Dungarpur

City in Rajasthan, India

23°50′N 73°43′E / 23.84°N 73.72°E / 23.84; 73.72CountryIndiaStateRajasthanDistrictDungarpurFounded byKing Dungar SinghNamed forKing Divyaraj solanki ^[1]Government

• BodyDungarpur Munciple CouncilElevation

225 m (738 ft)Population

(2011)

• Total47,706Languages

• OfficialHindi • SpokenVagdiTime zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)Telephone code02964 ******Vehicle registrationRJ-12Sex ratio1:1 ♂/♀Websitedungarpur.rajasthan.gov.in

Dungarpur is a city in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, India.

History

Dungarpur is the seat of the elder branch of the Guhilot of Mewar family. The seat of the younger branch is that of the Maharana of Udaipur. The city was founded in 1282 A.D. by Rawal Veer Singh, who was the eldest son of the ruler of Mewar, Karan Singh.^[2] They are descendants of Bappa Rawal, eighth ruler of the Guhilot dynasty and founder of the Mewar dynasty (r. 734–753).

The chiefs of Dungarpur bear the title of Maharawal as they are descendants of Mahup, the eldest son of Karan Singh, the chief of Mewar in the 12th century, and claim the honors of the elder line of Mewar. Mahup, disinherited by his father, took refuge with his mother's family, the Chauhans of Bagar,^[3] and made himself lord of that country at the expense of the Bhil chiefs.^[4] His younger brother, Rahup, founded a separate Sisodia dynasty.^{[citation needed]}

The town of Dungarpur, the capital of the state, was founded near the end of the 14th century by Rawal Bir Singh, the sixth descendant of Sawant Singh of Mewar, who named it after Dungaria, an independent Bhil chieftain who was assassinated. After the death of Rawal Udai Singh of Bagar at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527, where he fought alongside Rana Sanga against Babar, his territories were divided into the states of Dungarpur and Banswara.^[4] Successively under Mughal, Maratha, and British Raj control by treaty in 1818, it remained a 15-gun salute state.^[5]

In 1901, the total population of Dungarpur was 100,103, while that of the town was 6094. The last princely ruler of Dungarpur was Rai-i-Rayan Maharawal Shri Lakshman Singh Bahadur (1918–1989), who was awarded the KCSI (1935) and GCIE (1947), and after independence became a Member of the Rajya Sabha twice, in 1952 and 1958, and later a member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1962 and 1989.^[2]

Demographics

As of 2011^[update] India census, Dungarpur had a population of 47,706 people. The population consists of 52% males and 48% females.^[6] Dungarpur has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. The male literacy rate is 83%, and the female literacy rate is 69%. In Dungarpur, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Religions in Dungarpur
Religion			Percent
Hindus			65.43%
Muslims			34.36%
Others			0.21%

Tranquil lakes and beautiful scenery

Dungarpur is blessed with natural beauty, with its serene lakes and lush greenery offering a break from the dry desert landscape. The Gaib Sagar Lake, surrounded by hills and temples, creates a serene atmosphere. Visitors can also enjoy the Beneshwar Dham Lake, a sacred site for pilgrims.

Stunning Palaces and Royal History

The Udai Bilas Palace is the centerpiece of Dungarpur, showcasing its royal past and impressive architecture. Built by Maharawal Udai Singh II, the palace is now a hotel where guests can experience the grandeur of Rajasthan’s royalty.

Ancient Temples and Cultural Events

Dungarpur boasts ancient temples like the Juna Mahal, famous for its carvings and paintings. Festivals like the Vagad Festival showcase the region’s vibrant culture through music, dance, and traditional stories.

Tribal Villages and Local Crafts

Travelers can explore nearby tribal villages to experience the traditional lifestyle of the Bhil and Garasia tribes. These villages offer opportunities to see local crafts like pottery and weaving.

Climate

The climate of Dungarpur is quite dry. The summer season is hot, but milder than most of the other Rajasthan cities. The average temperature in summer falls in the range of 43 °C (max) to 26 °C (min). The winter season is fairly cool. The average temperature ranges between 25 °C (max) to 9 °C (min). The average annual rainfall for Dungarpur hovers between 47 cm to 76 cm. The mean temperature in Durgapur is 23 °C in November with a humidity of 68%.^[7]

Places of worship

Shrinathji Temple[devsomnath temple]

Fairs and festivals

Baneshwar fair

Notable people

Raj Singh Dungarpur, Cricketer, Administrator
Maharawal Shri Laxman Singh
Harshvardhan Singh Dungarpur, Rajya Sabha MP from Bharatiya Janata Party and his daughter, Her Majesty the Queen Trishikha Kumari Wadiyar of Mysore, the wife of His Majesty the King Yaduveera Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar of Mysore
Dr. Nagendra Singh, President International Court of Justice
Lt. General Nathu Singh Rathore
Bhogilal Pandya
Gajraj Rao
History of mavji Maharaj

References

^ http://www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in › ... Web results Dungarpur Tourism: Tourist Places in Dungarpur - Rajasthan Tourism
^ ^a ^b Dungarpur, History and Genealogy Archived 5 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Queensland University.
^ Dungarpur State The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1908, v. 11, p. 379.
^ ^a ^b One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Dungarpur". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 679–680.
^ Frayne, James F (2017). The Indian Hundi. Montana Publishers. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-326-87077-5.
^ "Census of India 2011 - Dungarpur". Retrieved 15 April 2018.
^ "Climate and Weather Average in Durgapur". Retrieved 18 November 2020.

Sources

Dungarpur Rajya ka Itihasa (History: Kingdom of Dungarpur), by Gaurishankar Hirachand Ojha, First published 1936. Publisher: Rajasthani Granthaghar, Jodhpur 2000. ISBN 81-87720-01-8.