Dungarpur is as exotic as the green marble found here and shipped over the world and liessnug in the foothills of the Aravalli range. Harsh and wild in the northeast and teeming with life in the fertile plains of the southwest, it is irrigated by two rivers of Rajasthan, Mahi
And Som.
Dungarpur’s rise to tourist fame is thanks to the exceptional architecture of its palaces and royal residences. These stone structures are adorned with ‘jharokhas’ (windows)and built in a style that was born during the times of Maharawal Shiv Singh (1730-1785 AD). Dungarpur’s goldsmiths and silversmiths are skilled artisans Famous for Their lacquer-painted toys and picture frames.
Dungarpur city was founded in 1258 AD by Rawal Veer Singh, the eldest son of Karan Singh, one of the rulers of Mewar after he drove out the local Bhil chieftain named Dungariya. Later rulers of Dungarpur added to the town’s architectural heritage.
Tourist Places in Dungarpur City
1. Udai Bilas Palace: The royal residence named after Maharawal Udai Singh II. A patron of art and architecture ornate with intricately sculptured pillars and panels, impressive balconies, bracketed windows and marvelous arches.
2. Juna Mahal: it was made in about 13 century 7 storeyed a beautiful structure. It’s an old palace where there are exquisite paintings.
3. Gaib Sagar lake: A famous shrine of Shrinathji lies along the lake. A shrine is a group of several exquisitely built temples with one main temple. The Vijay Raj Rajeshwar Tample dedicated to lord Shiva. It’s also known as Adbert Sagar but very few people know about this name of Gaib Sagar Lake.
4. Dev Somnath: A grand and beautiful temple of Lord Shiva built in White Stone about to 12th century. Its an exact replica of the original Somnath tample in Gujrat. When the original temple was destroyed by Muslim invaders, devout Hindus decided to create this replica in the interiors so that it would remain safe. This tample have three floors too.
5. Museum: The museum is fine collection of ancient statues.
6. Baneshwar Dham: Baneshwar Dham is dedicated to Lord Shiva, a large amount of Bhil from Gujrat, rajasthan and Madhaypradesh. There are three rivers Som Mahi and Jakham cross to each other or we can say Sangam of SOM, Mahi and Jakham, this meet point is known as Vagad ki Ganga. Baneshwar tample is much revered by the Bhils. Other tamples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma are worth seeing for their exquisitely carved pillars and gateways.
A visit to the fair can be great fun as you mingle with crowds. Baneshwar fair in its present form is actually one of two fairs; one which used to beheld in of Baneshwar Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and another fair, which started after the construction of Vishnu temple by Jankunwari, daughter-in-law of Mavji, a highly revered saint considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
7. Galiyakot : Once the capital of the Paramr kings but its renowened for its magnificent shrine dedicated to Sayed Fakhruddin. Thousands of devotees gather here during the URS. Galiyakot is also famous for toys made by wood. In Galiyakot , there is a old and famous tample of Lord Shiva, which was try to destroyed by Aurangzeb. A famous tample of Sheetla mata tample is also which is famous.
8. Bhuvaneshwar: It’s a famous tample dedicated to Lord Shiva and colorful fair held on the 5th day after Holi festiwal every year by Bhil people.
About Bhils Tribe:
The Bhil constitute the second largest tribe of India and Rajasthan. They are mainly spread in Rajasthan, Gujrat, Western Madhya Pradesh, and Southern Maharastra. In Rajasthan, their main concentration is in Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur district and Pratapgarh, Arnod Tehsil of Chittorgarh district. Their population as per 1991 census is 2305982 in Rajasthan.
Overall view of Dungarpur: Dungarpur is famous for its unique style of architecture as seen in its places. The lifestyle of people in Dungarpur is very simple. Many of the people are is farmers in Dungarpur. A hilly area having a low density of the forest.
