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Rajasthan
pronunciation is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms
of area. It borders Pakistan to the west, Gujarat to the southwest, Madhya
Pradesh to the southeast, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to the northeast and
Punjab to the north. Rajasthan covers an area of 342,239 km² (132,139
mi²).
The state capital is Jaipur. Geographical
features include the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan and the termination
of the Ghaggar River where lies oldest civilization of Kalibanga. One of
the world's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range, cradles the only
hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, and its world famous Dilwara Temples.
Eastern Rajasthan has two national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska,
as well as Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, famous for its bird life.
The Aravali Range runs across the state
from the southwest peak Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu), which is 1,722 m in height
to Khetri in the northeast. This divides the state into 60% in the northwest
of the lines and 40% in 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 area includes the Thar (Great Indian) Desert.
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,
a large area of the districts of Kota and Bundi forms a tableland and 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 the alluvial
basin of the Yamuna River. |
