108-617: Chittorgarh pronunciation (also Chitror or Chittor or Chittaurgarh ) is a major city in the state of Rajasthan in western India . It lies on the Berach River , a tributary of the Banas , and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgarh District . It was a major stronghold of the Rajput State of Medapata . (modern Mewar ) The city of Chittorgarh is located on the banks of river Gambhiri and Berach. Chittorgarh
216-906: A 4 lane highway, a 5 hour drive making its easy accessibility to India’s mini Bombay and business hub, Indore via NH56 and then SH156. This highway makes connections with neemuch, mandsaur and Ratlam also. Chittorgarh is also home to South east ASIA’s Largest highway exchange (Diamond crossing or Reethola Chauraha). Chittaurgarh Junction is a busy & important junction of Western Railway of Indian Railways , Ratlam Division. It has direct rail links with all major Indian cities including Ajmer , Udaipur , Jaipur , Jodhpur , Agra , Delhi , Haridwar , Mumbai , Hyderabad , Kolkata , Pune , Chennai , Rameswaram , Yeshwantpur , Ahmedabad , Surat , Vadodara , Indore , Ratlam , Gwalior , Bhopal , Mandsaur , Jhansi , Khajuraho , Rewa , Nagpur , Bilaspur , Kota , and Mysore . A daily train to Indore (Veerbhumi Express), and new connections to Ahmedabad are some of
324-627: A fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills in Kumbhalgarh in the Rajsamand district of the Rajasthan state in India . Situated approximately 48 km (30 mi) from Rajsamand city , 84 km (52 mi) from Udaipur , it was built during the 15th century by Rana Kumbha . The wall of Kumbhalgarh is one of the longest continuous walls in the world, spanning 38 kilometers. It
432-478: A garrison to protect the fort, but was convinced by James Tod and the fort was taken over by the British and later returned to Udaipur State. There were additions made by Maharanas of Mewar, but the original structure built by Maharana Kumbha remains. The residential buildings and temples are well-preserved. The fort is also known to be the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. The chief architect who built this fort
540-472: A large area within the districts of Kota and Bundi forms a tableland. To the northeast of these districts is a rugged region (badlands) following the line of the Chambal River . Farther north the country levels out; the flat plains of the northeastern Bharatpur district are part of an alluvial basin. Merta City lies in the geographical center of Rajasthan. The Aravalli Range and the lands to
648-661: A large portion of Rajasthan. The indomitable Rana Kumbha defeated the Sultans of Malwa , Nagaur and Gujarat and made Mewar the most powerful Rajput Kingdom in India. The ambitious Rana Sanga united the various Rajput clans, including the Muslim Khanzadas of Mewat under Raja Hasan Khan Mewati , and fought against the foreign powers in India. Rana Sanga defeated the Afghan Lodi Empire of Delhi and crushed
756-596: A local belief then that the Banmata deity in the fort protected it and hence he destroyed the temple. There were further attempts in 1458–59 and 1467 by Mahmud Khalji , but it also proved futile. Akbar 's general, Shahbaz Khan, attacked this fort in October 1577 and after the siege of 6 months, he was able to capture the fort in April 1578. But it was recaptured by Pratap in 1583. In 1818, an armed band of sanyasis formed
864-532: A remnant of the primitive Sarasvati river . The Desert National Park in Jaisalmer , spread over an area of 3,162 square kilometres (1,221 sq mi), is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert and its diverse fauna . Seashells and massive fossilised tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert. The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of
972-486: Is Udaipur ( Dabok Airport ). The airport is located 70 kilometres from Chittorgarh and linked by daily air service from New Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Mumbai. Chittorgarh also has a small airport at Ondawa. (Ondawa air strip) serves some defence and chartered flights. City has a helipad at reserves police lines. Rajasthan Rajasthan ( / r ɑː dʒ ə ˈ s t ɑː n / ; Hindi: [raːdʒəsˈtʰaːn] ; lit. 'Land of Kings')
1080-476: Is a state in northwestern India . It covers 342,239 square kilometres (132,139 sq mi) or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population . It is on India's northwestern side, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert (also known as the Great Indian Desert) and shares a border with
1188-444: Is a huge nine storey tower which was built by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over the rulers of Malwa and Gujarat in 1440. The tower is 122 ft (37 m) high and stands on a 10 ft (3.0 m) high base. There are sculptures and carvings on the exterior walls of the tower. The tower is visible from any section of the town below. To reach the top of the tower top one has to climb 157 steps, it offers great view of
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#17327917960031296-432: Is a synonym for Shiva and Gaur which stands for Gauri or Parvati who symbolises saubhagya (marital bliss). Gauri is the embodiment of perfection and conjugal love which is why the unmarried women worship her for being blessed with good husbands, while married women do so for the welfare, health and long life of their spouses and happy married life. The fort and the city of Chittorgarh host the biggest Rajput festival called
1404-928: Is also home to three national tiger reserves, the Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur , Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota . The State of Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the Rajputana Agency of the erstwhile British Empire in India were merged into the new Indian Union . Its capital and largest city is Jaipur . Other important cities are Jodhpur , Kota , Bikaner , Ajmer , Sarwar , Bharatpur and Udaipur . The economy of Rajasthan
1512-534: Is also the birthplace of great king and military leader Maharana Pratap of Mewar. In 2013, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh , Cambodia , Kumbhalgarh Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan . The etymology of "Kumbhalgarh" originates from "Kumbha," denoting
1620-752: Is also undertaken in Rajasthan. Jodhpur sandstone is mostly used in monuments, important buildings, and residential buildings. This stone is termed as Chittar Patthar . Jodhpur leads in the handicraft and guar gum industries. Rajasthan is also a part of the Mumbai-Delhi Industrial corridor set to benefit economically. The state gets 39% of the DMIC, with major districts of Jaipur, Alwar, Kota and Bhilwara benefiting. Rajasthan also has reserves of low-silica limestone. Rajasthan connected 100% of its population to electricity power in 2019 (raising
1728-701: Is appointed by the President of India for a five-year term. The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the chief minister by the governor, and the council of ministers are appointed by the governor on the advice of the chief minister . The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The council of ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers , Ministers of State (MoS) and Deputy Ministers. The Secretariat headed by
1836-468: Is celebrated as full-fledged festival every year on the 3rd day of Jyestha Shukla phase. Special puja and processions are held in his remembrance on Maharana Pratap Jayanti day everywhere. Several cultural programs such as debate are also organized. Meera Bai (1498–1547) was a devout follower of Lord Krishna, one of the foremost exponents of the Prema Bhakti (Divine Love) and an inspired poet. She
1944-813: Is composed of the following geographical regions: Rajasthan is divided into 50 districts within Ten divisions : A district collector or district magistrate , who is appointed by either the Indian Administrative Service or the Rajasthan Public Service Commission , governs each district. Subdivisions (Tehsils) are responsible for governing districts and are overseen by sub-divisional magistrates. Additionally, districts are further divided into blocks. A block consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities. Tehsils are intermediate level panchayat between
2052-414: Is customary since 15th century. It is a thanksgiving festival of farmers. Farmers pay their honor to Mother Earth for providing them food for next year. The city’s industrial sector can be divided into Manpura mines are also a major mines in area. The city also boasts of big marble mines. The Chittor Fort is seated on a 180-metre hill, covers an expanse of 700 acres (2.8 km). It was constructed by
2160-570: Is drained by the Banas and Chambal rivers, tributaries of the Ganges . The northwestern portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry. Most of this region is covered by the Thar Desert which extends into adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Range does not intercept the moisture-giving southwest monsoon winds off the Arabian Sea , as it lies in a direction parallel to that of
2268-694: Is headed by a District Magistrate/District Collector, who is also an IAS officer, and is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Rajasthan Administrative Services . In Rajasthan, the police force is led by an IPS officer holding the position of Director General of Police . Each district is supervised by a Superintendent of Police , also an IPS officer, who is supported by officers from the Rajasthan Police Services. Their primary responsibility involves maintaining law and order and addressing relevant issues within their respective districts. The management of forests, environment, and wildlife in
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#17327917960032376-718: Is home to the Chittor Fort , the largest living fort in India and Asia . It was sacked thrice; first in 1303 by Alauddin Khalji , again in 1535 by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat , and lastly by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1568 . Chittor has been a land of worship for Meera . It is also known for Panna Dai and Rani Padmini . Chittorgarh is located at 24°53′N 74°38′E / 24.88°N 74.63°E / 24.88; 74.63 . It has an average elevation of 394 metres (1292 ft).Chittorgarh
2484-415: Is located between the old and new cities. There are good bus services (private as well as state-owned) available for Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Bundi, Kota, Udaipur, and other major cities. Rajasthan Roadways (RSRTC) provides a service for visiting areas around Chittorgarh. Rajasthan Roadways also has premier services called Pink Line, Silver line and Sleeper Coaches (Grey Line). The nearest airport
2592-566: Is located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, in the northwestern part of India. It is located beside a high hill near the Gambhiri River. Chittorgarh is located between 23° 32' and 25° 13' north latitudes and between 74° 12' and 75° 49' east longitudes in the southeastern part of Rajasthan state. The district encompasses 350.8 square km (3.17 per cent of the Rajasthan State) area of land. Originally called Chitrakuta,
2700-416: Is one of the largest airbases in India, BSF and Military bases are also situated here. Currently four civil airports are located here: Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Nagaur, of which Jodhpur is the major civil airport, being the 44th busiest airport in India and one of the oldest air strips of India, being built in the 1920s. The Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between
2808-474: Is one of the major festivals in Chittorgarh which is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Teej is the festival of swings. It marks the advent of the monsoon month of Shravan (August). The monsoon rains fall on the parched land and the pleasing scent of the wet soil rises into the air. Swings are hung from trees and decorated with flowers. Young girls and women dressed in green clothes sing songs in celebration of
2916-564: Is responsible for maintaining and expanding the state highways system and major district roads. Jaipur–Kishangarh Expressway forms a segment of the NH-8 which is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) was established in 1964 to provide economical and reliable passenger road transport service in the state with connecting services to adjoining states. For travelling locally,
3024-399: Is the seventh-largest state economy in India with ₹ 10.20 lakh crore (US$ 120 billion) in gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of ₹ 118,000 (US$ 1,400). Rajasthan ranks 22nd among Indian states in human development index . Rajasthan means "The Land of Kings" and is a portmanteau of Sanskrit "Rājā" ('King') and Sanskrit "Sthāna" ('Land') or Persian "St(h)ān", with
3132-442: Is the first metro in India to run on triple-storey elevated road and metro track. The state is served by a substantial road network, providing links between urban centers, agricultural market-places and rural areas. There are 33 national highways (NH) in the state, covering a total distance of 10,004.14 km (6,216.28 mi). The state has a total road length of 269,028 km (167,166 mi). The Department of Public Works
3240-493: Is the state's largest, busiest and only international airport. Jaipur International Airport offers international service to Dubai , Bangkok , Sharjah and Muscat . There are five civilian airports in Rajasthan including Jodhpur Airport , Udaipur Airport , Ajmer Airport , Bikaner Airport and Jaisalmer Airport . Domestic airports are operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and shares its airside with
3348-537: The Aravalli Range , which runs through the state from southwest to northeast, almost from one end to the other, for more than 850 kilometres (530 mi). Mount Abu lies at the southwestern end of the range, separated from the main ranges by the West Banas River . Although a series of broken ridges continues into Haryana in the direction of Delhi where it can be seen as outcrops in the form of
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3456-521: The Chittor Fort is said to have been built by Chitranga , a Mori king. The Guhila (Gahlot) ruler Bappa Rawal is said to have captured the fort in either 728 CE or 734 CE. However, some historians doubt the historicity of this legend, arguing that the Guhilas did not control Chittor before the reign of the later ruler Allata . Chittor was known as "Chit- Ror " at that time. Between 1251 and 1258, Balban repeatedly led troops to Chittor fort . Under
3564-537: The First Battle of Tarain in 1191. In 1192 CE, Muhammad Ghori decisively defeated Prithviraj at the Second Battle of Tarain . After the defeat of Chauhan in 1192 CE, a part of Rajasthan came under Muslim rulers. The principal centers of their powers were Nagaur and Ajmer. Ranthambhore was also under their suzerainty. At the beginning of the 13th century, the most prominent and powerful state of Rajasthan
3672-516: The Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to the west, along the Sutlej - Indus River valley. It is bordered by five other Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to the southeast; and Gujarat to the southwest. Its geographical location is 23°.3' to 30°.12' North latitude and 69°.30' to 78°.17' East longitude, with
3780-536: The Raisina Hill and the ridges farther north. About three-fifths of Rajasthan lies northwest of the Aravallis, leaving two-fifths on the east and south direction. The Aravalli Range runs across the state from the southwest peak Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu), which is 1,722 metres (5,650 ft) in height, to Khetri in the northeast. This range divides the state into 60% in the northwest of the range and 40% in
3888-713: The Rajputs first entered India from the north west in the first millennium A.D. They established kingdoms in western India in the region that is now known as Rajasthan. An archaeological excavation at the Balathal site in Udaipur district shows a settlement contemporary with the Harrapan civilisation dating back to 3000–1500 BCE. Stone Age tools dating from 5,000 to 200,000 years were found in Bundi and Bhilwara districts of
3996-642: The Saka rulers of the western part of India, were successors to the Indo-Scythians and were contemporaneous with the Kushans , who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent . The Indo-Scythians invaded the area of Ujjain and established the Saka era (with their calendar ), marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Satraps state. The Pratiharas ruled for many dynasties in this part of
4104-575: The Shekhawati region. This sanctuary is home to a large population of blackbuck . Desert foxes and the caracal , an apex predator , also known as the desert lynx , can also be spotted, along with birds such as the partridge , harriers , eastern imperial eagle , pale harrier , marsh harrier , short-toed eagle , tawny eagle , sparrow hawk , crested lark , demoiselle crane , skylarks , green bee-eater , brown dove , black ibis , and sand grouse . The great Indian bustard , known locally as
4212-486: The Zilla Parishad (district councils) at the district level and gram panchayat (village councils) at the lower level. Rajasthan has 5 cities with over one million population. The absolute urban population of the state is 17.4 million, which constitutes 24.87% of the total urban population of the state. There are 10 municipal corporations , 34 municipal councils and 172 municipal boards or nagar pachayats in
4320-489: The godavan , and which is a state bird, has been classed as critically endangered since 2011. Rajasthan is also noted for its national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. There are four national parks and wildlife sanctuaries: Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur , Sariska Tiger Reserve of Alwar, Ranthambore National Park of Sawai Madhopur , and Desert National Park of Jaisalmer. A national-level institute, Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) an autonomous institute of
4428-405: The "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars , but no specific name has been given to it. It is generally believed that it commemorates Padmini's jauhar , which is most famous. This festival is held primarily to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh Fort. A huge number of Rajputs, which include
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4536-651: The 12th century CE. Kirti Stambh is built inside Chittorgarh fort. It is dedicated to Rishabha , the first Tirthankara of Jainism . It was built by a merchant and is decorated with figures from the Jain pantheon. It is a seven storied pillar which was built by Biherwal Mahajan Sanaya of Digambar Jain sect. On its four corners are engraved idols of Shri Adinathji in Digambar style which each are five feet (about 1.5 meters) high and elsewhere are engraved several small idols consecrated to Jain lineage of deities. Vijay Stambha ,
4644-466: The British district of Ajmer-Merwara . Jaisalmer , Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner , Mewar (Chittorgarh), Alwar and Dhundhar (Jaipur) were some of the main Rajput princely states. Bharatpur and Dholpur were Jat princely states whereas Tonk was a princely state under Pathans . The three chiefships were Lawa, Neemrana and Kushalgarh. The geographic features of Rajasthan are the Thar Desert and
4752-582: The Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head of the government. Each government department is headed by a minister, who is assisted by an Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary, who is usually an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serve as the administrative head of
4860-725: The Indian Air Force. These airports connect Rajasthan with the major cities of India such as Mumbai, Kolkata , Hyderabad , Chennai and Bangalore . Railways length in the state constitute 8.66 per cent of all India route length. Jaipur Junction is the headquarters of the North Western Railway . Jaipur, Ajmer , Bikaner are the busiest railway stations in the state. Kota is the only electrified section served by three Rajdhani Expresses and trains to all major cities of India. Jaipur Superfast Express , fastest train under Superfast category of trains; connects
4968-549: The Mauryans in the 7th century CE. There is also a belief that it was constructed by Bhima of the Pancha Pandavas. This fort was the citadel of many great rajput warriors such as Gora, Badal, Rana Kumbha , Maharana Pratap , Jaimal, Patta, etc. The Chittorgarh Fort contains towers, reservoirs, and other architectural elements pictured below: Kirti Stambh (Tower of Fame) is a 22-metre-high (72 ft) tower built in
5076-514: The Palace built on the highest point of the fort. Names of these gates are Bhairon Pol, Nimboo Pol, Chaugan Pol, Pagda Pol and Ganesh Pol. Most buildings are visible from the Ram Pol. The Rajasthan Tourism Department organises a three-day annual festival in the fort in remembrance of the passion of Maharana Kumbha towards art and architecture. Sound and light shows are organised with the fort as
5184-597: The Rajput kings accepted Mughal suzerainty, but the rulers of Mewar (Rana Udai Singh II ) and Marwar (Rao Chandrasen Rathore ) refused to have any form of alliance with the Mughals. To teach the Rajputs a lesson Akbar attacked Udai Singh and killed Rajput commander Jaimal of Chitor and the citizens of Mewar in large numbers. Akbar killed 20,000–25,000 unarmed citizens in Chittor on the grounds that they had actively helped in
5292-681: The Tropic of Cancer passing through its southernmost tip. Its major features include the ruins of the Indus Valley civilisation at Kalibangan and Balathal , the Dilwara Temples , a Jain pilgrimage site at Rajasthan's only hill station , Mount Abu , in the ancient Aravalli mountain range and eastern Rajasthan, the Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur , a World Heritage Site known for its bird life. Rajasthan
5400-607: The Turkic Sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat. Rana Sanga then tried to create an Indian empire but was defeated by the first Mughal Emperor Babur at Khanwa . The defeat was due to betrayal by the Tomar King Silhadi of Raisen. After Rana Sanga 's death, Marwar rose as a power center in Rajasthan under Rao Maldeo Rathore . He conquered Jaisalmer, parts of Gujarat, Jalore, Nagaur, Ajmer, Sanchore, Bhinmal, Radhanpur, Bayana, Tonk, Toda and Nabhara. He expanded
5508-547: The advent of the monsoon. This festival is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, commemorating her union with Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshipped by seekers of conjugal bliss and happiness. The Gangaur Festival is the colourful and most important local festival of Rajasthan and is observed throughout the State with great fervour and devotion by womenfolk who worship Gauri, the consort of Lord Shiva during July–August. Gan
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#17327917960035616-410: The aid of the famous architect of the era, "Mandan". Rana Kumbha's kingdom of Mewar stretched from Ranthambore to Gwalior and included large tracts of what is now Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan . Out of the 84 forts in his dominion, Rana Kumbha is said to have built 32 of them, of which Kumbhalgarh is the largest and most elaborate. Kumbhalgarh also separated Mewar and Marwar from each other and
5724-495: The background. Various concerts and dance events are also organised to commemorate the function. The other events during the festival are Heritage Fort Walk, turban tying, tug-of war and mehendi mandana among others. Six forts of Rajasthan, namely, Amber Fort , Chittor Fort , Gagron Fort , Jaisalmer Fort , Kumbhalgarh and Ranthambore Fort were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list during
5832-443: The city of Kota , in southern Rajasthan. Rajasthan is pre-eminent in quarrying and mining in India. The Taj Mahal was built from white marble which was mined from a town called Makrana . The state is the second-largest source of cement in India. It has rich salt deposits at Sambhar , copper mines at Khetri , Jhunjhunu , and zinc mines at Dariba, Zawar mines and Rampura Agucha (opencast) near Bhilwara . Dimensional stone mining
5940-533: The coming monsoon winds, leaving the northwestern region in a rain shadow . The Thar Desert is thinly populated; the City of Jodhpur is the largest city in the desert and a major metropolitan area of India which is known as the gateway of the Thar desert. The desert has some major districts like Jodhpur , Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner , and Nagaur . This area is also important from a defence point of view. Jodhpur airbase
6048-639: The commandants of Jodhpur and Bayana and recovered Amer by a night attack. They next killed Sayyid Hussain Khan Barha, the commandant of Mewat and many other Mughal officers. Bahadur Shah I , then in the Deccan was forced to patch up a truce with the Rajput Rajas. The Jats , under Suraj Mal , overran the Mughal garrison at Agra and plundered the city taking with them the two great silver doors of
6156-573: The country; the region was known as Gurjaratra . Up to the 10th century CE, almost all of North India acknowledged the supremacy of the Imperial Pratiharas, with their seat of power at Kannauj . The Gurjara Pratihar Empire acted as a barrier for Arab invaders from the 8th to the 11th century. The chief accomplishment of the Gurjara-Pratihara Empire lies in its successful resistance to foreign invasions from
6264-425: The department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary etc. assisting the Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary. For the administration purpose, the state is divided into 10 divisions and 50 districts. Divisional Commissioner , is the head of administration on the divisional level. The administration in each district
6372-413: The descendants of most of the princely families, hold a procession to celebrate the jauhar . It has also become a forum to air one's views on the current political situation in the country. Rang Teras is a popular tribal fest of Mewar celebrated on the 13th moon night of the month of Chaitra. A big colorful fair and huge gathering of tribal to rejoice the harvest of wheat has been celebrating Rang Teras
6480-424: The desert and the Aravallis. This region receives less than 400 mm of rain annually. Temperatures can sometimes exceed 45 °C in the summer months and drop below freezing point in the winter. The Godwar , Marwar , and Shekhawati regions lie in the thorn scrub forest zone, along with the city of Jodhpur. The Luni River and its tributaries are the major river system of Godwar and Marwar regions, draining
6588-405: The desert. One can see many eagles , harriers , falcons , buzzards , kestrels and vultures . Short-toed snake eagles ( Circaetus gallicus ), tawny eagles ( Aquila rapax ), spotted eagles ( Aquila clanga ), laggar falcons ( Falco jugger ) and kestrels are some of the raptor species seen in Desert National Park. Road traffic inside the Park is, however, a threat to several wild species of
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#17327917960036696-451: The district is overseen by the Divisional Forest Officer , who is a member of the Indian Forest Service . This responsibility is carried out with the assistance of officers from the Rajasthan Forest Service and Rajasthan Subordinate Service. Rajasthan has its High court Jodhpur which has its principal seat at Jodhpur and a bench at Jaipur , with district courts and session courts in each district or Sessions Division, and lower courts at
6804-435: The early 19th century, accepting British suzerainty and control over their external affairs in return for internal autonomy. The State of Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the Rajputana Agency of the erstwhile British Empire in India were merged into the new Indian Union . Modern Rajasthan includes most of Rajputana , which comprises the erstwhile nineteen princely states , three chiefships, and
6912-421: The east and southeast of the range are generally more fertile and better watered. This region is home to the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion, with tropical dry broadleaf forests that include teak , Acacia , and other trees. The hilly Vagad region, home to the cities of Dungarpur , Pratapgarh , and Banswara lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border with Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh . With
7020-414: The entrance of the famous Taj Mahal which were then melted down by Suraj Mal in 1763. Over the years, the Mughals began to have internal disputes which greatly distracted them at times. The Mughal Empire continued to weaken, and with the decline of the Mughal Empire in the late 18th century, Rajputana came under the influence of the Marathas . The Maratha Empire, which had replaced the Mughal Empire as
7128-483: The exception of Mount Abu, Vagad is the wettest region in Rajasthan, and the most heavily forested. North of Vagad lies the Mewar region, home to the cities of Udaipur and Chittaurgarh . The Hadoti region lies to the southeast, on the border with Madhya Pradesh. North of Hadoti and Mewar lies the Dhundhar region, home to the state capital of Jaipur . Mewat , the easternmost region of Rajasthan, borders Haryana and Uttar Pradesh . Eastern and southeastern Rajasthan
7236-475: The finance capital of India Mumbai to Jaipur. Luxury tourist train Maharajas' Express runs across North-West and Central India, mainly centered on Rajasthan. There is also an international railway, the Thar Express from Jodhpur (India) to Karachi (Pakistan). However, this is not open to foreign nationals. Jaipur Metro is the metro rail system in the city of Jaipur. It is the only metro rail system in Rajasthan and has been operational since 3 June 2015. It
7344-418: The fort, both Jain and Hindu Temples. From the palace top, it is possible to see Kilometres into the Aravalli Range . Aaret Pol was the first entry gate of the fort. Halla Pol is on the downward slope from the entrance. Just after Halla Pol is Badshahi Bavdi, a stepped tank, built after the invasion of Shahbaz Khan in 1578, the general of Mughal emperor Akbar to provide water to the troops. Hanuman Pol,
7452-454: The fort. However Bahadur Shah was not able to hold Chittor for long and the Sisodia's captured it within a short time of his departure. In 1567–68, the Mughal emperor Akbar besieged and captured the fort. In 1615, as part of a peace treaty between Akbar's successor Jahangir and the Maharana of Mewar, Amar Singh I , Mewar accepted Mughal suzerainty and the fort as well as the areas surrounding Chittorgarh were given to Mewar. However, due to
7560-425: The head of the government and the head of the council of ministers. The Legislative Assembly consists of 200 members who are elected for five-year terms. The state contributes 25 seats to Lok Sabha , the lower house of the Indian Parliament, and 10 seats to Rajya Sabha , the upper house. The Government of Rajasthan is a democratically elected body in India with the governor as its constitutional head. Governor
7668-503: The important rail routes of the country. City also enjoys services of Vande Bharat express. The second suburban station of Chittorgarh is at Chanderiya (a locality of city). To decongest heavy traffic on Chittaurgarh junction, many trains are directed from chanderiya station also. Chittorgarh is well connected to all parts of India by roads. The Golden Quadrilateral Road Project and north–south-East–west corridor expressways pass through Chittorgarh City. The bus stand (bus depot) of Chittorgarh
7776-521: The intolerant emperor of Delhi. They took advantage of the Aravalli hills and caused heavy damage to the Mughal armies that were trying to occupy Rajasthan. After Aurangzeb's death Bahadur Shah I tried to subjugate Rajasthan like his ancestors but his plan backfired when the three Rajput Rajas of Amber , Udaipur , and Jodhpur made a joint resistance to the Mughals . The Rajputs first expelled
7884-674: The military danger presented by the fort, it was never to be fortified or even repaired. The Maasir-i-Alamgiri, written by Saqi Must'ad Khan under Mughal patronage, chronicles the reign of Aurangzeb and records that on February 22, 1680 (1st Safar, 1091 AH), the emperor ordered the destruction of 63 Hindu temples in and around the city of Chittorgarh. Maharana was born on May 9, 1540, in Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan to Maharana Udai Singh II and Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara. His birth anniversary (Maharana Pratap Jayanti)
7992-547: The ministry of forestry is situated in Jodhpur and continuously works on desert flora and their conservation. Ranthambore National Park is 7 km from Sawai Madhopur Railway Station. It is known worldwide for its tiger population and is considered by both wilderness lovers and photographers as one of the best places in India to spot tigers. At one point, due to poaching and negligence, tigers became extinct at Sariska, but five tigers have been relocated there. Prominent among
8100-402: The next gate is half a KM away from Halla Pol. Hanuman Pol is a double-storeyed gate with octagonal bastions. The gate got its name from the stone image of Hanuman located in front of the gate, which was brought by Maharana Kumbha . Ram Pol is the main entrance of the fort, there is another entrance towards the east, called Vijay Pol. There are five more gates between Ram Pol to Badal Mahal,
8208-709: The orders of Alauddin Khilji , Ulugh Khan laid siege to Ranthambore , Chittor and Bundi forts. In 1303, the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khilji defeated the Guhila king Ratnasimha , and captured the fort . The fort was later captured by Hammir Singh , a king of the Sisodia branch of the Guhilas. Chittor gained prominence during the period of his successors, which included Rana Kumbha and Rana Sanga . In 1535, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged and conquered
8316-458: The other Rajput states, constitutes a glorious saga of Rajput valor and the spirit of self-sacrifice for cherished principles. Rana Pratap's methods of sporadic warfare were later elaborated further by Malik Ambar, the Deccani general, and by Shivaji". Rana Amar Singh I continued his ancestor's war against the Mughals under Jehangir , he repelled the Mughal armies at Dewar. Later an expedition
8424-642: The other hand, the latter consists of Civil and Sessions Judges. The District Judge has control over the Subordinate Judicial Service in Rajasthan. The politics of Rajasthan has mainly been dominated mainly by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress . Chief Secretary Of Rajasthan is Usha Sharma and Director General of Police or DGP of Rajasthan is Umesh Mishra. Rajasthan
8532-525: The overlord of the subcontinent, was finally replaced by the British Empire in 1818. In the 19th century, the Rajput kingdoms were exhausted, they had been drained financially and in manpower after continuous wars and due to heavy tributes exacted by the Maratha Empire . To save their kingdoms from instability, rebellions and banditry the Rajput kings concluded treaties with the British in
8640-455: The park with several species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals reported to have died as roadkill. The Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur , one of the well known tiger reserves in the country, became a part of Project Tiger in 1973. Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a very small sanctuary in Sujangarh , Churu District , 210 kilometres (130 mi) from Jaipur in
8748-843: The present day Sahibi River as the Vedic Drishadwati River, which along with Saraswati River formed the borders of the Vedic state of Brahmavarta. Manu and Bhrigu narrated the Manusmriti to a congregation of seers in this area. The ashrams of Vedic seers Bhrigu and his son Chayvan Rishi, for whom Chyawanprash was formulated, were near Dhosi Hill , part of which lies in Dhosi village of Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan and part of which lies in Mahendragarh district of Haryana . The Western Kshatrapas (405–35 BCE),
8856-495: The prince away to safety in a fruit basket. Rani Meera Bai also lived in this palace. This is the place where Rani Padmini committed jauhar with the other ladies in one of the underground cellars. According to legend, Rani Padmini 's Palace is from which the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji was allowed to watch a reflection of the Rani by replacing the mirror at such an angle that even if he turned back he could not see
8964-595: The progress of the Arabs beyond the confines of Sindh , their only conquest for nearly 300 years. The Ghurids had made an attempt to invade India through southern Rajasthan, however they were defeated in the Battle of Kasahrada on 1178 by a confederacy of Rajputs under Mularaja II of the Kingdom of Gujarat . Prithviraj Chauhan led a confederacy of Rajput clans and defeated the invading Ghruids under Muhammad Ghori in
9072-499: The rate of electricity access from 71% of the population in 2015). The renewable energy sector plays the most important role in the increase of generation capacities, with the main focus on solar energy . In 2020, Bhadla Solar Park was recognised as the largest cluster of photovoltaic power plants in a single region in the world, with the installed power exceeding the 2.2 gigawatt peak. Jaipur International Airport (JAI) in Jaipur,
9180-442: The resistance. Maharana Pratap took an oath to avenge the citizens of Chittor; he fought the Mughal empire till his death and liberated most of Mewar apart from Chittor itself. Maharana Pratap soon became the most celebrated warrior of Rajasthan and became famous all over India for his sporadic warfare and noble actions. According to Satish Chandra , "Rana Pratap's defiance of the mighty Mughal empire, almost alone and unaided by
9288-474: The room. Khalji had been warned by the Rani's husband Rawal Ratan Singh that if he turned back they would cut his neck. Kalika Mata Temple was originally built in the 8th century for. Surya , the Sun God and was later converted to a temple for mother Goddess, Kali in the 14th century. During the festival days of Navaratri , fairs are organised and pilgrims from different places come here to pay obeisance at
9396-519: The ruler Rana Kumbha who constructed it, and "Garh," meaning fort. The fort was built by King Samprati of the Maurya , before Rana Kumbha built the new fort. Rana Lakha won this entire area and plains of Godwar from Chauhan Rajputs of Nadol in late 14th century. Kumbhalgarh, as the fort we see it was built by Rana Kumbha who was the Rana of Mewar from the Sisodia rajput clan. Rana Kumbha took
9504-598: The same meaning. The oldest reference to Rajasthan is found in a stone inscription dated back to 625 CE. The first printed mention of the name Rajasthan appears in the 1829 publication Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India , while the earliest known record of Rajputana as a name for the region is in George Thomas 's 1800 memoir Military Memories . John Keay , in his book India: A History , stated that Rajputana
9612-517: The second-largest producer of oilseeds . Rajasthan is also the biggest wool -producing state in India and the main opium producer and consumer. There are mainly two crop seasons. The water for irrigation comes from wells and tanks. The Indira Gandhi Canal irrigates northwestern Rajasthan. The main industries are mineral based, agriculture-based, and textile based. Rajasthan is the second-largest producer of polyester fibre in India. Several prominent chemical and engineering companies are located in
9720-405: The southeast. The northwest tract is sandy and unproductive with little water but improves gradually from desert land in the far west and northwest to comparatively fertile and habitable land towards the east. The south-eastern area, higher in elevation (100 to 350 m above sea level) and more fertile, has a very diversified topography. In the south lies the hilly tract of Mewar. In the southeast,
9828-457: The state, like most of the country, has auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws . Average speed on state highways varies between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour (31–37 mph) due to the heavy presence of vehicles; in villages and towns, speeds are as low as 25–30 km/h (16–19 mph). Kumbhalgarh Kumbhalgarh (lit. " Kumbhal fort "), also known as the Great Wall of India , is
9936-615: The state. The Matsya kingdom of the Vedic civilisation of India is said to roughly corresponded to the former state of Jaipur in Rajasthan and included the whole of Alwar with portions of Bharatpur. The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagar (modern Bairat), which is said to have been named after its founder King Virata . Bhargava identifies the two districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar and parts of Jaipur district along with Haryana districts of Mahendragarh and Rewari as part of Vedic state of Brahmavarta . Bhargava also locates
10044-404: The state. Jaipur , Jodhpur , and Kota have two municipal corporations each since October 2019, as their populations have exceeded 1 million. Major internet service provider (ISP) and telecom companies are present in Rajasthan including Vodafone Idea , BSNL , Airtel , Jio , Data Infosys Limited , RailTel Corporation of India , Software Technology Parks of India (STPI). Data Infosys
10152-559: The states of Ajmer and Alwar in Rajasthan, and defeated Akbar's forces twice, first at Agra and then at Delhi in 1556 at Battle of Delhi before acceding to the throne of Delhi and establishing the "Hindu Raj" in North India , albeit for a short duration, from Purana Qila in Delhi. Hem Chandra was killed in the battlefield at Second Battle of Panipat fighting against Mughals on 5 November 1556. During Akbar 's reign most of
10260-463: The surroundings from the top. The inside walls of the tower are carved with images of Gods, weapons, etc. Rana Kumbha's Palace is near the Vijay Stambh. This is the birthplace of Maharana Udai Singh , the founder of Udaipur . His life was saved by the heroic act of the maid Panna Dhay , who replaced her son in place of the prince, with the result that her son was killed by Banbir. She carried
10368-934: The tehsil level. The president of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of Rajasthan judiciary on the advice of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India as well as the governor of Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, the Subordinate Judicial Service is an essential component of the state's judiciary, and it is divided into two categories: the Rajasthan Civil Judicial Services and the Rajasthan Higher Judicial Service. The former includes Civil Judges (Junior Division)/Judicial Magistrates and Civil Judges (Senior Division)/Chief Judicial Magistrate. On
10476-424: The temple. The completed Golden Quadrilateral highway system passes through Chittorgarh, connecting it to most of India. The East-West Corridor (Express Highway) also crosses it. Chittorgarh is situated on National Highway No. 27 & 79. National Highway 27 connects to Kota and Udaipur with a 2-hour drive, and National Highway 48 connects to Bhilwara and Ajmer . Chittorgarh is also connected to Indore via
10584-632: The territories of Marwar up to Sindh-Cholistan in west and his northern boundary was just fifty kilometres from Delhi. After defeating Humayun, Sher Shah came towards Rajputana. He defeated Chiefs of Rathore army by trickery in Battle of Sammel and captured some territory of Marwar but it was recovered by Rathores in 1545. Hem Chandra Vikramaditya , the Hindu emperor, was born in the village of Machheri in Alwar District in 1501. He won 22 battles against Afghans, from Punjab to Bengal including
10692-507: The west, starting in the days of Junaid . Historian R. C. Majumdar says that this was openly acknowledged by the Arab writers. He further notes that historians of India have wondered at the slow progress of Muslim invaders in India, as compared with their rapid advance in other parts of the world. Now there seems little doubt that it was the power of the Pratihara army that effectively barred
10800-513: The western slopes of the Aravallis and emptying southwest into the great Rann of Kutch wetland in neighbouring Gujarat . This river is saline in the lower reaches and remains potable only up to Balotara in Barmer district . The Ghaggar River , which originates in Haryana , is an intermittent stream that disappears into the sands of the Thar Desert in the northern corner of the state and is seen as
10908-401: The wildlife sanctuaries are Mount Abu Sanctuary, Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary , Jaisamand Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary , Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary, and Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary. The state is governed by a parliamentary system of representative democracy. The governor serves as the state's constitutional leader, whereas the chief minister assumes the role of both
11016-653: Was Mewar . Since the invasion of the Muslim Turks from the 13th century onwards, the Rajputs resisted the Muslim incursions into India, and preserved Hindu culture at their courts. The Rajputs put up resistance to the Islamic invasions with their warfare and chivalry for centuries. The Ranas of Mewar led other kingdoms in their resistance to outside rule. Rana Hammir Singh defeated the Tughlaq dynasty and recovered
11124-414: Was Mandan, who documented his style of work in his text, Rajvallabh. Built on a hilltop 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level on the Aravalli range, the fort of Kumbhalgarh has perimeter walls that extend 36 km (22 mi), making it among the longest walls in the world. The frontal walls are 4.5 m (15 ft). Kumbhalgarh has seven fortified gateways . There are over 360 temples within
11232-751: Was a Rajput princess born in about 1498 in Medta, Rajasthan. Her father, Ratan Singh, was the youngest son of Rao Duda, ruler of Medta, and son of Rao Duda ruler and founder of Jodhpur. Ratan Singh belonged to the Rathore clan. She was married to Bhoj Raj, ruler of Chittor. Meera Smrithi Sansathan (Meera Memorial Trust) along with the Chittorgarh district officials organise Meera Mahotsav every year on Sharad Purnima day (On Mirabai's birth anniversary) for 3 days. Many famous musicians and singers get together for singing bhajans in this celebration. The 3 days celebration also features puja's, discussions, dances, fireworks. Teej
11340-412: Was again sent under the leadership of Prince Khurram , which caused much damage to life and property of Mewar . Many temples were destroyed, several villages were put on fire and women and children were captured and tortured to make Amar Singh accept surrender. During Aurangzeb 's rule Rana Raj Singh I , Veer Durgadas Rathore and Patshah Akheraj Singh Rajpurohit were chief among those who defied
11448-633: Was coined by the British in 1829, John Briggs, translating Ferishta 's history of early Islamic India, used the phrase " Rajpoot (Rajput) princes" rather than "Indian princes". Parts of what is now Rajasthan were partly part of the Vedic Civilisation and the Indus Valley civilisation . Kalibangan , in Hanumangarh district , was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Topsfield writes that
11556-407: Was the first ISP to bring the internet to Rajasthan in April 1999 and OASIS was the first private mobile telephone company. Rajasthan's economy is primarily agricultural and pastoral . Wheat and barley are cultivated over large areas, as are pulses , sugarcane , and oilseeds . Cotton and tobacco are the state's cash crops. Rajasthan is among the largest producers of edible oils in India and
11664-402: Was used as a place of refuge for the rulers of Mewar at times of danger. A notable instance was in the case of Prince Udai , the infant king of Mewar who was smuggled here in 1535, when Chittor was under siege. Prince Udai later succeeded to the throne. The fort remained impregnable to direct assault. Ahmad Shah II of Gujarat attacked the fort in 1457, but found the effort futile. There was
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