12 interesting facts about Rajasthan

The land of Kings, the biggest desert land of India, Rajasthan is an amazing state that never fails to mesmerize us. A beautiful symphony of colourful cities, warm people, delicious cuisine, gorgeous palaces and massive forts is what makes up this state. Being a perfect traveller’s destination, Rajasthan has a fusion of old-world charm with a twist of modernity. If you are planning to head here for a vacation, there are some facts that you must know. So let us ponder upon this one by one

Here are 12 interesting facts about Rajasthan

Fact #1 Rajasthan India’s Largest state

By no doubt, we all know that Rajasthan is the largest state of India. The vastness of this state can be compared to that of Germany. It means that Rajasthan is as big as Germany. This state is not as old as you think as it came into formation as recent as 30th March 1949. It was formed after 22 kingdoms and principalities merged into a single geographical location. The total area of this state is approximately 3,42,239 sq. km. That’s quite huge, isn’t it?

Fact #2 Land of the Kings Rajasthan

Before the British reigned India, the state of Rajasthan was known as ‘Rajputana’ and was ruled by different Kings, all superior in their own ways. Hammer Dev Chauhan, the last King of the Chauhan Dynasty ruled from 1283-1301. Rana Kumbha ruled from 1433-1468 and never lost any battle during his reign.

Hem Chandra Vikramaditya ruled from 1501-1556 wherein he defeated the army of Akbar in the battle of Delhi. Maharana Pratap Singh who ruled from 1540-1597 was the most famous who fought the battle of Haldighati. There were many such brave warriors who ruled this state and increased its honour.

Fact #3 Color coded cities

The most visible fun fact about Rajasthan is that every city in the state follows a colour code. Jodhpur is known as the blue city, due to blue walls of the houses of the locals, Jaipur is known as the pink city, Udaipur as a white city and Jaisalmer as a golden city. How about colour coordinating your outfits as you visit each and every city?

Fact #4 Single hill station

The state of Rajasthan is the only state that has a single hill station. Mount Abu is located at a distance of 1,722 m above sea level, which is also the highest point in the Aravallis. This hill station is a perfect retreat if you want a break from the rustic forts, palaces and desert conditions. Greenery, waterfalls and lakes can be found in this region.

Other than this, the Dilwara temples that are almost two centuries are worth visiting. In order to reach this wonderful hill station, you can take a flight to Udaipur, the airport of which, is about 101 km away. If travelling by train the nearest railway station is Mount Abu that is 28 km away. The most suitable time to visit Mount Abu is between July to February.

Fact #5 Nuclear test destination

India’s nuclear test was conducted in Pokhran in 1974 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule. On 11th and 13th May, India conducted a set of five nuclear tests that left the world stunned. The movie ‘Pokhran’ was also released in 2018 that depicted of how India successfully carried this nuclear test in secrecy.

Fact #6 Bullet Baba Temple (OM Banna)

Located on the National Highway 62, in the district of Pali, there is a shrine called Om Banna, which is approx 1 hour away from Jodhpur. A weird fact about this temple is that it is dedicated to a motorcycle, that is, a 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet RNJ 7773. As per legends, Om Banna, also known as Om Singh Rathore was travelling from the town of Bangdi near Sanderao of Pali, to Chotila, when he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a tree. He died instantly and his motorcycle fell into a nearby ditch. The morning after the accident, local police took the motorcycle to a nearby police station.

The next day it was reported to have disappeared from the station and was found back at the site of the incident. Police, once again, took the motorcycle, this time emptying its fuel tank and putting it under lock and chain to prevent its removal. Despite their efforts, the next morning it again disappeared and was found at the accident site. Legend states that the motorcycle kept returning to the same ditch. Seeing this miracle the locals built a shrine in his honour, which is worshipped by many even till today for their safe journey.

Fact #7 Temple full of rats

Yes, you read that right. The Karni Mata Temple in Bikaner, in the town of Deshnok, is dedicated to Goddess Karni Mata is also home to hundreds of rats who freely roam within the temple complex. These holy rodents are revered by their followers as the locals believe that the rats of the Karni Mata Temple are their ancestors.

Among all these rats, people say that you are considered to be lucky if you spot a white one. This temple will give you a unique experience. You are not the only pilgrim here, the rodents to are! This temple is at 30 km bus ride away from Bikaner, which will only cost you Rs.20 per person.

Fact #8 Home to a haunted town

With ruined forts and empty palaces, Rajasthan sure does have many ghostly stories in store for you. But the most famous one is the Kuldhara village, just 17kms from Jaisalmer that was abandoned overnight around 200 years ago. Taking a walk in this town during the daytime will give you a sneak-peak into the lives of the people who once inhabited this village. It is now maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India as a heritage site.

According to the legend, the evil eyes of Salim Singh, the powerful prime minister of the state, fell on the daughter of the village head and he desired to marry her by force. He threatened the village with grave consequences if they did not adhere to his wish. Instead of submitting to the order of the tyrant, the Paliwals held a council and people of 85 villages left their ancestral homes and vanished. But this was not all; before leaving, they put a curse on Kuldhara that no one will ever be able to settle in their village thereafter.

To this date, the village remains barren, in the same condition as the villagers had left then. This town is a mere 18 kms away from Jaisalmer where taxis and private cabs ply often. So hop on one and enjoy your spooky experience.

Fact #9 Earliest ploughed agricultural field

Kalibangan in Rajasthan is one of the main sites of the Indus Valley Civilization that flourished for about 450-600 years. This site has given evidence of the earliest ploughed agricultural field. This site also gave evidence of the earliest recorded earthquake (2600 BC), which could have also been the reason behind the end of the civilization.

The fire altars discovered at the site gave a hint that the people were worshippers of fire. A visit to this site will give you a glimpse of how the ancient people lived with mere facilities. You can reach Bikaner on a train, since the Bikaner railway station happens to be the nearest railway station, about 205 km away from Kalibangan.

Fact #10 The Great Wall

The Kumbhalgarh Fort, lying in the Aravalli ranges has the second largest wall in the world, only after the Great Wall of China. This wall spans a huge 80kms and is also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can visit this wall between 9 am to 6 pm at an entry fee of Rs.15 per person, while foreigners are charged at Rs.200 per person. About 84 km away from Udaipur, the best time to visit will be between November to February.

Fact #11 Only Brahma Temple

Pushkar, a quaint town in Rajasthan is home to the only Brahma Temple in the world. Located on the banks of the holy lake, this temple dates back to the 14th century.

Made out of stones and marbles, this temple sanctum sanctorum holds the image of four-headed Brahma and his consort Gayatri (goddess of milk). This temple is located at a distance of about 30 minutes from the city of Ajmer.

Fact #12 Sati handprints

You know how the practice of ‘Sati’ was persistent in Rajasthan during the earlier times. The evidence of the same can be seen on one of the gates of the Mehrangarh Fort.

The fort has seven entrances, out of which, the Loha Pol has imprints of tiny 15 handprints, which were left by the widowed wives of Maharaja Man Singh. These women threw themselves upon the King’s funeral pyre in 1843, thus, staying true to the practice of ‘Sati’. This practice required married women of the Kings to immolate themselves in the funeral pyre of their deceased husbands.

Isn’t these are really amazing facts about Rajasthan, still there is much to explore in Rajasthan.

Here is a suggested trip plan for you to plan your trip to Rajasthan and get to know some more interesting facts about Rajasthan

These interesting facts about Rajasthan make travelling even more interesting. In case you need help to plan a trip to Rajasthan get in touch with us at support@adventourist.in and we will be happy to help you with this. Hope you liked our article about interesting facts about Rajasthan

Also Read: The Land of Kings – Rajasthan 8 Nights and 9 Days