Best Tourist Season (October – March)
Airport: Airport is at Udaipur (313 km) & Jaipur (317 km).
Railway: Nearest Railway Station is at Bhavani Mandi 56 km. Other major Rail link is Kota 82 km.
Road: Jhalawar town lies on Highway no. 12. Ahmedabad 567 km, Delhi 581 km, Indore 229 km, Jaipur 317 km, Mumbai 807 km, Udaipur 313 km.
Jhalawar – a city in southeastern Rajasthan state, India. Jhalawar was also known as Brijnagar.
It was the capital of the former princely state of Jhalawar, and also the administrative headquarters of Jhalawar District.
Jhalawar or Brijnagar is known of its rich natural wealth of vibrant flora and fauna. However, Jhalawar has a rocky but water-laden verdant landscape. Red poppy fiends and orange laden orchards are strewn across Jhalawar, lending it a colourful look. Jhalawar has a varied cultural heritage that includes many forts and palaces of Rajput and Mughal periods and also famous for the large numbers of temples and religious sites.
Jhalawar was named after its founder, Jhala Zalim Singh in 1838, who was he Dewan of Kota State and established the town as a cantonment, then known as Chaoni Umedpura near the existing Jhalrapatan Fort. During that time, the township was surrounded by dense forests which were home to many exotic species. Dewan of Kota State often came here to hunt and grew so fond of this place that he decided to turn it into a township. Later it was turned into a military cantonment when the Maratha invaders passed through the city to capture Hadoti States.
Geography
Jhalawar located at 24.6°N 76.15°E
Average elevation: 312 mtrs (1023 feet)
Demographics
Jhalawar had a population of 48,054 (as of 2001 India Census).
Males 53%
Females 47%
Literacy rate 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%
Sightseeing in Jhalawar
Jhalawar Fort: Jhalawar is located in the centre of the town and the fort of Garh Palace is a beautiful monument. It was built by Maharaj Rana Madan Singh and his successors added beautiful paintings inside the rooms which can be seen with the permission of appropriate authorise. The Zenana Khas (Women’s Palace) has some excellent frescoes on both, walls and mirrors and they are prime examples of the Hadoti school of art.
Jhalawar Government Museum: The Jhalawar Government Museum is one of the oldest museums in Rajasthan which was established in 1915 A.D. and has a fine collection of rare paintings, manuscripts and idols. This Jhalawar museum is situated bang in the middle of the city and is a part of the Fort Palace. This is an ancient structure and is a great attraction for tourist.
Bhawani Natyashala: The Bhawani Natyashala – 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 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 – a fine example of a hill and water fort. It is one of the six hill forts of Rajasthan and a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded three sides by the tranquil waters of the Abu, Kali and Sindh rivers, the fort is indeed a sight to behold. Just outside the Fort is a beautiful mausoleum of Sufi saint Mitheshah and this is the venue for an annual colourful fair held during the month of Moharram.
Chandrabhaga Temple: Chandrabhaga Temples with intricately carved pillars and arched gateways, located on the banks of the magnificent Chandrabhaga River. The 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 houses some beautiful murals and sculptures.
Dwarkadheesh Temple: Another gift from Jhala Zalim Singh, the founder of the city of Jhalawar, is the Dwarkadheesh Temple. The temple was built in 1796 A.D. on the banks of Gomati Sagar Lake. The idol of lord Krishna was installed here in 1806 A.D.
Herbal Garden: Close to the Dwarkadheesh temple, a Herbal Garden is located, having a wide variety of Herbal and medicinal plants like Varun, Laxmana, Shatavari, Stevia, Rudraksha Sindoor etc.
Rein Basera
Excursions around Jhalawar
Sun Temple: 10th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, 97ft high, is the finest temple of Jhalrapatan. This temple is popularly known as Padmanabha or Sun Temple. Quite similar to the Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa, this temple is crowned with a finely carved shikara (spire). The shikara is built in layers and the size of the pillars decreases as height increases, following a seven storey pillar format. This Sun Temple was first restored in the 16th century and later in 19th century. At the entrance, the columns and arches 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 Sun Temple of Jhalrapatan.
Buddhist Caves and Stupas: The Buddhist Caves and Stupas located in the Kolvi village are among Jhalawar’s main attractions for tourists. A colossal figure of Buddha and the carved stupas are the most impressive structures in these caves. About 90 kms from Jhalawar, these buddhist caves are the finest surviving examples of Indian art. Tourist must also visit nearby villages of Vinayaka and Hatiyagour which are also known for their magnificent caves.
Chandkheri Adinath Jain Temple, Khanpur: Chandkheri Adinath Jain Temple devoted to the first Jain tirthankar (Ford-maker), Adinath. It is situated at Chandkheri near Khanpur and has a six feet tall Lord Adinath statue in sitting position.
Dalhanpur: On the banks of River Chhapi, close to an irrigation dam, stands Dalhanpur. A dense green forest adds charm to this antique place with beautifully carved pillars, trans and some erotic figures in the temple ruins, scattered around an area of 2 kms.
Unhel Jain Temple: Unhel Jain Temple – a Jain Pilgrim centre, having a thousand years old statue of Lord Parshwanath. This Jain Pilgrim centre holds a very high religious value for Jains.
Rata devi mandir: distance 30 km
Modi Ki Jhar (Shiv temple), Near Joonakhera: 3000 bc distance 30 km
