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Area : 3,42,239 sq km
Population : 56,473,122
Capital : Jaipur
Principal Languages : Hindi and Rajasthani
Rajasthan, the largest
State in India in terms of area, prior to
independence, was known as Rajputana or the home
of Rajputs—a martial community who ruled over
this area for centuries.
The history of Rajasthan dates back to the
pre-historic times. Around 3,000 and 1,000 BC,
it had a culture akin to that of the Indus
Valley Civilisation. It was the Chauhans who
dominated Rajput affairs from seventh century
and by 12th century, they had become an imperial
power. After the Chauhans, it was the Guhilots
of Mewar who controlled the destiny of the
warring tribes. Besides Mewar, the other
historically prominent states were Marwar,
Jaipur, Bundi, Kota, Bharatpur and Alwar, while
the other states were only offshoots of these.
All these states accepted the British Treaty of
Subordinate Alliance in 1818, protecting the
interest of the princes. This naturally left the
people discontented.
After the revolt of 1857, the people united
themselves under the leadership of Mahatma
Gandhi to contribute to the freedom movement.
With the introduction of provincial autonomy
in1935 in British India, agitation for civil
liberties and political rights became stronger
in Rajasthan. The process of uniting the
scattered states commenced from 1948 to 1956,
when the States Reorganisation Act was
promulgated. First came Matsya Union (1948),
consisting of a fraction of states. Slowly and
gradually, other states merged with this Union.
By 1949, major states like Bikaner, Jaipur,
Jodhpur and Jaislmer joined this Union, making
it the United State of Greater Rajasthan.
Ultimately in 1958, the present state of
Rajasthan formally came into being, with Ajmer
state, the Abu Road Taluka, and Sunel Tappa
joining it.
The entire western flank of the state borders
with Pakistan, while Punjab, Haryana, Uttar
Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh bind Rajasthan in
north, north-east, south-east and Gujarat in
south-west.
Total
cultivable area in the State is 210.62 lakh
hectares (2005-2006). The estimated food grain
production is 118.26 lakh tonnes. Principal
crops cultivated in the State are rice, barley,
jowar, millet, maize ,gram, wheat, oilseeds,
pulses, cotton and tobacco. Cultivation of
vegetable and citrus fruits such as orange and
malta has also picked up over last few years.
Other crops are red hillies, mustard, cumin
seeds, methi and hing.
Endowed with a rich culture,
Rajasthan is also rich in minerals and is fast
emerging on the industrial scenario of the
country. Some of the important Central
undertakings are Zinc Smelter Plant at Devari
(Udaipur), Copper Plant at Khetri Nagar
(Jhunjhunu) and Precision Instrument Factory at
Kota. Major industries are textiles and
woollens, sugar, cement, glass, sodium plants,
oxygen, vegetable dyes, pesticides, zinc,
fertilizers, railway wagons, ball bearings,
water and electricity metres, sulphuric acid,
television sets, synthetic yarn and insulating
bricks. Besides precious and semi-precious
stones, caustic soda, calcium carbide, nylon and
tyres, etc., are other important industrial
units.
Rajasthan has rich deposits of zinc
concentrates, emerald, garnet, gypsum, silver
ore, asbestos, felspar and mica. The State also
abounds in salt, rock phosphate, marble and red
stone deposits. The first Export Promotion
Industrial Park of the country has been
established and made operational at Sitapura
(Jaipur).
By
the end of March 2005 irrigation potential of
32.07 lakh hectares was created in the state
through various major, medium and minor
irrigation projects. during the year 2005-06 and
additional irrigation potential of 69,673
hectares ( excluding IGNP & CAD) has been
created upto December 2005. The installes power
capacity in the State has become 5385Mw upto
March 2006 of which 2885 Mw is produced from
State own projects, 973 Mw from collaboration
project and 1527 Mw from the allocation from
Central power generating stations.
Roads : The total
length of roads in the State is around 1,58,250
km.
Railways : Jodhpur,
Jaipur, Bikaner, Kota, Sawai Madhopur and
Bharatpur are some of the main railway
junctions.
Aviation :
Regular air services connect Jaipur,
Jodhpur and Udaipur with Delhi and Mumbai.
Rajasthan
is a land of festivals and fairs. Besides the
national festivals of Holi, Deepawali,
Vijayadashmi, Christmas, etc. birth
anniversaries of Gods and Goddesses, saintly
figures, folk heroes and heroines are
celebrated. Important fairs are Teej, Gangaur
(Jaipur), annual Urs of Ajmer Sherif and
Galiakot, tribal Kumbh of Beneshwar (Dungarpur),
Mahaveer fair at Shri Mahavirji in Swai
Madhopur, Ramdeora (Jaisalmer), Janbheshwari
Fair (Mukam-Bikaner), Kartik Poornima and Cattle
Fair (Pushkar-Ajmer) and Shyamji Fair (Sikar),
etc.
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner,
Mount Abu, Sariska Tiger Sanctuary in Alwar,
Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur, Ajmer,
Jaisalmer, Pali and Chittorgarh are important
places of tourist interest in the state.
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