Overview
Jalore district (also spelt Jalor) is an administrative district in the south-western part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Jalore, which historically was known as Jabalipura. The region lies on the western fringe of the Aravalli range, bordering the arid zone of Rajasthan, and is drained chiefly by the Sukri, Jawai and Luni river systems.
Key facts
| State | Rajasthan |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Jalore |
| Region | Marwar (south-western Rajasthan) |
| Major rivers | Luni, Sukri, Jawai |
| Neighbouring districts | Barmer, Pali, Sirohi, Jodhpur (and the state of Gujarat to the south) |
| Official languages | Hindi, with Marwari widely spoken |
Geography
Jalore district lies in a transitional zone between the Thar Desert to the west and the Aravalli foothills to the east. The terrain is largely flat to gently undulating, broken by isolated hills, the most prominent being the hill on which Jalore Fort stands. The Jawai dam, located in the adjoining Pali district, regulates a major tributary of the Luni that flows through Jalore. The climate is semi-arid, with hot summers, cool winters and rainfall concentrated in the south-west monsoon months.
History
The town of Jalore has a long recorded history and was an important seat of power in medieval Rajasthan. It served as a stronghold of the Paramara and later the Chauhan dynasties. Under the Chauhan ruler Kanhadadeva, Jalore resisted the forces of Alauddin Khalji of the Delhi Sultanate, and the siege of Jalore in the early fourteenth century is recorded in the Persian and Rajasthani chronicles, including the Kanhadade Prabandha of Padmanabha. The fort subsequently passed through the control of the Sultanate, the Rathores of Marwar and the Mughals before being absorbed into the princely state of Jodhpur during British paramountcy.
After the integration of the princely states and the formation of Rajasthan in 1949, Jalore became a tehsil of Jodhpur district. It was constituted as a separate district in the subsequent reorganisation of districts in Rajasthan.
Administration
The district is part of the Jodhpur division for revenue and administrative purposes. It is divided into several tehsils and sub-divisions, with Jalore town as the headquarters. Other notable towns in the district include Bhinmal, Sanchore, Ahore, Raniwara and Jaswantpura. Sanchore was later carved out as a separate district during the 2023 reorganisation of districts in Rajasthan.
Economy
The economy of Jalore is largely agrarian, with crops such as bajra (pearl millet), jowar, wheat, mustard and cumin grown depending on irrigation availability. Animal husbandry, particularly of cattle, sheep and goats, forms an important secondary occupation. The district is well known for its granite industry; Jalore granite, in shades of pink and grey, is quarried and processed extensively, and the town is sometimes referred to as the "Granite City". Handicrafts and the trade in cumin and isabgol (psyllium) are also significant.
Culture and notable places
- Jalore Fort – a hill fort of considerable antiquity, associated with Kanhadadeva and the Chauhan resistance against Alauddin Khalji.
- Bhinmal – an ancient town traditionally identified with Bhillamala, the capital of the Gurjara kingdom and the birthplace of the mathematician–astronomer Brahmagupta and, by tradition, the Sanskrit poet Magha.
- Sundha Mata temple – a hill shrine in the Aravalli range near Jaswantpura, a popular pilgrimage site.
- Sire Mandir and several Jain temples in and around Jalore and Bhinmal reflect the region's strong Jain heritage.
Transport
Jalore is connected by the broad-gauge railway line linking Samdari (on the Jodhpur–Ahmedabad route) with destinations in Gujarat, and by state highways to Jodhpur, Pali, Barmer and Sirohi. The nearest major airports are at Jodhpur and Udaipur.