Jhalawar : Star City of India

Total area of the district is 6928 km². Around 21% of this area is forest area. Total length of tarred roads is around 1400 Km., out of which 94 kms. come in National Highway range, and 202 kms are in state highway range.
District has 5 Sub-divisions, 7 Tehsils, 4 Sub-Tehsils, and 6 Blocks. Total revenue villages in the district are 1618.

Pictures of the Rulers of Jhalawar at Garh palace

History of Hadoti

The city of Jhalawar is situated in the south-eastern region of Rajasthan, a region widely known as Hadoti (Hadavati), the land of Hadas. The Hadas are a major branch of the great Chauhan clan of Agnikula Rajputs.

In the 12^th century A.D., Hada Rao Deva conquered this territory and founded Bundi state and Hadauti. Later in the early 17^th century A. D. during the reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir, the Ruler of Bundi, Rao Ratan Singh gave the smaller principality of Kota to his son, Madho Singh, but when Sahajahan became the emperor, he issued a Farmaan in the name of Madho Singh, recognizing as him the King of Kota. The domain of the Hadas of Bundi and Kota extended from the hills of Bundi in the west to the Malwa plateau in the east, with a similar expense from north to south.

The State of Jhalawar was founded on 8 April, 1838, out of the Kota territory. Jhalawar state got rise as a result of a treaty between English rulers, Kota state, and Malwa state.

History of Jhalawar

The city of Jhalawar was founded by Jhala Zalim Singh (First), who was the then Dewan of Kota state (1791 A.D.). He established this township, then known as Chaoni Umedpura, as a cantonment. The township was surrounded with dense green forests and wild animals.

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.

Legendary 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 1803-04 A.D. 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 A.D., English rulers seperated 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 A.D.). He was the first ruler of Jhalawar state and made his great 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.

Rana Bhawani Singh Ji, who ruled Jhalawar state from 1899 to 1929 A.D., did remarkable work in the development of Jhalawar state. His active involvement was in the fields of social activities, public works (construction), education, administration, etc. During his time, a number of genius personalities of Jhalawar gave their active hand in these activities.

Successors for Maharana of Jhalawar State

Sh. Madan Singh, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar (1838-1845)
Sh. Pirthi Singh, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar (1845-1875)
Sh. Bakht or Zalim Singh, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar (1875-1897)
HH Sh. Bhawani Singh, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar (1897-1929)
HH Sh. Rajendra Singh, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar (1929-1943)
HH Sh. Harish Chandra , Maharaj Rana, Jhalawar (1943-1967)
HH Sh. Indrajit Singh, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar (1967-2004)
HH Sh. Chandrajit Singh, Maharaj Rana of Jhalawar (Since 2004)

Location

At the border of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, nudging its fat belly into neighboring MP is this fascinating place - Jhalawar. A mystery waiting to be unraveled. Questions waiting to be asked, answers waiting to be found. It was the capital of a small princely state created in 1838.

It is a rock-strewn, scrub-covered terrain, occasionally bright with fields of poppies and citrus-green groves of oranges. Lying in the south-eastern region of Rajasthan at the edge of the Malwa plateau, Jhalawar has rocky but water-laden verdant landscape, unlike much of Rajasthan.

Soil & Rivers

Jhalawar district is an expanse of fertile plain having rich black-cotton soil. It is watered by several rivers, giving it a verdant look. The largset river flowing through the area is Kali Sindh which flows through the territory to join the Chambal, Rajasthan's largest river. Other rivers include Ujaad, Ahu, Parvan, Chavli, etc..

Hills-n-Terrains

The Aravali hills, which are the most ancient folded mountain range in India, crosses the region, roughly dividing the plains of hadoti from the Malwa plateau. These hills and the surrounding areas were once thickly forested and teemed with wildlife.

Climate

The climate of the area is very much similar to that of the Indo-Gangatic plain, with hot dry summer and delightfully cold winters. The monsoon is, however, quite unlike and very distinct from the oppressive humid climate of the North India plains. Jhalawar district is known for the highest rainfall in the Rajasthan state. An average of 35 inches of rainfall keeps it cool, and gentle breezes ward off the stifling humidity.