Banswara district :

Banswara District is situated in Rajasthan along the southern-most part of the state. It forms the eastern part of the region known as Vagad or Vagwar. History has it that the district was initially a princely state, ruled by the Maharvals. The name is said to have originated from the name of the Bhil ruler Bansia who ruled over the district. The district of Banswara has a rather rough and rugged topography with the Deccan trap on the eastern part and the Aravalli mountain ranges on the west. Tribals make up the majority of population in the district, and the main groups herein are the Bhils, Bhil Meenas, Damor, Charpotas and Ninamas among others. Banswara is an agriculture-based district with a major portion of the economy depending on the same. 

Origin of name :

The district is named after the Apoorva Sharma former Princely State of Banswara. There are two traditions regarding the etymology of Banswara. According to one tradition, it is derived from the name of the Bhil chief Bansia who ruled over this area before being killed by Maharaval Jagmal Singh in 1529 CE. According to the other tradition, the name is derived from the Bans Vara (the country of bamboos) due to the abundance of bamboos in the dense forests of this region.

Geography :

Banswara is part of the Vagad region of southern Rajasthan, which includes Banswara and Dungarpur districts. The region is mainly inhabited by tribals, predominantly Bhils. Banswara and Dungarpur are combinely called Vagar, and in both the places local language is Vagri.

The District lies in the Mahi River basin. The Mahi flows north through the district from its origin in the Vindhya Range of Madhya Pradesh, entering the district from the southeast and flowing north towards the northern end of the district, where it turns southwest to form the boundary between Banswara and Dungarpur districts before entering Gujarat and emptying into the Gulf of Cambay.

Banswara District has rich flora and fauna. The forests include mainly teak. The wildlife includes a large variety of wild animals like leopard, chinkara, etc. Common birds in the region are fowl, partridge, black drongo, grey shrike, green bee-eater, bulbul, parrot etc.

Economy :

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Banswara one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[1] It is one of the twelve districts in Rajasthan currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

Maize, wheat, cotton, gram are the main crops grown in the district. Graphite, Soapstone, Dolomite, Rock Phosphate, Limestone and a variety of marbles are found here. Gold mineral is also found around Jagpura. 

Administration of Banswara District :

Banswara district has three Sub Divisions, Five Tehsils, Two Sub-Tehsils and Eight Development Blocks. Tehsil Banswara and Garhi come under Banswara Sub Division, Tehsil Ghatol is under Ghatol Sub Division and Tehsil Kushalgarh and Bagidora comes under Kushalgarh Sub Division. There are a total of Eight Development Blocks in the district, namely, Anandpuri, Bagidora, Garhi, Ghatol, Kushalgarh, Choti Sarwan, Sajjangarh and Talwara. There are 1503 revenue villages, out of which 1479 are 'Abad' and 24 'Gair Abad', 307 Gram Panchayats, 215 Patwar Mandals and 28 ILR Circles in the district. 

Demographics :

According to the 2011 census Banswara district has a population of 1,798,194, roughly equal to the nation of The Gambia or the US state of Nebraska.This gives it a ranking of 267th in India (out of a total of 640).The district has a population density of 399 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,030/sq mi) .Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 26.58%. Banswara has a sex ratio of 979 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 57.2%.

People : 

The district is predominantly inhabited by tribals mainly Bhil tribe, Bhil Meenas, Damor, Charpotas, Ninamas, etc. The district population is 14,20,601 (2001). The rural population is 13, 13,238 (2001) and the urban population is 1, 07,363 (2001). The main occupation of the people, especially of tribals, is agriculture. The tribals live in small one-room houses, known as 'tapra', which lie scattered all over the area. The other major castes are Patels, Rajputs, Brahmin, Mahajans, and Muslims. The dialect spoken in the district is Wagri, a mixture of the Gujarati language and Mewari. 

Tourism :

Tripura Sundari : The Tripura Sundari temple is dedicated to Goddess Tripura Sundari, commonly known as Turtia Maata. It has a beautiful idol of black stone having 18 hands, each carrying some symbol, while the Goddess is seen riding a tiger. It is believed that this temple was built before Samrat Kanishka, who used to rule here. The exact date of its construction is not yet known. It is said to be one of the 'Shakti Peeths' of the Hindus having charismatic divine power. 

Madareshwar Temple :This famous temple of Lord Shiva is situated inside the natural cave of a high hill in the eastern part of the city. It presents a sensational natural view. The cave temple provides an Amarnath Yatra-like feeling to the pilgrims, due to its typical location. During Mahashivratri, rudra abhishek Pooja is carried out. Kavadi Yatra is to start from this Temple going all the way to Baneshwar Temple in order to bring the Water of Mahi River. Pooja to Lord Shiva is carried out with this water. 

Arthuna : This is a place of great archaeological importance and one of the major attractions of Banswara district. There is a complex of ancient temples here which were built in the 11th and 12th centuries. In ancient times it was the capital city of the rulers of the Paramara dynasty. Many temples have been excavated which reveal the glorious past of the district's rich heritage. It is called the village of old and broken temples.

Raj Mandir (City Palace) : This 16th century palace is very attractive. Sprawling over a large area, it is a fine example of old Rajput architecture. The palace is still owned by the royal family and can be visited only on invitation. 

Anand Sagar Lake : On the eastern side of the town lies this artificial lake, said to have been constructed by Lachhi Bai of Idar - The Rani of Maharawal Jagaml. The chhatris or cenotaphs of erstwhile rulers of the state are situated close by. Also near by are the holy trees known as "Kalpa Vriksha" which are said to fulfill the desires of visitors. 

Diablab Lake : A part of this lake is covered with beautiful lotus flowers. On the banks of the lake is Badal Mahal, the summer residence of the former rulers. People used to enjoy this place in the summer by going boating. 

Mahi Dam : Banswara is also well known for the Mahi Bajaj Sagar Project and for numerous dams and canals situated at beautiful sites. The Mahi River has a number of islands inside the Mahi Dam catchment area and thus Banswara is also known as the 'City of Hundred Islands'. 
 

Kagdi Pick Up Weir : This is the main tourist attraction situated on the Ratlam Road from the main city of Banswara. It's a beautiful place, especially for its fountains, gardens and water, spread over a wide area, and a must see when on a trip to the district. 

Bhim Kund : Bhil Kund is a picturesque spot full of historical and mythological significance. It is believed that during their exile, the Pandavas of Mahabharat had stayed here. There is a tunnel here, which is believed to be going upto Ghotiya Amab, a far off place. It is said that the Pandavas used this tunnel as their passage during the rainy season.