Jodhpur

Jodhpur (जोधपुर), the second largest city in Rajasthan, India, was founded in 1459 by King Rao Jodha. It is a popular tourist destination offering palaces, forts and temples.

History

In 1193, Afghan ruler Mohammed Ghori seized Kannauj, the capital of the Rathore clan of Rajputs. As a result the clan fled and settled in a place called Pali, what came to become present day Jodhpur. The city of Jodhpur was established around the Fort Mehrangarh, constructed by Rao Jodha.

Related Topics:
1193 - Afghan - Mohammed Ghori - Kannauj - Rathore - Rajput

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Jodhpur was founded on the strategic road linking Delhi to Gujarat enabling the city to profit from the trade of opium, copper, silk, sandals, date palms and coffee. Because of its strategic advantage and richness, the Mughal emperor Akbar ensured an alliance with the clan by marrying the sister of Rao Udai Singh. Akbar's son married Singh's daughter; together they bore a son named Khurram . This ensured military aid from the Rathores for his campaigns in Gujarat.

Related Topics:
Delhi - Gujarat - Opium - Copper - Silk - Sandal - Date palm - Coffee - Mughal - Akbar

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By the middle of the 17th century, this alliance was broken as Jaswant Singh joined his forces with those of Shâh Jâhan against Aurangzeb. Aurangazeb was victorious in this battle, and plundered Jodhpur. He forced its inhabitants to be converted into Islam. New the maharâja Ajit Singh, the son of Jaswant Singh, was assassinated and Mughals claimed the throne. His son Ajit Singh II, then a child, was hiding in a tiny village in the Himalayas for 30 years before returning to Jodhpur, which he did in 1707, after the death of Aurangzeb and recovered the throne.

Related Topics:
Shâh Jâhan - Aurangzeb - Islam - Himalaya

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Following many wars between Jodhpur and the other Rajput states of Jaipur and Udaipur, a treaty was signed with the British to bring peace in the region. When India was granted independence on 15th August 1947, the seven hundred year old Marwar state first merged with Indian Union, and then into Rajasthan in 1949. The last maharaja before independence, Umaid Singh, was the grandfather of the present Maharaja Gaj Singh.

Related Topics:
Jaipur - Udaipur - British - 15th August - 1947 - Marwar - Rajasthan

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Rulers of Jodhpur

Jodhpur was ruled by the Maharaja's since early 1400s. Their rule started with Rao Jodha in 1438. When India became independent in 1947, their rule ended. The last Maharaja was Umaid Singh.

Related Topics:
1438 - India became independent - 1947

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The current members of this royal family is Gajsing II (born 1952).

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