Pali is a city and the administrative headquarters of Pali district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Located in the south-western part of the state, the city lies on the banks of the Bandi river and serves as a regional centre for trade, textiles and administration. Pali is one of Rajasthan's significant industrial towns, particularly noted for its cotton and synthetic textile processing units.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Pali |
| Region | Marwar |
| River | Bandi |
| Languages | Hindi, Marwari, Rajasthani |
| Civic body | Pali Municipal Council |
Pali is situated in the Marwar region of southern Rajasthan, on the eastern fringe of the Thar Desert. The city lies south of Jodhpur, with the Aravalli Range rising to its east and south. The terrain is largely semi-arid, and the Bandi river, a tributary of the Luni system, flows through the city. The climate is hot and dry, with high summer temperatures and limited monsoon rainfall.
Pali has a long-recorded history as a trading town in the Marwar region. In medieval and early modern times it functioned as an important caravan halt on routes connecting Gujarat's ports with the cities of central and northern India, and was settled by Marwari merchant communities whose families later spread to commercial centres across the country. The town was historically part of the territory of the Rathore rulers of Marwar based at Jodhpur. Following the integration of the princely states after Indian independence in 1947, Pali became part of the Indian Union and the headquarters of Pali district within Rajasthan.
Pali is one of the most industrialised cities of western Rajasthan. Its economy is dominated by the textile industry, particularly the dyeing, printing and processing of cotton and synthetic fabrics. The town hosts a large number of textile processing units, and several industrial estates have been developed under the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO). Trade in agricultural produce, handicrafts and locally fabricated goods also contributes to the local economy.
The concentration of dyeing and processing industries has historically generated effluent management concerns affecting the Bandi river. Common effluent treatment plants and zero-liquid-discharge initiatives have been implemented in the city's industrial clusters in response to environmental regulations.
Pali district contains several Jain and Hindu temples of historical importance, including the Ranakpur Jain Temple complex and the Parshuram Mahadev cave temple in the surrounding Aravalli area. Within the city and its vicinity, the Som Nath Mandir and the Naulakha Jain Temple are notable religious sites. Local fairs and Marwari folk traditions are part of the cultural calendar.
Pali serves as the headquarters of Pali district and houses the offices of the District Collector, district court and other key administrative agencies. Civic services within the city are managed by the Pali Municipal Council. The city is part of the Pali Lok Sabha constituency.
Pali has a network of government and private schools affiliated to the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education and the CBSE. Higher education institutions in the city include government and private colleges offering arts, science, commerce and professional courses, along with engineering and polytechnic institutions in the surrounding region.