Colleges

            1.       Government College, Barmer

            2.       Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University

            3.       Jai Narayan Vyas Mahila Shiksha Prashikshan Mahavidyalaya, Barmer

            4.       Multan Mal Bhikhchand Chhajed Government Girls College, Barmer

            5.       Smt Kamla Devi Teachers Training College, Barmer

            6.       Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University

            7.       Jai Narayan Vyas Residential Women Teacher Training College, Barmer

            8.       Jai Narayan Vyas School Of Pharmacy, Barmer

            9.       Mahesh Mahila Shiskhan Prashikshan College, Barmer

            10.   Marudhara Shikshak Prashikshan Mahavidyalaya, Barmer

Forest

Large portion of the district was desert during 2001-2002 as per revenue record, the area under forest is 27234 hectares which is only about 0.85% of the total area of the district. The trees like Ker, Kumat, Roida,  Babool, Ber, Khejri, Aak are available in the forest of the district. However, the wood of Roida tree is being used as timber for building material and furniture making.

The demand of artistic, carved furniture made out of Roida wood is in great demand in these days, which is being sent out of various part of the country, Besides, the Aak wood is used in manufacturing of fibre-rope(Ankla), which is considered as quite strong. Accordingly, there is scope for setting up of industrial units for making furniture as fibre ropes and also a few milk.

The Desert Development Program and Jawahar Rozgar Yojana have under taken several schemes to develop forestry in the district.

Educational Facilities

1.       Degree Colleges :  6     

2.       Sec. &  Sr. Secondary Schools :  231

3.       Primary / Middle Schools :  4892       

4.       I.T.Is :  4

Barmer at a glance

      1.   Area            : 28387 Sq. Km.

      2.   Population (2011 census)

             Total Population :  2,604,453       

                                              Rural :  2,422,037

                                              Urban : 182,416      

                                              Density : 92/Sq.Km         

                                              Sex Ratio : 900 ( Per 1000 males )

                                              Literacy  - Males :   72.32%      

                                                            - Female :   41.03%          

      3.   No. of towns :   2    

      4.   No. of Municipalities :   2

      5.   Total No. of villages :  2160

      6.   Panchayat samities (Nos. ) :  8

      7.   No. of Tehsils :  8  

      8.   No. of Sub-Divisions :  4

Administrative set up

Barmer is the Headquarter of the district, which is the principal town also, for the administrative

purposes. The district is divided into 4 sub-division viz, Barmer, Balotra, Shiv and Gudamalani.

The Barmer sub-division as per census 2011 has 8 tehsils, viz. Barmer, Baytoo, Chohtan, Gudamalani, Pachpadra, Ramsar, Siwana & Sheo.

There are 2 Municipalities (Barmer & Balotra), 8 Panchayat Samities, 380 Gram Panchayat and 2160 village.

Topography

Barmer district is above sea level and 22 Km in length. The longest river in the district is Luni, It is 480 Km in length and drain into the Gulf of Kutch passing through Jalore. In summer the temperature soars to 46 to 51 degree centigrade. In winter it drops to 0 degree centigrade. Primarily Barmer district is a desert where average rainfall in a year is 277mm.

History of Barmer

The name Barmer is derived from the ruler Bahada Rao Parmar (Panwar) or Bar Rao Parmar (Panwar). Imperial Gazetteer of India tells us that that the present town is said to have been founded in the 13th century, by Raja Bahada and to have been called after him Bahadamer meaning “The Hill Fort of Bahada”. It is substantially built on the side of a rocky hill, on the summit of which is remains of an old fort.

Kiradu is a site of Shiva tempe in tahsil Ramsar in District Barmer in Rajasthan. The Kiradu group of temples is situated near the village Hathma about 43 km away from the Barmer region in Rajasthan. The inscriptions dating back to 1161 AD reveal that the ancient name of this place was Kiratakupa and was once the capital of the Panwars. The temples were built around c. 1000 AD and later.

Kiradu Inscription of 1178 AD in the Shiva temple of the period of Maharaja Madanabrahmadeva Chauhan (Shakambhari) reveals that the area was ruled by Tejapala and the wife of Tejapla restablished a new statue when she found that the temple was destroyed by the turuks.

There are number of festivals held in Barmer, the most famous of which is cattle fair held every year at Tilwara village situated on the banks of the Luni river. The fair goes on for a fortnight in the months of March and April. The other major festival is the Barmer Thar Festival, started as a practice to enhance the tourism potential of this town. During the annual Barmer festival in March, the town is at its colourful best and that is the best time to visit Barmer. Siwana fort is a very old fort. it is at about 1000 years old.In local language its name 'Gadh Siwana'.

Tourism

There are number of festivals held in Barmer,  the most famous of which is a cattle fair held every year  at Tilwara village situated on the banks of the Luni river. The fair goes on for a fortnight in the month of March and April. The other major festival is the Barmer Thar Festival, started as a practice to enhance the tourism potential of this town. During the annual Barmer festival in March, the town is at its colourful best and that is the time to visit Barmer. Siwana Fort is a very old fort, about 1000 Years old. Other tourist place in the district are Jasol, Juna Barmer, Juna Temple, Khed, Kiradu, Mahaveer Park, Meva Nagar, Neemari, Chouhten.

People and Culture

Barmer district is part of the Great Indian Desert or Thar Desert. Like all other districts in the desert region, Barmer is known for its folk music and dance. The Bhopas (priest singers) are found in Barmer, who compose music in honour of the deities of the region and its war heroes. The other folk musicians come from a community called the Muslim Dholis (drummers) for most of whom this is the only means of livelihood. Langas and Manganiars are the some of these communities.

Barmer is famous for its carved wooden furniture and hand block printing industry. This area is best visited to gain an insight into the desert life and admire the decorative skills of the simple village folk. The villagers have some of the most beautiful mud huts that are decorated with delicate folk motifs.

Jasol, Juna Burmer, Khed, kiradu, Mallonath Fair (Cattle Fair), Meva Nagar (Nakoda), Bheemgoda, Aashotara's, Indroi,Biratra Maata temple, Chouhtan [Chouhtan is famous for a special fair named as Sai's jog or a fair belong to Sanyashi (Saint), this fair is very special because it is not organized every year in spite of that it is organized one time in a couple of years according to Nakshatras], temple Kanana (sheetla fair) Neemari are the prime attractions of the district. Tilwara cattle fair is a popular fair visited by thousands of tourists every year.

Geography and Location

Barmer district is situated in the western part of the state Rajasthan and forms part of the Thar desert.

Barmer is located at 25.75 degree north 71.38 degree east. The whole district lies between 24.54 -

26.32 degree north and 70.5-72.52 degree east. On its north is Jaisalmer , to the south is Jalore, and

Pali and Jodhpur are to the east. Pakisthan is 280 Kms to the west. The total area of Barmer district is

28387 sq. km.

Barmer map

Barmer is a beautiful desert city, located at a distance of about 157 kilometers Jaisalmer, 222 km from Jodhpur and 588 km from Jaipur and is easily accessible from these cities. It is the headquarters of the Barmer district of Rajasthan and is a quaint settlement of cheerful and earnest people.

About Barmer

The name  of the district Barmer is derived from the ruler Bahada Rao Parmar (Panwar) who is said to  have founded the town in the 13thcentury, when it was named Bahadamer (The hill for Bahada).

Barmer is the Head Quarter  of the Barmer district in the state of Rajasthan. It is a city and a

municipality.  Barmer is the second largest district of Rajasthan. Since its formation in 1949, there has been almost no change in its external-boundaries. Internally, however  number of  tehsils increased from 5 to 8. The number of towns however remained two. The district has divided into 8 panchayat samities viz, Barmer, Balotra, Siwana, Sindhari, Baitu, Shiv, Chohatan and Dhorimana.