Jalore

Overview

Jalore is a town and the administrative headquarters of Jalore district in the southwestern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Historically known as Jabalipura, the town is associated with the medieval Sonigara Chauhan dynasty and is dominated by the imposing hill fortress of Jalore, one of the so-called Nau Kots or nine principal forts of Marwar. The town lies in the arid belt south of the Thar Desert and serves as a regional centre for trade in granite, agricultural produce, and traditional cumin and isabgol cultivation.

Key facts

Geography

Jalore lies on the banks of the Sukri River, a tributary of the Luni, in the southwestern plains of Rajasthan. The town is overlooked by a granite hill on which stands the Jalore Fort, locally called Sonagir ("the golden mount"). The surrounding district borders Sirohi to the east, Pali to the north, Barmer to the west, and Gujarat to the south. The climate is hot and semi-arid, with most rainfall received from the southwest monsoon.

History

The settlement is traditionally said to be named after the sage Jabali, and was referred to as Jabalipura in early Jain literature. From around the 8th century, the region was under the Pratihara rulers, and later passed to the Paramaras before becoming the seat of the Sonigara branch of the Chauhans in the 12th century.

Sonigara Chauhans

Under rulers such as Kirtipala and his successors, Jalore developed into a strong principality controlling a stretch of the trade routes between Gujarat and Marwar. The most prominent ruler in popular memory is Kanhadadeva, who resisted the forces of Alauddin Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate. The siege of Jalore in 1311 ended with the fall of the fort and the death of Kanhadadeva and his son Viramadeva, an episode commemorated in the Sanskrit-Old Gujarati epic Kanhadade Prabandha by Padmanabha (15th century).

Later medieval period

After the fall of the Sonigaras, Jalore came successively under the Sultans of Delhi, the Sultans of Gujarat, and the Mughals. In the 18th century it was incorporated into the kingdom of Marwar ruled from Jodhpur, and remained a part of the Jodhpur State until the integration of the princely states into independent India and the formation of Rajasthan in 1949.

Jalore Fort

The fort stands on a steep granite hill rising sharply above the town. Reached by a fortified ascent and a series of gateways, it encloses temples, palatial ruins, water cisterns, and the dargah of the Sufi saint Malik Shah. Within and around the fort are several Jain temples, reflecting the importance of Jalore as a centre of Jainism in medieval Rajasthan, particularly under the Sonigara rulers who patronised Jain scholars.

Administration

Jalore is the headquarters of Jalore district, which was carved out of Jodhpur for administrative purposes. The town is governed by a municipal council (nagar parishad), and is the seat of the district collectorate, district court, and superintendent of police. The Jalore Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies form part of the legislative representation of the area.

Economy

The local economy is based on agriculture, animal husbandry, and stone processing. Jalore district is one of India's leading sources of granite, and the town hosts a large number of granite cutting and polishing units. Cumin (jeera), isabgol (psyllium), castor, mustard, and pulses are important crops in the surrounding country