DHAR, Madhya Pradesh

Main Attraction: JAHAZ MAHAL

This 120 mt long “Ship Palace” built between the two artificial lakes, Munj Talab and Kapur Talab is an elegant two storeyed palace. With its open pavilions, balconies overhanging the water and open terrace, Jahaz Mahal is an imaginative recreation in stone of a royal pleasure craft. Viewed on moonlit nights from the adjoining Taveli Mahal, the silhouette of the building, with the tiny domes and turrets of the pavilion gracefully perched on the terrace, presents an unforgettable spectacle.

There are some historians who believe the Jahaz Mahal was built by Sultan Giasuddin as his Harem Mahal. Whereas there are some who believe it was the summer resort of Malwa King Munjdeb.

Brief History

Historically and culturally, Dhar district has occupied an important place throughout its epoch-ancient, mediaeval and modern-era. Dhar, known as Dhar Nagri in ancient period and Piran Dhar in mediaeval period, has had the privilege of being the capital city both in the ancient and in the early mediaeval periods.

Dhar district is named after its main town Dhar situated at 1908 feet above the mean sea level. The Mohammedans called it Piran Dhar after the many ancient tombs of Mohammedan pirs (saints) or kila Dhar after the old fort. Dhar is 54 kms. away from Mhow, its nearest railhead and is connected by an all weather road.

“It has been conjectured by Hassen that the town of Zersgersi mentioned by Ptolemy (A.D. 150) as lying one degree south-west of Ujjain is possibly Dhar, but Mandu would do as well. The first capital of dynasty was Ujjain but Vairsinoa II, the fifth prince of the line, at the end of ninth century moved to Dhar which become from this time actually it not nominally, the capital of Malwa and which is so intimately connected with the Paramara clan as to rise the saying. “Where the Paramara is, there is Dhar, and where Dhar is, there is Paramara Without Dhar Paramara is nothing, so as without the Paramara, Dhar is nothing”

Dhar was referred to in the tenth century by Al- Baruni-lban-Batuta who visited India in 1333, some thirty years after it became a Mohammadan possession, stated that it was the chief town in Malwa. A reference to Dhar Nagri is also found in a Sanskrit drama of Arjun Verma Deva’s time (1210-16). During the region of Paramara chief, Dhar remained an important seat of learning; some of the monarchs themselves possessing no mean literary skill. The Paramara ruled well and Dhar was prosperous.

The Paramars ruled over a vast territory around Malwa for 400 years from the 9th to the 13th centuries. Vakpati Munja and Bhojadeva were the most famous rulers of this dynasty. Munja was a great general, a poet of repute and a great patron of art and literature. His court was adorned by poets like Dhananjaya, Nalayudha, Dhanika Padmagubtam, the author of Navasahasanka Charita, Amitagati etc. He excavated the Munja Sagar at Dhar and Mandu and built beautiful temples at a number of places.

Bhojadeva, the most illustrious of the Paramars, was one of the greatest kings of ancient India. His name became a household word in India not only as a soldier but also as a builder, a scholar and a writer. Authorship of a large number of books on a variety of subjects like grammar, astronomy, poetry, architecture, and asceticism is ascribed to him, He shifted his capital form Ujjain to Dhar, where he established a university for Sanskrit studies. It is known as the Bhoj Shala in which was enshrined the image of Goddess Saraswati. He rebuilt temples, including the magnificent temple at Bhojpur. Bhojdeva also created a large lake near Bhojapur.

In the year 1305, A.D. the whole of Malwa passed into the hands of Ala-Uddin Khilji when Dhar continued to be under Delhi sultans until the region of Muhamad-II. At that time, Dilawar Khan Gauri was the Governor of Malwa. In 1401, A.D. he assumed royalty and established an independent kingdom of Malwa, with his capital at Dhar. His son and successor, Hoshang Shah moved the capital to Mandu. Hoshang Shah died in 1435 A.D. and was entomed in the splendid mausoleum, which still exists at Mandu. On Hoshang Shah’s death his son, Ghazni Khan, succeeded him. He ordered his capital Mandu to be called Shadiabad (the city of joy). He however, had a very short reign, as he was poisoned to death by Mahmud Khilji in 1436 A.D. Mahmud Khan ascended the throne and inaugurated the reign of the Khilji sultans in Malwa. Khilji sultans continued to rule Malwa till 1531 A.D. Later Malwa was captured by Sher Shah and was placed under the charge of Sujat Khan; Sujat Khan was succeeded by his son Baz Bahadur. Mandu and its environs reverberated with the stories of romance of Rupmati and Baz Bahadur when Baz Bahadur was defeated and put to tight by the Mughal army, his beloved Rupmati took poison and put an end to her life to escape dishonour.

In the administrative organisation of Akbar, Dhar was the chief town of a mahal in Mandu sarkar of the subah of Malwa, Akbar stayed at Dhar for seven days, while directing the invasion of the Deccan. He also visited Mandu a number of times. Mandu was also a favourite resort of emperor Jahangir, who stayed here for over six months in 1616 A.D., in his memoirs Jahangir has paid glowing tributes to the pleasant climate and pretty scenery at Mandu. Noorjahan shot four tigers with six bullets, from the back of an elephant near Mandu. When Baji Rao Peshwa divided Malwa among Sindhia, Holkar and the three Pawar chiefs in 1832 A.D., Dhar was bestowed on Anand Rao Pawar. The rulers of Dhar held away over this area till 1948, except for a brief period of three years following the great revolt of 1857.

Dhar was an important centre of revolt; during the first war of Independence in 1857. Freedom fighters captured the fort of Dhar, which remained in their possession from July to October 1857. The Bhils also took active part in the revolt. The rebels paralyzed the authority of the state and opposed the British. Consequently, a large British force under colonel Durand; just because three or four rounds were fired at the British troops by some hidden rebels, who escaped. Thereupon the British soldiers took a revenge on the local people. They dragged civilians from their houses, killed them and looted their property, ladies were dishonored. The rebels defended the fort, till 31st October 1857 when breach was caused; they therefore, escaped through an underground passage. As an after math of the revolt, Dhar state was annexed to the British territory. The British Government changed the decision of Govt. of India, and restored Dhar to Anand Roa III, on the Ist May 1860.

Mandu, clothed in green, with turbulent brooks and torrents rushing down in to the encircling ravines presents a magnificent spectacle. Thousands of tourists are drawn to Mandu, to have a glimpse of the splendid monuments there. Another place of great national importance is Bagh, where the caves have been excavated on the rock face, of a lofty hill, on he bank of the Bagh river. The paintings at Bagh date back to a period between the 5th and 7th centuries A.D. the golden age of Indian art. Together with the Ajanta paintings, the Bagh paintings represent the finest traditions of Indian art, which had a far-reaching influence on the Buddist art, not only in India, but on the entire Buddhist art in Asia. The Majority of the population in Dhar district belongs to the scheduled Tribes. The main tribes in the district are Bhils and Bhilalas. Their highest concentration is in Kukshi tahsil.