What is the main features of desert region of Rajasthan?

The Western desert region is the biggest physiographic region of Rajasthan area wise. The Aravalli mountains is the main water divide in the state and it prevents rain-bearing clouds from reaching western Rajasthan. Hence, the western region is dry and has extreme diurnal changes in temperature. From west to east, this region is divided into three parallel belts – Desert, Bangar and Rahi. Desert has the iconic sand dunes. Bangars are wide plains of sandy soils and Rahis are flood plains made by small rivers. The region has an average elevation of 300 meters. Locally, the sandy hills are called ‘Ghore’. The drier western region of Rajasthan had been hugely benefited by the coming of the Indira Gandhi canal.

To remember: Sand dunes and sand hills are different things. A hill is an elevated location smaller than a mountain, and when it is covered by sand it is called a sand hill. A dune is a hill of sand piled up by the wind, and hence a sand dune is temporary sand hill as it is mobile, whereas a proper sand hill is not.