Khetri
| Khetri | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Khetri | |
| Coordinates: 27°59′N 75°48′E / 27.98°N 75.8°ECoordinates: 27°59′N 75°48′E / 27.98°N 75.8°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Jhunjhunu |
| Elevation | 484 m (1,588 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 17,377 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 333504/333503 |
| Telephone code | 0159 |
Khetri Nagar is a town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan in India. It is part of Shekhawati region. Khetri is actually two towns, the first "Khetri Town" was founded by Raja Khet Singhji Nirwan. The other is the town of "Khetri Nagar", which is about 10 km away from Khetri. It is known for its Copper Project. The township of Khetri Nagar is built and is under control of the Hindustan Copper Limited, a public sector unit under Government of India.
History
Khetri was the second largest Thikana in Jaipur State. The rulers of Khetri belonged to Shekhawat sub-clan (Bhojraj Ji Ka subsub-clan) of Kachawa dynasty of Jaipur. The king of Khetri Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri gave name of Swami Vivekananda, to Narendra. The saffron turban and clothes was given to swamiji by Raja Ajit Singh. King also helped Swamiji financially for going to Chicago Dharma Samellan, from where swamiji got publicity worldwide.
Raja Khet Singh Nirban of Nirban-Chauhan Rajput clan founded the town, later this town was conquered by Shekhawat Rajputs and awarded to Thakur Kishan Singh Ji by his father Maharao Shardul Singh Ji of Jhunjhunu. Khetri is also a part of Panchpana.[1]
Raja Ajit Singh Shekhawat of Khetri was a far sighted and wise ruler, he built many forts, palaces and temples. Swami Vivekanand was also a close friend of Raja Ajit Singh. A statue of Swami Vivekanand is installed on a street roundabout of Khetri as memorial. Raja Sardar Singh was the last titular Raja of Khetri.
Khetri nagar has a multicultural ambience due to people from all states coming in and working in the copper project. Khetri also has a centre of Ramakrishna Mission, and this centre is active in philanthropic activities in this town and nearby villages for long time.[2]
Travel
Khetri Fort
The fort at Khetri was built in 1754 by the then Shekhawat Rajput raja, Bhopal Singh (Raja Shri Bhopal Singh Shekhawat Ji Saheb Bahadur).[3] It was named "Bhopalgarh" in his honour. It is an easy trek of 4 km from the base of the hill. The splendid view from the fort is a breathtaking experience and also includes a marvellous but small marble temple. The spiral shaped open-cast copper mine called Chandmari is a treat to eyes, when viewed from the hilltop along the boundaries of the fort. This mine has been shut down and is abandoned. There is one temple on the top which is locked for visitors. It is a magnificent fort which would challenge any fort in world, but is in need of maintenance.
Ramakrishna Mission Center
In 1958, Ramakrishna Mission was started at the Palace of Khetri, which was donated by Raja Ajit Singh's grandson, Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh. The palatial building has been named as "Vivekananda Smriti Mandir", which houses marble statues of Raja Ajit Singh and Swami Vivekananda. The room at the topmost storey where Swamiji used to stay and had spiritual discourses with Raja Ajit Singhji, has been converted into a prayer room. Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri, was a great friend & disciple of Swami Vivekananda.It is said that the name Vivekananda was requested by the Maharaja to be accepted by Narendra, the initial name of Swamiji. Swami Vivekananda had stayed there three times (1891, 1893 and 1897)[4] during his visits to Khetri. In his first visit to Khetri, Swami Vivekanada initially stayed elsewhere, which is unknown, and later on he moved to the Fateh Vilas( The palace, presently Vivekananda Smriti Mandir, Ramakrishna Mission, Khetri). During his second visit to Khetri he did stay here, in the above mentioned room, but in his third visit to Khetri, he stayed in Sukh Mahal, near Fateh Vilas. He delivered his last discourse on Vedanta, in Khetri, was delivered in the space in front of Sukh Mahal. Swami Vivekananda started his journey to The Parliament of World's Religions, Chicago, United States of America from Fateh Vilas, Khetri on May 10th, 1893. The centenary celebration of this particular day was performed by the local people of Khetri, with the help of Ramakrishna Mission, with emphatic fervor, on May 10th, 1993. Rest of India celebrated this day on 31st May, 1993, because Swamiji departed from Bombay(Mumbai) on 31st May, 1893.
There is story of a cortesan having sung a Bhajan in honor of Swamiji which he being a celeb did not attend. He heard the song which went as" I am impure oh Lord but you are not, so how come you differentiate between your own offspring" and he realized the truth that escaping female in name of celebecy is not divine.
Vivekananda Museum
To make the people in general aware of the decade-long association of Swami Vivekananda with Khetri, to further spread the cultural and social messages of the Swami, to portray his life and time with realistic presentation through life-size and miniature Diorama, and to give a tribute to Swamiji on his 150th Birthday in January 2013, the Ramakrishna Mission, proposes to open a majestic Museum to be housed in ‘Fateh Vilas’ Palace building, Khetri. Work is under progress. It is being developed with the generous support from Govt. of India, State Govt. of Rajasthan & general public. Dainik Bhaskar Newspaper - Vivekananda Museum in Khetri[5]
Gopinath ji temple
The temple of Gopinathji is a unique example of shekhawati paintings. A person who wants to see the painting art of shekhawati should visit Gopinathji temple also.Which is situated at Khetri Fort.
Pannasar Talab
Pannasar Talab is an artificial lake in Khetri to catch water flowing down from the hills. There are three storage tank also in case of overflow in rainy season. Sthapatya kala is also there in the form of small statues made on the boundaries.[6]
Temples
There are many temples which are very beautifully made, which can be visited1. Varahi Devi, 2.Hanuman Ghadi, 3.Siddhivinayak 4.ganga mata ka Mandir, 5.Bihari ji ka mandir, 6.Temple of Rani Sati (On Fort) 7.Jhojhu Ashram 8.Bhatiyani Ji ka mandir 9.bada mandir 10. Gopi Nath ji ka Mandir 11. Shyam mandir 12. Shani mandir 13. Shivji ka mandir 13.Sundrdas ji temple. Most important and majestic is the fort of Khetri with many temples in its campus.
How to Reach
Khetri is well connected by Road. Travel is possible to the city by either public or private bus and private vehicles. The nearest railway station is Chirawa, Neem Ka Thana,Narnaul and Nizampur at a distance of 30 km. Best way to reach is from New Delhi Sarai Kale Khan ISBT having direct buses. Also it can be reached with very frequent and direct buses from Jaipur.
Air
Nearest international airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and Jaipur International Airport, Jaipur.
Train
Nearest railway station is Chirawa, Neem Ka Thana, Narnaul And Nizampur at a distance of 30 km.
Bus
Khetri is at a distance of 190 km from Delhi and 165 km from Jaipur. Frequent RSRTC buses are available from Sindhi Camp,Jaipur to reach Khetri. Khetri is served by two bus stand in Delhi, Harayana Roadways serve the city from Sarai Kale Khan Inter State Bus Terminal, Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, Delhi and many private buses from Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi.
Geography
Khetri is located at 27°59′N 75°48′E / 27.98°N 75.8°E.[7] It has an average elevation of 484 metres (1587 feet). The name of the mountain in khetri is Bhopalgarh.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[8] Khetri had a population of 17,377. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Khetri has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 56%. In Khetri, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Hindustan Copper Limited
The Khetri Copper Complex of Hindustan Copper Limited is situated at 10 km from here. It is the largest Copper mines in India with concentrator & refinery and produces copper. It also has by-products i.e. Sulphuric Acid, Fertilizer etc.
References
- ↑ http://www.shekhawati.in/khetri/
- ↑ http://rkmissionkhetri.org
- ↑ Dundlod, Harnath Singh (1970). The Sheikhawats and Their Lands. Jaipur: Raj Educational Printers. p. 122. OCLC 309570.
- ↑ http://rkmissionkhetri.org
- ↑ http://rkmissionkhetri.org/news/?page_id=143
- ↑ http://www.rkmissionkhetri.org/khetri.html
- ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Khetri
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
External links
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