Jhalawar

Jhalawar, formerly known as Brijnagar, is a city in the south eastern region in the state of Rajasthan. The city is presently, headquarters of the Jhalawar District and was the capital city of the formerly princely state of Jhalawar. The latitudinal location is 24.6°N and 76.15°E with an average elevation of 312m, which is roughly 1024ft. This city was founded by the then present Dewan of Kota state IN 1791 A.D known as Jhala Zalim Singh. The official language of the city as well as the district is Hindi and the latest census mentioned its population to be 1,411,327- out of which 53% are males and the rest 47% are females.

The city is most known for it’s caves. Also, like most other cities of Rajasthan, Jhalwar too has notable forts and temples. The handicrafts of this place are also attractive. Find out more about all these specialities of the city of Jhalwar, Rajasthan.

Jhalawar-The Capital City of Jhalawar District

Jhalawar is the capital city of Jhalawar district and has derived its name from the princely state of Jhalawar. The literal meaning of the name means the home of the Jhalas, a well-known Rajput clan. The Jhalawar district is one of the 33 districts of Rajastan and lies right at the edge of the Malwa Plateau. The district lies in the south eastern region of Rajasthan called Hadoti and the Kali Sindhi River flows northward through the district. The district of Jhalawar is divided into six divisions and they are- Aklera, Jhalawar (capital city), Pirawa, Khanpur, Manohar Thana and Bhawani Mandi.

Kolvi Caves

Kolvi, Vinayak and Hathiagor are three villages in the Jhalawar district which are popularly known for the Buddhist caves which are historically and culturally priceless. These caves are important in terms of archaeology and some the major attractions of these caves are the stupas with intricate carvings, and the colossal figure of the Buddha Lord. These caves proved the existence of an established and flourishing civilization during the time of Buddha. The speciality of the caves lie in the fact that they are all carved out in the laterite rock hills. These Buddhist caves are almost fifty in number and were basically a monastic complex of those times. Improper maintenance has damaged a lot of these Buddhist caves but however those which are on the southern side have been restored sufficiently and are comparatively in a better condition. The bodhissatva carvings and engravings on the caves concluded that hinnayana was a major influence in this region. The caves have a sanctuary in the interiors, stupas and colossal figure of the Buddha in a meditating position. These Kolvi caves have suffered a lot of natural damage, yet they have been able to hold back its historical value.

Gagron Fort

Gagron Fort is one of the major attractions of Jhalawar and is a must-visit spot for many tourists. The Gagron fort is located almost 10kms in the north eastern side of Jhalawar. The exact location is where the Ahu River and the Kali Sindh River meets. The entire fort stretches in such a way that it covers almost the entire plateau region of the Vindhyan Hill. The fort is surrounded by a buffer zone which is an area of about 722 hectares. This fort is valuable and rich in terms of history and archaeology as well.

Handicrafts of Jhalawar

Leather items are one of the most popular trading good in Jhalawar and they are highly in demand among tourists. There are number of items that are made out of camel skin. Items like camel leather shoes and leather carpets are most wanted among tourists and local people as well. Another specialty good of Jhalawar, are the tattoos which are directly printed on the leather skin projecting various designs and styles of different kinds. Handicrafts made in Jhalawar consist of sculptures which are made out of bones, marbles and wood. Dyeing of fabrics and cloths, paintings of traditional imageries are also very popular in Jhalawar. The dyeing of fabrics is often done in multiple shades which make them highly attractive and beautiful.

Sun Temple, Jhalrapatan

The Sun temple in Jhalrapatan is one of the most famous temples in the world which is known for its historical value. This Sun temple is located right in the heart of the Jhalawar city, in a small town called Jhalrapatan. Both the interior and the exterior of the temple is beautifully adorned with intricate sculptures of god and goddesses and the pillars in the prayer hall stand tall with beautiful engravings and carvings on them. the Santum of the temple is somewhat simply designed, depicting the iconic Dikpalas surya and sur-sundris. The temple was built in and around 11th and 12th century and recent restoration of the temple repaired some of the cenotaphs in the architectural style of the Rajputs.

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