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{{for|the former Indian princely state|Loharu State}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Loharu
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| other_name         = Luharu
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| pushpin_map        = India Haryana#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Haryana, India
| coordinates        = {{coord|28.4032|N|75.9856|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Haryana]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Bhiwani district|Bhiwani]]
| established_title  = <!-- Established -->
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_rank          = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 262
| population_total   = 11421
| population_as_of   = 2001
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = 
| population_footnotes = 
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]]
| demographics1_title2 = Regional
| demographics1_info2 = [[Bagri language|Bagri]]
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code        = 
| registration_plate = HR 18
| website            = {{URL|haryana.gov.in}}
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-HR]]
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Loharu''' is a city, [[municipal committee]] and [[Loharu (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|assembly constituency]], near [[Bhiwani|Bhiwani City]] in the [[Bhiwani district]] of the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Haryana]]. It is the administrative headquarters of one of the four administrative sub-divisions of the [[Bhiwani district|district]] and covers [[List of villages in Loharu Tehsil|119 villages]].<ref>[http://haryana.gov.in/haryana%20state/bhiwani.asp Bhiwani district] ''[[Haryana]] Official website''.</ref><ref>[http://bhiwani.nic.in/intro.htm Introduction] ''[[Bhiwani district]] Official website''.</ref> It is also a railway junction station.

The city's main commercial hub is its Anaaj Mandi, which was built by Sir Aminuddin Ahmed Khan in the year 1937. The Mandi is unique in design as it contains both residential and commercial premises for the merchants around a large central open space. It consists of 104 shops or 52 'Jodas' (couplet) as it was popularly called. The tax-free Mandi in its prime gathered goods from far and near for trade and contributed considerably to the prosperity in the region.

Another attraction of the town is the bi-annual Camel fair held in the months of January and July. The Camels come from Rajasthan and other areas of Haryana, making it a colourful and festive venue. The present economy is based on agriculture and trade.

Loharu was the seat of the eponymous [[princely state]] of [[Shekhawati]] during the [[British Raj]], Thakur rule was established in 1870; and an important reminiscence of that is the [[Loharu Fort]], now a key tourist destination.

== Etymology ==
[[File:Punjab 1903.gif|210px|thumb|Loharu at the edge of [[Punjab (BrL)]] in Shekhawati]]
The town gets its name from the ''Lohars'' or [[blacksmith]]s of the town who were employed in the minting of coins for the erstwhile [[Jaipur]] state.<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_176.gif Loharu Town] ''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]'', 1909, v. 16, p. 170.</ref>

== History ==
{{Main||Shekhawati#Thikanas of Shekhawati|Loharu State}}

[[Rao Shekha]], a [[Shekhawat]] [[rajput]] (sub-branch of [[Kachwaha]] or Kushwaha), was the founder of [[Shekhawati]], who originally divided Shekhawati into 33 [[Thikana]] (also called a [[Pargana]]), each styled as [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] with at least a 'kuccha' mud fort, some of which were fortified further with stone. After him, additional [[Thakur (title)#Thikana|thikanas]] were granted to the descendants of subsequent generations.
* [[Tosham#Tosham Shekhavati Thikana|Tosham Shekhavati Thikana]], was granted as a thikana by Shekhawati ruler [[Shekhawati#Thikanas of Shekhawati|Maharaja Mukund Singh]] in 1870 to Kunwar Abhaya Singh, the son of Maharaja Raj Singh II.
* [[Mahendragarh]] Thikana, was granted as a thikana by Shekhawati ruler [[Shekhawati#Thikanas of Shekhawati|Maharaja Mukund Singh]] in 1868 to Kunwar Sheonath Singh I, the son of Maharaja Raj Singh II.
* [[Madhogarh, Haryana|Madhogarh Thikana]] and [[Madhogarh Fort, Haryana|Madhogarh Fort]] were founded by [[Madho Singh I]] in the first half of the 18th century, when he placed the area under the control of Balwant Singh. The fort is named after [[Madho Singh I]]; "Madhogarh" literally means "the fort of Madho".<ref name="Rev1">{{cite web |title=Gazetteer of Mahandragarh 1988 |url=http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/mahendragarh_1988/mh_3.pdf |publisher=Haryana Revenue Department |access-date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111200113/http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/mahendragarh_1988/mh_3.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Loharu Thikana, Loharu was founded as 33rd [[Thikana]] in the year 1588 A.D by the Thakur Narhar Das, a direct decedent of [[Rao Shekha]]. Loharu was then a small village with a 'kuccha' mud fort and stayed as such until 1800 A.D. During This period two important battles were fought here. The first war in 1671 A.D, during the time of [[Aurangzeb]], was fought between Thakur Madan Singh and the Mughal Governor of Hisar for Refusing to pay the Land Revenue. The other was fought between the then Thakur Kirat Singh and Thakur Baghwan Das Singh of Khetri who claimed Loharu as part of Khetri. Thakur Baghwan Das Singh was killed in this battle outside the [[Loharu Fort]] and a [[Chhatri]] was built as a [[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]] in his honour at the place where he was cremated, which is located about 1&nbsp;km from the Fort. The Loharu [[pargana]] thereafter passed on to the direct rule of [[Shekhawati]] and subsequently became the ''paragana'' under the State of Shekhawati ruled by Kunwar Arjun Singh (Son of Maharaja Raj Singh II) from 1870. The [[Thikana]] of Loharu was then granted to Kunwar Arjun Singh in 1870 when he received the town of Loharu from the [[British East India Company]] as well as from Shekhawati ruler [[Shekhawati#Thikanas of Shekhawati|Maharaja Mukund Singh]] as a reward for his services against the [[Jat]] rulers of [[Bharatpur, Rajasthan|Bharatpur]]. Around 1755, this area was brought under the [[Maratha Empire]] by Maharaja [[Khande Rao Holkar]] of Indore in 1792. Maratha Maharaj [[Mahadaji Shinde]] (Scindia) of [[Gwalior]] had conquered [[Rania, Haryana|Rania]], [[Fatehabad district|Fatehabad]] and [[Sirsa]] from Bhatti Rajput Muslims. Haryana came under [[Maratha Empire]]. Mahad ji divided Haryana in four territories: Delhi (Mughal emperor [[Shah Alam II]], his family and areas surrounding Delhi), Panipat (Kernal, Sonepat, Kurukshetra and Ambala), Hisar (Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, parts of Rohtak), Mewat (Gurugaon, Rewari, Narnaul, Mahendragarh). [[Daulat Rao Scindia]] ceded Haryana on 30 December 1803 under the [[Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon]] to [[British East India Company]]'s [[Company rule in India]]. Ahmad Baksh Khan was given the territory of Loharu by British for his services against Maratha.<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_175.gif Loharu State] ''[[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]'', 1909, v. 16, p.&nbsp;169.</ref><ref>[http://hamidhussain.com/chapter5.aspx Chapter 5: My Loharu Connection] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830035822/http://hamidhussain.com/chapter5.aspx |date=30 August 2009 }} ''The Battle Within'', by [[Mirza Hamid Hussain|Brigadier Mirza Hamid Hussain]], Pakistan Army 33. 1970. {{ISBN|969-407-286-7}} -.([[ebook]])</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=47sfj8DUwNgC&dq=Loharu+history&pg=RA3-PA691 The State of Loharu] ''Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey'', by Somerset Playne, R. V. Solomon, J. W. Bond, Arnold Wright. Asian Educational Services, 2006. {{ISBN|81-206-1965-X}}.''Page 691''.</ref> [[Daulat Rao Scindia]] ceded Haryana on 30 December 1803 under the [[Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon]] to [[British East India Company]]'s [[Company rule in India]].<ref name="Rev1">{{cite web |title=Gazetteer of Mahandragarh 1988 |url=http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/mahendragarh_1988/mh_3.pdf |publisher=Haryana Revenue Department |access-date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111200113/http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/mahendragarh_1988/mh_3.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shekhawat Thakurs of Loharu are:
** Kunwar Arjun Singh (1870–1896)
** Rajkunwar Silahaditya Singh (1896–1926)
** Rajkunwar Vikramaditya Singh (1926–1956)
** Rajkunwar Nagaditya Singh (1956–1988)
** Shri Sahib Ranaditya Singh (1988–present)

After the [[Independence of India]] in 1947, the state acceded to the [[Dominion of India|Union of India]] in 1948. Many of the ruling family and the city's Muslim inhabitants re-settled in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]].  However, the Thakur and his direct descendants stayed on, in India.

== Loharu Fort ==
{{Main|Loharu Fort}}
The 'Paragana' under the State of Shekhawati ruled by Thakur Arjun Singh in the year 1870. It was from this year onwards that 'PUKKA' construction of mud Fort and village started.

Over the years of construction come to include an interesting blend of Architecture. The South-Wing of the Fort contained the 'DARBAR' and the 'SHEESH-MAHAL' or the ROOM OF THE MIRRORS which has MUGHAL/RAJPUT style details. The central part of the South-Wing contained a large Victorian Style Audience Chamber and Banquet Hall. The right side of South-Wing consisted of the 'JANANA' Mahal along with the kitchens. The left side of the South-Wing were purely Mughal architecture and contained the 'SNANGHAR'(Baths). The east-wing at the time and was distinct from the 'Shekhawati Haveli 'Style.

The Fort was in the hands of subsequent Thakurs of Loharu till 1971 when the Late Thakur Rajkumar Nagaditya Singh sold it to the Government of Haryana. Since these buildings were not lived in, all the constructions of the North-Wing and West-Wing had collapsed as was part of the east-wing. Only the South-Wing of the fort containing the 'ROSHAN-MANJIL' survives and that too in a very dilapidated State.

== Higher and Technical education ==
There are a number of institutions of higher education located in the Loharu area. The Keystone Group of Institutions, an AICTE approved institution offering BTech and MBA courses from Rajasthan Technical University, is {{convert|5|km}} from the Loharu station. Loharu is {{convert|30|km}}. from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, {{cns|text=one of the best engineering institute in the country.|date=July 2015}} (Pilani, Rajasthan). It is also home to Rani Jhansi Laxmi Bai Govt Polytechnic, located on the Loharu-Bhiwani road and the government P.G College on Bhiwani road, there is a women's PG collage in loharu, near Dadri Mod these offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses and is affiliated to M.D.U, Rohtak.

== Transport ==
{{rws|Loharu Junction||Loharu}} is a railway station junction on Rewari-Kanina-Sadulpur and Loharu- Sikar- Jaipur railway route. It was a [[metre gauge]] track that was converted to {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] in 2009. The metre gauge railway line from Loharu junction to [[Sikar]] junction, [[Ringas]] junction and [[Jaipur]] has been converted into broad gauge in the year 2014. It is also connected with many major cities of Haryana via road routes.


== Villages ==
* See [[List of villages in Bhiwani district#Loharu tehsil|villages in Loharu tehsil]]

== References ==
* [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/l/loharu.html Genealogy of the Diwan of Loharu] ''[[Queensland University]]''
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Loharu |volume=16 |page=922}}
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* ''Khandan-e-Loharu Ke Shura'' (Loharu Family Biography), by Hamid Sultan Ahmad. New Delhi, Ghalib Institute, 1981. ([http://www.ghalibinstitute.com/publication.htm Ghalib Institute Catalogue])
* [http://www.abacci.com/annotated/ebook.aspx?bookID=863&pagenumber=86 Murder of Mr. Fraser, and Execution of the Nawab Shams-ud-din – ''Page 86''] ''Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official'', by W.H. Sleeman, [[Vincent Arthur Smith|Vincent A. Smith]], Published by Asian Educational Services, 1996. {{ISBN|81-206-1013-X}}. (ebook)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090830035822/http://hamidhussain.com/chapter5.aspx Chapter 5: My Loharu Connection] ''The Battle Within'', by [[Mirza Hamid Hussain|Brigadier Mirza Hamid Hussain]], Pakistan Army 33. 1970. {{ISBN|969-407-286-7}} -.(ebook)
{{Forts of Haryana}}
{{Bhiwani district topics}}

[[Category:Forts in Haryana]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Bhiwani district]]
[[Category:1803 establishments in India]]