| FACTS
& FIGURES
Area : 3780 sq km
Languages : Hindi and English
Best time to visit : October to February
STD code : 2964
LOCATION
Dungarpur is a small city located in the western Indian
state of Rajasthan and is famous for its temples and
palaces. The district of Dungarpur extends from latitude
23°50' in the north to longitude 73°50' in the
east. There is a good road network that connects Dungarpur
to other cities in Rajasthan.
CLIMATE
Like most other places in north India,
the climate of Dungarpur is tropical with not much rain
during the monsoon. Average temperature during the summer
hovers around 40°C and during winters, it remains
close to 10°C.
PAST
The district is named after the capital
of the former princely state of Dungarpur. Dungar means
a hill or a mountain and pur means a town, thus Dungarpur
means a 'hill-town'.
Rawal Veer Singh Dev took over this part of the state
from the Bhil Chieftain Dungaria and laid the foundation
of the city as well as of the Old Palace on October
14, 1282 AD.
Dungarpur is famous for its unique style of architecture.
The palaces of the Dungarpur princes and the residences
of the noblemen are adorned by a new style of jharokhas,
which was developed during Maha Rawal Shiv Singh's reign
(AD 1730-1785). The gold and silversmiths of Dungarpur
and Banswara are well known for their lacquer painted
toys and picture framing.
SITES TO VISIT
Nestled in the foothills of the Aravalis,
Dungarpur has an interesting topography, ranging from
wild and rugged terrain in the northeast to fertile
plains of alluvial soil in the southwest. Two magnificent
rivers-the Mahi and the Som flow through the area. While
the former separates the district from Banswara, the
latter draws a natural boundary between the district
and Udaipur.
The area is rich in teak, mahua, mango and khajur trees.
Dungarpur is also noted for its wildlife variety--jackal,
jungle cat, Indian fox, hyena, black-faced monkey, porcupine,
common mongoose are the common inhabitants. The commonly
seen bird variety includes partridges, peafowls, quails,
cuckoos, eagles and vultures. Various migratory birds
also visit the area during the winters.
The Udai Bilas palace was the royal residence named
after Maha Rawal Udai Singh II, a patron of art and
architecture. The palace is an example of the Rajput
architecture characterized intricately sculptured pillars
and panels, impressive balconies, bracketed windows,
and marvelous arches.
The Juna Mahal is a 13th century seven storied structure
resembling a fortress with walls, turrets, narrow entrances
and corridors to slow down the enemy. The splendid interiors
embellished with beautiful frescoes, miniature paintings
and glass and mirror work make it an impressive creation.
The Gaib Sagar Lake is a famous shrine of Shri Nathji
lying along the lake. The shrine is a collection of
several exquisitely built temples with one main temple.
The Vijay Raj Rajeshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva
is an architectural splendor and a fine example of craftsmanship
of the shilpis of Dungarpur.
Govt. Archaeological Museum houses a fine collection
of ancient statues.
SITES NEARBY
Deo Somnath at a distance of 24 km has
a splendid 12th century temple of Lord Shiva built in
white stone. The temple has imposing turrets. The brilliant
juxtaposition of huge stone slabs to create this impressive
edifice epitomizes the craftsmanship of the ancient
time.
Baroda is situated around 41 km and is the erstwhile
capital of Vagad. The village has some beautiful temples.
Of particular interest are the old Shiva temple in white
stone and an ancient Jain temple whose black wall has
exquisitely carved image of the 24 tirthankaras.
Bhuvaneshwar, 9 km, has a famous temple of Lord Shiva
and the place is the venue for a colorful fair held
on the fifth day after Holi.
Poonjpur is situated around 37 km from Dungarpur and
has a beautiful temple dedicated to Mavji. The temple
preserves the manuscript of three books or 'Chopra',
written by Mavji and an idol of Nishkalank riding a
horse.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
During Holi, Gair dances by tribals
wearing colourful dresses and carrying swords, arrows
and sticks are the major attraction.
Bar Bij Fair is held a month after Diwali on the occasion
of Bar Bij and is an important celebration of the district.
The Bhils in their traditional finery, dance, sing and
make merry on this day.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is not a problem in Dungarpur and options
suiting all categories of tourists are available. Heritage
hotels are the best options to stay if one really wants
to explore the heritage of this state.
HOW TO REACH
By Air
Udaipur (120 km) is the nearest airport, connected to
Jodhpur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.
By Rail
Dungarpur is connected to Udaipur and Ahmedabad by regular
trains. The Railway station is three km from the city.
By Road
National Highway No. 8, which runs between
Delhi and Bombay, passes through the district for a
total distance of 31 km. The Sirohi-Ratlam State Highway
passes through the district too. There are regular buses
for almost all the major cities in India.
|
