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The Pachrang flag of the former Jaipur state. Prior to the adoption of the Pachrang (five coloured) flag by Raja Man Singh I of Amber, the original flag of the Kachwahas was known as the 'Jharshahi' (tree-marked) flag.

Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur (Jainagara) which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727. The Maharaja of Jaipur is regarded as the head of the extended Kachwaha clan.

Legend and early history[link]

T.H. Hendley states in his Rulers of India and the Chiefs of Rajputana (1897)^{[Full citation needed]} that the Kachwaha clan is believed to have settled in an early era at Rohtas (Rahatas) on the son river in present-day Bihar. He notes however, that their notable seats of power were Kutwar, Gwalior, Dubkhund, Simhapaniya and Narwar (Nalapura), all in present-day Madhya Pradesh. This second westward migration to Madhaya Pradesh is said to have been initiated under Raja Nala, the legendary founder of Narwar.

Many historians^[who?] state that the Kacchapaghatas, like the Chandellas and Paramaras, originated as tributaries of the preceding powers of the region. They point out that it was only following the downfall, in the 8th-10th century, of Kannauj (the regional seat-of-power, following the break-up of Harsha's empire), that the Kacchapaghata state emerged as a principal power in the Chambal[1] valley of present-day Madhya Pradesh. This view is largely supported by archaeological artifacts^[1] and Kacchapaghata coinage (minted in Gupta-fashion)^[2] discovered in Madhya Pradesh, as also by inscriptions of Gopasetra.^[3]

According to Rudolf Hoernle (1905), Kachhwahas are related to the Gurjara-Pratiharas. He identifies similarities between the names of the line ruling rulers of Kannauj (mid-10th) century with the recorded line of eight Kachwaha rulers of Gwalior (based on the sas-bahu' inscription of Mahipal).^[4]

After Sumitra, Madhubramh, Kanh, Devanik, and Isha Singh ruled Narwar. The Sas-Bahu inscription is dated to 1093 AD and it gives the genealogy of the ruling family up to Mahipal who died sometime before 1104 AD.^[3]

Formation of Jaipur state and modernity[link]

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II found the city of Jaipur and constructed a palace for Royal family. Shown here is the Chandramahal, a part of Jaipur City Palace built by him.

The present Maharajah of Jaipur is Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, who was crowned on 27 April 2011.^[5]

Notables[link]

• Pajawan
• Jai Singh I
• Ramsingh I
• Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II
• Maharaja Sawai Isrisingh
• Maharaj Sawai Madhosingh I
• Maharaja Sawai Pratapsingh
• Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II
• Rao Shekha
• Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir
• Maharaja Gulab Singh
• Dr. Karan Singh of Kashmir - Ex Cabinet Minister of India.
• Piru Singh - Awarded Param Veer Chakra. (Shekhawat sub clan)
• Kripal Singh Shekhawat

Notes[link]

Further reading[link]

• Bayley C. (1894) Chiefs and Leading Families In Rajputana
• Hendley T. H. (1897) Rulers of India and the Chiefs of Rajputana
• Henige, David (2004). Princely states of India;A guide to chronology and rulers
• Jyoti J. (2001) Royal Jaipur
• Krishnadatta Kavi, Gopalnarayan Bahura(editor) (1983) Pratapa Prakasa, a contemporary account of life in the court at Jaipur in the late 18th century
• Khangarot, R.S., and P.S. Nathawat (1990). Jaigarh- The invincible Fort of Amber
• Topsfield, A. (1994). Indian paintings from Oxford collections
• Tillotson, G. (2006). Jaipur Nama, Penguin books
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

External links[link]

• Ayodhya
• Gwalior's Tourist Attractions
• The coins of the western and central Indian dynasties