HISTORY OF DHOLPUR
Dholpur according to the Epics was initially known as Dhawalgiri and later on Dhaulagir,and now as Dholpur. Before the battle of Mahabharat this whole area was under the Yadavs.Whose different branches were spread over the entire area extending from the south of the river Chambal. There is a common belief that some of the Aryan races also lived in this part. Col. James Todd in his book ‘Annals and Antiquities of Rajputana’ has mentioned that the area was submerged under sea during the Ramayan period. Nihal Singh's successor, Maharaj Rana Ram Singh, proved something of a wastrel. Early in his term of office, he incurred the ire of Lord Curzon, for whom he could do no _thing right. His early death in 1911 probably came as a relief to the Imperial authorities.Luckily for the state his younger brother and successor,Maharaj Rana Udai Bhan Singh,was cast in the same mettle as his forefathers. He enjoyed wide interests,military,administrative,political and sporting, which made him the ideal ruler in the eyes of the British. He maintained close connections with his fellow rulers,members of the British Royal Family,Viceroys and administrators alike. He did much to try to bridge the gap between the growing movement for independence with those of the traditional rulers and with the British.Sadly for him, events moved swiftly as a consequence of the Second World War. He soon accommodated himself to the new realities and built bridges with Pandit Nehru. After inde _pendence in 1947, he was instrumental in forming the Matsya Union a year later. He served as its Rajpramukh, or Head of State, during the brief period before it merged into the larger Rajasthan Union in 1949. At the death of Udai Bhan Singh in 1954, the Maharaj Rana left no sons and no designated male heir. His widow then adopted their grandson, the second son of their only daughter who had married the Maharaja of Nabha. The Indian government then instituted a lengthy investigation that lasted two years, but eventually recognised Hemant Singh as Maharaj Rana. Sixteen years later and after completing his majority, he married the descendant of the old enemy, Maharajkumari Vasundhara Scindia of Gwalior. Sadly, they separated within a year of their marriage. The Maharani went on to build a formidable political career. She serves today as Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
Dholpur Tourism
Dholpur is a famous holiday destination in the state of Rajasthan, which is popularly known for Damoye waterfalls in Sarmathura. Earlier called Dhawalgiri,this place was later known as Dhaulagir and finally Dholpur.This district is situated near Bharatpur District and is surrounded by the state of Uttar Pradesh in the north and Madhya Pradesh towards south. Yadavas controlled the entire region till the battle of Mahabharata concluded. The ancient history of Dholpur is reflected in the ruins of the fort situated on the banks of Chambal River. Ruins of Mahabharata period can also be seen at the ancient temple of Muchukund Ji.Dholpur was also once part of Matsya Janpada, which formed one of the 16 Maha Janpadas during Buddha's period. The Matsya Janpada later became part of the Mauryan Empire.Later on,during Gupta dynasty it became part of Mathura Janpada. From 8th century to 10th century, the Janpada was ruled by Chauhans, after which it came under the reign of Jats. The town is believed to have earned its name from Raja Dholan Deo Tonwar, a ruler of this district. The king used to live at a place called Bilpur, which is situated near Chambal and features an old fort. In 1120 AD, the Dholpur Fort was constructed by Dharampal, who was the Raja of Karauli. During Mughal rule, Dholpur was a famous tourist spot, which was frequented by royals for its natural beauty and forests. The major attractions in and around Dholpur include Talab-e -Shahi, Machkund Temple, National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary and Shergarh Fort. Part of the princely state before Indian independence, it became a separate district in 1982. The district comprises four tehsils, namely Baseri, Bari, Dholpur and Rajakhera.The town of Dholpur is situated between Gwalior and Agra that are 55 km away from the main town. It is situated 250 km from the national capital Delhi.Dholpur lies on the central railway route and is connected by National Highway (NH-3) on Delhi-Mumbai Road. The closest airport from Dholpur is located at Gwalior, which is around 60 km from the district. Dholpur has its own railway station, which is connected with trains coming from Delhi, Amritsar and Jhansi. Tourists can also choose to travel to the destination by buses from different places, like Gwalior and Agra. Among all the seasons, the best time to travel to Dholpur is the winter season, between October and February.
Tourist Places in DHOLPUR recommended by travellers
1. Shergarh Fort 2. Ramsagar Sanctuary 3. Machkund temple 4. Talab-E-Shahi 5. Nihal towe 6. Sher Shikar Gurudwara 7. Ravines of Chambal 8. Van Vihar Wild Life Sanctuary 9. National Chambal (Gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary 10.Damoye waterfal
