JALORE

Places of Interest

Jalore Fort: Pride & Prestige of Jalore is its fort that sings its own story of valor & strength.This fort is a property of State Government’s archeological department and a protected building since 1956.To go to Jalore fort one has to go through zig-zag roads of mid of town. It is situated in south of Jalore 1200 feet over the mountains.A zig zag way leads to the fort upon the mountain where on each step the height goes on increasing.The first gate comes while climbing upward called Suraj Pole. Arch of this gate is of immense beauty. Here there are made small rooms where the security guards used to stay.To refrain from artillery firing a huge wall surrounds the gate from front.

This wall is around 25 feet high and 15 feet in width.After it walking for another half a mile second gate known as Dhruv Pole comes.This obstacle was also peculiar from defense point of view.Without winning this post , entry into the fort was negligible.

Third gate is called Chand Pole which is more grand, strong and beautiful from others.From here onwards the rampart that runs along the way on both sides is divided into many parts and conceals within it rounded surface of mountain and then expands.The place between third & fourth gates, Fourth gate is called Sire Pole. One part of the rampart before reaching there takes a left turn upwards and touches the highest part of the mountain and the second rampart moves towards right sick and while encircling mountain peals around it meets the first boundary.

The length of the fort is ¾ Km. and breadth is half a Kilo Meter.Presently there is palace of king Mansingh, two water reservoirs, one Shiv Temple, temple of goddesses Jogmaya, station of Viram Dev, three Jain temples shrine of Mallik Shah and One Mosque.

Among temples the temple of Parshavnath is the grandest of all.The idols sculpted on the walls in the back side of temple attracts visiters the most.

Moving from the four faced Jain Temple to the palace of Mansingh , one pillar of Parmar dynasty stands reserved on a small platform. Probably this is the only memorial of Parmars.The human height red stone’s pillar instantly speaks out the beauty of its artistic sculpting. Before many decades this pillar was found while cleaning a water reservoir that was situated here.

While entering the palace of Man Singh one big square meeting hall comes, whose right side is a hall.In this hall there is one broken and one big artillery machine is placed. Some artilleries could be found here and there in fort’s compound.Just down of Mansingh Palace towards general way are casements on height are good example of rock out. Two storyed queen palace is also there is this Palace.In its courtyard is one underground reservoir that is now not open for general public. In palace are found big storage houses that were used for storing foodgrains, Ghee etc. Behind the palace is the read to Shiv Temple . There is located one big ShivLing of white marble.From the backside of the temple the way leads towards water reservoir where there is a temple of goddesses Chamunda built. In this temple is found a inscription on which it is mentioned that war encircled king KanherDev was given magical sword by goddesses Bhagwati here.

The post of Viram Dev is situated on the highest of the mountain’s South East.From here scenes could be seen afar.The flag of Jalore was being flown here.A newly built mosque is nearby this post presently.During Independence struggle freedom fighters like Ganeshlal Vyas,Mathuradas Mathur,Fatehraj Joshi and Tulsidas Rathi were imprisoned here by Britishers.

Topkhana: In the midst of Jalore town are left remains of a grand Sanskrit school and a temple of king Bhoj times that after passage of several centuries it speaks of its grandeur itself.Bhoj was an intellect of Sanskrit.For the spread of education he built many schools in his capital Dhar, Ajmerand Jalore, all Three are of same structure.Now a days the Sanskrit school of Dhar is known by the name of Mosque of Kamaal Maula, Ajmer School by Adhai Din Ka Jhopda and Jalore school by the name of Topkhana. Artilleries were kept during Rathore’s tenure consequently the name Topkhana emerged for it.>After independence supply officers made it a storage for food grains.This is a protected building of Archaeological department, One security personnel is kept here.

Presently for any tourist a nominal Rs.2.00 and from students Rs.1.00 is charged as fee for visiting it. The way from panchayat samiti office towards Badi Pole leads straight towards it from Tilak Dwar also the straight way leads towards Topkhana.

In this school there is beautiful work on stone carved.On both flanks small temples are built where no idols are present now. Just in front of entrance gate is main structure built on whose strong pillars the roof is surviving.

Every pillars attracts visitors for hours of its tiny stone carvings. It is an example of the beauty of middle ages art.The engravings of flowers, chains, elephant, bells, vines and geometry. In the main premise one room is built 10 feet above earth in the right corner, stairs are built to lead there. This might probably be the seat of headmaster or teacher to teach students in large number.

There are 276 pillars in this building and speaks of its prosperity.While entering from the main gate on the left side is temple that might had Shivling in past.Now a days there are many idols left broken.In it Vishnu,Shiv Parvati, Ganesha and Varaha idols are peculiar.In the right side of school is flank, beautified by raw art.It is felt that its construction was continuous but because of some reasons it was left over.

The same thing is with main arch of canopy the outside of which is also incomplete. The proper maintenance of it can definitely attract tourist and foreigners.​

Sundha Mata Temple: At 1220 Mheight in the Aravli ranges there on Sundha mountain is temple of goddesses Chamunda Devi a very sacred place for devotees. It is 105 Kmfrom district headquater and 35 Km . from sub divisional Bhinmal. This place lies in Raniwara Teshil in the midest of Malwara to Jaswantpura Road near Dantlawas village. Lacs of tourists from Gujarat and Rajasthan visits here. The environment here is afresh & attractive. Fountains flowing whole year and hotel at the valley made in yellow sandstone of Jaisalmer attracts everyone.Sundha temple is made up of while marble, the pillars reminds the art of Abus’s Delwara temple pillars.

A very beautiful idol of goddesses Chamunda is present under the huge stone.Here Chamunda’s head is worshipped.It is said that the trunk of mother Chamunda are established in Korta and legs in Sundarla Pal(Jalore). One phrase is also popular in marwar in this context.

In front of mother Chamunda a BhurBhuva Swaweshwar Shivling is established.The Sundha inscription is of peculiar importance in historical sense-like the Harishen inscription or Delhi’s Mehrulli pillar inscription. Sundha inscription also throws light on the history of India .

In the main temple duo idol of Shiva & Parvati Ganesh’s idol are considered very old & extinct.Various communities have build dinning halls where fresh food is served free of cost, food is also prepared as per order.

During Navratri tourist from Gujarat & nearby areas comes in hug mass. Regular buses of Gujarat roadways from Palanpur,Deesa etc. runs during that time.

Recently Ropeway facility has been established here for climbing the mountain.

In the climbing place a big hotel is made by the Trust that is quite a destiny for visitor to rest during night and enjoy the scenery of mountain

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Quila or Fort of Bhadrajun:

54 Km. away from district headquarter Bhadrajun is settled on Jalore-Jodhpur road.It gets it name from Subhadra and his husband Mahabhart’s brave hero Arjun.Subhadra-Arjun in time lag disrupted to Bhadrajun.It is said that where on the permission of Lord Shri Krishna Arjun lifted Subhadra from Dwarika stayed here on the way.There marriage had also taken place here only.One Brahmin of nearby village conducted their marriage.Arjun gave his conch shell(Shankh) and Subhadra gave her ear ring as gift to Brahmin.That’s why the name this village is sankhvali Near Bhadrajun a small temple of Devi Subhadra is situated known by the name ‘Dhumda Mata’.​