Sawai Madhopur Travel Guide

Distance : 123km from Jaipur (via Dausa)
STD : 074621

Sawai Madhopur’s original name was simply Madhopur, until Raja Jai Singh II met the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. According to legend, Aurangzeb took on a military campaign in the Deccan and sought Jai Singh’s help in expanding his empire. Jai Singh conveniently declined. At this time Rajasthan was being ruled by the Emperor and Madhopur was directly under Delhi rule, the 14 year old Jai Singh being merely Aurangzeb’s vassal. After the battle Aurangzeb summoned the Rajput to Delhi to be tried for disobeying his royal command.

While the trial was in progress and just as the Emperor was about to have Jai Singh sent to the gallows, Aurangzeb held the teenaged raja’s hand. Upon this Jai Singh declared that since the Emperor had taken his hand as a groom takes his wife’s, he was under the direct protection of the Emperor. Jai Singh’s wit impressed Aurangzeb so much that he forgave the little king for his folly and conferred upon him the title of sawai (one and a quarter). Since then the rulers of Jaipur have flown two flags – one full and the other quarter – as a symbol to this title.
Sawai Madhopur makes a good place to stay for excursions into the Ranthambore National Park.