Mandore

For the musical instrument, see Mandore (instrument).
Mandore
town
Mandore

Location in Rajasthan, India

Coordinates: 26°21′13″N 73°01′59″E / 26.3535°N 73.0331°ECoordinates: 26°21′13″N 73°01′59″E / 26.3535°N 73.0331°E
Country  India
State Rajasthan
Languages
  Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Nearest city Jodhpur
Lok Sabha constituency Jodhpur
Vidhan Sabha constituency Sardarpura

Mandore (Hindi: मंडोर), is a town located 9 km north of Jodhpur city, in the Indian state of Rajasthan.

History

Mandore is an ancient town, and was the seat of the Mandorva branch of the Gurjar -Pratihara dynasty which ruled the region in the 6th century AD by King Nahar Rao Panwar. In 1395 AD, a Mohil princess of the Parihar rulers of Mandore married Chundaji, scion of the Rathore clan of Kshstriyas. This was during the era of rapid ascendency of the Rathore clan, and Chundaji received Mandore in dowry. The town remained the seat of the Rathore clan until 1459 AD, when Rao Jodha, a Rathore chief who united the surrounding region under his rule, shifted his capital to the newly founded city of Jodhpur.

Mandore was the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Marwar (Jodhpur State), before moving to Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.[1]

Monuments

The Royal Cenotaph (Deval) At Mandore Garden. Photo by Dr. Chetan S. Parihar, July 2005.

The historic town boasts several monuments. The now ruined Mandore fort, with its thick walls and substantial size, was built in several stages and was once a fine piece of architecture. A huge, now ruined temple is a highlight of the fort. The outer wall of the temple depicts finely carved botanical designs, birds, animals and planets.

The Ek Thamba Mahal At Mandore Garden. Photo by Dr. Chetan S. Parihar, July 2005.

The 'Mandore gardens', with its charming collection of temples and memorials, and its high rock terraces, is another major attraction. The gardens house the Chhatris (cenotaphs) of many rulers of Jodhpur state. Prominent among them is the chhatri of Maharaja Ajit Singh, built in 1793.[1]

The Mandore Gardens also house a government museum, a 'Hall of Heroes' and a Hindu temple to 33 crore gods.[1] Various artefacts and statues found in the area are housed at the museum. The 'Hall of Heroes' commemorates popular folk heroes of the region. It contains 16 figures carved out of a single rock. Next door is a larger hall called "The temple of 33 crore gods" which houses images of various Hindu deities.[1]

Fairs and festivals

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Mandore Garden". Rajasthan Tourism. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

External links