Patan

Origin and Foundation

The historical state of Patan, situated in the heart of the Torawati region in present-day Rajasthan, was founded by the Tanwar (Tomar) clan of Rajputs. The rulers of Patan trace their direct descent from the illustrious Emperor Raja Anangpal Tomar II, who established the city of Delhi (then Lal Kot) in the 11^th century. Following the fall of Delhi to the Ghurid dynasty in the late 12^th century, the descendants of the Tomar sovereigns migrated southwestward into the rugged Aravalli range. There, they established a sovereign principality, with Patan as its capital, ruling over the region that came to be known as "Torawati" (the land of the Tomars).

The Battle of Patan (1790)

Patan was the theater of one of the most critical military engagements of 18^th-century India. On June 20, 1790, the historic Battle of Patan was fought here. The battle pitted the Maratha Confederacy, led by the French-trained General Benoît de Boigne under the service of Mahadji Scindia, against the combined Rajput alliance of Jaipur and Jodhpur. Despite the valiant defense put up by the Rajput cavalry, the modern artillery and disciplined battalions of the Marathas secured a decisive victory, which heavily influenced the political dynamics of Rajputana during the twilight of the Mughal Empire.

Relations with Jaipur State and the British Raj

Throughout the medieval and British periods, the Tanwar rulers of Patan maintained a unique and fiercely guarded semi-independent status. Although the Thikana was geographically and politically aligned with the larger Kachwaha kingdom of Jaipur, the Rao of Patan retained substantial administrative, judicial, and fiscal autonomy within Torawati. Under British suzerainty, Patan was recognized as a premier non-salute state, celebrated for its ancient pedigree and historical association with the founding of Delhi.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India's independence in 1947, the Thikana of Patan was formally integrated into the modern state of Rajasthan. The ruling family's administrative privileges and privy purses were subsequently phased out. Today, the heritage of the Tanwar dynasty is preserved through the magnificent Patan Mahal, a 13^th-century ancestral palace nestled in the valleys of the Aravalli hills. The palace has been restored and now operates as a heritage hotel, attracting historians and travelers from across the globe to experience the legacy of the Tomar Rajputs.