Dholpur - The land of Red Stone

Situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan, Dholpur became a separate district in 1982 comprising four tehsils of Bharatpur – namely Dholpur, Rajakhera, Bari and Baseri. Carved out of Bharatpur district, Dholpur is surrounded by Agra on the north, Morena district of Madhya Pradesh on the south and Karauli on the west. Ever since its existence, Dholpur remains one of the most fascinating regions in the state that has witnessed the oldest civilizations, and is extremely rich in cultural heritage. It used to be the seat of the Dholpur princely state before Independence, and today is a city of diverse culture and historical grandeur. The red sandstone from Dholpur is famous throughout the country and was famously used in the construction of the Red Fort in Delhi.

The history of this princely state is known to date back to Buddha’s time. Several centuries ago, Dholpur was a part of the Mauryan Empire and came under the rule of various rulers all along the Mughal period. Around the 8th to the 10th century, Dholpur was known to be ruled by the Chauhans.Until 1194, it continued to be under the rule of Mohammed Gauri.

Dholpur was initially known as Dhawalpuri named after the ruler Raja Dhawal Deo, also known as Dholan Deo Tomar who established the city in 700 AD (though some historians have dated the formation to 1005 AD.) Later, it came to be known as Dholpur.

Dholpur City Place

Attractions & Places to Visit and Explore in Dholpur

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

City Palace Dholpur

Also known as the Dholpur Palace, the City Palace is an opulent structure that seamlessly blends ancient heritage and elegant architecture. Once home to the Royal Family, this palace was built from red sand stone which illustrates the history, splendour and grandeur of the city. With the fierce Chambal ravines on its south-eastern end and the beautiful city of Agra at its north-west, the City Palace transports visitors back to the royal era with its impressiveness and mesmerising surroundings.

Royal Stepwell - Dholpur

Royal Stepwell Dhulpur

Constructed between 1873 -1880, this royal stepwell or ‘baori’ is situated behind the Nihaleshwar temple in city. This four storied building has beautiful artistic pillars and carved stones.

Nihal Tower - Dholpur

Nihal Tower (Ghantaghar) Dhulpur

Situated at the Town Hall road and locally known as Ghanta Ghar, this 150-feet high tower was started by Raja Nihal Singh in the year 1880, and completed around the year 1910 by Raja Ram Singh. The foot of this tower is covered with 12 equal-sized gates and covers an area of around 120 feet.

Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple in Dholpur

Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple in Dholpur

Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple is located in Dholpur district of Rajasthan India.Achaleshwar Mahadev  temple in Dholpur Rajasthan is believed to be one mysterious shrine. Well, the Shivling in Achaleshwar Mahadev temple changes its colors three times a day.Here is some fact about Achaleshwar Mahadev Temple in Dholpur Rajasthan India.

Shergarh Fort

Shergarh Fort

Located to the south of Dholpur, the Shergarh Fort was built by Raja Maldeo of Jodhpur. It was reconstructed in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri and named after the Sultan of Delhi. This fort was initially built in defence against the rulers of Mewar. This historic monument is considered to be the epitome of rich, delicately-styled architecture from the past.

Adorned with carved images, statues of Hindu gods and Jain motifs, the Shergarh Fort was once protected by water and is considered to be the charm of Dholpur.

Machkund

Machkund Dholpur

Machkund, an ancient and sacred place is situated about 4 km from the main town of Dholpur. This place is named after the 24th ruler of Suryavanshi Dynasty, Raja Machkund, who is said to have held the royal office for nineteen generations before Lord Ram.

According to the manuscripts, Raja Machkund was in deep slumber when the demon Kaal Yaman accidently woke him up and was burnt to ashes because of a divine blessing. These legends and fables have turned this area into a sacred place for pilgrims.

Sher Shikhar Gurudwara

Sher Shikhar Gurudwara Dholpur

The Sher Shikhar Gurudwara was established near Machkund in Dholpur due to a significant visit by Guru Hargobind Sahib, who was known to be the sixth of the Sikh Gurus. The Sher Shikhar Gurudwara is one of the most important Gurudwaras and holds a place of historical importance in Sikhism. This spot attracts Sikhs from across the county to come and seek blessings of their ancestors and teachers.

Mughal Garden Dholpur

Mughal Garden Dholpur

Situated five kilometres from Dholpur, the village of Jhor is significant for housing the oldest Mughal garden, known as Bagh-e-Nilofar. Though very little of the original garden has survived till date, the presence of the era of Emperor Babur who started the construction can still be felt here.

Damoh

Damoh Dholpur

Damoh, a beautiful waterfall in Sarmathura, is one of the major tourist attractions in the district. The streams in this waterfall are known to remain dry throughout the year, except from July to September when embellish their surroundings with greenery and a variety of fauna.

Talab-e-Shahi

Talab Shahi

Talab-e-Shahi as the name suggests is a picturesque lake situated 27 km from Dholpur, and 5 km from Bari in Rajasthan. Both the lake and the palace were originally built as a shooting lodge for Prince Shah Jahan in the year 1617 A.D. The beauty and the location of this beautiful lake invites a number of winter migratory fowl such as pintail, red crested pochard, common pochard, tufted duck and pigeon.

Van Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary

Van Vihar

One of the oldest wildlife reserves of the rulers of Dholpur, Van Vihar Sanctuary is spread over an area of about 25 sq. km over the Vindhyan Plateau. The sanctuary is characterised by a wide range of fascinating flora and fauna that grabs the tourists’ attention. Endowed with animals like sambhar, chital, blue bull, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena and leopard, the Van Vihar Sanctuary is very popular among nature lovers visiting Dholpur.