Garhi Harsaru is a town in Gurgaon on Pataudi Road The name is a combination of two villages Garhi which is dominated by Yadav community and Harsaru which has a Rajput majority.[1] The Pin code for Garhi Harsaru is 123505.[2] It has a population of about 6015 persons living in around 1037 households.[3]
It was a village before 2005 when it became a town. Due to its proximity to the railway junction, IMT Manesar and Reliance SEZ it continues to gain importance.
This village set up by Muslim Sheikhs in around 1234. They were the kings of this village and the Hindu Rathore family were the caretakers of the land. The Rathores served the Sheikhs. Around 1569 the Rathores were force to change into Scheduled caste due to agitation against the Rajputs. When the Sheikhs moved to Pakistan in 1957, they handed over their land to Yadavs, Rathores and migrant Punjabi Kathurias. There is a big market of fruits and grains.
Garhi is Hindi for fortress. Garhi Harsaru is named after Harsh Dev who was one of the 21 sons of Raja Sangat of Mandhan near Alwar. Raja Sangat was the great grandson of Chahir Deo brother of Prithviraj Chauhan[4] (See Page 64 of this reference). When the 2 sons of the junior Rani were bestowed the kingdom of Mandhan in accordance with the pledge by the king to the junior Rani for marrying her in his old age, the 19 sons from the other queen set out to seek their fortunes. Of the 19 brothers 2 viz Harsh Dev and Sahesh Mal arrived in the Gurgaon district. Harsh Dev established the Garhi(fortress) and the area i.e 60 villlages under Garhi Harsaru was called Dhundhoti. Dhundhoti was controlled by Chaudhari Harsaru[5].
Around 1760 Garhi Harsaru was captured by Raja Surajmal of Bharatpur (K.R. Qanungo, History of the Jats, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2003, p. 87).