Banswara City
| Bans or bamboo shoots are found in abundance in the region. Evidently, this is how it got its name. Banswara is also known as the 'City of Hundred Islands', after the numerous islands floating in the holy Mahi River that flows through it. 'Lodhikashi' or Little Kashi is its other name probably due to the presence of eleven and a half Swayambhoo Shiv-lings. History has it that sometime during 1496 and 1498, it was a part of a territory known as Vaagad during the reign of Udai Singh. The king partitioned the territory to fulfill his queen’s wish of seeing her younger son, Jagmal, become king. Attractions Baneshawar Festival: This is the biggest tribal fair at Baneshwar during which pilgrims even from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh apart from Rajasthan gather at the confluence of Mahi, Som and Jhakham, considered the holy rivers of the region. They come to immerse the mortal remains of the dead. The festival falls sometime in the month of February. There is a lot of worship, dancing and singing. Wildlife: The eastern part lined by the Aravallis is ideal for wildlife lovers as there are large varieties of animals, reptiles and fish found here. Animals that have been sighted here are Indian gazelle, four-horned antelope and Asiatic deer, wild boar, and spotted deer. Commonly found birds are jungle crow, red vented bulbul, myna, red spur fowl and black drongo, grey shrike, green bee eater, parrot, house sparrow, purple sun bird, wood pecker and white spotted fantail. Fish include mahi, the anas, chap and the airav, rohu, khuris or sarsi, kalbose or kalot. Sheri Raj Mandir: A residence of the royal family, it is an example of old Rajput archi-tecture raised sometime in the 16th century on a hillock overlooking the town. Entry is by invitation only. Abdulla Pir: Surrounded by beautifully laid out gardens, this shrine is the dargah of Ab-dul Rasul, a Bohara Muslim saint. It is a solid white marble structure with domed roof and four entrances. It is an important pilgrimage centre for the Bohra Muslims Other attractions are the Anand Sagar Lake where one can find the cenotaphs of the rul-ers of the state and a holy tree Kalp Vriksha. Dialab Lake is another delight covered with beautiful flowers. The picturesque garden near Mahi Dam is another must-see. |
