History: The city
of Jhalawar was founded by a Rajput Jhala Zalim Singh, who was the then Dewan
of Kota State1791. He established this township, then known as Chaoni Umedpura,
as a cantonment. The township was at the time surrounded by dense forests and
wildlife. Jhala Zalim Singh often came here for hunting and he liked
the place so much that he wanted to develop it as a township. The objective to
develop this place as a military cantonment was due to the fact that Maratha
invaders passed through this central place from Malwa towards Kota to capture
Hadoti states. Jhala Zalim Singh recognized the importance of this place
and started to develop it as a military cantonment and township, so that he
could use this place to attack and stop Maratha invaders before they can reach
to Kota State. Chaoni Umedpura got developed as a cantonment and township
around 1803-1804. Colonel Todd, who visited the region in December, 1821
described this area as the cantonment established by Jhala Zalim Singh plus a
well-established township with large houses, havelis, and surrounding walls. In 1838 English rulers separated Jhalawar state from Kota
state and gave it to Jhala Madan Singh, the grandson of Jhala Zalim Singh. He
developed his administration services to develop the state of Jhalawar. He
resided in Jhalara Patan for a long time and started to build The Garh Palace
(1840 – 1845 ). He was the first ruler of Jhalawar state and made a significant
contribution in the history of Jhalawar. Jhala Madan Singh ruled Jhalawar from
1838 to 1845. After his death, Jhala Prithvi Singh became the ruler of
Jhalawar, and ruled for around 30 years.
Tourist Attractions:-
Jhalawar Fort:- Jhalawar Fort was
built by Maharaja Rana Madan Singh during 1840-1845 and is also known by the
name 'Garh Palace'. It is located at the centre of the
Jhalawar city. This fort, adorned with beautiful paintings is presently the
Collectorate and many other Government offices of Jhalawar. There are Sheesh
Mahal rooms in the the fort which are artistically partitioned into
cubicles.Magnificent inlay work on walls and ceilings are now covered up with
dust. Some locked rooms in Garh Palace are the repositories of portrait
paintings and many miniature style paintings. Its entry is free and easy to
reach here as located at the heart of Jhalawar city.
Gagron Fort:- Gagron Fort is surrounded by water of the Ahu and Kali Sindh
on three sides. The fort was constructed between the 7th and 14th century and
is located at a distance of 12 km from Jhalawar. From the ‘burj’ of the fort
one can enjoy spectacular view. It has well preserved chambers , artistic
doorways, arches and pillars. Protected by water and forests, this fort is
among the few historical sites which has both ‘van’ and ‘jal’
durg. Outside the fort, travellers can find the Dargah of the
Sufi Saint Mitthe Shah. The monastery of Saint Pipa Ji, who is renowned as the
contemporary of Saint Kabir, is also located near the fort.
Prithvi Vilas Palace:- Prithvi Vilas Palace was built in the year 1912 by King
Bhawani Singh. The palace can be entered from three sides and also houses a
monogram that states the stories of humility and chivalry of the former rulers.
Spreads in about 150 acres of land, it is surrounded by lotus moats. In the
palace on can see intricate carvings, domes, Chhatris, magnificent old
furniture and paintings. Presently, a family member of the former ruler of the
place lives in this palace.
Jhalarapatan:- Jhalrapatan is a town in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan state in India.
Jhalrapatan is located 6 Km from Jhalawar is known as the 'City of Bells' -
derived from its numerous temples and their bells. A unique feature about this
town is that the entire township resides within the confines of a wall which
was built to protect the trade caravans as it was one of the junctions of the
trade route. It is said to be city of temples, the bells of which sounded in
the ancient city hence named Jhalrapatan or city of bells . Some say the name
originated from the tribe Jhala of regent Jalim Singh.Jhalrapatan is specially
famous for large number of temples. Of the early temples about four or five
still survive. The most famous of them is temple of Sitalesvara Mahadeva.
Fergusson, the noted historian considered this temple to be oldest and most
beautiful that he ever saw and rated this to be one of the most elegant
specimens of architecture in India. The other old temples are temple of Kalikadevi
and temple of Varaha Avatar and Jain temple of Shantinatha.
Bhawani Natya Shala:- Bhawani Natya Shala was built in the year 1921by Maharaja
Bhawani Singh and is located in proximity to the Jhalawar Fort. The highlight
of the place is its unique underground construction and also the stage, built
at a low elevation so that the horses and chariots can be made to appear
easily. It is believed that there are only eight such theatres in the whole
world and renowned plays like Shakuntalam and Shakespeare were performed here
when the theatre was extremely popular. 
Ren
Basera:- 6 kms.further away is a beautiful wooden cottage, located on the banks of
kishan Sagar, to the west of Jhalawar. The most interesting fact is that it was
originaly built by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun and was put on view
at an exhibition in Lucknow in 1936.The Maharaja took a fancy to it, bought it,
had it dismantled, transported and erected at the present site.
Bhimsagar Dam:-Bhimsagar Dam is built over River Ujad in proximity to the
ruins of Mau Borda, which used to be the capital of the Khichi Chauhans and is
located at a distance of 24 kms away from Jhalawar city. Wreck of temples,
palaces, and mosques to Muslims and Rajputs are found in this region. This is a
famous picnic spot.
Government Museum:- One of the oldest museums of Rajasthan established in 1915.,
it has a fine collection of paintings, rare manusripts, idols and deautiful
statues of Lakshminarayan.Vishnu, Krishna, Ardhanarishvar, Natraj and Trimurti.
Bhawani Natya Shala : Close to the fort is the most unusual theatre in india it
was constructed in 1921. where parsi theatre was performed initially The
building has been recently revived and offers an excellent insight into the
theatre art. There are no entry charges on monday and on friday museum is
closed.
Chandrabhaga Temple:- Chandrabhaga Temples are about 7 km away from Jhalawar and
is situated on the banks of the River Chandrabhaga. There are many temples on
the banks of the River, but three of the most popular ones are Shri Dwarkadhish
Temple, the Shantinath Jain Temple and the Padmanath Temple. These temples,
built between 6th and 14th centuries are the classic examples of the art of the
old days.
Chandramouli Mahadev
Temple:- Located on the bank of Chandrabhaga river temple complex is
the place where one can find total peace. The 7th century remains of the
Chandra Mouli Mahadev temple make you feel the presence of Chandravati, a city
founded by the successors of Vikramaditya. Passionate poses of the idols of the
temple and magnificent sculptures are eye catches of the visitors. Temple has
the timings between 6 am to 9 pm.
Buddhist Caves and Stupas:- It is an interesting building constructed in 1921 by
Maharaja Bhawani Singh, near the Garh Palace. This unique theatre was built for
the performance of plays and other cultural events. It was a popular Parsi
theatre in state times. It has been recently revived and gives a very good
insight into the theatre -art. It is quite a unique structure and an
architectural marvel. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that its deep stage with
its underground construction allows the horses, and even the chariots to appear
on stage. Believed to be one of the eight such theatres in the world, in its
heyday it was the venue of great plays ranging from Shakuntalam to
Shakespeare's classics.
Atishay jain Temple:-Atishay Jain Temples were constructed in the 17th century.
These renowned temples are located in Chandkheri at a distance of 34 km from
Jhalawar. The magnificent 6 feet statue of Lord Adinath, first Jain
Tirthankara, seated in meditating position attracts devotees from far-off
zones. It is a 5th century statue which was found in nearby Shergarh-Barapati
forests. It looks beautiful in chocolate colour as made with original red
stone. Temple is crowded during the birthday celebrations of Adinath.
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 story 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.
Heritage Hotels:- Prithvi Vilas Palace Jhalawar is a heritage hotel with the magnificence of a bygone area. The hotel was build 130 years ago, has now been refurnished with all the modern amenities and facilities to offers gracious welcome to the guests. The southeastern part of the state, Jhalawar has turned into a popular tourist destination. Leisure tourists and business travelers love to stay at the top heritage hotels in Jhalawar. You will be surprised with the exotic garden, large compound, and the recreational options here. The large-spacious rooms at Prithvi Vilas, Jhalawar depicts the royal past and architectural heritage that lives until the present time. Foreign tourists experience everything of the royal culture sitting in the rooms. There are life-size painting of the early rulers hung on the walls, the frescoes, and the elegant jharokas brings in all the pleasure of seeing the past live in front of your eyes. The rooms enjoy several facilities like attached baths, direct access to the balconies, and open on a central courtyard.
Thermal Power Station Kalisindh:- Thermal Power Station is located 12 km away from Jhalawar town in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan state in western India. The power plant is operated by Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RVUNL). Source of water for the plant is from Kalisindh Dam near village Bhanwarasi. And coal for the plant will be sourced from Paras east and Kanta basin coal blocks in Chhatisgarh state. Its chimney has a height of 275 Metres. The two cooling towers of the facility are 202 Metres tall and the tallest in the world. The EPC contractor for the project is BGR Energy Systems Ltd. According to the Central Electricity Authority, the first 600 MW units were commissioned in May 2014. The second 600 MW units is planned for commissioning in 2015.
Fair & Festivals:
All festivals are celebrated here with full enthuciasm and zeal. Deepawali,
Holi, Dushera, Gangaur, Teej, Idul-Fitar, Idul-Juha, X-mas day, Raksha Bandhan,
Janmashthami, Akshya Tritia are main festivals celebrated here.
Chandrabhaga Fair:- Chandrabhaga Fair is held every year in Rajasthan in the
city of Jhalarapatan in the month between October and November. The fair is
dedicated to river Chandrabhaga and is considered holy by the people in
Rajasthan. On the full moon day in the month of Kartik or Kartik Purnima
thousands of devotees take a holy dip in this river. Chandrabhaga fair shows a living tradition of Rajasthan.
Folk music mesmerizes everyone and colourful art & crafts are best to shop
in the fair. A large cattle fair is also held on the last day of Kartik which
also attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India. The cattle fair which
come together with religious aspects along with commerce is held here and
livestock like buffaloes, cows, camels, horses and bullock are brought in this
place. Traders from far areas like Maharasthra and Madhya Pradesh come here and
take part in the trading of these animals.
The fair also attracts tourists who get an opportunity to interact with the
locals and familiarize themselves with their rituals and customs.Various
competitions in the Chandrabhaga Fair also attract tourists and entertain them.
Competitions like Matka race, Tug of War, Turban Tying, Rangoli Making, Cattle
competitions, Moustache Competition are best for fun. To attend Chandrabhaga
fair at Jhalrapatan which is just 6 kms from Jhalawar. Jhalawar is well
connected to Kota, Bundi and Jaipur. NH-12 passes through Jhalawar and regular
buses are available from all major cities. Nearest Railway Station is Ramganj
Mandi which is at just 25 kms.
How to Reach:
By Air-The nearest airport that is located
to reach Jhalawar is Kota airport. The native and foreign tourists can hire a
taxi to reach Jhalawar. There are many regular flights to major destinations
within Rajasthan and rest of India. Indian airlines and private airlines
operators are conducting daily flights to Kota airport from major cities of
India.
By Train-It is to be noted that there isn’t
any major railway station in Jhalawar. The only sub railway station is located
in Bhavani Mandi which is a bit far from Jhalawar. It is highly advised not to
take train trip to reach Jhalawar as the connectivity from this sub-railway
station to the main town is very poor. The tourists have to depend on local
rickshaws in order to reach Jhalawar. Jhalawar has a newly constructed railway
station named "Jhalawar City".
By Road-National highway number.12 passes
through the town of Jhalawar. The network of roads system is better in this
town. There is good connectivity of buses from this town to all major and minor
cities and towns within Rajasthan and rest of India. It is to be noted that the
road network in this town is well maintained.
Have A Nice Day
Have A Nice Day
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