Dungarpur

Dungarpur lies in southern Rajasthan, in a dry upland region where summer temperatures have been recorded from about 26 to 43°C and winter temperatures from roughly 9 to 25°C. Annual rainfall varies between about 47 and 76 centimetres. The city became the seat of the elder branch of the Guhilot rulers of Mewar, whose Maharawal title distinguished them from the Maharana of Udaipur, seat of the younger branch.

Foundation accounts do not fully agree. One tradition dates the city to 1282 under Rawal Veer Singh, while another places the town's foundation near the end of the fourteenth century under Rawal Bir Singh. Both bind the place to the elder Mewar line, and the later account says it was named for Dungaria, an independent Bhil chief who was assassinated. Earlier still, the dynasty's ancestor Mahup had been disinherited, taken refuge with the Chauhans of Bagar and established power there at the expense of Bhil chiefs; his younger brother Rahup founded the separate Sisodia line.

Dungarpur's territory was divided from Banswara after Rawal Udai Singh of Bagar died fighting beside Rana Sanga against Babur at Khanwa in 1527. The state later passed through Mughal and Maratha overlordship and became a British treaty state in 1818, retaining the ceremonial rank of a 15-gun salute. Much of its history belonged to the surrounding hill country of Bhil villages rather than to the walls of one small capital.