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[[File:Thar Desert satellite.jpg|thumb|A [[NASA]] satellite image of the '''Thar Desert'''. The image also shows the international [[border]] between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. The desert is at the center left of the image; the [[Indus River]] and its [[tributary|tributaries]] are to the left side of the desert, and the dark green line at the bottom center of the image is the [[Aravalli Range]].]]
{{Short description|Large arid region between India and Pakistan}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}


The '''Thar Desert''' ({{lang-hi|थार मरुस्थल}}<!-- this hindi name is correct check in hindi wikipedia -->, {{lang-ur|تھر دسیرت}}), also known as the '''Great Indian Desert''', is a [[desert]]. About 85 per cent is in western [[Republic of India]] and the rest in southeastern [[Pakistan]].
{{Infobox ecoregion
|name = Thar Desert<br /><small>Great Indian Desert</small>
|image = Thar desert Rajasthan India.jpg
|image_size =
|image_alt =
|caption = Thar Desert in [[Rajasthan]], India
|map = Ecoregion IM1304.png
|map_size =
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Map of the Thar Desert ecoregion
|ecozone = [[Indomalayan realm|Indomalayan]]
|biome  = [[Deserts and xeric shrublands]]
|animals =
|bird_species =
|mammal_species =
|border = [[Northwestern thorn scrub forests]]
|border1 = [[Rann of Kutch|Rann of Kutch seasonal salt marsh]]
|area = 238254
|country = [[India]]
|country1 = [[Pakistan]]
|state = India: [[Rajasthan]]
|state2 = [[Gujarat]]
|state3 = [[Haryana]]
|state4 = [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
|state5 = <br />Pakistan: [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
|state6 = [[Sindh]]
|region_type = States of India and provinces of Pakistan
|elevation =
|geology =
|seas =
|rivers =
|climate =
|soil =
|conservation = vulnerable<ref name = wwf>{{WWF ecoregion|id=im1304|name=Thar Desert}}</ref>
|global200 =
|habitat_loss =
|habitat_loss_ref =
|coordinates = {{Coord|27|N|71|E|scale:5000000_source:GNS|display=title, inline}}
|protected = 41,833 km<sup>2</sup> (18
|protected_ref = )<ref>Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/bix014]</ref>
|embedded =
}}


It is mostly in the Indian state of [[Rajasthan]]. It extends into the southern portion of [[Haryana]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] states and into northern [[Gujarat]] state. In Pakistan, the desert covers eastern [[Sindh]] province and the southeastern portion of Pakistan's [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] province. In Pakistan's Punjab province it is known as the [[Cholistan desert]]. [[Tharparkar District]] of province Sindh Pakistan is also a part of Thar desert. The Thar Desert is bounded on the northwest by the [[Sutlej]] River, on the east by the [[Aravalli Range]], on the south by the salt marsh known as the [[Rann of Kutch|Rann of Kachchh]] (parts of which are sometimes included in the Thar), and on the west by the [[Indus River]].
The '''Thar Desert''', also known as the '''Great Indian Desert''', is a large [[arid]] region in the north-western part of the [[Indian subcontinent]] that covers an area of {{convert|200000|km2|abbr=on}} and forms a natural boundary between [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. It is the world's [[List of deserts by area|20th-largest desert]], and the world's 9th-largest hot subtropical desert.
Its boundary to the large thorny [[steppe]] to the north is not well defined. Depending on what areas are included or excluded, the nominal size of the Thar can vary.


About 85% of the Thar Desert is in India, and about 15% is in Pakistan.<ref name="Sinha1996">Sinha, R. K., Bhatia, S., & Vishnoi, R. (1996). "Desertification control and rangeland management in the Thar desert of India". RALA Report No. 200: 115–123.</ref> <!-- redundant In India, it covers about {{convert|170000|km2|abbr=on}}, and the remaining {{convert|30000|km2|abbr=on}} of the desert is within Pakistan. --> The Thar Desert is about 4.56% of the total geographical area of India. More than 60% of the desert lies in the Indian state of [[Rajasthan]]; the portion in India also extends into [[Gujarat]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], and [[Haryana]]. The portion in Pakistan extends into the provinces of [[Sindh]]<ref>Sharma, K. K. and S. P. Mehra (2009). "The Thar of Rajasthan (India): Ecology and Conservation of a Desert Ecosystem". Chapter 1 in: Sivaperuman, C., Baqri, Q. H., Ramaswamy, G., & Naseema, M. (eds.) ''Faunal ecology and conservation of the Great Indian Desert''. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg.</ref> and [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]] (the portion in the latter province is referred to as the [[Cholistan Desert]]).


{{multistub|Geo|Asia}}
==Geography==
[[File:Thar Desert satellite.jpg|thumb|A [[NASA]] satellite image of the Thar Desert, with the India–Pakistan border]]
[[File:Thar Desert.JPG|thumb|View of the Thar Desert]]
The northeastern part of the Thar Desert lies between the [[Aravalli Hills]]. The desert stretches to Punjab and Haryana in the north, to the [[Great Rann of Kutch]] along the coast, and to the alluvial plains of the [[Indus River]] in the west and northwest. Much of the desert area is covered by huge, shifting sand dunes that receive [[sediment]]s from the alluvial plains and the coast. The sand is highly mobile due to the strong winds that rise each year before the onset of the [[monsoon]]. The [[Luni River]] is the only river in the desert.<ref>Laity, J. J. (2009). [https://books.google.com/books?id=wtAbzLLTcwcC&pg=PA30&sa=X&ei=yW-NVI7kB4GqPLLtgegE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Deserts and Desert Environments'']. John Wiley & Sons.</ref> Rainfall is {{convert|100|to|500|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} per year, almost all of it between June and September.<ref name="Sinha1996"/>


Saltwater lakes within the Thar Desert include the [[Sambhar Lake|Sambhar]], Kuchaman, [[Didwana]], [[Pachpadra Lake|Pachpadra]], and [[Phalodi]] in Rajasthan and [[Kharaghoda]] in Gujarat. These lakes receive and collect rainwater during monsoon and evaporate during the dry season. The salt comes from the weathering of rocks in the region.<ref>Ramesh, R., Jani, R. A., & Bhushan, R. (1993). "Stable isotopic evidence for the origin of salt lakes in the Thar desert". ''Journal of Arid Environments'' 25 (1): 117–123.</ref>


Lithic tools belonging to the prehistoric [[Aterian]] culture of the [[Maghreb]] have been discovered in [[Middle Paleolithic]] deposits in the Thar Desert.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gwen Robbins Schug, Subhash R. Walimbe|title=A Companion to South Asia in the Past|date=2016|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|page=64|url=https://www.google.com/books?id=7xv-CwAAQBAJ|isbn=978-1119055471|access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref>
===Climate===
The climate is arid and subtropical. Average temperature varies with season, and extremes can range from near-freezing in the winter to more than 50º C in the summer months. Average annual rainfall ranges from 100 to 500 mm, and occurs during the short July-to-September southwest monsoon.<ref name = wwf/>
The desert has both a very dry part (the Marusthali region in the west) and a semidesert part (in the east) that has fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation.<ref>Sharma, K. K., S. Kulshreshtha, A. R. Rahmani (2013). ''Faunal Heritage of Rajasthan, India: General Background and Ecology of Vertebrates''. Springer Science & Business Media, New York.</ref>
===Desertification control===
[[File:GreeningdesertTharIndia.jpg|thumb|Greening desert with plantations of [[jojoba]] at [[Fatehpur, Shekhawati]]]]
[[File:Greeningdesert1.jpg|thumb|Checking of shifting sand dunes through plantations of ''[[Acacia tortilis]]'' near [[Laxmangarh]] town]]
[[File:Indira Gandhi Canal.jpg|thumb|[[Indira Gandhi Canal]] flowing in Thar Desert near Sattasar village, [[Bikaner district]], Rajasthan]]
The soil of the Thar Desert remains dry for much of the year, so it is prone to [[wind erosion]]. High-velocity winds blow soil from the desert, depositing some of it on neighboring fertile lands, and causing [[sand dunes]] within the desert to shift. To counteract this problem, sand dunes are stabilised by first erecting micro[[windbreak]] barriers with scrub material and then by [[afforestation]] of the treated dunes - planting the seedlings of shrubs (such as [[Calligonum polygonoides|phog]], [[Cassia auriculata|senna]], and [[Ricinus communis|castor oil plant]]) and trees (such as [[Acacia senegal|gum acacia]], ''[[Prosopis juliflora]]'', and [[Albizzia lebbeck|lebbek tree]]). The 649-km-long [[Indira Gandhi Canal]] brings fresh water to the Thar Desert.<ref name="Sinha1996"/> It was built to halt any spreading of the desert into fertile areas.
===Protected areas===
There are several [[protected area]]s in the Thar Desert:
* In India:
** The [[Desert National Park]], in Rajasthan, covers {{convert|3162|km2|abbr=on}} and represents the Thar Desert [[ecosystem]];<ref>Rahmani, A. R. (1989). "The uncertain future of the Desert National Park in Rajasthan, India".  ''Environmental Conservation'' 16 (03): 237–244.</ref> it includes 44 villages.<ref name=Singh2007/> Its diverse [[fauna (animals)|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 {{convert|7|km2|abbr=on}} and is an [[Important Bird Area]].<ref name=Singh2007/> It is located in the [[Churu District]], {{convert|210|km|abbr=on}} from [[Jaipur]], in the [[Shekhawati]] region of Rajasthan. This sanctuary is home to large populations of blackbuck, fox, caracal, [[partridge]], and [[sand grouse]].
** The [[Sundha Mata Conservation Reserve]] covers {{convert|117.49|km2|abbr=on}} and is located in the [[Jalore District]] of Rajasthan.<ref>WII (2015). [http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc_conservation_reserves Conservation Reserves] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410212243/http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc_conservation_reserves |date=10 April 2015 }} Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.</ref>
* In Pakistan:
** The [[Nara Desert Wildlife Sanctuary]] covers {{convert|6300|km2|abbr=on}};<ref>Ghalib, S. A., Khan, A. R., Zehra, M., & Abbas, D. (2008). "Bioecology of Nara Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Districts Ghotki, Sukkur and Khairpur, Sindh". ''Pakistan Journal of Zoology'' 40 (1): 37–43.</ref> it is located in is located in [[Mirpurkhas District]].<ref name="wildlifeofpakistan.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/sanctuaries.html|title = Protected Areas}}</ref> It contains the largest population of the endangered [[mugger crocodile]] in Pakistan.<ref name="wildlifeofpakistan.com"/>
** The [[Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary]] located in [[Badin District]] is an Important Bird Area and [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar Site]], with 30 species of mammals, 112 bird species, 20 reptiles, and 22 important plant species.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ghalib|first1=S. A. (Karachi Univ (Pakistan) Dept of Zoology/Wildlife and Fisheries)|last2=Khan|first2=M. Z. (Karachi Univ (Pakistan) Dept of Zoology/Wildlife and Fisheries)|last3=Hussain|first3=S. A. (Environmental Management Consultants|last4=Zehra|first4=A. (Karachi Univ (Pakistan) Dept of Zoology/Wildlife and Fisheries)|last5=Samreen|first5=N. (Karachi Univ (Pakistan) Dept of Zoology/Wildlife and Fisheries)|last6=Tabassum|first6=F. (Karachi Univ (Pakistan) Dept of Zoology/Wildlife and Fisheries)|last7=Jabeen|first7=T. (Karachi Univ (Pakistan) Dept of Zoology/Wildlife and Fisheries)|last8=Khan|first8=A. R. (Halcrow Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd|last9=Sharma|first9=L. (Sindh Wildlife Dept|last10=Bhatti|first10=T. (Sindh Board of Revenue|title=Current distribution and status of the mammals, birds and reptiles in Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary, Sindh|url=http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do;jsessionid=BFA3028B8FC5DB034C80C7763A94A0C3?request_locale=ru&recordID=PK2014000864&query=&sourceQuery=&sortField=&sortOrder=&agrovocString=&advQuery=&centerString=&enableField=|journal=International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology (Pakistan)|issn=1810-2719}}</ref>
** The [[Lal Suhanra National Park|Lal Suhanra Biosphere Reserve and National Park]] is a [[UNESCO]] declared biosphere reserve,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/asia-and-the-pacific/pakistan/lal-suhanra/|title=Lal Suhanra|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=28 December 2016}}</ref> which covers {{Convert|65,791|ha|mi2|abbr=}} the [[Cholistan Desert|Cholistan]] region of the Greater Thar Desert.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&code=PAK+01|title=UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory|website=www.unesco.org|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref>
==Biodiversity==
[[File:Blackbuck male female.jpg|thumb|Blackbuck male and female]]
[[File:Chinkara.jpg|thumb|The chinkara or Indian gazelle is found across the Thar Desert.]]
=== Fauna ===
Some [[wildlife]] species that are fast vanishing in other parts of India are found in the desert in large numbers, including the [[blackbuck]] (''Antilope cervicapra''), [[chinkara]] (''Gazella bennettii''),and [[Indian wild ass]] (''Equus hemionus khur'') in the [[Rann of Kutch]]. This may be partly because they are well adapted to this environment: they are smaller than similar animals that live in other environments, and they are mainly nocturnal. It may also be because [[grasslands]] in this region have not been transformed into cropland as fast as in other regions, and because a local community, the [[Bishnoi]]s, has made special efforts to protect them.
Other mammals in the Thar Desert include a subspecies of [[red fox]] (''[[White-footed fox|Vulpes vulpes pusilla]]'') and the [[caracal]], and a number of reptiles dwell there too.
[[File:Peacock Thathawata.JPG|thumb|Peacock on a [[khejri]] tree]]
[[File:Peafowl eating pieces of Chapati in Tharparkar.jpg|alt=Peafowl eating pieces of chapati in Tharparkar District, Sindh|left|thumb|Peafowl eating pieces of'' [[chapati]]'' in [[Tharparkar District]], Sindh]]
The region is a haven for 141 species of [[Bird migration|migratory]] and resident desert birds, including [[harrier (bird)|harrier]]s, [[falcon]]s, [[buzzard]]s, [[kestrel]]s, [[vulture]]s, [[short-toed eagle]]s (''Circaetus gallicus''), [[tawny eagle]]s (''Aquila rapax''), [[greater spotted eagle]]s (''Aquila clanga''), and [[laggar falcon]]s (''Falco jugger'').
The [[Indian peafowl]] is a resident breeder in the Thar region. The peacock is designated as the national bird of India and the provincial bird of the [[Punjab (Pakistan)]]. It can be seen sitting on khejri or [[Sacred fig|pipal]] trees in villages or Deblina.
[[File:Tharparkar 02.JPG|right|thumb|[[Tharparkar cattle|Thari]] cow breed originating from [[Tharparkar District|Tharparkar]], Sindh, popular since [[World War I]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://afs.okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/tharparkar|title=Breeds of Livestock - Tharparkar Cattle — Breeds of Livestock, Department of Animal Science|website=afs.okstate.edu|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>]]
=== Flora ===
[[File:Khumbhi (local name for mushroom in Tharparkar).jpg|alt=Vessel full of mushroom |thumb|[[mushroom|Khumbhi]] from [[Tharparkar District|Tharparkar]], Sindh]]
[[File:Khejri.jpg|thumb|''[[Prosopis cineraria]]'' or ''khejri'' or ''kandi'']]
The natural vegetation of this dry area is classified as [[northwestern thorn scrub forest]] occurring in small clumps scattered more or less openly.<ref>Champion, H. G. and S. K. Seth. (1968). A revised survey of the forest types of India. Government of India Press</ref><ref>Negi, S. S. (1996). [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZrP3-4IFtMUC&lpg=PA182#v=onepage&f=false ''Biosphere Reserves in India: Landuse, Biodiversity and Conservation'']. Indus Publishing Company, Delhi.</ref> Density and size of patches increase from west to east following the increase in rainfall. The natural vegetation of the Thar Desert is composed of these tree, [[shrub]], and herb species:<ref name=Kaul1970>Kaul, R. N. (1970). "Afforestation in arid zones". ''Monographiiae Biologicae'' (20), The Hague.</ref>
*Trees and shrubs: ''[[Vachellia jacquemontii]]'', ''[[Balanites roxburghii]]'', ''[[Ziziphus zizyphus]]'', ''[[Ziziphus nummularia]]'', ''[[Calotropis procera]]'', ''[[Suaeda fruticosa]]'', ''[[Crotalaria burhia]]'', ''[[Aerva javanica]]'', ''[[Clerodendrum multiflorum]]'', ''[[Leptadenia pyrotechnica]]'', ''[[Lycium barbarum]]'', ''[[Grewia tenax]]'', ''[[Commiphora mukul]]'', ''[[Euphorbia caducifolia]]'', ''[[Euphorbia neriifolia]]'', ''[[Cordia sinensis]]'', ''[[Maytenus emarginata]]'', ''[[Capparis decidua]]'', ''[[Mimosa hamata]]''
*Herbs and grasses: ''[[Ochthochloa]] compressa'', ''[[Dactyloctenium scindicum]]'', ''[[Cenchrus biflorus]]'', ''[[Cenchrus setiger]]'', ''[[Lasiurus scindicus]]'', ''[[Cynodon dactylon]]'', ''[[Panicum turgidum]]'', ''[[Panicum antidotale]]'', ''[[Dichanthium annulatum]]'', ''[[Sporobolus marginatus]]'', ''[[Saccharum spontaneum]]'', ''[[Cenchrus ciliaris]]'', ''[[Desmostachya bipinnata]]'', ''[[Eragrostis]]'' species, ''[[Ergamopagan]]'' species, ''[[Phragmites]]'' species, ''[[Tribulus terrestris]]'', ''[[Typha]]'' species, ''[[Sorghum halepense]]'', ''[[Citrullus colocynthis]]''
The [[endemic]] floral species include ''[[Calligonum polygonoides]]'', ''[[Prosopis cineraria]]'', ''[[Acacia nilotica]]'', ''[[Tamarix aphylla]]'', and ''[[Cenchrus biflorus]]''.<ref>Khan, T. I., & Frost, S. (2001). "Floral biodiversity: a question of survival in the Indian Thar Desert". ''Environmentalist'' 21 (3): 231–236.</ref>
==People==
[[File:House in the Thar.JPG|thumb|left|Huts in the Thar Desert]]
[[File:gaduliya.jpg|right|thumb|A girl from the [[Gadia Lohar]]s nomadic tribe of [[Marwar]], cooking her food.]]
The Thar Desert is the most widely populated desert in the world, with a population density of 83 people per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=Singh2007>Singh, P. (ed.) (2007). [http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp11/tf11_grass.pdf "Report of the Task Force on Grasslands and Deserts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210071534/http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp11/tf11_grass.pdf |date=10 December 2011 }}. Government of India Planning Commission, New Delhi.</ref> In India, the inhabitants comprise [[Hindu]]s, [[Jain]]s, [[Sikh]]s, and [[Muslim]]s. In Pakistan, inhabitants include both Muslims and Hindus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1167315|title=Mithi: Where a Hindu fasts and a Muslim does not slaughter cows|last=Raza|first=Hassan|date=5 March 2012|work=Dawn}}</ref>
About 40% of the total population of [[Rajasthan]] lives in the Thar Desert.<ref name=Gupta2008>Gupta, M. L. (2008). ''Rajasthan Gyan Kosh''. 3rd Edition. Jojo Granthagar, Jodhpur. {{ISBN|81-86103-05-8}}</ref> The main occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture and [[animal husbandry]]. A colourful culture, rich in tradition, prevails in this desert. The people have a great passion for folk music and folk poetry.
[[Jodhpur]], the largest city in the region, lies in the scrub forest zone at the desert's perimeter. [[Bikaner]] and [[Jaisalmer]] are the largest cities located entirely in the desert.
=== Water and housing in the desert ===
[[File:Johad.JPG|thumb|left|[[Johad]]s are common water sources]]
In the true desert areas, the only sources of water for animals or humans are small, scattered ponds - some that are natural (''tobas'') and some that are human-made (''[[johad]]s''). The persistence of [[water scarcity]] heavily influences life in all areas of the Thar, prompting many inhabitants to adopt a [[nomads|nomadic]] lifestyle.{{Citation needed|date=February 2014}} Most of the permanent human settlements are located near the two seasonal streams of the Karon-Jhar hills. Potable groundwater is also rare in the Thar Desert. Much of it tastes sour due to dissolved minerals. Potable water is mostly available only  deep underground. When wells are dug that happen to yield sweet tasting water, people tend to settle near them, but such wells are difficult and dangerous to dig, sometimes claiming the lives of the well-diggers.{{Citation needed|date=February 2014}}
[[File:GRAVIS employees at Taanka.JPG|thumb|Tanks for drinking water]]
Crowded housing conditions are common in some areas.
=== Recreation ===
[[Image:Désert-du-Thar.jpg|left|thumb|Desert tribes near Jaisalmer, India]]
[[File:Tharparkar1 Pakistan.jpg|thumb|Due to severe weather conditions, few highways are in the Thar Desert. Shown here is a road in [[Tharparkar]] district of Sindh, Pakistan.]]
==Economy==
===Agriculture===
The Thar is one of the most heavily populated desert areas in the world with the main occupations of its inhabitants being agriculture and animal husbandry.
[[File:Grain millet, early grain fill, Tifton, 7-3-02.jpg|thumb|left|Bajra is the main [[kharif crop]] in Thar.]]
[[File:4 KLM Mustard.jpg|thumb|left|alt=4 KLM Village|Mustard fields in a village of Shri Ganganagar district (Rajasthan, India).]]
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 [[Pearl millet|bajra]], [[pulses]] such as [[guar]], [[jowar]] (''[[Sorghum vulgare]]''), maize (''[[zea mays]]''), [[sesame]] and [[Bambara groundnut|groundnuts]].
The Thar region of Rajasthan is a major opium production and consumption area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/icmr_bulletins/bulljan-mar08.pdf |title=ICMR Bulletin vol.38, No.1-3, Pattern and Process of Drug and Alcohol Use in India |access-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328054240/https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/icmr_bulletins/bulljan-mar08.pdf |archive-date=10 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/will-rajasthan-opium-farmers-vote-for-change-1401355-2018-12-03 |title=Will Rajasthan opium farmers vote for change? |access-date=10 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510113738/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/will-rajasthan-opium-farmers-vote-for-change-1401355-2018-12-03 |archive-date=10 May 2022}}</ref>
===Livestock===
[[File:Thar Khuri.jpg|thumb|Camel ride in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer, India]]
[[File:Cows in India 2007.JPG|thumb|upright|Cattle in the Thar Desert]]
===Agroforestry===
[[File:Khejro Lopping.JPG|thumb|Lopping of ''khejri'' tree for fodder and fuel in [[Harsawa]] village]]
<!--<ref>[http://www.ecoworld.com/Home/Articles2.cfm?TID=341 "Arid Agriculture: State-of-the-Art Agro-Forestry vs. Deserts on the March"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061219083939/http://www.ecoworld.com/Home/Articles2.cfm?TID=341 |date=19 December 2006 }}. Brook & Gaurav Bhagat 14 August 2003</ref>-->
''P. cineraria'' wood is reported to contain high calorific value and provide high-quality fuel wood. The lopped branches are good as fencing material. Its roots also encourage [[nitrogen]] fixation, which produces higher crop yields.
[[Image:Rohida1.jpg|thumb|''Tecomella undulata'' tree in the village of [[Harsawa]]]]
===Ecotourism===
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2011}}
[[File:Purple Skies of Jaisalmer.jpg|thumb|Sunrise in the desert]]
Desert safaris on camels have become increasingly popular around Jaisalmer. Domestic and international tourists frequent the desert seeking adventure on camels for one to several days. This [[ecotourism]] industry ranges from cheaper backpacker treks to plush Arabian night-style campsites replete with banquets and cultural performances. During the treks, tourists are able to view the fragile and beautiful ecosystem of the Thar Desert. This form of tourism provides income to many operators and camel owners in Jaisalmer, as well as employment for many camel trekkers in the desert villages nearby. People from various parts of the world come to see the Pushkar ka Mela (Pushkar Fair) and oases.
===Industry===
The government of India initiated departmental exploration for oil in 1955 and 1956 in the Jaisalmer area,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/2nd/2planch18.html |title=PlanningCommission.NIC.in |access-date=16 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060414235126/http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/2nd/2planch18.html |archive-date=14 April 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Oil India Limited discovered natural gas in 1988 in the [[Jaisalmer basin]].<ref>[http://oilindia.nic.in/ourcomp_spread_rajasthan.htm OilIndia.NIC.in] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630062216/http://oilindia.nic.in/ourcomp_spread_rajasthan.htm |date=30 June 2006}}</ref> <!-- Also known for their fine leather [[messenger bag]]s made from wild camels native to the area. -->
== History ==
The [[Desert National Park]] in [[Jaisalmer district]] has a collection of 180-million-year- old animal and plant fossils.
[[Jaisalmer State]]’s historical foundations are in the large empire ruled by the Bhati dynasty. The empire stretched from what is now  [[Ghazni]]<ref name="tod_197198">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.114834 |title=Rajasthan or the Central and Western Rajpoot States, Volume 2, page 197-198 |publisher=Higginbotham And Co. Madras|date=2018-08-14}}</ref> in modern-day Afghanistan to what is [[Sialkot]], [[Lahore]] and [[Rawalpindi]] in modern-day Pakistan<ref name="IGI">{{cite web|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V21_278.gif |title=Imperial Gazetter of India, Volume 21, page 272 - Imperial Gazetteer of India - Digital South Asia Library |publisher=Dsal.uchicago.edu |date=2013-02-18 |access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref> to the region that is [[Bhatinda]] and [[Hanumangarh]] in modern-day India.<ref name="Bh_gov1">{{cite web |url=http://bathinda.nic.in/html/district_at_a_glance.html#N10024 |title=Bhatinda Government: District at A glance- Origin |publisher=Bhatinda Government |date=2018-08-14 |access-date=14 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110050936/http://bathinda.nic.in/html/district_at_a_glance.html#N10024 |archive-date=10 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The empire crumbled over time because of continuous invasions from warriors in central Asia. According to Satish Chandra, the Hindu Shahis of Afghanistan made an alliance with the Bhatti rulers of Multhan because they wanted to end the slave raids that were made by the Turkic ruler of Ghazni, but the alliance was broken apart by Alp Tigin in 977 CE. Bhati dominions continued to shift southwards: they ruled Multan, then finally got pushed into Cholistan and Jaisalmer, where Rawal Devaraja built [[Derawar Fort|Dera Rawal / Derawar]].<ref name="RajGz">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.71381 |title=Provinical Gazetteers Of India: Rajputana  |publisher=Government of India |date=2018-08-14}}</ref> Jaisalmer was founded as the new capital in 1156 by [[Rawal Jaisal|Maharawal Jaisal Singh]] and the state took its name from the capital. On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a [[British protectorate]] through the [[Rajputana Agency]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_princes_A-J.html| title = Princely States of India}}</ref><ref name="RajGzb">{{cite web|date=2018-08-14|title=Provinical Gazetteers Of India: Rajputana|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.71381|publisher=Government of India}}</ref>
Because the kingdom’s main source of income had long been levies on [[Caravan (travellers)|caravan]]s, its economy suffered after [[Bombay]] became a major port, and sea trade largely replaced trade along the traditional land routes. Maharawals Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh tried to reverse the economic decline, but the kingdom nevertheless became impoverished. To make matters worse, there was a severe [[drought]] and a resulting [[famine]] from 1895 to 1900, during the reign of Maharawal Salivahan Singh, which caused the widespread loss of the livestock upon which the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom had come to rely.
In 1965 and 1971, population exchanges took place in the Thar between India and Pakistan; 3,500 Muslims shifted from the Indian section of the Thar to Pakistani Thar, whilst thousands of Hindu families also migrated from Pakistani Thar to the Indian section.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U7imPH4KVJUC&q=arif+hasan+thar+desert+migration&pg=PA15|title=Migration and Small Towns in Pakistan|last1=Hasan|first1=Arif|last2=Raza|first2=Mansoor|publisher=IIED|year=2009|isbn=9781843697343|pages=15–16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://himalmag.com/just-another-border/|title=Not just another border|last=Maini|first=Tridivesh Singh|date=15 August 2012|work=Himal South Asian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newslens.pk/families-separated-pak-india-border-yearn-see-loved-ones/|title=Families separated by Pak-India border yearn to see their loved ones|last=Arisar|first=Allah Bux|date=6 October 2015|work=News Lens Pakistan|access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref>
=== Thar in ancient literature ===
[[File:Map of Vedic India.png|thumb|The position of Thar Desert (orange colour) in [[Vedic period|Iron Age Vedic India]]]]
[[File:Sarasvati river.jpg|thumb|Present-day Gagghar-Hakra river-course, with paleochannels as proposed by (Clift et al. (2012)).<ref>See [https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Satellite-image-of-the-Indus-River-system-showing-the-study-sites-Stars-indicate_fig1_229062223 map]</ref><br />
1 = ancient river<br/>
2 = today's river<br/>
3 = today's Thar desert<br/>
4 = ancient shore<br/>
5 = today's shore<br/>
6 = today's town<br/>
7 = paelochannels (Clift et al. (2012))]]
== See also ==
[[File:Jaisalmer Amar Sagar.jpg|thumb|Amar Sagar, near [[Jaisalmer]]]]
* [[Arid Forest Research Institute]]
* [[Arid Lands Information Network]]
* [[Aridification]]
* [[Cholistan Desert]]
* [[Cyclone Phet]] – tracked directly over the desert
* [[Deforestation]]
* [[Geography of India]]
* [[Tharparkar#History|History of Thar]]
* [[List of deserts by area]]
* [[Marwar]]
* [[Pokhran]]
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
{{Portal|Environment}}
<!-- these may have been used by editors as a bibliography -->
* Bhandari M. M. ''Flora of The Indian Desert'', MPS Repros, 39, BGKT Extension, New Pali Road, Jodhpur, India.
* Zaigham, N. A. (2003). [http://comsats.org/Publications/Books_SnT_Series/03.%20Water%20Resources%20in%20the%20South%20-%20Present%20Scenario%20and%20Future%20Prospects%20(Nov.%202003).pdf#page=66 "Strategic sustainable development of groundwater in Thar Desert of Pakistan"]. Water Resources in the South: Present Scenario and Future Prospects, Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South, Islamabad.
* Govt. of India. Ministry of Food & Agriculture booklet (1965)—"Soil conservation in the Rajasthan Desert"—Work of the Desert Afforestation Research station, Jodhpur.
* Gupta, R. K. & Prakash Ishwar (1975). ''Environmental analysis of the Thar Desert''. English Book Depot., Dehra Dun.
* Kaul, R. N. (1967). "Trees or grass lands in the Rajasthan: Old problems and New approaches". ''Indian Forester'', 93: 434–435.
* Burdak, L. R. (1982). "Recent Advances in Desert Afforestation". Dissertation submitted to Shri R. N. Kaul, Director, Forestry Research, F.R.I., Dehra Dun.
* Yashpal, Sahai Baldev, Sood, R.K., and Agarwal, D.P. (1980). "Remote sensing of the 'lost' Saraswati river". ''Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences'' (Earth and Planet Science), V. 89, No. 3, pp.&nbsp;317–331.
* Bakliwal, P. C. and Sharma, S. B. (1980). "On the migration of the river Yamuna". ''Journal of the Geological Society of India'', Vol. 21, Sept. 1980, pp.&nbsp;461–463.
* Bakliwal, P. C. and Grover, A. K. (1988). "Signature and migration of Sarasvati river in Thar desert, Western India". ''Record of the Geological Survey of India'' V 116, Pts. 3–8, pp.&nbsp;77–86.
* Rajawat, A. S., Sastry, C. V. S. and Narain, A. (1999-a). "Application of pyramidal processing on high resolution IRS-1C data for tracing the migration of the Saraswati river in parts of the Thar desert". in "Vedic Sarasvati, Evolutionary History of a Lost River of Northwestern India", ''Memoir Geological Society of India'', Bangalore, No. 42, pp.&nbsp;259–272.
* Ramasamy, S. M. (1999). "Neotectonic controls on the migration of Sarasvati river of the Great Indian desert". in "Vedic Sarasvati, Evolutionary History of a Lost River of Northwestern India", ''Memoir Geological Society of India'', Bangalore, No. 42, pp.&nbsp;153–162.
* Rajesh Kumar, M., Rajawat, A. S. and Singh, T. N. (2005). "Applications of remote sensing for educidate the Palaeochannels in an extended Thar desert, Western Rajasthan", 8th annual International conference, Map India 2005, New Delhi.
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}
* [https://www.rajasthanyatra.in/rajasthan-heritage-tour.php Rajasthan Tourism]
* {{WWF ecoregion|id=im1304|name=Thar Desert}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160302095323/http://www.dharssi.org.uk/travel/india/jaisalmer.html Dharssi.org.uk], Photos of the Thar Desert
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080216005407/http://www.avgustin.net/gallery.php?id=44 Avgustin.net], Photos of the Thar Desert in Pakistan side
* [http://www.mit.gov.in/tdil/E_TOURISM_CDAC/desert%20visions/html/hjaisal.htm MIT.gov]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}, आपणो राजस्थान
{{Geography of India}}
{{Geography of Pakistan}}
{{GeoSouthAsia}}
{{Sindh topics}}
{{Deserts}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Thar Desert| ]]
[[Category:Deserts of India]]
[[Category:Deserts of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Deserts of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Geography of India]]
[[Category:Deserts and xeric shrublands]]
[[Category:Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of India]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Ergs]]
[[Category:Geography of Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Geography of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Geography of Sindh]]
[[Category:Tharparkar District]]
[[Category:Environment of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Environment of Sindh]]
[[Category:Indomalayan ecoregions]]
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