DHOLPUR

THE LAND OF THE RED STONE

Situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan, Dholpur became a separate district in 1982 comprising four tehsils of Bharatpur – namely Dholpur, Rajakhera, Bari and Baseri. Carved out of Bharatpur district, Dholpur is surrounded by Agra on the north, Morena district of Madhya Pradesh on the south and Karauli on the west.
Ever since its existence, Dholpur remains one of the most fascinating regions in the state that has witnessed the oldest civilizations, and is extremely rich in cultural heritage. It used to be the seat of the Dholpur princely state before Independence, and today is a city of diverse culture and historical grandeur.
The red sandstone from Dholpur is famous throughout the country and was famously used in the construction of the Red Fort in Delhi.

The history of this princely state is known to date back to Buddha’s time. Several centuries ago, Dholpur was a part of the Mauryan Empire and came under the rule of various rulers all along the Mughal period. Around the 8th to the 10th century, Dholpur was known to be ruled by the Chauhans.Until 1194, it continued to be under the rule of Mohammed Gauri.
Dholpur was initially known as Dhawalpuri named after the ruler Raja Dhawal Deo, also known as Dholan Deo Tomar who established the city in 700 AD (though some historians have dated the formation to 1005 AD.) Later, it came to be known as Dholpur.

CITY PALACE

Also known as the Dholpur Palace, the City Palace is an opulent structure that seamlessly blends ancient heritage and elegant architecture. Once home to the Royal Family, this palace was built from red sand stone which illustrates the history, splendour and grandeur of the city. With the fierce Chambal ravines on its south-eastern end and the beautiful city of Agra at its north-west, the City Palace transports visitors back to the royal era with its impressiveness and mesmerising surroundings.

SHERGARH FORT

Located to the south of Dholpur, the Shergarh Fort was built by Raja Maldeo of Jodhpur. It was reconstructed in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri and named after the Sultan of Delhi. This fort was initially built in defence against the rulers of Mewar. This historic monument is considered to be the epitome of rich, delicately-styled architecture from the past. Adorned with carved images, statues of Hindu gods and Jain motifs, the Shergarh Fort was once protected by water and is considered to be the charm of Dholpur.

VAN VIHAR SANCTUARY

One of the oldest wildlife reserves of the rulers of Dholpur, Van Vihar Sanctuary is spread over an area of about 25 sq. km over the Vindhyan Plateau. The sanctuary is characterised by a wide range of fascinating flora and fauna that grabs the tourists’ attention. Endowed with animals like sambhar, chital, blue bull, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena and leopard, the Van Vihar Sanctuary is very popular among nature lovers visiting Dholpur.