"Rajasthan, Comes Alive in a Barren Desert" State of Rajasthan by Waxbag

Rajasthan, known as the Land of Kings, is a harsh desert land chocked full of fairy tail kingdoms. The Rajputs, a fiercely independent warrior clan, controlled this part of India for over 1000 years. They entrenched themselves in gigantic fortresses and built magnificent palaces beyond extravagant. Under the rule of the maharaja, Hindi for king or princely ruler, each kingdom made vast amounts of wealth from taxing caravans that passed through their land.
The Rajput clans claimed descent from the sun, moon, or sacrificial fire. They lived by a code of honor similar to that of medieval chivalry and were renowned for their valor and pride. When defeat by an enemy was inevitable, death was the only honorable solution as capture was the ultimate insult to their pride.Women would throw themselves onto funeral pyres and burn to death as men rode out to meet the enemy under overwhelming odds with their dowager swords drawn to meet their own slaughter. Today, most Rajasthanis live a very hard life in the harsh drought prone desert. Unreliable monsoons cause severe shortages of water resulting in massive crop failures one out of every three years. Even though their environment is sun-baked and brown they fill their lives with vibrant colors. Turbans of every color from bright yellow and emerald green to vivid purple and hot pink can be seen on the heads of most adult men. Women wear colorful dresses and head scarves embroidered with mirror work, beads, and shells often with silver trim. Heavy and ornate jewelry covers their ankles, wrists, and necks and is many times their dowry. Nose rings and earrings are often connected which is believed to restore equilibrium to the internal organs. Large metal or ivory rings called chadus may cover the entire arm varying in diameter from the shoulder down to the wrist.
Festivals in Rajasthan are also a time of color as well as dance and music. Histories of the Rajputs are remembered through traditional song, dance, and puppetry. Even camels, horses, and elephants are bedecked in ornate garb with mirror work and beads.
There is a code of hospitality among the desert people and although they have very little they are very generous to share with each other as well as the occasional visitor. A cup of sweet chai or watermelon shared under the shade of the occasional thorn tree is always a nice way to spend the time among a new friend while telling stories in the heat of the day.

Life in on the Dunes at Pushkar

Area –342,239 sq km

Population –56.5 million

Population Growth Rate –28.33%

Literacy Rate - 61%

Capital – Jaipur

Weather – 90-100’s/day, Cloudless

Latest Transport –Bus, Train, Auto Rickshaw, Camel

Current Language – Hindi, Rajasthani, English

Daily Bread – Indian cuisine- surprise!

Currency Exchange –
1 USD = 45 Rupees

• Pros:Amazing Towns, Beautiful People
• Cons:Very Touristy, but Not as Bad as We Thought
• In a nutshell:More than Just Camels and Maharajas! (you like that?)