Although, Rajasthan is full of scenic beauty, but the most lasting impression that visitor take away with them after travelling through this state is that of color. In Rajasthan color is evident in turbans, in long skirts known as 'Ghagharas' worm by Rajasthani women, and in their odhnis of different colors such as red, green blue, yellow and purple etc. It is the most colorful region of India. There is a fine tradition of hospitality in Rajasthan and the visitors are treated as privileged guests. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India.

The northwestern region of India, which incorporated Rajasthan, remained for the most part independent from the great empires consolidating their hold on the subcontinent in early history. There are Buddhist caves and stupas at Jholawar in southern Rajasthan. The holy pilgrimage site of Pushkar is mentioned in both the Mahabharat and Ramayana.

Rajasthan is also known as the land of Rajputs. The emergence of the Rajput warrior clans in the 6th and 7th centuries played the greatest role in the history of Rajasthan. The ancestry can be divided into two main branches i.e. the Suryavansa and the Induvansa.

Rajasthan is the only place in India where one can find deserts and hills at the same time. Though Rajasthan’s hilly areas are not as cold as other hill stations. Sourthern Rajasthan is the home to the state’s only hill station Mt. Abu situated along a 1200m high plateau, this hill station has the impressive Dilwar temple which is an important Jain Pilgrimage centre. The state of Rajasthan is divided by the Aravalli Range which extends diagonally across Rajasthan over 650m high.

As we know that Rajasthan is a desert zone and vegetation in dessert zone is very scanty. Rajasthan has got only a limited range of very slow growing thorny trees and shrubs and grasses, which have adapted to the aggressive conditions. Rajasthan has also some dry teak forests. Camel is the main animal used in Rajasthan due to his inbuilt ability to withstand extreme temperature. It can survive without water for various numbers of days.

The Aravali range effectively divides Rajasthan’s two main river systems. The Chambal which is the only perennial river in the state, it rises in Madhya Pradesh from the northern slope of the Vindhayas entering Rajasthan at Chaurasigarh. It forms part of the eastern border between Raj. & Madhya Pradesh. It is supplemented by it tributaries i.e, Kali Sindh, Alnia, Kunu, Parbati, Eru, Maj. Chakan and Banas. It flows northwestwards, draining into the Yamuna River, which courses across northern India, finally entering the sea at the Bay of Bengal.

The Mahi and Sabarmati rivers drain the southern region of Rajasthan, while the Luni, which rises about 7 Km. north of Ajmer in the Aravali at the confluence of the Saraswati and Sabarmati rivers, is the only river in Western Raj. It flows for 482 Km. before draining into the Arabian Sea at the Rann of Kutch in Gujrat. The Luni River is seasonal, and comparatively shallow, although at places it is over 2 km. wide. Its main tributaries are the Lilri, Raipur Sukri, Bandi, Mitri, Jawai Khari, Sagi and Johari, which all rises in the Aravali.

Rivers

Rajasthan is also very famous for its handicrafts. The Rajasthani carpet, cotton and wool spinning, block printing, gem cutting and polishing, ivory carving, pottery and brassware products, leather goods production and marble carving is very famous.

It is estimated that more then 6,00,000 people are employed in this sector, Your visit to Rajasthan is incomplete without shopping for wooden handicrafts.

The best time to visit Rajasthan is in winter months from December-January when the days are sunny and warm.

Another thing for which Rajasthan is famous for is its dances and folk songs. Folk music is a vital part of Rajasthani culture. Through these folk songs the legendary battles of the Rajputs are told. The music creates both a spirit of identity and provides entertainment also. Folk songs are commonly ballads, which relate heroic deeds or love stories, and religious or devotional songs known as "bhajans" and "banis" accompanied by ektaras or dholaks, matas or nagada.

Many tribal groups in southern Rajasthan have maintained old forms of folk dance. The "Ghoomer" is a type of ceremonial dance, which is very famous and is performed only by women on special occasions such as festivals or weddings.

Rajasthan is also very famous for its paintings. Earlier the paintings were carved on rocks. Later in 11th century pictorial art was formed on Palm leaf and then on Paper. The most characteristic paintings of Rajasthan are miniature paintings.