Barmer
is a small town, engulfed by the desert. From the literary and
epigraphical sources, it appears that the early name of the town was
?Vagbhatameru?. It is said to have been founded in the 13th century A.D.

An
important stopover on the ancient camel trade route, the town is now the
centre for wood carving, pottery, authentic embroidery work, block
printed fabrics and vibrant coloured traditional attire. Especially
famous are the geometric ajrak prints in dark shades of red and blue.
Predominantly a barren land with harsh climatic conditions and rough
terrain Barmer is more famously known for its rich crafts, dances and
music.
Records state that the founder of the district Bahada
Rao (popularly known as Bar Rao) gave the town its name ? Barmer (hill
fort of Bar) when he founded it in the 13th century. The current day
Barmer district was formed in 1949 and is an amalgamation of a cluster
of ancient townships ? Mallani Shiv, Pachpadra, Siwana and the Chohatan
area.