Garhwal (clan)

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Garhwal (Hindi:गढवाल) is a gotra(clan) of Jats are found in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in India. In Rajasthan they inhabit many villages in Sikar district. It is possible that people who came from Garhwal adopted their gotra based on it. Garhwal is a region and administrative division of Uttaranchal state, India, lying in the Himalayas. It is believed that Garhwal was named so because it had 52 Garhs of 52 petty chieftainships, each chief with his own independent fortress (garh). Nearly 500 years ago, one of these chiefs, Ajai Pal, reduced all the minor principalities under his own sway, and founded the Garhwal Kingdom.

According to Thakur Deshraj, during the period of Anangpal they were the rulers of Garhmukteshwar. One ancestor of Rajpal was Jat chieftain named Mukta Singh, who constructed the Garhmukteshwar fort. When Prithvi Raj became the ruler of Delhi he attacked Garhmukteshwar. There was a severe war and Garhwals were able to repel the army of Prithvi Raj Chauhan but the circumstances of that time forced them to move out from there and migrated to Rajasthan.

At Talawdi when there was war between Muhammad Ghori and Prithvi Raj, Jats attacked the army of Mughals but they did not support Prithvi Raj because he had occupied their state. One Jat warrior Puran Singh became General of the Army of Malkhan. Malkhan had become popular due to support of Puran Singh.

When Garhwals lost Garhmukteshwar, they came to Rajasthan and occupied ker, bhatiwar, Chhawsari etc near Jhunjhunu in 13th century. As per their bards when these people came to this place, Johiya, Mohiya Jats were the rulers of this area. Bhats have mentioned them as Tomars. When Muslim influence increased in this area they had wars with them as a result they moved from here to there. One of these groups moved to ‘Kuloth’, which was ruled by Chauhans. After a war they occupied Kuloth. Sardar Kurdaram who was a descendant of Garhwals of Kuloth had been tehsildar of Nawalgarh.

It is also said that due to war from inside of the fort they were called Garhwals. Those who fought war from out side the fort were called ‘Bahrola’ or ‘Barola’. Those who fought on the gate were called ‘Falsa’ (local name for gate). It shows that this gotra is title based.

It is also possible that they were Panduvanshi or Kuntals. Bhats have mentioned them as Tomars and Tomars were also Panduvansi. Garhmukteshwar has also been mentioned in the Bhagvat Purana and the Mahabharata. It is said that it was a part of the ancient city of Hastinapur (the capital of the Kauravas). There was an ancient fort here, which was repaired by a Maratha leader named Mir Bhawan. The name of the place is derived from the great temple of Mukteshwar Mahadeva, dedicated to the goddess Ganga who is worshipped here in four temples, two situated on a high cliff and two blow it.

[edit] Distribution of this clan in Rajasthan

bidsar, dadia, daulatpura, dhani garhwal, gokulpura, gumana ka baas katlathal, jeenwas, jhigar chhoti, jhilmil, kalu ka baas, katlathal, khud, kudan, laxman ka baas, pratappura khuri, rulyani, sanwloda purohitan, sewad badi, sewad chhoti, sihot chhoti, sikar, tasar badi, thikaria bawdi, tunwa,

The Garhwals are also spread in villages of jhunjhunu such as Sonasar, Bhodki, Narhar.