The climate of Rajasthan is generally hot and dry. However, the climate of Rajasthan can be divided into four seasons, namely summers, winters, monsoon and post-monsoon. Read on to further explore Rajasthan Climatic Conditions:

Summer

The cuisine that originated in Rajasthan and the surrounding region in India is known as the Rajasthani cuisine. The state of Rajasthan is famed for its rich regal culture and heritage. The arid nature of the region, the extreme climatic conditions, scarcity of water and vegetation has witnessed evolvement of unique cooking styles and food habits of the natives that is noticeably different from other Indian cuisines. The Rajasthanis have moulded their culinary styles in such a way that many of their dishes can be shelved for several days and served without heating. The royal heritage of the region as well as the gastronomic enthusiasm among locals have led to a wide variety of delectable and exquisite Rajasthani dishes starting from main courses to snacks to sweet dishes. Some items like Dal-Baati-Churma and Bikaneri Bhujia have garnered both national and international popularity among foodies.

Distinct Features

The culinary style of the region to a great extent shaped up according to the bellicose lifestyle of the natives. Unavailability of a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and other ingredients and scarcity of water due to the arid nature of the region has profound effect on the cooking style of the locals, particularly those living in the desert pockets. Traditionally the locals preferred to prepare such items that could be retained for a few days and consumed without heating them. Paucity of water in the region has witnessed extensive use of dairy products by the inhabitants like milk, butter and butter milk so as to compensate or reduce the water content while cooking. Beans, dried lentils and legumes like gram flour, bajra and jowar form the main ingredients of many of the Rajasthani dishes. Ghee is liberally used in preparing different Rajasthani dishes which are rich in spice and flavour. Although predominantly a vegetarian region, the influence of the Rajputs who savoured non-vegetarian dishes including game meat saw the evolution of several luscious non-vegetarian dishes such as laal maas, jungle maas, khad khargosh and safed maas.

Rajasthani breads are made out of conventional staples of the region like corn, barley and millet which are grounded into flour. Breads are generally roasted in frying pans and served after adding ghee on each piece. Of late wheat flour has replaced these traditional grains to some extent.

Popular Rajasthani Dishes

Rajasthani cuisine offers some exotic and scrumptious combo meals and dishes that are sure to delight the taste buds of foodies. Some of them are mentioned below. 

Bajre ki roti and Lashun ki chutney

Bajre ki roti made with bajra (millet) is very popular and healthy flat bread that is relished across Rajasthan. Though it can be taken with any vegetable dish or kadhi, it is generally savoured with onions and Lasun ki chutney that is a saucy preparation made with garlic. This combination has remained a staple food for the locals.

·       The Royal Enfield 350 & 500cc Bullet, EFI

The R E Bullet 350cc (500cc is now discontinued but we have some parked in the garage for you) is now equipped with front and rear disc brakes and EFI. This is a perfect motorcycle for chugging along the gently winding roads. The long solo seat with a raised pillion is also a great benefit if you have a pillion, which is common on our Every tours.

·       The RE “Himalayan” 411 cc, EFI

We use these bikes in most of our tours to India. The tall stance, high placed handlebars, high ground clearance, the up-angled silencer and the belly pan prove their worth both on road and off. With a 21? front wheel and a rear “mono-shock” suspension, it can pretty much ride over everything. At 411cc / 24.5 bhp, it has enough grunt in it to keep you going on the rougher sections in the Himalayas as well as On the Indian National highways .

The Royal Enfield Classic 500 cc  (discontinued)

This “Classic” with it the vintage charm and the “Retro Bullet feel” was loved by our customers.  However, in 2019, when India moved from BS4 to BS6 emission norms, Royal Enfield discontinued production of this model.  As we constantly “retire” our older bikes and replace them with newer ones, we are no longer able to do that with the 500cc one. Hence, we had to take the decision of discontinuing this model from our fleet, till RE launches another suitable 500cc model.  However, if you wanted to ride only this bike on one of our tours, do write to us with a special request and we’ll do our best to get one for you.

Being a mix of faiths, practices, and diversities, Rajasthan showcase a vibrant display of cultures. Life in this desert land is all about traditional ways of living. Be it the architecture, costumes, cuisine, local dialects, arts and crafts, or its fairs and festivals, you can always find a unique charm and plethora of celebrations while travelling around this state.

Today, Rajasthan has developed like any other Indian state. However, unlike them, this gorgeous state has endured all its cultural aspects and never hesitates to introduce the outer world with them. Let’s delve deep into the cultures of Rajasthan and have a livelier glimpse of how life thrives in this desert land of India.

a)Traditional Costumes*

Bright colours, intricate designs, mirror works, and chunks of silver or other pieces of jewellery are the most important elements of Rajasthani attires. Be it the men or the women, they all love to adorn themselves in thwe most colourful ways while being grounded to their tradition and cultural values.

Since the state is dotted with a diverse range of cultures, dressing among the locals vary from according to their region. However, they showcase a striking range of similarities. Men usually love to don colourful turbans called ‘pagri’; the Jodhpuri Safa and Jaipuriya Pagri are the two most popular variants of pagris used in Rajasathan.

While in some places, ‘dhotis’ are considered to be the primary wear, ‘pyjamas’ can also be seen in most of the places as the traditional attire for the lower portion of the body. Rajasthani men are also inclined towards ‘kurta’ or a traditional dress called ‘angrakha’ that resembles much to the frocks worn by ladies.

Women in Rajasthan has a strong bond with colourful clothing and classical jewelleries. While ‘sari’ is considered as the most traditional women-wear, women in the ‘Desert Capital’ of India loves to wear colourful ‘ghagras’. Usually worn from the waist, this skirt-type dress reaches till the ankle. They mostly prefer hand-printed, block-printed, or dyed ghagras along with a blouse called ‘cholis’. Be it the ghagra or the cholis, they are never complete without matching set of jewelleries. In some cases, you would also find ghagras laced with precious metals, stones, or even diamonds!

b)  Language

With Hindi as the most commonly spoken language, you can always find the mix of local essence among the Rajasthanis. Each of the region has its own dialect and; you may also find new words or linguistic scriptures as you move around the entire of the Desert Capital of India. Though language is a diverse aspect, you would always find all the forms and dialect equally soothing to your ears. 

c) Music and Dance Forms

Music has always been an integral part of Rajasthani Culture. Historical evidences found across the state clearly shows its affinity and inclination towards folk music and dance. Being dominated by tribal groups in the past, tribal or folk music plays a pivotal role in the culture of Rajasthan.

To name a few, there are the Ghoomar dance form originating from Udaipur and Kalbeliya dance form originating from Jaisalmer. Other popular and prismatic dance form includes Kathaputali, Bhopa, Chang, Teratali, Ghindar, Kachchighori, Tejaji, Parth, and several others.

Talking about the folk songs of Rajasthan, they mostly include the heroic tales, eternal love stories, and devotional songs. The use of traditional musical instruments like dholak, sarangi, sitar, and others make Rajasthani music a true euphoric experience for the listeners and music enthusiasts. 

d)  Art, Crafts & Architecture

The rulers of Rajasthan were patrons of art, crafts, and architecture; the opulent palaces, glorious forts, intricate metal works, textile printings, mirror works, etc. are lively examples of this! Most of the Rajput rulers were connoisseurs of art and crafts, and have periodically showed their extravagant skills in multiple ways.

Their exquisite taste caused the perfect amalgamation of different types of art-forms into one; mainly Indian (or Hindu forms), Islamic, British, and European. Their yearning for art, craft and architecture, makes it pretty evident that they were much ahead of their time. Their visionary skills, eye for perfection, and cravings for the most elegant establishments is truly unique and cannot be matched in the coming centuries.

Be it the opulent architecture, miniature paintings, handicrafts, or even the art forms used in puppetry, culture of Rajasthan is truly inspiring for the entire world and a true delight for the eyes of the beholders. Tie-dye works, zari work, embroidery, mirror work on clothes, use of precious metals, and other metal works are some of the indigenous forms of Rajasthani traditional form of art and crafts.

e)  Fairs & Festivals

The culture of Rajasthan is mainly driven by its fairs and festivals. Be it a religious festival or a regional one, a celebration for good-will or to mark any of the historical events of past, the mighty Thar Desert celebrates all its events with great enthusiasm and vigour. While most of its fairs and festivals follow the Hindu beliefs and practises, the entire of the state participates in the celebrations and make each of them a gala event.Diwali, Gangaur, Teej, and Makar Sankranti are some of the most revered festivals in India’s Desert Capital. Also, since the culture of Rajasthan has an eternal bond with camels, the state hosts a number of events to commemorate this bond throughout the year. Kite Festival, Desert Festival, Pushkar Mela, and Jaipur Literature Fest are some of the most appealing and colourful annual festivals in this part of the country.