Rajasthan’s Barmer district, known for its vast Thar Desert, is emerging as a major hub of high-quality granite that is in strong demand across India. The Mangta region and nearby villages host bustling granite markets where massive stone blocks line the roads and support thousands of livelihoods. Local residents say that nearly 1,500 to 2,000 families earn their income directly or indirectly through these markets.
Once extracted manually, the granite is now mined using advanced machinery, increasing both efficiency and production. Barmer’s granite is considered among the strongest and most durable in the state. Its density and structure make it completely water-resistant, allowing it to withstand heavy rains and desert storms without leakage. This exceptional quality attracts buyers from faraway states who use the stone to build long-lasting homes.
For the residents of Thar, this mineral wealth has become an economic backbone—nature’s gift that compensates for the scarcity of water and sustains entire communities.
