Dholpur district is an administrative district located in the eastern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. The district headquarters is the town of Dholpur, situated on the right bank of the Chambal River. Dholpur lies at the meeting point of Rajasthan with the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, and forms part of the Bharatpur division.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Rajasthan |
| Division | Bharatpur |
| Headquarters | Dholpur |
| Region | Eastern Rajasthan |
| Major river | Chambal |
Geography
The district lies in the Chambal river basin and is characterised by ravines (locally known as beehad) along the Chambal, low rocky outcrops of the Vindhyan system, and patches of scrub forest. It shares borders with Bharatpur and Karauli districts of Rajasthan, with parts of Madhya Pradesh across the Chambal to the south, and with Uttar Pradesh to the east. The National Chambal Sanctuary, a tri-state riverine protected area known for the gharial, mugger crocodile, Gangetic dolphin and migratory birds, extends along the southern boundary of the district.
History
The region around Dholpur has a long historical record, having been ruled in different periods by Tomar, Mughal and other powers. Under the British paramountcy it formed the princely state of Dholpur, ruled by the Jat dynasty founded by Maharaj Rana Kirat Singh in the late 18th century. The state acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947 and was integrated, along with the neighbouring states of Bharatpur, Karauli and Alwar, into the short-lived Matsya Union in 1948. Matsya was merged into Greater Rajasthan in 1949.
Dholpur was originally a tehsil of Bharatpur district. It was constituted as a separate district of Rajasthan on 15 April 1982.
Administration
The district is administered by a District Collector and is divided into several tehsils and sub-divisions, with Dholpur town serving as the administrative seat. It is part of the Bharatpur revenue division. The district sends representatives to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from constituencies including Dholpur, Bari, Baseri and Rajakhera, and falls within the Karauli–Dholpur Lok Sabha constituency for the Lok Sabha.
Economy
The economy of the district is largely agrarian, with cultivation of wheat, bajra, mustard and pulses. Dholpur is also known for its sandstone quarrying; the distinctive red and beige Dholpur stone has been used historically in monuments such as parts of the Red Fort in Delhi and Agra Fort, and continues to be an important building material. Stone cutting and polishing units form a significant non-farm sector.
Transport
Dholpur lies on the Delhi–Mumbai trunk corridor. National Highway 44 (the older Delhi–Agra–Gwalior route, NH 3 in earlier numbering) passes through the district, and Dholpur is served by a station on the Delhi–Chennai main line of the North Central Railway. The Chambal road–rail bridge near Dholpur connects Rajasthan with Madhya Pradesh.
Culture and notable places
- Machkund — an ancient pilgrimage tank near Dholpur town associated with the legend of King Muchukunda.
- Shergarh Fort — a hilltop fort with origins traced to early medieval times and later associated with Sher Shah Suri.
- Talab-e-Shahi — a Mughal-era lake and palace built in the early 17th century, now a wintering ground for migratory waterfowl.
- Van Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary — a sanctuary on the Vindhyan plateau noted for sambar, chital, nilgai and sloth bear.