History and Location of Rajasthan

Rajasthan means the ‘Adobe of Kings.’ After the bifurcation of Madhya Pradesh, now Rajasthan has became the largest state of India. It is located in the northwest of India. It is surrounded by the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It shares its international border with Pakistan.
Rajasthan was originated on November 1,1956. Previously four states joined and the name given to it was the Matsya Union. But as more and more states merged in it, the name of union went on changing and thus the United of Rajasthan formed. Previously Rajasthan was named as Rajputana that means ‘The home of Rajputs’. The chief of a Rajput clan had ruled over almost every city and town of Rajasthan. Some of the famous clans were the Sisodias, the Rathores, the Chauhans, the Kachhawahas and the Jhalas. The Rajputs were born warriors and always lived by a code of chivalry, honour and pride in their traditions. These were described as Agni Kula and insisted that they should be given the Kshatriya status. The Rajputs have a fascinating story. Historians believe that some of them came from certain tribe of central Asia that entered India with the Huns invaders. The four clans that claimed to either the Suryavansi which means solar or the Chandravansi which means lunar, decent from out of a mythical sage’s sacrificial fire pit that is Agni Kund near Mt.Abu in Rajasthan. According to legends, the God performed Yagna here. This gave rise to four clans of Rajputs—the Chauhans, the Solankis, the Parihars and the Panwars. In ninth and tenth centuries Rajput’s raised their political importance and ruled over various parts of western and central India by establishing themselves as kings. Until 20 century Mewar and Marwar were two powerful Rajput kingdoms in Rajputana. The mewar region consist of Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Bhilwara district where as marwar consist of Jodhpur and Bikaner district. The rulers of mewar kingdom were known as ‘Ranas’. This kingdom was founded in 728 A.D. with its capital at Chittorgarh. Later on the capital was shifted to Udaipur. Raos founded the kingdom of Marwar in the 13th century having its capital at Jodhpur.
According to the geologists Aravalli range of Rajasthan divides the state into two geographical regions having distinct features--the north- western and the south- eastern. The north- western region is sandy as it is a part of the Thar or the Great Indian Desert. This region is known as the Marwar region while the south- eastern part comprises of the fertile tablelands, wide valleys and extensive hill ranges. This region is well known as the Mewar region. It is considered that the Aravalli range that dominates the Rajasthan landscape is the oldest mountain system in India and probably the world. The Aravalli range rise to a height of 1,700 meters and is about 692 km long. This range along with the warding off the desert winds from the west also affects the region’s climate. The forts that were strategically located here add to the beauty of the range. The highest peak of the range is the Guru Shikhar. It is located in the Abu hills in Rajasthan. A small shrine marks the summit of Guru Shikhar. A little below the summit is the Agni Kund, a tank famous for the birth of the Rajput’s clan. According to the legends, in this tank God performed the Yagna. Thus Rajasthan have an interesting and fascinating history behind its origin. The state has also experienced various faces with various rulers who ruled here and thus gave rise to many stories regarding the period that would be unforgettable till centuries.