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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Miniature Painting | Small-scale detailed painting on paper or ivory; Rajasthan has 8 principal schools (Mewar, Bundi, Kota, Bikaner, Marwar, Kishangarh, Jaipur, Nathdwara) | High |
| Kishangarh Eye | Distinctive elongated eye with arched brows and sharp chin; signature feature of Kishangarh school of miniature painting; associated with Bani Thani portrait | High |
| Bani Thani | Iconic Kishangarh school portrait by Nihal Chand (c. 1750 CE); subject is Maharaja Sawant Singh's poetess-consort; India Post stamp subject (1973) | High |
| Phad Painting | 30-feet cloth scroll from Bhilwara depicting folk deity sagas (Pabuji, Devnarayan); performed by Bhopa-Bhopi bards with Ravanhatha; Devnarayan Phad UNESCO ICH 2013 | High |
| Pichwai | Large cloth paintings depicting Lord Srinathji used as temple backdrop at Nathdwara; produced in Nathdwara town; tradition began in 17th century CE | High |
| Mewar School | Oldest Rajasthani painting school; bold primary colours, flat figures; earliest example Chaura Panchasika (c. 1550 CE); Rasikapriya (1594) from Pratap's Chavand | High |
| Kota School | Sub-school of Bundi; celebrated for vibrant naturalistic hunting scenes — tiger, boar, elephant hunts; verdant landscape backgrounds; 17th–18th century CE | Medium |
| Blue Pottery | Jaipur craft using quartz powder, glass powder, and Fuller's earth (no clay); turquoise-blue glaze from cobalt oxide; GI Tagged; Persian-Mughal origin | High |
| Sanganeri Block Print | Traditional hand-block printing on cotton using natural dyes; Sanganer town, Jaipur; GI Tagged; floral motifs on white background; international export market | High |
| Bagru Block Print | Natural-dye block print from Bagru village (Jaipur); dark background with geometric-floral motifs; distinct from Sanganeri; GI Tagged | Medium |
| Thewa Jewellery | Gold artwork fused onto multi-coloured glass; made exclusively in Pratapgarh by Soni community; GI Tagged; intricate Mughal-era court scene motifs | Medium |
| Molela Terracotta | Votive clay tablets depicting folk deities (Devnarayan) from Molela village (Rajsamand); made by Kumhars; GI Tagged; used in tribal ritual contexts | Medium |
| GI Tag (Geographical Indication) | Legal protection linking a product to its geographic origin; Rajasthan has 35 GI-tagged crafts — highest among all Indian states | High |
| Vijay Stambha | Tower of Victory (1448 CE) at Chittorgarh; 9 storeys, 37 metres; 157 sculptural panels; erected by Rana Kumbha to celebrate Sarangpur victory; on Rajasthan emblem | High |
| Kirti Stambha | Jain Tower of Fame at Chittorgarh (12th century CE, renovated by Rana Kumbha); 24 metres; dedicated to Adinath; distinct from Vijay Stambha | Medium |
| Hawa Mahal | Palace of Winds, Jaipur (1799 CE); built by Sawai Pratap Singh; 5 storeys, 953 jharokhas; Lal Chand Ustad architect; designed as Krishna's crown | High |
| Jantar Mantar (Jaipur) | Astronomical observatory (1727–1734 CE) by Sawai Jai Singh II; 19 instruments; Samrat Yantra sundial (27m) accurate to 2 seconds; UNESCO World Heritage 2010 | High |
| Dilwara Temples | Jain temples at Mount Abu (11th–13th centuries); Māru-Gurjara architecture; Vimal Vasahi (1031 CE) and Luna Vasahi (1231 CE); finest white marble temple carving | High |
| Ranakpur Temple | Chaturmukha Jain temple (1437–1458 CE) in Pali district; 1,444 uniquely carved pillars (no two alike); Nagara style; built by Dharana Shah under Rana Kumbha | High |
| Keoladeo National Park | Bird sanctuary in Bharatpur; UNESCO World Heritage 1985; formerly hunting reserve of Bharatpur Jat rulers; hosts 230+ migratory species including Siberian cranes | Medium |
| Walled City of Jaipur | UNESCO inscription 2019; 18th-century planned city by Sawai Jai Singh II (1727); Bhoomikar 9-block grid; pink sandstone requirement; 3.02 sq km heritage zone | High |
| Kalbelia Dance | UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 2010; performed exclusively by Kalbelia women; serpentine movements; black embroidered ghagra; associated with snake-charmer community | High |
| Ghoomar | Women's group dance of Rajasthan; circular pirouette (ghumna) with odhni manipulation; officially designated State Dance (2023); performed by all castes | High |
| Kathputli | String puppet tradition originating with Bhat community of Nagaur; characters depict Rajput heroes and folk stories; globally recognised Rajasthan cultural export | Medium |
| Amber Fort (Amer) | UNESCO Hill Fort (2013); Kachhwaha dynasty; Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), Diwan-i-Khas, Ganesh Pol gateway; Rajput-Mughal fusion architecture; 2.4 million visitors (2024–25) | High |
Topic 5 of 138 | Paper I, Unit 1 — History | Generated: 2026-04-06