Bhilwara is a town in Mewar region of Rajasthan, India, 600 km from Delhi. It is the administrative seat of Bhilwara District. Bhilwara, also known as 'Textile City of India', is a famous industrial town in Rajasthan. Located in the western part of Rajasthan, Bhilwara is well connected with all major cities in India. Bhilwara produces some major Garment brands like BSL, Mayur Suitings and Suzuki Suitings. Along with textile industry, Bhilwara is also famous for its Minral and Stone Industry.

History

Tradition has it that it came to be known as Bhilwara because it was mostly inhabited by Bhils in old days. These Bhils were eventually driven away towards the hilly tracts and interior places of less importance by the ancestors of the peasant settlers. It is said to have come up in the middle of the 11th century when a Bhil tribal, supposedly one of the first settlers, built a Shiva temple on the site of the existing Jataun ka Mandir. This is in the area called Junawas, the oldest part of the town. And if we are to believe this, the town is more than 900 years old. Ironically enough ,now very few Bhils live in this area. Another version recounts that the present Bhilwara city had a mint where coins known as 'BHILADI' were minted and from this denomination was derived the name of the district.

The city is assumed to be the base of the Mugals when they attacked Chittor Garh. Bhilwara's history can be back to prehitoric period when neolitic culture was flourishing at Bagore village.A pillare said to be of first century BC at Nandsa village is evidance of vedic rituals and culture.Classical 'Nagar' style of temple architect can be seen at temples of Menaal(Mahanaleshwer),Bijoliya and Mandalgarh places.
 

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Geography

Bhilwara is located at 25.35° N 74.63° E.[1] It has an average elevation of 421 metres  (1381 ft). Major rivers flowing through the district are Banas, Bedach, Kothari, Khari, Mansi, Menali, Chandrabhaga and Nagdi. There is not any natural lake in the district but on the other hand there are number of ponds and dams so the district is the most irrigated through the ponds in the state of Rajasthan.

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Demographics

As of 2001 India census, India Bhilwara had a population of 20,09,516. Male constitutes 53% of the population and females 47%. Bhilwara has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 74% and female literacy of 55%. 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
 

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Economy

The major industry is textiles, with more than 400 manufacturing units in the town. There is also a huge cloth market. The main textile product is synthetic fabric used in trousers. The city is a market for mica, grains, cotton, and wool. Its manufactures include textiles and metalware. It was the immense effort of Lt. Sh. Jugal Kishore Sharaf and then Lt. Sh. Chetan Sharaf owner of Jugal Kishore Mica corp. that played a cruical role of Bhilwara being a major Mica producing area.
 

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Social And Cultural Significance

Besides Bhilwara's popularity in name of Textile industry, it has a very strong cultural heritage base. Bhilwara is also famous for following cultural and social elements:

• Art: Great Indian Miniature artist Badri Lal Chitrakar highlights the city on international maps for Indian Miniature Art. He has been given Shilp Guru award by Vice-President of India in September 9, 2006.

• Gazak: famous sweet. It is made up of Til and famous around whole Rajasthan.

• Sports: Bhilwara is the source of National Basketball team players. This city is considered to be the mine of basketball players. The well known basketball coach Priyadarshini Diwakar has trained many players in the city. His students are scattered around the world.

• Shitala Devi Saptami: People from Bhilwara indulges themselves more on this festival as compared to Holi (a week before). People eat cold food on the day, as a dedication to celebrate last winter festival. Besides many other real stories are told behind it.

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Transport

The city is connected by National Highway No. 79 through Jaipur, Ajmer and Udaipur, which makes the major cities accessile. The four lane highway is part of golden quadrilateral highway project of India and connects Bhilwara with major cities. Broad gauge railway line is under construction. It is expected to be finished by June 2007.
 

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Big Industries

• Fashion Suitings P Ltd (RCM Business)

• Janki Processors Ltd.

• BSL, Bhilwara Suitings and Shirtings Ltd.

• Sharda Spuntex

• Sangam Suitings.

• Suzuki Textiles ltd.

• Modern group of Industries

• Sugam Industries

• Nutech Global

• Birani Suitings

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Notable people from Bhilwara

• L N Jhunjunuwala (LNJ Group)

• H S Ranka

• Badri Lal Chitrakar

• Shiv Charan Mathur (Ex.Chief Minister)

• Vijayendrapal Singh

• Rampal Soni, (President, Akhil Bhartiya Maheshwari Mahasabha)

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References

^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Bhilwara