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Tosham
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Tosham is a town and a Gram Panchayat on the foot of Tosham Hill range in Bhiwani district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is in the foothills of Tosham hill range of Aravali Mountain Range.[citation needed]
Key Information
History
[edit]Early and medieval history
[edit]Tosham was under Gupta rule in the 4th Century as per the inscription. The history of Tosham dates back to at least the 4th century, as evident by the Sanskrit language Tosham rock inscription at Tosham hill. Later it came under Tomar during the rule of Anangpal Tomar and then Chauhan Rajput rulers during the rule of Prithviraj Chauhan who built the Baradari, before falling into the hands of Delhi Sultanates, Mughal Empire, Shekhawati and British Raj. Pre-Indus Valley Civilization mine, smelt and houses have been found at Khanak hills of Tosham Hill range[1]
Demographics
[edit]As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Tosham had a population of 11,271. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Tosham has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 54%. In Tosham, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Geography
[edit]Tosham is located at 28°53′N 75°55′E / 28.88°N 75.92°E. It has an average elevation of 207 metres (679 feet).
There are ruins of a medieval fort wall on top of Tosham hill, said to be from the times of Prithviraj Chauhan major part of which was destroyed in 1982 when an aircraft crashed on the fort.[3][4]
Tosham rock inscription
[edit]Tosham rock inscription, dating from 4th to 5th century, is an epigraph documenting the establishment of a monastery.[5] The Toshām rock inscription is an epigraphic record documenting the establishment of a monastery and the building of water tanks for followers of the Sātvata religion. Found in Tosham, Haryana (India), It is not dated but can be assigned to the early fifth century CE. The inscription records the lineage and building activities of a line of Sātvata religious preceptors (ācārya) dating to the 4th and 5th centuries CE. This is an important record for the history of the Vaiṣṇava faith. The kinship and clan position of the Sātvatas is described in the article on the Yadavas. It does not appear to have been as yet satisfactorily translated. It seems to refer to a Scythian king Tushara who appears to have conquered the Gupta Galotkacha who reigned from about A. D. 50 to A. D. 79 and is referred to in the inscription. There appears to be evidence to show that the Tosham hill was a monastery of Buddhist monks or Bhikshus. The date of the inscription is said to be A. D. 162–224.[5]
Tosham rock paintings
[edit]In 2013, rudimentary rock paintings (supposedly circa 5th century CE) at the site of Tosham rock inscription were discovered. These rock painting included several figures, such as a royal family, a saint, and dinosaur-like creature.[6]
Vaman statue
[edit]Tosham Vaman statue, a 1,000 years old 60 kg carved red stone statue dating back to 8th to 10 century, of Vaman incarnation of Hindu deity Vishnu was found atop Tosham hill in January 2018 while policemen protecting the Haryana Police wireless repeater antennae system were clearing the rubble to clean the water tank there.[3] [7] In March 2018, this statue was relocated to the Jahaj Kothi Zonal Museum at Hisar.[4]
Male statue
[edit]In October 2021, another late-Medieval era male stone statue was also found, suggesting continuous cultural layering and usage of the hill for centuries.[8]
Scepture statue
[edit]A fragment of intriguing carved stone with amalka/kalash motifs was found, which could either be temple pinnacle, or possibly the top of a deity’s sceptre—maybe of Vishnu—given its structural form.
Sacred Sulphur Ponds of Tosham Hill
[edit]There are several ponds on Tosham Hill inside the caves, namely Pandu Teerth Kund, Surya Kund, Kukkar Kund, Gyarasia/Vyas Kund, and a reservoir or a small tank on the summit of the hill to store rainwater. Water in these kunds (ponds) in various caverns contain sulfur which is considered sacred by the devotees and pilgrimages as it heals skin diseases.[9]
Interesting infrastructure
[edit]Police Telecomm Tower
[edit]Haryana Police has wireless repeater antennae in three locations, at Tosham Hill range in Bhiwani district, Takdi hill in Rewari district, and at Sarahan hill in Himachal Pradesh. Police HQ uses Sarahan tower to transmit signals to Tosham Hill. Tosham Hill tower boosts and sends the signal to Takdi Hill. Tosham Hill tower covers the area of the signal of Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Rohtak, and Jhajjhar District Police Headquarters. Take Hill tower covers the Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, Rewari, Narnaul and Haryana Bhawan Delhi.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "History | District Bhiwani,Haryana | India".
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ a b c 8वीं सदी की विष्णु की प्रतिमा मिली, Navbharat Times, 6 Jan 2018.
- ^ a b Vaman statue to be taken to Hisar Museum, Dainik Bhaskar, 14 Mar 2018.
- ^ a b "Loharu State" (PDF). Punjab State Gazetteers. 1915. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Rare rock painting of dinosaur discovered from Tosham Hills in the state- by Sushil Manav, Tribune News Service, dated: 2 July 2013
- ^ 1,000-yr-old statue of Hindu god found, The Tribune (Chandigarh), 6 January 2018.
- ^ Mundrupi Late Medieval Statue Found on Tosham Hill, drishtiias.com, accessed 2 Aug 2025.
- ^ 2004, "Records, Volume 135, Part 1.", Geological Survey of India, Page 144.
External links
[edit]Tosham
View on GrokipediaHistory
Ancient history
The Tosham Hill range, part of the Precambrian Aravalli Craton, represents a volcanic remnant dating to approximately 732 Ma BP, characterized by a ring dike structure formed during the Neoproterozoic Malani Igneous Suite event.[5] This geological formation, comprising acid volcano-plutonic rocks across isolated hills like Tosham, Khanak, and Riwasa, provided mineral resources that likely attracted early human settlement due to its prominent landscape and exploitable deposits.[5] The ring complex's sub-volcanic features, including rhyolites and granites, created a natural hub for prehistoric activities in the region. Archaeological evidence from the Khanak site in the Tosham mining area indicates human activity predating the Indus Valley Civilization, with traces of metallurgical operations linked to the nearby Ganeshwar-Jodhpura complex of the 4th-3rd millennium BCE.[6] Excavations have uncovered tin slag, furnaces, crucibles, and poly-metallic ores, suggesting ancient extraction of tin (as cassiterite), copper, and associated tungsten in the Tosham Hill range.[7] Artifacts such as copper hoards from nearby Hansi and Rewari, containing up to 2.68% tin, point to local sourcing and processing of these minerals for bronze production during pre-Harappan phases.[6] These findings, spanning from at least 3000 BCE, highlight Tosham's role as an early mining center in northwest India.[7] During the 4th-5th century CE, under Gupta Empire rule, the region saw the establishment of religious and infrastructural developments as recorded in the Tosham rock inscription. This Sanskrit epigraph, engraved on a rock face atop Tosham Hill, details the dedication of a pond and residence for a Sātvata (Vishnu-worshipping) monastic community, along with water tanks to support devotees in the arid landscape.[8] The inscription, dedicated by the teacher Somatrāta of a Vaishnava lineage, reflects patronage for Vaishnava institutions and hydraulic works. Remnants of a Buddhist monastery have also been identified on Tosham Hill, indicating coexisting religious practices during this period.[9] Associated with the inscription site are 5th-century rock paintings discovered in 2013, depicting royal figures, saints, and distinctive motifs including a dinosaur-like creature.[10] These rudimentary artworks, executed in natural pigments on the hill's rock surfaces, provide insights into early medieval artistic expressions and possibly mythological or observational themes in the local cultural milieu.[10]Medieval and modern history
During the medieval period, Tosham came under the influence of the Tomar dynasty, particularly during the rule of Anangpal Tomar in the 11th century, as part of the broader Rajput control over Haryana and Delhi regions.[10] This was followed by the Chauhan dynasty, with Prithviraj Chauhan exerting authority over the area in the 12th century, during which a fort was established on Tosham Hill to serve as a strategic outpost.[11] The fort's ruins, dating to this early medieval era, provided defensive capabilities amid regional conflicts.[12] Subsequent control shifted to the Delhi Sultanates in the 13th century, when Tosham was incorporated into the Hisar Sarkar under Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq, forming one of 27 parganas in the administrative division.[13] This structure persisted through the reigns of Sher Shah Suri and into the Mughal Empire, where under Akbar (1556–1605), Hisar became a key revenue headquarters, and Tosham functioned as a pargana with local governance focused on taxation and agriculture.[13] By the 18th century, the region saw the rise of Shekhawati Rajputs, with Tosham granted as a thikana (estate) under their confederacy, linking it to the semi-autonomous Rajput principalities bordering Haryana and Rajasthan.[14] Under British Raj from the early 19th century, Tosham was integrated into the Punjab province after the defeat of local warlords like George Thomas in 1801, and later divided into parganas including Tosham for revenue collection.[13] Local resistance peaked during the 1857 uprising, when revolutionaries from nearby Jamalpur attacked the Tosham tehsil on September 25, killing officials such as tehsildar Nand Lal, thanedar Piyare Lal, and kanungo Khazan Singh, while looting the treasury in a broader regional revolt against colonial rule.[15] The fort ruins on Tosham Hill sustained significant damage in 1982 due to an Indian Air Force aircraft crash, which impacted much of the remaining structure.[11] Post-independence, Tosham was part of the newly formed Haryana state in 1966, carved from Punjab, and administratively placed within Bhiwani district.[1] It initially served as a sub-division before being elevated to tehsil status, enhancing local governance and development in areas like agriculture and infrastructure.[13] Recent administrative expansions have solidified its role as one of Bhiwani's five tehsils, supporting regional connectivity and economic growth.[1]Geography
Location and environment
Tosham is situated in the Bhiwani district of Haryana, India, at the foothills of the Aravalli Range, with geographic coordinates approximately 28°53′N 75°55′E and an elevation of 207 meters above sea level.[16] The region experiences a semi-arid climate characterized by hot summers reaching up to 45°C and cold winters dropping to as low as 2°C, with average annual rainfall of about 483 mm, primarily occurring during the monsoon months of July and August.[17] Tosham is surrounded by nearby villages such as Khanak and Riwasa, within the Tosham tehsil, and features predominantly arid brown and tropical arid brown soils, interspersed with loamy and sandy types that support local agriculture.[18][19][20] The area forms part of the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor, a vital 200 km biodiversity link facilitating leopard movement and habitat connectivity across Haryana.[21] Water scarcity poses a significant environmental challenge in Tosham, exacerbated by over-extraction of groundwater and limited rainfall, prompting conservation efforts such as community-led pond rejuvenation and rainwater harvesting initiatives in villages like Bajina.[22]Tosham Hill range
The Tosham Hill range comprises a series of isolated hills and outcrops, including prominent features at Tosham, Khanak, Riwasa, Nigana, Dulehri, Dadam, Mundhal, and Beri, collectively forming part of the ancient Tusham Ring Complex in northwestern India.[23] This range represents remnants of an extinct volcano, characterized by ring structures and cauldron subsidences resulting from explosive volcanic activity.[24] The geological composition primarily consists of acid volcanics such as rhyolite, welded tuff, felsite, ash beds, and quartz porphyry, intruded by comagmatic high-level granite porphyries and muscovite-biotite granites.[25] These rocks form an elliptical quartz porphyry ring dyke with sharp contacts, marking the ring fracture of the volcanic system.[26] The entire formation belongs to the Neoproterozoic Malani igneous suite, dated to approximately 750 million years before present, and reflects anorogenic, A-type magmatism within the Trans-Aravalli Block.[25] The range exhibits an average elevation of 207 meters, with the highest point located at Khanak hill. Ecologically, the Tosham Hill range functions as a key habitat within the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor, a 200 km-long biodiversity pathway connecting forested areas from Sariska to Delhi and supporting wildlife movement across Haryana and Rajasthan.[27] This corridor is vital for the conservation of Indian leopards (Panthera pardus fusca), which inhabit the rocky and scrub-dominated landscapes of the range.[28] Native flora includes drought-resistant species such as dhok trees (Anogeissus pendula), which dominate the dry deciduous forests and provide essential cover and forage, alongside acacia and neem.[29] The fauna extends to various bird species adapted to the arid terrain, contributing to the region's overall avian diversity within the Aravalli ecosystem.[30] Conservation efforts in the area emphasize protecting this corridor from fragmentation to maintain connectivity for leopards and other species, underscoring the range's role in broader Aravalli biodiversity preservation.[27]Demographics and society
Population and demographics
As of the 2011 Census of India, the population of Tosham town stood at 15,559, consisting of 8,207 males and 7,352 females, yielding a sex ratio of 896 females per 1,000 males.[31] The overall literacy rate was 79.03%, with males at 85.97% and females at 71.35%.[31] Children aged 0-6 years made up 13.03% of the town's population, totaling 2,027 individuals, with a child sex ratio of 855.[31] Scheduled Castes comprised 27.23% of the population (4,237 persons), while Scheduled Tribes were absent.[31] At the tehsil level, Tosham Tehsil recorded a total population of 191,466 in 2011, including 101,355 males and 90,111 females, for a sex ratio of 889 females per 1,000 males. Of this, 8.1% (15,559) resided in urban areas like Tosham town, while 91.9% (175,907) lived in rural settings. Between 2001 and 2011, Tosham town's population increased from 11,272 to 15,559, reflecting a decadal growth rate of 38%.[32] The tehsil as a whole grew from 162,484 to 191,466, a decadal increase of 17.9%. These rates outpaced the district average of 14.70% for Bhiwani during the same period.[33] (Data as per the 2011 Census, the latest available; the 2021 Census is delayed until 2027.)[34] Population trends indicate sustained growth, with Bhiwani district projections estimating 1,863,267 residents by 2025, suggesting Tosham tehsil could reach approximately 218,000 based on its 2011 proportional share.[35] Rural youth from Tosham commonly migrate to nearby urban hubs like Bhiwani for better employment prospects in industry and services.[36]| Demographic Indicator | Tosham Town (2011) | Tosham Tehsil (2011) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 15,559 | 191,466 |
| Males | 8,207 | 101,355 |
| Females | 7,352 | 90,111 |
| Sex Ratio (per 1,000 males) | 896 | 889 |
| Literacy Rate (%) | 79.03 | 71.7* |
| Children (0-6) % | 13.03 | 13.6* |
| Scheduled Castes % | 27.23 | 24.1* |