Kekri, Rajasthan

Kekri is believed to have been established around 884 CE and was historically known as Kanakavati Nagari.^[12] According to local traditions, the name is associated with Kanakavati, after whom a memorial (samadhi) was constructed at Baba Talab following her act of sati.^[12] Over time, the name of the town evolved from Kanakavati to Kekri.^[12] Kekri historically formed part of the Ajmer region.^[12][13] Over time, Ajmer came under the control of various ruling powers, including the Chauhans, Sisodias, Rathores, Mughals, Scindias, Marathas, and later the British.^[13][12] As a result, the political authority over Kekri generally followed these broader changes in the Ajmer region.^[12]

The town developed in two distinct phases: Old Kekri and New Kekri. Old Kekri is attributed to settlement during the period of Maratha influence, while New Kekri was established in 1840 under the supervision of Colonel Dixon, then a British administrator.^[12] The newer settlement was planned using a grid-iron pattern, with systematically laid intersecting roads.^[12]

During the British period, Kekri functioned as an administrative unit under an Extra Assistant Commissioner.^[2]

Kekri later developed into a municipal town, with a municipality established in 1879.^[14] It was one of the three municipalities in the district, alongside Ajmer and Beawar.^[15]

The Town Hall of Kekri was constructed in 1928 and currently functions as Gandhi Bhavan, serving municipal administrative purposes.^[12]

Kekri is located in the southeastern part of Ajmer district in the Indian state of Rajasthan and serves as one of the district's major subdivisions.^[20] The region lies within the semi-arid transitional plains of eastern Rajasthan and forms part of the Banas River basin system.^[21]

Topographically, the Kekri block is described as a level plain interspersed with scattered rocky outcrops associated with the Aravalli geological system.^[21] Elevation in the block ranges from approximately 301 metres to 547 metres above mean sea level, representing the lowest minimum elevation recorded in Ajmer district.^[21] The area is drained by tributaries of the Banas and Khari rivers along with seasonal streams locally influenced by the district's monsoon drainage network.^[21]

The geology of the region primarily consists of metamorphic formations belonging to the Bhilwara Supergroup, comprising metasedimentary rocks with associated igneous intrusions.^[21] Groundwater occurs mainly within weathered and fractured hard-rock aquifers, which constitute the principal source of irrigation and domestic water supply in the region.^[21]

Kekri experiences a semi-arid climate characterized by hot summers, a southwest monsoon season, and mild winters. According to hydrogeological records of the Government of Rajasthan, the Kekri block receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 756.6 mm.^[21] Rainfall is seasonal and irregular, with most precipitation occurring during the monsoon months.^[21]

Pre-monsoon groundwater levels in most parts of the Kekri block generally range between 10 and 20 metres below ground level, while some southeastern areas exhibit comparatively shallow groundwater occurrence.^[21] Groundwater flow in the district broadly follows a northwestern to southeastern gradient.^[22]

Agriculture dominates the surrounding rural landscape and depends heavily on groundwater irrigation and monsoon rainfall.^[23] Open wells and tube wells constitute the primary irrigation sources in the region.^[24] Major crops cultivated in and around Kekri include wheat, mustard, gram, barley, bajra, maize, pulses, and oilseeds.^[25]

Kekri has several government and private schools providing primary and secondary education. These institutions are affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan and the Central Board of Secondary Education. Formal schooling in the town dates back to the late 19th century.

The Government Senior Secondary School, Kekri (established in 1894) is among the oldest educational institutions in the town and provides education up to the higher secondary level.^[27]

Kekri hosts several institutions offering higher and professional education across disciplines such as arts, science, commerce, information technology, nursing, agriculture, and AYUSH systems of medicine.

Major institutions in the town include Government College, Kekri (affiliated with Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University), National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, Kekri, Govt. Model Nursing Institute and Center for Excellence for Midwifery, Kekri, University College of Homoeopathy Kekri (affiliated with Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University), Government Agriculture College, Kekri, Government Ayurvedic College, Kekri, and Government Yog and Naturopathy Medical College, Kekri.^{[28][7][8][29][10][11][30][9]}

The presence of these institutions has contributed to the town’s emergence as a regional centre for higher and professional education.

Kekri has government healthcare facilities serving the town and surrounding rural areas. The Government District Hospital Kekri provides general medical and emergency healthcare services under various state and national health programmes.^[31]

The town also has a government Ayurvedic hospital providing traditional Ayurvedic healthcare services.^[32]

A government veterinary hospital in Kekri provides animal healthcare and veterinary services for livestock and domestic animals in the region.^[33]

Primary healthcare services in nearby rural areas are supported through government primary health centres and community health centres in the Kekri.

• Haribhau Upadhyay (1892–1972) was a freedom fighter, the first Chief Minister of Ajmer, and a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress. He represented the Kekri constituency as an MLA for two terms (1957–1967) and served as the Finance and Education Minister of Rajasthan.

• Bisalpur Dam – a major reservoir in Tonk district located about 55 km from Kekri.

• Hadirani ka Kund - a historical tourist site located about 40 km from Kekri.

• Ramsnehi Ramdwara – a prominent religious and spiritual site located about 55 km from Kekri.

• Negadiya Bridge – a notable bridge and local attraction near the region.
• Fatehgarh Fort – a historic fort located near Kekri.

• Sarwar
• Sawar
• Deoli
• Malpura
• Shahpura
• Ajmer
• Todaraisingh

• Kekri Assembly constituency
• Kekri district
• Ajmer
• Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency