Deserts in India at a Glance :

Area of Deserts in India : 208,110 km² (approx.)

Spread over four states in India covers Desert area - Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat

Thar Desert is situated in Rajasthan, covering 61% of its geographic area.

Temprature in Thar Desert : Above 45 °C (113 °F) in summer to below freezing in winters

Rainfall in Thar Desert : Below 120 mm (4.72 inches) in the extreme west to 375 mm (14.75 inches) eastward

Deserts in India :

The deserts can be divided into two parts-the great desert and little desert. The great desert forms a part of Thar desert which extends over Pakistan in the west from the edge of Runn of Kutch beyond the Luni river northward. The whole of the Rajasthan-Sind frontier runs through this.

The little desert extends from the Luni between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur upto the northern wastes. Between the great and the little deserts lies a zone absolutely sterile, consisting of rock land and cut by limestone ridges. The arid zone in the country occupies nearly 12 % of land , there are 70,000 sq. km. of cold deserts in Ladalm.

Thar Desert, Rajasthan :

The Great Indian Desert or Thar Desert is generally known, is a fascinating area. It has taken its name from the word Tahl that in local dialect is the term for the sandy ridges of the dunes. The Thar Desert in spite of the inhospitable climate is not an endless stretch of sand, devoid of life and vegetarian. It is a living and dynamic eco-system. It is actually one of the most populous deserts of the world. In order to preserve its geo-morphological features, fauna and flora and to continuously study and understand their ecology under undisturbed desert conditions, an area of about 3,126 sq. kilometers.

The plants in the desert also have to adopt various strategies to endure the intense heat, bitter cold and long dry spells. To reduce the water by evaporation the leaves of these plants are reduced in size, as is the case of khejri (Prosopis cinerara) with relatively few stomataon them. Some species like kair (Cappairs dedicua) and phog (Calligonum polkygonides) do away with the leaves altogether and develop stomata on the green stems which perform the work of photosynthesis. Sevan is one of the hardiest plants to grow in the Thar Desert. This perennial grass can stand long periods of drought.

Camel Safari in Thar Desert :

Nothing can prepare the visitor for the sheer magic and brilliance of these desert cities. The camel rides on the sand dunes are an unforgettable experience as are the sunsets. These places boast of some very fine reminders of the glorious past - palaces, forts, temples and other elegant monuments of architectural and historical value and unforgettable treat for any visitor taking this route.