Kalwar, Rajasthan

Kalwar (Post Office Kaalwaad) (कालवाड in Hindi) is a village in Jhotwara Mandal in Jaipur District, Rajasthan, India. Kalwar is 18 km distance from its Mandal Main Town Jhotwara, and 22.8 km distance from its District Main City Jaipur. And 24 km distance from its State Main City Jaipur.^[1]

Surrounded with the hills in Kalwar stands a small heritage castle known as Castle Kalwar which had been carved out of a fort originally belonging to the Naruka clan of Rajputs, , and won over by the present clan, the Kilyanots, in a fierce battle in the Sixteenth Century. The owners of this castle claim lineage from Maharaja Prithvi Raj of Amber (later Jaipur). The founder father of this clan of Rajputs was Kalyan Singh, one of the sons of Maharaja Prithvi Raj and Sisodia Rani (daughter of Rana Raimal of Mewar).

The history of this clan is full of velour and courage of the highest order. Kharagsen of Kalwar was one of the most trusted and valiant commanders of Sawai Jai Singh (the founder of Jaipur). Karagsen was martyred in battle in the Southern Province. The name of Bhakat Singh of Kalwar finds very special mentions in the battle of Hinglaj in 1728 AD and in many other battles in Aghanistan. One of the descendents of this clan, Man Singh Kilyanot, is immortalized and glorified in "Kurm Vijay" the historical recital of the battle of Mandwa-Mandol fought between then Jaipur and Bharatpur States in 1767 AD.

Thakur Balwant Singh commenced the construction of this Castle in 1879 AD and the construction continued for the next two generations.

The previous Thakur, Jai Singh, was a reputed gunner turned wild life conservationist, who helped in developing the game sanctuaries of Sawai Madhopur and Sariska. In keeping with family traditions the present Thakur, Mandhata Singh, has served in the Indian Army for four decades, rising to the three star rank of Lieutenant General.

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