Badan Singh

Rao Badan Singh
Raja of Bharatpur
Raja of Bharatpur
Reign	18 November 1722 – 21 May 1755
Predecessor	Muhkam Singh
Successor	Maharaja Suraj Mal
Died	21 May 1755 Deeg
House	Sinsinwar Jat Dynasty
Father	Bhao Singh
Religion	Hinduism

Badan Singh (Reign: 1722 – 21 May 1755) was the formal founder of the princely state of Bharatpur. He was the nephew of Rao Churaman Singh. After Churaman's death on 20 September 1721 there were family disputes between Badan Singh and Muhkam, son of Churaman. Badan Singh aligned with Jai Singh II of Jaipur to avoid the anger of Muhkam Singh. In this family feud, Jai Singh supported Badan Singh.

Architecture

Badan Singh Jat had some aesthetic sense and a taste for architecture too, which is testified by the remains of his numerous buildings and garden-palaces. He beautified the fort of Deeg with handsome palaces, which are known as the Purana Mahal.

At Weir in the Bayana district, he planted within the fort a large garden with a beautiful house and reservoirs in the centre, now called Phul-bari.

He also built palaces at Kamar as well as at Sahar, which are now in ruin, and dedicated a temple at Brindaban, known by the poetic name of Dhir Samir.

Badan Singh lived to a ripe old age, which he spent in happy retirement at Sahar, leaving the management of his State to his most capable son Suraj Mal. He died on 21 May 1755 with the usual suspicion of him being poisoned, though there were no imaginable grounds for this.

Muhkam's downfall

Muhkam was forced to retreat from the fort of Thoon after being attacked by Jai Singh's army. On 7-8th November 1722 Muhkam fled to Jodhpur, a Mughal army was sent to chase him, however he was saved by the Maharaja of Jodhpur. Badan Singh was thus made the Thakur of Bharatpur by Jai Singh.