Rajasthan

Capital: Jaipur
Area: 342,240 square km.
Population: 56,473,122 (2004)

Rajasthan, the 'Land of Kings', is India at its exotic and colourful best. This is the home of the Rajputs, a group of warrior clans who have controlled this part of India for a thousand years with a code of chivalry and honour akin to that of the mediaeval European knightsj) The Rajputs were never a united forced like the Marathas of central India; when they were not warring against outsiders they were generally squabbling amongst themselves. Thus they were never a real opposition to the Moghuls but their bravery and sense of honour were un-paralled.

The Rajput warriors would fight on agains all odds and, when no hope was left, the women and children would commit suicide by marching into a funeral pyre in a ritual known as jauhar. Meanwhile the men would don the saffron robes of rejoicing worn at weddings and ride forth to certain death. Over and again this grim tale would unfold as stronger forces attacked the Rajputs. In Chittorgarh's long history three times the women consigned themselves to the flames while the men rode out to martyrdom. It's hardly surpising that Akbar persuaded Rajputs to lead his army or that Aurangzeb clashed unsuccessfully with them.

Under the British Rajasthan continued as a collection of princely states under the collective name of Rajputana, each with its own Maharaja. Independent India combined them with Ajmer to make Rajasthan. Huge, often battle scarred, forts dominate almost every town in Rajasthan. They're a clear reminder of the state's warlike past. And what forts they are — battlements, turrets, massive walls and inside palaces of amazing luxury and whimsical charm. They're redolent of that impossibly romantic Rajput sense of honour and bravery above all.

Rajasthan's exotic atmosphere extends to far more than just splendid forts for the Rajasthanis themselves are a brilliant splash of colour. The men top their outfit with a huge, pastel coloured turban and almost without exception sport fierce 'soup-strainer' moustaches. The bright, mirrored skirts of the women are equally colourful. They complement it with chunky jewellery worn from head toe — Rajasthani jewellery is a favourite purchase for visitors to the state.

Geographically Rajasthan is a somewhat dry and inhospitable place but it's very varied. A line drawn south-west to north-east divides the state into the hilly and rugged south-east region and the barren north-east Thar Desert which extends across the border into Pakistan. Apart from historic cities, colourful people and superb scenery Rajasthan also has some popular travellers centres peaceful Pushkar with its holy lake and the exotic desert city of Jaisalmer, like some fantasy from the Thousand and One Nights. It's a fascinating state.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Rajasthan has a school of miniature painting, derived from the Moghul style but with some clear differences — in particular the palace and hunting scenes are complemented by religious themes, particularly relating to the Krishna legends. This art carried through to the elegant palaces the Rajputs built when they were freed of confrontation with the Moghuls. Many of them are liberally covered with colourful frescoes.

Most of Rajasthan's early architecture was damaged or destroyed by the first waves of Moslem invasions. Fragments remaining from that period include the Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra mosque in Ajmer, which is basically a converted Hindu temple of great elegance, or the ruined temples at Osian, near Jodhpur. There are many buildings from the 10th to 15th century including the superb Jain temples at Ranakpur, Mt Abu and Jaisalmer. Most of the great forts date, in their present form, from the Moghul period.

FESTIVALS OF RAJASTHAN

Rajasthan has the usual Indian festivals, some celebrated with especial local fervour, and also a number of special festivals of its own. The harvest festival of Gangaur is particularly important and Teej, celebrating the start of the monsoon, is also very popular in Rajasthan, where the monsoon rains fill the many lakes and tanks and the state is at its most beautiful. Rajasthan also has many fairs, best known of which is the immense and colourful Pushkar cattle fair.

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Mt Abu JaipurJodhpurUdaipurJaisalmer