Kuchesar Fort

Rao Raj Vilas, also known as The Kuchesar Fort, is 18th-century fort a heritage resort formed by restoring a section of Ajit Singh's family's ancestral property belonging former princely state, Kuchesar. Built in 1734, and surrounded by a 100-acre mango grove, it is located in Kuchesar, a village two hours away from New Delhi, seven km off highway NH 24 between Hapur and Garhmukteshwar, and it was restored by Neemrana Hotels and turned into a heritage hotel in 1998.

From NH-24 that goes to Garh, there is small town known as "Kuchesar Road Chopla" there is a road that is connected to Siyana, after moving 7 km from Chopla Kuchesar comes, where the Kuchesar Fort is located.

History

During 1740, the Jats became a first rate military power of India. The Jat ruler of Kuchesar originally belong to Mandoti in Haryana and were the descendants from the Jats of the Dalal sub-caste.

Bhual and his three brothers were the first to arrive in this area during 18th century. His Grandson, Chhatar Singh served with Mirza Ali Beg, the Jagirdar of Chitsauna, obtaining both power and large estate. His sons joined Maharaja Jawahar Singh, the Jat ruler of Bharatpur State to avenge the death of his father King Suraj Mal. Later they were offered the Jagir of Kuchesar with the title of Rao and office of Chormar by Mughal emperor Najib-ud-Daula.

Kuchesar

Kuchesar is village in Bulandshahr district, state of Uttar Pradesh, at a distance of 80 km from Delhi, off the NH 24. It was the seat of Zamindari, or small princely estate, during British Raj.

The Jat rulers of Kuchesar, who hailed from Mandoti in Haryana, Built their mud-fort sometime in the mid-18th century. The mud-fort of Kuchesar tells of the chequered history of the Jats who vied with the Sikhs, Marathas, Rohillas & Rajputs, as well as with French adventurers and the British East India Company, to fill the vacuum created by the decline of the Mughal empire.

Part of the Kuchesar Fort, built 1734, became a heritage hotel in 1998, after its restoration by Neemrana Hotels.

Clan history

The ruling family of Kuchesar belonged to the Dalal clan of the Jat caste. Mr. Crook in his book “The Tribes and Castes of the north western provinces and Avadh” writes about the origin of the Dalal clan of Jats. He recounts that in the village of Sillauti, located in the Rohtak district of Haryana, there lived in a long-bygone era a man by name Dhanna Rao Rathore, who belonged to the Rajput caste. He married a woman of the Princess Badgujar Jat caste. They had three sons, by name Deswal, Dille and Maan. The descendants of the three brothers formed three major lineages (gotras) and came to be known as Deswal, Dalal and Maan Gotras respectively.