Jhalrapatan

Jhalrapatan is a town in Jhalawar district in the south of Rajasthan state in India. Its population is approximately 30,000. The present Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, has been three times elected as MLA from this town. The name may be derived from "city of bells", or from the Jhala tribe of regent Jalim Singh.HistoryThe ruins of the city cover an area of more than a mile from east to west and about a mile from north to south. Several specimens of punch marked and other old coins have been discovered, confirming the antiquity of the place.Jhalrapatan is specially famous for its large number of temples and Dargah. It has some early temples, about four or five still survive. The most famous of them is the temple of Sitalesvara Mahadeva. This temple is situated on the banks of rive Chandrabhaga. Fergusson, the noted historian considered this temple to be the oldest and most beautiful that he ever saw and rated this to be one of the most elegant specimens of architecture in India. Other important temples having beautiful architecture include Sun-Temple (Surya Mandir), Dwarikadheesh Temple, and the temple of Kalikadevi, the temple of Varaha Avatar, and Jain temple of Shantinatha.TemplesSun TempleThe 10th century Sun Temple is famous for its marvelous architecture and sculptures. The idol of Lord Vishnu inside the temple is very famous.Shantinath Jain TempleShantinath Jain Temple was built in the 11th century. The temple is considered very beautiful with fine carvings and magnificent sculptures. Jain Temple is decorated with two white elephants at the entry point of the main temple.