The Dhar State of the Puar Marathas

Dhar state, also written as the princely state of Dhar, was a Maratha princely state of the Malwa region, in what is now Madhya Pradesh, ruled by the Puar, or Pawar, family. Centred on its capital town of Dhar, the state lay in the historic country of Malwa, a plateau region of central India long celebrated in Indian history. The ruling house belonged to the Puar lineage, one of the Maratha clans that established states in Malwa during the era of the Maratha power. Dhar is especially associated with the Dhar fort, a historic stronghold overlooking the town, and with the Bhojshala, a historic monument linked by tradition to the legendary Raja Bhoja and to the worship of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. As a Maratha principality, its story belongs to the wider order described in our guide to the Maratha Empire, and this account keeps to broadly established history where particular dates and details are uncertain, flagging traditional claims as tradition.

Key Takeaways

• Dhar state was a Maratha princely state of the Malwa region, in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
• It was ruled by the Puar, or Pawar, family, one of the Maratha clans of Malwa.
• Its capital was the town of Dhar, in the historic plateau country of Malwa.
• The Dhar fort is a historic stronghold overlooking the town.
• The Bhojshala is a historic monument linked by tradition to the legendary Raja Bhoja and to Saraswati.
• Dhar acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947.

Read on for the history, culture, and legacy in detail.

Quick Facts

Who Ruled the State of Dhar?

Dhar state was ruled by the Puar, or Pawar, family, a Maratha house that established its rule over this country of the Malwa region during the era of the Maratha power. The Puars governed from their capital at the town of Dhar, presiding over a princely state in the historic plateau country of Malwa in central India. As a Maratha clan, the Puars shared in the martial traditions and heritage of the Maratha houses that spread across central India in the eighteenth century. The family upheld the customs and sense of lineage characteristic of the Marathas. Governing from Dhar, with its historic fort and the celebrated Bhojshala, the Puars held a respected place among the princely states of Malwa. Their rule gave the state its distinctive character and its heritage, above all the Dhar fort and the Bhojshala monument. The Puar Marathas of Dhar thus occupy a notable place among the ruling houses of the Malwa country.

Where Is Dhar Located?

Dhar is located in the Malwa region, in the western part of present-day Madhya Pradesh in central India, on the historic plateau country long celebrated in Indian history. Malwa is a fertile upland region, distinct from the plains and the Deccan, with a long heritage of kingdoms, towns and monuments. The town of Dhar, which gave the state its name, served as its capital amid this setting. The position of Dhar in Malwa placed it in a country of deep historical importance, associated with the legendary rulers and monuments of central India. The terrain and setting of the fertile plateau shaped the life and economy of the state. Dhar’s location in Malwa is central to understanding its identity and its rich heritage, including the Dhar fort and the Bhojshala. Its setting in the historic plateau country ties it closely to the celebrated history of Malwa in central India.

Who Were the Puar (Pawar) Marathas?

The Puar, or Pawar, Marathas were a Maratha clan that rose to prominence during the era of the Maratha power and established states in the Malwa region of central India, including Dhar. As one of the Maratha houses that spread across central India in the eighteenth century, the Puars came to rule territories in Malwa, carrying with them the martial traditions and heritage of the Marathas of the Deccan. The family upheld the customs, devotion and sense of lineage characteristic of the Maratha clans. Their rule over Dhar and other territories made them one of the ruling houses of Malwa. The Puar name is associated with the Maratha expansion into central India and the establishment of its princely states. The martial traditions and heritage of the Puars shaped the character of the ruling house of Dhar. The Puar identity thus forms the ancestral foundation of the ruling house of Dhar in the Malwa country.

How Did the State of Dhar Originate?

Dhar state originated during the era of the Maratha expansion into central India, when the Puar family established its rule over this country of the Malwa region. As the Maratha power spread across central India in the eighteenth century, the Puars came to govern territories in Malwa, with their seat at the historic town of Dhar. According to the broadly recorded history of the Maratha world, the Puar line established an enduring principality centred on Dhar, which carried the deep heritage of the ancient Malwa country. The precise details of the state’s early history are drawn from the records and traditions of the Maratha houses and are treated by historians with appropriate caution. The origin of Dhar as a Puar Maratha state connects it both to the Maratha expansion and to the celebrated ancient history of Malwa. The state thus took shape as a Maratha principality set in one of the most historic regions of central India.

What Is the Dhar Fort?

The Dhar fort is the principal secular monument of Dhar, a historic stronghold that overlooks the town and reflects the long strategic importance of the Malwa country. Built of stone and set on rising ground, the fort combines strong defensive walls, bastions and gateways with the structures of a princely stronghold, commanding the town and the surrounding country. The fort is of considerable antiquity and is associated with the long history of Dhar through many eras before it formed part of the heritage of the Puar Maratha state. Its ramparts and structures reflect the martial traditions and strategic value of Malwa. The Dhar fort stands as an emblem of the authority and heritage of the town and its rulers. As a historic landmark, it draws visitors interested in the heritage of the region. The Dhar fort remains one of the most important heritage landmarks of the former princely state in the Malwa country.

What Is the Bhojshala?

The Bhojshala is a celebrated historic monument at Dhar, linked by tradition to the legendary Raja Bhoja and to the worship of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. According to tradition, the monument is associated with the great Raja Bhoja, a ruler of Malwa remembered in legend as a patron of learning, poetry and the arts, and the site is connected with the veneration of Saraswati. The Bhojshala is admired for its historic architecture, carved detail and inscriptions, which reflect the deep antiquity and cultural heritage of the Malwa country. As with many such traditions, the precise history and associations of the monument are a matter of tradition and scholarship, and the account here keeps to its broadly known character and significance. The Bhojshala is counted among the most celebrated heritage sites of Dhar. It stands as a cherished emblem of the ancient cultural heritage of Malwa and the legend of Raja Bhoja.

Who Was Raja Bhoja in Tradition?

Raja Bhoja is a celebrated ruler of the Malwa region remembered in tradition as a great patron of learning, poetry, architecture and the arts, whose name is linked to the Bhojshala at Dhar. In the traditions and legends of central India, Raja Bhoja is honoured as a model of the learned and cultured king, associated with scholarship, literature and the building of monuments, temples and institutions of learning. His name became a byword for the ideal of the wise and generous ruler in Indian tradition. The Bhojshala at Dhar is linked by tradition to Raja Bhoja and to the worship of Saraswati, the goddess of learning, reflecting his association with scholarship. The historical details of his reign belong to the ancient history of Malwa and are treated by historians with care. In tradition, Raja Bhoja remains one of the most celebrated figures of the Malwa country and a symbol of learning and culture.

What Was the Capital Town of Dhar Like?

The capital town of Dhar, which gave the state its name, lay in the Malwa region of central India and served as the seat of the Puar ruling house. The town was the political, administrative, cultural and religious centre of the state, dominated by the historic Dhar fort and adorned with the Bhojshala, temples, mosques and the residences of the ruling family. As a town of deep antiquity set in the historic country of Malwa, Dhar carried a rich heritage reaching back long before the Puar Maratha state. The town was a centre of court life, governance, ceremony and devotion. Its heritage reflected both the status of the ruling house and the ancient history of Malwa. As the capital, Dhar was the focus of the life of the state. The town of Dhar remains the enduring centre of its heritage and identity, with the Dhar fort and the Bhojshala among its most treasured monuments.

What Was the Culture of Dhar Like?

The culture of Dhar combined the traditions of the Maratha ruling house with the deep and ancient heritage of the Malwa country, long celebrated as a land of learning, poetry and the arts. The court of the Puars fostered the religious and cultural life of the town, its temples and monuments, while the heritage of ancient Malwa, associated with figures such as Raja Bhoja, lent Dhar a special cultural standing. The traditions of the Marathas, the devotional culture of the region and the celebrated legend of learning associated with Malwa all shaped the cultural life of Dhar. The patronage of the ruling family supported temples, monuments and the traditions of the court. This blend of Maratha tradition and ancient Malwa heritage distinguished Dhar among the states of central India. The culture of Dhar remains one of the most distinctive aspects of its heritage in the Malwa region.

What Was the Architecture and Heritage of Dhar Like?

The architecture and heritage of Dhar embrace the historic Dhar fort, the celebrated Bhojshala, temples, mosques and the residences of the ruling house, reflecting both the Maratha state and the ancient heritage of Malwa. The Dhar fort, set on rising ground, combines defensive strength with the structures of a princely stronghold, while the Bhojshala and other historic monuments reflect the deep antiquity and cultural heritage of the Malwa country. The religious and historic structures of the town, with their carved stonework and inscriptions, express the layered history of Dhar through many eras. The building traditions drew on the styles of Malwa and the wider heritage of central India. This combination of fort, monument and temple gives Dhar a rich and varied heritage. The artistic and architectural traditions of the state reflect both the Puar rulers and the ancient culture of Malwa. The architecture and heritage of Dhar remain among the most striking aspects of the Malwa country.

How Was Dhar Governed?

Dhar was governed by its Puar ruling house through a system that combined the authority of the ruler with the service of nobles, officials and local functionaries who managed the affairs of the state. At the head stood the ruler, supported by ministers and officers responsible for revenue, justice and the general administration of the territory. The state comprised the capital town and the surrounding country of the Malwa region. Revenue came chiefly from the land and the produce of the fertile plateau, in keeping with its agrarian character. The nobility and local chiefs held responsibilities within this structure, a common pattern among the princely states. Within the framework of British paramountcy, the administration of the state developed over time. This system of governance allowed the Puar dynasty to maintain its rule over the Malwa country for generations. The administration of Dhar reflected the traditions of a Maratha principality set in the historic country of Malwa.

What Were Dhar's Relations with the Great Powers?

Dhar, as a Maratha state of Malwa, was tied from its origin to the Maratha power that had spread across central India, and over its history it engaged with the great powers that contended for the region, including the Marathas, the earlier Mughals and later the British. As a Puar Maratha state, Dhar was bound up with the fortunes of the Maratha order in central India, within which it held its own standing. Like other states, it navigated the shifting balance of power through accommodation and the preservation of its own authority over its territory. Its position in the Malwa country shaped its relations with these powers. The rulers of Dhar managed their dealings to safeguard the interests of the state across changing times. Through such dealings, the dynasty preserved its rule over Dhar. The state’s relations with the great powers form an important strand in its history and illustrate the place of the Maratha states of Malwa within the wider order of central India.

How Did Dhar Become a Princely State under the British?

Dhar became a princely state within the framework of British paramountcy that took shape across India during the nineteenth century, following the decline of the Maratha power. As British authority extended over central India, the Maratha houses of Malwa, including the Puars of Dhar, entered into arrangements that recognised their rule over their territories while acknowledging the overarching authority of the paramount power. Under this system Dhar was counted among the princely states of central India, retaining its own ruler, administration and internal governance. This status allowed the Puar dynasty to continue governing the Malwa country as the ruling house of a recognised state. The princely-state framework shaped the modern history of Dhar until the independence of India. Within this arrangement the state preserved its traditions and its distinctive identity. Dhar’s standing as a princely state of central India is an important part of its story in the era before independence.

How Did Dhar Join Independent India?

Dhar, like the other princely states, acceded to the Indian Union after the independence of India in 1947, when the states were integrated into the new nation. With the end of British paramountcy, the rulers of the princely states joined India, and their territories were brought into the republic through the great process of integration that reshaped the political map of the subcontinent. Dhar became part of independent India and was absorbed into the structure of the region that later formed the state of Madhya Pradesh. This transition ended the era of Dhar as a separately governed principality, though the ruling family retained its historical standing and heritage as a Puar Maratha house. The integration of the states was one of the defining achievements of the early years of independent India. Dhar thus became part of the modern nation and of the reorganised map of central India.

Dhar Today

Dhar is remembered today chiefly through its rich heritage, above all the historic Dhar fort and the celebrated Bhojshala, linked by tradition to the legendary Raja Bhoja and to the worship of Saraswati. The fort, the Bhojshala, temples and historic sites of the town draw visitors interested in the heritage of the princely states and the ancient history of Malwa. The former ruling family retains its historical association with the state and its heritage. The cultural and historic life of the town, rooted in both the Maratha state and the ancient Malwa heritage, continues to shape the identity of Dhar. For readers of Indian history, Dhar offers a vivid example of a Maratha principality set in one of the most historic regions of central India. Its legacy endures in the Dhar fort, the Bhojshala and the heritage of its capital in the Malwa country of Madhya Pradesh.

Sources & Further Reading

• Archaeological Survey of India (asi.nic.in).
• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Department of Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh (mptourism.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Dhar state?

Dhar state was a Maratha princely state of the Malwa region, in present-day Madhya Pradesh, ruled by the Puar, or Pawar, family. Its capital was the town of Dhar, and it is especially associated with the Dhar fort and the Bhojshala monument.

Who ruled Dhar?

Dhar was ruled by the Puar, or Pawar, family, a Maratha clan that established its rule over the country of Malwa during the era of the Maratha expansion into central India. The Puars governed from the historic town of Dhar.

What is the Bhojshala?

The Bhojshala is a celebrated historic monument at Dhar, linked by tradition to the legendary Raja Bhoja and to the worship of Saraswati, the goddess of learning. It is admired for its historic architecture, carved detail and inscriptions, and its precise history is a matter of tradition and scholarship.

Who was Raja Bhoja?

Raja Bhoja is a celebrated ruler of Malwa remembered in tradition as a great patron of learning, poetry, architecture and the arts. His name became a byword for the ideal of the wise and cultured king, and the Bhojshala at Dhar is linked to him by tradition.

What is the Dhar fort?

The Dhar fort is the principal secular monument of Dhar, a historic stronghold that overlooks the town and reflects the long strategic importance of Malwa. Of considerable antiquity, it combines defensive walls, bastions and gateways and remains an important heritage landmark.

What happened to Dhar after independence?

Dhar acceded to the Indian Union after independence in 1947 and was integrated into the region that later formed the state of Madhya Pradesh. This ended its era as a separately governed principality, though the ruling family retained its heritage as a Puar Maratha house.