Sirohi is a town and the administrative headquarters of Sirohi district in the southern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It lies in the foothills of the Aravalli Range and serves as a market and administrative centre for the surrounding region. Historically, Sirohi was the seat of a princely state of the same name during the period of British paramountcy in India.
| Sirohi at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Sirohi |
| Region | Aravalli foothills, southern Rajasthan |
| Type | Town and district headquarters |
| Historical status | Former princely state (Sirohi State) |
Sirohi is situated in the southern part of Rajasthan, close to the western flank of the Aravalli Range. The district shares borders with Pali to the north, Udaipur to the east, and parts of Gujarat to the south and west. The terrain is broadly hilly, with Mount Abu — the only hill station in Rajasthan — falling within Sirohi district. The area drains into tributaries of the West Banas and other Aravalli streams.
Sirohi was historically the capital of the princely state of Sirohi, which was ruled by the Deora branch of the Chauhan Rajputs. The state existed for several centuries before becoming a princely state under a treaty relationship with the British East India Company in the early nineteenth century, and was later administered as part of the Rajputana Agency.
After Indian independence in 1947, the state of Sirohi was integrated into the Indian Union. Following a brief period of separate administration, much of the territory of the former state was merged into the newly formed state of Rajasthan, with the town of Sirohi continuing as the headquarters of Sirohi district.
The town is the seat of the district collectorate, district court, and other principal offices of Sirohi district. Local civic administration is carried out through the municipal body, while the district is further divided into tehsils and panchayat samitis covering rural areas. Sirohi falls within the jurisdiction of the Rajasthan High Court bench at Jodhpur for higher judicial matters.
The economy of Sirohi and its district is largely based on agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade in agricultural produce. The region is known for the Sirohi goat, an indigenous breed valued for meat production and named after the district. Marble and granite quarrying and processing are important industrial activities in parts of the district, particularly around the Aravalli ranges. Tourism associated with nearby Mount Abu and pilgrimage sites also contributes to the local economy.
Sirohi district contains several important religious and heritage sites. The Dilwara Temples at Mount Abu, renowned for their intricate marble carvings, are among the most celebrated Jain pilgrimage centres in India. Other significant sites in the wider region include temples and forts associated with the Chauhan rulers of the former Sirohi State. The town itself preserves traces of its princely-era architecture, including old palaces, temples, and stepwells.
Sirohi is connected by road to other parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat through state highways linking it to Udaipur, Pali, and Palanpur. The nearest major railway junction serving the town is at Sirohi Road, which lies on the Ahmedabad–Ajmer line of the Indian Railways. The closest major airports are at Udaipur in Rajasthan and Ahmedabad in Gujarat.