Dungarpur district is an administrative district in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, India. It forms part of the Udaipur division and lies in the region historically known as Vagad, which also includes the neighbouring Banswara district. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Dungarpur, which was the capital of the former princely state of Dungarpur.
| State | Rajasthan |
|---|---|
| Division | Udaipur |
| Headquarters | Dungarpur |
| Region | Vagad (southern Rajasthan) |
| Country | India |
The district is situated in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, bordering Gujarat to the south. It is bounded by Udaipur district to the north, Banswara district to the east, and parts of Gujarat (including the Sabarkantha and Mahisagar areas) to the south and west. The terrain is largely undulating, with the Aravalli ranges running through the area and tracts of forested hills. The Mahi river and its tributaries, including the Som and Jakham, drain the district. The Mahi Bajaj Sagar project on the Mahi river serves the Vagad region.
The territory of Dungarpur was historically the seat of a Rajput princely state ruled by a branch of the Sisodia dynasty of Mewar. According to traditional accounts, the state was founded in the 13th–14th centuries when a junior line of the Mewar house established itself in the Vagad region. The town of Dungarpur was founded by Rawal Veer Singh, and the state continued under successive Rawals until the integration of the princely states into the Indian Union after 1947.
Following independence, Dungarpur acceded to the Dominion of India and became part of the United State of Rajasthan, which was subsequently merged into the present-day state of Rajasthan in 1949. Dungarpur has since been administered as a district within Rajasthan.
The district is headed by a District Collector and Magistrate. For administrative purposes it is divided into tehsils and panchayat samitis, with Dungarpur town serving as the seat of the district administration. The district is part of the Banswara parliamentary constituency for elections to the Lok Sabha and contains several Vidhan Sabha constituencies of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.
Dungarpur has a substantial Scheduled Tribe population, with the Bhil community forming a significant share of the inhabitants. The Vagdi (Wagdi) dialect, related to Gujarati and Rajasthani, is widely spoken alongside Hindi. The cultural life of the district reflects its tribal heritage, with traditional fairs, gavri performances and Bhil folk arts being prominent. The Beneshwar Dham, located at the confluence of the Som, Mahi and Jakham rivers in the district, hosts the annual Beneshwar Fair, one of the largest tribal gatherings in western India.
The economy of the district is predominantly agrarian, with maize, wheat, pulses and oilseeds among the principal crops. Dairying and animal husbandry support rural livelihoods. The region has deposits of minerals such as soapstone, dolomite and marble, and small-scale stone-based industry is present. Migration for seasonal labour to Gujarat and other states has historically been an important feature of the local economy.
Dungarpur is connected by road via National Highway 56 (formerly NH 8), which links Udaipur with Ahmedabad through the district. It lies on the Udaipur–Ahmedabad railway line, with Dungarpur railway station providing connections to major cities. The nearest major airports are at Udaipur (Maharana Pratap Airport) and