About Dhar

Dhar is the famous town located in Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh in India. Dhar town is the administrative headquarters of Dhar district. Located 559 m (1,834 ft) above sea level, Dhar is a historic town which is known for its old ramparts, historical buildings and beautiful location. Dhar is situated among lakes and trees having barren hills surrounding them. It also houses some of the famous places which are of historical and cultural importance.

Brief History of Dhar

History of Dhar dates back to ancient period and this town was established by King Vikramaditya of Rajput Paramars during 1st century B.C. In ancient times, Dhar was known as ‘Dhar Nagri’ and as ‘Piran Dhar’ during medieval period. It has also been capital city during ancient and early medieval period. Once been a Maratha princely state, Dhar has witnessed rule of many dynasties including Paramars, Al-ud-din Khalji, Khalji Sultans, Sher Shah, Mughals and Marathas. It has also been under rule of British East India Company before freedom. Besides, this historic town of Madhya Pradesh had also been an active part of revolt of freedom war of 1857 in India.

Geography and Climate of Dhar

Dhar located in state of Madhya Pradesh lies in Malwa region and coordinates at 21°57' - 23°15' N and 74°37' - 75°37' E. This town has an average elevation of 559 m (1,834 ft). Dhar district has been spread over an area of 8153 sq km. Dhar is part of Indore division in state of Madhya Pradesh and has been bounded by Ratlam on north, by Ujjain on northeast, by Indore on east, by Khargone (West Nimar) on the southeast, Barwani on the south and Jhabua on the west side. Dhar experiences humid subtropical climate with three main seasons viz. summer, rainy and winter. This district has warm and temperate climate. June is the hottest month when temperature reaches upto 31.4°C and January is the coolest month with average temperature of 11.4°C. Overall, average annual temperature of Dhar remains around 22.1°C. Average annual rainfall of this district is 1778 mm. Vindhyachal Range runs through Dhar district on east and west directions. Northern part of Dhar district lies in the Malwa plateau. Northeastern part of the district lies in the watershed of Chambal River. Northwestern part lies in the watershed of Mahi River and its other tributaries. Southern part of this district lies in the watershed of Narmada River.  For More Click Here

Art and Culture of Dhar

Influenced with ancient culture and having perfect blend of ancient and modern civilization, Dhar is rich in art and culture. This region has skilled artisans who expertise in local art and craft and with the time they have gained popularity amongst national and international audiences. Bagh prints, Gatha stones, beadwork, stone jalis, Pithora paintings, teak woodwork, leather and metal articles etc. are some of the fine examples of rich art and craft of Dhar.


Having people from different religions and communities, Dhar is culturally rich and diverse. Majority of the population belongs to Hindu religion and besides people from Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity also reside in the district of Dhar. Bhils and Bhilals are main tribes residing in Dhar district. Folk songs and dances are also popular among people in Dhar. Hindi is the official language of Dhar dsitrict. Mainly, residents of this town communicate in Hindi language. Besides, other languages such as Urdu, Marwari, Gujarati, Malvi, Marathi and Nimadi are also spoken in this district. For More Click Here

Economy of Dhar

Economy of Dhar mainly depends on agriculture and small and medium scale industries located in the district. Wheat, Maize, Lentil, Peas, Bengal Gram, Linseed, Cotton and Soybean are major crop of Dhar district. Most of the industrial units are agro based and related to cotton textile, paper and paper products, engineering works, electrical machinery and transport equipments, wooden furniture, chemical, metal, rubber and minerals etc. Apart from that few large scale industries and PSU units are also present in the district.

Tourism in Dhar

Culturally and historically diverse Dhar offers a lot to its tourists as a number of tourist places are present in the district showcasing rich culture of this town. Numbers of historical places and monuments, temples, tombs, museums, fort, palaces are present to spellbound visitors with their charming beauty and elegance. Dhar Fort, Jheera Bagh Palace, Bhoj Shala, Tomb of Shaykh Changal, Lat Masjid, Agency House, Cenotaphs and Old City Palace, Ashmadha - Fossil Park, Chappan Mahal Museum and Kamal Maula’s Cemetery are some of the famous tourist spots in Dhar. For More Click Here

Festivals and Fairs in Dhar

Being a culturally rich district, Dhar is home to people with diverse religions and communities. Thus, a number of festivals are celebrated with much fervor in this district. Vasant Pnchmi, Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Ramnavmi, Raksha-Bandhan, Nag-Panchmi, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Anant Chaturdashi, Sarva Pitri Amavsya, dusshera, Deepawali, Dol Gyaras, Hanuman Jayanti, Eid, Moharram, Christmas, Mahavir Jayanti, Paryooshan etc. are most popular festivals in Dhar which are celebrated with fun and frolic. Shantinathji ka Mela, Ambikaji ka Mela, Gal and Hazrat Biyabani Yatra, Tejaji ka Mela, Gular Shah Urs and Urs Kamal-ud-din are famous fairs held in this district.

Shopping in Dhar

Local markets and bazaars are best way to explore local feel of any place. Shopping in Dhar is incomplete without local art and craft items which consist of beautiful bead hangings, articles made of leather and metal, teak woodwork, bagh prints etc. Roopayan having two showrooms, one at Dhar and other at Mandu has been established by Zila Panchayat to promote art and craft of the district. Hence, Roopayan is the best place to find out unique art and craft pieces of the region.

Transportation in Dhar

Dhar is connected by good road network with surrounding regions and cities of the country. Two major highways pass through this district. National Highway 59 (NH 59) linking Ahmedabad, Gujarat to Indore, Madhya Pradesh passes through Dhar. Besides, National Highway 79 (NH 79) is other prominent highway which connects Ajmer, Rajasthan to Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. Major mode of transportation in Dhar is bus service and local auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws are easily available for commuting in the city. Buses service is available between Dhar, Mandu, Indore, Ratlam, Mhow, Bhopal and Ujjain. Cab or taxi service can also be availed from surrounding cities like Indore, Ratlam, Mhow, Ujjain and Bhopal to Dhar.

Dhar at a glance

State: Madhya Pradesh
District: Dhar
Geographical Area: 8153 sq km
Altitude: 559 m (1,834 ft) above sea level
Latitude: 21°57' - 23°15' N
Longitude: 74°37' - 75°37' E
Population (2011): 2,185,793 million
Density: 268/km2 (690/sq mi)
Average Temperature: 31.4 degrees C (Max), 11.4 degrees C (Min)
Rainfall: 1778 mm
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Urdu, Marwari, Gujarati, Malvi, Marathi
Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity
Best Time to Visit: October to April
Time Zone: IST (UTC +5:30)
STD Code: 07292