group|date=1 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806141624/http://www.patrika.com/news/now-the-state-animal-camel/1015253|archive-date=6 August 2014}}</ref>
|-
| '''State bird'''
| [[Great Indian bustard|Godavan (great Indian bustard)]]<ref name="Rajasthan State Symbol" />
|-
| '''State flower'''
| [[Tecomella undulata|Rohida]]<ref name="Rajasthan State Symbol" />
|-
| '''State tree'''
|
|}
[[File:Sonchiriya.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[great Indian bustard]] has been classed as [[critically endangered]] since 2011]]
The [[Desert National Park]] in [[Jaisalmer]], spread over an area of {{convert|3162|km2|sqmi}}, is an excellent example of the [[ecosystem]] of the Thar Desert and its diverse [[fauna (animals)|fauna]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Desert National Park |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5448/ |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=26 June 2009 |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516235029/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5448/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  Seashells and massive [[fossilised]] tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert. The region is a haven for [[bird migration|migratory]] and resident birds of the desert. One can see many [[eagle]]s, [[harrier (bird)|harriers]], [[falcon]]s, [[buzzard]]s, [[kestrel]]s and [[vulture]]s. [[Short-toed snake eagle]]s (''Circaetus gallicus''), [[tawny eagle]]s (''Aquila rapax''), [[spotted eagle]]s (''Aquila clanga''), [[laggar falcon]]s (''Falco jugger'') and kestrels are some of the raptor species seen in Desert National Park. Road traffic inside the Park is, however, a threat to several wild species of the park with several species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals reported to have died as roadkill.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kumawat |first1=Rakesh |last2=Ashok |first2=Purohit |date=2020 |title=Impact and assessment of wildlife mortalities on road due to vehicular movements in Desert National Park, Rajasthan, India |url=https://www.ajcb.in/journals/short_others_july_2020/AJCB-Vol9-No1-Kumawat-Purohit.pdf |journal=Asian Journal of Conservation Biology |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=173–177 |access-date=1 March 2024 |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301061946/https://www.ajcb.in/journals/short_others_july_2020/AJCB-Vol9-No1-Kumawat-Purohit.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Ranthambore National Park]] located in [[Sawai Madhopur]],<ref name="Sadhu et al., 2017">{{Cite journal |last1=Sadhu |first1=Ayan |last2=Jayam |first2=Peter Prem Chakravarthi |last3=Qureshi |first3=Qamar |last4=Shekhawat |first4=Raghuvir Singh |last5=Sharma |first5=Sudarshan |last6=Jhala |first6=Yadvendradev Vikramsinh |title=Demography of a small, isolated tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) population in a semi-arid region of western India |journal=BMC Zoology |volume=2 |pages=16 |doi=10.1186/s40850-017-0025-y |issn=2056-3132 |date=28 November 2017|doi-access=free }}</ref> one of the well known tiger reserves in the country, became a part of [[Project Tiger]] in 1973.

[[Tal Chhapar Sanctuary]] is a very small sanctuary in [[Sujangarh]], [[Churu District]], {{convert|210|km|mi}} from [[Jaipur]] in the [[Shekhawati]] region. This sanctuary is home to a large population of [[blackbuck]]. [[Red fox|Desert foxes]] and the [[caracal]], an [[apex predator]], also known as the ''desert lynx'', can also be spotted, along with birds such as the [[partridge]], [[harrier (bird)|harrier]]s, [[Eastern Imperial Eagle|eastern imperial eagle]], [[Pale Harrier|pale harrier]], [[Marsh Harrier|marsh harrier]], [[Short-toed Eagle|short-toed eagle]], [[Tawny Eagle|tawny eagle]], [[Sparrow Hawk|sparrow hawk]], [[Crested Lark|crested lark]], [[Demoiselle Crane|demoiselle crane]], [[Oriental skylark|skylarks]], [[Green Bee-eater|green bee-eater]], [[Brown Dove|brown dove]], [[Black Ibis|black ibis]], and [[sand grouse]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tal Chhapar Black Buck Sanctuary |date=29 June 2013 |url=https://www.insideindianjungles.com/wildlife-sanctuaries/tal-chhapar-wildlife-sanctuary/ |website=Inside Indian Jungles |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408182034/https://www.insideindianjungles.com/wildlife-sanctuaries/tal-chhapar-wildlife-sanctuary/ |archive-date=8 April 2019 |url-status=live  }}</ref> The [[great Indian bustard]], known locally as the ''godavan'', and which is a state bird, has been classed as critically endangered since 2011.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=''Ardeotis nigriceps'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T22691932A134188105 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22691932A134188105.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>

=== Wildlife protection ===
[[File:Reclining Tiger, Ranthambore National Park.JPG|thumb|left|Reclining tiger, [[Ranthambore National Park]]]]
Rajasthan is also noted for its national parks and [[wildlife]] sanctuaries. There are four national parks and wildlife sanctuaries: [[Keoladeo National Park]] of [[Bharatpur, India|Bharatpur]], [[Sariska Tiger Reserve]] of Alwar, [[Ranthambore National Park]] of [[Sawai Madhopur]], and [[Desert National Park]] of Jaisalmer. A national-level institute, [[Arid Forest Research Institute]] (AFRI) an autonomous institute of the ministry of forestry is situated in Jodhpur and continuously works on desert flora and their conservation.

[[Ranthambore National Park]] is 7&nbsp;km from [[Sawai Madhopur]] Railway Station. It is known worldwide for its tiger population and is considered by both wilderness lovers and photographers as one of the best places in India to spot tigers. At one point, due to poaching and negligence, tigers became extinct at Sariska, but five tigers have been relocated there.<ref>{{cite news|title=A tale of two tiger reserves|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-tale-of-two-tiger-reserves/article3019496.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 March 2012|access-date=29 January 2014|location=Jaipur|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203160826/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-tale-of-two-tiger-reserves/article3019496.ece|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Prominent among the wildlife sanctuaries are [[Mount Abu]] Sanctuary, Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, [[Darrah National Park|Darrah Sanctuary]], Jaisamand Sanctuary, [[Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary]], Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary, and Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary.

== Governance and administration ==
{{Main|Politics of Rajasthan|Government of Rajasthan|Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan}}
[[File:Rajassembly.jpg|left|thumb|Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
The state is governed by a parliamentary system of representative democracy. The governor serves as the state's constitutional leader, whereas the [[List of chief ministers of Rajasthan|chief minister]] assumes the role of both the head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. The [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] consists of 200 members who are elected for five-year terms. The state contributes 25 seats to [[Lok Sabha]], the lower house of the Indian Parliament, and 10 seats to [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper house.<ref name="RS">{{cite web |title=MEMBERS OF RAJYA SABHA (STATE WISE LIST) |url=https://rajyasabha.nic.in/Members/StateWiseSummary |publisher=Rajya Sabha |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326055714/https://rajyasabha.nic.in/Members/StateWiseSummary |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="LS">{{cite web |title=State-wise Representation Of Members |url=https://loksabha.nic.in/members/statewisestatisticallist.aspx |publisher=Lok Sabha |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326055713/https://loksabha.nic.in/members/statewisestatisticallist.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Government of Rajasthan]] is a democratically elected body in India with the governor as its constitutional head. [[List of governors of Rajasthan|Governor]] is appointed by the [[President of India]] for a five-year term. The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the chief minister by the governor, and the council of ministers are appointed by the governor on the advice of the [[List of chief ministers of Rajasthan|chief minister]]. The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The council of ministers consists of [[Cabinet Ministers]], [[Ministers of State]] (MoS) and Deputy Ministers. The Secretariat headed by the Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The [[Chief secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]] is also the administrative head of the government. Each government department is headed by a minister, who is assisted by an [[Additional Chief Secretary]] or a Principal Secretary, who is usually an officer of [[Indian Administrative Service]] (IAS), the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serve as the administrative head of the department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary etc. assisting the Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary.

For the administration purpose, the state is divided into 10 divisions and 50 districts. [[Divisional Commissioner]], is the head of administration on the divisional level.<ref name="Divisionalise">{{cite web |title=Civil Officer Details |url=https://dop.rajasthan.gov.in/Content/civilsearch/CivilOfficerDetail.aspx?ofcusername=A99SL01 |publisher=Department of Personnel (DOP), Rajasthan |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326060250/https://dop.rajasthan.gov.in/Content/civilsearch/CivilOfficerDetail.aspx?ofcusername=A99SL01 |url-status=live }}</ref> The administration in each district is headed by a District Magistrate/District Collector, who is also an IAS officer, and is assisted by a number of officers belonging to [[Rajasthan Public Service Commission|Rajasthan Administrative Services]]. In Rajasthan, the police force is led by an IPS officer holding the position of [[Director General of Police]]. Each district is supervised by a [[Superintendent of Police]], also an IPS officer, who is supported by officers from the Rajasthan Police Services. Their primary responsibility involves maintaining law and order and addressing relevant issues within their respective districts. The management of forests, environment, and wildlife in the district is overseen by the [[Forest range officer|Divisional Forest Officer]], who is a member of the [[Indian Forest Service]]. This responsibility is carried out with the assistance of officers from the Rajasthan Forest Service and Rajasthan Subordinate Service.

[[File:New Rajasthan High Court Building.jpg|right|thumb|Rajasthan High Court]]
Rajasthan has its [[Rajasthan High Court|High court]] Jodhpur which has its principal seat at [[Jodhpur]] and a bench at [[Jaipur]], with district courts and session courts in each district or Sessions Division, and lower courts at the tehsil level.<ref name="High Court">{{cite web |title=Judiciary |url=https://rajasthan.gov.in/Judiciary.aspx?menu_id=8 |publisher=Government of Rajasthan |access-date=26 March 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326060958/https://rajasthan.gov.in/Judiciary.aspx?menu_id=8 |url-status=live }}</ref> The president of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of Rajasthan judiciary on the advice of the [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]] of the [[Supreme Court of India]] as well as the governor of Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, the Subordinate Judicial Service is an essential component of the state's judiciary, and it is divided into two categories: the Rajasthan Civil Judicial Services and the Rajasthan Higher Judicial Service.<ref name="High Court History">{{cite web |title=History Of The Rajasthan High Court |url=https://hcraj.nic.in/hcraj/history.php |publisher=Rajasthan High Court |access-date=3 August 2023 |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810225609/https://hcraj.nic.in/hcraj/history.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The former includes Civil Judges (Junior Division)/Judicial Magistrates and Civil Judges (Senior Division)/Chief Judicial Magistrate. On the other hand, the latter consists of Civil and Sessions Judges. The [[District courts of India|District Judge]] has control over the Subordinate Judicial Service in Rajasthan.

The politics of Rajasthan has mainly been dominated mainly by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and the [[Indian National Congress]].

Chief Secretary Of Rajasthan is [[Usha Sharma (IAS)|Usha Sharma]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chief Secretary - Rajasthan Government |url=https://rajasthan.gov.in/ChiefSecretary.aspx |website=Rajasthan.gov.in |access-date=20 April 2023 |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420175000/https://rajasthan.gov.in/ChiefSecretary.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> and Director General of Police or DGP of Rajasthan is Umesh Mishra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=राजस्थान पुलिस के मुखिया बने उमेश मिश्रा, जानें कौन हैं गहलोत के पसंदीदा IPS अफसर DGP मिश्रा? |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/rajasthan/jaipur/new-raj-dgp-umesh-mishra-is-the-1989-batch-ips-officer-of-rajasthan-cadre/articleshow/95130555.cms |website=Navbharat Times |access-date=20 April 2023 |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420174956/https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/rajasthan/jaipur/new-raj-dgp-umesh-mishra-is-the-1989-batch-ips-officer-of-rajasthan-cadre/articleshow/95130555.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Divisions, districts and cities===
{{Main|Districts of Rajasthan}}
[[File:New Rajasthan with 50 Districts.jpg|alt=refer caption|thumb|Districts of Rajasthan]]
[[File:Udaipur Lake India.JPG|thumb|[[Lake Palace]] and [[Jag Mandir]] from a distance, [[Lake Pichola]], Udaipur.]]
[[File:Jodhpur modern Skyline2.jpg|thumb|Modern Jodhpur skyline]]

Rajasthan is composed of the following geographical regions:
#[[Ajmer State]]
#[[Bagar tract#Bagri region|Bagar]]
#[[Hadoti]]
#[[Dhundhar]]
#[[Gorwar]]
#[[Shekhawati]]
#[[Mewar]]
#[[Marwar]]
#[[Vagad]]
#[[Mewat]]

Rajasthan is divided into 50 districts within Ten [[Divisions of Rajasthan|divisions]]:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! [[Divisions of Rajasthan|Division]]
! [[Districts of Rajasthan|Districts]]
|-
|[[Jaipur division|Jaipur]]
| {{hlist |[[Jaipur District|Jaipur]] |[[Jaipur Gramin district|Jaipur Gramin]]|[[Alwar District|Alwar]]|[[Khairthal-Tijara district|Khairthal-Tijara]]|[[Dausa District|Dausa]]|[[Dudu district|Dudu]]|[[Kotputli-Behror district|Kotputli-Behror]]}}
|-
|[[Jodhpur division|Jodhpur]]
| {{hlist |[[Barmer District|Barmer]] |[[Jaisalmer District|Jaisalmer]] |Phalodi|[[Jodhpur District|Jodhpur]] |Jodhpur Gramin|Balotara}}
|-
|[[Ajmer division|Ajmer]]
| {{hlist |[[Ajmer District|Ajmer]] |Beawar|[[Nagaur District|Nagaur]] |[[Tonk District|Tonk]]|Shahpura|Kekadi|Deedwana-Kuchaman}}
|-
|[[Udaipur division|Udaipur]]
| {{hlist |[[Udaipur District|Udaipur]] |Salumbar|[[Chittorgarh district|Chittorgarh]] |Bhilwara|Rajsamand}}
|-
|[[Bikaner division|Bikaner]]
| {{hlist |[[Bikaner District|Bikaner]] |[[Anupgarh district|Anupgarh]]|[[Sri Ganganagar district|Sri Ganganagar]] |[[Hanumangarh District|Hanumangarh]]}}
|-
|[[Kota division|Kota]]
| {{hlist |[[Baran District|Baran]] |[[Bundi District|Bundi]] |[[Jhalawar District|Jhalawar]] |[[Kota District|Kota]]}}
|-
|[[Bharatpur division|Bharatpur]]
| {{hlist |[[Bharatpur District|Bharatpur]] |[[Dholpur District|Dholpur]] |[[Karauli District|Karauli]] |[[Sawai Madhopur District|Sawai Madhopur]]|[[Deeg district |Deeg]]|[[Gangapur district|Gangapur]]}}
|-
|Sikar
|Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Neem ka thana, Churu
|-
|Pali
|Pali, Sirohi, Jalore, Sanchore
|-
|Banswara
|Banswara, [[Dungarpur district|Dungarpur]], Pratapgarh
|}

A [[district collector]] or [[district magistrate]], who is appointed by either the [[Indian Administrative Service]] or the [[Rajasthan Public Service Commission]], governs each district. Subdivisions (Tehsils) are responsible for governing districts and are overseen by sub-divisional magistrates. Additionally, districts are further divided into blocks. A block consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities. Tehsils are intermediate level panchayat between the [[District Councils of India|Zilla Parishad]] (district councils) at the district level and gram panchayat (village councils) at the lower level. Rajasthan has 5 cities with over one million population. The absolute urban population of the state is 17.4&nbsp;million, which constitutes 24.87% of the total urban population of the state. There are 10 [[municipal corporation]]s, 34 [[municipal council]]s and 172 municipal boards or [[nagar pachayat]]s in the state. [[Jaipur]], [[Jodhpur]], and [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]] have two municipal corporations each since October 2019, as their populations have exceeded 1&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rajasthan: Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota to get additional municipal corporations|url=https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/governance/rajasthan-jaipur-jodhpur-and-kota-to-get-additional-municipal-corporations/71670354|access-date=8 October 2020|website=ETGovernment.com<!--sic-->|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326062426/https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/governance/rajasthan-jaipur-jodhpur-and-kota-to-get-additional-municipal-corporations/71670354|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Communication ==
Major internet service provider (ISP) and telecom companies are present in Rajasthan including [[Vodafone Idea]], [[BSNL]], [[Airtel]], [[Jio]], [[Data Infosys Limited]], [[RailTel Corporation of India]], [[Software Technology Parks of India]] (STPI). Data Infosys was the first ISP to bring the internet to Rajasthan in April 1999<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-16/news/30631907_1_isp-email-system-family-business|title=Rajasthan's first ISP|website=timesofindia-economictimes|access-date=10 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610214934/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-16/news/30631907_1_isp-email-system-family-business|archive-date=10 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Airtel India|OASIS]] was the first private mobile telephone company.

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Rajasthan}}
[[File:PV power plants cluster Bhadla (India) develpment 2016 2018 2020.png|thumb|Timeline of the [[Bhadla Solar Park]] (India) development, the World's largest photovoltaic power plants cluster in 2020]]
Rajasthan's economy is primarily agricultural and [[pastoral]]. Wheat and [[barley]] are cultivated over large areas, as are [[pulse (legume)|pulses]], [[sugarcane]], and [[oilseed]]s. Cotton and tobacco are the state's cash crops. Rajasthan is among the largest producers of [[edible oil]]s in India and the second-largest producer of [[oilseeds]]. Rajasthan is also the biggest [[wool]]-producing state in India and the main [[opium]] producer and consumer. There are mainly two crop seasons. The water for irrigation comes from wells and tanks. The [[Indira Gandhi Canal]] irrigates northwestern Rajasthan.
[[File:Bada Bagh1.jpg|alt=|thumb|left|Wind turbines near Bada Bagh, Rajasthan.]]
The main industries are mineral based, agriculture-based, and [[textiles|textile]] based. Rajasthan is the second-largest producer of [[polyester]] fibre in India. Several prominent chemical and engineering companies are located in the city of [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]], in southern Rajasthan. Rajasthan is pre-eminent in [[quarrying]] and mining in India. The [[Taj Mahal]] was built from white marble which was mined from a town called [[Makrana]]. The state is the second-largest source of cement in India. It has rich salt deposits at [[Sambhar, Rajasthan|Sambhar]], copper mines at [[Khetri]], [[Jhunjhunu]], and [[zinc]] mines at Dariba, Zawar mines and Rampura Agucha (opencast) near [[Bhilwara]]. Dimensional stone mining is also undertaken in Rajasthan. Jodhpur [[sandstone]] is mostly used in monuments, important buildings, and residential buildings. This stone is termed as ''Chittar Patthar''. Jodhpur leads in the [[handicraft]] and [[Guar Gum|guar gum]] industries.
Rajasthan is also a part of the Mumbai-Delhi Industrial corridor set to benefit economically. The state gets 39% of the DMIC, with major districts of Jaipur, Alwar, Kota and Bhilwara benefiting.<ref>{{cite web|title=Business Opportunities|url=http://www.rajasthan.gov.in/StateProfile/BusinessOpportunities/Pages/Business-Opportunity.aspx|publisher=Government of Rajasthan|access-date=11 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210064822/http://www.rajasthan.gov.in/StateProfile/BusinessOpportunities/Pages/Business-Opportunity.aspx|archive-date=10 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rajasthan also has reserves of low-silica limestone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsmm.com/mininglime.htm|title=Rajasthan state mines and minerals limited|access-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605044357/http://rsmm.com/mininglime.htm|archive-date=5 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rajasthan connected 100% of its population to electricity power in 2019 (raising the rate of electricity access from 71% of the population in 2015).<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Naimoli|first1=Stephen|last2=Singh|first2=Kartikeya|date=October 2019|title=Engaging with India's Electrification Agenda: Powering Rajasthan|url=https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/publication/191009_U.S.IndiaState_Rajasthan_v2.pdf|access-date=16 July 2020|publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)|archive-date=16 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716171135/https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/publication/191009_U.S.IndiaState_Rajasthan_v2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The renewable energy sector plays the most important role in the increase of generation capacities, with the main focus on [[solar energy]]. In 2020, [[Bhadla Solar Park]] was recognised as the largest cluster of [[Photovoltaic power station|photovoltaic power plants]] in a single region in the world, with the installed power exceeding the 2.2 gigawatt peak.

== Transportation ==
<!--Rajasthan is connected by many national highways, the most renowned being [[NH 8]], which is India's first 4–8 lane highway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajasthandirect.com/tourism/transportation/rajasthan-national-highways|title=Rajasthan National Highways – List of Rajasthan Roads and Highway|access-date=18 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214193054/http://www.rajasthandirect.com/tourism/transportation/rajasthan-national-highways|archive-date=14 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Rajasthan also has an inter-city surface transport system both in terms of railways and bus network. All chief cities are connected by air, rail, and road.-->

[[Jaipur International Airport]] (JAI) in Jaipur, is the state's largest, busiest and only international airport. Jaipur International Airport offers international service to [[Dubai International Airport|Dubai]], [[Don Mueang International Airport|Bangkok]], [[Sharjah International Airport|Sharjah]] and [[Muscat International Airport|Muscat]]. There are five civilian airports in Rajasthan including [[Jodhpur Airport]], [[Udaipur Airport]], [[Kishangarh Airport|Ajmer Airport]], [[Nal Airport|Bikaner Airport]] and [[Jaisalmer Airport]].<ref name="Domestic">{{cite web |title=A comprehensive guide to airports in India |url=https://www.goindigo.in/airport-directory/india.html |publisher=Indigo |access-date=28 March 2023 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328044700/https://www.goindigo.in/airport-directory/india.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Domestic airports are operated by the [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) and shares its airside with the Indian Air Force. These airports connect Rajasthan with the major cities of India such as Mumbai, [[Kolkata]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Chennai]] and [[Bangalore]].

[[Indian Railways|Railways]] length in the state constitute 8.66 per cent of all India route length. [[Jaipur Junction railway station|Jaipur Junction]] is the headquarters of the [[North Western Railway zone|North Western Railway]].<ref name="NWR">{{cite web |title=North Western Railway / Indian Railways Portal |url=https://nwr.indianrailways.gov.in/TenderDetails_cpp.jsp?T_ID=4001&lang=0&id=0,3 |publisher=Indian Railways |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409162702/https://nwr.indianrailways.gov.in/TenderDetails_cpp.jsp?T_ID=4001&lang=0&id=0,3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jaipur, [[Ajmer Junction railway station|Ajmer]], [[Bikaner Junction railway station|Bikaner]] are the busiest railway stations in the state. [[Kota Junction railway station|Kota]] is the only electrified section served by three Rajdhani Expresses and trains to all major cities of India. [[Jaipur Superfast Express]], fastest train under [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast]] category of trains; connects the finance capital of India [[Mumbai]] to Jaipur. [[luxury train|Luxury tourist train]] [[Maharajas' Express]] runs across North-West and Central India, mainly centered on Rajasthan. There is also an international railway, the [[Thar Express]] from [[Jodhpur]] (India) to [[Karachi]] (Pakistan). However, this is not open to foreign nationals. [[Jaipur Metro]] is the metro rail system in the city of Jaipur. It is the only metro rail system in Rajasthan and has been operational since 3 June 2015. It is the first metro in India to run on triple-storey elevated road and metro track.

The state is served by a substantial road network, providing links between urban centers, agricultural market-places and rural areas. There are 33 [[National highways of India|national highways]] (NH) in the state, covering a total distance of {{convert|10004.14|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Highway">{{cite web |title=Development of Roads and Highways in Rajasthan |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=180858 |publisher=Ministry of Road Transport & Highways |access-date=27 March 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327055753/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=180858 |url-status=live }}</ref> The state has a total road length of {{convert|269028|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The [[Third Gehlot ministry|Department of Public Works]] is responsible for maintaining and expanding the [[List of state highways in Rajasthan|state highways]] system and major district roads. [[Jaipur–Kishangarh Expressway]] forms a segment of the [[NH-8]] which is a part of the [[Golden Quadrilateral]] project. [[Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation]] (RSRTC) was established in 1964 to provide economical and reliable passenger road transport service in the state with connecting services to adjoining states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsrtc.gov.in/|title=rsrtc.gov.in|access-date=18 December 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112022156/http://www.rsrtc.gov.in/|archive-date=12 January 2012}}</ref> For travelling locally, the state, like most of the country, has [[auto rickshaw]]s and [[cycle rickshaw]]s. Average speed on state highways varies between {{convert|50|and(-)|60|km/h|mph}} due to the heavy presence of vehicles; in villages and towns, speeds are as low as {{cvt|25|–|30|km/h|mph}}.<ref name="Speed Limit">{{cite news |title=Speed limit on expressways |url=https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/speed-limit-on-expressways-may-be-increased-nitin-gadkari-to-discuss-proposal-41662525886957.html |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=HT Auto |agency=Hindustan Times |date=7 September 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409163230/https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/speed-limit-on-expressways-may-be-increased-nitin-gadkari-to-discuss-proposal-41662525886957.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Jaipur Airport.JPG|[[Jaipur International Airport]]
File:Maharajas' Express - Mayur Mahal, dining (4809207224).jpg|Maharajah's Express dining saloon
File:Jaipur 03-2016 34 Jaipur Metro.jpg|The [[Jaipur Metro]] is an important urban transportation link
File:National highway 841.jpg|[[NH 8]] between [[Udaipur]] and [[Ahmedabad]]
</gallery>

== Demographics ==
{{See also|List of people from Rajasthan}}
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=10294090|13=1911|14=10983509|15=1921|16=10292648|17=1931|18=11747974|19=1941|20=13863859|21=1951|22=15970774|23=1961|24=20155602|25=1971|26=25765806|27=1981|28=34261862|29=1991|30=44005990|31=2001|32=56507188|33=2011|34=68548437|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808131957/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|align=right}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Rajasthan (2011)<ref name="census2011">{{cite web|title=Population by religion community – 2011|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=Census of India, 2011|publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|archive-date=25 August 2015}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Hinduism]]
|color1 = DarkOrange 
|value1 = 88.50
|label2 = [[Rajasthani Muslims|Islam]]
|color2 = Green
|value2 = 9.07
|label3 = [[Sikhism]]
|color3 = Yellow
|value3 = 1.27
|label4 = [[Jainism in Rajasthan|Jainism]] |color4 = brown |value4 = 0.91
|label5 = [[Christianity]] |color5 = Blue |value5 = 0.14
|label6 = [[Buddhism]] |color6 = Gold |value6 = 0.02
|label7 = Other religions
|color7 = Gray
|value7 = 0.10
}}

According to the [[2011 Census of India]], Rajasthan has a total population of 68,548,437.<ref name="RjPOP" /> The state contributes to 5.66% of India's population. The population density is 201 people per square kilometre. The [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] in 2011, at 928 women to 1000 men, was lower than the national figure of 943. The native [[Rajasthani people]] make up the majority of the state's population. The state of Rajasthan is also populated by [[Sindhi people|Sindhis]], who came to Rajasthan from [[Sindh province]] (now in [[Pakistan]]) during the India-Pakistan separation in 1947. As for religion, Rajasthan's residents are mainly [[Hindus]], who account for 88.49% of the population. [[Rajasthani Muslims|Muslims]] make up 9.07%, [[Sikhs]] 1.27% and [[Jainism|Jains]] 0.91% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|title=Census of India|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|archive-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Brahmins, according to ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'' constituted 8% to 10% of the population of Rajasthan as per a 2003 report, but only 7% in a 2007 report.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/distribution-of-brahmin-population/220442|title=Distribution Of Brahmin Population|date=16 June 2003|work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|access-date=7 December 2019|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806145222/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/distribution-of-brahmin-population/220442|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/brahmins-in-india/234783|title=Brahmins in India|date=4 June 2007|work=Outlook|access-date=8 December 2019|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730051814/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/brahmins-in-india/234783|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a 2007 ''[[DNA India]]'' report, 12.5% of the state are Brahmins.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rajasthan-s-brahmins-now-seek-job-quotas-1106039|title=Rajasthan's Brahmins now seek job quotas|date=26 June 2007|work=DNA India|access-date=7 December 2019|language=en|archive-date=6 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206204733/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rajasthan-s-brahmins-now-seek-job-quotas-1106039|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a report by ''[[Moneycontrol.com]]'' at the time of [[2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election]], the [[Scheduled Caste]] (SC) population was 18%, [[Scheduled Tribe]] (ST) was 13%, [[Jats]] 12%, [[Gurjars]] and [[Rajputs]] 9% each, [[Brahmin]]s and [[Meena]]s 7% each.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Handa |first1=Aakriti |title=Rajasthan Assembly Polls 2018: The caste dynamics in the state and the race for reservations |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/politics/rajasthan-assembly-polls-2018-the-caste-dynamics-in-the-state-and-the-race-for-reservations-3086771.html |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=Moneycontrol |date=25 October 2018 |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327114437/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/politics/rajasthan-assembly-polls-2018-the-caste-dynamics-in-the-state-and-the-race-for-reservations-3086771.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' report from 2019 also agrees to the total ST population of 13%, of which [[Meenas]] constitute the biggest group at 7%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goswami |first1=Rakesh |title=In Rajasthan, tribal body acts as family court for ST couples |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-rajasthan-a-tribal-organization-not-courts-gives-divorce-decrees/story-kAU0nQnORMI5O80aVMeMdJ.html |access-date=7 April 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=7 July 2019 |language=en |archive-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406143759/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-rajasthan-a-tribal-organization-not-courts-gives-divorce-decrees/story-kAU0nQnORMI5O80aVMeMdJ.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a [[Deutsche Welle]] report, the Jats constitute 12–15% of the population of Rajasthan, followed by Meenas with 10% and Gurjars with 6%.<ref>{{cite news |title=आखिर क्यों भड़कते हैं आरक्षण के आंदोलन {{!}} DW {{!}} 12 February 2019 |url=https://www.dw.com/hi/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%A8/a-47474059 |access-date=12 May 2022 |work=Deutsche Welle |language=hi |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512132458/https://www.dw.com/hi/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%A8/a-47474059 |url-status=live }}</ref> While as per a 2007 [[BBC Hindi]] report, Meenas were 14% and Gurjars were 4% of the state's population.<ref>{{cite news |title=वसुंधरा के लिए सांप छछूंदर वाली स्थिति |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/regionalnews/story/2007/06/printable/070602_rajasthan_analysis |access-date=12 May 2022 |work=BBC |date=June 2007 |language=hi |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512175020/https://www.bbc.com/hindi/regionalnews/story/2007/06/printable/070602_rajasthan_analysis |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Bar chart
| title=Largest cities of Rajasthan by population
| label_type=City |data_type=Population
| bar_width=35 |width_units=em |data_max=3,500,000
| label1=[[Jaipur]]    |data1=3,073,349
| label2=[[Jodhpur]]   |data2=1,138,300
| label3=[[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]]      |data3=1,001,694
| label4=[[Bikaner]]   |data4=  647,804
| label5=[[Ajmer]]     |data5=  551,101
| label6=[[Udaipur]]   |data6=  474,531
| label7=[[Bhilwara]]  |data7=  360,009
| label8=[[Alwar]]     |data8=  341,422
| label9=[[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]] |data9=  252,838
| label10=[[Sri Ganganagar]] |data10= 249,914
}}

=== Language ===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Languages of Rajasthan (2011)<ref name="census2011-langreport">{{cite web |title=Language – India, States and Union Territories |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf |work=Census of India 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General |pages=13–14 |access-date=22 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114073412/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
|label1 = [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]] |value1 = 36.88 |color1 = red
|label2 = [[Hindi]] |value2 = 27.34 |color2 = orange
|label3 = [[Marwari language|Marwari]] |value3 = 9.05 |color3 = maroon
|label4 = [[Mewari language|Mewari]] |value4 = 6.1 |color4 = pink
|label5 = [[Wagdi]] |value5 = 5.54 |color5 = darkviolet
|label6 = [[Hadauti language|Hadauti]] |value6 = 4.29 |color6 = indianred
|label7 = [[Dhundari language|Dhundari]] |value7 = 2.15 |color7 = sienna
|label8 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] |value8 = 1.68 |color8 = gold
|label9 = [[Braj Bhasha]] |value9 = 1.19 |color9 = wheat
|label10 = [[Bagri language|Bagri]] |value10 = 1.03 |color10 = goldenrod
|label11 = Others |value11 = 4.75 |color11 = Grey
}}

[[Hindi]] is the official language of the state, while [[English language|English]] is the additional official language.<ref name="Language"/>

The languages of Rajasthan primarily belong to the [[Rajasthani languages|Rajasthani group]] of [[Indo-Aryan languages]], which most people regard as their own language. In the north are dialects of [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[Bagri language|Bagri]], which is a transition between Rajasthani and Punjabi. In the northeast [[Shekhawati language|Shekhawati]] and [[Dhundari language|Dhundari]] are spoken which gradually merge with [[Haryanvi language|Haryanvi]]. In the east [[Mewati language|Mewati]] is spoken in the [[Mewat|Mewat region]], while in the far east [[Braj Bhasha|Braj]] is spoken.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yogesh |first=Kumar, Ritesh Lahiri, Bornini Alok, Deepak Ojha, Atul Kr. Jain, Mayank Basit, Abdul Dawer |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1228352635 |title=Automatic Identification of Closely-related Indian Languages: Resources and Experiments |date=26 March 2018 |oclc=1228352635 }}</ref> To the southeast Haryanvi is spoken. To the west in the heart of the Thar Desert [[Marwari language|Marwari]] is spoken, which merges to [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] in the southwest. In the south, in the [[Mewar]] region, [[Mewari language|Mewari]] is spoken, while in the hills of [[Vagad|Wagad]], [[Wagdi]], a [[Bhil languages|Bhil language]], is spoken. Many speakers of Rajasthani languages refer to their language as Hindi, and Standard Hindi is the medium of education and is common in cities. [[Urdu]] is also common in cities although the vast majority of Muslims speak one of the Rajasthani languages as their first language. [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] is also common in the cities and along the border with Sindh in Pakistan where [[Dhatki language|Dhatki]], a transition between Marwari and Sindhi, is the main dialect on both sides of the border.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}

The languages taught under the [[three-language formula]] are:<ref>{{cite web|title=51st Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM51stReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|date=15 July 2015|access-date=15 February 2018|page=44|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025959/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM51stReport.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2018}}</ref>

*First language: Hindi
*Second language: English
*Third language: Gujarati, Punjabi, [[Sanskrit]], Sindhi or Urdu

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Rajasthan}}
{{Rajasthanis}}

=== Food ===
[[File:Rajasthani food.jpg|thumb|Rajasthani food]]
[[Rajasthani cuisine|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. Thus, pickles of Rajasthan are quite famous for their tangy and spicy flavour. The ''Panchkuta'' delicacy is also a famous one – meaning 5 vegetables – a dish that lasts for several days, and is made out of certain weed plants that only grow in the wild desert. The scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables have all had their effect on cooking. It is known for its snacks like [[Bikaneri Bhujia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=It's one of India's tastiest snacks. But there's only one place you can sample the real thing |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bikaneri-bhujia-indian-snack-rajasthan-intl-hnk/index.html |website=CNN |date=12 September 2022 |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421080311/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bikaneri-bhujia-indian-snack-rajasthan-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other famous dishes include ''bajre ki roti'' (millet bread) and ''lahsun ki chutney'' (hot garlic paste), ''mawa kachori'' [[Mirchi Bada]], [[Pyaaj Kachori]] and [[ghevar]] from Jodhpur, [[Alwar]] ka Mawa (milk cake),<ref>{{Cite news |title=In search of Alwar Ka Kalakand |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/in-search-of-alwar-ka-kalakand/article4884208.ece |website=The Hindu |date=6 July 2013 |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421080311/https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/in-search-of-alwar-ka-kalakand/article4884208.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Kadhi kachori'' from Ajmer, ''Malpua'' from Pushkar, Daal [[kachori]] (Kota kachori) from Kota and rassgullas from Bikaner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bikaner Has a Crazy Obsession with Rasgullas and It's a Story That Deserves to Be Heard! |url=https://www.tripoto.com/kolkata/trips/bikaner-has-a-crazy-obsession-with-rasgullas-and-its-a-story-that-deserves-to-be-heard-5dc2b8b1d5d39 |website=Tripoto |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421080313/https://www.tripoto.com/kolkata/trips/bikaner-has-a-crazy-obsession-with-rasgullas-and-its-a-story-that-deserves-to-be-heard-5dc2b8b1d5d39 |url-status=live }}</ref> Originating from the [[Marwar]] region of the state is the concept of [[Marwari Bhojnalaya]] or vegetarian restaurants, today found in many parts of India, which offer vegetarian food popular among [[Marwari people]]. Ghee is an essential ingredient in most Rajasthani cuisines, and dollops of ghee are poured over food as a welcoming gesture for guests.[[File:Rajasthani Dish.jpg|alt=|thumb|Dal Bati Choorma, a traditional Rajasthani Dish]] [[Dal baati|Dal-baati-churma]] is very popular in Rajasthan. The traditional way to serve it is to first coarsely mash the baati, and then pour pure ghee on top of it. It is served with daal (lentils) and spicy garlic chutney; it is also served with besan (gram flour) ki kadi. It is commonly served at all festivities, including religious occasions, wedding ceremonies, and birthday parties in Rajasthan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TBI Food Secrets: The Fascinating History Behind Rajasthan's Traditional Dish Dal Baati Churma |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/73751/story-dal-baati-churma-rajasthan/ |website=The better India |date=2 November 2016 |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421080315/https://www.thebetterindia.com/73751/story-dal-baati-churma-rajasthan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Music and dance ===
The [[Ghoomar]] dance from Jaipur, Jodhpur, and [[Kalbelia]] of the Kalbelia tribe has gained international recognition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghoomar Dance – Folk Dance of Rajasthan |url=https://www.rajasthandirect.com/culture/dance/ghoomar |website=Rajasthan direct |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205040103/https://www.rajasthandirect.com/culture/dance/ghoomar |url-status=live }}</ref> Folk music is a large part of the Rajasthani culture. The [[Manganiyar]], [[Meena]] and [[Langha (tribe)|Langa]] communities from Rajasthan are notable for their folk music. [[Kathputli (puppetry)|Kathputli]], [[Bhopa]], Chang, Teratali, Ghindr, [[Gair dance]], Kachchhi Ghori, and [[Tejaji]] are examples of traditional Rajasthani culture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rajasthan: अपनी परंपरा और संस्कृति को दर्शाते हैं राजस्थान के ये 8 लोक नृत्य, देशभर में रखते हैं अलग पहचान |url=https://www.abplive.com/states/rajasthan/rajasthan-news-these-are-the-8-famous-folk-dance-of-rajasthan-know-about-them-2216926 |website=Abp live |date=16 September 2022 |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421080750/https://www.abplive.com/states/rajasthan/rajasthan-news-these-are-the-8-famous-folk-dance-of-rajasthan-know-about-them-2216926 |url-status=live }}</ref> Folk songs are commonly ballads that 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.

=== Art ===
Rajasthan is known for its traditional, colourful art. The block prints, tie and dye prints, [[Gota (embroidery)|gota patti]] (main), Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints, and [[Zari]] embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan. Handicraft items like wooden furniture and crafts, carpets, and blue pottery are commonly found here.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Handicraft in Rajasthan |url=https://www.rajasthantourstoindia.com/handicraft-in-rajasthan |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421081149/https://www.rajasthantourstoindia.com/handicraft-in-rajasthan |url-status=live }}</ref> Shopping reflects the colourful culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of mirror work and embroidery.  Traditional Rajasthani dress for females consists of an ankle-length skirt and a short top, known as ''[[chaniya choli]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women's Traditional Dress |url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/an-introduction-to-rajasthans-traditional-dress/ |website=The culture trip |date=26 March 2018 |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421081149/https://theculturetrip.com/asia/india/articles/an-introduction-to-rajasthans-traditional-dress/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  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 such as blue, yellow, and orange.

== Education ==
{{See also|List of institutions of higher education in Rajasthan|University of Rajasthan}}
[[File:NIIT University.jpg|alt=|thumb|NIIT University in Neemrana, Rajasthan]]
In recent years, Rajasthan has worked on improving education. The state government has been making sustained efforts to raise the education standard.

Schools in the state are either managed by the government or by private trusts. The medium of instruction in most of the schools is mainly English, or Hindi. Under the [[10+2+3 plan]], after completing secondary school, students typically enroll for two years in a [[junior college]], also known as pre-university, or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with the [[Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan|Board of Secondary Education]] or any central board. Students choose from one of three streams, namely [[liberal arts]], commerce, or science. Upon completing the required coursework, students may enrol in general or professional degree programs. The secondary schools are affiliated with the [[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]] (CISCE), the [[Central Board of Secondary Education|Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE)]], and the [[National Institute of Open Schooling|National Institute of Open School (NIOS)]].

Rajasthan has 52 universities, 26 state funded public universities, 7 [[deemed universities]], an [[Indian Institutes of Technology|IIT]] in Jodhpur, an [[Indian Institute of Management Udaipur|IIM]] in [[Udaipur]], an [[Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur|NIT]] in Jaipur, a [[National Law University, Jodhpur|National Law University]] in Jodhpur, and one central and state-run university.<ref name="Universities">{{cite web |title=List of State Funded Universities |url=https://rajbhawan.rajasthan.gov.in/content/rajbhawan/en/highereducation/listofsfus.html |publisher=Raj Bhawan, Rajasthan |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409170420/https://rajbhawan.rajasthan.gov.in/content/rajbhawan/en/highereducation/listofsfus.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Educational">{{cite news |last1=Saroha |first1=Sakshi |title=Maximum number of universities in Rajasthan, colleges in UP: AISHE Report |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/education/rajasthan-up-maximum-universities-ladakh-least-aishe-report-8412285/ |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=Indian Express |agency=Indian Express Group |date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409171919/https://indianexpress.com/article/education/rajasthan-up-maximum-universities-ladakh-least-aishe-report-8412285/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kota, Rajasthan|Kota]], is renowned for being a hub for training students in various national-level competitive exams that are necessary for securing admission to engineering and medical colleges across the country. In order to promote a reading culture among the rural population, the state has established new libraries up to the [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] level and computerised all public libraries throughout the state, providing modern amenities to readers and subscriber.<ref name="Libraries">{{cite web |title=Libraries |url=https://rajasthan.gov.in/Libraries.aspx?menu_id=36 |publisher=Government of Rajasthan |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409175255/https://rajasthan.gov.in/Libraries.aspx?menu_id=36 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Literacy ===
In recent decades the [[literacy]] rate of Rajasthan has increased significantly. In 1991, the state's literacy rate was only 38.55% (54.99% male and 20.44% female). In 2001, the literacy rate increased to 60.41% (75.70% male and 43.85% female). This was the highest leap in the percentage of literacy recorded in India (the rise in female literacy being 23%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajliteracy.org/Literacy.html|title=Directorate of Literacy and Continuing Education: Government of Rajasthan|publisher=Rajliteracy.org|access-date=5 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323190159/http://www.rajliteracy.org/Literacy.html|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the Census 2011, Rajasthan had a literacy rate of 67.06% (80.51% male and 52.66% female). Although Rajasthan's literacy rate is below the national average of 74.04% and although its female literacy rate is the lowest in the country, the state has been praised for its efforts and achievements in raising literacy rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census2011.co.in/news/81-rajasthan-literacy-rate-now-67-06-census-data.html |title=Rajasthan literacy rate now 67.06 : Census Data &#124; Census 2011 Indian Population |website=Census2011.co.in |date=27 April 2011 |access-date=5 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323190200/http://www.census2011.co.in/news/81-rajasthan-literacy-rate-now-67-06-census-data.html |archive-date=23 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://infopiper.com/2012/2011/rajasthan-population-2011-growth-rate-literacy-sex-ratio-in-census-2011/|title=Rajasthan Population 2011&nbsp;– Growth rate, literacy, sex ratio in Census 2011 "2011 Updates" InfoPiper|website=Infopiper.com|access-date=5 June 2012|archive-date=23 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323190211/http://infopiper.com/2012/2011/rajasthan-population-2011-growth-rate-literacy-sex-ratio-in-census-2011/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In rural areas of Rajasthan, the literacy rate is 76.16% for males and 45.8% for females. This has been debated across all the party levels, when the governor of Rajasthan set a minimum educational qualification for the village panchayat elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/rajasthan-governor-fixes-minimum-education-qualifications-for-panchayat-polls/|title=Rajasthan Governor fixes minimum education qualifications for Panchayat polls|date=22 December 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=16 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707035259/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/rajasthan-governor-fixes-minimum-education-qualifications-for-panchayat-polls/|archive-date=7 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/01/06/lok-sabha-tv-insights-educational-qualification-and-elections/|title=Lok Sabha TV Insights: Educational Qualification and Elections|work=INSIGHTS|access-date=16 June 2015|date=6 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408000218/http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/01/06/lok-sabha-tv-insights-educational-qualification-and-elections/|archive-date=8 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rajasthan Education|url=http://www.rajshikshaorder.in/|website=Rajshiksha|access-date=18 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205024234/http://www.rajshikshaorder.in/|archive-date=5 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
{{Main|Tourism in Rajasthan}}
[[File:Man in Rajasthan - Kristian Bertel.jpg|thumb|Man in Rajasthan, [[India]].]]
Rajasthan attracted a total of 45.9&nbsp;million domestic and 1.6&nbsp;million foreign tourists in 2017, which is the tenth highest in terms of domestic visitors and fifth highest in foreign tourists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/INDIA%20TOURISM%20STATISTICS%202017.pdf#page=20|title=Tourist Visited in India 2017|website=tourism.gov.in|language=en-IN|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127154409/http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/INDIA%20TOURISM%20STATISTICS%202017.pdf#page=20|archive-date=27 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The tourism industry in Rajasthan is growing effectively each year and is becoming one of the major income sources for the state government.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Raina |first1=A. K. |last2=Agarwal |first2=S. K. |title=The Essence of Tourism Development: Dynamics, Philosophy, and Strategies |date=2004 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-527-1 |page=264 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKPM6MAozzwC&pg=PA264 |language=en |quote=important source of tax revenue and total revenue of the state government of Rajasthan besides the income creation and employment generation}}</ref> Rajasthan is home to many attractions for domestic and foreign travellers, including the forts and palaces of [[Jaipur]], the lakes of [[Udaipur]], the temples of [[Rajsamand]] and [[Pali, Rajasthan|Pali]], sand dunes of [[Jaisalmer]] and [[Bikaner]], Havelis of [[Mandawa]] and [[Fatehpur, Rajasthan|Fatehpur]], the wildlife of [[Sawai Madhopur]], the scenery of [[Mount Abu]], the tribes of [[Dungarpur]] and [[Banswara]], and the cattle fair of [[Pushkar]].

Rajasthan is known for its customs, [[culture]], colours, majestic forts, and palaces, [[folk dances]] and music, local festivals, local food, sand dunes, carved temples and [[Haveli]]s.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} Rajasthan's Jaipur [[Jantar Mantar]], [[Mehrangarh Fort]] and [[Stepwell]] of [[Jodhpur]], [[Dilwara Temples]], [[Chittor Fort]], [[Lake Palace]], miniature paintings in [[Bundi]], and numerous city palaces and Havelis 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, most houses are painted blue.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/why-is-jodhpur-known-as-the-blue-city/as33916125.cms|title=Why is Jodhpur Known as the Blue City?|website=Times of India|language=en-IN|access-date=2 November 2019|archive-date=31 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031133049/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/why-is-jodhpur-known-as-the-blue-city/as33916125.cms|url-status=live |last1=Forster |first1=Stuart}}</ref> At [[Ajmer]], there is white marble Bara-dari on the [[Anasagar]] lake and [[Soniji Ki Nasiyan]]. [[Jain Temples]] dot Rajasthan from north to south and east to west. [[Dilwara Temples]] of Mount Abu, [[Shrinathji]] Temple of Nathdwara, [[Ranakpur Jain temple]] dedicated to Lord [[Rishabhanatha|Adinath]] in [[Pali District]], Jain temples in the fort complexes of [[Chittor]], Jaisalmer and [[Kumbhalgarh]], [[Lodhruva|Lodurva]] Jain temples, [[Mirpur Jain Temple]] of [[Sirohi]], Sarun Mata Temple at [[Kotputli]], Bhandasar and Karni Mata Temple of [[Bikaner]] and [[Mandore]] of [[Jodhpur]] are some of the best examples.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/tourist-destinations|title=Tourist Places to Visit in Rajasthan – Rajasthan Tourism|website=tourism.rajasthan.gov.in|language=en-IN|access-date=16 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116040352/http://tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/tourist-destinations|archive-date=16 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Keoladeo National Park]], [[Ranthambore National Park]], [[Sariska Tiger Reserve]], [[Tal Chhapar Sanctuary]], are wildlife attractions of Rajasthan. Mewar festival of Udaipur, [[Teej festival]] and [[Gangaur]] festival in Jaipur, [[Rajasthan desert festival|Desert festival]] of Jodhpur, Brij Holi of Bharatpur, Matsya festival of Alwar, [[Kite festival]] of Jodhpur, Kolayat fair in Bikaner are some of the most popular fairs and festivals of Rajasthan.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="125">
File:Camel rides in Thar desert.jpg|Camel rides in [[Thar desert]]

File:Temples at Pushkar Lake.jpg|[[Pushkar Lake]] and Ghat
File:Bhavai is a genre of folk dance popular in Rajasthan. The male or female performers balance a number of earthen pots while dancing.jpg|[[Kalbelia]], a folk dance popular in Rajasthan
File:Demoiselle cranes in Khichan near Bikaner (Rajasthan).jpg|[[Demoiselle crane]]s in [[Khichan]] near [[Bikaner]]
File:Hawa Mahal 2011.jpg|[[Hawa Mahal]], [[Jaipur]]
File:20191219 Fort Amber, Amer, Jaipur 0955 9481.jpg|[[Amber Fort]] as seen from the bank of Maotha Lake, Jaigarh Fort on the hills in the background
File:Nakki Lake during daytime.JPG|[[Nakki Lake]], [[Mount Abu]]
File:Mehrangarh Fort.jpg|[[Mehrangarh Fort]]
File:Kalpavruksha page.jpg|Delicate marble carving at [[Dilwara Temples]]
File:Lake Pichola (1580558921).jpg|[[Lake Palace]], [[Udaipur]]
File:Kirti Stambha of Fort of Chittaur -Chittaurgarh -Rajasthan -IMG 8307.jpg|Kirti Stambha of [[Chittor Fort]]
File:A tiger in Ranthambore National Park (2016).jpg|Tiger at [[Ranthambore National Park]]
File:Jaipur 03-2016 39 Jal Mahal - Water Palace.jpg|[[Jal Mahal]], [[Jaipur]]
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|India|Asia}}
* [[Jatan Sansthan]] (2001)
* [[List of people from Rajasthan]]
* [[Outline of Rajasthan]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Bhattacharya, Manoshi. 2008. ''The Royal Rajputs: Strange Tales and Stranger Truths''. Rupa & Co, New Delhi.
* Gahlot, Sukhvirsingh. 1992. ''RAJASTHAN: Historical & Cultural''. J. S. Gahlot Research Institute, Jodhpur.
* Somani, Ram Vallabh. 1993. ''History of Rajasthan''. Jain Pustak Mandir, Jaipur.
* Tod, James & Crooke, William. 1829. ''Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India,''. Numerous reprints, including 3 Vols. Reprint: Low Price Publications, Delhi. 1990. {{ISBN|81-85395-68-3}} (set of 3 vols.)
* Mathur, P.C., 1995. ''Social and Economic Dynamics of Rajasthan Politics'' (Jaipur, Aaalekh)

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Rajasthan|voy=Rajasthan}}

===Government===
* [http://rajasthan.gov.in/ Official Site of the Government of Rajasthan, India]
* [http://tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/ Official Tourism Site of Rajasthan, India]

===General information===
* {{osmrelation-inline|1942920}}

{{Rajasthan}}
{{Districts of Rajasthan}}
{{States and territories of India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rajasthan| ]]
[[Category:North India|*]]
[[Category:States and union territories of India]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1950]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in India]]