GENERAL INFORMATION
Rajasthan is a vibrant, exotic state where tradition and royal glory meet in a riot of colors against the vast backdrop of sand and desert. Rajasthan is a northwestern state of the Indian mainland. It shares its boundaries with Pakistan as well as other Indian states like Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The political boundaries between India and Pakistan do not limit the Thar or the Great Indian Desert to fall into the adjacent country as the Cholistan Desert. The Ghaggar river happens to be another remarkable geographical feature of Rajasthan. This seasonal river of India that originates from the Shivaliks in Himachal Pradesh terminates in the Thar Desert. The hot dusty plains of the state experience the extreme temperatures; at times the maximum count reaches 45 to 50 degrees. Rajasthan falls into the driest part of the country. The Aravali mountain range is a natural divider of Rajasthan that discriminates the sub humid areas of the East from the desert and sub desert areas in the West. The state of Rajasthan is a natural storehouse of hard rocks that produce marbles, granites and slates. The journey through the golden sands will certainly leave golden memories for you.

HISTORY OF RAJASTHAN
The formation of Rajasthan took place as a result of the amalgamation of nineteen states in the year of India's independence, 1947. Though its history can be traced way back into the 4,000 B.C. the North West areas of Rajasthan reveal the traces of the Indus Valley Civilization. Places like Mount Abu, Pushkar and Osian confirm the wide acceptance of the practiced religion like Jainism. The people of Rajasthan followed the religion greatly because of the anti Brahmincal teaching. The various rulers of Rajasthan supported the preaching and practice of the religion. When it was called circa way back in 500 B.C. The state of Rajasthan boosts of the Rajput rulers, their chivalry and reign. The Rajput warrior race was formed during the 6th and the 7th centuries A.D. The state of Rajasthan was consistently attacked from the northwest by the Muslim invaders. The royal warriors proved their metal and established themselves well by the 11th century in Rajasthan. Till the 15th century, Jaisalmer was a key city in the land route but the discovery of the new sea route by Vasco De Gama lead to the diminishing of its importance. By the middle of the 16th century, there were frequent marriage alliances between the Mughals and the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan, this fact explains the cultural and architectural influences of Islam (Mughals) on Rajasthan. The 18th century Rajasthan saw the attacks from the Marathas and amongst the Rajputs themselves besides the construction of the Jantar Mantar and the establishment of Jaipur as the capital city. Under the British rule, the nineteen Rajput states signed a treaty and came under an umbrella called Rajasthan.

CULTURE OF RAJASTHAN
The state of Rajasthan has an unusual diversity in its entire forms- people, customs, culture, costumes, music, manners, dialects, cuisine and physiography. The land is endowed with invincible forts, magnificent palace havelis, rich culture and heritage, beauty and natural resources. It is a land rich in music, Dance, Art & Craft and Adventure, a land that never ceases to intrigue & enchant.There is a haunting air of romance, about the state, which is palpable in its every nook and corner. This abode of kings is one of the most exotic locales for tourist world over. The state has not only survived in all its ethnicity but owes its charisma and color to its enduring traditional way of life.

People of Rajasthan: In olden days, the profession of the people decided their caste. This system has now been broken. Today, individuals have the freedom to opt for any profession irrespective of caste. The profession based caste system has now been transformed into birth-based caste system. People of various castes and sub-castes reside in Rajasthan. The Rajasthanis are sturdy, cheerful and simple folks relatively untouched by the fast pace of modern times making Rajasthan one of the safest destinations anywhere in the world. It is also one of the most colourful. To offset the barren, colourless landscape and the monotony of its cloudless sky, the people of Rajasthan show a distinct preference for bright costumes. From the simple village folk or tribal to the rajas and ranis, the preferred colours are bright red, dazzling yellow, lively green or brilliant orange, highlighted by a lavish use of sparkling gold and silver zari or gota. Tribal and nomadic women are known for their love for silver jewelery (although men too sport ear studs and earrings). The ornaments follow age-old designs typical of a particular tribe. In daily use the ladies wear normal ornaments of neck, hand, nose and ear but on special occasions and social functions. Women wear all the ornaments of different parts of the body to look beautiful and attractive. For its exquisite designs and delicacy of art Rajasthan Jewelry is a rage not only for ladies of India but also for women of foreign countries.

WILDLIFE IN RAJASTHAN
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary: Keoladeo Ghana National Park, one of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries in India, nesting indigenous water- birds as well as migratory water birds and water side birds. It is also inhabited by sambar, chital, nilgai and boar. More than 300 species of birds are found in this small park of 29 sq. km. of which 11 sq. km. are marshes and the rest scrubland and grassland. Keoladeo, the name derives from an ancient Hindu temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, which stands at the center of the park. 'Ghana' means dense, referring to the thick forest, which used to cover the area. While many of India's parks have been developed from the hunting preserves of princely India, Keoladeo Ghana is perhaps the only case where the habitat has been created by a maharaja. In earlier times, Bharatpur town used to be flooded regularly every monsoon. In 1760, an earthern dam (Ajan Dam) was constructed, to save the town, from this annual vagary of nature. The depression created by extraction of soil for the dam was cleared and this became the Keoladeo lake. At the beginning of this century, this lake was developed, and was divided into several portions. A system of small dams, dykes, sluice gates, etc., was created to control water level in different sections. This became the hunting preserve of the Bharatpur royalty, and one of the best duck - shooting wetlands in the world. Hunting was prohibited by mid-60s. The area was declared a national park on 10 March 1982, and accepted as a World Heritage Site in December 1985.

Ranthambhore National Park: Near the township of Sawai Madhopur, in the state of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is an outstanding example of Project Tiger's efforts at conservationin the country. The forests around the Ranthambore Fort were once, the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur. The desire to preserve the game in these forests for sport, was responsible for their conservation, and subsequent rescue by Project Tiger. The Park sprawls over an estimated area of 400 sq kms. Steep crags embracea network of lakes and rivers, and a top one of these hills, is the impressive Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century. The terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bushland. The forest is the typically dry deciduous type, with dhok, being the most prominent tree. The entry point to the Park, goes straight to the foot of the fort and the forest rest house, Jogi Mahal. The latter boasts of the second-largest banyan tree in India. The Padam Talab, the Raj Bagh Talab and the Milak Talab are some of the lakes in the area, that attract the tiger population . They have been spotted at the edges of these lakes, and Jogi Mahal itself. Old crumbling walls, ruined pavilions, wells, and other ancient structures stand witness to the region's glorious past. The entire forest is peppered with the battlements and spillovers of the Ranthambore Fort - tigers are said to frequent these ruins, too. As a result of stringent efforts in conservation, tigers, the prime assets of the Park, have become more and more active during the day. More than in any other park or sanctuary in India, tigers are easily spotted here in daylight. They can be seen lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down sambar around the lakes.

Desert National Park: The Desert National Park is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar desert and its diverse fauna. Sand dunes form around 20% of the Park. The major landform consists of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes which are quite suitable for the chinkara to move at high speed. The blackbuck is another common antelope of this region. Its other notable inhabitants are the desert fox, Bengal fox, wolf and desert cat. Sudashri forest post is the ideal place for observing the wildlife of Desert National Park and is the most suitable in the entire 3162 sq. kms. of this park for watching and photographing the activities of the animals from behind cover.Birdlife in this sandy habitat is vivid and spectacular. Birds such as the sandgrouse, partridges, bee-eaters, larks and shrikes are commonly seen. Demoiselle crane and houbara arrive in the winter. The birds of prey seen here are tawny and steppe eagles, long legged and honey buzzards, falcons and kestrels. But the most outstanding of the avifauna is the great Indian bustard. This tall, heavy bird is an epitome of confidence and grace. It is good to see five or six bustards near Sudashri water hole.This park is also very rich in reptiles. Spiny tail lizard, monitor lizard, saw sealed viper, Russel's viper, Sind krait, toad agama and sandfish are found in large numbers.18 kms. from Jaisalmer is the Akal Wood Fossils Park which is about 180 million years of age. Sea shells and massive fossilised tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert.

Sariska National Park: Sariska became a sanctuary in the year 1958. The sanctuary came under the project Tiger in 1979 and became a national park in 1982. It is located at Kankwari fort, near Alwar, on the Delhi Jaipur Highway. The terrain is predominantly hilly, as it lies in the Aravalli range. It has total area of 788 sq. kilometres, with a core area of approx. 47sq. kilometres. At last count in 1985, there 35 tigers were reported. Other carnivores of the area are the panthe, jungle cat, jackal and hyena. Three caracals were also reported during the last census in 1985. Other animals include the sambhar, chital, wild boar, hare, nilgai and umpteen porcupines. The birdlife comprises of the pea fowl, gray partridge, quail, sandgrouse, tree pie, white breasted kingfisher, golden woodpecker and great Indian horned owl.

CLIMATE OF RAJASTHAN
The climate of Rajasthan can be divided into four seasons they are

• Pre-monsoon or summer (April to June)
• Monsoon (July and August)
• Post-monsoon (September to mid October)
• Winter (October to March)