history

The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's first and oldest civilizations, was located in
parts of what is now Rajasthan. Kalibangan in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan was a major
provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization.[5] It is believed that Western Kshatrapas (35–
405 BC) were Saka rulers of the western part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat,
Southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan). They were successors to the Indo-Scythians, and were
contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The
Indo-Scythians invaded the area of Ujjain and establish the Saka era (with Saka calendar),
marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Satraps kingdom.[6]

Traditionally the,Meenas , Rajputs, Yadavs, Jats,Bhils, Gurjars, , Bishnois and other tribes made
a great contribution in building the state of Rajasthan. All these tribes suffered great difficulties in
protecting their culture and the land. Millions[7] of them were martyred trying to protect their land.
Gurjars had been exterminated in Bhinmal and Ajmer areas fighting with the invaders. Bhils once
ruled Kota.[7] Meenas were rulers of Bundi and Dhundhar region

Paintings

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries numerous works of art were produced that depicted
episodes from the life of Krishna. The names of the artists that doted the royal courts are evident
in the court records and inscriptions on paintings. Ragamala and devotional subjects remained the
popular themes of the paintings in the 19th century and found patronage outside Jaipur court too.

Krishna in the Company of Gopis, Bundi, Rajasthan, circa A.D. 1700 based on the
poetry of Keshavdas’s Rasikapriya

Painting traditions in Bikaner followed a close Mughal tradition. Muslim artists settled
here brought with them the highly refined and delicate Mughal style. Deccani paintings
also had a marked influence on the Bikaner paintings. During the late 18th century
paintings in Bikaner started showing conservative Rajput styles. It embraced the flatness
and abstractions of the Rajasthani style. Though, Bikaner style was rich in
documentation it never acquired the ostentation of the later Jodhpur portraits.

Forts

The colourful state of Rajasthan has so much to offer to a visiting tourist that
even a considerable time period seems to float away like a second. The
landscape, wildlife and festivals, all have an irresistible charm that draw
tourists like a magnet. Infact, the people of the state itself are extremely
spirited lot who love to live their life to fullest despite the hardships they
have to encounter in their day to day routine.

Irrespective of all this, the forts and palaces of Rajasthan have their own
distinct place. Actually, it will not be wrong to state that the name
'Rajasthan' itself invokes images of indomitable forts and elegant palaces in
the mind of tourists. These forts and palaces have become a sort of symbol
for Rajasthan. The impressive structures, meant to serve the defensive as
well as the dwelling and official purposes of the ruling clan, are spread
throughout the state and remind tourists of the rich Rajputana lifestyle -
laced with courage, passion, romance, sacrifice and love for art &
architecture.

Food & cuisine

The cuisine of Rajasthan is primarily vegetarian and offers a fabulous variety of

mouthwatering dishes. The spice content is quite high in comparison to other Indian
cuisines, but the food is absolutely scrumptious. Rajasthanis use ghee for cooking most
of the dishes. Rajasthani food is well known for its spicy curries and delicious sweets.

There is an enormous variety of sweets in Rajasthan, which are relished and savored by
all. In Rajasthan, the sweet dishes are had before the meal, with the main course and
after the meal unlike other desserts. Therefore, sweet dish is never called dessert in
Rajasthan. When a guest arrives in the house of a Rajasthani, he/she is served food in a
proper manner. Self service concept is considered rude and thus it does not form part of
the etiquettes of Rajasthanis.

Music and dance

Being a land of royalty, the rulers of Rajasthan have all along been great
patrons of music and dance. Needless to say, the music and dances of
Rajasthan draw inspiration from its legends that abound in valor and courage
as also romance.

The striking feature of Rajasthan's music and dance scene is that there is
great variety. In fact, nothing much has changed since the time of their
inception, probably a thousand years back. The music and dance are rooted
in tradition. Although music and dance are an integral part of the daily life of
Rajasthan, it is more pronounced during festivals. Songs of ancient poets like
Kabir, Malookdas and Meera have become an integral part of the Rajasthani
folklore. Apart from festivals, music and dance are also performed during
special occasions like marriage, and childbirth.