Where Is the Thar Desert Located?

The Thar Desert (Great Indian Desert) spans:

• India (85%): Primarily western Rajasthan, extending into Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab. Bounded east by the Aravalli Range.
• Pakistan (15%): Eastern Sindh and southern Punjab provinces, continuing as the Cholistan Desert.

It covers ~200,000 km² (77,000 mi²), making it the world's 17th largest desert and 9th largest hot subtropical desert. The Indus River forms its western boundary; the Rann of Kutch salt marsh marks its southern edge.

Despite aridity (100–500 mm annual rain), the Thar is the most densely populated desert globally, supporting agriculture via the Indira Gandhi Canal and rich pastoral traditions.