Rajput Kingdoms (8th to 11th centuries)

The first Rajput kingdoms date back to the 7th century, and it was during the 9th to 11th centuries that the Rajputs rose to prominence. The four Agnivanshi clans, namely the Pariharas (of the Pratihara), Solankis (of the Chalukya dynasty), Paramaras, and Chahamanas and Karnawats of the Chauhans rose to prominence first, establishing territories and creating kingdoms.

A water reservoir inside Chittorgarh Fort as seen in 2006

Bappa Rawal of the Gahlot dynasty established his rule in 734 CE at Chittor. Chittor was until that time ruled by the Mori clan of Rajputs. Maan Mori was their last king at Chittor. It is believed the word Mori is a corruption of Maurya, the dynasty of Ashoka (ruled 269 to 232 BCE).

The Kachwahas or Kacchapghata dynasty were originally from Bihar; they founded Gwalior and Narwar in the 8th century. One of their descendants, Dulah Rai (grandson of Raja Isha Singh and son of Prince Sodh Dev of Narwar) established his rule in Dhundhar in the 11th century.

In 1156 Rawal Jaisal Bhati, the sixth in succession from Deoraj, founded the fort and city of Jaisalmer, and made it his capital as he moved from his former capital at Lodhruva (which is situated about 15 km to the north-west of Jaisalmer).

The imperial Pratiharas established their rule over Malwa and ruled from the cities of Bhinmal and Ujjain in the 8th and 9th centuries. One branch of the clan established a state in Mandore in the Marwar region in 6th and 7th centuries where they held sway until they were supplanted by the Rathores in the 14th century. Around 816 CE, the Pratiharas of Ujjain conquered Kannauj, and from this city they ruled much of northern India for a century. They went into decline after Rashtrakuta invasions in the early 10th century.

Ajmer: The Sufi Capital of Rajasthan

Sacked by Mohammed of Ghori on one of his periodic forays from Afghanistan, and later patronized by the great Mughals, Ajmer used to be a strategically important city in the days of yore. Located in the heart of Rajasthan, this historical city is surrounded by the majestic Aravali Hill Range. Founded in late 7th century by the Chauhan clan of the Rajputs, Ajmer is also famous as the abode of Prithviraj Chauhan, one of the most romanticized Rajputana rulers of all time.

                                                        (Ajmer Sarif)

      
Often overlooked by the foreign tourist due to the popular allure associated with nearby Pushkar which combines piety and playfulness, Ajmer is more about piety and witness who’s who of India paying obeisance to the shrine of Kwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti. Ajmer signifies India's true rendezvous with secular religious convictions, where a saint is revered by all, irrespective of his caste or creed. The secular nature of true India is enlivened in the life and history of this sacred city.

                                                (Adhai- Din- Ka- Jhopra)

One of the important Muslim pilgrimages in India, Ajmer is famous for the Tomb of Hazrat Mu'inuddin Chishti, the founder of the Chishti Sufi order. Ajmer is a walkable city, once you get your bearings. The Dargah bazaar is about 10 minutes walk and Ana Sagar (the "lake" - which has marble pavillions in a garden and is a wonderful place to sit, especially on hot days) is about 30 minutes walk. There are some wonderful back-alleys -- just wander down small side streets from the Dargah bazaar and you'll see some wonderful old architecture and murals before you stumble back across a main street. 

 

     

 (Ana Sagar Lake) 

  

Maharana Pratap: The Legendary Rajput Prince

Maharana Pratap is unarguably the most heroic Rajput King in the annals of Rajputana princedom epitomizing the Rajputana pride and self respect. Known for his indomitable valor and chivalry, Maharana Pratap resisted the mighty army of Mughal Emperor Akbar and fought for the pride of Rajput till his last breath. His exploits against the Mughal army has become the stuff of legends and has been embossed indelibly on the mind and spirits of Rajputs and others alike.

Descendent of the rulers of Mewar, the Sisodiya clan of Suryavanshi Rajput, Maharana Pratap exemplifies the qualities to which Rajputs even nowadays aspire to. In 1572, the time when Maharana Pratap ascended to Mewari kingdom was a turbulent time as Akbar had successfully laid siege to the Chittorgarh fort from where the Prince of Mewar used to rule their kingdom. \Maharana Udai Singh, father of Pratap Singh, has fled from the fort in face of impending doom together with his family and had moved his base to another location in the foothills of the Aravili hills. This place was later went on to be known as Udaipur.

Maharana Pratap was one of the few Rajput princes who refused to submit to the rule of Akbar the great and defied him till the end of his life. Maharana Pratap was also against the custom of marrying Rajput princesses to Mughal kings and lords in order to appease them as practiced by many Rajput clans of that time. The most famous battles fought between the Maharana and Mughal forces was the battle of Haldighati in 1576 which has become a stuff of legends in Rajput folklore. Not only did this battle immortalized and romanticized the story of valor and daring of Maharana in the annals of Rajputana history, but the battle is also remembered for the bravado of the Chetak, horse which Maharana Pratap rode during this battle. The famous battle of Haldighati was fought with 20,000 Rajputs against a Mughal army of 80,000 men commanded by Raja Man Singh of Amber. The battle was fierce though indecisive, to the Mughal army's astonishment.

The battle of Haldighati was lost but Mughal too sustained heavy damages and Prince Man Singh leader of the Mughal forces barely surviving the assault of Maharana. In January 1597, Rana Pratap Singh I, Mewar's greatest hero, was seriously injured in a hunting accident. He left his body at Chavand, aged 56, on January 29, 1597. He died fighting for his nation, for his people, and most importantly for his honor.