Battle of Kakkor

The visitation of 1759 was conducted by Malhar Holkar. In July he had received orders from the Peshwa to go to Rajputana and put pressure on its Rajahs for their promised money. His main duty was to realise 12 lakhs for 1758 and nine lakhs for 1759 from Jaipur, the most solvent of these States. But this was no easy task: Jaipur was now the strongest power in Rajputana, and its master from the safe shelter of his strongly fortified capital could laugh at an invasion with scorn. Moreover, as Raghunath Dada had found in 1757, most of the villages in this kingdom had protective walls and a martial population against whom the southern light horse could do nothing.

In November, the Rajputs came out in body 4000 strong, led by Jot Singh Nathawat, to attack the Marathas. Malhar had been praying for such an opportunity of fighting in the open. With his superior numbers and artillery, he enveloped the Kachhwahas at Lakhori and completely crushed them, slaying 20 of their captains. Malhar next laid siege to Barwara, defended by Vikaramjit Rajawat, and some Shekhawat captains. Calling up his big guns from Rampura, he forced the garrison to capitulate for their bare lives.[1]

Soon afterwards Malhar had to abandon Rajputana in a hurry in order to reinforce Dattaji at Delhi against the attack of Ahmed Shah Abdali. He set off from the neighbourhood of Barwara, on 2nd January 1760, too late to save Dattaji Sindhia.