Rajasthan

Land of Kings

StateNorth IndiaCapital: JaipurEst. 30 March 1949
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Overview

Quick facts at a glance

India's largest state by area, famous for desert landscapes, Rajput forts and palaces, and vibrant folk traditions.

Capital
Jaipur
Largest City
Jaipur
Region
North
Formed
30 March 1949
Area
342,239 km²
Population
68,548,437 (Census 2011)
Languages
Hindi
Other Languages
Rajasthani (Marwari, Mewari, Dhundhari)
Earlier Names
Rajputana
Districts
50
Lok Sabha
25
Assembly
200
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History

How Rajasthan came to be

Historically a mosaic of Rajput princely states (Rajputana) known for chivalry and resistance to invasions, which merged to form Rajasthan after independence.

Earlier / Historical Names

  • Rajputana
Verification✅ VerifiedLast Verified02 July 2026Verified byIndia Atlas Editorial Desk
Historical background compiled from the National Portal of India (Know India) and standard state gazetteers.

Did You Know?

Surprising highlights

Did you know

Rajasthan is home to the Thar Desert, India's largest desert.

Did you know

Jaipur's hill forts are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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State Symbols

Emblems of identity

Chinkara

State Animal

Great Indian bustard (Godawan)

State Bird

Rohida

State Flower

Khejri

State Tree

Ghoomar, Kalbelia

State Dance

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Culture & Festivals

Living traditions

Folk Dances

  • Ghoomar
  • Kalbelia
  • Bhavai

Traditional Dress

Angrakha and pagri for men; ghagra-choli-odhni for women

Festival Carousel

Pushkar Camel Fair

One of the world's largest camel and livestock fairs.

Teej

Monsoon festival celebrating marital bliss with processions and swings.

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Cuisine

Flavours of Rajasthan

Desert-adapted cuisine using dried lentils, gram flour and dairy due to scarce water and vegetables.

Popular Dishes

Dal Baati Churma

Gatte ki Sabzi

Laal Maas

Popular Sweets

Ghevar

Mawa Kachori

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Tourism & Attractions

Places to explore

Top Attractions

Amber Fort

Hilltop fort overlooking Jaipur, part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

Jaisalmer Fort

Living desert fort city known as the Golden Fort.

Lake Pichola, Udaipur

Scenic lake ringed by palaces in the 'City of Lakes'.

UNESCO World Heritage

  • Hill Forts of Rajasthan
  • Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
  • Keoladeo National Park

National Parks

  • Ranthambore National Park
  • Keoladeo National Park

Tiger Reserves

  • Ranthambore
  • Sariska

Wildlife Sanctuaries

  • Sariska
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Geography & Nature

The lay of the land

Major Rivers

  • Chambal
  • Banas
  • Luni

Mountain Ranges

  • Aravalli Range

Major Lakes

  • Lake Pichola
  • Sambhar Salt Lake
Highest Peak
Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu)
Climate
Arid to semi-arid
Rainfall
Low, highly variable
Forests
Sparse thorn and scrub forest
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On the Map of India

Location & land neighbours

Neighbouring States & UTs

  • Punjab
  • Haryana
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Madhya Pradesh
  • Gujarat
Verification✅ VerifiedLast Verified02 July 2026Verified byIndia Atlas Editorial Desk
Source: Survey of IndiaGovernment
Location and land neighbours as depicted on the Survey of India political map of India.
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Economy & Agriculture

How Rajasthan works

Mining, tourism, and textile/handicraft industries complement a mostly arid agricultural base.

Key Industries

  • Mining (marble, zinc)
  • Textiles
  • Tourism
  • Handicrafts

Major Crops

  • Bajra
  • Mustard
  • Wheat

Largest Producer Of

Guar gum in the world

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Infrastructure & Connectivity

Getting around Rajasthan

Road Network
Extensive state highway grid linking desert towns
Railways
Historic narrow-gauge and modern broad-gauge lines

Airports

  • Jaipur International Airport
  • Udaipur Airport

Metro Rail

  • Jaipur Metro
Verification✅ VerifiedLast Verified02 July 2026Verified byIndia Atlas Editorial Desk
Road, rail and air connectivity per the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Indian Railways and the Airports Authority of India.
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Education & Research

Centres of learning

Major Universities

  • University of Rajasthan
  • BITS Pilani

Research Institutes

  • Central Arid Zone Research Institute
Verification✅ VerifiedLast Verified02 July 2026Verified byIndia Atlas Editorial Desk
Major universities recognised by the University Grants Commission and state government listings.
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Heritage & GI Tags

Craft & legacy

GI-Tagged Treasures

Bikaneri Bhujia

Jaipur Blue Pottery

Monuments

Amber Fort

City Palace Udaipur

Chittorgarh Fort

Handicrafts

Blue pottery

Bandhani tie-dye

Meenakari jewellery

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Interactive Timeline

Tap any milestone to expand

c. 2500 BCEIndus Valley sitesAncient
Kalibangan reveals an early Harappan settlement in Rajasthan.
7th–12th centuryRise of Rajput clansMedieval
Rajput dynasties like the Sisodias and Rathores build powerful kingdoms.
19th centuryPrincely states under paramountcyColonial
Rajput states enter subsidiary alliances with the British.
1949IntegrationFormation
Princely states merge to form the state of Rajasthan.
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Frequently Asked

Good to know

Which is India's largest state by area?+
Rajasthan is India's largest state by geographical area.
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Sources & Verification

Authoritative references used to verify facts on this page

Sources

Last verified: 02 July 2026 · Facts without a listed source are marked “Verification Pending” and are being audited progressively via the CMS.

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