Where Is Rajasthan?
Spanning an area of 342,239 square km, Rajasthan is India’s biggest state. The state lies in northwestern India and is bordered by Pakistan’s Punjab Province to the northwest and Pakistan’s Sindh Province to the west. The Indian state of Punjab lies to the north of Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh and Haryana border the state to the northeast. Madhya Pradesh lies to the southeast, and Gujarat to the southwest of the state.
Climate Of Rajasthan
The climate of Rajasthan varies across the state and can be divided into the four seasons of summer, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter. The summer season lasts from April to June, temperatures range between 30°C to 40°C, and can be as high as 54°C. During the summer, Mount Abu, the state’s only hill station, registers the lowest temperature. Hot, dusty winds are common during this time. Monsoon in Rajasthan lasts from July to September. Temperatures drop to about 30°C to 33°C. However, rainfall is highly variable throughout the state and decreases from east to west and southwest to northeast. There are regions in the desert of the state that remain completely parched throughout the year. Rajasthan is the driest state in India. The highest humidity is experienced here during the rainy season. The post-monsoon season lasts from October to December and is characterized by gradually dropping temperature and precipitation. The winter season lasts from January to March. Temperatures drop quite low to 3°C to 5°C in some parts of the state. Some rain is received in the north-eastern and northern parts of the state.
The best time to visit Rajasthan is from November to March.
Topology Of Rajasthan
The two primary geographic features of Rajasthan are the Aravalli Range and the Thar Desert. The former runs from the southwest to the northeast of Rajasthan for a distance of over 850 km. Mount Abu is located in the southwestern edge of the Aravallis and is separated from the rest of the range by the West Banas River. About two-fifths of Rajasthan lie to the east and south of the Aravallis and the rest to the northwest of the Aravallis.
The Aravallis run from the southwest peak of Mount Abu or Guru Shikhar (5,650 ft) to Khetri in the northeast. In the southeast of the state, a tableland exists covering large parts of the Kota and Bundi districts. To the northeast of these districts, badlands (a stretch of rugged region) exists and further north lies the flat plains of Bharatpur district.
Soils Of Rajasthan
The soils of Rajasthan varies greatly across the state. Five major groups of soils are found here:
- Sandy or light soils
- Loam or medium soils
- Skeletal soils or shallow rocky and hilly soils.
- Sandy loam or light medium soils.
- Clay loam to clay or heavy soils
Rivers Of Rajasthan
The West Banas River separates Mount Abu from the main ranges of the Aravalli. The Luni River along with its tributaries forms the major river system in the Marwar and Godwar regions of Rajasthan. The river drains the western slopes of the Aravalli Range and empties into the wetlands of the Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. The Ghaggar River is a transient stream that begins in Haryana and disappears into the sands of the Thar Desert. Two tributaries of the Ganges, the Chambal and the Banas rivers drain the southeastern and southern parts of Rajasthan.
• Arvari River (Alwar)
• Bhagani River (Alwar)
• Garri River (having the settlements of the CHOUBEY's clan)
• Jahajwali River (Alwar)
• Ruparel River (Alwar)
• Sarsa River(Alwar)
• Sukri
Lakes Of Rajasthan
Symbols Of Rajasthan
State bird: Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
State flower: Rohida (Tecomella undulata)
State tree: Khejri (Prosopis cineraria)
Ecological Regions Of Rajasthan
Thar Desert: Northwestern Rajasthan is sandy and dry and covered by vast stretches of the Thar Desert which extend into neighboring Pakistan. Since the Aravalli Ranges lie parallel to the direction of the moisture-laden southwest monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea, the northwestern parts of Rajasthan are left as a rain shadow.
Northwestern thorn scrub forests: This ecoregion forms a band around the Thar desert, lying in between the Thar and the Aravalli Ranges. This ecoregion receives less than 400 mm of rain annually and temperatures can exceed 54 °C during summer while winter temperatures can drop below freezing. The Marwar, Shekhawati, and Godwar ecoregions of the state lie in this thorn scrub forest zone. The Luni River and the Ghaggar River are the major rivers in this region.
Kathiarbar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion: The Aravalli Range and lands to its southeast and east are more wet and fertile. The ecoregion bears tropical dry broadleaf forests with trees like Acacia, teak, etc.
Vagad is the wettest and most forested region of Rajasthan. The region lies at the desert state’s southernmost part and forms border with Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Flora And Fauna Of Rajasthan
Rajasthan has a rich faunal diversity. Tigers, blackbuck, desert fox, chinkara, nilgai, hanuman langur, jungle cat, wild boar, porcupines, Indian mongoose, Indian civets, sloth bear, macaques, striped hyenas, leopards, etc., are some of the mammalian species of Rajasthan.
Reptiles like march crocodiles, desert monitor lizards, tortoise, common krait, cobras, soft-shelled turtles, Indian python, chameleons, vipers, etc., are some of the reptiles found in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan is also rich in avifauna. Kestrels, falcons, vultures, eagles, buzzards, etc., are some of the birds of prey found in the state. Peacocks are common in many parts of Rajasthan. The state serves as one of the last habitats of the critically endangered Great Indian bustard. A large number of migratory birds visit the state in winter and attract birders from across the world to Rajasthan during this season.
Protected Areas Of Rajasthan
National Parks Of Rajasthan
Conservation Reserves Of Rajasthan
Wildlife Sanctuaries Of Rajasthan
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