Bhilwara

Bhilwara, tantamount with industries like cloth mills and stone quarries, is the headquarter of a small district of the same name in southern Rajasthan. The town was developed mainly as a large-scale industrial town. After having been ravished by many invaders over the centuries, the British were accessible to turn it into a successful mart in the 19th century. It is delimited by a host of more glamorous destinations like Chittaurgarh, Rajsamand and Udaipur. Bhilwara is essentially an industrial town popular for its textiles industries. Bhilwara is called "Zoo of Minerals" for its vast stores of mica, soapstone, copper, feldspar, white clay and garnet. Steel plants and glass factories can easily be spotted in and around Bhilwara.

The tradition reveals that it came to be known as Bhilwara because it was mostly inhabited by Bhil tribes in old days. These Bhils were eventually driven away towards the hilly tracts and interior places of less importance by the ancestors of the peasant settlers. They have come up in the middle of the 11th century when a Bhil tribal, supposedly one of the first settlers, built a Shiva temple on the site of the existing Jat aunt ka Mandir. This is in the area called Junawas, the oldest part of the town. The town is more than 900 years old. Ironically now very few Bhils live in this area. Another version recounts that the present Bhilwara city had a mint where coins known as 'BHILADI' were minted and from this denomination was derived the name of the district. A town nearby the city named "Mandal" is assumed to be the base of the Mughals when they attacked Chittor Garh, the Mughal forces camped near the water reservoir of the town of Mandal, and ruins of the camp can still be seen there. A tower served as light house was also built on a small hill in Mandal, know known as "Mandara (minar.)". This small hill also houses a Devi temple.

The major industry is textiles with more than 400 manufacturing units in the town. There is also a huge cloth market. The main textile product is synthetic fabric used in trousers. The city is a market for mica, grains, cotton, and wool. Its manufactures include textiles and metal ware.

Illuminating the rich and thriving tradition and culture of Bhilwara are its many fairs and festivals including Ganesh Mela, Dhanop Mataji Mela, Ramdev Ji Ka Mela and Badnor Pashu Mela.

Bhilwara is also famous for following cultural and social elements:

• Art: Great Indian Miniature artist Badri Lal Chitrakar highlights the city on international maps for Indian Miniature Art. He has been given Ship Guru Award by Vice-President of India in September 9, 2006.
• Gazak: famous sweet. It is made up of Til and famous around whole Rajasthan.
• Sports: Bhilwara is the source of National basketball team players. This city is considered to be the mine of basketball players. The well known basketball coach Priyadarshini Diwakar has trained many players in the city. His students are known around the world.