Dungarpur Princely State (1197-1947) and Coins

 

Dungarpur State was a princely state during the British Raj. Its capital was the city of Dungarpur in the southernmost part of the present day Rajasthan State. Dungarpur is the seat of elder branch of Sisodiyas of Udaipur, while the younger branch is the seat of the Maharana of Mewar.

                                      

       1/2 Mohur, Lakshman Singh, 1943, gold,

Dungarpur State was founded in 1197 by Samant Singh, the eldest son of the ruler of Mewar, Karan Singh. They are descendants of Bappa Rawal, eighth ruler of the Guhilot Dynasty and founder of the Mewar dynasty (734-753). The chiefs of the state bear the title of Maharawal. The town of Dungarpur, the capital of the state, was founded towards the end of the 14th century by Rawal Bir Singh, who named it after Dungaria, an independent Bhil chieftain. 

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Dungarpur State in the Imperial Gazetter of India

After the death of Rawal Udai Singh at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527, where he fought alongside Rana Sanga against Babar, his territories were divided into the states of Dungarpur and Banswara. It remained under Mughal, Maratha and British rule (control by the treaty in 1818), where it remained 15-gun salute state. The revenue of the state was Rs 2,00,000 in 1901.

                                           

View of the Juna Mahal Palace of Dungarpur

The last princely ruler of Dungarpur was HH Rai-i-Rayan Maharawal Shri Lakshman Singh Bahadur (1918-1989), who was awarded Knight Commander (KCSI) in 1935 and Knight Grand Commander (GCIE) in 1947, and after Independence became a Member of the Rajya Sabha twice, in 1952 and 1958, and later a member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1962 and 1989.  

                                          

HH Rai-i-Rayan Maharawal Sir Lakshman Singh Bahadur

Coins of Dungarpur

                                       

One Paisa, Lakshman Singh, 1944, copper, Obverse: Coat of Arms, Reverse: Value and date
 

                                         

One Paisa, Lakshman Singh, 1944, copper, Obverse: Coat of Arms, Reverse: Value and date
                                                

1/2 Mohur, Lakshman Singh, 1943, gold, weight 5.4 gm, Obverse: Lettering Raja Dungarapura, Reverse: Dagger, lettering, san 2000

                                             

One  Mohur, Lakshman Singh, 1943, gold, weight 10.8 gm, Obverse: Lettering Raja Dungarapura, Reverse: Dagger, lettering, san 2000

                                             

One Paisa, Udai Singh, 1860, copper, weight 9.5 gm, Obverse: Dagger points right, Reverse: Inscription in Nagari 

Dungarpur Princely State

Dungarpur State Coins