JHALAWAR

THE HISTORICAL CITY

Jhalawar, once called Brijnagar is known for its rich natural wealth of vibrant flora and fauna. However, unlike other cities of Rajasthan, Jhalawar has a rocky but water-laden verdant landscape. Red poppy fields and orange laden orchards are strewn across Jhalawar, lending it a colourful look. They also contribute a major share to the production of citrus in the country. This place has a varied cultural heritage that includes many forts and palaces from the Rajput and Mughal periods. It is solely famous for the large numbers of temples and religious sites.

Jhalawar was named after its founder, Jhala Zalim Singh in 1838. He was the Dewan of Kota State and established the town as a cantonment, then known as Chaoni Umedpura near the existing Jhalrapatan Fort. At that time, the township was surrounded by dense forests which were home to many exotic species. The Dewan often came here to hunt and grew so fond of the place that he decided to turn it into a township. It was later turned into a military cantonment when the Maratha invaders passed through the city to capture Hadoti states.

ATTRACTIONS & PLACES TO VISIT AND EXPLORE IN JHALAWAR

BHAWANI NATYASHALA

The Bhawani Natyashala is one of the most unusual theatres in India, constructed in 1921 A.D where Parsi plays and cultural events would take place. This architectural wonder gives one an excellent insight into the world of theatre and art and is known to have an underground passage which allowed horses and chariots to appear on stage.

GAGRON FORT

Gagron Fort is a fine example of a hill and water fort. It is one of the six hill forts of Rajasthan to be a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Surrounded by the tranquil waters of the Ahu, Kali and Sindh rivers on three sides, the fort is indeed a sight to behold. A beautiful mausoleum of Sufi saint Mitheshah just outside the fort is the venue for an annual colourful fair held during the month of Moharram.

CHANDRABHAGA TEMPLE

On the banks of the magnificent Chandrabhaga River stand some beautiful Chandrabhaga temples with intricately carved pillars and arched gateways. This region is known for the Shri Dwarkadheesh Temple that was built by Jhala Zalim Singh in the 11th century and the Shantinath Jain Temple which has houses some beautiful murals and sculptures.

SUN TEMPLE

The finest temple of jhalrapatan is the 97-ft high, 10th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is popularly known as the Padmanabha or Sun Temple. Similar to the Sun temple in Konark in Orissa, the temple is crowned with a finely carved shikhara (spire). This high steeple is an amalgamation of miniature towers which seem to stick to the main tower, making it a unique one by itself. The shikhara is built in layers and the size of the pillars decreases as height increases, following a seven storey pillar format. The base of the shikhara is made up of larger pillars close to each other around the main foundation. This temple was first restored in the 16th century and later in the 19th century. The columns and arches at the entrance are richly carved with images of gods, goddesses and other Hindu motifs. Also worth seeing are old tiles engraved with figures of the gods-Vishnu and Krishna-on the outside walls of the temple.