Bhilwara widely known as “Textile City of India” or "वस्त्रनगरी" and is a famous industrial hub in Rajasthan. The history of Bhilwara is about 900 years old and the city assumed its title as a Textile City of India way back in 1961, when the first unit to manufacture synthetic yarn was set up in the city.

Awesome Fact :) * Bhilwara occupies the first position in Asia for the number of registered private four-wheeler motor vehicles. * Apart from being the 7th largest city of the state of Rajasthan, it’s the 3rd best city to top the Chartered Accountancy Examination in India

 

 

source: mapsofindia.com

Location, Area & Administration: Bhilwara is located at an altitude of 421 meters (1,381 ft) from sea-level with coordinates 25.3214° N Latitude, 74.5870° E Longitude. Bhilwara is bounded by Ajmer district from the north, Bundi district from east, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Madhya Pradesh from South and Rajsamand district from the west.

Bhilwara has an area of 10,455 squares kilometres and for administration has been divided into 16 tehsils namely as Bhilwara, Hameergarh, Banera, Sahada, Raipur, Hurda, Mandal, Kareda, Mandalgarh, Shahpura, Puliya Kalan, Jahajpur, Kotri, Bijauliya, Asind and Badnore. Further it has 12 panchayat samiti’s named as Asind, Banera, Hurda, Kotri, Jahajpur, Mandal, Mandalgarh, Raipur, Sahada, Suwana, Bijauliya and Shahpura.

 

History of Bhilwara:
The history of Bhilwara district which came out from ruins & old records proves that it is very old. The antiquity of the region can be traced back to the hoary past. The excavations at Bagor have revealed the existence of a Stone Age culture spread over two phases - the earlier datable to 5000 BC - 2800 BC and the later belonging to Iron Age. It is one of the richest lithic sites of India. The district is also studded with mounds of the photo-historic affiliations located on the old river beds of Kothari, Khari etc. amongst than the notable once being cites of Agoocha (Hurda Tehsil), Ojayana (Asind Tehsil) and Hurda itself. The inscribed sacrificial post (Yupa Stambha) from Nandsa (Raipur Tehsil) refereeing to the performance of Sasthiratra sacrifice eloquently proves the revival of Vadik ritis during the 3rd century AD. Old inspections from the region tell the story of its glorious past. The rock of Bijoliya is inscribed with an important epigarph of the Gupt period (4th-5th century AD).

 

 

The district is extremely rich in old temples ranging in time from the 9th to 12th century AD. The mediaeval temples at Bijoliya, Tilaswan, Dhor Menal & Mandalgarh etc are examples of exquisite Art and architecture. The multi-storied pound of Bhinay near Kachola is one of its kind.

 

It is not on the record as how the name of Bhilwara was ascribed to the now forms the district Bhilwara. Tradition has it that it came to be known as Bhilwara because it was mostly inhabited by Bhils in old days, they constructed a shrine for Lord Shiva at the region of the “Jataun Ka Mandir” or “Nada Mandir”. These Bhils were eventually driven away towards the hilly tracts and interior places of less importance by the ancestors of the peasant settlers. Ironically enough, now very few Bhils live in this area. Another version recounts that the present Bhilwara City had a mint (taksal) where coins known as “BHILADI” were minted and from this denomination was derived the name of the district. The mint (taksal) was closed in the year 1870.

In ancient times Bhilwara district was a part of Guhil & Chauhan Rajput Kingdom. After merger of Mewar State & Shahpura Thikana into Rajasthan Bhilwara district was constituted with Banera & Badnore chief ship of Mewar State and merger of Mandalgarh & Shahpura Riyasat (Thikana) the district came into existence in 1949. Mandalgarh, Mandal, Pur & Sanganer places of the district were used a defence Chowkis during the time of Mughal attacks. In 1858, a fierce battle was fought at the sanganer village in bhilwara, between renewed revolutionist Tantya Tope and the British.

Over the years it has emerged out as the TEXTILE CITY of Rajasthan. Now days, Bhilwara is famous for its Textile & Mineral industries and better known as the Textile City of the country. There are more than 850 manufacturing units in the town. “Proud to be BHILWARIAN”

Geographic and Climate Conditions:
The district of Bhilwara is situated on an elevated plateau. The eastern part of the district has cluster of hills. The district is intersected by the Aravali ranges at several places. The hill ranges in North-East corner of the district extend upto Jahapur Tehsil. The ranges are also predominant in the south east in Mandalgarh Tehsil. Occasional inselberg, low-lying, hillocks and chains of ridges break the monotony of peneplained tract. The area of the district generally slopes gently except in western & northwestern part where slope is high.

 

Soils:
The soil of the district varies from sandy loam to heavy loams. Soils of the district are classified as follows:
- Clay loam or medium black: This type of soil is found in the hilly areas in the central parts of the district.
- Loam: This type of soil is found in the entire district.
- Sand and Sandy loam: This type of soil is found mostly near the banks of rivers & nallahs.
- Loam pebbly & stony: These types of soils are met within the hilly areas of the eastern blocks of the district.
 

Climate:
The district has a hot dry summer and bracing cold winter. The cold season is from December to February and is followed by hot summers from March to the last week of June. The south-west monsoon season which follows, last till about mid September. The period from mid September to about the end of November constitutes the post monsoon season.

 

Rivers:
Though there is no natural lake in Bhilwara but there are number of ponds and dams. Many rivers meander their way through the Bhilwara district of Rajasthan. Bhilwara district falls in the Banas (9158.2 sq km), Chambal (1164.9 sq km) & Luni basins (133.0 sq km). Major River of the district is Banas, which flows in northeast to easterly direction. It enter near village Doodiya in Bhilwara tehsil in the west flowing towards east and takes an abrupt turn towards north-eastern direction near Bigod downstream of the confluence with Berach River and again takes an easterly turn near Kanti and finally flows towards northeast till it enters Tonk district. Total length of the Banas River is 142 KM in Bhilwara district. Channel pattern of Banas is sinuous and changes to more or less straight between Bigod and Rajamhal indicating structural control on the drainage pattern. Important trobutaries are Berach, Kothari, Unli, Mendi, Nakadi, Chandrabhaga and Khari River. All these are ephermeral.

 

Natural Resources:
Bhilwara district was well known for Mica mining in the country for considerable long period but after the discovery of huge deposits of lead-zinc near village Rampura-Agucha by state department, this district has attained national importance. Other important minerals available in the district are copper ore, soapstone, clay, quartz, feldspar, garnet, dolomite, clacite, limestone, silica sand, marble, granite and sandstone.

Population:
According to the 2011 census Bhilwara district has population of 24,08,523 out of which 78.72 percent belong to rural areas & 21.28 percent belong to urban areas. The decadal growth rate of population from 2001-2011 has been 19.60 percent. The district has a population density of 230 inhabitants per square kilometre. Bhilwara has sex ration of 969 females for every 1000 males, and overall literacy rate of 61.37%.

How can you reach Bhilwara?
By Air: The nearest airport is at Dabok Airport, Udaipur (165 KM) - approximately 2.5 hours by road. The other nearest airport is at Jaipur (251 KM) which takes about 4 hours by road. The nearest international airports are in Jaipur, New Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

By Rail: A broad gauge railway line connecting Ajmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Kota, Indore Junction, Ujjain, Delhi, Bharatpur, Agra, Gwalior, Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Patna, Kolkata, Chittorgarh, Udaipur city, Ratlam, Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai and Hyderabad passes through the district. Kota (160 KM) is the convenient railway station to provide connectivity to the southern states of country like Karnataka, Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.  Some of the trains running via Bhilwara Railway Station are:- - Bhopal Jaipur Express - Ajmer Hyderabad Special - Chetak Express - Udaipur-Jaipur Intercity Express - Ajmer-Bandra Terminus Express

By Road: National Highway No. 79, part of the Golden Quardrilateral (four lane), and another National Highway No. 76 part of the East West Corridor (four lane) pass through the district. The total length is 120 KM. National Highway No. 758 (Kota-Ladpura-Bhilwara-Gangapur-Rajsamand-Udaipur) passes through the district. The length of this highway is 146 KM and other NH 148D (Bhim-Gulapura-Uniara). The total road length in the district was 3,883 KM on March 31, 200. With a Government bus depot in the hear of the city, Bhilwara is connected to all the important cities of Rajasthan and other states. Many private service providers are available and consistently running buses to Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kanpur and other cities of the country.

Local Road Transport: You can use Auto-Rickshaw to roam around the city. Government has already announced local bus facility from one side of city to another and it is going to introduced in couple of years.