Wair is a town in eastern Rajasthan. This town is located forty eight km south west to Bharatpur and about eighteen km north-west of Bayana.
Geography of Wair
The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of Wair is 27 degree and 77-14 degree Celsius. As per historical sources it was in the later half of the year 1725 AD, Badan Singh, the Jat ruler, organised a new Pargana called "Wair" in the middle region of Pargana Bhusawar, Bayana and Uchchain town and appointed his son Pratap Singh as its administrator.
History of Wair
Raja Pratap Singh, brother of Suraj Mai, the ruler of Bharatpur, had keen interest in arts and literature and on his first inspection of the Wair region he decided to settle a new town there naming it as Warigarh. In the year 1726 the foundation of a strong and formidable citadel was laid and to make it further inaccessible a deep water ditch was dug up around it. Inside the fortress, residential palaces, courts, magazine house, weapon store, garrison for soldiers and wells for drinking water were constructed on a substantial scale. On the downhill, across the moat, in front of the Fort`s eastern main gate, a new township was planned. On the eastern and western sides the fort has got two magnificent gates for entry. To provide water for the main fort`s canal and moat, Sita canal was constructed from a dam named Sita bund. The fort, set up in the year 1726 by Prince Pratap Singh, speaks volume about the art and architecture of Wair. The star attraction of the fort is the large, splendid and alluring Phulwari, set up in the northern background of the fort. The magnificent Safed Mahal (white palace) and Lal Mahal (red palace) is the striking feature of this garden. In the open space of Safed Mahal there is a pond and a chain of fountains. The architecture is highly influenced by Mughal style of architecture. These are held as a pioneer of the water palaces at Deeg. Sitaram temple is situated nearby the outré boundary of Phulwari and this stands as an evidence of the immense creative and artistic sense of Pratap Singh. Later in the garden, a Hindola or a marble swing was set up by Bahadur Singh, son of Pratap Singh, which he had brought as a trophy from Agra fort, which was again removed to Deeg garden palaces in the tear 1861. The credit for decorating Wair artistically goes solely to Raja Pratap Singh. He turned Wair into a seat of superior learning and established a democratic social order in his small kingdom. After the death of Pratap Singh on 2nd November in the year 1745, Wair was almost orphaned. He left behind a talented and fearless son Bahadur Singh. He was a benevolent and liberal prince and enemies feared his sword. He participated in and won many battles for Suraj Mai. Following the Indian tradition he gave protection to many refugees. After the death of Suraj Mai, Bahadur Singh wanted to take the realms of Wair in his own hands. He faced displeasure from Jawahar Singh, son of Suraj Mai, but it did not deter Bahadur Singh"s ambition and he commenced to strengthen the place further which was already well-fortified, and put himself in a state to defend it against whosoever would attack it. Jawahar Singh took it as a challenge and a great combat followed where greater part of the fortification of Wair was demolished and Bahadur Singh was imprisoned but was released later. In front of modern Wair"s eastern gate, on the southern side there is a raised ancient high mound. The town is populated on this elevated landmass. Archaeological excavation has revealed that a township of remote antiquity existed on this site. In the year 1960, several antiquities and sculpture like Shivalinga, one stone cover of Mohanjodaro style, some stone pieces, a wood sculpture of Kushana Empire time, and a Jain idol of Parswanath, one stone-edict of Slave Dynasty period (1290 A.D.) and a mosque of Tughlaq style were discovered. All this available evidence proves that Wair was a very prosperous and prominent cultural centre in the Hindu and Muslim periods. The vibrancy of Wair is rooted in its history. It was a happening place where Dussehra was celebrated with great pomp and show. A tapestry of different religions and traditions was really amazing. In the present day Wair portrays a picture of real rural Rajasthan. It is now an exotic location for excursion out of Bharatpur. Wair is extensive in its ideology and presentation.