This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(February 2020) |
Jalore Fort | |
---|---|
Jalore Quilla or Swanagiri Durg | |
Part of Marwar Rajputana | |
Jalore district, Rajasthan | |
Coordinates | 25°20′14″N72°36′52″E / 25.3373°N 72.6144°E |
Type | Hill fort |
Site information | |
Controlled by | Management under S Parmar AND Jodhpur State |
Open to the public | Yes |
Condition | Protected Monument |
Site history | |
Built | 8th–10th centuries AD |
Jalore Fort is the main attraction of Jalore, a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan, and one of the nine forts of the Maru, under the Paramaras in the 10th century. It is one of the most famous and impressive forts in the state and has been known through history as the Svangiri or the "golden mount".From this fort, the Songra Chauhans defeated the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji. With the blessings of Kuldevi Maa Ashapura who is also known as Modara Mata. Chauhan gave a different direction to Jalore and to the fort.
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Jalore Fort was built between the 8th and the 10th centuries by Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs, and Jalore was ruled by a Paramara branch in the 10th century.
Kirtipala, the youngest son of Alhana, ruler of Nadol, established the Jalore line of Chauhans. He captured it from the Paramaras in 1181 and took the clan name Songara after the place. His son, Samarasimha, succeeded him in 1182. After him, Udayasimha became the ruler. The rule of Udayasimha was a golden period in the history of Jalore. He was a powerful and able ruler. He ruled over a large area. He regained Nadol and Mandore from the Muslims. In 1228 Iltutmish circled Jalore; however, Udayasimha offered stiff resistance. He was succeeded by Chachigadeva and Samantasimha respectively. After Samantasimha his son Kanhadadeva became ruler of Jalore.
During the reign of Kanhadadeva, Jalore was conquered in 1311 by Alauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi.
Jalore was conquered by the Rathore of Ratlam and remained a part of Jodhpur State until it integrated into India. [1]
Jalore fort is perched atop a steep and perpendicular hill. It commands the town from rocky outcrop 336m (1200 ft) high fortified with a wall and bastions with cannon mounted upon them.
The fort has four gigantic gates; however, it is approachable only from one side, after a two-mile (3 km) long serpentine ascent. The approach to the fort is from the north, up a steep, slippery road through three rows of fortification to a single rampart wall 6.1m (20ft) high. It takes an hour to climb up. The fort is built on the lines of traditional Hindu architecture.
The main poles or gates
Built into the front wall are four mighty gates or pols that lead into the fort: The Suraj Pol, Dhruv Pol, Chand Pol and the Sire Pol. The Suraj Pol or the "Sun gate" is built so that the first rays of the morning sun enter through this gateway. It is an impressive gate with a small watch tower built over it. The Dhruv Pol is rather simple looking compared to Suraj Pol.
The mahal or "the residential palace" inside the fort is now desolated, and what is left of it are the ruined symmetrical walls with huge rock formations around it. The cut-stone walls of the fort are still intact at many places. There are some drinking water tanks in the fort.
There is an old Shiva temple, a temple devoted to Lord Shiva. It was built by Kanhaddev Ruler of Jalore. Same was renovated by Mah Singh Ruler of Jodhpur and built a Samadhi Mandir of Shri Jalandharnath. Recently this temple renovated again by Shri Santinathji Maharaj in 2005 with all facility for devotees. A triple temple dedicated to Amba Mata, Ashapuri and Hanuman ji is also located within the fort premises.
The Kila Masjid (Fort Mosque) within the fort is also noteworthy as they demonstrate the widespread influence of the architectural decorations associated with the Gujarati styles of the period (i.e. late 16th century). This is because it was built by destroying existing Hindu temple.
Another shrine in the fort is that of Saint Rehmad Ali Baba. Near the main gate, there is the tomb of Malik Shah, a noted Mohammedan saint.
Jalore is also a place of pilgrimage for Jains and the famous Jain temples of Adinath, Mahavira, Parshvnath and Shantinath are located here.
The oldest temple is that of Adinath, which existed as far back as in the 8th century. The mandapa was subsequently built in 1182 A.D. by Yasovira, a Srimali vaishya. The temple stands out the most among the dark fort walls and rocky surrounding. Built in white marble this imposing structure is quite a sight.
The temple of Parsvanath was built by the ruler of Jalore and then rebuilt in 1785 A.D. This temple has a spectacular toran or an archway and a golden "cupola" in the hall meant for theatre performances. Built near the Bal Pol, which is situated northwest of the fort.
The temple of Mahavira was also known as Chandanavihara Nahadarao, named after a Pratihara ruler and a hero of Jain tradition who built it in the 14th century.
The temples of Santinatha and the Ashtapads are believed to have existed in the 13th century.
The Vaghela dynasty ruled the Gujarat region in India in the 13th century CE, with their capital at Dholka. They were the last Hindu dynasty to rule Gujarat before the Muslim conquest of the region.
Mehrangarh is a historic fort located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. It stands on a hilltop, rising about 122 m (400 ft) above the surrounding plains, and the complex spans 1,200 acres. It was initially built around 1459 by the Rajput ruler of Rathore clan Rao Jodha, though most of the existing structure is from the 17th century built by his successors. The fort has seven gates, which includes main entrance Jai Pol, built by Maharaja Man Singh to commemorate his victories over the Jaipur and Bikaner armies in 1806. The Fattehpol, commemorates victory of Maharaja Ajit Singh over the Mughals.
Kumbhalgarh, also known as the Great Wall of India, is a fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills in the Rajsamand district of the Rajasthan state in India. Situated approximately 84 km (52 mi) from Udaipur, it was built during the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. The wall of Kumbhalgarh is one of the longest continuous walls in the world, spanning 38 kilometers. It is also the birthplace of great king and military leader Maharana Pratap of Mewar.
Jalore, also known as Granite City, is a city in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. It is the administrative headquarters of Jalore District.
Kanhadadeva was a king belonging to the Chahamana dynasty, who ruled the area around Javalipura. Initially, he ran the administration jointly with his father Samantasimha, and helped ward off invasions from the Delhi Sultanate.
Jalore District is a district of Rajasthan state in western India. The city of Jalore is the administrative headquarters of the district. The district has an area of 10,640 km2 (4,108 sq mi), and a population of 1,828,730, with a population density of 136 persons per square kilometre.
The Chittorgarh, also known as Chittod Fort, is one of the largest living forts in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located in the present-day city of Chittorgarh. It sprawls over a hill 180 m (590.6 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort covers 65 historic structures, which include four palaces, 19 large temples, 20 large water bodies, 4 memorials and a few victory towers.
Nadol is a census town in Desuri tehsil of Pali district, India. Ashapura Mataji temple and Shri Nadol Tirth attract pilgrims.
Ashapura Mata is an aspect of Devi, a Hindu goddess. She is one of the kuladevis of Kutch and Rajasthan, and the Jadeja clan of gujarat and Chauhans inhabiting the western indian provinces. She is a goddess regarded to fulfill the wishes of her adherents.
Bhima I was a Chaulukya king who ruled parts of present-day Gujarat, India. The early years of his reign saw an invasion from the Ghaznavid ruler Mahmud, who sacked the Somnath temple. Bhima left his capital and took shelter in Kanthkot during this invasion, but after Mahmud's departure, he recovered his power and retained his ancestral territories. He crushed a rebellion by his vassals at Arbuda, and unsuccessfully tried to invade the Naddula Chahamana kingdom. Towards the end of his reign, he formed an alliance with the Kalachuri king Lakshmi-Karna, and played an important role in the downfall of the Paramara king Bhoja.
The history of human settlement in the west Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 5,000 years ago.
The Chahamanas of Naddula, also known as the Chauhans of Nadol, were an Indian dynasty. They ruled the Marwar area around their capital Naddula between 10th and 12th centuries. They belonged to the Chahamana (Chauhan) clan of the Rajputs.
The Chahamanas of Jalor, also known as the Chauhans of Jalor in vernacular legends, were an Indian dynasty that ruled the area around Jalore in present-day Rajasthan between 1160 and 1311. They belonged to the Chahamana (Chauhan) clan of the Rajputs
Jayata-simha was an Indian king belonging to the Naddula Chahamana dynasty. He ruled the area around Naddula. He was probably defeated by the Ghurid general Qutb al-Din Aibak, and the Naddula kingdom disintegrated after his death.
Kirti-pala, also known as Kitu in vernacular legends, was an Indian king belonging to the Chahamana dynasty of Javalipura. A member of the Naddula Chahamana family, he carved out a principality for himself with Jalore at its capital. He ruled parts of southern Rajasthan as a feudatory of the Chaulukyas, and participated in their successful battle against Muhammad of Ghor in 1178 CE. He also fought with other Chaulukya feudatories, including Asala of Kiratakupa and the Guhila chief Samantasimha.
Udaya-simha was an Indian king belonging to the Chahamana dynasty, who ruled the area around Javalipura. The most powerful king of his dynasty, he overthrew the Chaulukya suzerainty, and became a sovereign ruler. However, some years later, he faced an invasion from the Delhi Sultanate, and became a tributary to the Sultan Iltutmish.
In 1308, the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji captured the Siwana fort located in present-day Rajasthan, India.
In 1311 Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji dispatched an army to capture the Jalore Fort in present-day Rajasthan, India. Jalore was ruled by the Chahamana ruler Kanhadadeva, whose armies had earlier fought several skirmishes with the Delhi forces, especially since Alauddin's conquest of the neighboring Siwana fort.
Delwara, nestled in the Aravalli Range hills, is a small town about 28 km away from Udaipur, Mewar, and close to Eklingji Temple, on the way to the temple town of Nathdwara, in the state of Rajasthan, India. Delwara was originally known as ‘Devkul Patan Nagri’, which means the town of god. It boasted over 1500 temples at one time, out of which there were over 400 Jain temples. Delwara was the center of learning and culture before the 15th century AD. Around the middle of the 13th century, Raja Sagar, a Deora Chauhan and a descendant of Rao Kirtipal of Jalore, was a very brave king of Delwara (Mewar). Descendants of Raja Sagar sacrificed their lives while fighting alongside Ranas of Mewar against Muslim invaders. Raja Sagar was the progenitor of Bachhawat and Bothra clans of Oswals. Sagar's son, Kunwar Bohitya was immensely influenced and inspired by Jain philosophy. Samdhar, a grandson of Bohitya and a Deora Chauhan, was the first man in his genealogy to convert to Jainism.
The Paramaras of Siwana were one of the many Rajput rulers in Rajasthan who ruled a principality centered on the fort of Siwana. They belonged to the Rajput Agnivanshi clan of Paramaras. The last ruler, Sitala Deva was defeated and his domain annexed in 1308 by the sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji.