Jalor district General information
Located in the north western Indian state of Rajasthan, Jalor is a district whose headquarters is also the city of Jalor. The district is bordered in the north-west by Barmer, south east by Sirohi, north east by Pali and on south west by the district of Banaskantha of Gujarat.
The major towns, villages and cities of the Jalor district are Bhadrajun, Sayla, Megalva, Siana, Ahore, Sanchore, Bishangarh, Hadecha, Ramsin, Daspan, Jaswantpura, Ummedabad, Raniwara, Bagra, Bhinmal, Jalor and Bagoda.
The district is spread over an area of 10,640 square kilometers. Sukri is the main river in the district. The district’s climate is very dry with low rainfall and extreme temperatures. It is divided into two sub-divisions namely Bhinmal and Jalor. These cover five tehsils, namely Bhinmal, Sanchore, Ahore, Jalor and Raniwara which in turn cover seven panchayat samities.
The population of Jalor district is around 14, 48, 486. The district has well connected roads and rail links. It is located on the National Highway No 15 (Bhatinda-Kandla). Rail links in the district include the Samdari-Raniwara line, which connects the cities of Jalor and Bhinmal. Jodhpur is the nearest air link to the city.
The district’s economy is based on animal husbandry and agriculture. The main crop is mustard oil seed while other crops include barley, wheat, pearl millet, kharif pulses, sorghum and sesame. Minerals found here include bajari, graded fluorite, limestone, granite, gypsum and murram.
Small scale industries in Jalor include marble cutting and polishing, skimmed milk powder, granite slabs and tiles, butter and ghee, mustard seed crushing, leather shoes and handloom cloth.
History
In ancient times Jalore was known as Jabalipura - named after a saint. The town was also known as Suvarngiri or Songir, the Golden Mount, on which the fort stands.
It was a flourishing town in the 8th century. Jalore was ruled by the Paramara Rajput clan in the 10th century. Kirtipala, the youngest son of Alhana, ruler of Nadol, was the founder of the Jalore line of Chauhan Rajputs. He captured it from the Parmars in 1181 and took the clan name Songara, after the place. His son Samarsimha succeeded him in 1182. Udayasimha was the next ruler under whom Jalore had a golden period. He was a powerful and able ruler ruling over a large area. He recaptured Nadol & Mandor from the Muslims. In 1228, Iltutmish circled Jalore but Udayasimha offered stiff resistance. He was succeeded by Chachigadeva & Samantasimha. Samantasimha was succeeded by his son Kanhadadeva.
During the reign of Kanhad Dev Songara, Jalor was attacked and destroyed in 1311 by Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi. Kanhad Dev Songara and his son Viramdeo Songira died defending Jalore.
Jalor later became part of the Marwar kingdom, ruled by the Rathore Rajput clan. The Muslim rulers of Palanpur in Gujarat ruled Jalor in the 16th century, and it became part of the Mughal Empire after Emperor Akbar conquered Gujarat. It was restored to Marwar in 1704, and remained part of the kingdom until shortly after Indian Independence in 1947.
Geography
The district is bounded on the northwest by Barmer District, on the northeast by Pali District, on the southeast by Sirohi District, and by Banaskantha District of Gujarat state on the southwest. The main cities, towns & villages of Jalor district are Jalore, Bhinmal, Ahore, Sanchore, Raniwara, Bagra, Bhadrajun, Siana (Rajasthan), Bishangarh, Ummedabad, Sayla, Bagoda, Hadecha, Jaswantpura, Ramsin & Daspan, citalwana, Megalva ,Ropasi,vandhar,khandadevel,aladi,chitrodi,
The total area of the district is 10,640 km². The altitude is 268 mts, latitude is 25.22 N and longitude is 72.58 E.
The main river of the district is Sukri, a tributary of Luni river.
Economy
The economy of district is mainly based on agriculture and animal husbandry. The oilseeds specially mustard oil seed is predominant crop. Wheat, bajra, kharif pulses, barley, jowar and seasmum are other produces.
Of late some mineral based industries are set up based on mineral available from local mines. The main minerals produced are: Gypsum, limestone, bajari, murram, granite, and graded flourite.
There is no large and medium size industry in the district. The main small scale industries are :granite slabs and tiles, marble cutting and polishing, mustard seed crushing, skimmed milk powder, butter and ghee, handloom cloth, leather shoes (mojari). There are four industrial areas in the district
Climate
The minimum and maximum temperatures of the district are 4 degrees and 40.9 degrees respectively. The average rainfall is 41.9 mm. The climate of district is dry and with extremes.
Places of interest
JALORE FORT : Pride & Prestige of Jalore is its fort that sings its own story of valor & strength. This fort is a property of State Government’s archeological department and a protected building since 1956. To go to Jalore fort one has to go through zig-zag roads of mid of town.
It is situated in south of Jalore 1200 feet over the mountains.A zig zag way leads to the fort upon the mountain where on each step the height goes on increasing. The first gate comes while climbing upward called Suraj Pole. Arch of this gate is of immense beauty. Here there are made small rooms where the security guards used to stay. To refrain from artillery firing a huge wall surrounds the gate from front.
Topkhana : In the midst of Jalore town are left remains of a grand Sanskrit school and a temple of king Bhoj times that after passage of several centuries it speaks of its grandeur itself. Bhoj was an intellect of Sanskrit. For the spread of education he built many schools in his capital Dhar, Ajmer and Jalore, all Three are of same structure. Now a days the Sanskrit school of Dhar is known by the name of Mosque of Kamaal Maula, Ajmer School by Adhai Din Ka Jhopda and Jalore school by the name of Topkhana.
Sire Mandir Temple of Jalore :Being the sacred groove of sage Jabali many saints came & meditated here. Pandawas spent some of there time here and king Bhruthhari’s path leader Suanath and his disciples made it there home. There are many temples for Shiva & Shakti present here, out of which Sire Mandir Temple is famous for its natural beauty belief & austerity.
Lohanagarh of Jaswantpura : 70 Km. away from Jalore, 40 Km. from Bhinmal and 50 Km. from Aburoad, Jaswantpura is the most greenous panchayat samiti area of Jalore district. Situated in the valley of mountain its natural beauty is tremendous Temperature during summers remains comparatively Low. Formerly there was a big village named Lohiyana in this area where Lohiyana dynasty’s king lived. They had both army & fort. Once Maharana Pratap also took shelter in Lohiyana. That’s why Lohiyana’s king was called Rana as it was under mewar’s suzerainty. Afterwards due to economic disruptions king Rana salji Dewal became a dacoit his army kept dacoiting in Marwar province. Hence Jodhpur’s king Jaswant Singh attacked Lohiyana in 1883 A.D. and ravaged it and destroyed fort also. By his name town named Jaswantpura was settled. To rest during winter he built one rest house in mountains. This building is now left uncared, today also it is the private property of descendants of royal family of Jodhpur. During Riyasat time hukumat headquater was established here. After independence Tehsil was established then it was transferred to Bhinmal. This area is rich in wild life. Tigers,boars,bears, monkeys etc strays into nearby villages so many times.
Fort of Kot Kasta : 65 Km. away from headquater Jalore and 20 Km from Sub Division Bhinmal this place kot kasta was once two villages named Kot & Kastha now known as unified Kot Kasta. In 1804 A.D. Mansingh ascended throne of Jodhpur and made Ayas Devnath his Guru. During Mansingh’s time influence of Yogis of nath community increased a lot. He also gave many Jagirs of Naths. Yogi Bheemnath was also given jagir near village Kasta. He was famous by the name Bheemnathji Maharaj on a hereby mountain one small fort was made surrounded it with defensive wall.
In building this wall mountain was also used as wall. Outside this fort’s boundary wall one big wall was also made, to enter those two big and two small gates were made. In this way nearby Kasta a village named Kot settled here. Village inside fort’s boundary wall was called Kot and outside it Kasta and jointly come to be known as Kot Kasta
Nearly 200 years old this Naths fort consists of there storeyed palace rampart, tower and huge entry gate and many other construction could be found. From the twilight of sum fort could be seen from quiet a distance. Though small in size it is though beautiful and strong. In defensive walls there are place lift for firing artillery and gunfire. Being situated on mountain top artillery might have been huge success. In the valley of mountain there is flat ground and on the other side there being route of rainy river named Kapal Ganga it is not possible to attack it instantly.
Quila or Fort of Bhadrajun :54 Km. away from district headquarter Bhadrajun is settled on Jalore-Jodhpur road. It gets it name from Subhadra and his husband Mahabhart’s brave hero Arjun. Subhadra-Arjun in time lag disrupted to Bhadrajun. It is said that where on the permission of Lord Shri Krishna Arjun lifted Subhadra from Dwarika stayed here on the way. There marriage had also taken place here only. One Brahmin of nearby village conducted their marriage. Arjun gave his conch shell(Shankh) and Subhadra gave her ear ring as gift to Brahmin. That’s why the name this village is sankhvali Near Bhadrajun a small temple of Devi Subhadra is situated known by the name ‘Dhumda Mata’.
Sundha Mata Temple :At 1220 M height in the Aravli ranges there on Sundha mountain is temple of goddesses Chamunda Devi a very sacred place for devotees.
Sevada’s Pataleshwar :On the way to Raniwara & Sanchore approximately 125 Km away from district headquarter one big temple of 8th Century A.D. of lord Shiva is situated. It’s minute stone craft is competent enough not only in Rajasthan but also any of good middle ages temple of India.
Jagnath Mahadev :Jagnath Mahadev is one of the two temples built by Rudal Devi, situated 20 Km away by road and 35 Km. by newly built paver road from Jalore. It was found underneath a mound some years before when one new temple was already built some distance away. This temple is called Juna Mandir(Old Temple). The ancient temple is the one possibly constructed by Rudal Devi. During Khilji’s & Pathan’s rulers this temple probably went uncared about and got buried under sand. New Shiva temple was established nearby. It is also possible that this temple was destroyed by attackers. Whatever might be the reason broken stone inscription in temple complex testifies to the fact that it was built here by Rudal Devi. Repairing of the temple again & again have left many stone & pillar inscriptions destroyed. Only those pillars are safe on whom idols were present thinking it to be sacred. Some pillars are used in construction in such a way that the written part is buried. Luckily one stone inscription of Rudal Devi is still safe from which the original situation is known.
Neelkanth Mahadev :In Bhadrajun Tehsil of Jalore district on the verges of Jalore, Pali & Barmer Neelkanth village is famous for Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. While entering the village one can see Shiva temple. It is situated on a high mound. Southern faced this Shiv temple attracts visitors of its minarets like pillars.
It is said that here one widow lady saw a Shivlinga and she regularly started praying it. Envied by the strong faith of the lady here family members tried hard to bury it but it appeared again but again out of earth with the influx sand. In this way huge mound of sand emerged there. Taking it to be a Charismatic, Shivlinga temple was established there.
Jahaz Temple Mandwala :Mandwala village is 20 Km. away from Jalore district headquarter and 5 Km. from Bishangarh village situated at Samdari-Bhildi railway road. Here at the grave of Surishwar Maharaj one grand and unique temple is newly built on a ship.
This temple not only attracts Jains but also other community people.
Jain temple Bakra Road :Parshavnath temple near Bakra road railway station is becoming famous for its grandifice and artistic work and is on the very of getting status of Jaina pilgrimage. 30 Km. away from Jalore, 7 Km. from Modra and 15 Km from Bagra it is connected to road directly.This temple was established in 6 Magh Sudhi 2054 Vikram Samvat(Dated 2 Feb.,1998). Every year on Posh Magh Shukla saptami big fair is held here on the birth & nirvana date of Gurudev Rajendra Surishwar Ji.
Kirti Stambh & Nandishwar Deep Tirth Jalore :India famed Nandishwar deep tirth is located in front of Collectorate office of Jalore district Headquarter on the main road. In whole of India only seven temples of Nandishwar Deep are there and it is the biggest of all example of Modern art also. In main temple there are 52 houses of Lord and each god having four faces. In the Brahma region in the few corners are few faced Jain houses.