Fort Madhogarh is situated 42 kilometers away from Jaipur off the Jaipur-Agra highway (NH11). Madhogarh is a typical small Rajasthani town; even today communities of potters, carpenters,
cobblers, carpet makers, etc. can be seen playing their trade in the centuries old traditional way. The town is dominated by the picturesque Madhogarh Fort situated on an elephant back shaped hill.
The Madhogarh fort entered the history books when Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh Ji choose to make this fort his headquarters in his campaign against the Marathas. The decisive battle between the Rajputs
and the Marathas was fought in the plains of Tunga, just about 1 Km from Madhogarh, on 28th July 1787. The battle started at 9 am and lasted till about one hour after sunset. The combined Rajput army of
Jaipur and Jodhpur was about 50,000 string while the Maratha army was larger, with about 80,000 solders. The Maratha army also had a professionally trained battalion under the command of the famous
Maratha general, Mahadaji Scindia, was forced to abandon the battle field and leave at night. The casualties numbered in thousand. Even today in some fields in Tunga pieces of rusted equipment and human
bones are found.
The Present owner, Thakur Bhawani Singh, the fourth generation directed descendent of Thakur Pratap Singhji, has now renovated the Madhogarh Fort and converted into a family run heritage hotel. Guests
can now experience the famous Rajput hospitality and relive the glory of a bygone age. Guest can enjoy a stay in Pratap Mahal, the room Maharaja Sawai Singhji used when on his campaign the Marathas. |
