After travelling a length of almost 500 km, it passes through Jalore and merges in the marshy land of Runn of Kutch.

The other major towns in the district are: Balotra, Guda Malani, Baytoo, Siwana, and Chohatan.

Recently, a large onshore oil field has been discovered and made functional in Barmer district.

In earlier times, the district was known as Malani, in the name of Rawal Mallinath Rathore (मल्लिनाथ).

The variation in temperature in various seasons is quite high owing to arid thar desert and sandy soil.

Poorly planned and rapid urbanisation has increased Barmer's vulnerability to flash flooding.

The local ecology and soil type is not equipped to deal with sudden or excessive water accumulation, which causes short- and long-term damage.

Other areas suffer the gradual effects of 'invisible disasters', which also threaten the lives and livelihoods of the locals.

In 2016 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Barmer one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).

[14] People in the west of the district along the border with Pakistan speak Dhatki, a mix of Marwari and Sindhi.

The Bhopas (priest singers) are found in Barmer, who compose music in honour of the deities of the region and its war heroes.

The other folk musicians come from a community called the Muslim Dholis (drummers) for most of whom this is the only means of livelihood.

Mallinath cattle fair - It takes place every year during month of April.

The place is also renowned for camel milk, hand block printing, woollen industries, carved wooden furniture and handicrafts.

Once known as "kala pani[17]" where government employees were sent on punishment postings because of its desert, water problems, and border area.

The British exploration company Cairn Energy is going to start the production soon in the year 2009 on the large scale.

Cairn works in partnership with state owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

[citation needed] In March 2024, the government gave the Barmer district collector free land to build a civil airport near the Uttarlai Air Force Station.