Sankotra

Origin and the Migration from Mewar

The history of the Sankotra Thikana is deeply intertwined with the illustrious Sisodia dynasty of Mewar (Chittorgarh). The ancestors of the Sankotra ruling family belonged to the Chandrawat branch of the Sisodias. During the tumultuous reign of Rana Sanga in the early 16^th century, internal strife and political realignments within the Mewar court prompted a faction of the clan to migrate from Chittorgarh. Seeking to establish an independent dominion, they moved southward and eastward into the central provinces of India.

The Rampura Dynasty and Regional Expansion

Upon migrating, the Chandrawat Sisodias established their sovereign seat at Rampura (historically known as Rampura Bhanpura, located in present-day Madhya Pradesh). From this strategic base, the clan expanded its territory through martial prowess and tactical alliances. Over the decades, they pushed their borders northward into the Dhundhar and Mewat regions, eventually conquering the parganas of Bhanpura and Ajabgarh (presently located in the Alwar district of Rajasthan).

Confrontation with Amber and the Grant of Sankotra

The expansion of the Chandrawats brought them into direct conflict with the expanding power of the Kachwaha rulers of Amber (Jaipur). In the late 16^th century, Maharaj Madho Singh I, the brother of the celebrated Mughal general Maharaja Man Singh I of Amber, established his stronghold at the legendary Bhangarh Fort. Through military campaigns, the Kachwahas annexed the Ajabgarh and Bhangarh parganas from the Chandrawats.

To settle the conflict and secure the loyalty of this formidable Sisodia branch, a compromise was reached. The Chandrawat Sisodias were integrated into the nobility of the Amber State and were granted the prestigious estate of Sankotra as a hereditary Thikana (fiefdom) for their maintenance and sustenance.

Sankotra Fort and the British Era

With their settlement in the Dhundhar region, the Chandrawats built the formidable Sankotra Fort in the 17^th century. Situated approximately 48 kilometers from the historic walled city of Jaipur, the fort was strategically nestled within the rugged folds of the Aravalli Range, offering excellent natural defense.

During the British Raj, the Thikana of Sankotra functioned as a prominent vassal state under the princely state of Jaipur. The rulers of Sankotra contributed to the military administration of the Jaipur State, maintaining law and order in their jagir while preserving their unique Mewari heritage and customs amidst the dominant Kachwaha court culture.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

Following India's independence in 1947 and the subsequent integration of the princely states, the Thikana of Sankotra was merged into the state of Rajasthan. The jagirdari system was abolished, but the royal family of Sankotra retained their ancestral properties, including the historic fort. Today, the family continues to preserve their rich heritage, maintaining the 17^th-century Sankotra Fort as a living monument to the enduring legacy of the Chandrawat Sisodias in the desert state.