TAIN (टाँई)

Picture of Tain Fort

BRIEF HISTORY:

In 1730 Jhunjhunu was seized by the great Rajput warrior Sardul Singh (ruled 1730-42) after the death of the ruling Nawab Rohella khan.Rohella khan and his predecessors, the kayamkhani nawabs were governors of Jhunjhunu and Fatehpur and owed allegiance to the Mughal Emperors at Delhi. Sardul Singh was a diwan (minister) in Rohella khan’s court and as such getting the reins of Jhunjhunu was easy. Jhunjhunu lorded by Maharao Sardul Singh was the richest and most happening thikana (estate) of the painted region of Shekhawati. After Sardul’s death the estate was divided equally amongst his five surviving sons-Zorawar singh, Kishen singh, Akhey singh, Nawal Singh and Keshri Singh. Jhunjhunu thus came to be known as the panch pana-the five estates.Akhey died without leaving a heir.Zorawar inherited Tain, Gangiyasar and Malsisar;

Kishen got Khetri and Alsisar; Nawal founded Nawalgarh and Mandawa and Keshri Bissau and Dundlod.The Thakurs of every village in the region covered by Panchpana were all descended from one or the other of these men. ‘Tain’, now a village connected to the main road by a metalled road, this was a flourishing town in the early part of the nineteenth century. It was founded by Thakur Salem Singh (Grandson of Maharao Sardul Singh) around 1745 and was an estate (Jagir) of 12 villages. The construction of the fort began in 1761 and the fort was completed in 1769, a square structure with four corner bastions. This town was one of the several that fell within Shyam Singh of Bissau’s orbit and was notorious for dacoities and banditry. With the result that Shekhawati Brigade commanded by British Major Forster sliced the fort in 1837 where upon Bissau family took away the great gates for their own fort. Only two bastions remained with gate in a poor state of repairs. Near the fort is a kothi {Mansion} built by shri Moti Singh Karnawat (Musahib of Tain Thikana) in 1846 which is beautifully painted with frescoes. Two bandits who became something of folk heroes known as BULJI-BHURJI were eventually hunted down in the territory of this village and shot by Bikaner forces around 1930. Equally famous are the ancient monastery of Monk Shri KESARNATHJI (Nath Sect) and the old temples & various samadhis of saints inside the premises. As legend has it, there is a tunnel right up to Deedwana (Marwar) through which monks used to pick up salt. There are traces of few jal trees from which as legend has it there used to be rain of sugar granules.

Some of the famous towns/cities/villages (from Tourism point of view) and their approximate distance from Tain village is as follows:

• Nawalgarh: 45 Km • Mukandgarh: 30 Km• Dundlod : 35 Km • MANDAWA: 15 Km• Bissau: 15 Km(Nearest railway station)• Churu : 25 Km• Gangiasar: 25 Km• Malsisar: 35 Km• Alsisar: 39 Km• Mahansar: 8 km• Ramgarh Shekhawati: 20 km• Fatehpur:35 km• Jhunjhunu:35 km• Sikar:70• JAIPUR:182

Some other Notable facts/Information regarding village Tain:

Village Tain is well connected by/to all major district roads (metalled) .Village administration is under the Gram Panchayat which is democratically elected every 4-5 years. There is no scarcity of clean water in the village and the weather is quite pleasant for at least 6 months in a year (October to March).There is steady supply of electricity in the village. In short it has all basic infrastructure facilities. It is a small, peaceful and quiet village with a laid back lifestyle. Most of the people depend upon agriculture for their livelihood. The village has huge open spaces for all kinds of recreation. The surroundings and the landscape are picturesque, free from all kinds/types of pollution and unexplored if I may add. The area is also very rich in wildlife, particularly birds with different varieties of parrots, peacocks, white eagles, nilkanths, Quails, partridges and other exotic species. One can also spot Desert

fox, Blue bull (Neelgai in local dialect), Vultures, Camels, Wild rabbits (Hare), Mongoose, etc. in the area. There are quite a few ‘Dhanis’ (small village hamlets) in the vicinity of the village which give a close glimpse of the Shekhawati rural culture and lifestyle. The village and the surrounding area have some beautiful High altitude sand dunes and abundance of Khejri trees which is referred to as the Lifeline of the desert. The discerning traveler has a lot to look forward to when he visits this area. It is an ideal location for all types of safaris (Jeep/Camel/Horse), bonfires, bar-be-ques etc. far away from the maddening rush of the cities in a peaceful, tranquil and healthy environment.

Activities (Proposed):

• CULTURAL EVENINGS• JEEP SAFARIS• HORSE SAFARIS• CAMEL SAFARIS• HERITAGE WALKS• BIRDING TRAILS• SAND DUNE WALKS• BAR-BE-QUES• CAMP FIRE• INDIGENOUS & ETHNIC CUISINES• Heritage Liquor

• Religious Temples visit• Rural festivals• Arts & crafts demonstration.• Farm visits & Vacations (Farm stays, Tractor rides, Traditional

cultivation practices, milking cows, feeding animals etc.)• Interaction with Rural folk and insight into their daily life/routine.

Village Pics:

Ancient Monastery of MONK Shri Kesar Nath (NATH SAMPRADAYA)

View of Tain Fort (b.1769)

Fort Interiors Cenotaph of Moti Singhji

Kothi of the Karnawat Musahibs (b.1846) Wall Painting inside the Fort

Farm House (Proposed Rural Home & camp stay) Pics:

Cottages Opp. the Farm House)

Main Entrance & Gate of the Farm House

View from The roof Of the Burj/Bastion of the old fort.

View of the Sunset & the Countryside