Mandore
town
Temples in Mandore
Temples in Mandore
Mandore is located in Rajasthan
Mandore
Mandore
Location in Rajasthan, India
Mandore is located in India
Mandore
Mandore
Mandore (India)
Coordinates: 26°21′13″N 73°01′59″E / 26.3535°N 73.0331°E / 26.3535; 73.0331
Country India
StateRajasthan
DistrictJodhpur
Languages
 • OfficialMarwari(Regional), Hindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Nearest cityJodhpur
Lok Sabha constituencyJodhpur
Vidhan Sabha constituencySardarpura

Mandore is a suburb Historical 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 Pratiharas of Mandavyapura, who ruled the region in the 6th century CE. Even after the disintegration of the Gurjara-Pratihara empire, a Pratihara family continued to rule at Mandore. In 1389 The Pratihara Dynasty appointed Rao Hema Gehlot as head of Mandore. Rao Hema Gehlot formed an alliance with the Rathore chief Rao Chunda (r. c. 1383-1424) to defend its chiefdom against the Tughluq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Rao Chunda married a Pratihara princess of Mandore, Rao Hema Gehlot coronated Rao Chunda and received the Mandore Fort in dowry; the Fort served as his family's capital until 1459 CE, when Rao Jodha shifted it to the newly-founded city of Jodhpur.[1]

Rao Ranmal Rathore secured the throne of Mandore in 1427. In addition to ruling Mandore, Rao Ranmal also became the administrator of Mewar to assist Maharana Mokal (father of Rana Kumbha). After the assassination of Maharana Mokal in 1433, Ranmal continued as administrator of Mewar at the side of Rana Kumbha. In 1438, Rana Kumbha decided to end the power sharing arrangement and had Rao Ranmal assassinated in Chittor and captured Mandore. Rao Jodha, son of Rao Ranmal, escaped towards Marwar. Approximately 700 horsemen accompanied Rao Jodha as he escaped from Chittor. Fighting near Chittor and a valiant attempt to bar the pursuers at Someshwar Pass resulted in heavy losses amongst Jodha's warriors. When Jodha reached Mandore he had only seven people accompanying him. Jodha collected whatever forces he could, abandoned Mandore and pressed on towards Jangalu. Jodha barely managed to reach safety at Kahuni (a village near present day Bikaner). For 15 years Jodha tried in vain to recapture Mandore. Jodha's opportunity to strike finally came in 1453 with Rana Kumbha facing simultaneous attacks by the Sultans of Malwa and Gujarat. Jodha made a surprise attack on Mandore. Jodha's forces overwhelmed the defenders and captured Mandore with relative ease. Jodha and Kumbha eventually settled their differences in order to face their common enemies, the rulers of Malwa and Gujarat.

Mandore was the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Marwar (Jodhpur State), before Rao Jodha moved it to Jodhpur, where he built Mehrangarh.[2]

Mandore remained as royal cremation grounds, where Devals of all the Kings of Marwar till Maharaja Takht Singh were built. From Maharaja Jaswant Singh-II onwards, Jaswant Thada became the royal cremation ground.

Mandore is the known as the vincity of Sainik kshatriyas or Mandorva Rajputs. Major Mandorva Rajputs are- Gahlot (Sisodiya), Rathore , Parihar (Pratihar), Tanwar, Solanki, sankhla, Deora, Chauhan, Tak, Bhati, Panwar and Parmar.

Most notable Mandorva Rajput- • Rao Hema Gehlot

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 fort has been adopted by Mehrangarh Museum Trust under "adopt a heritage" scheme of Indian government for preservation and conservation.[3]

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.[2]

Ravan temple is another attraction at Mandore. It is believed to be the native place of Ravan's wife Mandodari. Ravan is treated as son in law among some local Brahmins.[4]

The Mandore Gardens also house a government museum, a 'Hall of Heroes' and a Hindu temple to 33 crore gods.[2] 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.[2]

Fairs and festivals

  • The Rao Festival
  • Hariyali Amavasya
  • Naag Panchami
  • Veerpuri Mela[5]
  • BhogiShell Parikrama

See also

References

  1. ↑ Melia Belli Bose (2015). Royal Umbrellas of Stone: Memory, Politics, and Public Identity in Rajput ... BRILL. p. 139. ISBN 9789004300569.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Mandore Garden". Rajasthan Tourism. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Adopt a heritage: Mandore Fort will be beautified by Mehrangarh Trust". Dainik Bhaskar. January–February 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  4. ↑ Times Of India (14 October 2015). "Saluting the virtues of Ravan". Shailvee Sharda. Lucknow. Times Of India. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Premji (18 August 2015). "Jodhpur - Blue City of India". Andhra Telangana Vishesh. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
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