Dhar (Altitude: 559 M, Population: 75,472) is located in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh State in central part of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dhar District. Dhar is situated on Mandu – Ujjain, Indore – Ahmadabad bus route, 35 km from Mandu, 112 km from Ujjain and 64 km from to the west of Indore. It is picturesquely situated among lakes and trees surrounded by barren hills, and possesses, besides its old walls, many interesting buildings, both Hindu and Muslim, some of them containing records of a great historical importance.

The Parmer King Bhuj (1000 - 1055 AD) founded Dhar. After suffered successive defeats, Parmar King left the kingdom, but in 1732 he returned to Dhar and continued to reign till the independence of India.

History:

The historic parts of Dhār are chiefly dominated by an impressive sandstone fortress, thought to have been built in the time of Muhammad Bin Tughluq, the Sultan of Delhi. It is located on a small hill to the north of the town. There is a deep rock-cut cistern and a later palace of the Mahārāja of Dhār is found inside the fortress. The museum in the palace has a rich collection of temple fragments and images dating to the medieval period.

The Lāṭ Masjid or 'Pillar Mosque', to the south of the town, was built by Dilāwar Khān in 1405 out of temple spolia. It derives its name from a pillar (lāṭ) made of iron which possibly have been set up in the 11th century. The pillar was nearly 13.2 m high according to the most recent assessment, is fallen and broken; the three surviving parts are displayed on a small platform outside the mosque. It carries a later inscription recording a visit of the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1598 while on campaign towards the Deccan. The pillar's original stone footing is also displayed nearby. On the old ramparts is the tomb of Shaykh ‘Abdullah Shāh Changal, a warrior saint. The inscription on the tomb, written in Persian and dated 1455, records the Shaykh's arrival in Dhār, probably before the annexation of the area to the Delhi Sultanate in 1305.

Places of Tourists interest:

Bhoj Shala

Killa (Old Fort)

Kalika Mata Mandir (Temple)

Ladh Masjid

Man-Tung-Giri (Jain Tirtha)

Nityanand Ashram

Bandichod Dargaha

Maulana Kamalludin Chisti Dargaha

Vijay Mandir

Bada Ganpati Mandir

Puratatva (Archeological Museum) Sangrahalay

Mohan Kheda-Hoi Jain pilgrimage centre is situated 47 Kms From Dhar on Indore-Ahemadabad Highway. This Tirth was established by Poojya Gurudev Shri Rajendra Surishwarji Maharaj Sahab around 1940. This Tirth was given New & artistic look by Acharya Dev Shri Vidhyachandra Surishwarji Maharaj Sahab. This Tirth have Shodh Shikhari Jainalaya, 16 feet high Bhagwan Shri Adinathji's Pratima and Samadhi Mandir of Shri Rajendra Surishwarji, Shri Yatindra Surishwarji & Shri Vidhyachandra Surishwarji Maharaj Sahab.

This Tirth was wel connected by Bus From Indore, Dhar, Ujjain, Ahemadabad, Baroda, Ratlam, Bhopal, Surat. Nearest Railway Station is Meghanagar, nearly 65 Kms from Mohankheda On Mumbai-Delhi Railway Line. Mohankheda Tirth is manjged by Shri Adinath Rajendra Jain Shwetamber Cheritable Trust.

Accommodation facilities:

The advance booking can be made directly or through www.arraytours.com. Please call +91 9433001192, (Phone) +91 33 24427635. The above data are indicative as provided by the respective hotel or collected from various sources. The author is not responsible for any difference with the actuals. The interested persons may kindly ask the hotel for the current tariff.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 21:57