Sawai Madhopur (IAST: Savāī Mādhōpur, IPA: [səˈʋaːiː ˈmaːdʱoːpʊɾ]) is a city in the south-eastern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves as the administrative headquarter of the Sawai Madhopur district, and forms a part of the Bharatpur division.
The city is known for its historical significance, cultural heritage, and ecological importance. It is located near Ranthambore National Park, one of India's most prominent wildlife reserves, situated approximately from the city. The national park is a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts and tourists. Also located in the vicinity is the Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which adds to the city's cultural and architectural prominence.
Etymology Sawai Madhopur is named after Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I (born 20 May 1728 – March 5, 1768) (Reign: ), the ruler of Amer, who established the city in 1763 CE. In Sanskrit, the term "pur" (or "pura") is often employed to denote a city or town. "Sawai Madhopur" can be interpreted as "The City of Sawai Madho" or "Sawai Madho's City," serving as a tribute to Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I, the founder of the city.
History The early history of Sawai Madhopur can be associated with Ranthambore Fort.
Early history The origin of Ranthambore Fort can be traced back to the 8th century when it was initially built by the Chauhan Rajput king, Sapaldaksha. Over the centuries, it underwent several modifications and expansions under different rulers.Unknown
Chauhan Dynasty (8th to 13th Century) Ranthambore Fort gained prominence during the rule of the Chauhan Dynasty. It served as a strategic stronghold, protecting the region from invasions until the early 13th century. The Chauhan rulers, particularly Rao Hammir Dev, made substantial contributions to fortify and expand the structure.
Delhi Sultanate (13th to 14th Century) In 1226, the fort was captured by the Delhi Sultanate under the command of Sultan Iltutmish. It remained under the control of the Delhi Sultanate until the mid-14th century. Alauddin Khilji, another ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, besieged and captured the fort in 1301 after a fierce battle with the Chauhan king Rao Hammir Dev. The fort was further fortified and expanded during this period.
Mewar Kingdom (14th to 16th Century) The fort saw a brief period under the control of the Rajput rulers of Mewar. However, it was frequently contested and changed hands multiple times.
Mughal era (16th to 18th Century) In the 16th century, Ranthambore Fort came under Mughal rule. Emperors Akbar and Aurangzeb, in particular, recognized its strategic importance. Akbar, known for his interest in architecture, added structures to the fort.
Rajput and British Colonial Period (18th to 20th Century) During the 18th century, the fort saw the influence of the Rajputs. It played a crucial role in the power struggles of the time.
In 1754, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II bestowed this property upon Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of Jaipur, who subsequently dedicated it as the Maharaja's exclusive hunting retreat, a tradition upheld ever since.
The fort also has connections to the British era, witnessing the signing of the Treaty of Ranthambore between the British East India Company and the Rajputs in 1818.
Sawai Madhopur was built as a planned walled city by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I of the State of Jaipur and the city is named after him.Taknet D. K. Jaipur: Gem of India IntegralDMS, 2016. Founded in 1763, Sawai Madhopur celebrates its Foundation Day annually on 19 January.
The Sawai Madhopur Lodge, now a hotel, survives as a relic of the days of tiger hunting from the colonial India. The lodge was built in 1936 by Maharaja Man Singh II (1912 1971) and used as a hunting lodge until his death. The two-storey crescent-shaped building is constructed with a long verandah.Bently C. A Guide to the Palace Hotels of India Hunter Publishing 2011. Queen Elizabeth II of England visited the lodge in January 1961.Singh R. and Singh K. Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur Roli Books, 2005. The former US President, Bill Clinton, along with his family, also visited Ranthambore, Sawai Madhopur on 24 March 2000.
Geography Sawai Madhopur is located in the south-eastern part of the state of Rajasthan, India. It is home to Ranthambore National Park, one of the largest national parks in northern India. The city is situated at the junction of the Aravalli and Vindhya hill ranges. The city is approximately southeast of the city of Jaipur.
Climate Sawai Madhopur experiences a semi-arid climate characterized by distinct seasons. Summers, lasting from March to June, bring extremely high temperatures, often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), due to prevailing dry and arid conditions. The peak heat occurs in May and June, reaching up to 47 °C (120 °F). Winters, spanning December to February, are relatively mild with daytime temperatures ranging from 8 to 25 degrees Celsius (46 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit), accompanied by cool nights.
The monsoon season, lasting from July to October, provides relief from the intense summer heat with rain showers. Although the monsoon in Rajasthan is generally less intense than in other parts of India, it is crucial for sustaining agricultural activities, including the cultivation of crops like guava. Post-monsoon months (October to November) mark a transitional period as temperatures gradually decrease, leading to more pleasant weather.
The average annual rainfall in Sawai Madhopur is 800 mm, contributing significantly to the region's ecology. Notably, the monsoon season prompts the closure of Ranthambore National Park. During the summer, the average humidity ranges from 10 to 15 percent, while the rainy season sees an increase to 60 percent. The ideal tourist season in Sawai Madhopur is from October to November and February to April, when the weather is more accommodating for outdoor activities and exploration.
Population and demographics
Sawai Madhopur had 22,841 households as per the 2011 Census of India. The recorded population at that time was 121,106, including 15,620 children in the 0–6 age group. Scheduled Castes accounted for 26,758 individuals, while Scheduled Tribes numbered 5,926. Some local administrative estimates place the population at around 165,000 in 2022.
Religion As per the 2011 Census of India, Hinduism was followed by 74.71 percent of the population in Sawai Madhopur. Islam accounted for 20.11 percent of residents. Jainism was followed by 4.38 percent, Sikhism by 0.39 percent, and Christianity by 0.21 percent. Buddhism was recorded at 0.04 percent.
Governance
The Nagar Parishad (City Council or Municipal Corporation) of Sawai Madhopur is the body responsible for the city's civil works and administration. The Municipal Corporation is headed by a chairman. Each of 60 wards is represented in the Municipal Corporation by an elected member. The Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) of Sawai Madhopur is the government agency responsible for the planning and development of the city.
Sawai Madhopur is one of four Assembly constituencies within Sawai Madhopur district. The others are Gangapur, Bamanwas and Khandar. Sawai Madhopur lies in the Tonk–Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency.
political representative, i.e. Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Sawai Madhopur Assembly, is Dr Kirodi Lal Meena, who won the 2023 Assembly Election of Rajasthan from the ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Member of Parliament (MP) from Tonk–Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency is Harish Chandra Meena from the Indian National Congress.
Economy The economy of Sawai Madhopur is based primarily on agriculture, horticulture, tourism and hospitality. Large-scale industry is limited due to environmental regulations related to forest and wildlife protection. Jaipur Udyog Limited operated one of Asia’s largest cement factories in the city until its closure in 1987.
It is noteworthy that the city lacks significant large-scale manufacturing plants and industry, due to ecological and environmental concerns.
Apart from tigers, Sawai Madhopur is also renowned nationwide for its guava cultivation. Guava cultivation has expanded extensively in Sawai Madhopur, with guava nurseries from the region even supplying to nurseries in Uttar Pradesh. The annual business generated from guava in Sawai Madhopur now amounts to approximately three to five billion rupees. In 1985, the first guava in the area was grown on a farm of five hectares in Karmoda village. In 2015, retail and wholesale markets for guava generated more than 5 billion rupees of revenue. In 2015, five thousand hectares of land were dedicated to cultivating guava. Other products from the city include wooden toys, handcrafted items, poppyseed's perfumes, essential oils and traditional medicines.
The Old Walled City Sawai Madhopur was established in 1763 CE by Maharaja Madho Singh I. The old city area is located between the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges, near the forests of Ranthambore National Park. Locally known as Purānā Shahar (Old City) or simply Shahar, it is situated on the eastern side of the greater urban expanse of Sawai Madhopur. The city was planned on a layout similar to that of the old walled city of Jaipur. The walled section covers approximately 3 square kilometres, with an estimated perimeter of about 8 kilometres. It contains narrow streets and densely populated neighbourhoods such as Sadar Bazaar, Pallipaar, Chhota Rajbagh, Bada Rajbagh, Mirza Mohalla and Ramdwara. The area also includes several historic temples, mosques and other older structures.
Alanpur Situated between Bazariya and the Old City, accommodates a significant portion of the city's Muslim population. Notable landmarks include the renowned Chamatkar Jain Temple. Covering an area of about 4 square kilometres with a perimeter of approximately 8 kilometres, Alanpur comprises neighbourhoods like Alanpur, Vinoba Basti, Housing Board Colony, Hanuman Nagar, Adinath Nagar, Patel Nagar, and Raj Vihar Colony, with a scattered population distribution.
Bazariya A relatively newer development on Sawai Madhopur's western side, encompasses diverse neighbourhoods such as Bal Mandir Colony, Indra Colony, Adarsh Nagar, Sahu Nagar, Gulab Bagh, Meena Colony, Jawahar Nagar Colony, Ganesh Nagar, and Kherda. The word Bazariya is a Persian word, which is derived from the word Bazaar, '. This area serves as a hub for local businesses, financial centres, commercial offices, governmental and educational institutions, including the railway station, Collectorate, Police headquarters, District court, and Civil Lines. Spanning approximately 15 square kilometres with a perimeter of around 18 kilometres, Bazariya represents a vital administrative, financial, educational, and commercial centre within the city's urban fabric.
Sawai Madhopur's urban expanse extends across approximately 59 square kilometres.
Fairs and festivals
Sawai Madhopur Utsav The Sawai Madhopur Utsav is the annual celebration held on the foundation day of the city of Sawai Madhopur on 19 January. It is the day on which the city of Sawai Madhopur was established by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I in 1763.
The Ganesh Chaturthi Fair is the largest of Sawai Madhopur's fairs. It is celebrated over three days on Bhadav Shukla Chaturthi at the Trinetra Ganesh Temple in Ranthambore Fort. Dussehra is celebrated in Sawai Madhopur for 10 days in the month of October.
The Chauth Mata Mela fair is held in the month of January, at Chauth Mata Temple in Chauth Ka Barwara.
Culture The languages and dialects commonly spoken in Sawai Madhopur are Hindi, English, Rajasthani (Dhundari, Hadoti).
Typical cuisine in Sawai Madhopur include Dal Baati Choorma, Gatte Ki Sabzi, Bajre Ki Roti and Dal Bade. The sweet dishes include Kharbuja Laddu (Muskmelon Sweet).
Popular dance forms in Sawai Madhopur include the Ghoomar dance, and the Kalbelia dance.
Places of interest