08/06/2017
History
No documentary proof is available for when this town was built and who populated it. The Kushan, the Gupta, Rajput and Maratha rulers ruled over the region. In 1716 CE nearby Jaat ruler Raja Nandram’s son Bhoj Singh took over the rule of Hathras from the Rajput rulers. After Bhoj Singh, his son Sadan Singh became the ruler of Hathras followed by his son Bhoori Singh. It is believed that during the reign of Bhoori Singh the temple of the Lord Balarama was built in the fort of Hathras. At the end of the 18th century the kingdom was held by a Jat chieftain Indrajeet Singh Thainua, whose ruined fort (Qila) still stands at the east end of the town. The railway station there is called Hathras Qila means Hathras Fort. The region was annexed by the British in 1803, but insubordination on the part of the chief necessitated the siege of the fort in 1817. Every year “Lakkhi mela” is celebrated on “Dev Chatt” at the Lord Balram temple popularly known as "Dau Baba". Real great history of Hathras begins after Shri Bhoori Singh when his son Raja Dayaram was crowned in 1775 CE. In 1784 Scindia ruler Madhavrao I Scindia established his regime around Hathras.
Archaeological remains of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain culture and also of the Shung and Kushan period were found at many places in Hathras. Among these archaeological and historical places is the fort of Raja Dayaram located in the Hathras town from where Maurya period Brown coloured pot of 2nd century B.C., Kushan period clay statue, ”Sapt Matrikafalam” etc. . were found. Among old Temples the temple of Lord “Veereshwar Mahadev” is special .Shaiv rulers and Naag Rajas also dominated here, remains of there rule are scattered here and there .During the period of Nagavanshi Kshatriya Clan Rulers : Nairs Seshavtara lord Balram Ji got great importance and his temples can be found in all of the region . Old broken statues which have great archeological value are still worshiped in the Braj region. The archeological remains and statues obtained here are kept in the Mathura Museum . The Jain Temple at “Nayaganj” tells the story of Jain Culture .samvat 1548 “Vi.” is written on the oldest statues here. More History is covered under the remains of forts of Sikandra Rao, Maho, Sasni etc. which can be the topic of further research. Remains of statues of the period of Buddhist were scattered in places like Sahpau, Lakhnoo etc., many were collected and kept in the museum of Mathura and Zila Parishad Office at Aligarh . The Bhadra Kali temple of Sahpau also fall under the category of archeological temples. By writing “Ghat Ramayana” Sant Tulsi Sahab spread the fame of Hathras to far away places,his disciples gather in thousands at his grave at Siyal, Kila Gate, Hathras to express their devotion. In addition to the above mentioned temples the chain of temples contain “Bohrey Wali Devi”,"Gopeshwar Mahadev at city station," “Chaubey wale Mahadev”shri kesav dev ji maharaj kamla bazar" temple, “Chinta Haran” temple, “Masani Devi“ temple, “Shri Naath Ji” ``Chamunda Maa`` temple at Chawar Gate, Lord “Varah” temple at Dibba Gali and many temples of Lord “Balram”. Among temples of rural area the temple of Lord Dauji Maharaj Ji is very special. Garhis, Hawelis and Forts whose remains still exist belong to old Jamindars. Nawab Mendu and Sadabad, Haweli of Jamindar of Laakhnu, Phaharpur and Hasayan can be mentioned in this category.
After coming under British rule, Hathras rapidly rose to commercial importance. On October 19, 1875, first train ran between Hathras Road and Mathura Cantonment. Hathras city is now connected by Broad Gauge railway with Mathura Jn., and by a branch with Hathras junction, on the North Eastern line.
While the history of the city dates back to ancient times, it also appears that there was an ancient fort in Hathras at the site of the ruins of the modern day fort.
Hathras had a reckoning during India's freedom struggle too. Raja Mahendra Pratap, Munshi Gajadhar Singh, etc. were the eminent personalities from Hathras during the freedom struggle.
