598 mtrs above the sea level and spanning over a stretch of only 37 sq km, a small beautiful town in the south of the largest state of India, lies a place, which is famous for its Royal Rajput-era palaces and scenic locations, which is home to exquisite valley views, tranquil lakes and some of world’s most influential & majestic architectures, a place which is on the bucket list of so many tourists, a place where many plan their dream destination weddings, a place that carries a wide history and culture, with it, Yes it is none other than, Udaipur, the city where my heart lies. Many of us call it ‘the City of Lakes, Venice of the East, and the Kashmir of Rajasthan.
It is one of the favorite travelling destination among the globetrotters and hence it was nominated as the No 1 City in Asia in 2018. Making its mark, the city occupied a place among World’s top 10 beautiful cities. This year Udaipur ranked 6th in Asia and 10th in the ‘World’s Best Awards’ for best cities of the world by renowned travel magazine travel and leisure. Not only this, the Leela Palace Udaipur ranked the no 1 hotel among World’s 100 best resorts, together with 38th place held by Taj Lake Palace while Oberoi Udaivilas at 49th, by the readers of the same T+L magazine. The magazine says that “a breathtaking view of Lake Pichola is just one reason, Travel + Leisure readers gave for choosing this Udaipur’s hotel as their favorite”.
From the ornate palaces and narrow winding streets, to the boutique jewelry stores and bustling markets, is what made travelers all around the earth to nominate it as the best travelling destinations. The City of Lakes hold so much treasures which could only be explored by renting a rowboat and sailing through the lakes or escaping into the narrow old city lanes which demonstrate the true Mewari culture.
Besides this, the cinematic history of the luxurious Taj Lake Palace and the Royal City Palace, are cherry on pie, which this city boasts of. Taj Lake Palace has also been voted as one of the Top 10 Asia resort hotels.
Thank you world and Udaipur folks that helped it mark its presence among 4,416 cities of the world.
Udaipurites always roam around the city in search of new and fashionable places to spend a good time and click some amazing pictures. But to choose from so many places, it turns into a mental dilemma every weekend to find a good place. A place which offers an unforgettable view, delectable food and n number of points where you can click good selfies and so-called candid pictures
Voila!! Here’s where the Enigma Restaurant and Lounge pop up in the head. This restaurant has exactly got everything that one is looking for.
Here are the top 5 reasons why Enigma Restaurant and Lounge is the serenest place to hang out!
An unmatched feasting experience:
No matter what the place has to offer, until and unless you aren’t served with an unforgettable dining experience, you won’t visit the place again most probably. Food served at Enigma Restaurant and Lounge will not just satiate your taste buds with amazing food but also take care of all your cravings. A special and the most romantic seating arrangement for 2 on the rooftop is the paradise for the lovebirds. A Private Silver Dining Room that can accommodate10 people and Personal Butler Service. What more can anyone ask for?
Dining arrangement at Enigma.Silver Dining arrangement at Enigma.
Private Terrace lounge:
A breath of fresh air while you are enjoying the different taste of your favorite dish served. Ever fantasize to have a meal like this? If yes, you surely can fulfill it at the terrace lounge of Enigma Restaurant and Lounge. This also brings us to our next point.
Terrace Lounge at Enigma.
Eye-Soothing view, in front of you:
A breathtaking view of Lake Pichola and the magnificent City Palace while you savor every taste with your loved ones? Who wouldn’t love it? And if you are wondering where you can get such a view. I guess, you already know the answer, The rooftop setting, and the Terrace lounge will give you a panoramic view that will allure you for sure.
View from Enigma.
Photo-Friendly Interior:
The restaurant is designed with exclusive interior artifacts that will surely lit up your Instagram handle. From special Hand-Carved Winged Couple chairs to Hand shaped ones at the rooftop, from beautiful chandeliers to astonishing wall arts, you won’t be able to resist yourself from clicking pictures.
Interior at Enigma
Lavish services:
At Enigma restaurant and lounge, one thing you’ll experience for sure is a great butler service. The credits go to the services available at the restaurant. These services include A La Carte Service, Valet Parking Service, Personal Butler Service, and much more.
So, it’s time to go easy on your phone screens looking for a perfect weekend spot. Enigma restaurant and lounge promise an unforgettable meal experience.
Been to Enigma Restaurant and lounge? Share your memories with us in the comment sections, We would love to hear from you.
A meeting was hosted by District Tourism Development Committee in the collectorate premises on Tuesday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss various steps that needed to be taken to improve the conditions of various tourist attractions in Udaipur. Tourism Industry is one of the biggest business sectors for the Udaipurites and needs reforms to strengthen its roots.
Steps like regular police patrolling, improving traffic conditions around the tourist spots were discussed at length. Common accident-prone spots at popular tourist attractions like Fatehsagar, Badi, Sajjangarh Fort, Gangaur Ghat, Jagdish Mandir, Fatehsagar, Ambrai, Rani Road will soon be declared as no-selfie zone due to safety concerns. The meeting was led by Additional District Collector Sanjay Kumar and Udaipur’s Mayor Chandra Singh Kothari, District Traffic Administrator Kalpana Sharma along with other officials attended the meeting.
The Heritage Walk which is closed from the past 2 years was also discussed and steps to restart it was one of the major discussion points. The mayor is in discussion with officials from the Udaipur Guide Association to restart the Heritage Walk at the earliest.
Udaipur is well known for its tourism industry and the government is taking various steps from time to time for its betterment.
The tourism industry has got a big boost as Udaipur has been included in the list of most beautiful cities of the globe. It is fast becoming one of the most liked holiday destinations. In the list of Trip Advisor travelers’ choice ranking, there are three cities of Rajasthan – Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur – among the top ten. New Delhi is at the top followed by Goa and Jaipur. Udaipur gets the 6th place while Jaipur and Jaisalmer bag the 6th and 8th rank respectively. Not to be left behind, Udaipur hotels have also won laurels. Among the top 25 hotels of India, the ranking of hotels of Udaipur is The Leela Palace (2nd), Taj Lake Palace (4th) and Oberoi Udai Vilas (7th). The Leela Palace, Udaipur has also bagged 13th place among the top 25 hotels of the world. Earlier, Udaipur has been given top ranking as a leisure spot by Conde Nast Traveler India Reader award and as the most beautiful city of the world by travel and leisure magazine.
Source: The Leela
It augurs well that several agencies such as forest department, tourism dept., Municipal co., and urban improvement trust are making concerted efforts to boost tourism in and around Lake City. Some already existing spots of tourism importance are getting facelift whereas some new ones are being developed. Baghdara Nature Park, that is about 20 km from the city would now be a big attraction for nature lovers as they would not only be able to watch wildlife like panthers and crocodiles at close quarters but spend nights in tents to be in the lap of nature. To make the stay of tourists, more facilities like a zip line, zig-zag adventure sports, and a cafeteria have been provided. On the neighboring hills have been planted 500 plants. The private agency that would be managing all these facilities would also look after the safety of the visitors. The choupati at Swaroop Sagar is the first of its kind to be built on the Swacch Bharat theme, would cost about 2.70 crores. There would be steel frames on either side. Garden area is to be developed in small parts with walking tracks. The 200 by 60 feet choupati is to have 6 stalls with 6 modular kiosks to keep the area clean.
Ecotone Park on the bank of Badi that is about 10 km from the city where one can reach either through Rampura and Gorela or through Fatehsagar bank, has been developed to enable tourists to have a close view of wildlife and stay in the tents at night, according to OP Sharma, DFO. To know more about Ecotone Park and camping, click here.
Source: Patrika
The badgaon hill that covers an area of about 400 hectares is also being developed as a tourist spot by UIT. Situated in Sector 14 of the city, Nela talab has also been developed on the lines of Fateh Sagar with an attractive main gate, sitting space and LED lights, rows of coconut trees also add to the attraction. Religious places like Amrakhji and Badbadeshwar are also being developed.
According to UIT Chairman Ravendra Shrimali, Nandeshwar is being developed as a tourist spot with an amusement park more greenery, broader approach roads, viewpoints and renovation of the ancient Mahadev Mandir and Baori. Udaipur Paal is also being made more attractive for tourists.
During this monsoon season, tourists on way to Mount Abu would have another new attraction at Kanan Kuteer, Ghata Nadi with facilities for trekking in dense forests, stay in newly built rest house and camps. Van Surakhsa Evam Prabandh Samiti, Thamlaberi would provide food, guides, and safety. At the processing center, tourist can watch how different products like juice and shampoo are made from aloe vera, amla, sitaphal. Segura hill, Bedwas on the road to Chittorgarh is also being developed as eco-park with selfie points having Mewari paintings, models of wild animals, huts for shade, flower, plants and creepers and a long boundary wall for safety.
Located about 100 km from Udaipur, the Kolda region has a green forest, flowing rivers and waterfalls, dense sanctuaries. After traveling about 70 km one comes across high hills and serpentine roads, the view of numerous palm trees near the Kalibor and Sabarmati dams is extremely charming. Between the hills flows the Vakal River, other attractions include the herbal plant gardens near Jogiwad dam, the bridge viewpoint, and the famous Phulwari ki Nal sanctuary spread over 511 sq. km.
Source: TripHobo
To commemorate the sacrifice of Panna Dhai to save Maharana Pratap’s life, Panna Dhai Panorama is coming up fast, near her village Kameri, about 10 km from Amet on the Deogarh road. Located on a hill, it is to have a huge 9 feet statue of Panna Dhai. There would also be an auditorium, tourist resting hall, a museum, and a library.
Nearer home, for the entertainment of tourists at night in Sahelion ki Badi, programmes of music, dance and puppet shows are to be started. At present, the Badi has only ancient fountains and a garden. The work on Kalangan art gallery is also progressing fast. On average, the Badi has a footfall of about 7 lac Indian and foreign tourists every year and the number goes up during festival time. The lawns and the huge variety of colorful flowers in the Vibhuti Park near Fatehsagar Paal have also become a big attraction for tourist. Some creative persons from Gadio Luher community have introduced heritage bullock carts that have brass nails and colored stripes. No wonder tourists in the city enjoy joy rides on them.
It seems with the addition of this attraction, the number of tourists in Udaipur would shoot up.
There are a lot of places of interest in and around Udaipur which attract a lot of tourists from across the globe. One such place is the Fish Point near Kumbhalgarh. The Fish Point is basically a small lake known as Hammeripal lake situated in Taladri village. The Taladri village is in the Kumbhalgarh Tehsil, Rajasamand district. Let’s find out why is it famous?
The Hammeripal Lake is famous due to its large number of fish. It is a less crowded spot in the village and people often come here to have a look at the fish population. But what is about the fish in this lake that makes it so popular?
Source: @mahendraa_singh via Instagram
The lake is the home to thousands of African Catfish!! They are present in the lake in a number that might frighten some while some might feel a bit uneasy to watch such a huge number of Catfish accumulating to be fed. But literally, they are a sight not to be missed!
It looks unreal and feeding them is all the more fun.
Why are these Catfish in the Hammeripal Lake in Kumbhalgarh?
The story that the local people have about the ‘dangerously looking’ catfish is that one ‘Fish Contractor’ developed this breed in the lake for commercial ‘Fish Farming’. The villagers were concerned about the natural beauty of the place and that this entire place would be commercialized due to the same. Henceforth, all the villagers shunned his practice of fish farming.
Since that time, the Catfish kept increasing and breeding. Also, the local people are very apprehensive about fishing in the lake. They do not allow any local or outsider to catch these Catfish from the lake; and if they happen to find someone catching, strict actions are taken against the person.
These African catfish eat bread and local snacks and can be fed by the visitors.
Have a look at the video of these Catfish gathered to have a brunch!!!
The reason behind the name, Hammeripal Lake
The lake is so called because it was constructed by the Sisodia clan ruler, Rana Hammir Singh and so it was named after him as Hammeripal lake.
You can also read our article about Rana Hammir Singh, HERE
Location
The lake is situated 2-3 kilometer before the Kumbhalgarh fort. It is located in the village named ‘Taladri’. Kumbhalgarh is at a distance of 100 Km approx. from Udaipur.
Have a look at another video of these Catfish and the Hammeripal Lake
About Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhalgarh is the birthplace of the great warrior of Mewar, Maharana Pratap. Built during the course of the 15th century; the fort has a wall, 38 km long and is among the largest wall complex in the world. Kumbhalgarh was built and ruled by Rana Kumbha and hence the name Kumbhalgarh. Some legends say that the Rana Kumbha wasn’t able to build the wall over repeated attempts and then it was told by a spiritual sage that place demands a human sacrifice. At first, no one volunteered but then one day a man agreed and the ritual was performed. Today the main gate of the fortress, Hanuman Pol, contains a shrine and a temple to commemorate the great sacrifice.
Udaipur has an unparalleled splendor and remains one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a city famous for its bewitching architecture, scrumptious Rajasthani cuisine, and striking monuments that hold rich history behind its walls. Such is the charm of the city that a one-day visit seems incomplete just by the mention of it. There are simply so many places to explore in and around the city and each place is so alluring, it feels as if it just doesn’t want to let go of you.
Millions of tourists travel to the beautiful City of Lakes every year to find out what the fuss is all about, and much to their amazement, go back with a truckload of memories and stories worth giving an ear to! It is one of the most sought-after places for travel enthusiasts and a popular backpacking destination as well.
Source – Trans India Travels
Most of the tourists visiting Udaipur throughout the year are backpackers and budget travelers who visit the city for merely a day and search for places to go to that can make their traveling videos and photo albums a lot more colorful. Well, Udaipur never disappoints, and for the same purpose, we have come up with a list of places you must visit during a day’s trip (supposedly, morning to evening). Have a look:
1. Fatehsagar Lake:
Source – Welcome2Rajasthan
A trip to Udaipur would be a trip in vain if you do not visit the majestic lakes in the City of Lakes! You must not miss the sight of the rising Sun and the tranquility that is during morning around these lakes. The sound of the chirping birds and water hitting the shore is soothing and with a plate of ‘Poha’ and sizzling hot ‘Chai’ (tea), should you even ask for more? You can spend the morning hours here as well as at Lake Pichola overlooking the City Palace, Jag Mandir, and Lake Palace from Karni Mata as the rest of the city becomes operational mostly after Ten.
2. The City Palace Museum:
Source – Rajasthan
And to take a deeper look into the rich history of Mewar kingdom and all of its rulers, a trip to the Palace is a must. After you have had your breakfast, you must move on to the City Palace complex. The City Palace complex is a splendid example of Rajasthani architecture and the cultural heritage of Mewar built by Maharana Udai Singh II. A visit to the museum typically takes 2-3 hours and entry to the museum is chargeable at a fee of ₹300 for adults and ₹100 for children aged 5-18. The museum opens at 0900 hours and closes at 1730 hours. Also, check out Palki Khana Restaurant inside the palace complex.
3. Sajjan Garh (Monsoon Palace):
Source – Tripsbank
Painted with white artistic domes on top of a hill is the glorious Monsoon Palace. It is named after Maharana Sajjan Singh Ji who built the palace chiefly to visit during the Monsoon season. It provides a panoramic view of the city and surroundings which a delightful sight. A visit here takes 2-3 hours and entry to this Palace is at a nominal cost of ₹80-90 for each person whereas vehicles are charged too. The preferred timing to visit Sajjangarh is from 1000 hours to 1700 hours. You can also visit the Sajjangarh Biological Park and Zoo located at the foot of the hill.
4. Old City Tour and Shopping:
Source – one2all.co.in
A visit to Udaipur is incomplete without some shopping from the local markets. Udaipur is famous for wooden handicrafts, traditional jewelry, brassware, pagadis (turban), mojadis (ethnic footwear), leather items, etc. Visit these local markets at Hathipole, Bapu Bazaar, and Palace road and treat yourself with some amazing collection of items from the local nearby villages. Don’t forget to treat your taste buds with some lip-smacking Rajasthani food as well. And don’t worry if you are left with some more time, try visiting Jagdish Temple, Vintage Car Museum, Bagore ki Haveli, Maharana Pratap Smarak (memorial), you will be left in awe!
5. Dinner by the Lake – ending it in style!
Source – Travel Triangle
As the day closes to an end, there is one thing that will haunt you for the rest of your lives if not done, while in Udaipur, and that is a blissful candle-lit dinner by the lakeside overlooking the City Palace as it lights up in all its glory. There are several lake-facing restaurants by Pichola serving cuisines from all over the world with an ambiance worth every penny that you shell out. Dig in at any of these places and don’t forget to click pictures as you are definitely going to be making this trip, a trip of your lifetime!
A lot remains unexplored during this one-day trip to Udaipur. Take out some time and come back soon because one visit just ain’t enough!
Tell us how your trip to Udaipur was and share your memories with us. I will be glad to see all of them!
The beauty of the City of Lakes is not hidden from anyone. The city is lined with greenery and peaceful lakes. Udaipur has become the hub of tourism in the past decade and people from all over the world come to the city in search of beauty and tranquility. As the number of people coming to the city increased, so did the number of hotels. Right now, Udaipur boasts some of the finest and the most luxurious hotels in the entire country. One such beautiful palace turned into a hotel is the Chunda Palace.
Image Courtesy: Chunda Palace
Thakur Ghanshyam Singh Krishnawat pioneered the marble business in Rajasthan under the name Haveli Marbles starting in 1976. Later, in 1996 he started building a dwelling for himself which he turned into a palatial hotel- today widely known as the Chunda Palace. In the year 2010, Chunda Palace began its operations and if we talk about the current date, the palace has maintained its beauty and has been the epitome of Udaipur’s celebrated past.
Ghyanshyam singh ji
Thakur Ghanshyam Singh Krishnawat has two sons, Veeramdev Singh Krishnawat and Yaduraj Singh Krishnawat, who take care of Chunda Palace now.
Why the name ‘Chunda’ Palace?
Rawat Chunda was the eldest son and the obvious successor of Maharana Lakha of Mewar. Rawat Chunda, however, handed over the throne of Mewar to his younger brother Maharana Mokal but he continued to serve the house of Mewar. Rawat Chunda’s clan is also the ancestral clan of Thakur Ghanshyam Singh Krishnawat.
Veeram dev Singh Krishnawat
Yaduraj Singh Krishnawat
The hotel gets its name from Rawat Chunda and hence is known as Chunda Palace.
Inside the Hotel
Chunda Palace preserves a distinct identity and is one of the most revered hotels in Udaipur. The locale in which the palace is situated can be taken as an idyllic one- neighboring Oberoi’s Udai Vilas and Trident.
Architecture and Interiors
Image Courtesy: Chunda Palace
20 years hence, the Palace still has its work ongoing- the paintings are still being done on the walls and ceilings. The palace has artwork indigenous to the Mewar region. The artistry on the ceilings is one of a kind and include gold plating with natural colors. Mewar’s Bhitti Chitra Miniature Paintings and glass inlay work can be seen vividly on all the walls and ceilings. The furniture is made of wood, silver, brass and camel bone.
Beautiful chandeliers line the ceiling and a blissful aroma is always filled in the entire Palace.
Staying at Chunda Palace
Image Courtesy: Chunda Palace
There are in total 46 rooms which are bifurcated as – 30 palace rooms and 16 suites. The largest suite has an area of 1000 square feet which demonstrate the lavishness of the regal life of nobles of Mewar.
The recreation room named Harawal has ample space to accommodate a gathering. It has a silver swing which grabs all the attention.
Image Courtesy: Chunda Palace
The Rana Chowk or the top terrace promises an enticing view of the entire city and is a perfect spot for a romantic dinner. This place is also ideal for having a wedding function.
Image Courtesy: Chunda Palace
And not forgetting the Royal Alcoves, which are seven beautifully carved and embellished alcoves near the rooftop pool called Pichola pool. One can have a sumptuous dining experience at the alcoves.
Cuisines at Chunda Palace
Image Courtesy: Chunda Palace
Chunda Palace offers a multi-cuisine menu at their Royal Cuisine Restaurant that satiates culinary cravings. They also have a live kitchen. Authentic Rajasthani cuisine is served with amicable hospitality which is wondrous.
How to reach
Chunda Palace is 27 km from the airport and 7 km from the Udaipur Railway Station.
Udaipur is well connected by roads, railways, and air. Every year lacs of tourist flock to the City of Lakes and if you too are planning to spend your vacations here then this article will come handy. Udaipur has a domestic airport named after the famous Mewar ruler, Maharana Pratap and is called the Maharana Pratap Airport after him.
It is also colloquially known as Dabok Airport as it is located in the area called Dabok. The airport is spread over an area of 500 acres with the new terminal building covering 2,500 square meters. It was a military airport used for transportation of ammunition to the soldiers. The Dabok Airport is reputed for the ILS system that is used by the ATC (air traffic control).
Major Flights from Udaipur
Destination City
Time Taken
New Delhi (DEL)
1h
Mumbai (BOM)
1h 20m
Jaipur (JPR)
1h
Chennai (MAA)
2h 35m
Information About All the Flights
The Maharana Pratap Airport is well-connected to major cities of India including Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, and Kolkata, Goa, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
You can see the arrival and departure timings HERE
Maharana Pratap Airport Terminals
One boarding gate on the ground level
Two aerobridges on the first level
The total area of the terminal is 12,000 square meters
6 check-ins and 3 security counters.
The capacity of the domestic terminal is 300 each for departures and arrivals.
Chartered airlines provide services for the Indian Air Force and the Border Security Forces.
Services and Facilities at the Maharana Pratap Airport
Free trolleys
Childcare room
Wheelchairs and other medical facilities
ATM services and phone booths
Tourist information center
Distance from the City
The Maharana Pratap Airport is located at a distance of 22 km from the city center.
How to Reach the Airport
Public, as well as private taxis or cabs, can be taken to reach the airport.
Udaipur has a lot of places to visit. The beautiful city has numerous gardens, centers, lakes, and so much more. One of the additions in Udaipur’s beauty is the Pratap Gaurav Kendra which is famous for its larger than life statue of Maharana Pratap. It has many attractions apart from the massive statue of Maharana Pratap.
Source: pratapgauravkendra.org
Pratap Gaurav Kendra Rashtriya Tirth
Developed by the Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap Samiti, Pratap Gaurav Kendra Rashtriya Tirth is located at Manoharpura, Badgaon in Udaipur. This place is dedicated to the king of Mewar Maharana Pratap and is an ideal place to know about him and the ancient heritage of Mewar. Aiming at the belief that Maharana Pratap must be the youth icon, the project was envisioned by Sangh Pracharak Sri Sohansingh Ji. The park is built on an area of more than 10 acres and is beautifully adorned with sculptures, galleries, and structures.
There are a number of attractions at Pratap Gaurav Kendra:
57 feet high metal statue of Maharana Pratap
12-feet metal statue of Bharat Mata
The presentation of the history of Mewar with moving figures, sound, and light
Galleries with statues and pictures
The Bhakti Dham nine temples
Water pond
Statue of Swami bhakt Chetak
Statue of Meera Bai
Timings | Pratap Gaurav Kendra Udaipur
The timings of Pratap Gaurav Kendra is from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
How to reach | Pratap Gaurav Kendra Udaipur
It is situated at a distance of 25 km from Maharana Pratap Airport Udaipur; at a distance 9.30 km from Udaipur’s Railway Station and at a distance of 8.30km from Udaipur’s Bus Station. One can take a cab to reach Pratap Gaurav Kendra and enjoy a full day at the place.
Source: pratapgauravkendra.org
Tickets | Pratap Gaurav Kendra Udaipur
National Tourists
Adults (12+ years): Rs. 150
Children (5-12 years): Rs. 75
Children below 4 years: FREE
For School visit
Nursery to 12th class (Minimum 50 student): Rs. 50 only including staff.
For college visit
Minimum 50 Student: Rs. 75 including staff.
Foreign tourists
Adults (12+ years): Rs. 500
Children (5-12 years): Rs. 250
Children below 4 years: FREE
English Audio guide: Rs. 100
Source: pratapgauravkendra.org
You can contact them at the below-given number:
Mobile: +91- 09602054510
Visit the website for more information: http://www.pratapgauravkendra.org/
“Mhaaro Rang Rangeelo Rajasthan” is truly blessed with vivacious cultures, royal heritages, holy traditions, communities living in harmony and enchanting nature. It is also, literally and in every sense, the “Land of Kings.” This time we are here to tell you the difference between two major regions of Rajasthan that are the Mewar Province and the Marwar Province. Mewar and Marwar are pretty much similar on the basic level, but when scrutinized, they have some contrasting features. Let’s find out more about the
‘two regions with a sole soul.’
P.C.- trip savvy
“Territories of the “Land of Kings”
Mewar, the south-central region of the state of Rajasthan includes:
➤ Bhilwara,
➤ Rajsamand,
➤ Chittorgarh,
➤ Udaipur,
➤Tehsil Pirawa of Jhalawar District,
➤Neemuch and Mandsaur districts of Madhya Pradesh
➤and some parts of Gujarat.
Marwar region includes:
➤ Barmer,
➤Jalore,
➤Nagaur,
➤ Jodhpur,
➤Pali,
➤and parts of Sikar.
“What’s in a name they say, but then everything has a name”
The word “Mewar” is loosely extracted from the word ‘Medapata’ which is the ancient name of the region. ‘Meda’ refers to the Meda Tribe who used to reside in the region (now called Badnor) and ‘pata’ refers to the administrative unit.
The word “Marwar” comes from the word ‘Maru,’ a Sanskrit word, which means desert and from a Rajasthani slang‘wad’ which means a particular area. Marwar is basically known as ‘The Region of Desert’.
“The richest histories in the country”
History of both Mewar and Marwar is quite rich and somewhat similar as both were founded by Rajputs. On one hand, where Mewar has a history of wars, defeats, successions, and establishments, Marwar’s history is complex with no direct successions and Mughals and Rajputs ruling now and then.
After the establishment of both Mewar and Marwar, the timeline of monarchy witnessed a number of kings and Britishers as well.
Here we have a timeline of reigns of the famous monarchs of Mewar:
Kings
Known for
Reign- period
Bappa Rawal
founder of Mewar
734-753
Maharana Kumbha
➤his reign is considered as the “golden period of Mewar”
➤Was the only Hindu king of his time in India
1433-1468
Maharana Udai Singh
➤Murdered his own father, Rana Kumbha and turned out to be an abominated king.
➤Was struck by lightning just before his daughter’s marriage and died on the spot.
1468-1473
Maharana Udai Singh II
➤Founder of Udaipur, the city of lakes
1537-1572
Maharana Pratap
➤Only ruler to not give up in front of Mughals.
➤Fought the famous “Battle of Haldighati” against Akbar, the then Mughal ruler
1572-1597
Maharana Jagat Singh
➤57th ruler of Mewar
➤The famous Jagmandir Palace and Jagdish temple in Udaipur was built during his reign.
1628-1652
Maharana Swaroop Singh
➤Britishers started settling in India during his reign and he supported Britishers in every way possible.
1842-1861
Maharana Sajjan Singh
➤He did everything in his power for Udaipur and its environment
➤Udaipur became the second city in the country to have a municipality, after Bombay, under his rule
➤He built a beautiful monsoon palace in Udaipur, that is Sajjangarh Fort, to complement the beauty of Udaipur in the backdrop.
1874-1884
Maharana Bhupal Singh
➤Founded many colleges and schools, especially for girls and also worked towards the betterment of lakes and environment of Udaipur
1930-1955
Maharana Bhagwat Singh
➤Last ruler of Mewar
➤Sold off most of his properties like Fateh Prakash, Jagmandir and other architectures on the banks of Lake Pichola so that all of them are well maintained
➤Even though the financial situation of the Royalties was depleting, he worked towards the betterment of Mewar.
1955-1984
Marwar was established by the Gurjara Pratihara, a Rajput clan. They first settled their kingdom in the 6th century in Marwar with the capital at Mandore which is 9 km from Jodhpur.
Here we have the timeline mentioning famous rulers of Marwar:
Kings
Known For
Reign Period
Rao Sheoji
➤first ruler to rule over Marwar from Rathore dynasty
1226-1273
Rao Ranmal
➤Was helped by Sisodias of Mewar to rule over Marwar
➤Was assassinated on the orders of Rana Kumbha of Mewar.
1427-1438
Rao Jodha
➤Founder of Jodhpur
1438-1489
Maharaja Jaswant Singh
➤Fought the Battle of Dharmatpur against Aurangzeb
1638-1678
Maharaja Ajit Singh
➤Became ruler of Marwar after 25 years of war against Aurangzeb.
1679-1724
Maharaja Bakhat Singh
➤Fought the Battle of Gangwana against Mughals and Kachhawa
1751-1752
Maharaja Sir Hanwant Singh
➤Last ruler of Marwar before independence
9 June 1947-15 August 1947
During the famine of 1899-1900, Marwar suffered terribly and seeing the terrible fate Marwar underwent, Maharaja of Jodhpur decided to join the dominion of Pakistan but Lord Mountbatten warned him that majority of his subjects were Hindus and joining Pakistani dominion may create problems for him and the kingdom. In 1950, Rajputana ultimately became the state of Rajasthan.
Proud communities of Mewar and Marwar
Rajputs are a well-known warrior clan of Rajasthan. Their trenchant identity is usually described as “proud Rajput tribes of Rajputana”. Their lineage is traced from the Fire family, the Sun Family and the Moon Family.
The Sun Family includes:
➤ Sisodias of Chittaur and Udaipur
➤Rathores of Jodhpur and Bikaner and
➤Kachawas of Amber and Jaipur.
While the Moon Family includes the Bhattis of Jaisalmer.
The trading communities include Khandelwal, Agrawal, Maheshwari, Jains, and Gahoi of Marwar. Birlas, Bajajs, Goenkas Singhanias are some top business groups in India, who are famous Marwaris from Rajasthan.
The artisan’s communities like Sonar, Lohars, Bhils etc. are majorly found in Mewar.
“Reflection of valor- Mewari, and Marwari”
Mewari should not be confused with Marwari as both the languages are different. People who havebeen into both the regions can easily identify the boldness of Mewari and the Sweetness of Marwadi.
Mewari isinspired by Devanagari script while maximum words of Marwari are adopted from Sanskritlanguage and is traditionally associated with Mahajani language.
Mewari- 5 million speakers coming from Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, and Rajsamand districts of the state of Rajasthan.
Marwari- 20 million speakers (most-spoken)
“Aah, the food”
Dal Bati Churma is the signature dish that opts for both the kitchens of Mewarand Marwar. Although, very few people know that Mewar ’s cuisine includes both vegetarian and non-vegfood.
Whereas, Marwari cuisine generally follows vegetarian food. Some authentic disheslike
➤Laal Maas and Khad Khargosh
are non-vegetarian delights and are relished by the people of Mewar.
Whereas, the people of Marwarenjoys vegetarian delights such as:
➤Bajre ki roti
➤Pyaaz Kachori
➤Bharwa BesanMirch
➤Panchmel Daal
and many more fabulous recipes.
Apart from this, the richness in Mewari authentic Thali can be seen with the use of dried spices(Masalas) and dry fruits like cashews and almonds. Whereas the palette of Marwari food is a little dryreflecting the regional conditions.
Marwari Thali focuses more on ingredients like gram flour (Besan)and vegetables like Ker Sangri, Gavarfali, and more.
But, in both the culinary concepts, the common things are cookingtechniques, Spicy flavor and the use of ghee.
“The Great and Glorious Festivals”
Besides the culture and region, festivals can also let anyone recognize the distinctive feature ofboth the heritage. Whether it’s Diwali, Holi or Bhaidooj, all the festivals are significant in Rajasthan. Mewar festival, primarily known as ‘Gangaur,’ is celebrated with lots ofenthusiasm amongst women of the region.
And, considering the parts of Marwar, the festival which is widely celebrated by women of the region is “Teej.” which is celebrated in the monsoon season and determined by the cycle of the moon.
Despite these differences, a thing worth remembering is that both the regions and their cultures are blended so well that people always say, and forever say, that not Mewar or Marwar but Rajasthan is Enchanting!
A meeting was hosted by District Tourism Development Committee in the collectorate premises on Tuesday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss various steps that needed to be taken to improve the conditions of various tourist attractions in Udaipur. Tourism Industry is one of the biggest business sectors for the Udaipurites and needs reforms to strengthen its roots.
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