Dungarpur is the seat of the elder branch of the Sisodiyas of Udaipur. Karan Singh I of Guhilot dynasty ruled the state of Mewar during 1158-68. He had two sons, Rahup & Mahup. The elder son Mahup was disinherited by Karan Singh and took refuge with his mother’s family, the Chauhans of Bagar.
In 1179, Samant Singh of Mewar, established his suzerainty in this area. It is mentioned in the ‘Khyats’ that Maharawal Veer Singh Dev, the Sixth descendant of Sawant Singh of Mewar, assassinated powerful Bhil Chieftain  Dungaria  and took possession of Dungaria’s village and founded that town of Dungarpur in 1258 A.D.
Rulers of Dungarpur:
- Rawal Veer Singh
- Founded State of Dungarpur
- Killed in the sack of Chittor by Allauddin Khilji.
- Bhachundi
- Erected the Hanumat Pol
- Rawal Gopinath
- Victory over Ahmedshah, the Sultan of Gujarat in 1433 A.D.
- Built the Gaipsagar lake at Dungarpur
- Rawal Somdasji
- Repelled the invasion of Sultan Mahmood Shah and Gayasuddin
- Maharawal Udai Singh I
- Rawal Udai Singh of Bagar was killed at the battle of Khanua in 1527, fighting for Mewar against Moghul Emperor Babur. His territory ‘Vagad’ was thereafter divided between his two sons
- The western portion, with the capital at Dungarpur, he retained for his elder son Prithviraj and the eastern portion subsequently known as Banswara, gave to his younger son Jagmal.
- Maharawal Askaran
- Acknowledged the Mughal suzerainty and became a vassal of the Empire
- Maharawal Punjaraj
- Emperor Shahjahan, conferred on him the insignia of the ‘Mahimaratib’ and a grant of a Dedhahazari Mansab’ and ‘Izzat’ to 1,500 ‘Sawars in recognition of the services rendered by him to the Emperor in his campaigns in the Daccan.
- Maharawal Khuman Singh (1691 – 1702)
- Maharawal Ram Singh (1702 – 1730 )
- The Marahattas invaded territory.
- Maharawal Shiv Singh (1730 – 1785)
- Became an ally of the Marahattas
- Maharawal Vairi Sal (1785 – 1790 )
- Maharawal Fateh Singh (1790 – 1808)
- Maharawal Jashwant Singh (1808 – Dec 1845)
- Signed treaty of perpetual friendship, alliance and unity of interests was concluded with the British crown on 11th December, 1818 A.D
- Maharawal Udai Singh (1846 – 1898)
- Rendered loyal services to the British Government in the Mutiny of 1857
- Maharawal Bijai Singh (Feb 1898 – Nov 1918)
- Maharawal Laxman Singh (Nov 1918 – 15 Aug 1947 )
- Awarded Knight Commander- KCSI (1935) and Knight Grand Commander GCIE (1947)
- After independence became a Member of the Rajya Sabha twice, in 1952 and 1958, and later a member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (MLA) in 1962 and 1989.
- It was in 1945 that the ‘Dungarpur Rajya Praja Mandal’ came into existence and a year later in 1946, a demand was made for grant of responsible Government under the aegis of the ruler. In March, 1948 the ruler announced the grant of responsible Government. However, on the inauguration of the United States of Rajasthan  the local Government came to an end when the administration of the State was handedover to ‘ Rajpramukh’ of the newly formed union of State and Dungarpur was constituted as a district of the United States of Rajasthan.
