Thailasar

Origin and Lineage of the Banirot Rathores

The ruling family of Thailasar belongs to the illustrious Banirot clan of the Rathore Dynasty. The lineage traces its roots back to Rao Banir Ji, the founder and first ruler of the Churu Thikana. The Banirot Rathores are an offshoot of the royal house of Bikaner, which itself was established by Rao Bika, a son of Rao Jodha (the founder of Jodhpur).

As a prominent branch of the Bikaner aristocracy, the Banirot Rathores held vast tracts of land in the Churu region. Over the generations, as the clan expanded, subsidiary fiefdoms (Thikanas) were carved out for younger sons and prominent nobles to secure the frontiers of the state and govern local territories. Thailasar was established as one such crucial vassal state.

Foundation of Thailasar and the Six Burj Fort

Thailasar was formally founded by Thakur Jait Singh Ji, who became the first Thikanedar of the estate. Recognizing the strategic importance of the location, Thakur Jait Singh Ji commissioned the construction of a formidable stronghold popularly known as the Six Burj Fort (the Fort of Six Bastions).

This fort was designed to withstand regional skirmishes and served as a vital outpost for the military defense of the eastern borders of Bikaner State. The fort not only served a military purpose but was also the administrative seat of the Thailasar Naresh, from where revenue collection, local justice, and agricultural development were managed.

Relationship with the Bikaner Durbar and British Period

As a tributary Thikana under the suzerainty of the Maharaja of Bikaner, the rulers of Thailasar maintained a close relationship with the capital. They were obligated to provide military service (chakri) and financial tribute (rekhto) to the Bikaner Durbar during times of war and state celebrations.

During the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, the region witnessed significant upheaval due to conflicts between Bikaner, Jaipur, and local chieftains. The famous siege of Churu in 1814 deeply impacted all Banirot estates. Following the Treaty of 1818 between the British East India Company and Maharaja Surat Singh of Bikaner, stability returned to the region. The Thikanedars of Thailasar adapted to the new administrative standards set by the British Raj, focusing on localized governance and maintaining peace along the trade routes crossing through Churu.

Post-Independence and Modern Era

With the independence of India in 1947 and the subsequent integration of princely states, the last ruling Maharaja of Bikaner, Maharaja Sadul Singh Ji, signed the Instrument of Accession, merging the state into the United State of Greater Rajasthan in 1949.

Following the Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act of 1952, the feudal privileges and jagirdari rights of the Thailasar Thikana were formally abolished. The historic Six Burj Fort and the cultural heritage of the Banirot Rathores remain integral parts of the local history of the Churu district in Rajasthan. Today, the descendants of the royal house of Thailasar continue to preserve their ancestral traditions, historical records, and contribute to the socio-cultural fabric of the region.