Rao Kandhal

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Rao Kandhal
Predecessor	Rao Ranmal
Successor	Rawat Raj Singh
Born	1417
Died	1490
Religion	Hinduism

Rawat Kandhal, the third son of Rao Ranmal, was the founder of the Kandhalot clan of the Rathore dynasty in Northern India, and the co-founder of the kingdoms of Bikaner and Marwar.

From birth he was known as Rao Kandhal but was bestowed the prestigious title of Rawat (not to be confused with the caste Rawat) by his real brother, Rao Jodha, the first ruler of Marwar for rescuing their brother Rao Mandaloji from Chittorgarh all alone. He was instrumental in wresting back Marwar from Maharana Kumbha along with his brother and was responsible for establishing and territorially expanding the separate kingdom of Bikaner for his nephew Rao Bika, one of the sons of Rao Jodha and a potential heir to the throne of Marwar. Later, he established his own principality of Rajasar (in present day Churu district). Throughout his life, the Rawat fought 52 battles. The first 9 were fought under his father Rao Ranmal, with the next 20 alongside his brother Jodha and the last 22 for Bikaner's establishment. He was killed in a battle near the present day village of Sahwa, Rajasthan in 1490 at the age of 73 while fighting the Delhi Sultanate forces led by Sarang Khan, the governor of Hisar.^[1]