Lok Sabha Constituencies in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan (MP Constituencies)

Banswara Udaipur

MLA Assembly Constituencies in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan

Aspur Dungarpur Sagwara

About the District :

 

The district Dungarpur is named after ‘the town of hillocks’ and the capital of the former princely state of Dungarpur. It is located in the southern part of Rajasthan between 23° 20′ and 24° 01′ north latitude and 73° 21′ and 74° 01′ east longitude. The town of Dungarpur itself is said to have been a Bhil ‘ Pal’ or a hamlet of ‘Dungaria’, a Bhil Chieftain whom Rawal Veer Singh Dev caused to be assassinated in the fourteenth century. Whatever may be the legend about the beginning of the settlements in the district, there is no doubt that it formed the part of the territory known in history as ‘ Bagar’ or ‘Vagad’  with ‘ Vatpadrak’, present ‘Baroda’ (a village in Aspur tehsil) as its old capital.

The material remains of the Ahar civilization discovered in Mewar region constitute remnants of the civilization which may date back to 4000 year ago. From Ahar this culture extended to other centres in the south-east of Rajasthan including parts of present Dungarpur and Banswara district. Some more light it thrown on the history of the region by the silver coins unearthed in thousands from Sarwaniya village in Banswara State, which was also a part of ‘ Bagar’. These coins trace the history of this region as far back as 181 to 353 A.D. They also establish that this territory was, then, ruled by Kshtrapas or Satraps of the Saka, inhabitants of area lying between Iran and Afghanistan. They entered Afghanistan and India sometime in the first century of the Vikram Era However the Gupta rule over this tract cannot be ascertained with exactitude. Thereafter, the territory may have formed a part of the kingdom of Vallabi. Bagar is said to have been invaded by the Arabs between 725 A.D. and 738 A.D. However, their attacks were repelled and they were expelled from these parts. From the time the parmars of Malwa came to rule Bagar, we get a clear and continuous history of this area. In 12th century A.D. , the Guhils of Mewar (Udaipur) established their suzerainty in this area.

It is mentioned in the ‘Khyats’ that during the times of Maharawal Veer Singh Dev, The Sixth descendant of Sawant Singh of Mewar, the county in the vicinity of the present town of Dungarpur was held by a powerful Bhil Chieftain  Dungaria who aspired to marry the dauther of a wealthy ‘ Mahajan’ named Sala Shah. The latter fixed a distant date for the wedding and, in the meantime, conspired with Veer Singh to have the whole marriage party including Dungaria assassinated while they were in a state of intoxication. This was successfully carried out. Rawal Veer Singh took possession of Dungaria’s village and founded that town of Dungarpur in 1358 A.D. The legend has tit that Veer Singh had promised to the two widows of Dungaria Bhil to perpetuate their memories by erection a monument in their honour. He is also reported to have agreed to name to town after their departed husband. He further laid down that in future, at the installantion of each new ruler, a descendant of Dungaria would put the ‘Tilak’ on the forehead of the ruler from the blood drawn from his finger.

Rawal Veer Singh was killed in the sack of Chittor by Allauddin Khilji. He was succeeded by Bhachundi who erected the Hanumat Pol. Rawal Gopinath who succeeded him is famous for his victory over Ahmedshah, the Sultan of Gujarat in 1433 A.D. and it was he who built the Gaipsagar lake at Dungarpur which exists even today remains a beauty spot of this town. Rawal Somdasji, the 13th ruler is famous for repelling the invasion of Sultan Mahmood Shah and Gayasuddin. Maharawal Udai Singh I  is also noted for his bravery. He divided ‘Vagad’ into two parts. The western portion, with the capital at Dungarpur, he retained for his elder son Prithviraj and the eastern portion subsequently known as Banswara, gave to his younger son Jagmal. It was in the year 1529 A.D. that the two states became independent. Maharawal Askaran’s reign witnessed the arrival of the Mughals in this part of the county for the first time. During his reign Akbar himself visited these parts and Askaran attended his court. He acknowledged the Mughal suzerainty and became a vassal of the Empire. Maharawal Punjaraj was honoured by the Emperor Shahjahan, who conferred on him the insignia of the ‘Mahimaratib’ and a grant of a Dedhahazari Mansab’ and ‘Izzat’ to 1,500 ‘Sawars in recognition of the services rendered by him to the Emperor in his campaigns in the Daccan.

In the time of Maharawal Ram Singh, the Marahattas invaded these parts. Maharawal Shiv singh the 25th ruler became an ally of the Marahattas. It was in the time of Maharawal Jaswant Singh II. That a treaty of perpetual friendship, alliance and unity of interests was concluded with the British crown on 11th December, 1818 A.D. according to which a tribute of Rs. 17,500 was to be paid annually to the British Government. Maharawal Udai Singh II rendered loyal services to the British Government in the Mutiny of 1857. He was succeeded by Maharawal Bijai Singh in 1898 A.D. who was a very enlightened prince. Maharawal Lakshaman Singh ascended the gaddi on the 5th November, 1918 A.D. and continued to govern the State till its merger in the United States of Rajasthan in 1948.

It was in 1945 that the ‘Dungarpur Rajya Praja Mandal’ came into existence and a year later in 1946, a demand was made for grant of responsible Government under the aegis of the ruler. In March, 1948 the ruler announced the grant of responsible Government. However, on the inauguration of the United States of Rajasthan  the local Government came to an end when the administration of the State was handedover to ‘ Rajpramukh’ of the newly formed union of State and Dungarpur was constituted as a district of the United States of Rajasthan

 

District at a Glance

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Tourist Place :

Baroda

Baroda village, once the capital of Vagad, is situated at a distance of 41km by road from Dungarpur and lies in Aspur tehsil. In Aspur proper also, there are a number of beautiful temples. Baroda village is famous for the ruins of temples of old Rajput architecture. Saivism and Jainism were the main religions of this place in the early times. Near the tank in Baroda village, there is a beautiful, old Shiva’s temple made of white stones. Near the temple is a ‘kundli’ bearing an inscription of Samwat 1349 of the times of Maharaj Shri Veer Singh Dev. In the heart of this village lies an old Jain temple. The principal idol in the temple is that of Parshvanath which was identified in Samwat 1904 by Bhattarak Devendra Suri.

Baneshawar

 

The Beneshwar temple containing the most reverend Shiva Linga of the area is situated on a delta formed at the confluenced of Som and Mahi rivers, about one and a half km from Nawa Tapra village. Sabla is the nearest bus stand located at a distance of about 7 km from the temple on Udaipur-Banswara-Dungarpur bus route. Sabla is at a distance of 123 km from Udaipur, 53 km from Banswara,45 km from Dungarpur and 22 km from Aspur. The tribal in character, a fair at the temple is held during Magh shukla Ekadashi to Magh Shukla Purnima. Just near the Beneshwar temple is the Vishnu temple which was reportedly constructed in Samwat 1850 (1793A.D.).

BORESHWAR

The temple of Boreshwar Mahadeo is situated at a distance of 83 km from Dungarpur near village Solaj in Aspur tehsil and belongs to 1179 A.D.

BHUVANESHWAR

There is a Shiva temple which is situated at a distance of 9 km from Dungarpur on the road side near Kanba village in Dungarpur tehsil.

DEO SOMNATH

Deo Gaon is situated at a distance of 24 km from Dungarpur in the north-east. On the banks of Som river, there is an old and beautiful Shiva temple, Deo Somnath. The temple is believed to have been built sometime in the 12th century of Vikram Samwat. Built in white stone, the temple has imposing currants. It gives an impression of the antiquity. There are several inscriptions in the temple.

Dungarpur Town

 

The town of Dungarpur was founded in 1335 A.D. There are temples erected by Rawal Veer Singh, in the memory of Dungaria’s widows. On the hill, there is also a small fortress where Maharawal Bijai Singh built a place called Bijaigarh, which overlooks a lake. In the east of the town, there is Udai Bilas Place, named after Udai Singh II, surrounded by hills and enclosed by a small lake. Dungarpur town presents a picturesque appearance.

Galiyakot

 

 

Situated on the bank of Mahi river Galiakot village is located 58 km towards the south-east of Dungarpur. The nearest town of Sagwara lies at a distance of 19 km. According to the tradition Galiakot derives its name from a Bhil Chieftain, who ruled the area. It was once the capital of the parmars and also of the erstwhile Dungarpur State. The relics of an old fort can still be seen. The village owes its renown to the shrine of Syed Fakhruddin. it is visited by thousands of Dawoodi Bohara devotees who gather here from all over the country at the time of annual ‘ Urs’ which is held from the 27th day of Muhharram, the first month of Mohammedan year. Syed Fakhruddin was a highly religious man. He was widely known for his learning and saintliness. In the course of his wandering, he died at Galiakot village and was buried there. Besides these places of religious and historical importance there are in the district, other places like Modhpur having Vijia Mata’s Temple, poonjpur, Sagwara having ‘Yati-ji-Chatri’ and Vasundhara having an ancient Vasundhara Devi Temple

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