The Thar Desert, also called the Great Indian Desert, is a vast arid region in northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. Most of the Indian part lies in western Rajasthan, with smaller areas in Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.

Why is it a desert?

• The Aravalli hills run parallel to the monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea, so they do not force the winds to rise and drop rain.
• The region lies far from the Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon, which has lost most of its moisture by the time it arrives.
• As a result, much of the Thar receives very low rainfall, often less than 250 mm a year in the west.

Climate

Summers are extremely hot, with temperatures that can go above 45–50°C, while winter nights can be near freezing. Dust storms are common in early summer.

Landscape

The Thar has shifting sand dunes, rocky plains and salt lakes such as Sambhar Lake, India’s largest inland saltwater lake. The Luni is the main river in the region.

Wildlife

• The Great Indian Bustard, one of the world’s heaviest flying birds and critically endangered.
• Chinkara (Indian gazelle), blackbuck, desert fox and desert cat.
• Hardy plants such as khejri trees, sacred to the Bishnoi community, known for their conservation traditions.

The Desert National Park near Jaisalmer protects many of these species.

People and culture

The Thar is one of the most densely populated deserts in the world. Its people have adapted with stepwells, water-harvesting tanks called kunds, colourful clothing, folk music and camel and livestock herding.

Famous places

• Jaisalmer Fort, the “Golden Fort”, one of the few living forts in the world, where people still live inside.
• The sand dunes of Sam near Jaisalmer.
• Bikaner and Jodhpur, gateway cities to the desert.

The Indira Gandhi Canal

One of India’s longest canals, it brings water from Punjab’s rivers into the desert, turning parts of the Thar green and supporting farming.