Boondi was an independent State which was founded by Rao Devraj Singh Ji Hada on 24 June 1241 CE. He established Hada-Chauhan dynasty in the area and called it ‘Hadauti’ Region. The districts of Boondi, Kota, Baran and Jhalawar of modern-day Rajasthan are part of this region. The region has a population of 40 lacs and has its own distinct culture, traditions and language.

In the era of British India, Boondi was a Princely State within Rajputana agency. The last ruler of Boondi State Col Maharao Raja Bahadur Singh Ji, Military Cross signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ to join the Union of India, that is Bharat on 07 August 1947.

Presently it is the administrative headquarters of Boondi District. The district is a part of Kota Division of Rajasthan State.

As the temples of the region were well guarded by valorous Hada Rajpoot rulers all through Islamic Rule, the town has numerous temples, so it is also called ‘Choti Kashi’ (Little Varanasi).

Geography

The town of Kota is situated 35 km from Boondi and Jaipur is 210 km. It is located at 25.44°N 75.64°E and at an average elevation of 268 meters (879 feet). The city lies near a narrow gorge, and is surrounded on three sides by hills of the Aravalli Range. A substantial wall with four gateways encircles the city. It is served by Boondi railway station on Kota-Chittorgarh rail line and National Highway 12. The international airport is under construction.

Demographics

In the 2011 National census, Boondi had a population of 1,03,286. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Boondi has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 75% and female literacy of 57%. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

In a recent archeological survey Stone Age tools dating from 5,000 to 2,00,000 years were found at Boondi  district.

In ancient times, the area around Boondi was apparently inhabited by various local tribes. Boondi derives its name from Boonda ka Naal (gorge) with a stream running between two hills called Bandhu Hills. The great Hada Rajpoots established the town after diverting the rivulet as the location and terrain provided natural defensibility to their fortifications.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Boondi is a shield depicting a Warrior emerging from flames, signifying the creation-legend of the ruling ‘Hada-Chauhan’ clan of Rajpoots which was supposedly created after an indicative fire ritual was performed at Mount Abu, wherein differences between various clans were consigned to flames and a powerful and mighty Chauhan Clan was born. The shield is flanked by bovines representing dharma or righteousness; it is crowned by a hand holding a Boondi Katar. Inscription in Devnagri Script reads ‘Shri Rangesh Bhakt Boondi So Jayati’, which translates to ‘may the devotees of Bhagwan Shri Raghunath ji Maharaj always triumph.’

Rulers

The rulers of Boondi State belonged to Hada-Chauhan dynasty of Rajpoots. The rulers of Boondi always wore two hats of being the Ruler of the Kingdom and also being the ‘Gaddipati’ of all the Chauhans of the country.

The details of the ‘Gaddipatis’ are as follows :-

1241 – 1244 Rao Devraj Singh Ji Hada – Founder of Boondi town and Hadauti Riyasat.

1244 – 1275 Rao Samar Singh Ji – He extended the boundaries of this newly formed kingdom beyond River Chambal. The area of present day Kota was established as an all encompassing town from being a tribal area.

1275 – 1285 Rao Narpal Singh Ji – He couldn’t consolidate the gains made by his father and some territories were lost to rebellion etc.

1285 – 1336 Rao Hameer Dev Ji – He was a valiant warrior who won back the lost areas of the kingdom.

1336 – 1382 Rao Bar Singh Ji – He  got the Taragarh Fort constructed in 1354 CE and works on other battlements were started to improve the defensibility of the Town and Kingdom.

1382 – 1443 Rao Berishal Singh Ji – He defended Boondi valiantly from Islamic Expansionists. Especially troublesome was Mahmud Khilji, the Sultan of Mandwa, who attacked Boondi thrice during that time.

1443 – 1503 Rao Subhand Dev Ji – He was treacherously killed and Samarkandi occupied Boondi.

1503 – 1527 Rao Narayan Das Ji – He was a warrior extraordinaire and earned the sobriquet of ‘Nar Keshari’. He won Boondi back after defeating and executing Samarkandi. He strengthened the forces of Rana Sanga of Mewar in various battles.

1527 – 1537 Rao Surajmal Ji – An incident during Game Hunting led to a misunderstanding and quarrel, resulting in the death of him and Rana Ratan Singh Ji of Mewar.

1537 – 1554 Rao Surtan Singh Ji – He was removed by Nobles (Jaagirdaars and Theekanedars) for his anti people actions.

1554 – 1585 Rao Raja Surjan Singh Ji – He was chosen by the Boondi Nobles and Kshatriya Community for the ‘Gaddi’ after Rao Surtan was deposed. He defended Ranthambore Fort valiantly against the forces of Akbar, forcing Akbar to sign the most respectful treaty in medieval history of Bharat. He was also the Governor of Kashi.

1585 – 1608  Rao Raja Bhoj Singh Ji – He led many successful expeditions towards South in the areas of Gujarat and Ahmednagar. A bastion at Ahmednagar Fort is named as ‘Bhoj Burj’ after him.

1608 – 1631  Rao Raja Ratan Singh Ji – He  was a brave and courageous warrior and always led his army from front. His sobriquet was ‘Sir Buland Rai’. He took Sahzada Khurram (later known as Emperor Shah Jahan) prisoner in the Battle of Burhanpur. Khurram was held captive at Boondi State in the custody of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji of Pipalda Jaagir.

1631 – 1658  Rao Raja Shatrushal Singh Ji – He built the temple of Shri Keshavarai Ji at Keshoraipatan and Chathra Mahal at Boondi. He became king of Boondi as his father Kr Gopinath Singh Ji died, while his grandfather Rao Raja Ratan Singh ji was still ruling. He was Governor of Delhi. He fought 52 big and small battles coming out victorious in all.  During the rebellion of Aurangzeb, he sided with Shah Jahan and Dara Shikoh despite many temptations and even threats from Aurangzeb. Rao Raja Shatrushal died fighting valiantly at the head of his Hada Rajpoot troops in the Battle of Samugarh in 1658 alongside his youngest son, Kr Bharat Singh.

1658 – 1681  Rao Raja Bhao Singh Ji – He  was a courageous, judicious and prudent ruler. He repulsed the Army of Aurangzeb which had come to destroy Shri Keshavarai Temple.  His ‘Gaddi’ is still considered sacred and is placed prominently in Courts and Police Stations of the District.

1681 – 1695  Rao Raja Anirudh Singh Ji – He fought bravely in various Southern Campaigns. Anirudh Mahal and various other Cenotaphs were constructed during his reign.

1695 – 1729  Maharao Raja Budh Singh Ji – Boondi State was ruling over  54 parganas (administrative sub division of districts) during his reign and Boondi’s territories extended from Malwa to Ranthambore and present day town of Tonk. He was the first holder of the Title of ‘Maharao Raja’. In this period one Dalel Singh of Karwar occupied Boondi with assistance of Jaipur. This adverse possession was reversed after a long struggle by the warriors of Boondi.

1729 – 1749 Adverse possession.

1749 – 1770 Maharao Raja Umaid Singh Ji (1st time) – He was a redeemer and won Boondi back from occupiers after a prolonged, continuous and tough struggle of almost 20 years.

1770 – 1773 Maharao Raja Ajit Singh Ji – He died alongside Maharana Ari Singh of Mewar in a tragic incident.

1773 – 1804 Maharao Raja Umaid Singh Ji (2nd time) – After relinquishing in favour of his son, he was compelled by circumstances to ascend the throne again as his Son died prematurely. He took ‘diksha’ of ‘Ramanuj Sect’ and attained a very high degree of spiritual level and became known far and wide as ‘Shreeji’. His ‘Gaddi’ is still worshipped at Chitrashala, Boondi.

1804 – 1821 Maharao Raja Vishnu Singh Ji – In 1804 during his reign the Marathas and Pindaris continually ravaged the state and forced the kingdom to pay tribute up to 1817. Consequently, he made a subsidiary alliance with the British East India Company on 10 February 1818. He built Sukh Mahal on the outskirts of Boondi.

1821 – 1889  Maharao Raja Sir Ram Singh Ji – He grew up to be a much-respected ruler who initiated economic and administrative reforms and established schools for the teaching of Sanskrit. He initiated actions and made strict rules to curb incidents of female infanticide. On the throne for 68 years, he was described as a grand specimen of the Rajpoot gentleman and ‘the most conservative prince in Rajputana.’ His rule was popular and beneficial. He managed British Govt well for the benefit of his people and was created G.C.S.I. and a Counselor of the Empire in 1877 and C.I.E. in 1878.

1889 – 1927 Maharao Raja Sir Col Raghubir Singh Ji – He was adopted to be the heir. He took actions to curb child marriages and ‘Nata Pratha’. The allopathic medical system was introduced in the State and railway line was laid. He was made a K.C.S.I. in 1897 and a G.C.I.E. in 1901. His reign witnessed two disastrous famines leading to massive deaths and emigration.

1927 – 1945  Maharao Raja Sir Ishwari Singh Ji – He built modern facilities in the State. A General Hospital named ‘Raghvendra Hospital’, a women’s hospital named ‘Raani Baghel Ji Hospital’, and a Higher Secondary School called ‘Hadendra College’ were constructed.

1945 – 1977 Maharao Raja Col Bahadur Singh Ji, Military Cross – He served in the British Army and saw action in Burma campaign in WW II, where he earned the Military Cross for gallantry before succeeding to the throne. He played a pivotal role in the drafting of ‘Rajasthan Covenant’ for integration of Princely States into Rajasthan Union and was the ‘Vice Rajpramukh’ of the State so formed. He had close relations with British Royals and attended the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

1977 – 2010 His Highness Ranjit Singh Ji – He died childless resulting in interregnum till 2021.

2021 onwards – Brigadier HH Bhupesh Singh, SC, VSM – Chosen by all the Rajpoots, ex nobles and all communities to ascend the ‘Gaddi’ of Hada-Chauhans of Boondi. He is the 26th ‘Gaddipati’ and the Chairman of the Hadauti Foundation which manages all the royal properties of the erstwhile State.

Forts and palaces

Taragarh Fort, or Star Fort, is amongst the most impressive structures of the city. It was constructed in 1354 CE on the top of a steep hillside overlooking the city. The largest of its battlements is the 16th century bastion known as the Bhim Burj, on which was once mounted a particularly large cannon called Garbh Gunjan, or ‘Thunder from the Womb’. The fort is a popular tourist viewpoint of the city below. The fort contains numerous tanks which never dry up. They were constructed using advanced techniques and methods and are marvels of medieval times.

Garh Palace is situated on the hillside adjacent to the Taragarh Fort and is notable for its lavish traditional murals and frescoes. The Chitrashala (picture gallery) of the palace is open to the general public.

The Nawal Sagar is a large square-shaped artificial lake in the centre of Boondi containing many small islets. A temple dedicated to Varuna, the vedic God of water, stands half-submerged in the middle of the lake, which also has idols of Bhagwan Shiva and Maa Parvati. The lake feeds the numerous baoris in the old city by creating an artificial water table.

Sukh Mahal is a cream-coloured palace that sits on the water bank. Rudyard Kipling stayed there and claimed that the palace inspired his novel Kim.

Chaurasi Khambon ki Chhatri or Eighty Four Pillared Cenotaph.

Stepwells

There are hundreds of stepwells at Boondi, of which only a handful have been maintained. They used to be the only source of water for the town until a piped water system was introduced. After that, these stepwells were abandoned and the monuments fell into disrepair but now they are being renovated as town heritage and maintenance is being carried out.

The Raniji ki Baori is a noted and well-maintained stepwell, some 46 metres (151 ft) deep. It was built in 1699 by Raani Nathavath Ji. The steps built into the sides of the water-well made water accessible even when at a very low level. This baori is one of the largest examples of its kind in Rajasthan.

The Nagar Sagar Twin Step Wells are identical step wells crafted in masonry on either side of the main spine of the town. The Dabhai Kund, also known as the Jail Kund, is the largest of the stepwells and has carvings on the numerous steps leading down to water level.

Murals

Murals in the typical Rajasthani Hadauti miniature style are an important attraction in Boondi. They cover the walls, ceilings and niches in several of the pavilions or ‘mahals’, depicting stories from the life of Bhagwan Shri Krishna as well as scenes from the lives of the royalty. They have significant artistic and decorative values. The Garh Palace ‘Chitrashala’ has notable murals.

Rock art

There are nearly 100 rock art sites in and around the town, some dating back 5000 to 7000 years. They have been discovered by a local enthusiast in the sandstone escarpments and caves. These showcase the typical line drawings of wild buffalo, deer, tiger, etc. as well as humans in different postures that depict the typical lives and concerns of human beings of the period.

Sathoor national geological monument

Great Boundary Fault at nearby Sathoor has been declared the ‘National Geological Monument of India’ by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in year 2016. This will facilitate their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of geotourism.