Rajasthan State, India

The State of Rajasthan is known for a variety of reasons ranging from the Great Indian Desert, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Marble to the Palaces, Museums, Tiger Reserves among other attractions. Areawise, it is the largest State and has many distinctions to its credit be it being the biggest producer of wool and opium, the second largest producer of polyester fibre.

Raj - Sthan literally means the Land of the Kings in hindi. No wonder its tourism includes innumerable palaces and havelis. It is a leading tourist destination for both national and international visitors. 

Fact - File :- 

Rajasthan - India's seventh most-populated State and the largest as per area.

Population - 68,548,437 as per 2011 Census

Population break-up - 35,550,997 Males and 32,997,440 Females.

Sex Ratio - 928 females / 1000 Males 

Geographical Size  - 3,42,249 sq.km

Date of Formation  - 30 March 1949

How - Merger of then Rajputana into the Dominion of India 

Geographical borders - 

North - Punjab

North West - Punjab ( Pakistan )

North East - Uttar Pradesh, Haryana

West - Sindh ( Pakistan )

South East - Madhya Pradesh

South West -  Gujarat

Economy - The largest in the country

GSDP - ₹ 10.20 lakh crores  ( 2019-20 )

State Emblem -  Satyamev Jayate

State Anthem -  Jana Gana Mana 

State Flower - Rohida

State Tree - Khejri

State Fruit - Sangiri

State Bird - Godawan ( Great Indian Bustard )

State Dance - Ghoomar

State Game - Basketball

State Animal - Camel and Chinkara

Animals - Blackbuck, Caracal, Camel, Desert foxes

Famous Landforms - Thar Desert, Aravali mountain ranges

Climate of the State -  Semi Arid, Arid 

Major Rivers - Chambal, Banas, Ghagar, Luni

Administrative Divisions - 7; Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer

Number of Districts - 33

Number of Talukas - 244

Capital City - Jaipur 

Largest City - Jaipur

Major Cities - Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Kota, Ajmer, Udaipur

Language of Administration - Hindi and English

Languages Spoken in the State - Hindi, English, Sindhi, Urdu, Rajasthani, Marwari, Wagdi, Braj bhasha, Bagri, Haryanvi, Dhundari, Punjabi, Harauti 

Major Religions followed - Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity

Festivals -  Diwali, Brij Holi, Urs, Teej, Mahashivratri, Ashwa poojan, Kabir Yatra, Ramdevra Fair 

Major Occupations - Agriculture, Mining

Major Crops - Pulses, Barley, Wheat, Tobacco, Cotton, Oilseeds

Oilseeds - Sesamum, Mustard, Taramira, Groundnut, Rapeseed, Soyabean

Fruits - Mango, Mulberry, Ber, Banana, Blackberry, Guava, Grapes, Custard apple, Pomegranate, Papaya, Phalsu, Sapota, Karonda, Date palm, Nangri, Mausmi

Industries - Textile, Agriculture and Mineral based, Mining, Quarrying, Chemical, Engineering 

Minerals - Zinc, Copper, Limestone, Feldspar, Lead, Gypsum, Mica, Selenite, Silverore, Wollestine, Asbestos

Forests -  Thorny Scrub Forests, Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests, Kathiawar Gir Dry BroadLeaf

Transportation - Roadways, Seaways, Airways

 Airports - Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Ajmer, Udaipur

Tourism - Museums, National parks, Palaces, Temples, Fairs and Festivals

Tourist Centres -Jaipur, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Pushkar, Madhopur, Mandawa, Fatehpur etc

Tourist Activities - Kite Festival, Elephant Fair, Pushkar Camel Fair, Jaipur Literature Festival, Desert Safaris, Pilgrimage

Cuisine -  Long lasting and dry due to the heat and scarcity of fresh ingredients

Delicacies - Dal Bati Churma, Panchkuta, Bikaneri Bhujia, Kadhi Kachori, Malpua, Besan Kadhi, Mawa Kachori, Pyaaz Kachori, Bajre ki Roti, Lahsun Chutney, Mirchi Bada, Ghevar, Alwar ka Mawa, Rasgullas

Arts and Crafts - Handicrafts, Zari embroidery, Wooden furniture, Marble idols and sculptures, Block prints, Tye and dye prints, Bagari prints, Carpets, Bagaru prints, Blue pottery

Dance - Ghoomar, Kalbelia

Musical Instruments - Sarangi, Sitar, Dholak

 

Images -  Wikipedia 

Related Reading -

1. Districts of Rajasthan

2. Tourist places in Rajasthan

Gujarat State, India

The land of Mahatma Gandhi, Asiatic Lion and the Statue of Unity, the state of Gujarat lies on the west coast of India and is one of the most prosperous states of India. It is famous for many things such as major temples, national parks, diamonds, ports and the White revolution that led to India's most famous co-operative institution, Amul. It is a manufacturing hub with maximum number of Pharmaceutical companies, 92 % of the world's diamond market and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. 

Here is a fact - file on the State :-

Gujarat - India's ninth  most-populated State and the fifth largest as per area.

Population - 60 crores and 40 lakhs  ( Census , 2011 ) making it the ninth most populated State in India.

Population break-up - 31,491,260 Males and 

28,948,432 Females.

Sex Ratio -  918 females / 1000 Males 

Geographical Size  - 196023 sq.km

Coastline - 1600 km

Date of Formation  - 1 May 1960 

How - Splitting the then British  Bombay State as per the Bombay ( Reorganization ) Act, 1960,  on the basis of language into Gujarat, that had maximum Gujarati speaking  population  and Maharashtra with the majority being Marathi speaking population.

Geographical borders - 

South West -  Arabian Sea 

North West - Sindh ( Pakistan )

East -  Madhya Pradesh

South -  Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

North East - Rajasthan

Economy -  Fifth largest in the country

GSDP - ₹ 16.30 trillion, tenth highest in the country 

State Emblem - Satya Mev Jayate 

State Anthem -  Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat ( Victory to proud Gujarat )

State Flower - Galgota / Marigold

State Tree - Banyan

State Fruit - Mango

State Bird - Greater Flamingo

State Animal - Indian Giant Squirrel 

Animals - Buffaloes, Goats,

Famous Landforms - Desert, Forests 

Climate of the State -  Dry and very hot in Summer and Dry and cold in the Winter 

Major Rivers - Narmada, Sabarmati, Tapi, Thevi etc 

Administrative Divisions - 4, South Gujarat, North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch

Number of Districts - 33

Number of Talukas - 250

Capital City - Gandhinagar

Largest City - Ahmedabad

Major Cities - Surat, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Rajkot etc

Language of Administration - Gujarati

Languages Spoken in the State - Gujarati, Hindi, Kutchi, Sindhi, Memoni, Urdu, Bhilli, Marathi

Major Religions followed - Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity

Festivals - Navratri, Uttarayan, Diwali, Holi, Eid, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak etc

Major Occupations - Agriculture, Mining, Diamond cutting and polishing 

Major Crops - Rice, Wheat, Bajra, Maize, Tomato, Onion, Potato, Sugarcane, Tur, Gram, Tobacco, Cotton, Dates, Groundnuts 

Oilseeds - Groundnut, Mustard

Fruits - Sapota, Mango, Lime, Banana, Guava

Industries - Diamonds, Mining, Pharmaceutical, Milk products, Cement, Petrol

Minerals - Calcite, Limestone, Feldspar, Agate, Manganese, Quartz Sand, Lignite 

Forests -  Tropical Dry Deciduous, Tropical Moist Deciduous, Littoral and Swamp, Northern Tropical Thorny. 

Transportation - Roadways, Seaways, Airways

International Airports - 2; Surat and Ahmedabad

Domestic Airports - 9

Tourism - Temples, Desert, Museum, Temples, Forests, Beaches, Heritage Sites, 

Tourist Centres - Statue of Unity, National Salt Satyagraha Memorial, Gir National Park, Somnath Temple, Akshardham Temple, Jama Masjid, Dwarkadish Temple etc

Tourist Activities - Pilgrimage, Jungle Safaris, Museum trails, Ancient archeological site visits, Water sports etc 

Cuisine - A combination of sweet, sour and spicy. 

Delicacies - Khaman Dhokla, Undhiyu, Kadhi, Shak, Khandvi, Aam Shrikhand etc

Arts and Crafts - Various types of embroidery such as Rabari, Beadwork, Zari, Bandhini, Leather handicrafts, Rogan painting,. Clay work, Khavda pottery craft, Home decor, Tangaliya work etc

Dance and Music - Dandiya Raas, Garba, Padhar etc

Images -

Wikipedia 

Art and Craft - www.desiblitz.com 

Dandiya and Cuisines - www.gujaratexpert.com

Related Reading -

1. Districts of Gujarat

2. Tourist places in Gujarat