Thar desert, Rajasthan

The Thar desert is the largest desert of India and covers the various districts of Rajasthan that are Jodhpur, Bikaner and Barmer and Jaisalmer, which are having the sand under their feet and the tourists who visit there find the powdery sands of the Thar to experience the sands of the Majestic Thar. The normal topography comprises of sandy terrain, barren hilly ranges of the Aravalli, and the salty lakes are stretched to the Sambhar, Kuchaman, Didwana in Rajasthan and Kharaghoda in Gujarat and people can go for the exclusive desert safaris which will make them closer to the sands.

The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinentthat covers an area of 200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi) and forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. It is the world's 17th largest desert, and the world's 9th largest subtropical desert.

About 85% of the Thar Desert is located within India, with the remaining 15% in Pakistan. In India, it covers about 170,000 km2(66,000 sq mi), and the remaining 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi) of the desert is within Pakistan. The Thar desert forms approximately 5%(~4.56%) of the total geographic area of India. More than 60% of the desert lies in the state of Rajasthan, and extends into Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. The desert comprises a very dry part, the Marusthali region in the west, and a semi desert region in the east with fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation.

Physiography :

The Rajasthan desert is predominantly characterized by three lansforms-

• The sandy stretch of Thar with sand dunes
• Plains
• Hills

Hillocks, salty marshlands, gravel, shifting sand dunes, fragments of rocks, scrub vegetation and rare oasis are scattered over the vast sandy expanse of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. Luni is the only river that meanders through the desert and reaches the Arabian Sea through the Rann of Kutch. Interestingly according to the paleontologists the present day scrubland of Rajasthan was said to have lush vegetation in the long past. They discovered that Rajasthan was the stamping ground of the dinosaurs and their ascendants300 million years ago.

People :

Most of the desert’s inhabitants reside in rural areas and are distributed in varying densities. Both Islam and Hinduism are practiced, and the population is divided into complex economic and social groups. The prevailing languages are Sindhi in the southwest, Lahnda in the northwest, and Rajasthani languages—especially Marwari—in central and eastern portions of the Thar. The ethnic composition of the Thar is diverse. Among the most prominent groups are the Rajputs, who inhabit the central Thar. Many nomads are engaged in animal husbandry, crafts, or trade. In general, the nomads are symbiotically related to the sedentary population and its economy.

Agriculture :

The Thar is one of the most heavily populated desert areas in the world with the main occupations of its inhabitants agriculture and animal husbandry. Agriculture is not a dependable proposition in this area because after the rainy season, at least one third of crops fail. Animal husbandry, trees and grasses, intercropped with vegetables or fruit trees, is the most viable model for arid, drought-prone regions. The region faces frequent droughts. Overgrazing due to high animal populations, wind and water erosion, mining and other industries have resulted in serious land degradation.

Agricultural production is mainly from kharif crops, which are grown in the summer season and seeded in June and July. These are then harvested in September and October and include bajra, pulses such as guar, jowar (Sorghum vulgare), maize (zea mays), sesame and groundnuts. Over the past few decadesthe development of irrigation features including canals and tube wells have changed the crop pattern with desert districts in Rajasthan now producing rabi crops including wheat, mustard and cumin seed along with cash crops.

The Thar region of Rajasthan is a major opium production and consumption area. The Indira Gandhi Canal irrigates northwestern Rajasthan while the Government of India has started a centrally sponsored Desert Development Program based on watershed management with the objective of preventing the spread of desert and improving the living conditions of people in the desert

Biodiversity

Plants in Thar Desert – Though it is complete desert area and the desert has some subtropical species of plants, shrubs, and trees. And among the common ones Acacia jacquemontii, Capparis decidua, Mimosa hamate, Balanitesroxburghii, and many others are seen. Some of the widespread floral species include Prosopis cineraria, Acacia nilotica, Tamarixaphylla, Cenchrusbiflorus are seen here that more often seems like thorns.

Thar Desert Animals – Thar Desert is having many biodiversity parks and ecological garden are there in Thar where the tourists can have a visit and all of them houses many beautiful animals and endangered species and that is why Thar has many protected areas that are spread both in India and Pakistan region.

   In India :

The Desert National Park covers 3,162 km2 (1,221 sq mi) and represents the Thar Desert ecosystem. Its diverse fauna includes the great Indian bustard (Chirotis nigricaps), blackbuck, chinkara, fox, Bengal fox, wolf, and caracal. Seashells and massive fossilized tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert.

The Tal Chhapar Sanctuary covers 7 km2 (2.7 sq mi) and is an Important Bird Area. It is located in the Churu District, 210 km (130 mi) from Jaipur, in the Shekhawati region. This sanctuary is home to a large population of blackbuck, fox and caracal such as partridge and sand grouse.

The Sundha Mata Conservation Reserve covers 117.49 km2 (45.36 sq mi) and is located in the Jalore District

Thar has some prime protected areas such as Nara Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary which both are located in the district of Mirpurkhas and Badin in Sindh respectively. The place is apt for watching flamingos and many other water birds species such as shell duck, mallard, pochard, water owls,common teal, and pelican. People can also see the various other birds such ashoubara bustard and the peregrine peafowl, sarus cranes, falcon, and saker falcons.

Recreational activities :

Thar Desert provides the recreational value in terms of desert festivals organized every year. Rajasthan desert festivals are celebrated with great zest and zeal. This festival is held once a year during winters. Dressed in brilliantly hued costumes, the people of the desert dance and sing haunting ballads of valor, romance and tragedy. The fair has snake charmers, puppeteers, acrobats and folk performers. Camels, of course, play a stellar role in this festival, where the rich and colorful folk culture of Rajasthan can be seen.

Camels are an integral part of the desert life and the camel events during the Desert Festival confirm this fact. Special efforts go into dressing the animal for entering the spectacular competition of the best-dressed camel. Other interesting competitions on the fringes are the moustache and turban tying competitions, which not only demonstrate a glorious tradition but also inspire its preservation. Both the turban and the moustache have been centuries old symbols of honor in Rajasthan.

Evenings are meant for the main shows of music and dance. Continuing till late into the night, the number of spectators swells up each night and the grand finale, on the full moon night, takes place by silvery sand dunes.