Banera (Sisodia), a town 175 km. from Udaipur, Bhilwara District; jagir of the descendants of Maharana Raj Singh's fourth son, Bhim Singh; their title is 'Raja'. Bhim Singh, a brave warrior, was responsible for looting many Mughal check-posts during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb. He also faced Tahver Khan at Desuri. He plundered Idar, and reached Bijnor, and took Rs. 40,000/- as a penalty. From there, Bhim reached Ahmednagar and destroyed many mosques, taking revenge for the many temples destroyed in Mewar by the Mughals, When the treaty was signed between Emperor Aurangzeb and Maharana Jai Singh, Bhim joined the service of Aurangzeb. His mansab was Panch Hazari (Commander of 5,000 soldiers) when he died. Surajmal succeeded Bhim Singh. From Surajmal to Sultan Singh, the ruler of Banera served the Mughals, and from Sardar Singh on, they served the House of Mewar.

Genealogy: Bhim Singh I; Surajmal; Sultan Singh; Sardar Singh; Raj Singh; Hammir Singh; Bhim Singh II; Udai Singh; Sangram Singh; Govind Singh; Akhshya Singh; Amar Singh.

Banjara Dam, Udaipur; a small dam situated between Shiv Niwas Palace and MACHHALA MAGRA hill; built during the reign of Maharana LAKHA (1392-1421); Maharana UDAI SINGH II (1537-1572) enlarged and strengthened the dam. A Banjara (a local farmer and grain carrier) had built a small dam to enable his heavy carts to cross this depression on the southeastern shore of Pichola Lake during times of flood, and also to provide water for his bullocks.

Banki-ka-Magra, Udaipur; a large hill near the southern shore of Pichola Lake.

Banks, Udaipur. Bank of Baroda; Bank of Rajasthan Ltd.; Bank of India; Bank of Maharashtra; Central Bank of India; Dena Bank; Oriental Bank of Commerce Ltd.; Punjab and Sind Bank; Punjab National Bank; Syndicate Bank; State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur; State Bank of India; The Mahila Urban Cooperative Bank Ltd.; Union Bank of India.

Banmata, a Hindu goddess. BAPPA RAWAL (734-753) built a temple to her at Chittor and installed a statue of Banmata, which he had brought from Deeg.

Banmata Kund (reservoir): see CHARBHUJA TEMPLE.

Banmata Temple. There are four temples of this name: 1. in a complex of temples on Chittor's western side; one of the oldest temples in the fort built by BAPPA RAWAL (734-753); 2. in the temple complex at Eklingji; 3. in the City Palace, Udaipur; and 4. at Kelwara near Kumbhalgarh.

Banna, the architect who, with his son, Mukund, designed and built Udaipur's famous JAGDISH TEMPLE in 1651.

Bansdara (Mountain), Udaipur; a hill about 7 km. west of the city, overlooking Pichola Lake, on top of which is the once-magnificent SAJJANGARH (Monsoon Palace).

Bansi, a town 110 km. from Udaipur; the estate (jagir) of the Saktawat family, descendants of Maharana Pratap's younger brother, Sakta (Shakta). Sakta's only son was Achaldas, and Bansi belongs to his direct descendants, their title being 'Rawat'. Achaldas died fighting against the army of Mughal Prince Parvez at Mandalgarh. A later successor, Kesri Singh fought against Emperor Aurangzeb during Maharana Raj Singh I's reign. Kesri's son, Gangdas attacked the Mughal army and looted eighteen elephants, two horses, and many camels. Pleased by Gangdas's heroic deed, the Maharana gave him the title of 'Kunwar', a village and gold ornaments. In later years, Gangdas's descendant, Hathi Singh played an important role in the Jaipur adoption case between Ishri Singh and Madho Singh during the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh II (1628-1652).

Genealogy: Achaldas; Narhar Das; Jaswant Singh; Kesri Singh; Gangdas; Hari Singh I; Hathi Singh; Padma Singh; Kishore Singh; Amar Singh; Ajit Singh; Nahar Singh; Pratap Singh; Man Singh; Takhat Singh; Hari Singh II; Lalit Singh (adopted).

Bansi Ghat, a wharf at the rear of Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur. It is from here that the motor boats pick up passengers for the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir.

Bansra, a village 80 km. east of Udaipur; jagir of the descendants of Urjan Singh.

Genealogy: Urjan Singh; Laxman Singh; Ranmal Singh; Hamir Singh; and Mohbat Singh.

Banswara, a small princely State founded by Maharawal Jagmal Singh and is now a district headquarters southeast of Udaipur via Dungarpur.

banwal, a tree found in the desert tract of Marwar. When Maharana KUMBHA (Mewar) and Rao Jodha (Marwar, later Jodhpur) laid down the boundaries of their respective kingdoms, it was decided that where the anwal (a tree in the hilly tract of Mewar) was, would be the Mewar boundary. Where the banwal was, would be Marwar. This gave birth to the proverb Anwal Anwal Mewar, Banwal Banwal Marwar. The botanical name for the banwal is acacia; it is a good source of food for camels and goats.

Baoji Raj, (Hindi) a title denoting the Crown Prince (heir apparent) of a Mewar Ruler.

baori (often spelled baoli), (Hindi) a stepwell; a deep well with stone steps, dug to access an underground water supply.