Shekhawati
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Shekhawati
This section has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
The largest nizamat or district in the State of Jaipur, Rajputana, lying between 27 degree 20' and 28 degree 34.' N. and 74 degree 41' and 76 degree 6' E. It is bounded on the north and west by Bikaner ; on the south-west by Jodhpur ; on the south and east by Jaipur proper ; and on the north-east by the States of Patiala and Loharu. The area is estimated at about 4,200 square miles. The district contains 12 towns and 953 villages; and the population in 1901 was 471,961, Hindus numbering 413,237, or 87 per cent., and Musalmans 55,251, or more than u per cent, The principal towns are SIKAR, FATEH- Pur, Nawalgarh, Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Lachmangarh, and Udai- Pur. Some of them present a fine appearance, the houses being built of blocks of white stiff clay, cut from the kankar beds and allowed to dry ; but, on the other hand, the numerous mansions of the wealthy bankers, though nearly always palatial, are in many cases gaudy. The country is for the most part a mass of rolling sandhills ; the rainfall is precarious, averaging from 15 to 1 8 inches ; and there is, speaking generally, but one harvest in the year, raised during the rainy season, consisting of bajra^ mung, and moth. The mode of cultivation is of the rudest description, and the ploughing is frequently done by camels. The minerals of Shekhawati used to be important, but the copper- mines near Khetri and Singh ana and the salt lake of Kachor Rewassa (the latter leased to the British Government in 1879) have not been worked for many years. Nickel and cobalt are, however, found at Babai in the east, and the ore is largely used for enamelling.
Shekhawati takes its name from Shekhji, the great-grandson of Udaikaran, who was chief of Amber towards the end of the four- teenth century. The country was wrested either by Udaikaran or his fourth son, Balaji, from the Kaimkhanis, or Musalman descendants of converted Chauhan Rajputs, who had been permitted by the Delhi kings to hold their estates as a reward for their apostasy. It is recorded that Balaji and his son, Mokal, used to pay as tribute to the chief of Amber all the colts reared on their land ; but Shekhji so enlarged his powers that for some generations the lords of Shekh- awati became independent of the parent State. The Shekhawats or descendants of Shekhji are a sept of the Kachwaha clan, of which the Maharaja of Jaipur is the head, and may be divided into two main branches, Raisilots and Sadhanis. The former are descended from Raisil, a great-grandson of Shekhji, who, for services rendered to the emperor Akbar, was made a mansabddr of 1,250 horse, and obtained several districts, such as Khandela, Rewassa, and Udaipur. The principal Raisilot chieftains are now the Rao Raja of SIKAR, the two Rajas of Khandela, and the Rao of Manoharpur. The Sadhanis claim descent from Raisil's third son, Bhoj Raj, and take their name from one of his descendants called Sadhu ; the chief repre- sentatives of this branch are the Raja of Khetri And The Thakurs Of Bissau, Nawalgarh, And Surajgarh,
The numerous chiefs forming the Shekhawati confederacy were, as stated above, for many years practically independent; but in the be- ginning of the eighteenth century, Maharaja Jai Singh II, with his means as lieutenant of the empire, forced them to become to some extent tributary, though their submission was not complete till after the Marathas had ravaged the country. In 1836-7, in consequence of the disturbed state of the district, it was decided to raise a corps of cavalry in order to give employment to the plundering classes. Two regiments of infantry and a battery of six guns were subse- quently added ; and the whole force formed the Shekhawati Brigade under Lieutenant Forster, who received the rank of major from, -the Jaipur Darbar. The force attained a high degree of efficiency and proved of valuable service on many occasions under the gallant leading of its commander and his sons. All plundering was soon repressed, and the country enjoyed a degree of freedom from highway robberies previously unknown. The brigade was disbanded in 1842 ; one of the infantry Regiments was taken over by the British Government, and is now represented by the i3th Rajputs (the Shekhawati regiment), of which Maharaja Madho Singh, the present chief of Jaipur, was appointed honorary colonel in 1904. The tenures of Shekhawati have this pecu- liarity, that, excepting two or three of the greater estates, all holdings are regularly divided among all the sons on the death of the father.
Location
From the archives of “The Times of India”
Painted havelis, forts, castles, temples... Shekhawati in northern Rajasthan is the perfect getaway this ‘freedom’ weekend. Rediscover India’s rich heritage and get into a time warp as you explore the fascinating desert landscape!
—SATARUPA MUKHERJEE
There’s a certain timeless appeal about forts, palaces and princes. The history, the heritage and the culture... all these combine into one grand spectacle and that’s surely a visual feast for any tourist. Shekhawati in northern Rajasthan is one such cultural palette, that offers a kaleidoscopic peek into the grand past of India.
Caught in the golden triangle of Delhi, Bikaner and Jaipur, Shekhawati is an arid but opulent region that has intrigued historians and tourists alike. Better known as the open art gallery of Rajasthan, the Shekhawati region is famous for its havelis and mansions embellished with bewitching murals and frescos. The intricacy of the latticed, carved wooden windows, the painted jharokhas, ceilings, walls and courtyards will leave you spellbound. Sometimes gold and silver have also been used in the lavish decorations.
Drive down to any of the towns like Jhunjhunu, Nawalgarh, Churu, Dunlod, Ramgarh or Mandawa for a look at these desert artworks. Some of the famous havelis are Anandilal Poddar Haveli, Aath Haveli, Hodh Raj Patodia Haveli, Bansidhar Bhagat Haveli and Chokhani Haveli.
Forests and palaces
Mandawa is famous for its 240-year-old castle where caparisoned camels carry guests inside. So make sure you’re there to get a warm welcome with the drum beats.
Time permitting, one can check out Gajner Palace in Bikaner, built on the embankments of a lake over 6,000 acres! Once the hunting resort of the maharajas and the British, it is now a deluxe hotel.
Shekhawati owes its name to its erstwhile ruler, Rao Shekha. India’s premier business community, the Marwaris, hail from here. It was from here that they spread out to various parts of India in the 18th–19th centuries.
In brief
Getting there
The nearest airport is Jaipur. You could take the Shekhawati/Pink City Express from Delhi to Jaipur. There are buses plying between various towns in Shekhawati.
Staying there
Top-end hotels: Roop Niwas Palace Hotel, Nawalgarh; Hotel Classic Mandawa; Dunlod Castle; Desert Resort Mandawa Budget hotels: Hotel Shekhawati Heritage Jhunjhunu, Hotel RTDC Jhunjhunu Strapped for cash? Shack in at the government circuit houses and dak bungalow.
Shopping
Carved wooden low tables, chairs and chests. Quaint wooden items belonging to the 19th and 20th century. Textiles, tie-and-dye fabrics, bangles, metal artefacts and handicrafts are very popular.
Must see
Mandawa, situated in the Jhunjhunu district, is famous for its captivating havelis and castles. Nawalgarh: Apart from its two magnificent forts, the town is also famous for its havelis. Churu: There are temples, cenotaphs), johars (water tanks) and wells adorned with some very colourful frescoes.
