Jhalawar - The Historical City.

Jhalawar, once called Brijnagar is known for its rich natural wealth of vibrant flora and fauna. However, unlike other cities of Rajasthan, Jhalawar has a rocky but water-laden verdant landscape. Red poppy fields and orange laden orchards are strewn across Jhalawar, lending it a colourful look. They also contribute a major share to the production of citrus in the country. This place has a varied cultural heritage that includes many forts and palaces from the Rajput and Mughal periods. It is solely famous for the large numbers of temples and religious sites.

Jhalawar was named after its founder, Jhala Zalim Singh in 1838. He was the Dewan of Kota State and established the town as a cantonment, then known as Chaoni Umedpura near the existing Jhalrapatan Fort. At that time, the township was surrounded by dense forests which were home to many exotic species. The Dewan often came here to hunt and grew so fond of the place that he decided to turn it into a township. It was later turned into a military cantonment when the Maratha invaders passed through the city to capture Hadoti states.

Jhalawar Tour

Attractions & Places to Visit and Explore in Jhalawar.

Come explore the wonders and sites that Jhalawar has to offer you. There’s always something to see in Rajasthan.

Jhalawar Fort - A Famous Tourist Attraction of Rajasthan

Situated in the centre of the town, the Jhalawar fort or Garh Palace is a beautiful monument. It was built by Maharaj Rana Madan Singh and his successors added beautiful paintings inside the rooms. These can be seen with the permission of appropriate authorities. The Zenana Khas or the ‘Women’s Palace’ has some excellent frescoes on both, walls and mirrors and they are prime examples of the Hadoti school of art.

Government Museum Jhalawar

The Jhalawar Government Museum is one of the oldest museums in Rajasthan established in 1915 A.D and has a fine collection of rare paintings, manuscripts and idols. The museum is situated bang in the middle of the city and is also a part of the Fort Palace. This ancient structure is a great tourist attraction.

Bhawani Natyashala Jhalawar

The Bhawani Natyashala is 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 one 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 (Jhalawar Rajasthan)

Gagron Fort is a fine example of a hill and water fort. It is one of the six hill forts of Rajasthan to be a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Surrounded by the tranquil waters of the Ahu, Kali and Sindh rivers on three sides, the fort is indeed a sight to behold. A beautiful mausoleum of Sufi saint Mitheshah just outside the fort is the venue for an annual colourful fair held during the month of Moharram.

Chandrabhaga Temples, Jhalawar

On the banks of the magnificent Chandrabhaga River stand some beautiful Chandrabhaga temples with intricately carved pillars and arched gateways. This 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 has houses some beautiful murals and sculptures.

Jhalrapatan Sun Temple near Jhalawar

The finest temple of jhalrapatan is the 97-ft high, 10th-century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is popularly known as the Padmanabha or Sun Temple. Similar to the Sun temple in Konark in Orissa, the temple is crowned with a finely carved shikhara (spire). This high steeple is an amalgamation of miniature towers which seem to stick to the main tower, making it a unique one by itself. The shikhara is built in layers and the size of the pillars decreases as height increases, following a seven storey pillar format. The base of the shikhara is made up of larger pillars close to each other around the main foundation. This temple was first restored in the 16th century and later in the 19th century. The columns and arches at the entrance 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 the temple.

Herbal Gardens

Herbal garden is located close to the Dwarkadheesh temple and has a wide variety of herbal and medicinal plants like Varun, Laxmana, Shatavari, Stevia, Rudraksha Sindoor, etc.

Dwarkadhish Temple - Hindu temple in Jhalrapatan, Rajasthan

Another gift from the founder of the city of Jhalawar, Jhala Zalim Singh, is the Dwarkadheesh Temple. The temple was built in 1796 AD on the banks of Gomati Sagar Lake. In 1806 A.D, the idol of lord Krishna was installed here.

Shri Adinath Digamber Jain Atishay Kshetra, Chand kheri, Khanpur

Take a leap into the 17th-century’s architectural splendour and religious sanctity by visiting the temple devoted to the first Jain tirthankar(fordmaker), Adinath. It is situated at Chandkheri near Khanpur and has a six feet tall Lord Adinath statue in sitting position. One can easily find traditional meals here along with decent & reasonable accommodation options available within the temple area.

Dalhanpur, Chhapi Dam in Jhalawar

Dalhanpur stands on the banks of River Chhapi, close to an irrigation dam. A dense green forest adds charm to this antique place with beautifully carved pillars, torans and some erotic figures in the temple ruins, scattered around an area of 2 Kms. At present, conservation and renovation work is under progress.

Kamitpuran Parshvnath Jain Mandir

One must visit this Jain piligrim centre, having a thousand year old statue of Lord Parshwanath. This pilgrim centre holds a very high religious value for Jains. Enjoy the delicacies of Jains here along with decent accommodation options at reasonable price within the temple area.

Buddhist Caves and Stupas (Jhalawar)

The Buddhist caves located in the Kolvi village are among Jhalawar’s greatest attractions. A colossal figure of Buddha and the carved stupas are the most impressive structures in the caves. Located about 90 kilometers from Jhalawar, they are the finest surviving examples of Indian art. Tourists can also explore nearby villages of Vinayaka and Hatiyagour which are also known for their magnificent caves.

HOW TO REACH HERE

  • The closest airport is Indore 240 kilometres away followed by Jaipur Airport 345kms.
  • Jhalawar lies on Highway No. 12 and is connected by bus to many cities in Rajasthan.
  • Jhalawar has a newly-constructed railway station that is 2 kilometres from Jhalawar city.