{"id":47555,"date":"2019-02-13T11:04:47","date_gmt":"2019-02-13T10:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=47555"},"modified":"2021-03-17T08:33:43","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T07:33:43","slug":"barmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/barmer\/","title":{"rendered":"Barmer, an authentic city in the Thar Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Barmer is a city in the Thar Desert<\/a> located in the West of Rajasthan<\/a>. Unlike most of the other parts of this state, it has been spared from mass tourism and it will delight visitors in search of authenticity and especially photography lovers. In the streets and bazaars of the city, you will encounter characters who seem straight out of an old Bollywood movie. Barmer is also associated with folk music, the Manganiars and Langas<\/a> communities, to name but a few, can be seen performing in the some of the world’s biggest music festivals. Add to that the beauty of the surrounding desert, fascinating archaeological sites and delicious local cuisine, this makes Barmer a truly exciting city to explore and discover.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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The city of Barmer, view from the fort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Barmer<\/strong> was formerly called Mallani<\/strong> after Rawal Mallinath, the son of Rao Salkha, the first Maharaja of Barmer. In the 18th century, the British baptised the city ‘Barmer’ derived from the name of the ruler Bar Rao Parmar who ruled the region in the 13th century AD. Bar Rao built a small town known as ‘Juna’<\/strong>, located 25 km from the current city of Barmer (see below). Rawat Lunka – grandson of Rawal Mallinath – attacked and seized Juna with the help of his older brother Rawal Mandalak and, in 1552, his descendant Rawat Bhima<\/strong> transferred the capital of Juna to the current Barmer town. He built a fort on a hill situated in the city centre named Barmer Garh<\/strong> (see below). Rawat Tribhuwan Singh Rathore<\/strong>, the current Maharaja of Barmer is the descendant of Rawat Lunka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thar Festival<\/strong> & Mallinath Fair          <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Thar Festival is organised each year in March by the Tourism Department in order to showcase local traditions. The festival lasts three days and includes cultural events such as folk music and dance and many different craft stands. The Manganiars and Langas<\/a> musician communities are in the spotlight as well as the Gair dancers.
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