Rajasthan is the most colorful and vast in cultural region in India . An exotic land of valiance and chivalry. A land endowed with invincible forts, magnificent palaces and waves of sand dunes and serene lakes. The State represents an unusual diversity in all its forms-people, Rajasthani culture, customs, costumes, cuisine, dialects and music.

No other region in the country assembles the many paradoxes of India as does the desert land of Rajasthan. Unexpected forest glens, lakes and temples appear like mirages in the deserts. On the crag are seen rugged forts, testimony to a turbulent history.

he state capital is Jaipur. Geographical features include the Thar Desert along north-western Rajasthan and the termination of the Ghaggar River near the archeological ruins at Kalibanga, which are the oldest in the subcontinent discovered so far.

One of the world's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravalli Range, cradles the only hill station of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, and its world-famous Dilwara Temples, a sacred pilgrimage for Jains. Eastern Rajasthan has two national tiger reserves, Ranthambore and Sariska, as well as Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur, famous for its bird life.

Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949, when all erstwhile princely states merged into India. The only difference between erstwhile Rajputana and Rajasthan is that certain portions governed directly by the British Government, in the former province of Ajmer-Merwara, were included. Portions lying geographically outside of Rajputana and belonging to Tonk state were given to Madhya Pradesh.