Topkhana

In the middle of Jalore Town, remnants of a Sanskrit school and a shrine of King Bhoj who was a scholar of Sanskrit are found. King Bhoj was known for building a number of schools in Dhar, Ajmer and Jalore. During the pre-independence period, artilleries were kept in these school buildings and it was known as Topkhana.

After independence, the supply officers transformed it into storage for food grains. This building is now under the state’s archaeological department and is guarded by security personnel. This school is adorned with stone carvings, which is a major attraction of this site. It is flanked on both sides with small temples, which are no longer in use and have no idols present. The most interesting feature of Topkhana is a room, built 10 ft above the ground with stairs leading to it. It might be considered as the seat of the headmaster or teacher. This school building is supported by 276 pillars. There is a temple on the left side of the main gate of the school that might have housed an idol or a Shiva Linga, in the past.