History of Barmer
Barmer was a beehive of activity till a few centuries ago, and a
number of important kingdoms flourished at various times in the
district during the medieval age. The chief principalities of Barmer
at the time were Khed, Kiradu, Pachpadra, Jasol, Tilwara, Sheo,
Balotara and Mallani. It was the Panwara clan which had strong links
with the Solanki dynasty of Gujarat, whose sphere of influence
extended right across the Barmer region at the time. Later they
wrested Mandore, which was the former capital of Jodhpur and held it
for a while. Meanwhile, Khed and Mallani districts were captured by
the Guhil Rajputs who were ruling over Mewar at the time.
In 1212AD Rao Siha, founder of the Rathore clan, conquered Khed in
Barmer district and planted the Rathore flag in the area. The region
was regained by the Guhil Rajput Pratap Singh, but was later reclaimed
by the Rathore Rao Asthan. Not much is known about the history of
Barmer for a while after that until a ruler Tribhuvansi ascended the
throne, which led to fratricidal feud with his cousin Mallinath. The
ambitious Mallinath (after whom the town of Mallani was later named)
sought the assistance of the Sultanate ruling at Delhi at the time and
defeated Tribhuvansi’s army in 1374.
¤ Barmer Ruled by Mallinath- A Possessor of Divine Power
After his triumph, Mallinath went from strength to strength, and by
the time he died in 1399 the entire region of Barmer was under his
sway and was even called Mallani at the time. He was the first ruler
of Barmer who was called Rawal, and legend has it that he possessed
divine powers and a goddess once appeared before him. How much the
people revered him as a demi-god can be ascertained from the fact that
there is a temple built in his memory on the shores of the river Luni,
near Balotara. After his death, his son Jagmal succeeded him and his
descendants came to be known as the Mahechas. But the empire split up
into many constituents and they were as many as 18 chiefs at one point
of time. Inevitably, with no strong central authority, it was soon
conquered by the state of Jodhpur.
¤ Integration of Barmer with Rajasthan State
This was the state of affairs, when the British came to Barmer in
1836, and the town was thenrefore governed by a superintendent.
Ultimately Barmer was integrated with the state of Jodhpur on 1st of
August 1891. Ultimately with Indian independence in 1947, both Barmer
and adjoining Jodhpur became part of the state of Rajasthan.
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