Rajasthan is a land of kings in India and colourful state. Half desert, half bony hills, colourful fabrics, people with colourful turbans, ladies with dark saries with white rings in hands on riverbed.
The state is packed with towns and cities, Jaipur - the pink city, sky blue Jodhpur, Jaisalmer - a gloden sandcastle, Udaipur - city of lakes and forts, Pushkar with holy lake, Magical palaces, Chittod with historical place - creation of rajput warrior and fendal lords who dominated for centuries, living by ancient. Collection of small fierce kingdoms - each having vast forts, palacial complexex and incredible lifestyles of Maharajas.
Rajasthan is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It is bounded on the west and northwest by Pakistan, on the north and northeast by the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, on the east and southeast by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and on the southwest by the state of Gujarat. The Tropic of Cancer passes through its southern tip in the Banswara district.
Politically, Rajasthan is having its own importance. It has a single-chamber legislative assembly with 200 seats. The state sends 35 members to the Indian national parliament out of which 10 members to the Rajya Sabha (i.e. Upper House) and 25 members to the Lok Sabha (i.e. Lower House). Local government is based on 30 administrative districts.
Peoples of various castes and sub-castes reside in Rajasthan. The Rajputs, who were the rulers of most of the erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan, form a major group of residents of Rajasthan. Rajputs are generally stoutly built people of good height. The Rajputs generally worshipped the Sun, Shiva, and Vishnu. Vedic religion is still followed by the Rajputs.
The other castes found in Rajasthan are Brahmins, whose main occupation was worshipping and performance of religious rites and Vaishya, they generally took up business as their source of livelihood. These days they are settled in every nook and corner of the country.
Endowed with natural beauty and a great history, tourism is flourishing in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur, lakes of Udaipur, and desert forts of Jaisalmer are among the most preferred destination of many Indian and foreign tourists. Tourism accounts for eight percent of the state's domestic product. Many old and neglected palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels. Tourism has increased employment in the hospitality sector.
