Ratangarh
Encyclopedia
Ratangarh is a town in the Churu district
in Rajasthan
, India
. Ratangarh was previously called Kolasar. It is famous for grand haveli
s (mansions) with fresco
es, which is an architectural speciality of the Shekhawati
region. Ratangarh is also famous for its handicraft work.
A historical Devali was found in village Hudera just three kilometers from Ratangarh. In Hudera, a Devali of Samvat 1309 was found in an old Sidhan Jogioan Nath math. According to historians this Devali is nearly 750 old. As per a text written on Devali, This Devali is the wife of Rathoor Nahardass when she became satti on Baishak sudi 1, Samvat 1309.
A similar Devali was also found in Rajaldeshar near Ratangarh. This Devali called Rajasi ki Devali is also 475 years old. Samvat 1581, Ashad Sudi 10 is written on the Devali. An artistic slab stone of 11th Centaury engraved with dancing figures was found in Ratangarh which is now placed in Government Museum, Bikaner.
In the year 1812 (Samvat 1869) Ratangarh fort was also completed. It is said that Ratangarh fort was attacked two times by Thakur Prithvi Singh the son of Churu with the support of Maharaval Laxman Singh of Sikar in the year 1815 and 1816 (Samvat 1872and 1873). In both attacks caretakers of fort Lalshah Syed and Purohit Jethmal were killed. According to famous historian Gourishankar Hirachand Ojha, Maharaja Ratan Singh held a meeting with Cornel Velsin in 1834 to organize Sekhawati Brigade of English army.
Ratangarh was was planned before construction and its bazaar is laid out in the design of a cross with shops painted like the town. The massive fort (garh) was constructed in the middle of the town with a boundary wall around the city with four gates. A second small fort was built in the city. But now the original fort and also the second fort has nothing left except for a few ruined monuments and now used as offices of civil courts. A Clock Tower is at the main crossing of the bazaar called Ghantagar.
Ratangarh is a place of well known businessmen, learned people, great saints, literary person, poets, vaidyas, artists and great patriots. Ratangarh was also called second Kashi due to its centre of learning. Shri Hanuman Prasadji Poddar founder 'Kalyan' is an international figure.
Ratangarh region also remain the part of ancient culture. A 10th century stone silalekh engraved with folk dance was found from an old temple now placed in Bikaner museum. Ratangarh Mathadish Sivalaya was supposed to be built 200 years before the foundation of Ratangarh. Bikaner maharaja Sujan Singh (Year 100- 1735) gifted Kolasar village (present Ratangarh) to Charan Mala of Nath sect for his Rajasthani literature ' Gari bat doye' . Charan Mala built 'Karniji temple' in Kolasar which now at the heart of the town. Sidhan Math of Nath sect in Hudera village is said to be built in early 10th century.
With the efforts of Maharaja Ganga Singh railway station built in 1910 and electricity was availed in 1930. Water Works was built and Water to houses was introduced in 1945 by Seth Durgadutt Anantram Thard. Seth Surajmal Jalan and Seth Nagarmal Bajoria was the main contributors to develop the town in the present form. They laid network of roads( in 1945), opened hospital (1939), schools and colleges, public library, parks and several charitable societies.
Ratangarh is situated in the Thar Desert
, on the dhoras (large sand dunes). Some neighborhoods in town are named after these dhoras.
.
to Delhi
via railways.
Ratangarh is situated in National Highway 11 (running between Bikaner, Jaipur, and Agra
), very close to National Highway 65 connecting Pali
to Ambala
.
It also connects the northern tip of Rajasthan (Hanumangarh
-Sriganganagar) to Jaipur and Ajmer
through the High-speed State Megahighway system; roads are in place between Hanumangarh and Ratangarh, and between Ratanagarh and Ajmer.
, Ratangarh had a population of 63,463. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Ratangarh has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 53%. In Ratangarh, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Panchmukhi Balaji
Mehandipur Balaji
Goga Ji Maharaj Medi
Sankatmochan Balaji
There are so many temple
s in Ratangarh that it has earned the nickname "the Varanasi
of Rajasthan". Salasar Balaji
, the most famous and widely popular religious spot in the District is situated 45 Kms south-east of Ratangarh
Nh Fossil Museum Asia : The lonely Fossil Museum in Asia (Nh -11, Bharpalsar Rly Gate,Near : Ichchhapurn Manshapurn Balaji Temple )
Churu district
Churu is a district of Rajasthan state of western India. The town of Churu is the administrative headquarters of the district.Churu lies in the Jangladesh region of northern Rajasthan...
in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Ratangarh was previously called Kolasar. It is famous for grand haveli
Haveli
Haveli is the term used for a private mansion in India and Pakistan. The word haveli is derived from the Persian word hawli, meaning "an enclosed place"...
s (mansions) with fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es, which is an architectural speciality of the Shekhawati
Shekhawati
Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India got its name from Shekhawat Rajputs....
region. Ratangarh is also famous for its handicraft work.
History
According to historical documents Ratangarh was founded by Surat Singh, the maharaja of Bikaner in the year 1798 (Samvat 1855) while he was returning from Churu with his son Ratan Singh. He selected the place Kolasar and Rajia ki dani for a new town and named it Ratangarh on his son's name. He handed over the responsibility to Purohit Hulashchand, Deepchand and Charan Siddai Shankar to build Ratangarh as a modern 1812 (Samvat 1869) during the layout of Ratangarh. According to some old people present Ratangarh was build at Kolasar village, and Asha Charni (Lado Bhuwa) constructed Raghunathji temple.A historical Devali was found in village Hudera just three kilometers from Ratangarh. In Hudera, a Devali of Samvat 1309 was found in an old Sidhan Jogioan Nath math. According to historians this Devali is nearly 750 old. As per a text written on Devali, This Devali is the wife of Rathoor Nahardass when she became satti on Baishak sudi 1, Samvat 1309.
A similar Devali was also found in Rajaldeshar near Ratangarh. This Devali called Rajasi ki Devali is also 475 years old. Samvat 1581, Ashad Sudi 10 is written on the Devali. An artistic slab stone of 11th Centaury engraved with dancing figures was found in Ratangarh which is now placed in Government Museum, Bikaner.
In the year 1812 (Samvat 1869) Ratangarh fort was also completed. It is said that Ratangarh fort was attacked two times by Thakur Prithvi Singh the son of Churu with the support of Maharaval Laxman Singh of Sikar in the year 1815 and 1816 (Samvat 1872and 1873). In both attacks caretakers of fort Lalshah Syed and Purohit Jethmal were killed. According to famous historian Gourishankar Hirachand Ojha, Maharaja Ratan Singh held a meeting with Cornel Velsin in 1834 to organize Sekhawati Brigade of English army.
Ratangarh was was planned before construction and its bazaar is laid out in the design of a cross with shops painted like the town. The massive fort (garh) was constructed in the middle of the town with a boundary wall around the city with four gates. A second small fort was built in the city. But now the original fort and also the second fort has nothing left except for a few ruined monuments and now used as offices of civil courts. A Clock Tower is at the main crossing of the bazaar called Ghantagar.
Ratangarh is a place of well known businessmen, learned people, great saints, literary person, poets, vaidyas, artists and great patriots. Ratangarh was also called second Kashi due to its centre of learning. Shri Hanuman Prasadji Poddar founder 'Kalyan' is an international figure.
Ratangarh region also remain the part of ancient culture. A 10th century stone silalekh engraved with folk dance was found from an old temple now placed in Bikaner museum. Ratangarh Mathadish Sivalaya was supposed to be built 200 years before the foundation of Ratangarh. Bikaner maharaja Sujan Singh (Year 100- 1735) gifted Kolasar village (present Ratangarh) to Charan Mala of Nath sect for his Rajasthani literature ' Gari bat doye' . Charan Mala built 'Karniji temple' in Kolasar which now at the heart of the town. Sidhan Math of Nath sect in Hudera village is said to be built in early 10th century.
With the efforts of Maharaja Ganga Singh railway station built in 1910 and electricity was availed in 1930. Water Works was built and Water to houses was introduced in 1945 by Seth Durgadutt Anantram Thard. Seth Surajmal Jalan and Seth Nagarmal Bajoria was the main contributors to develop the town in the present form. They laid network of roads( in 1945), opened hospital (1939), schools and colleges, public library, parks and several charitable societies.
Geography
Ratangarh is located at 28.08°N 74.6°E. It has an average elevation of 312 metres (1023 feet).Ratangarh is situated in the Thar Desert
Thar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
, on the dhoras (large sand dunes). Some neighborhoods in town are named after these dhoras.
Notable structures
The Raja of Bikaner, Ratan Singh, built a massive fort at Ratangarh in 1820 AD. The market place of the town is in the shape of a cross suggesting that the city was planned before construction. An array of stately havelis line the main crossing, which is also graced by a Clock Tower. The town is the site of a major power station, supplying electricity is supplied from Ratangarh up to JaipurJaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
.
Connectivity
Ratangarh is a major rail head in northern Rajasthan, connecting Bikaner and JodhpurJodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
via railways.
Ratangarh is situated in National Highway 11 (running between Bikaner, Jaipur, and Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
), very close to National Highway 65 connecting Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
to Ambala
Ambala
Ambala is a city and a municipal corporation in Ambala district in the state of Haryana, India, located on the border of the states of Haryana and Punjab in India. Politically; Ambala has two sub-areas: Ambala Cantt and Ambala City, approximately 3 kilometers apart from each other...
.
It also connects the northern tip of Rajasthan (Hanumangarh
Hanumangarh
Hanumangarh is a city in northern Rajasthan state in western India, situated on the banks of the river Ghaggar, located about 400 km from Delhi. It is the administrative seat of Hanumangarh District...
-Sriganganagar) to Jaipur and Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
through the High-speed State Megahighway system; roads are in place between Hanumangarh and Ratangarh, and between Ratanagarh and Ajmer.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Ratangarh had a population of 63,463. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Ratangarh has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 53%. In Ratangarh, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Cultural notes
Temples:Panchmukhi Balaji
Mehandipur Balaji
Goga Ji Maharaj Medi
Sankatmochan Balaji
There are so many temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s in Ratangarh that it has earned the nickname "the Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
of Rajasthan". Salasar Balaji
Salasar Balaji
Salasar Balaji is a religious place for the devotees of Lord Hanuman. It is situated in Churu district of Rajasthan. Salasar Dham attracts innumerable Indian worshipers throughout the year. On Chaitra Purnima and Ashvin Purnima large fairs are organized every year where more than 6 to 7 lakhs of...
, the most famous and widely popular religious spot in the District is situated 45 Kms south-east of Ratangarh
Nh Fossil Museum Asia : The lonely Fossil Museum in Asia (Nh -11, Bharpalsar Rly Gate,Near : Ichchhapurn Manshapurn Balaji Temple )