Rajasthan

Rajasthan literally means "Abode of Rajas" (kings). As one of the nation's leading tourist destinations, it offers historic cities and forts alongside beautiful palaces and temples. There is incredible diversity in climate, soil, vegetation and mineral resources-and people groups from one part of the state to another.

Sharing its western border with Pakistan, Rajasthan lies in northern India and is a collection of old princely states. In 1948, ten of these states united to become the United States of Rajasthan. The population is around 54 million, and the major languages are Hindi (90%), Urdu (2%) and Punjabi (2%).

The climate of Rajasthan is hot and dry. In the desert western region, roads or railway lines are scarce because of the difficulty of building on sand.

Most people of Rajasthan are farmers. The principle crops are jowar, bajra, corn, wheat, oil-seed, cotton, sugar cane and tobacco. Textiles, woolen goods, cement, glass, pesticides and dyes are some of the major industries. Other enterprises include the manufacture of calcium carbide, nylon cord and copper. The brass and marble work, papier-mache, pottery and jewelry handcrafts of Rajasthan are famous all over the world.

Eighty-nine percent of Rajasthan's people are Hindu and 8 percent are Muslim. Jains and Sikhs each represent less than 2 percent of the population. Higher caste Hindus have shown little response to the Gospel. Christians compose a tiny minority within the Dalit and tribal groups. There are no known Christians among the Meo, who are Muslim.