Geography of Rajasthan-

Geography of Rajasthan-

 

Rajasthan is situated in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is confined on the west and northwest by Pakistan, on the north and northeast by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, on the east and southeast by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and on the southwest by the state of Gujarat. The Tropic of Cancer passes through its southern tip in the Banswara district. Area of the state is 132,140 square miles (342,239 square kilometres). The capital of Rajasthan is Jaipur. 

Rajasthan is relatively dry and infertile in the west. This western area includes some of the Thar Desert which is also known as the Great Indian Desert. Land is wetter, hilly, and more fertile in the southwestern part of the state.

The climatic conditions-

The climatic conditions varies throughout Rajasthan. The average winter temperatures range from 8° to 28° C (46° to 82° F) and summer temperatures range from 25° to 46° C (77° to 115° F). Average rainfall also varies in Rajasthn. The western deserts has about 100 mm (about 4 in) annually, while the southeastern part of the state receives annually 650 mm (26 in), most of which falls from July through September during the monsoon season.

Legislative Political situation-

Rajasthan has a single house legislative assembly with 200 seats. The state sends 35 members to the Indian national parliament out of which 10 seats to the RajyaSabha (Upper House) and 25 seats to the LokSabha (Lower House) of Indian Parliament.

Districts of Rajasthan- 

 

 

Local government comprises of 33 administrative districts. These 33 districts are: Ajmer, Alwar, Banswara, Baran, Barmer, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dausa, Dholpur, Dungarpur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Jodhpur, Karauli, Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Tonk, and Udaipur.

 

 

Topography-

Rajasthan has varying topographic features though a major part of the state is dominated by arid and dry region. The extensive topography includes rocky terrain, rolling sand dunes, wetlands, barren tracts or land filled with thorny scrubs, river-drained plains, plateaus, ravines and wooded regions. In a more broad way the topography of Rajasthan can be classified in the following regions-

• The Aravalli or the Hilly regions

• The Thar and the other arid regions

• The Plateaus including Vindhaya and the Malwa

• The Fertile plains including the Mewar

• The Forest Regions and 

• The Waterbodies including Rivers and Salt Lakes.

The Thar Desert-

The huge portion of the state of Rajasthan is desiccated (driage) and consists the biggest desert of India- the Thar Desert known as the 'Maru-kantar'. The Thar Desert or the Great Indian Desert encompasses about 61% of total landmass of Rajasthan and hence it is identified as the "Desert State of India". The Rajasthan desert which forms a major portion of the Thar Desert is the biggest desert in India and encompasses the districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur. In fact the Rajasthan Desert comprises the desert triangle of three cities - Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur. The desert becomes very hot during the summer and it experiences extreme climate with an average annual rainfall less than 25 cm. Days are hot and the nights are cold. Vegetation consists of thorny bushes, shrubs and xerophilious grass. Various species of lizards and snakes are found here. 

Highlights of Thar Desert-

• Countries: India, Pakistan

• States in which Thar Desert extends in India: Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat

• States in which Thar Desert extends in Pakistan: Sindh, Punjab

Thar Desert extends from Sutlej River, bounded by Aravalli Ranges on the Eastern part, on the Southern part by the Great Rann of Kutch and on the Western side by the Indus River. 

Interesting facts about the Thar Desert-

•  It is the world's 18th largest subtropical desert.

•  The Thar Desert is the most densely populated desert in the world, with a population density of 83 people per square km. 

• India exploded its first nuclear bomb  in the Thar Desert on May, 1974.

•  It is the biggest wool-producing area in India.

• There are ten times more animals per person in Rajasthan than the national average.

 

 The Oldest Chain of Fold Mountains-

The oldest chain of fold mountains: the Aravali Range divides the state into two geographical zones- desert at one side and forest belt on the other side. Only 9.56% of the total geographical region lies under forest vegetation. The Mount Abu is the only hill station of the state and houses the Guru Shikhar Peak that is the highest peak of the Aravali range with an elevation of 1,722 m. The capital city of Rajasthan is Jaipur.

Top 10 peaks of Aravalli-

1. Guru Shikhar (Sirohi) - 1722 M
2. Ser (Sirohi) - 1597 M
3. Dilwara (Sirohi) - 1442 M
4. Jarga (Sirohi) - 1431 M
5. Achalgarh (Sirohi) - 1380 M
6. Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand) - 1224 M
7. Dhoniya - 1183 M
8. Raghunathgarh (Sikar) - 1055 M
9. Hrishikesh - 1017 M
10. Kamalnath - 1001 M

Peaks of North-Eastern Aravalli Region- 
1. Raghunathgarh (Sikar) - 1055 M
2. Khoh (Jaipur) - 920 M
3. Bhairach (Alwar) - 792 M
4. Barwara (Jaipur) - 786 M
5. Babai (Junjhunu) - 780 M
6. Bilali (Alwar) - 775 M
7. Manoharpura (Jaipur) - 747 M
8. Bairath (Jaipur) - 704 M
9. Sariska (Alwar) - 677 M
10. Siravas - 651 M

Peaks of Central Aravalli Region-

1. Goramji (Ajmer) - 934 M
2. Taragarh (Ajmer) - 870 M
3. Naag Pahar (Ajmer) -795 M

Peaks of Southern Aravalli Region-

1. Guru Shikhar (Sirohi) - 1722 M

2. Ser (Sirohi) - 1597 M

3. Dilwara (Sirohi) - 1442 M

4. Jarga (Sirohi) - 1431 M

5. Achalgarh (Sirohi) - 1380 M

6. Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand) - 1224 M

7. Dhoniya - 1183 M

8. Hrishikesh - 1017 M

9. Kamalnath - 1001 M

10. Sajjangarh - 938 M

11. Lilagarh - 874 M

 Area-

The north-western state of Rajasthan is the largest Indian state with an area of 3, 42,239sq.km comprising of the 10.41% of the total geographical area of the country.

Rajasthan state has a type of rhomboid shape and stretches lengthwise 869 km. from west to east and 826 km. from north to south.

 Soil & Vegetation-

The soil and vegetation of Rajasthan alters with its wide-ranging topography of the state and the availability of water. The varied kind of soils available in Rajasthan are mostly sandy, saline, alkaline and chalky (calcareous). Clay, loamy, black lava soil and nitrogenous soils are also found. Owing to the limited rainfall seasonal vegetation such as a few grass species, shrubs and dwarf trees can be found. However food crops are grown in the plains that are drained by the rivers and streamlets owing to the alluvial and clay soil deposits. The hilly tracts of the Aravali are characterized by the black, lava soils that sustain the growth of cotton and sugarcane.

Quick facts about Rajasthan-

​Date of formation: November 1, 1956

Size: 342,239 sq km

Population: 68,621,012 (census 2011)

Capital: Jaipur

 Legislature: Unicameral

Population density: 165/sq km 

No. of districts: 33

Lok Sabha seats: 25

Judicature: Jodhpur High Court

Languages: Hindi and Rajasthani

Airports: Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur 

Neighbouring states/country:

East: Madhya Pradesh;

North-east: Uttar Pradesh;

North: Haryana and Punjab; 

West: Pakistan,

South: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh

State animal: Camel (Formerly Chinkara)

Main crops: Mustard, jowar, bajra, maize, gram, wheat, cotton, millet