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.