Maharana Pratap
Situated in western Rajasthan, Bera, often nicknamed as “Leopard Country”, is surrounded by dams and lakes, including Jawai Dam, the largest one in the entire region.The town of Bera has a historic significance in the history of the kingdom of Mewar (Udaipur) The legendary warrior, Maharana Pratap Singh, demarcated this land for his fourth son, Rana Shekha, to rule. The hosts are the direct descendants and the royal family of Bera.
Sir Pratap
He was the third son of Sir Takhat Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur. He was an outstandingly courageous soldier and a fine administrator and sportsman. His only daughter was married in Bera to Rao Bhadur Thakur Shivnath Singh Bera.
JAWAI ‘s most magical address, Castle Bera has been welcoming guests since the 16th century.
The ancestral home of the Royal Family of Bera , whose lineage dates back 400 years to the Legendary warrior king Maharana Pratap of Udaipur (Mewar) , we’ve got nobility and hospitality in our DNA. Castle Bera is proudly family-owned and managed, our purpose is to protect, conserve and restore our wilderness, our culture, at the same time providing our guests with the highest levels of service, comfort and luxury.
Amongst spellbinding, billion-year-old granite rock formations, where leopards roam wild and free, coexisting comfortably with the charismatic communities, is the pioneering Castle Bera . Spectacularly built in 1638 it is the heart of Jawai , Spend unforgettable days in the wilderness tracking leopards and other wildlife. Blending more than 350 years of Heritage ,sophistication and ecology, there is no better place to discover one of India’s most
enchanting and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. A wander with the charismatic Rabari herdsmen is a great chance to immerse yourself in the local culture of Jawai Bera . A truly hidden place.
Castle Bera The luxury, award-winning Heritage Homestay hotel in Jawai Bera , Rajasthan, provides an intimate level of service with genuine attention to detail. It has great beauty in its period furnishings and interiors as well as through the breathtaking garden, forest, and the view of the jawai dam and the Aravalli range, India’s oldest mountain range that surround the castle. Castle Bera is bursting with traditional opulence, classic style and warm Rajasthani Royal hospitality. Unlike a hotel, you can rent the entire castle with this unique and exclusive house party property, available for private hire and also the only castle accommodation in Jawai the Leopard hills of India . The beautiful holiday rental property is all about getting together and having a good time for a luxury family holiday. Catch up with family or friends around bon fires, enjoy delicious home-cooked
food. Leave your cares far away and enjoy the luxuries of your own private Castle
for a week or longer when you rent an entire castle at Jawai .
History timeline
Situated in western Rajasthan, Bera, often nicknamed as “Leopard Country”, is surrounded by dams and lakes, including Jawai Dam, the largest one in the entire region. The town of Bera has a historic significance in the history of the kingdom of Mewar (Udaipur) The legendary warrior, Maharana Pratap Singh, demarcated this land for his fourth son, Rana Shekha, to rule. Bera Nagar is an ancient city nestled in the lap of the Aravalli ranges. This region is called Godwad, which is between Marupradesh and Mewar. Bera has a history of different eras.
Prehistoric And Ancient Era
In Rajasthan, evidence of human habitation of 1 to 4 lakh years ago has been obtained from Didwana, from the valley of Luni river of 1 lakh – 40 thousand years, and from Bagore, Tilwara, etc. From 5 – 10 thousand years ago. The culture flourished on the banks of the Pachmatra and Banas rivers of Kalibanga (Harappan) and Mewar 5000- 3500 years ago. The Ahar Banas culture, close to its region, was contemporary to the later period of the Indus Valley Civilization. Both these civilizations had trade relations. This region is located to the south of the Matsya region described in the Mahabharata (about 5000 years ago). The period between Lord Neminathji and Lord Mahavira (2400 – 3000) years ago is called the Mahajanapada period. During that period, this region was a part of the Kuru, Matsya, and Surasen Mahajanapadas at different times. In that period, Lord Mahavir visited this area. One of the upsarg site is the present-day Bamanwad tirth. There is mention in the books of Jainism “नाना,दियाना,नांदिया जीवित महावीर स्वामी विचरिया”
After that, the region was a part of the Nanda Dynasty and the Maurya Dynasty. After the fall of the Maurya dynasty, in the second century AD, foreign powers took control of the region. After the fall of the Shaka empire, for some time the Kushans, and later from the third century to the fifth century, the whole region remained part of the Gupta empire. After the decline of the Gupta dynasty, foreigners adopted Hinduism and ruled till the middle of the sixth century. But the Gupta dynasty defeated them and once again took the region under their control. After the fall of the Gupta dynasty at the end of the sixth century, the whole state remained divided into small states for some time. From the middle of the sixth century to the eighth century, the Gurjara pratiharas initially took over the entire state by making Srimal the present-day Bhinmal and later Kannoj as the capital. At one time, his rule extended till Bihar. In the ninth century, the Rashtrakutas of the south started attacking the Gurjara Pratiharas to take over the region. There were wars for a long time for supremacy in the Rashtrakutas and Gurjara Pratiharas. Gurjara Pratihara rule slowly, gradually weakened and the entire vast kingdom was divided Rashtrakuta dynasty. He was a Jain religionist. He is compared to Chandragupta Maurya. His descendant and a Rashtrakuta Samanta Hari Verma took over Hathundi (Ratamahaveer Ji Bijapur) in 880 AD. At that time, the entire area including the fleet came under his control. At the end of the third century, Shrestha Virdev created and Acharya Sidhesen Surishwarji built, the present temple of Lord Mahavira.
This is mentioned in the history (Purvadha) of the tradition of Parshvanath Bhagwan. This temple is around 1700 years old
Medieval Era –
Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan declared himself independent king in 917 AD. His second son, Laxman Singh, came to Nadula present Nadol in 950 AD and took advantage of the chaos of the rule of the Paramara kings in the region, and declared himself an independent ruler. In this way, the Rashtrakutas of Hathundi and Chauhan of Nadol became neighboring rulers. Mohammed Ghaznavi, who was going to attack Somnath in 1024 AD, was defeated by Rampal of Nadol and Dutt Varma, the ruler of Hathundi. Ghaznavi destroyed and devastated cities like Nadol, Hathundi, etc., and temples. In 1175 AD, Sinhaji, the ruler of Hathundi (Rata Mahavirji), was defeated by Chauhan Samant Varsingh of his Bali fort and took possession of 42 villages in the region.
He built his new capital, the new fort fleet Bera Bujri 1, which is currently in ruins in front of the village of Verdi Kakradi.
At the same time, a Jain temple was built there, which was worshiped by Lord Adeshwarji. But in no time brought his capital to the Bera Bujri 2, the present juna Bera Bujri. A Jain temple was also built here. Whose Appraiser Lord Dada Parshwanath Around 1545 AD, the relocation of the old Bera started to new Bera. With this, construction of the current Sambhavnathji Jain temple, Shri Ram temple and Rawale also started.
Both these temples were honored on the same day in the Vikrami calendar, is a historical calendar used in the Indian subcontinent. Vikram Samvat is generally 57 years ahead of Gregorian Calendar, except during January to April, when it is ahead by 56 years.1612 (AD 1554) by Akbar’s proponent Acharya Harivijaya Suri . Harivijaya Suri was the supreme pontiff of Tapa Gachcha order of Jain Svetambara tradition.In 1582, Emperor Akbar invited Hiravijaya Suri to explain him the principals of Jainism. Akbar was so impressed with Hiravijaya Suri that he bestowed on him the title of Jagatguru.. Gradually, the old Bera became desolate and people started living in the new Bera. Gradually, the work of the present Rawale was also completed. Around 1580 AD (1638) Maharana Pratap of Mewar gave the Jagir to his fourth son Shekhaji. The present Thakursaheb is his descendant.
Modern Era
Later the jagir of the Bera became Marwar (Jodhpur) state from Mewar state under matrimonial relations.
After the First War of Independence of 1857, the Jagir of the Bera became under the British Empire under the Marwar (Jodhpur) kingdom. Till this time the main occupation of the people was agriculture and animal husbandry. People used to do their business according to the varna system. Thakur Shivnath Singhji of Bera was the son also the Chief Secretary of Maharaja Ummed Singhji of Jodhpur. His son Thakur Prithvi Singhji was a famous polo player. In his command, the army of Jodhpur bravely won many difficult wars in the First World War in Jordan, Egypt, Gaza region. 1960’s – Thakur Jangjeet Singh Bera was into farming and owned and managed one of the largest and the most efficient farm in Rajasthan . 5000 acres of land and professional farming , he was the first one to get into hybrid farming and tied up with the Rockefeller foundation .
In 2000 – Castle Bera opened its gates to Travellers and Thakur Baljeet Singh started
entertaining guests from all over the world .
