Jodhpur the princely states of the Western Rajasthan, is known as Marwar, Maroodesh the land of the dead, or the big states of former Rajasthan. It was covering a major portion of the desert, which was ruled by the Rathore clan of Rajputs.
The glorious history of Rajasthan bears testimony to the descent of the valiant rulers of Jodhpur chiefs of the Rathore clan from Jai chandra, the great king of Manauj.The ancestry of the Rathore is one of the proudest and most illustrous in Indian history. The Rashtrakutas in Deccan, were one of the most powerful Deccan were one of the most powerful dynasty in 753 to 973 AD of the mediaeval period. It is one of the most famous monuments of India, with the fall of the Rashtrakutas. Empire between 972 to 988 AD, their descedents, migrated to the North to conquer new Kindgoms.
Around 1192 A.D. Rao Sinha, the founder of the present dynasty of the Rathore House of Jodhpur, migrated to the Thar desert. He was the grand son of Jaichandra of Kanauj. Rao Sinha left Kanauj with a band of loyal followers and initially stayed at Pali. After his death, his son Asthan succeeded in establishing a small principality in and around Pali by ousting the predatory Merand Mina tribes. Yet another move soon followed and the Rathore clan moving westward estab¬lished themselves on the banks of the River Luni at Khed. After Rao Asthan Dhuhad, Raipal, Kanpur, Jalansi, Chhada Tida and Salka Rao Salkha had four sons Mullinath, Jaitmal, Jaitmal varam and Sohbat. Rawal Mallinath being heir to the throne, was satisfied with his principality, Mallinath so called after his name his progeny continue to occupy this tract till today Virmam, the younger brother, how¬ever, moved eastwards and carved out a new principality for hismself and became the first Rao of Marwar. He was followed by Chunda, Ranmal and Jodha 14531489 A.D.
The Walled City habitation with surrounded by a strong wall nearly 13 KMs in circumference with seven gates are known as Nagori gate, Sojati gate, Merti gate, Jalori gate, Siwanchi gate etc. The former capital of Marwar States was founded in 1459AD by Rao Jodha, who claimed descent from Lord Rama (the hero of the epic Ramayana) with its seven walls which is but massive and strong, generally composed of large blocks of cut stones cemented together with line, it is 24,600 ft long 3 to 9 ft. thick and 15 to 30 ft high. The fort of the citadel studded with lakes and palaces and temples within stands an imposing fort on a low range of sand stone hills, about 125m high. After the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, the Mughals occupied Jodhpur from 1678 to 1708 AD.
A flourishing trading centre in the 16th Century, Jodhpur is still one of the leading centres for wood, cattle, camels, salt and agricultural crops.
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