Also known as the Great Indian Desert, Thar Desert extends in two states in northwest India (Rajasthan and Gujarat) and in eastern neighbor, Pakistan. The arid region extends over an area that is 800 km long and 400 km wide. The desert is bordered by the Indus and the Sutlej River in the west and the Aravalli ranges in the east.
The alluvial plains of Haryana and Punjab occupy the northern region. Almost three-fifths of the total area of Thar is devoted to agriculture, while more than a quarter has become grazing land. Average annual rainfall is less than 25 cm and only one river Luni, which flows from the region.
This river flows out to merge with the Arabian Sea. Agriculture in this region, as evidenced by the amount of rain, it is not easy. Infact four of every ten years suffer a severe drought situation. And then there are strong winds blowing for nearly half the year in this region.
As many as 700 species of plants in the area of which 107 are single herb. These plants have the ability to survive in drier conditions and are usually edible, especially the variety of grass. Animal species in the desert region is also noteworthy.
In fact, the Thar desert are some of the best breeds of cattle in the country and therefore contributes to the production of wool in Rajasthan, which is half of the total wool production in the country.
The land of sand dunes, broken rocks and scrub vegetation has the visitor in a state of great excitement, because it is completely different from what we have been accustomed. Although the region is arid, there is no shortage of attractions. Three of the most attractive cities of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bikaner are part of the Great Indian Desert.
The legend linked to the source of Thar Desert is not less attractive. In Ramayana, it is cited that when Lord Rama had to cross the ocean with his military to Lanka, the kingdom of the demon-king Ravana who snatched his wife, Devi Sita, he determined to utilize a fire-weapon and dry up the ocean. All the living creatures of the ocean were much scared for their lives and began pleading him not to do so. But as it was unfeasible to dismount the arrow-weapon, once it was withdrawn, he determined to point it to a distant sea and freed it.
The sea was in place, where there is now the Thar desert. However, mythology, the most interesting part is that the fossils have been turned up in this region indicating the existence of marine life here once.
Recent excavations have unearthed the remains of the Indus Valley civilization that existed 4,500 years ago that penetrated deep into the arid desert region. With increased trade and commerce, merchants often traveled in caravans across the desert in search of new markets for their products.
Over time, sarais or rest homes rose in the path, which gradually grew in the settlements. Then, there was much looting and pillaging on the road and the settlers that offers security services to merchants in exchange for money in taxes on property passing through their territory.
Most of the rulers of the region belonged to the Rajput clan who had arrived in the region in search of refuge, and establish once again and lay the groundwork for new realms, having been deposed from his seat of power of his enemies . They built great fortresses and rose to power again and thus Rjasthan, the land of the rulers, came into force.
Today, folklore and folk songs of Rajasthan are rich, the cavalry, and the value of these kings Rajput romance and beauty, a sense of pride in their loyalty queens who would not commit Jauhar (self immolation) in When the defeat of his men to let the enemy's hands as much as touch them.
Rajput rulers showed themselves to be immense patrons of art, architecture and religion, which can still be seen in the form of wonderful palaces, splendid temples and different forms of arts and crafts with dances, paintings and stone carvings of the state.
Nowadays, Rajasthan is a tourist's heaven with its palace complexes that have been reversed into hotels and museums and camel, jeep and elephant safaris that transport the guests to a different level of human existence.
