Swargdwari
| Swargdwari | |
|---|---|
| Historical Town | |
  Swargdwari | |
| Coordinates: 27°34′N 79°21′E / 27.57°N 79.35°ECoordinates: 27°34′N 79°21′E / 27.57°N 79.35°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District | Farrukhabad |
| Elevation | 147 m (482 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 11,127 |
| • Density | 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 207504 |
| Telephone code | 05690 |
| Vehicle registration | UP-76 |
| Sex ratio | 979 ♂/♀ |
Historical town of Swargdwari
Swargdwari was the Capital town of Gaharwars and was located in Kaimganj Tehsil of District Farrukhabad in Northern state Uttar Pradesh of India.
Kunwar Rai singh was the last king of this city. He was better known by the name of KHORAH in historical literature of 12th and 13th century AD. Kunwar Rai Singh was ruling in this territory before Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, as a governor of Badaun invaded him around 1212 AD. After this invasion name of this town was also changed to Shamsabad after the invader's name.
In 1328 AD Swargdwari also got a chance to become capital of Delhi Sultanate during rule of Muhammad bin Tughluq. While he decided to shift his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, his plan failed due to inadequate water supply arrangements in Daulatabad or Devgiri. Muhammad bin Tughluq decided to shift capital to water rich area in central Doab on the bank of holy river Ganges in Swargdwari or Shamsabad. Though this decision was also changed soon for Delhi, as this region was politically unstable.
Gahrwar Rajputs and Kannauj
After the dismemberment of the Pratihara empire, there were, repeated incursions in this region. When the "earth" was thus badly disturbed by political upheavals and destructive raids, a bold adventurer of the Gahadavala sept named Chandradeva, arose into this region and by his "noble prowess" put an end to "all distress of the people". The rule of Gahadavala dynasty over the district is incontestably proved by the discovery at Kudarkot of a copper plate grant dated in the reign of Chandradeva. Chandradova founded the Gahadavala dynasty at Kanyakubja after defeating a chief named Gopala. His jurisdiction extended almost over the whole of the present Uttar Pradesh including this district. Chandradeva was succeeded by Madanpala. However, he ruled for a very short period. Madanapala was succeeded by hit son Govindachandra. Two copper plate grants of Govindachandra, dated respectively Samvat 1161, or A. D. 1104, and Samvat 1174 or 1117 A. D. have been found in village Bisahi, two miles north-east of tahsil Bidhuna of the district Another copper plate grant of this king dated Samvat 1166 or A. D. 1109 has been found at Rahan in the district. Govindachandra seems to have wielded substantial power in the state while he was only a "juvaraja" or crown prince. He defeated the invading bands of Muslims sometimes before 1109 A. D., for the Rahan plate records that he "again and again by the play of his matchless fighting" compelled the Hammira (i.e. Amir) to "lay aside his enmity". The Rahan plate further described Govindachandra as "terrific" in cleaving the frontal gloves of arrays of irresistible mighty large elephants from Gauda", which shows that Govindachandra must have made some encroachments in Magadha. In short, Govindachandra made himself a considerable power and under him, the glories of this region revised. Govindachandra was succeeded by his son Vijayachandra sometimes in 1155 A. D. Like his father, Vijayachandra also successfully faced Muslim aggressions. By the very beginning of the reign of Vijayachandra an unmistakable symptom of decline of the Gahadavala power manifested itself in the loss of Delhi. The full significance of this loss was realised when, about a generation later, the Muslims attacked Delhi region and occupied it, rendering the Gahadavala frontier practically defenceless. Vijayachandra was succeeded by his son Jaichandra in 1170 A. D. He may be described as the last great king of the Gahadavala dynasty, whose power and extensive jurisdiction struck even Muslim historians. During the reign of Jaichandra, the Chauhans, who starting from their territories in Ajmer had annexed Delhi and were at this time bidding for supremacy in the North under the vigorous rule of Prathviraja III. Towards the south, there were the Chandellas whose power at this time was at its height. Apart from this, there were repeated Muslim invasions in North-western India which had already threatened the unity of India. The most important event of his region was the celebration of the Swayamvara of his daughter Sanyogita, who was however, carried away by force, in the midst of the ceremonies by Prithviraja. Perhaps, this was the cause which sowed the seed of enmity between these two northern monarrmes. Though there is no reliable evidence of conflict between these two kings, its quite probable that they were positively hostile to each other, lack of sympathy between these two kings is show by their mutual non-cooperation on the eve of the final conquest of India by the Muslims, led by Mohammad Gohori.
Fort of Swargdwari
Kunwar Rai Singh was a tributary to the King Jaichandra of Kannauj. He made a fort in Swargdwari which was considered invincible. He was very religious and a devotee of Lord Shiva. Within the premises of this fort, he had a great temple of Chaumukhi Shiva.
Kunwar Rai Singh (Raja Khor) was a Gaharwar in early 13th century and was a disciple of Goru Gorakhnath. As being a true Gorakshak, he did not opt for a counterattack over iltutmis (covered by a herd of thousands of cows) and left his invincible fort. He settled another Kingdom in Khorabad near Gorakhpur.