Dholpur Travel Guide
¤ Forts & Places
There are a number of things to see in Dholpur. The early 19th
century red sandstone Palace built by one Raja Kirat Singh used to be
a fine structure. The ruins, which the locals call chhavni
(cantonment), are probably all that remains of it. However, one can
still see flashes of architectural finesse here and there. It’s
an elaborate complex and walking through the ruins can be fun. The old
Mausoleum of Sadik Muhammad built in 1597 now houses a school.
Scattered all around are many more interesting monuments. The Shergarh
Fort, now in ruins, is said to be over 3,000 years old. It is located
towards the south of the town, beside the Chambal River. Sher Shar Sur
(see History of Delhi for more on him) restored the fort in 1540, and
was in use till the beginning of this century.
¤ The Ancient Mughal Garden
The tiny village of Jhor (16km) has something to boast of too –
the oldest Mughal Garden of the subcontinent which was laid in 1527 by
Babur. But this once-famous spread was discovered only in 1978, by
Elizabeth Moynihan, the wife of the then United States Ambassador to
India. Using Babur's autobiography as a guide, Elizabeth meticulously
traced clues from Uzbekistan to Dholpur. But by then much of the once
elaborate garden was wiped out. Another site worth seeing in Dholpur
is the ancient Shiv Mandir,also called the Chaupara Mandir. It is
located near the Gwalior-Agra road and is a monument of great
architectural beauty.
¤ Main Excursions
Mach Kund
An excursion to Bari offers exciting rewards too. The Mach Kund (8km
from Dholpur) here is an ancient sacred place. It has a tank
surrounded by a series of temples of different dates. The name comes
from one Raja Muchkund, who is supposed to have reigned 14 generations
before Rama (of the Ramayana fame). That was thousands of years ago,
and it’s really surprising how the legend has survived. The place
bursts forth with life once a year when it becomes a pilgrim site.
There are also the ruins of an ancient fort (1286) built by one Firoz
Shah.
Kanpur Mahal
The 17th century elegant pleasure palace Kanpur Mahal (40km km from
Dholpur), which is a series of interconnected pavilions, was built by
the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. There is also a historic lake in the
surroundings, called Talab Shahi. This beautiful place served as Shah
Jahan’s hunting grounds. The lake attracts a large number of
migratory fowl. Don't miss the Damoh waterfall near Sarmathura. With
so many water bodies in Dholpur, one would hardly remember that one is
in the deserts of Rajasthan.
¤ Wildlife Attractions
Bari is also known for its Van Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary, located at
about 18km from Dholpur. Covering an area of 60 sq km, Van Vihar was
recognized as a sanctuary in 1955. The sanctuary spreads itself on the
Vindhya Plateau and supports a rather stunted growth of Dhok and Khair
(Acacia catechu) trees. Some of the animals found here are sambhar
(large Asiatic deer), cheetal (spotted deer), nilgai (large Indian
antelope), wild boar, hyena and leopard. Maharaja Udaibhan Singh of
Dholpur had a great liking for animals and frequented Van Vihar. He
used to hand feed not only the deer and birds, but also the foxes and
jackals. Anyway, near this sanctuary is another one – the
Ramsagar Sanctuary. The highlight of this one is the picturesque
Ramsagar Lake. It supports a rich aquatic life including fresh water
crocodiles and a large number of fishes and snakes. Water birds like
cormorants, ibis, jacanas, stilts, herons and others are also common.
The lake also serves as a veritable resort for migratory ducks and
geese during the winter months. |
