DHOLPUR

About
Situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan, Dholpur became a separate district in 1982 comprising four tehsils of Bharatpur – namely Dholpur, Rajakhera, Bari and Baseri. Carved out of Bharatpur district, Dholpur is surrounded by Agra on the north, Morena district of Madhya Pradesh on the south and Karauli on the west.
Ever since its existence, Dholpur remains one of the most fascinating regions in the state that has witnessed the oldest civilizations, and is extremely rich in cultural heritage. It used to be the seat of the Dholpur princely state before Independence, and today is a city of diverse culture and historical grandeur.
The red sandstone from Dholpur is famous throughout the country and was famously used in the construction of the Red Fort in Delhi.

The history of this princely state is known to date back to Buddha’s time. Several centuries ago, Dholpur was a part of the Mauryan Empire and came under the rule of various rulers all along the Mughal period. Around the 8th to the 10th century, Dholpur was known to be ruled by the Chauhans.Until 1194, it continued to be under the rule of Mohammed Gauri.
Dholpur was initially known as Dhawalpuri named after the ruler Raja Dhawal Deo, also known as Dholan Deo Tomar who established the city in 700 AD (though some historians have dated the formation to 1005 AD.) Later, it came to be known as Dholpur.

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Come explore the wonders and sites that Dholpur has to offer you. There’s always something to see in Rajasthan.

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  Light & Sound Show at MACHKUND

  Light & Sound Show at Machkund (Dholpur) is one of the first 3-D projection mapping-based light & sound show in Rajasthan using 3-chip DLP projectors of 25,000 lumens, DMX controlled LED lights, 5.1 audio surround system, etc. Show depicts story of Maharaja Machkund, his support to Devas (God) in their war with demons, boon by Indradev to Maharaja Machkund for long lasting sleep of decades, killing of sages by demon Kalyavan and warning to kill Shri Krishna, disturbance of sleep of Maharaj Machkund by Kalyavan, killing of Kalyavan by Maharaj Machkund, creation of a water kund by Maharaja Machkund where he slept for years, importance of Machkund to local public of Dholpur, etc.

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  CITY PALACE

  Also known as the Dholpur Palace, the City Palace is an opulent structure that seamlessly blends ancient heritage and elegant architecture. Once home to the Royal Family, this palace was built from red sand stone which illustrates the history, splendour and grandeur of the city. With the fierce Chambal ravines on its south-eastern end and the beautiful city of Agra at its north-west, the City Palace transports visitors back to the royal era with its impressiveness and mesmerising surroundings.

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  ROYAL STEPWELL

  Constructed between 1873 -1880, this royal stepwell or ‘baori’ is situated behind the Nihaleshwar temple in city. This four storied building has beautiful artistic pillars and carved stones.

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  NIHAL TOWER

  Situated at the Town Hall road and locally known as Ghanta Ghar, this 150-feet high tower was started by Raja Nihal Singh in the year 1880, and completed around the year 1910 by Raja Ram Singh. The foot of this tower is covered with 12 equal-sized gates and covers an area of around 120 feet.

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  SHIV TEMPLE AKA CHAUSATH YOGINI TEMPLE

  One of the oldest Shiv temples in Dholpur, the Chopra Shiv Temple was built in the 19th century. The month of March witnesses a large number of devotees and pilgrims here on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Additionally, the temple is thronged with devotees who come to pray every Monday, since it is considered to be the day of Lord Shiva. This ancient temple is also very famous for its mesmerising architecture.

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  SHERGARH FORT

  Located to the south of Dholpur, the Shergarh Fort was built by Raja Maldeo of Jodhpur. It was reconstructed in 1540 by Sher Shah Suri and named after the Sultan of Delhi. This fort was initially built in defence against the rulers of Mewar. This historic monument is considered to be the epitome of rich, delicately-styled architecture from the past. Adorned with carved images, statues of Hindu gods and Jain motifs, the Shergarh Fort was once protected by water and is considered to be the charm of Dholpur.

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  SHER SHIKHAR GURUDWARA

  The Sher Shikhar Gurudwara was established near Machkund in Dholpur due to a significant visit by Guru Hargobind Sahib, who was known to be the sixth of the Sikh Gurus. The Sher Shikhar Gurudwara is one of the most important Gurudwaras and holds a place of historical importance in Sikhism. This spot attracts Sikhs from across the county to come and seek blessings of their ancestors and teachers.

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  MUGHAL GARDEN, JHOR

  Situated five kilometres from Dholpur, the village of Jhor is significant for housing the oldest Mughal garden, known as Bagh-e-Nilofar. Though very little of the original garden has survived till date, the presence of the era of Emperor Babur who started the construction can still be felt here.

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  DAMOH

  Damoh, a beautiful waterfall in Sarmathura, is one of the major tourist attractions in the district. The streams in this waterfall are known to remain dry throughout the year, except from July to September when embellish their surroundings with greenery and a variety of fauna.

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  TALAB-E-SHAHI

  Talab-e-Shahi as the name suggests is a picturesque lake situated 27 km from Dholpur, and 5 km from Bari in Rajasthan. Both the lake and the palace were originally built as a shooting lodge for Prince Shah Jahan in the year 1617 A.D. The beauty and the location of this beautiful lake invites a number of winter migratory fowl such as pintail, red crested pochard, common pochard, tufted duck and pigeon.

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  VAN VIHAR SANCTUARY

  One of the oldest wildlife reserves of the rulers of Dholpur, Van Vihar Sanctuary is spread over an area of about 25 sq. km over the Vindhyan Plateau. The sanctuary is characterised by a wide range of fascinating flora and fauna that grabs the tourists’ attention. Endowed with animals like sambhar, chital, blue bull, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena and leopard, the Van Vihar Sanctuary is very popular among nature lovers visiting Dholpur.

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  DHOLPUR PALACE

  The Dholpur Palace, renowned across the country for its locally quarried sandstone, originally belonged to the Rajputana kingdom. This famous red stone was widely used in construction of spectacular forts and palaces as a mark of protection around the widely spread dominion. The palace’s classic exteriors and rich heritage is alluring to the onlookers and invites them for a journey of its vibrant history.

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Be a part of the festivities and traditions that Dholpur has to offer. It’s always a celebration in Rajasthan.

Engage in the many activities, tours and adventures that await you in Dholpur. There’s always something to do in Rajasthan.

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  A RIDE AROUND THE RAMSAGAR SANCTUARY

  Situated by the Ramsagar Lake, this wildlife sanctuary is an exotic sanctuary you don’t want to miss. Along with terrestrial mammals, the Ramsagar Sanctuary is also home to an assortment of aquatic species such as rare fish, crocodiles and water snakes. Water birds like cormorants, white breasted water hens, moor hens, jacanas, sand pipers are not a rare site. Also during the winter months, if you’re lucky enough, you can spot migratory birds, ducks and geese who visit the lake in good numbers.

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  CHAMBAL GHARIAL SANCTUARY

  Home to the rare, endangered gharial (small crocodiles), the red-crowned roof turtle and the endangered Ganges river dolphin, the Chambal Gharial Sanctuary is a tri-state, protected forest area located in UP, MP and Rajasthan. A huge attraction for nature lovers and wildlife photographers, the Chambal Gharial Sanctuary is a must-visit site in Rajasthan.