Tiger in Dudhwa National Park, during my recent visit.

Khardungla Top

On way to Turtuk in Baltistan.

I am Enlightened

After riding on my Royal Enfield Thunderbird 4000 kms through Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal, Punjab...all i can say is, " I am Enlightened".

Talab Shahi, Bari near Dholpur.

Royal Enfield Ride to Leh and beyond....May-June'13.

Temple of Raniguru and bathing ghats at Machhkund, Dholpur, Rajasthan.

Chital Stag

Chital Stag, originally uploaded by *Gaurhav H Atri* (Thanks for 10,000 views).

Shot this from moving Maruti Gypsy.

Jungle calling...

Jungle calling..., originally uploaded by *Gaurhav H Atri* (Thanks for 10,000 views).

Inside Jim Corbett National park.

Sunset at Jim Corbett National Park

Sunset at Jim Corbett National Park, originally uploaded by *Gaurhav H Atri* (Thanks for 10,000 views).

Sunset, Dhikala grasslands, near Dhikala forest rest house.

Creativity with Cow products

These images were displayed at the recently concluded Noida Handicraft fair and are made with five cow products, Cow dung, cow urine, ghee, curd and milk.

Gohad to Dholpur: A short history

  
In 1367 A.D. a clan of Jats known as Jats of Bamroli crossed the river Chambal and settled in Gwalior and their leaders joined the services of Tomar Kings of Gwalior.

These Bamroli Jats were originally from Rajasthan and belong to the Deswali sect or gotra of Jats, and in 11th century moved to a village near Agra, known as Bamroli, since then their clan is also known as Bamrolia. During the period, when Feroz Tughlaq was the Sultan of Delhi, the Governor of Agra, Muneer Muhommed ruled them out of the area, so they moved to and settled in Barthara near Gohad and their Leader Rana Ratan Pal and his son supported The Tomar rulers of Gwalior in their struggle against the Muslim rulers of Delhi and Malwa, together they won in their struggle. Later the famous King of Gwalior Raja Man Singh gave Rana Sujan Deo, Gohad as a state and conferred on him the tittle of 'Rana' in 1505 A.D.

At that time Gwalior fell to Sikandar Lodhi. Sikandar Lodhi the sultan of Delhi also recognized their tittle and state. The Ranas with their hardwork made themselves the masters of many more districts around Gohad and in 1761 A.D. Rana Bhim Singh their most famous king conquered Gwalior and held it for more then six years till it fell to the marauding Marathas of Peshwa of Pune.

Rana Chattar Singh, successor of Rana Bhim Singh put up great resistant against the Marathas, recovered Gwalior in 1780 A.D., He even got tittles and honors from Mughal emperor of Delhi. Scindia the Maratha ruler eventually won back Gwalior in 1783 A.D. The next year saw Rana winning back the fort at Gwalior but the Scindia , a very shrewd ruler invaded Gohad and destroyed it and making the Rana running to Karauli for protection but here he was treacherously arrested and Scindia made him prisoner and had him killed in Gwalior prison by poison in 1788 A.D..

The next 20 years saw a bloody tussle among the Bamrolia Jats for the leadership, eventually in 1803 A.D. clan leaders of Bamrolia Jats came together and chose Kirat Singh a distant cousin of Rana Chattar Singh as their leader and was sojourned as 'Rana' in the fort of Barthara in 1803 A.D. He went into aliance with the British (the new king makers in India) against the Scindia, who after a struggle and showed his resentment over the British decision handing over Gohad to the Rana, came to the table for talks. It was decided that the Scindia will keep Gohad and the Rana will get the area south of Agra, comprising Dholpur, Bari and Rajakhera.

Thus, Rana Kirat Singh of Gohad became the ruler of the ancient town of Dholpur and his descendants ruled there till they merged with India in 1949 A.D.