Tourist Places in Mahendragarh
Historical Places :
Jal Mahal :
The art and Mughal style of structure of the Jal Mahal are beautifully designed by the builders. These are unique in style and construction. The walls of Jal Mahal were constructed with lime in those days but even today one can see the brightness of the walls. This pleasant building 'whose water and air are refreshing like paradise', was got constructed by Shah Quli 'Khan in 1591 A.D. This is stated in an epigraph set up there. Standing in the centre of a large tank, now dried up, and approached through a causeway, this 'pleasure house' like a small palace in a tank is surmounted by five kiosks, the larger being in the centre and the remaining at the corners.
The under side of the recess, a arched passage, enhances the beauty of the tank (dried up) and gives it a fairy land charm. Of the large garden) which was laid out around this baradari exists no trace here now.
Chor Gumbad :
On account of its eminent location, isolated identity and haunting appearance, it can hardly escape the attention of a visitor to the town of Narnaul. It is, therefore, called the 'signboard of Narnaul’. It looks like a haunted fairy place of the old folk tales.
It was constructed by Jamal Khan, an Afghan, as his tomb, Though the date of the construction is not known, the pointed archs with the S-curves as well as other details of construction, put it coeval with the tomb complex of Shah Wilayat. Today, there are graves inside. It is said that for long it remained a hide out for thieves and highwaymen and that may account for its present name, Chor gumbad.
It is a big square monument with single chamber inside. It seems double storeyed from the outside, as the second level is obtained by way of providing an open verandah running around. The wide low dome and ogee archs and some other features of architecture, place it in point of time with the tomb of Shah Nizam and old parts of the adjoining Madarsa built in 1357 A.D. in the Tughluq style.
The passage running in the thickness of the walls may baffle the visitor, with its twists and turns. It is, therefore, called 'Bhul-Bhuhaiyan', a maze.
Birbal Ka Chhatta :
This spacious building, built by Ray-i-Rayan Mukand Dass, the Diwan of Narnaul, during the reign of Shah Jahan (1628-58 A.D.) is dexterously planned and embellished, though its exterior is unostentatious and drab. It is a five storeyed structure with several halls, rooms and pavilions. The entire planning and the remnants of the interior decoration show ambitious intentions. The extensive open terrace on the south, light elliptical pavillions on different levels, halls on pillars and running verandah around a central court, once adorned with a marble fountain, impart to it spaciousness and light. The profuse use of marble for veneering and pillars and brackets, provided with artificial cataracts and drains, might have been cosy retreat during the tropical summers.
In the south-eastern corner on the terrace, there is a dilapidated Well, from which the water was raised into reservoirs, at various levels, through the Persian wheel to supply all the storeys. An exquisite isolated gateway-complex, well provided with projecting balconies and marble veneering stands a few metres to the west of the palace. This is said to have been the main entrance to the complex The intervening space is now being separated by jerry-built modern constructions.
Legend has it that the building is equipped with four underground tunnels leading to Jaipur, Mahendragarh, Delhi and Dhosi. People believe that a marriage party once went down the tunnel leading to Delhi and was not heard of again. It said that Akbar and Birbal visited this town and that is why Chhatta Rai Mukand Das is also popularly known as Chhatta of Birbal.
At a small distance from the Chhatta lies the Sarai Rai Mukand Das. The building bears an epigraph, which says that, during the reign of Shah Jahan, Rai-Rayan Mukand Das, a servant of Nawab Asif Khan, built the lofty building of caravanserai under the super vision of Mehta Puran Mal Hari Dass.
Tomb of Shah Wilayat :
The tomb of Shah Wilayat stands beside the mausoleum of Ibrahim Khan. It is a big tomb-cum-collegiate complex, which incorporates within it a long tradition of architecture ranging from the Tughluq to the British period. Much of its originality is marred by later constructions. Originally the tomb and the adjoining complex were constructed during the reign of Feroz Shah Tughluq. The author of Gulzar says that the eastern colonnades and the dome were erected by Alam Khan Mewari (in A.H. 760, A.D. 1357), and part of the enclosure was also erected by him.
Tughluq style of architecture. The archs have the ogee curves after the fashion of the time. The tomb itself is surmounted by a hemispherical dome, crested by a fineal of the Pathan style. The interior of the dome is a perfect square and has some paintings, which are of much later date. Its two enclosures were constructed towards the end of Mughal time. A part was even added in the British period.
The inscription in Persian verse over the doorway registers the date of demise of the Turkish saint in a chronogram as well as in figures, i.e. A.H. 531.
Mausoleum of Ibrahim Khan :
Sher Shah Suri (1538-46 A.D) had his tomb built in honour of his able grandfather, Ibrahim Khan, who served as an officer of the Lodhis at Narnaul. The monument was constructed under the supervision of Sheikh Ahmed Niyazi. There are two small graves along with. the grave of Ibrahim Khan inside the building. The tomb is a perfect example of the square tomb of the Pathan style characterised by its massive outlines, exquisite details, and pleasing interplay of colours. The creation, of a high terrace, double Storey simulation, bold archs, low domes, beautiful kiosks on curved pillars, selender turrets (guidastas), and elegant merions, give it. balanced strength and dexterity. The use of deep red, grey and white stone encaustic tile-work, painted ceiling with excellent brush work and subtle lapidary give it a richness which is unique among such buildings in Haryana1.
Nasibpur:
The place is situated at a distance of 3 kilometres from Narnaul. This is the place where freedom fighters sacrificed their lives against Britishers for the sake of the country. There is a historic park laid out in the memory of freedom fighters. It is believed that the land of this place became red due to the blood of the freedom fighters.
Tomb and Tripolia of Shah Quli Khan:
The Ain-i-Akbari and travelogue of Latif, tell us that. Shah Quli Khan1 had erected splended buildings, and large tanks dug and laid out beautiful gardens at Narnaul. Later, he had built for himself a fine mausoleums2.
He laid out a beautiful garden and named it Aram-i-Kauser, of which today only the enclosure walls, a well and the gateway complex stand. Inside this garden, which is currently under cultivation, stands his tomb built in 1578 A.D. It is a small but a fine monument, constructed in bluish grey and, red stones, on An octagonal plan, which was another variation of the tomb style of the Pathans.
The Tripolia Darwaza was constructed in 1589 A.D. as main entrance to his garden by Shah Quli Khan.
Religious Places:
Mandir Chamunda Devi :
It is believed that Raja Naun Karan the ruler of the area was a devotee of Chamunda Devi. He constructed a temple of the Devi at the bottom of a hill. This temple is in the heart of the city. After the fall of the regime of Raja Naun Karan, this area came under the control of the Mughals. They built a mosque named as Jama Masjid, the biggest masjid at Narnaul on the temple of Chamunda Devi. After Independence, the people of this town started digging and found the temple in torn condition. This temple is now one of the most important and is visited by the people of the town and a big fair is held on the occasion of Ram Naumi.
Modawala Mandir :
The temple of Lord Shiva is situated at Narnaul-Rewari road near New Bus Stand. This is the only temple of this area where every member of the Hindu family comes for the worship of Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities. A big fair is held here on the occasion of Raksha Bandan.
A brief history of this temple is that tb ere was a khet (agricultural land) and a man who was ploughing the land saw the Shiv ling during ploughing. He heard a voice during sleep that he is the Lord Shiva and a temple be constructed here for the benefit of the people. Thus, this temple was built and is now a place of worship. It is the firm belief of the people of the area that every desire is fulfilled by Lord Shiva provided if he is worshipped or named by heart.
Dhosi Hill:
About eight kilomteres west of Narnaul town, the hill is located near the villages Thana and Kultajpur. This hill has acquired a country wide fame as it is believed that Chavan Rishi practised penance here for many years. On the top of this hill a saucer shaped plain surface is strewn with its ruins of a hill fortress, probably built by King Naunkaran of Bikaner. A temple dedicated to Chavan Rishi decorates the hill. In the memory of Chavan Rishi, a big fair is held on the occasion of Somavati Amavas. Born in Bbirgu dynasty, Chavan is said to be the founder of Bhargava community. The Bhargavas of Haryana are also known as Dhosar. The celebrated warrior-general, Hemu, was a Dhosar (Brahman).
This place is considered most sacred and is regarded as Tirtha. A Shiva temple, tank and a well exist on the hill. The water of the tank and the well is regarded sacred as that of the Ganga and the Yamuna. People come here from far and wide to have darshan of the image of Chavan Rishi. After having a bath in the tank, people consider themselves lucky and free from past sins. In this tank separate ghats for taking bath exist for men and women. A devotee has to climb 457 stairs of the Dhosi hill via village Thana. The people also go up the Dhosi hill via village Kultajpur through Khura (plain stairs) and take bath in the Shiva Kund2. There is a 5-6 feet long wall alongwith the stair-way. One can easily go up the hill with the support of this wall. On the Dhosi hill the other religious spots of interest are Panch Tirathi and Suraj Kund.
There are two temples on the top of the hill-one about 250 years old and the other about 100 years old. In the main temple, the idols of Chavan Rishi, Sukanya, Krishna and Radha stand installed. Besides, an asht dhatu idol of Lord Vishnu lies on Shesh Shayya posture. At some distance from the temple, there still exists a ghufa (cave) where the Rishi is said to have performed tapsya.
It is said that the Rishi used to take a special type of herb known as Chavan Prash. This herb, widely believed, is very much common here on the hill. Due to constant use of this herb, Rishi maintained his body well for a longer period. It is understood that after his name, a medicine known as Chavan Prash has become very common and popular throughout the country. Bagot :
It is religiously a very important place and is situated at a distance of 25 kilometres from Mahendragarh. There is a famous Shiva temple here. A big fair is held on the eve of Shiva-Ratri in the month of Sawan. A large number of people come here from far and wide to worship the idol of Lord Shiva.
As per their vows taken earlier and their desires having been fulfilled, the devotees go to Hardwar a week before the fair to bring Ganga water in two small pitchers known as Kawars. They travel on foot during the whole return journey from Hardwar to Bagot. They do not place these kawars on the earth, as is believed that by doing so the sacred water contained therein will become impure.
On reaching Bagot, they sprinkle Ganga water over the stone idol of Shiva and offer worship throughout the day by singing hymns and bhajans in his eulogy.
Bamanwas:
The village is situated at a distance of 25 kilometres from Narnaul in south-west direction on Haryana-Rajasthan border. It is famous mainly for the temple of Baba Rameshwar Dass. This temple has been built on the land of village Bamanwas where as the main wall of the temple makes the border of the village Tibba Basai of Rajasthan.
The huge temple was built by Baba Rameshwar Dass. Since 1963, the construction work of this temple has been continuously done from time to time. Consequently it has become one of the greatest temples of this area. The temple has a very spacious hall having beautifully decorated walls and marble flooring where thousands of devotees can sit at a time. Beautiful marble idols of gods and goddesses have been installed in the hall and in numerous different rooms around it. On the right side of the main temple, there is a beautiful shiva temple in the premises of which huge stone image of Nandi (length of about 25 feet; height of about IS feet and width of about 20 feet) has been installed. In this temple itself a unique Shiv Linga having a height of about 10 feet stands installed besides other images of Lord Shiva. On the walls of the temple the preachings of the Gita, the Ramayana and other religious epics are written. The painted idols on walls and marble are unique. The idol of Lord Hanuman on the main entrance of the temple is so huge (having a height of 40 feet approximately) that probably it has no comparison in Northern India.
The people of Haryana and Rajasthan have great devotion for Baba Rameshwar Dass. The devotees from all over India (mainly from Calcutta, Bombay, Ahemdabad, Delhi and Hyderabad and many other cities) come for having a glimpse of the' image of Baba and due to the help rendered by these devotees, this huge temple could be raised. The Baba came to this place in the beginning of 1963 and the construction work of this temple was started. The people of Bamanwas made available the land for the temple to the Baba. Thereafter, the amenities like electricity, water-supply and roads were provided. Both Haryana and Rajasthan Governments have constructed metalled roads in their respective areas up to this temple. Bus service of Haryana Roadways is also available from Narnaul bus stand to the temple.
Before the construction of this temple, Baba Rameshwar Dass had changed many places. In the initial stage he lived along with his Guru, Shri Nand Brahmehari at Shiv Kund located at the ridge of Dhosi. After the death of his Guru be got constructed a temple at village Bighopur in Narnaul Sub-Division and lived there.
Thereafter, the Baba came to this place (Bamanwas) and got this temple constructed. A big fair is held annually on the occasion of Ram Navmi when lakhs of devotees from various parts of the country participate. The most peculiar feature of the temple is that no cash donations are accepted there.
Kamania :
This is a small village. It is at a distance of 10 kilometres from Narnaul. Due to its Ram Mandir, it carries a special religious significance. Shiv Ratri fair is held here every year.
Kanti :
Two great saints named as Baba Narsingh Dass and Baba Ganesh Dass were born in this village. It is said that there was no child of Raja Hari Singh of Nabha. The Raja was blessed with a son and a daughter by the grace of Baba Narsingh Dass. The son was named Tikla by the saint who later became the ruler of Nabha named as Tika Singh. Raja Hari Singh built a temple of this Baba with a smadh of marble stone and one tank, at the bottom of the hill for the benefit of villagers. Both the temple and the tank are worth seeing and there is a small rest house in the temple. Baba is worshipped by the people of this area and a big fair is held at smadh of the Baba on Basant Panchami. The other saint Baba Ganesh Dass was also very famous and a big fair is also held near his samadh on sankranti. Samadh of Baba Narsingh Dass was on the list of very important temples of the erstwhile Nabha State.
Mahasar :
Jawala Devi fair is held in March-April when devotees and other persons worship the goddess Jawala. It is said that offerings of wine are made by the devotees to the image of the goddess. Besides, the people visit the temple for performing the mundan ceremony of their babies.
It is obligatory and a social necessity for every newly married couple in the area to go there and bow their heads before the goddess for a happy and prosperous married life.
Mandola :
Due to saint, Baba Kesria, this place is religiously very important. The saint is worshipped by local people with great reverence. A fair is also held in his memory on first September every year. It is said that a visit to this place cures a person of snake-bite.
Sehlong :
The place carries a religious significance. A mela (fair) is held in January-February in memory of Khimag Devta. Popular belief is that any one suffering from leprosy gets cured by lighting a jot at the shrine.
