Author: Juhee Mehta

Literally, see characters of books in every person she meets. Apart from eating, she is found adventuring and talking to herself. Believes in magic and escape reality through words. If she possibly knows you, you might find yourself in her poems.

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Social

Book Lovers! Here’s where you can get 1 Kg books at Rs. 200 in Udaipur

It’s literally a dream of every book lover to buy dozens of books at the same time but most of these books and novels are very expensive and it is not possible for a middle-class person to buy a lot of them at the same time.

But what if I tell you if you can buy books on a price as low as 200 Rs. for a kg? It’s has been a wish of every book lover that just like metro cities, Udaipur also has a stall where you can buy low priced books like such. And so stalls have been placed in the Lake City mall where one of the stalls is of books from where you can buy books of multiple genres. These include novels, children books, encyclopedia, motivational books, and many others. The prices of different genres vary. However, Novel lovers can buy a Kilo of books in just Rs. 200.

Apart from that, several other stalls have been placed too where you can get garments, sweaters, cardigans, lowers, pajamas, shoes, bags, etc. at very low prices.

The owners of the stalls travel to various cities and that is the reason why the stalls in Udaipur will remain for a limited period only. The last day of the stalls would be Sunday, 20th January after which they will move to a different place.

A piece of advice – there is a huge scope of bargaining, so you can always try your hand on that.

So, book lovers! Is there any better news than this today?

Do you have similar news and updates about the city? Share it with me at juhee@udaipurblog.com

We would love to spread the word.

Categories
News

Underpass to be Constructed at Shakti Nagar Corner

A lot of news has been in the air regarding new projects in the city of Udaipur. And this time, it’s going to be the Underpass which will be constructed at the Shakti Nagar end which opens at Townhall road. The road witnesses a lot of traffic during the daytime. It creates inconvenience to the people moving from there ultimately resulting in road accidents. Such episodes led Municipal Corporation of Udaipur to take action in order to prevent them.

Source: YouTube

And that is why an underpass will be constructed whose tentative budget has been requested by the concerned officers. As soon as this is done, the tender process shall begin.

The elevated road, which was being constructed at Surajpole, postponed the work of the underpass but now that the project is dropped, the underpass construction can smoothly begin.

If you have any suggestions regarding the article or a story you want to share with us, then share it in the comment section below or write to me at

juhee@udaipurblog.com

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Places to Visit

Know the Reasons behind the Strange names of Places in Udaipur

There are many places in the city with weird and unusual names which will make you think about the reasons and the incidents that lead to these names. If you are also one of those who has the same questions about these places, then this article will reveal everything to you.

Below is the story behind some places in Udaipur with such unusual names

 

Rani Road

The locals say that during the earlier time, this was the place where the royal queens or Rani used to go out to stroll. Right on the opposite side which is the Fatehsagar road right now was used to be called by the name Raja road as it was the place where the Kings or the Rajas used to go out for a walk.

Surajpole-Hathipole-Chandpole

During the ancient period in Udaipur, walls were built to protect the kingdom. To enter the city, 7 major and huge gates were built which were given different names ending with ‘pol’ which translates to gates. It is possible that these names were given to them randomly whereas the locals come up with other different logics for the names too such as Hathipol was the place where the elephants of the kingdom used to be placed, the reason behind Surajpole might be because of the fact that it is facing the east direction which is also the direction from where the sun rises, whereas Chandpol is right opposite to the Surajpole and the full moon rises just above it, so the name.

 

Thokar Chouraha

‘Thokar’ which means to stumble has its name because in earlier times there was a railway line which ended right at the place. To stop the bogies from going any further, the railway used to place a stumbling block which used to stop the rail bogies. This made the place famous by the name ‘Thokar Chouraha’.

 

Hiran Magri

Before the urbanization took over in the city, the entire area of the Hiranmagri sector was simply forest. The place was basically made up of ridges or ‘Mangre’ in Hindi. These ridges used to home various deers which are called ‘Hiran’ in Hindi. Together, the place got the identity with the name ‘Hiranmagri’.

Malla Talai

Malla Talai is an area which is nearby Lake Pichola which used to be a boat manufacturing area. These boat operators in the place were called ‘mallahs’ and so the name derived was Mallatalai.

 

Maldas Street

Maldas was named after a famous businessman in Udaipur names Maldas. It is basically a street for apparel and cosmetic shopping for women. There are many places in the city which are named after some people who used to start residing there in the first place.

Bhadbhuja Ghati

The name Bhadbhuja Ghati was named after the local community ‘Bhadbhujas’ who used to reside there. These people used to roast cereals in Bhaad in the earlier days. Bhaad was the high-temperature oven.

 

Sindhi Bazaar

After the partition of India and Pakistan, many Sindhis migrated to different cities. Many of them came to Udaipur as well. During those times, they were in need of occupation. It was then that they were allotted a market in the city for their businesses. The market then got popular with the name Sindhi Bazaar. It is said that Sindhis are very good at business.

 

Saifan Chouraha

Saifan Chouraha is a circle ahead of Fatehpura circle. The term Saifan actually originated from the term Siphon which is actually a tube used to convey liquid upwards and downwards from a reservoir. The similar process was witnessed at the place also. Here used to be 2 gigantic reservoirs which received water from streams so that water from tank 1 was transferred to tank 2 and then circulated to houses and fields.

 

Ayad

The name Ayad originated from the ancient civilization there named as Ahar. Various remains of the civilization have been excavated by the Archeological department and are showcased in a museum located in Ayad.

Bhaang Gali

This narrow lane is located inside Surajpole. As the name clearly suggests, the lane used to have Bhang shops. Bhang is the edible preparation of cannabis originating from the Indian subcontinent. Bhang Gali still owns some shops even now.

 

Foota Darwaza

The term ‘Foota Darwaza’ translates to the ‘broken gate’ in English. For now, you won’t find any broken gate but in earlier days, the place used to have a huge gate whose doors were broken. Today, the place has reduced to just door frames and that is the reason why it’s called Foota Darwaza.

The above information was gathered through the locals residing there. Although no authentic source can be provided, most of them make sense, don’t they?

Do you also know about any such story behind the names of places in Udaipur? Share with us in the comment section below or write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com

Categories
News

Speed Radar to be Installed at Highways – Wave goodbye to Overspeeded Long Drives

Speed Radars will be installed at Jaipur-Bhilwara-Udaipur highway very soon. Speed radar is a device which uses waves to determine the speed of an object; in this case, it would be a vehicle. A certain speed limit will be assigned to the highway and if any vehicle crosses the speed limit, a challan will be immediately generated and will be sent to the registered address of the vehicle owner. All the cameras will be watched by the local police.

Source: Wikipedia

The approval of the same is already given and the budget is also sanctioned by the government which is 17 crores. Cameras at 18 points would be installed at the highways which combining will have a range of 400 km. The process of installation will be completed in two stages wherein the first stage will cover Jaipur-Bhilwara highway and the second will cover Bhilwara-Udaipur highway.

So, finally, it’s time to wave goodbye to those overspeeded long drives now!

If you have any feedback regarding the article or a story you want to share with us, then write to me at

juhee@udaipurblog.com

Categories
People

Jagat Singh Mehta | People from Udaipur You Should Know About

Our city – Udaipur is completely filled with beauty in and out. And this beauty is not reflected in just its history, culture and its places, but also in its people. There are some gem of the people belonging from Udaipur who, with their hard work and success, have not just made the city but the entire nation proud.

But sadly, with time we tend to forget the accomplishment of such people of the city. The series ‘People from Udaipur you should know about’ tends to glorify the journey of these famous and triumphant people from Udaipur who have become an epitome of success in their lives.

 

Jagat Singh Mehta

Source: UdaipurTimes

Jagat Singh Mehta, son of Mohan Singh Mehta was born on 17th July 1922 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. He was an Indian Politician and diplomat who also served as Foreign Secretary of India for a period of 3 years from 1976 to 1979.

His school education involved five years of study at Vidya Bhawan School which is known all over the country for its value education. After that, he went to the UK to complete his O-level and A-level schooling in a Quaker School of reading. He pursued MA and BA in English Literature from Allahabad University. He had a bucket full of experience by the time he joined Indian Navy as an officer.

In the Indian Foreign service, Mr. Mehta served in Berne, London, Bonn, Peking, and Der-es-Salaam. Among all of these, his assignment in Peking as the Charge d’Affaires en pied was the most successful. One of the greatest achievements of his life was the report on India’s boundary question with China that was prepared under his leadership.

Source: News18

While talking about the achievements, another one would be his entourage of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his ride through Tibet into Bhutan which also initiated the special relations of India and Bhutan.

After Mrs. Gandhi removed him from the government, he re-entered the academic world where he became the scholar first at Harvard University and then joined the LBJ School at the University of Texas, USA as a distinguished professor and fellow at Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, D.C. in the year 1981.

Source: Amazon

Jagat’s famous publications include Militarization in the Third World (1985), The March of Folly in Afghanistan (2002), and Negotiating for India (2006).

In the year 2002, Jagat Singh Mehta received the third highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan.

Mr. Mehta passed away on March 6, 2014. He lived an extremely rich, diversified and purposeful life. He has left a legacy which will be followed by the present as well as the future generations.

Do you have feedback regarding the article? Or have something to share of your own? Write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com

We would love to feature your story.
Categories
News

Udaipur Cycling group Creates a Record with 24 hour Cycling and Running

Udaipur cycling group and Mewari runners created a record by cycling and running for 24 hours. The event took place at Fatehsagar road where children also participated in it.

It was under the campaign ‘Pedal for cause’ whose main aim was to collect donation from the generous people of Udaipur which can be used to buy blankets for needy people in the shivering winters on the occasion.

Moreover, through the campaign, the organizers and the participants were able to overachieve their targets where they aimed for collecting amount for 100 blankets but ended up collecting for 200 instead.

It’s for such high-spirited people that many poor people in Udaipur would be able to protect themselves from the cruel weather.

Do you have any feedback regarding the article? Share with us in the comment section below or write to me at

juhee@udaipurblog.com

Categories
News

Fun Tanga Ride to Start at Fatehsagar and Rani Road

A huge bucket of nostalgia is going to shower you as Udaipur will soon have a fun tanga ride at Fatehsagar and Rani Road. Municipal Corporation of Udaipur held a meeting where they discussed running overall 7 Tangas on the beginning note. It was further decided that 3 tangas will run from Devali to Rani Road, 2 tangas will run from Mahakal temple to Devali and the rest 2 will run from Swaroop Sagar to Moti Magri.

Source: Cleartrip

This will prove to be a good action as per the environment conservation after the cycle sharing the news. With the Tanga ride, many people will be able to recall the fun old days in the city. Furthermore, the people who used to earn their livelihood from Tanga riding will again have the opportunity to start it once again.

It has been decided that the tanga operators will have to pay Rs. 2000/- as license fees per annum. It’s not good news for just locals but also the tourists. They will also be able to adore the stunning view of Lake Fatehsagar while also enjoying the tanga ride.

Do you have any feedback or suggestions regarding the article? Share it in the comment section below or write to me at

juhee@udaipurblog.com

Categories
History and Culture

Pichhwai – The Spectacular Art Form of Nathdwara

Nathdwara – The Gateway to Shrinathji houses an intricate art form practiced from last several decades. Picchwai was originated with a purpose of, other than artistic appeal, narrating tales of Krishna to the illiterate. The art form is basically an intricate painting that depicts the theatrical life of Krishna’s life which is called his ‘Leela’.

Source: Pikbee

The word Picchwai has its roots from the Sanskrit word ‘pich’ which means behind and ‘vai’ which means textile hanging. And that is why it is typically hung behind the sanctum of his own manifestation, Shrinathji. In ancient times, it was often used to create a devotional atmosphere for the daily ‘Shringaar’ – the special adornment of the deity. It was when artists, out of devotion, started making backdrops to depict Lord Shrinathji in different moods, settings and seasons.

Source: Architectural Digest

Process of making Pichhwai

A rough sketch is prepared by the artist on a starched cloth first and later it is filled with colors. The traditional Pichhwai paintings were made up from natural colors and brushes made from hairs of a horse, goat or squirrel but with time, faster and less expensive material replaced them. Few paintings are still available which are made up of natural colors. Some paintings also demand the use of pure gold which adds to their value and charm. The process of preparing the color from pure gold takes around 3-4 days.

Source: Gaatha
Source: Gaatha

Apart from that, Picchwai painting for the temple backdrop can take up to 2-3 months to prepare. These huge Pichwais are commissioned by the wealthy people of around the country while for the common man, a smaller version of these paintings are available which they can take for the shrine at their home.

Source: News 18

Pichhwai artists in Nathdwara

Most of the Picchwai artists reside in the Chitron ki Gali or Chitrakaron ka Mohalla in Nathdwara who makes a close community with constant interaction. Currently, there are only 10-12 original Pichhwai artists in Nathdwara which includes people like Narottam Narayan Sharma and BG Sharma. Most of these artists also paint the newer form which is in demand.

Some renowned Pichhwai artists from Nathdwara are –

Narottam Narayan Sharma

Narayan Sharma is widely known for his images of Lord Krishna which earned him fame in the entire North Indian region. His work was even more influential than the works of Raja Ravi Varma. Several of his paintings were published as posters by S.S Brijbasi, a firm based in Karachi, using chromolithography and were printed in Germany. His painting ‘Murli Manohar’ became the best-selling image in the history of the industry. His other famous paintings involved Shree Satyanarain, Kailash Pati Shankar, depictions of Maharana Pratap and Shivaji, and images of the independence struggle including portraits of Gandhi and Nehru, Gandhiji ki swargyatra (Gandhi’s ascent to heaven) etc. Narottam Narayan Sharma was initially trained at Udaipur.

Murli Manohar | Source: eindiaartfestival

BG Sharma

Bhanwar Lal Girdhari Lal Sharma (B. G. Sharma) is a renowned artist who earned his fame from his miniature devotional paintings and his classic Rajasthani art which includes the Mughal, Kishangarh, and Kangra styles. His work has been internationally exhibited in London, Germany, and the United States.

Source: formsofdevotion

Sharma’s family had been artists for generations. Moreover, there is an art gallery named as Shri B.G.Sharma Art Gallery in Udaipur which contains an extensive collection his work.

Apart from that, Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, British monarch Queen Elizabeth II and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser all have commissioned portraits by Sharma. He has been awarded various awards including India’s National Art Award for Master Craftsman. A collection of Sharma’s artwork was also published in September 2000 titled Form of Beauty: The Krishna Art of B.G.Sharma.

 

The Three Generations of Picchwai Artists

Source: theartistofnathdwara

The family has been aligned to Nathdwara Picchwai Art since ancient times. It is said that the ancestors of the family have been descended to Nathdwara with the arising of Shrinathji in town. The current artist of the Sharma family is Mr. Parmanand Sharma preceded by Devkrishna Sharma and Kanhaiyalal Sharma. The family is known for their miniature Picchwai painting. His work has been researched by the American scholar Tryna Lyons which has been narrated in his book ‘The Artists of Nathdwara’.

Apart from Picchwai, these artists also paint the idol of Shrinathji in the temple which people can take back to their homes. Since photography is not allowed in the temple, these paintings help the devotees to pray to Lord Shrinathji whenever they want.

Do you have any feedback regarding the article or something to share with us? Then mention it in the comment section below or write to me at
juhee@udaipurblog.com
Categories
People

Udaipur’s Vikramaditya Chaufla and Prashant Sen at Racketlon Thailand Open Challenger

Udaipur’s Vikramaditya Chaufla and Prashant Sen made the country proud by winning the bronze medal in men’s elite doubles at the Racketlon Thailand Open Challenger held from 4thto 6th January 2019. Mr. Chaufla and Mr. Sen competed against players from Europe and Asia in the tournament. Racketlon is an intense combination sport that tests the players in four disciplines – badminton, tennis, squash and table tennis.

Prashant Sen at the extreme right and Vikramaditya beside him

In his debut Racketlon appearance, Mr. Chaufla also squared off in the singles against Danish player Jesper Hougaard who is ranked 14th in the world. Mr. Chaufla defeated Mr. Hougaard in badminton and gave a grueling competition in squash but eventually ceded victory after a close contest.

 

Mr. Chaufla has previously represented the country in the World University Championship of Badminton in Seoul and in a highly anticipated appearance; he is scheduled to compete in the World Championship of Racketlon at Germany in November. He is also set to open his own Badminton academy in Udaipur and bring his international expertise in the sport to train the city’s youth.

Do you have any suggestions regarding the article or an interesting story you want to share with us? Then mail me at juhee@udaipurblog.com

We would love to feature your story!

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People

Chahat Tewani from Udaipur in Colors’ latest Show ‘Kesari Nandan’

Chahat Tewani, a little 9-year-old girl from Udaipur has been cast in the latest show by Colors named ‘Kesari Nandan’. The daily soap, produced by Abhimanyu Singh, is the story of daughter and father. Chahat is playing a character of a girl named Kesari who wants to be a wrestler but her father, on the other hand, thinks that wrestling is a sport which is meant only for boys. It is based on the struggle of a little girl. The serial closely resembles the Bollywood movie ‘Dangal’ featuring Amir Khan.

About Chahat Tewani

Chahat Tewani was born in Udaipur on 28th November 2011. Though born in Udaipur, she was brought up in Shenzhen, China. After completing her Kindergarten in China, she moved to Mumbai in the year 2015 to pursue her mother’s dream to participate in dance reality shows. But destiny had something else in its mind and she somehow got into the acting field. And even there, she is doing wonders. Her talent and hard work have been well appreciated by everyone.

Currently, she is living in Mumbai and has worked in 42 advertisements of big brands including Flipkart, Horlicks, Colgate, Byjus, etc. where she got the opportunity to work with stars like Shahrukh Khan and renowned cricketers like M.S. Dhoni.

 

Chahat’s Journey into TV series

Her career in TV series started in the year 2017 with her debut ‘Udaan Sapnon Ki’ playing the role of young Pakhi. After that, she worked in ‘Kasam tere Pyaar ki’ as Tanya and then in ‘Dil se Dil Tak’ as Ipshita.

Now she is working in ‘Kesari Nandan’. For her role, she undertook basic wrestling techniques along with learning cartwheel and other techniques. Chahat has been a sports lover. In real life, she is fond of swimming and tennis, and now she can proudly add wrestling to the list. She has gained her inspiration for the renowned wrestlers of the country ‘Geeta Phogat and Mary Kom’, who were present at the launch of the show.

The journey of fame hasn’t been easy for her. She faces difficulties with her studies. She manages her studies and her work by studying and doing her homework in between her breaks from the show.

The show was released on 1st January 2019 and is AIRed daily from Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on Colors TV.

Do you have any feedback regarding the article? Or have any such interesting story to share with us? Then write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com

We would love to feature your story!