Rao Raj Vilas, also known as The Kuchesar Fort, is 18th-century fort a heritage resort formed by restoring a section of Ajit Singh's family's ancestral property belonging former princely state, Kuchesar. Surrounded by a 100-acre mango grove, it is located in Kuchesar, a village two hours away from New Delhi, seven km off highway NH 24 between Hapur and Garhmukteshwar, and it was restored by Neemrana Hotels.[1]
From NH-24 that goes to Garh, there is small town known as "Kuchesar Road Chopla" there is a road that is connected to Siyana, after moving 7 km from Chopla Kuchesar comes, where the Kuchesar Fort is located.
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During 1740, the Jats became a first rate military power of India. The rulers of Jat of Kuchesar originally belong to Mandoti in Haryana and were the descendents from the Jats of the Dalal sub-caste.
Bhual and his three brothers were the first to arrive in this area during 18th century. His Grandson, Chhatar Singh served with Mirza Ali Beg, the Jagirdar of Chitsauna, obtaining both power and large estate. His sons joined Jawahar Singh, the Jat ruler of Bharatpur to avenge the death of his father Suraj Mal. Later they were offered the jagir of Kuchesar with the title of Rao and office of Chormar by Najib-ud-daulah.
The mud fort of Kuchesar was captured in 1763 but was recovered by the Jat rulers by 1782 and it remained in the family since then and was granted lease by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam in 1790 and then by the British in 1807. This fort was built with seven turrets as an anti cannon attack from Britishers.
The Kuchesar Fort was brought into the Singh family’s possession in the eighteenth century when the Mughal king Najib-ud-Daula bestowed the Jat family with the title of Rao Bhahadur and the Jagir of Kuchesar comprised 365 villages. Thereafter, structures were added to the fort which reveal different architectural influences. The family currently resides in a part that houses the erstwhile reception and dining halls built in the colonial style. The section that has been made into the hotel bears influence of Mughal architecture. It rooms enclose a square courtyard and have balconies with arches and lattice edges that are quintessentially Mughal in style.
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