About Nagaur

Nagaur in medieval history was ruled by Muhammad Behlim in 1179 A.D..He founded Nagaur Fort. The city was at the center of Muslim invasion from Central Asia. The fort is of historical significance. The Rajput rulers dominated Nagaur for a longer period. Nagaur ruler were repeatedly forced to pay tribute to the Sesodias of Chittor while their lands were slowly annex by the Rathors of Jodhpur. In fact the case of Nagaur brightly illustrates the turning back of the tide of Islamic conquests in Rajputana in the 14th and 15th Centuries.Nagaur, north to Bikaner, and up to the border of Punjab, was called Jangladesh in ancient times. The remains of some of the earliest settlements along the banks of the long dried-up Saraswati River can be seen to this day—in a later age it came under the Naga rulers after whom the town of Nagaur (Naga-pura) is named.

 In 1306 a Mongol army damage Nagaur. The Khalji Turks had begun pushing deeper into the lands of the independent Rajput rulers and even further into South India. In the midst of this development they lost some of the main Rajput forts like Jaisalmer, Chittor, and Siwana. Some of the other forts and towns were lost to the Rajputs after the break-up of the Delhi Sultanate in 1351. With the death of Firuz Tughlaq in 1388 the remaining strongholds like Nagaur came under their own traditional governors. Turks of the Dandani tribe became Sultans,The Sultans of Nagaur taxed the money earned by the people from trade, agriculture, and from the huge herds of cattle, goats, and camels. In addition, like in the Delhi Sultanate, jaziya and a pilgrimage tax taken from Hindus brought significant sums to the treasury and enabled the Dandani Turks to match their neighbors in battle.

While Nagaur was still swearing a nominal allegiance to Delhi, two ominous events occurred in the neighborhood within a short period. One was the campaign of Rana Lakha (1389–1404) of Mewar, which saw a Rajput army ravaging Ajmer and pushing on to the Jhunjhunun region near Delhi. The second was the capture of Mandore by Rao Chunda (1390–1422) of the Rathor clan—this city henceforth became the Rathor capital and gave Rao Chunda a convenient base for attacking Nagaur. Rao Chunda also changed horses mid-stream and formed an alliance with Mewar, where the Rathor princess Hamsabai was married to the old Rana Lakha, who in turn promised to make her son the next Rana. On the strength of this coalition Chunda subdued Rajput clans like the Bhatis and Mohils and again attack Nagaur, forcing Muslim rulers to make peace by paying him tribute.In 1422 these three defeated powers made an association and killed Chunda on the outskirts of Nagaur—Chunda’s son Ranamalla was then at Mewar and his brothers sought to capture the throne at Mandore.With the help of the Mewar army, Ranamall defeated his brothers and became the head of the Rathor clan. In 1428 he led this joint Sesodia-Rathor army to punish the Turks of Nagaur where he stormed the fort and killed Firuz Khan.

After his death in 1453 the succession to the Nagaur throne was disputed between the brothers Mujahid Khan and Shams Khan. Rana Kumbha, who had emerged victorious in the long war with the Sultan of Malwa and the Rathors, sent his army to aid Shams Khan who was installed as the Sultan. For the next two years the Sultans of Gujarat and Malwa formed an alliance to fight against Rana Kumbha, but by this time Mewar had again become the dominant power in North India—not the least because of a peace treaty with the Rathor clan.

After independence, Nagaur had the honour of being selected as the place in the country from where the Democratic Decentralisation process was launched by the late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India on the 2nd October 1959.

Nagaur remained under Mughal control, but was actually administered by one of the nearby Rajput rulers. In the time of Shah Jahan the heir of the Jodhpur throne, Amar Singh, was disinherited by his father and was granted Nagaur as compensation by the Mughal Emperor. Many of the buildings in the town date from this period.

1) Nagaur Fair- The Jodhpur Nagaur Fair is the second biggest fair in India. The fair goes on for eight days. Nagaur Fair of Jodhpur, Rajasthan is held every year during the month of Jan-Feb.

It is commonly known as the Cattle fair of Nagaur. This is because the Nagaur Fair is mostly all about trading of animals. About 70,000 bullocks, camels and horses are traded every year in this fair. The animals are lavishly decorated and even their owners dress up wearing colorful turbans and long moustaches. Other trading in the Nagaur Fair in Jodhpur, India consists of sheep to Marwari horses to spices. Some other attractions include the Mirchi bazaar (largest red-chilly market of India), wooden items, iron-crafts and camel leather accessories.

2) Nagaur Cattle Fair- Nagaur is the very popular attractive and scenic town in Rajasthan. It attracts large number of tourists during the cattle fair popularly referred to as the Nagaur Cattle Fair, Nagaur.The Nagaur Cattle Fair in Nagaur marks the trading of cattle on an expansive and extensive scale. This fair is celebrated for 8 days on an annual basis. It usually takes place in the Hindu month of Magha that comprises of January and February months of English.

The Nagaur Cattle Fair, Nagaur is believed to be the second biggest cattle fair of Rajasthan. In this fair as many as 70, 000 bullocks, camels and horses are traded and due to the presence of this large number of cattle this fair has been assigned huge importance. However it is just not the number factor for which this fair has risen into popularity. It is also about the quality of the cattle that has earned it a special reputation.

Main Tourist attractions in Nagaur are-

1) Nagaur Fort- It is a Sandy fort which is centrally situated;This fort is of 2nd century old;It witnessed many battles; lofty walls & spacious campus; having many palaces & temples inside such as Tarkeen Dargah, Jain Temple in Glass, Saiji ka Tanka etc.The Nagaur Fort locally known as Ahhichatragarh (Fort of the Hooded Cobra) is a large fort complex housing palaces, pleasure pavilions, gardens, courtyards, temples, a mosque and an elaborate water system.

2) Dhahdariya Khurd - Dhahdariya Khurd is a tiny village in the Nagaur Tehsil of Nagaur district. In this Village Very Large "Gahusala" about 500 cows lives here. In this village temple Satimata Temple and God of snack Temple hariram Baba.

3) Ladnun- Ladnun is historical City of Old Chanderi Nagari and tourism site.10th century's Jain temples are rich with historical attraction. Ladnun is the religious hub of Ahimsa.

4) Khinvsar Fort- Khinvsar Fort is situated about 42 km away from Nagaur on the National Highway No. 65 towards Jodhpur; This fort is about 500 years old fort,it lies in the middle of the Thar Desert;it has now converted into a hotel furnished with modern facilities. Mugal Emperor Aurangzeb used to stay here; Khinvsar town has 25 small temples; black deer roaming in herds are a very famous tourist attraction.

5) Jayal- Dadhimati Mata Temple –This temple is a also known as Goth-Manglod temple;It is 40 km away from Nagaur;It is the oldest temple of the district which was founded during the Gupta Dynasty.

6) Merta- Meera Bai Temple - Also known as the Charbhuja temple;It is about 400 years old; It indicates how total surrender helps attain religious qualities; how deep faith converts poison to 'Amrit'.
 
7) Bhuwal Mata Temple- It is about 25 km away from Merta City;It carries a very interesting story that when thieves were found to be under danger of life they remembered mother by heart; mother appeared for their rescue; temple was got constructed under obligation; the thieves who escaped promised never to commit theft again; mother takes two a half cups of wine from a true seeker.

Other Places of Archeological Interest are-
1) Harsor - Situated in Degana tehsil of Nagaur district.

2) Phalvardhika (Phalodi) - Located in Merta tehsil of Nagaur district near Merta Road Railway Station. An old temple of Brahmani Mata known as Phalvardhika Mata belonging to the10th century or even earlier.

3) Khundiyas - Khundiyas (Parbatsar) is well-known for the temple of Baba Ramdevji in the Parbatsar Tehsil of Nagaur district.

4) Kinsariya - Kinsariya is well-known for the temple of "Keway Mata" in the Parbatsar Tehsil of Nagaur district.

5) Butati - Butati is a birthplace of Saint Shri Chaturdasji in Nagaur district. Butati is popular for it's spirituality. Paralysis patients from all over India used to visit the Butati temple every day and pray for their recovery. This village is located in National Highway (NH) 89, around 31 km from Merta City, around 49 km from Nagaur City, around 110 km from Ajmer. Shri Chaturdasji Maharaj temple very well known in Rajasthan and near by states in India. Many patient came across states to cure paralysis. Heaven for patients of paralysis.