The city of Jhalawar was founded by the Jhala Zalim Singh 1st who was the Dewan of the state of Kota. Jhalawar with its thick forests was the Dewan’s hunting ground which he favored so much that he built a military cantonment and township around it. In 1838, the British Empire separated Jhalawar from Kota and handed it over to Jhala Madan Singh, Zalim’s grandson.

Sitting pretty at the edge of the Malwa plateau, Jhalawar’s landscape is an unusual sight for India’s desert state of Rajasthan. Its rocky yet the water-laden landscape is ideal for poppy fields and orchards of orange trees that burst into colour every winter.

Natural beauty aside, Jhalawar has great historic wealth with pre-historic cave paintings and grand forts. It is truly an undiscovered destination that has much to offer for tourists.

Jhalawar FortGarh Palace / Jhalawar Fort

Right in the center of town is the beautiful palace built by Maharajrana Madan Singh in 1840. The Zenana Khas (women’s quarters) in this palace has some excellent frescos on both walls and mirrors, showcasing the exquisite Hadoti school of art. Over the years, Madan Singh’s successors continued to add to the interiors of the palace, with beautiful art that can be viewed after attaining permission from the appropriate authorities.

Govt Museum, JhalawarGovernment Museum

One of the oldest museum’s in Rajasthan, the Government museum in Jhalawar was established in 1915 and houses rare manuscripts, paintings, coins and sculptures. The statues of various gods and goddesses are especially noteworthy as idols recovered from various ruins across the state have been added to this collection. Inscriptions as old as 5th and 7th century AD can also be found here. The museum at Jhalawar is a must-see for history buffs.

Bhawani NatyashalaBhawani Natya Shala

Constructed by Maharaja Bhawani Singh in 1921, the Natya Shala or theatre is a unique building near the fort. What makes this theatre so special is its architecture as it has a deep stage with underground construction that allowed horses and even chariots to appear on stage. There only eight such theatres in the world and in its days of glory, it saw the enactment of many a great play, ranging from Shakuntalam to Shakespeare.

Jhalra PatanJhalara Patan

Known as the City of Temple Bells, Jhalara Patan is about 7 km away from Jhalawar. Founded by Parmara Chandra Sen, the grandson of Maharaja Vikramaditya, the entire township is located within a wall, on the banks of the holy Chandrabhaga River and has 108 temples. The most famous amongst these temples is the 10th century 100 feet high Surya Temple which has many lovely sculptures.

Gagron FortGagron Fort

A mere 12 km from Jhalawar is the Gagron Fort perched on a low ridge at the confluence of two rivers: the Ahu and Kali Sindh. Three sides of the fort had water and the fourth had a moat. It is also surrounded by the thick forests and Mukundarrah range of hills which completes its protection. It is not surprising therefore that this fort went down in history as magnificent and impregnable. Outside the fort is the Dargah of Sufi Saint Mittheshah where an annual fair is held during Moharram.

Buddhist Caves @ Kolvi, Jhalawar DistrictBuddhist Caves & Stupas

The district of Jhalawar has the only rock-cut caves in Rajasthan. These ancient Buddhist caves in the village of Kolvi about 90 km from Jhalawar, are of great importance, both archaeologically and historically. The highlights of these caves include a colossal figure of Buddha and carved stupas. Similar caves can be found across the region indicating a one thriving Buddhist culture.

Bhimsagar DamBhimsagar Dam

A mere 24 km from Jhalawar city is the Bhimsagar Dam built on Ujad river near the ruins of the old capital of Mau Borda. It is an excellent picnic spot and one can find ruins of palaces, temples and mosques in a true mix of Muslim and Rajput architecture, around the area.

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