Laxmangarh

Laxmangarh लक्ष्मणगढ Lachhmangarh, Lichhamgarh
city
Nickname(s): lakshmangarh
Laxmangarh Location in Rajasthan, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Rajasthan
District	Sikar
Founded by	Raja Laxman Singh
Elevation	424.24 m (1,391.86 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	62,598
Languages
• Official	Shekhawati
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	332311
Telephone code	91-1573
Vehicle registration	RJ-23

Laxmangarh (Hindi: लक्ष्मणगढ़,Rajasthani: लिछमगढ़) is a town in Sikar district of Rajasthan state in India. It is the sub-divisional headquarters of the Laxmangarh sub-division in Sikar district. It is also the Tehsil headquarters of the Laxmangarh Tehsil. Laxmangarh is also Panchayat samiti headquarters of the Laxmangarh Panchayat samiti in the district. It is situated on National Highway-11 at a distance of 24 km from Sikar in north.

History

Laxman Singh of Sikar constructed the Laxmangarh Fort in 1862 AD, and around it he established the present Laxmangarh town, which was founded in 1864 AD.

Laxman Singh of Sikar Thikana planned it nearly 200 years ago under the Shekhawati region of erstwhile ]. The reigning kingdom of jaipur had many thikanas and was one of them. The jagirdars of these thikanas were called Rao Rajas and Laxman Singh happened to be the Rao Raja of Sikar and founder of Laxmangarh.

Most recently, Laxmangarh has been of public curiosity due to its place in modern literature. The fictional character Balram Halwai from the bestselling novel The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga came from a village by the same name, but it isn't be the same village, because the book is actually set in the Gaya District in the vicinity of Bodh Gaya in the state of Bihar.

Geography

Laxmangarh is located at . It has an average elevation of 222 metres (728 ft). The Laxmangarh Fort is the best monument of the town.

The nearing area of the Laxmangarh town are also very rich in heritage. The PEER Baba ki Samadi located in the revenue village of Alkhpura Bogan near Hapas is also a 300-year-old monument. The monument is a place of worship for both the Hindus and Muslims of the area. The great fair is organised every year on the sixth of Bhadarpad (Hindi Month). Large number of people participate in the fair.

The area is arid ridden and the main source of their income is agriculture. The agriculture is based on the monsoon rains. The average rainfall in the area is also very less. Certain farmers are now constructing tubewells in the area for irrigation purposes. The aerial view of the surrounding area is magnificent that can be enjoyed from the roof top of the Samadhi Building, the eastern side is more splendid. The greenery view of Choudhary Munga Ram Dhaka's Farm House located at 400 Mtrs is eye catching.

The large workforce is also migrated to Gulf countries as labour and earning their livelihood. Certain people of the area are also engaged in the Hawala business. The Hawala operators and the money pumped in by these gulf earners through these operators, impair the fair assessment of the income of the people.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census Laxmangarh had a population of 62,598. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Laxmangarh has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 60.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 51%. In Laxmangarh, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The depleting sex ratio in the area is a cause of great concern. The area around Laxmangarh is Jat(Choudhary) dominated demography of the area has wide differences and the male, female ratio below 15 years is 1000:650-725.

The varying sex ratio in the area compelled the expecting grooms to arrange brides from the areas of Assam, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. There is also a wide gap in the education level between the male and female population in the area: females, for example, shine in competitions and at academic examinations.

Water

Groundwater is the only drinkable water in the region; even when the level of the water table dips very low the people still find ways to obtain it. The TDS level of the local groundwater is 1000 PPM to 3500 PPM, which is quite high; consequently, most educated people use some sort of water purification method, for example reverse osmosis or ultraviolet

Villages in Laxmangarh

Laxmangarh Panchayat Samiti consists of Alakhpura, Bagri, Bathoth. Bhojasar, Bhuma, Bidasar, Bidsar, Birodi Bari, Birodi Chhoti, Bhoodha Ka Bas,Chhanani,dalmas, Dehar, Doodawa, Ganeri, Garoda, Ghirniyan, Hameerpura, Jajod, Jasrasar, Kachhwa, Kheriradan, Khinwasar, Khudibadi,kushalpura, Kumas, bau(baudham), Lalasi, Mangluna, Mirand, Ramsingh Pura, Narodara, Nechhwa, Palri, Patoda,Panlawa, Olagarh, Rehnawa, Rulyana,Rulyanapatti, Rulyani,Shethokikothi, Singodara, Suthoth, Sutod, Tidoki, Trilunda,Turkasiya, sanwali,kantewa,kheri dhukiya,dantujala,villages.palri is an independent gram panchayat in whole teshil.

Laxmangarh Fort

File:Laxmangarh Fort, Rajasthan.jpg

Laxmangarh Fort

The most imposing building in this town is its small fortress (owned by the Jhunjhunwala Family) which looms over the well laid out township on its west side. Laxman Singh, the Raja of Sikar,built the fort in the early 19th century after Kan Singh Saledhi besieged the prosperous town. The fort of Laxmangarh is a unique piece of fort architecture in the whole world because the structure is built upon scattered pieces of huge rocks.

The Laxmangarh Fort is private property - owned by a local businessmen and is closed to the public. You can however climb up the ramp to a temple which is open to the public, and the view from the ramp can be quite fascinating too. Of course, seeing the town from this height tempts you to go further higher, but a guard effectively keeps the public out.

Places to See

View of Laxmangarh Town from the Laxmangarh Fort

Chhatris in Laxmangar, Rajasthan

Other than the Laxmangarh fort, the Ghanta ghar (Clock Tower) and various havelis with famous Shekhawati fresco paintings and Chhatris are the hallmark of the town.

One get to Laxmangarh by bus, or you could take a meter gauge train from Sikar. About 50 m north of the bus stand through the busy bazaar, a wide cobblestone path wends its way up the east side of the fort. There's a sign advising that the fort is private property, but there's a good view from the top of the ramp before the main entrance. From here you can see the layout of the double Char Chowk Haveli, below and to the north-east. Head for this haveli when you descend the ramp.

Beneath the cave on the northern external wall of the Char Chowk Haveli is a picture of a bird standing on an elephant with another elephant in its beak. The large paintings on the facade of the northern face have mostly faded, and the paintings in the outer downstairs courtyard are covered by blue wash. The paintings in the inner courtyard are fairly well preserved. The wails and ceiling of a small upstairs room on the east side of the northern haveli are completely covered with paintings. It has some explicit erotic images, but is very badly illuminated, so although they're well preserved you'll need a flashlight to examine them properly.

In the same building, a room in the northwest corner retains floral swirls and motifs on the ceiling with scenes from the Krishna legends interspersed with inlaid mirrors. The black and white rectangular designs on the lower walls create a marbled effect. No one lives in the haveli now, but there may be someone around who will open it for you (for a small fee). The front facade is in very poor condition at the lower levels, with the plaster crumbling and the bricks exposed. The southern haveli is still inhabited.

About 50 m east of this haveli is the large Radhi Murlimanohar Temple, which dates from 1845. It retains a few paintings beneath the eaves and some sculptures of deities around the external walls. To the south of this temple is the busy bazaar, flanked by a series of uniform shops whose overhanging balconies have three scalloped open arches flanked by two blank arches with lattice friezes. The shops were constructed in the mid-l9th century by a branch of the Poddar family known as Ganeriwala, who hailed from the village of Ganeri.

If you turn left at the first intersection south of the temple, on the corner of the first laneway on the left is the Chetram Sanganeeria Haveli. The lower paintings on the west wall are badly damaged: the plaster has peeled away and concrete rendering has been applied. Paintings on this wall include a woman in a swing suspended from a tree; a woman spinning; a man dancing on a pole balancing knives; people enjoying a ride on a Ferris wheel; a man ploughing fields with oxen; and men sawing timber.

On the north-east corner of the clock tower square, which is about 100 m south of the temple via the busy bazaar, is the Rathi Family Haveli. On the west wall, a European woman in a smart red frock sews on a treadle machine. The European influence is very much in evidence here, with painted roses and a Grecian column effect. On the south side of this haveli are ostentatious flourishes and the British crown flanked by unicorns. On the east side is depicted a railway station (a painted sign reads 'A Railway Station', in case you weren't sure!), and some blue eyed British soldiers. There is a busy set of chai (tea) stalls on the west side of the haveli, and this is a good place to sit and admire these extraordinarily over-the-top paintings.

Behind this haveli, a short distance to the east, is the Shyonarayan Kyal Haveli, which dates from around 1900. Under the eaves on the east wall, a man and woman engage in an intimate tryst while a maidservant stands by with a glass of wine at the ready. Other pictures include those of a woman admiring herself in a mirror and Europeans being drawn by horses with a tiny coachman at the reins.

The heritage hevelis are on the attack by the land Mafia, mushrooming on the behest and patronage of the greedy and corrupt administration in the area. These havelis are destroyed and new illegal high rise malls are constructed in unplanned way. The local government i.e. Municipal Board has turned blind eye with the vested interest. The matter has been headlined by the local newspapers at times but could not bring the desired results to protect the heritage buildings.

Education

Laxmangarh is also known for the Mody University of Science & Technology located on the west of city just on the National Highway-11. The college is devoted to the girls education and the students from all over India are admitted to the college on first come first served basis. Rishiul Vidyapeeth Group of Institution is one of the ancient and best Institute of laxmangarh.it not only preserve Indian culture but providing best modern Education.Rishikul School under Rishikul Vidyapeeth created new horizon of modern Education with overall development of child.Dr.V.C.Sharma Principal creating new History under Modern education in Rishikul School. Mayur school Goenka,Raghunath and Bagaria also reputed school in laxmangarh. The Ex principal of Raghunath School Dr. Poonam Chand Joshi has been honoured with National Award for teachers and his wife Late Mrs Munni Joshi was honoured with State Award for teachers for their outstanding contribution in the field of education.There are some other colleges as- Shri B.D. Todi PG & Bed. College.Bagaria B.ed College, Raghunath B.ed College,Vinayak College, trilok singh college, goenka college . The town is an age old hub for education and various private colleges and schools are mushrooming. The private schools are upcoming like water bubble, but lack quality education on the academic as well as social fronts.Bagaria Bal Vidya Niketan is very reputed School and its founder Principal Late Shri Sanwar Sharma was a great educationist.

External links

• Sikar district
• Mody Institute of Technology and Science