In this guide
If you draw a line along the Aravalli range on a map of Rajasthan — from Mount Abu in the south-west to the hills near Delhi in the north-east — you divide the state into two very different worlds. To the west and north-west lies the Thar desert: sand dunes, scanty rain, sparse villages. To the east and south-east lie plains watered by the Chambal, Banas and Mahi, and the black-soil plateau of Hadoti. The Aravallis themselves form a third world of hills, forests and minerals. Understanding these physiographic regions is the foundation of Rajasthan geography.
Location and extent
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Area | About 3,42,239 sq km — about 10.4% of India; the largest state by area since 2000 |
| Latitude | About 23°3′ N to 30°12′ N |
| Longitude | About 69°30′ E to 78°17′ E |
| Shape | Roughly a rhombus (kite shape) |
| Tropic of Cancer | Passes through the southern tip of the state (Banswara and Dungarpur region) |
| International border | With Pakistan, about 1,070 km (the Radcliffe Line), along Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer districts |
| Neighbouring states | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat |
The four physiographic regions
| Region | Approx. share of area | Main districts / areas | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. North-western sandy desert (Thar) | About three-fifths | Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu, Nagaur, parts of Jalore, Pali, Sikar, Jhunjhunu | Sand dunes, low rainfall, inland drainage |
| 2. Aravalli hill region | About one-tenth | Sirohi, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Ajmer, Jaipur, Alwar | Oldest fold mountains; forests; minerals; water divide |
| 3. Eastern plains | About one-quarter | Jaipur, Dausa, Alwar, Bharatpur, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Dungarpur | Fertile alluvial and other soils; river valleys; denser population |
| 4. South-eastern plateau (Hadoti) | About one-fifteenth | Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar | Black soil; Chambal and tributaries; higher rainfall |
1. The north-western sandy desert
This region is part of the Thar (the Great Indian Desert). It can be divided into:
- Marusthali (true desert) — the most arid western part, with shifting sand dunes (Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner);
- Bagar — a semi-arid transition zone to the east (Shekhawati, parts of Nagaur and Jalore);
- Luni basin — the plain drained by the Luni river (Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore);
- Ghaggar plain — the northern plain of the seasonal Ghaggar, now irrigated by canals (Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar);
- Shekhawati — sandy plains with inland drainage.
Features include sand dunes of various types, playas and salt lakes (locally called rann or tal), very low rainfall and extreme temperatures. See our post on the Thar desert.
2. The Aravalli hill region
The Aravallis run diagonally for about 550 km within Rajasthan (about 80% of the range's roughly 692 km), from Khed Brahma (Gujarat) through Sirohi to Khetri and beyond towards Delhi. They are among the oldest fold mountains in the world. Guru Shikhar (about 1,722 m) on Mount Abu is the highest peak. The region is rich in minerals and forms a crucial water divide — rivers to the east flow to the Bay of Bengal (via the Chambal–Yamuna–Ganga system), while those to the west flow towards the Arabian Sea. See our post on the Aravallis.
3. The eastern plains
The eastern plains are drained by the Chambal, Banas and Mahi river systems. Sub-regions include:
- the Banas–Chambal basin, with fertile soils and good agriculture;
- the Mahi basin (Chhappan plains, or Vagad) in the south, around Banswara and Dungarpur — a hilly, tribal area;
- the Chambal ravines in Dholpur and Sawai Madhopur — badlands formed by gully erosion.
This region has higher rainfall than the desert, fertile soils and higher population density.
4. The south-eastern plateau (Hadoti)
The Hadoti plateau — named after the Hada Chauhans of Kota and Bundi — is part of the Malwa plateau. It has black soil (derived from Deccan lava), the Chambal and its tributaries (Kali Sindh, Parvati, Parwan), and the highest average rainfall of the plains areas. It supports crops such as soybean, wheat, coriander and garlic, and has major dams and power stations on the Chambal.
Why physiography matters
| Aspect | Link to physiography |
|---|---|
| Climate | Aravallis parallel to the south-west monsoon winds limit rainfall in the west |
| Water | Desert: inland drainage and scarce groundwater; east and south-east: rivers and dams |
| Agriculture | Rain-fed crops in the desert; irrigated farming in canal and river areas |
| Minerals | Concentrated in the Aravallis |
| Population | Sparse in the desert; denser in the plains |
| Economy | Solar and wind in the desert; tourism in forts and dunes; mining in the hills |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- What share of India's area does Rajasthan cover?
- Which states border Rajasthan?
- Through which districts does the Tropic of Cancer pass?
- What is the highest peak in Rajasthan?
- Which physiographic region has black soil?
Mains-style (50 words): What are the sub-regions of the north-western desert?
Mains-style (100 words): Explain how physiography influences the economy of Rajasthan.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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