Physical division of Rajasthan Study Notes

Physical Division of Rajasthan: Rajasthan is divided into 4 physical divisions which have further sub-division: Western Sandy Plains, Aravalli Range And Hilly Region, Eastern Plains and South-eastern Rajasthan Pathar (Hadoti Plateau).

The extension of the Aravali Range is approximately 692 km having extensions to the Gujrat, Haryana, and Dehli regions. Aravali in Rajasthan is divided into different subdivisions for clarity.

Plains of Western Desert: It is a special geographical region which is also called ‘The Great Indian Desert’ or Thar Desert. It covers the districts like Barmer,Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Pali, Jalore, Nagaur, Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh and Ganganagar.

  • Area: The Plains of Western Desert, also known as the Marusthali, covers an area of about 200,000 square kilometers in Rajasthan, India. It is the largest desert in India.
  • Topography: The Thar Desert is characterized by its vast expanse of sand dunes, which can reach heights of up to 150 meters. The dunes are constantly shifting due to the strong winds that blow across the desert.
  • Climate: The Thar Desert has a hot and arid climate. The average temperature in the summer is 40 degrees Celsius, and the average rainfall is less than 200 millimeters per year.
  • Vegetation: The vegetation of the Thar Desert is sparse and consists mainly of drought-resistant plants such as cacti, thorny bushes, and grasses.
  • Wildlife: The Thar Desert is home to a variety of wildlife, including blackbucks, chinkaras, wild asses, and desert foxes.
  • People: The Thar Desert is home to a number of different ethnic groups, including the Rajputs, Jats, and Bishnois. The people of the Thar Desert have adapted to the harsh desert environment through a variety of traditional methods, such as rainwater harvesting and animal husbandry.
  • Economy: The economy of the Thar Desert is based on agriculture, animal husbandry, and tourism. The main crops grown in the desert are millet, bajra, and guar.
  • Tourism: The Thar Desert is a popular tourist destination, and there are a number of tourist attractions in the region, such as the Jaisalmer Fort, the Thar Desert National Park, and the Sam Sand Dunes.
  • It is further divided into 4 subcategories.

Sandy Arid Region

The Sandy Arid Region of Rajasthan, also known as the Marusthali, is a vast expanse of sand dunes, gravel plains, and rocky outcrops that covers an area of about 200,000 square kilometers in western Rajasthan. The region is one of the driest and hottest deserts on Earth, with average temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. Rainfall is scarce, averaging less than 200 millimeters per year.

a) This is a dry region having annual rainfall less than 25 centimeters.

b) Barmer, Bikaner and western part of Jodhpur and Churu are included in this region.

c) Sand Dunes are mostly found in this region.

Luni-Jawai Basin

The Luni-Jawai Basin is a drainage basin located in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat in India.

  • The basin is drained by the Luni River and its tributaries, including the Jawai River.
  • The area of the basin is approximately 34,866 square kilometers.
  • The basin is spread over the Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, and Nagaur districts of Rajasthan.
  • The Luni River originates in the Aravalli Range in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan and terminates in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
  • The Luni River is a seasonal river, meaning that it only flows during the monsoon season.
  • The Jawai River is a tributary of the Luni River that originates in the Barmer district of Rajasthan.
  • The Jawai River is an ephemeral river that only flows during the monsoon season.
  • The Luni-Jawai Basin is an important agricultural region.
  • Crops such as wheat, bajra, and cotton are grown in the basin.
  • The basin also has a rich biodiversity.
  • A variety of plants, animals, and birds are found in the basin.

a. It is a semi arid plain.

b. Luni and its tributaries rivers flow in this region.

c. Pali, Jalore, Jodhpur and Nagaur are included in this region.

d. It is a river-based plain; hence it is called Luni Basin.

Shekhawati Region

It is also called ‘Banger Region’. Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Churu and Northern part of Nagaur are included in it. This is a sandy region having sand dunes of less height. Here the sand dunes are of the transverse type.

Shekhawati is a region in the western part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located in the Thar Desert and is known for its vibrant culture, history, and architecture.

Shekhawati is bounded by the Thar Desert to the north and west, the Aravalli Range to the east, and the states of Haryana and Gujarat to the south. The region is characterized by its arid climate and sandy terrain.

Shekhawati was founded in the 15th century by Rao Shekha, a Rajput ruler. The region became a prosperous center of trade and commerce during the Mughal Empire.

Shekhawati is home to a rich culture that is a blend of Rajput, Mughal, and Marwari influences. The region is known for its folk music, dance, and art.

Shekhawati is famous for its painted havelis, which are large mansions that were built by wealthy merchants and landowners during the 18th and 19th centuries. The havelis are decorated with intricate frescoes that depict scenes from Hindu mythology, folk tales, and everyday life.

The economy of Shekhawati is based on agriculture, tourism, and handicrafts. The region is known for its production of wheat, cotton, and dairy products. Tourism is also a major source of income for the region.

Plain of Ghaghar

The Ghaggar Plain is a combined plain of the two major rivers Ghaggar and Harka. It consists of flat plains, with a gentle gradient toward the west. It is situated in Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of Rajasthan as the Ghaggar basin falls into Ganganagar(60.62%) and Hanumangarh(39.38%).

Plains of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh are formed by the flow of Ghaggar River. Presently, this river is considered dead because it doesn’t have a flowing way. Ghaggar River is the ancient river Saraswati which is disappeared. Thus it became a plain suitable for agriculture.

Aravalli Range

The Aravalli Range is a mountain range in Northern-Western India, running approximately 670 km in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana, Rajasthan, and ending in Ahmedabad Gujarat. The highest peak is Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu at 1,722 m.

It is the oldest mountain range in the world. It has a length of 692 km from Delhi to Palanpur in Gujarat. It is expanded in seven districts of Rajasthan: – Sirohi, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Ajmer, Jaipur, Dausa and Alwar.

It is divided into three subcategories:

  1. Southern Aravalli Range
  2. Central Aravalli Range
  3. Northern Aravalli Range

The Aravalli Range is a mountain range located in the northwestern part of India. It stretches across the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat. he Aravalli Range is also of economic importance. A variety of minerals are found here, including limestone, copper, and gold.

Eastern Plain

The Rajasthan Eastern Plain is a vast expanse of fertile land that stretches across the eastern part of the state. It is formed by the alluvial deposits of the Chambal, Banas, and Mahi rivers, and their tributaries. The plain is bounded by the Aravalli Range to the west and the Vindhya Range to the southeast.

The Rajasthan Eastern Plain is a major agricultural region, producing a variety of crops such as wheat, rice, bajra, maize, and cotton. The plain is also home to a number of industries, including textiles, food processing, and engineering.

The major cities in the Rajasthan Eastern Plain include Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, and Jodhpur. These cities are important centers of commerce, trade, and culture.

The Rajasthan Eastern Plain is a land of rich history and culture. The region is home to a number of historical monuments, including forts, palaces, and temples. Some of the most famous historical sites in the region include the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace, and the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur; the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur; and the Ranthambore Fort in Sawai Madhopur.

  • This region is in the east side of Aravalli region which includes districts like Bharatpur, Alwar, Dholpur,Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Dausa, Tonk and Bhilwara.
  • This region is the River Basin region which is formed by the collection of soil by rivers.
  • This region has three sub-regions.

Banas-Banganga Basin

  • The basin is drained by the Banas River and its tributaries, including the Banganga River.
  • The area of the basin is approximately 54,611 square kilometers.
  • The basin is spread over the districts of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, Jaipur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk.
  • The Banas River originates in the Aravalli Range in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan and terminates in the Chambal River near Chambal town in Madhya Pradesh.
  • This plain is formed by Banas River and its tributaries like Banganga, Bedach, Kothari, Den, Sohadra, Manasi, Dhundha,Bandi, Morel, Vaagan, Gambhir, etc.
  • This plain has the height between 150 to 300 metres above the sea level and its slope is towards east.
  • The Banas-Banganga Basin is an important agricultural region.
  • Crops such as wheat, bajra, and mustard are grown in the basin.
  • The basin also has a rich biodiversity.
  • A variety of plants, animals, and birds are found in the basin.

Chambal Basin

  • The basin is drained by the Chambal River and its tributaries.
  • The area of the basin is approximately 140,000 square kilometers.
  • The basin is spread over the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • The Chambal River originates in the Janapav hills in the Indore district of Madhya Pradesh and terminates in the Yamuna River near Etawah in Uttar Pradesh.
  • This region includes districts likeKota, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur.
  • Ravines (Bihad) of Chambal are located in Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dhaulpur.
  • he Chambal Basin is an important agricultural region.
  • Crops such as wheat, rice, bajra, maize, and cotton are grown in the basin.
  • The basin also has a rich biodiversity.
  • A variety of plants, animals, and birds are found in the basin.

Central Mahi Basin or Chappan Plain

The weastern part of Mahi Basin is hilly but central & eastern parts are fertile plains with extensive cultivation. These plains are also known as Chhappan plains. This dissected plain along with hill tracts of Banswara are Dungarpur are locally known as Bagar.

  1. It is expanded in the district of Dungarpur, Banswara and Pratapgarh.
  2. Mahi River began its journey from Madhya Pradesh and flowing through Rajasthan and Gujrat falls in the Arabian Sea.
  3. In Rajasthan, it flows through ‘Bagad’(Local name for Laciniated land) region.
  4. In between Pratapgarh and Banswara, a group of 56 villages is located, thus it is also called Chappan Plain.

South-Eastern Plateau Region or Hadoti Region

The Hadoti region includes the eastern & southeastern part of the state. This region is locally called Pathar & Uparmal and covers the districts of Bhilwara, Bundi, Kota, Baran & Jhalawar districts. The Hadoti Plateau contains about 9.6% of the area of Rajasthan.

It is expanded in the districts like Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar and Baran. This region has many mountains ranges having the average height of 500 meters. Mukundra Hills and Bundi Hills are famous spots. Chambal and its tributaries like Kalisindh,Para van and Parvati flow in this region which is boon for agriculture in this region.

River System and Lakes of Rajasthan

  • Chambal and Mahi are the perennial rivers of Rajasthan.
  • River drainage system of Rajasthan is decided by Aravalli Range which works as the divides the rivers of Rajasthan in two parts.

Chambal River: The Chambal River is the longest river in Rajasthan, flowing for a length of 725 km. It originates in the Janapav Hills of Madhya Pradesh and flows through Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh before joining the Yamuna River.Chambal River in RajasthanOpens in a new windowen.wikipedia.orgChambal River in Rajasthan

Banas River: The Banas River is a major tributary of the Chambal River. It originates in the Aravalli Range and flows for a length of 512 km.Banas River in Rajasthan.

Luni River: The Luni River is a seasonal river that originates in the Aravalli Range and flows for a length of 495 km. It terminates in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Parbati River: The Parbati River is a tributary of the Chambal River. It originates in the Aravalli Range and flows for a length of 400 km.

Kalisindh River: The Kalisindh River is a tributary of the Chambal River. It originates in the Aravalli Range and flows for a length of 340 km.

Lakes of Rajasthan

Pichola Lake: Pichola Lake is an artificial lake located in the city of Udaipur. It was built in the 16th century by Maharana Udai Singh II.

Fateh Sagar Lake: Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake located in the city of Udaipur. It was built in the 19th century by Maharana Fateh Singh.

Jaipur Lake: Jaipur Lake is an artificial lake located in the city of Jaipur. It was built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.

Pushkar Lake: Pushkar Lake is a natural lake located in the town of Pushkar. It is considered to be one of the most sacred lakes in Hinduism.

Sambhar Lake: Sambhar Lake is a salt lake located in the district of Nagaur. It is one of the largest inland salt lakes in India.

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