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{{AI-generated|date=October 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Lodrawa
| image_skyline = Lodurva Temples.jpg
| image_caption = [[Lodhurva Jain temple]]
| coordinates =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = [[Rajasthan]]
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jaisalmer]]
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 8th century CE
| named_for =
| government_type = Village
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_m =
| population_as_of = 2023
| population_total =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_demographics_type1 =
| population_demographics1_title1 =
| population_demographics1_info1 =
| population_rank =
| population_note =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Hindi, Rajasthani
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code =
| registration_plate =
| website =
| footnotes =
| blank_info_sec1 =
| mapframe = yes
| native_name_lang = hi
| other_name = Lodurva, Lodarva or Laudrava
| founder = Rawal Deoraj
}}
'''Lodrawa''' (aka Lodurva, Lodarva or Laudrava) is a village in [[Jaisalmer district]], Rajasthan, [[India]]. It is located 15 kilometers to the north-west of [[Jaisalmer]]. Lodrawa was the ancient capital of the [[Bhati|Bhati Rajputs]] until [[Rawal Jaisal]] founded the [[Jaisalmer state]] and moved the capital to Jaisalmer in 1156 CE. According to historical sources, the city was originally under the control of the [[Lodhi Rajputs|Lodhis]].{{sfn|Tod|1832|p=1198}}

== Rule of the Lodha Rajputs ==
Before coming under Bhatti control, Lodhorva was ruled by the [[Lodha|Lodhi Rajputs]](also referred to as Lodra Rajputs), a prominent Chandravanshi Rajput clan in the region. Lodhorva during their rule was described as "an immense city with twelve gates," highlighting its political and military importance.{{sfn|Tod|1832|p=1198}} The Lodha Rajputs played a crucial role in establishing Lodhorva as a fortified city and cultural center prior to its annexation by the Bhattis.

== Conquest by Deoraj Bhatti ==
The fall of the Lodha Rajputs came with the strategic conquest by Deoraj Bhatti, a powerful Bhatti Rajput chief. According to Colonel James Tod in *Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan*, Deoraj was approached by a discontented Purohit (priest) who had taken sanctuary with him after being wronged by the Lodha ruler. The Purohit advised Deoraj to take Lodhorva for himself.

To do this, Deoraj proposed marriage to the daughter of [[Nripbhan]], the Lodha Rajput chief. Arriving at Lodhorva with a force of 1,200 chosen horsemen disguised as a wedding procession, Deoraj was allowed entry into the city. Once inside, the Bhatti warriors launched a surprise attack and seized Lodhorva. Deoraj married the Lodha chief's daughter, established a garrison, and returned to his own capital at Derawar, marking the end of Lodha Rajput rule in Lodhorva.{{sfn|Tod|1832|p=1198}}

This event not only marked the political demise of the Lodha Rajputs in Lodhorva but also represented the beginning of Bhatti dominance in the region, eventually leading to the founding of Jaisalmer.
.

== Decline and Abandonment ==
Over the centuries, repeated invasions and the harsh desert environment led to the decline of Lodhorva. The city was eventually abandoned when [[Rawal Jaisal]], a Bhatti descendant of Deoraj, considered it too exposed to external threats. After conspiring with the Sultan of Ghor to attack his nephew Bhojdeo, who then ruled Lodhorva, Jaisal founded the fortified city of [[Jaisalmer]] further into the desert, which became the new seat of power.{{sfn|Tod|1832|p=1198}}

== Legacy of the Lodha Rajputs ==
Although their rule over Lodhorva ended, the Lodha Rajputs remain historically significant as one of the early ruling clans in the desert frontier of Rajasthan. Their fall became a defining moment in the rise of the Bhatti Rajput power and the founding of one of the region's most iconic cities—Jaisalmer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-05-31/news/27346177_1_jaisalmer-rawal-jaisal-trikuta-hill|title=Jawahar Niwas: Grace of Jaisalmer|last=Singh|first=Ranjeni A|date=31 May 2002|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=14 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103234011/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2002-05-31/news/27346177_1_jaisalmer-rawal-jaisal-trikuta-hill|archive-date=3 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="rjt">{{cite web|url=http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/Jaisalmer/NearJaisalmer4.aspx|title=Bada Bagh|website=Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215034310/http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/Jaisalmer/NearJaisalmer4.aspx|archive-date=15 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/Jaisalmer/AboutJaisalmer.aspx|title=About Jaisalmer|publisher=Department of Tourism, Govt. of Rajasthan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228074848/http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/Destinations/Jaisalmer/AboutJaisalmer.aspx|archive-date=28 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2012}}</ref>

The village and the surrounding area are famous for their historic temples, mostly [[Jainism|Jain]], originally constructed in the pre-12th-century [[Māru-Gurjara architecture|Maru-Gurjara style]] of the [[Chalukya Empire]] and reconstructed in a similar but more ornate revivalist style in the 17th century.

==History==
Rawal Deoraj of the Bhati clan established Lodhruva as the capital in the 8th century CE.{{sfn|Tod|1832|p=239}}<ref>{{cite book |title=The Rough Guide to India | series=Rough Guides |url={{Google books|aL_kDAAAQBAJ|pg=PT307|plainurl=yes}}}}</ref> The city stood on an ancient trade route through the [[Thar Desert]], which also made it vulnerable to frequent attacks. [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] laid siege on the city in 1025 CE. It was again ransacked by [[Muhammad of Ghor|Muhammad Ghori]] in 1152 CE, leading to its abandonment and the establishment of the new fortified capital of [[Jaisalmer]] by [[Rawal Jaisal]] in 1156 CE. Jaisalmer was situated 16 km away on the [[Trikuta|Trikuta Hill]], where the [[Jaisalmer Fort|present fortress]] stands today.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sonar Qila|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/archive/sonar-qila/48364/0|publisher=[[The Financial Express (India)|Financial Express]] |date=9 January 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)|author=Lindsay Brown |author2=Amelia Thomas |publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2008|isbn=978-1-74104-690-8 |page=335 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zz0_zXPb68kC&dq=Lodhruva&pg=PA335 }}</ref>

Lodrawa was also the setting for the doomed love story of Princess Mumal and Mahendra, a prince of [[Amarkot]], recounted in local folklore and songs.<ref>{{cite news |title=A story around every dune Published: Sunday |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/books-and-more_a-story-around-every-dune_1152595-all |publisher=[[DNA (newspaper)|DNA]] |date=24 February 2008 }}</ref>

==Visitor's attractions==
{{Main|Lodhurva Jain temple}}
Lodrawa is a popular tourist destination, known for its architectural ruins and surrounding sand dunes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2007/07/15/tra06.asp|title=Camel safari in India|date=15 July 2007|work=Sunday Observer|access-date=14 June 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429203817/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/07/15/tra06.asp|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> Lodrawa is also famous for the [[Jain temple]] dedicated to the 23rd [[Tirthankara]], [[Parshvanatha]]. The original temple was destroyed in 1178 AD when [[Muhammad of Ghor|Muhammad Ghori]] attacked the city, but it was reconstructed by Seth Tharu Shah in 1615, with further additions in 1675 and 1687.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jaindharmonline.com/pilgri/jaisal.htm|title=Jain Temples Jaisalmer|website=Jaindharm online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818175311/http://www.jaindharmonline.com/pilgri/jaisal.htm|archive-date=18 August 2007|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref> Restored using state-of-the-art methods in the late 1970s, the temples are reminders of the city's former glory.<ref name=lonely>{{cite book |title=Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)|author=Lindsay Brown |author2=Amelia Thomas |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]|year=2008|isbn= 978-1-74104-690-8|page= 335|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zz0_zXPb68kC&dq=Lodhruva&pg=PA335 }}</ref> Other old temples in the area are dedicated to the deities [[Rishabhanatha]], [[Sambhavanatha]], [[Hinglaj|Hinglaj Mata]], [[Chamunda]], and [[Shiva]].

==Further reading==
* ''Beyond The Dunes: Journeys In Rajasthan'', by Juhi Sinha. Penguin Global. {{ISBN|978-0-14-306306-3}}.

==See also==
* [[History of Jaisalmer]]
* [[Bada Bagh]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book |last=Tod |first=James|author-link=James Tod |title=Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han: Or the Central and Western Rajpoot States of India | volume=2 |url={{Google books|OYVIAQAAMAAJ|page=1198|plainurl=yes}} |date=1832 |publisher=[[Smith, Elder & Co.|Smith, Elder and Company]] }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lodurva}}
* [http://wikimapia.org/1042614/Lodurva Lodurva] at [[wikimapia]]
* [http://vimeo.com/11662309 Legend of Mumal and Mahender in Rajastahni folksong]
* [https://archive.org/details/annalsantiquitie02todj/page/542/mode/2up Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan – Lodhorva section]

[[Category:Villages in Jaisalmer district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Jaisalmer district]]
[[Category:Former capitals in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Rajasthan]]

Lodhruva - Revision history

VanessaColls18 at 22:56, 13 March 2026