Jalore, Rajasthan, India

Jalore was ruled by the Paramara Rajputs till the Nadol Rajputs captured the Jalore Fort in 1181 AD. In medieval times, Jalore was known as Jabalipura. The town of Jalore was known as Suvarnagiri or the Golden Mount, on which the Fort stands. It was a flourishing town during the Paramara rule.

Jalore is famous for its Fort, built probably in the 10th century, by the Parmars. The precise year of construction of the Fort is not known, however, it is believed to be built between the 8th and the 10th centuries. It is one of the most famous Forts in the State that stands atop a perpendicular hill. The Fort has four gigantic gates but it is approachable only from one side, after a two-mile long serpentine ascent. The Fort is built on the lines of traditional Hindu architecture.

The Chauhan clan of Rajputs started their empire around the Sambhar Lake then gradually moved south and west towards Nadol. From there they moved to Jalore in 1181 AD under the leadership of Kirtipala, the youngest son of Alhana, the ruler of Nadol. Kirtipala is the founder of the Jalore line of Chauhans. His son Samarsimha succeeded him in 1182 AD. After him Udayasimha became the ruler. The rule of Udayasimha was a golden period in the history of Jalore. He was a powerful and able ruler. He ruled over a large area and captured back Nadol and Mandor from the Muslims. In 1228 AD, Iltutmish circled Jalore, however, Udayasimha offered stiff resistance. He successfully resisted the Muslim invasions of Mohammad Ghauri. Udayasimha's court was a great intellectual center and during his reign, Jalore reached the zenith of its glory.

Udayasimha was succeeded by Chachigadeva and Samantasimha respectively. After Samantasimha, his son Kanhad Dev Songara became the ruler of Jalore. During the reign of Kanhad Dev Songara, Jalore was attacked and destroyed in 1311 AD by Ala-ud-din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi. Kanhad Dev Songara and his son Viramdeo Songara died defending the Kingdom.

Jalore later became part of the Marwar Kingdom, ruled by the Rathore Rajputs. The Muslim rulers of Palanpur in Gujarat ruled Jalore in the 16^th century, and it became part of the Mughal Empire after Emperor Akbar conquered Gujarat. It was restored to Marwar in 1704 AD and remained part of the Kingdom until the Indian Independence in 1947.