Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal

Puppet Show In The Museum

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir

Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum is one of the most famous museums of Udaipur, exhibiting the brilliant collection of folk articles of Rajasthan. This rare compilation varies from typical rural-dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. The museum is comfortably located in the building of Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal near Chetak Circle in Udaipur city.
Mewar region of Rajasthan is known for its rich art and culture. Actually, the local handicrafts and things of art of this region have always been cherished all over the world. With the intention to maintain this rich tradition, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal took the initiative, to start an institution, to encourage the local arts and crafts of Mewar. Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum is a part of their program that displays the best art and craft of Mewar.
As one enters the gateway of the museum, there is a hall displaying the theater objects. In the neighboring hall, you will trace a remarkable collection of tribal folk musical instruments and ornaments. Following this hall, you would reach to a puppet theater. You can actually watch a puppet show that occurs at regular intervals. On the opposite side of this theater, there are designs of henna handprints, decorated cow dung floors and terra-cotta devras (small shrines) that come from the village of Molela near Nathdwara.
The museum portrays the remarkable collection of over past 44 years, gathered by the Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal. To provide a summarized idea of the folk heritage of India, traditional attires, ornaments, miniature paintings and many other art objects are displayed here. Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum of Udaipur definitely requires a visit to closely observe the artistic and culturally rich region of Rajasthan.

Shilpgram Museum

Huts At Shilpgram

A Local Man Teaching Pottery To The Visitor

A Display At The Museum

Situated 3 kms west of Udaipur near the Havala village is the Centre's Shilpgram - the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex. Spread over an undulating terrain of 130 bighas (70 Acres) of land and surrounded by the Aravallies, the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex is conceived as a living enthnographic museum to depict the lifestyles of the folk and tribal people of the West Zone. Within this complex, huts of the member states are constructed incorporating traditional architectural features of different geographical and ethnic groups residing within the West Zone of India comprising of five Federal States.
One of the important objectives of Shilpgram is in the sphere of increasing awareness and knowledge of rural life and crafts, specifically, for the younger generation. Special emphasis is laid on workshops for children on arts, crafts, theatre and music.
The Rural Arts and Crafts Complex - Shilpgram - would also provide an opportunity to rural and urban artists to come together and interact through the process of camps and workshops. It is hoped that through intimate observationof different styles and experiences, urban and rural artists would learn from one another and enrich their skills and art forms. The Centre promotes contemporary urban ceramists, potters, designers, visual artists etc. to work with their traditional counterparts in creating works of everyday art which would then be put up for exhibition and sale for visitors.
The Center developed two Museums in the Shilpgram where simple objects of day-to-day use, that represent the sense of wonder and aesthetics in rural and tribal life are put on display. In addition, a Crafts Bazar in the fashion of a traditional 'haat' was made where visitors could buy traditional crafts from the Zone. Craftsman were invited periodically to demonstrate their skills and sell the crafts to the visitors at the Shilpgram.
In order to ensure that a visit to Rural Arts and Crafts Complex - Shilpgram - becomes an educative and enriching experience, the hut from Sam (Marwar) is planned as the Activity and Documentation Section where workshops, seminarsetc.can be organised. Similarly the cluster of Banni and Bhujodi huts from Gujarat would comprise of Guest Room facilities for the visiting master craftsmen, researchers and scholars. A Goan mainstream hut and Mewar potters hut can accommodate children and students.

Ahar Museum

Located about 2 kms east of Udaipur is an impressive cluster of cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar. There are about nineteen cenotaphs of Maharanas cremated there.
The most striking cenotaph is that Maharana Amar Singh, who reigned from 1597 to 1620. Nearby is also Ahar Museum, where on display is limited but very rare earthen pottery. Some sculptures and other archaeological finds. Some pieces date back to 1700 BC and a tenth century metal figure of Buddha is a special attraction.

Vintage Collection Of Classic Car

The collection within the grounds of the Garden Hotel comprises a variety of classic and interestingly rare transportation vehicles; some stately and vintage like Cadillac, Chevrolate, Morris etc., while the others are sleek and fast.
The Maharanas of Udaipur once possessed and used these regal splendours of automobiles as their luxuries but most of the other models are gradually being added to the collection ,since it provides a unique aristocratic safari for the exclusive guests.

About The Festivals

Rajasthan is famous for its colorful festivals and vibrant fairs. Being part of Rajasthan, the city of Udaipur celebrates all the fairs and festivals with equal fervor. Each and every city of Rajasthan observes one or the otherfestival that is particularly associated with that city. The important fairs and festivals that are closely associated with Udaipur are Mewar Festival and the Shilpgram Fair. If you want to catch the vigor of these desert people, catch them during their famous fairs and festivals. This would help you to imbibe how charming these people are.
A glimpse of their celebrations would make you dance at the tunes of their music. Mewar Festival is celebrated consequently with the celebrations of Gangaur festival in Jaipur. The festival has its own religious importance and is celebrated with enthusiasm in Udaipur. Talking about Shilpgram Fair, it is another fair that is organized to promote art and crafts of Rajasthan. If you want to be a part of these festivals, plan your trip during the gala time of Udaipur. Once seen, these fairs and festivals would become an unforgettable part of your memories.

Mewar Festival

Mewar festival is observed to welcome the arrival of spring season with all zest and dedication in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The spirit of the festival can be seen throughout the state of Rajasthan, since Udaipur has been always the governing place of the Mewar rulers, you will find its exact flavor in the city of Udaipur. Mewar Festival of Udaipur is a major festival of Rajasthan and is famous all over India for its liveliness.
During the days of festival, the whole city of Udaipur gets drenched in colors of festivity. Local markets and shops beautify their frontage with bright lights and decorations. Coinciding with the Gangaur festival, Mewar festival is equally significant for the womenfolk of Rajasthan. The festival is especially meant for women and offers the best time when they dress in their finest clothes and join the celebrations of the fest.
To conduct the ceremony, women assemble to dress the images of Isar (Lord Shiva) and Gangaur (Goddess Parvati). After dressing the idols, they carry them in a traditional procession passing through different parts of the city. In the last, the procession makes its move towards the Gangaur Ghat at Pichola Lake. At this point, the images are transported into special boats and immersed in the deep waters of the lake.
When this religious part gets over, people engage into various dances, songs and other cultural events revealing the culture of Rajasthan. Mewar festival is concluded with a glittering show of fireworks. Mewar festival spreads a feel of gusto and fervor all over Rajasthan and people enjoy this festival to its full. This bright and colorful festival attracts tourists from all over to join its charming ceremony of tradition.

Shilpgram Mela

Shilpgram Mela is held annually in the west of the city of Udaipur. Shilpgram Crafts Fair is organized to promote art and craft of Rajasthan. Since, Rajasthan has always been famous for its handicrafts and artwork; this fair is a perfect destination to try out the hand woven clothes, embroideries, mirror works and handicrafts. The hand woven clothes and camel leather items grab the major attention of visitors in this fair.
Shilpgram Crafts Mela aids in encouraging the urban potters, visual artists and designers too. If you are interested in learning the art and craft of Rajasthan, you can join the workshops that are structured to demonstrate the method. The art expertise of artists in Rajasthan acquires an imperative position in the cultural field of Rajasthan. Here, one can have a glimpse of the life style of weavers and local artists that is portrayed through pictures in the stalls. This is actually done to make people aware about the condition of artists.
In the Shilpgram fair, a program is organized by the name of Shilpdarshan. This program is arranged to reveal the skills of traditional performing artists and sell their goods. While strolling in the fair, you will also come across the Craft Bazaar where numerous works are displayed for sale. Here, you can get the best deals of Rajasthani handicrafts. You can also buy things for your relatives and friends as souvenirs.
The fair was conceived in the mind with an idea to encourage the cottage industry of Rajasthan. Being a desert land,Rajasthan is deprived of grown agriculture and tourism has been the main source of its income. Keeping this money-making part aside, Rajasthan Government wants to make this rustic art famous on a global level. Through this fair, the local artists get a stage to show their creations not just in front of domestic but the international tourists as well.
Winter season is considered as the best time to visit Udaipur and this fair is arranged with the due regard to that point. This fair continues for ten days in the months of November / December. During this season, Udaipur receives maximum number of tourists and people enjoy this fair to its most exploring the craft of Rajasthan.
While you would shop and explore handicrafts, various musicians and dancers will entertain you with their respective arts. Shilpgram Crafts Mela is certainly a sincere effort to give recognition to the local arts of remote villages of Rajasthan. Your visit to this fair would definitely allure you towards the ethnic rural arts and crafts.

Udaipur Solar Observatory

Integrated Magnetograph

Udaipur Solar Observatory is considered as the best solar observing site in Asia. Situated on an island in the Fateh Sagar Lake, Solar Observatory of Udaipur is among the few in the world that are sited on an island. This observatory was designed as per the model of Solar Observatory at Big Bear Lake in Southern California. In 1975, Udaipur Solar Observatory was established by Dr. Arvind Bhatnagar under the Vedhashala Trust of Ahmedabad. The organization is basically affianced in Astrological activities. However, the observatory aspires to do research in modern science.
Udaipur Solar Observatory has become the perfect center to develop solar physics in India. Being surrounded by water, the island provides a favorable atmosphere for solar observations. As air turbulence is lesser on island then ground, sharp images of the sun can be acquired. Apart from this, other advantage of this observatory is that it is located in Rajasthan, which observes maximum number of cloudless days. All these factors add to quality of extracted images of the Sun.
The observatory comprises a range of telescopes that provide excellent quality of solar observations. The observatory is adding a new instrument by the name of 'Solar Vector Magnetograph' to its store-house. This instrument will play an important role in the future research program by determining the magnetic field of the active regions. It has been more than twenty-five years, since USO was established. The observatory has seen an entire solar cycle in the twenty-two years of its subsistence. Now, it is witnessing the next solar cycle.
The huge longitudinal gap between Australia and Spain is plugged by USO. Udaipur Solar Observatory also provides a connection for regular solar coverage in numerous International collaborative programs including GONG (Global Oscillations Network Group). Since 1981, the observatory has been under the control of the Physical Research Laboratory (Ahmedabad) for the Department of Space, Government of India.
Under GONG project, USO was numbered among the six observatories of the world that watch the sun for 24 hours. National Science Foundation of the United States that intends to study oscillations in the solar atmosphere has sponsored this project of GONG. Hence, USO is a site of national and international importance. If you are planning to visit this observatory, you have to take a boat ride to reach the observatory.

Haldighati

Haldighati is an important historical site in the context of Rajasthan, India. Actually, Haldighati is a mountain pass in the Aravalli range connecting districts of Rajsamand and Pali in Rajasthan. The place is at a comfortable distance of 40 kms from the city of Udaipur. The term Haldighati has been derived from the yellow colored soil of the place that gives a sense of turmeric (in Hindi, turmeric is called as 'Haldi' and valley is known as' Ghati').
If you are interested in historic battles and heroic deeds of the courageous soldiers, then Haldighati is the perfect place to visit. Haldighati is a significant historical site that has observed the battle of 1576. The battle of Haldighati was a huge combat between Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar and Raja Man Singh of Amber. This ferocious battle created amount of blood shed of the heroic soldiers and the red turned color of sand still speaks of those daring people.
Haldighati extends as a thrilling tourist attraction that flares the merciless battlefield. A single thought of those courageous soldiers standing on the exact lands where they fought, send chills down one's spine. Haldi Ghati captures major attention because the terra firma made the battlefield to the legend, Maharana Rana Pratap and his loyal horse, Chetak. The place gives a nostalgic feeling as this was the same place where Chetak, the heroic mount of Rana Pratap, breathed his last after leaving his master to a safe place.
At a distance of around 4 kms from the battlefield, a cenotaph (chattri) is built in pure white marble. This cenotaph is dedicated to the gallant horse Chetak as a sign of respect and admiration. The bloody battle of Haldighati has been captured an inescapable place in the History of India. The battle has been known since ages in murals and ballads. In the words of Col. James Todd (a British author), Haldighati has been referred as 'Thermopile of Mewar'.
Close to this place, you can visit Balicha village that is famous for its terracotta crafts. Badshahi Bagh is another place which is renowned for 'Chaitri-Gulab'. Here you can find original rose water and 'Gulkand' (Jam made from Rose petals) that has immense medicinal value and really tastes good. Thus, Haldighati is a place of interest for the people who value history and respect the heroes of India for their priceless efforts.

Ghanerao Castle

Ghanerao Castle is a beautiful castle that cherishes the dream of fairyland on the Earth. The Royal Castle is located in Ghanerao, a small town located at a distance of 140 kms from the city of Udaipur. Ghanerao Castle offers a magical insight to the lavish lifestyle of the erstwhile Royalty. Built in 1606, Ghanerao Castle was raised by Gopal Das Rathore, a gallant Rajput soldier of Mewar.
The Castle is built in a typical Rajput style of architecture. The royal Castle of Ghanerao still boasts of numerous sandstone havelis and marble citadels. The walls of this dreamlike castle are embellished with several miniature paintings. The picturesque beauty of this castle is enhanced by carved lattice work and huge chandeliers. The boundary walls of this castle have marks of Cannon ball strikes, which depicts the unfavorable times of the former era.
In the present date, Ghanerao Castle has been converted into a heritage hotel. The hotel offers a perfect blend of Rajasthani tradition and touch of contemporary times. The hotel provides world-class amenities and serves immaculate hospitality to its guests. Various musical performances, in the beautiful pavilion of the central court, make the highlight of this castle.
Bring located in a remote area, the place is perfect destination to spend some moments in solitude. In the close vicinity of Castle, there are engraved cenotaphs of past rulers and warriors. If you are touring Udaipur, don't forget to visit this beautiful castle of bygone era that is truly worth visiting.

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sancutary

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a major attraction for the tourists coming to Udaipur. This Sanctuary falls under the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan. Kumbhalgarh Park lies at a distance of 65 kms from Udaipur on Udaipur - Pali - Jodhpur road. If you are a wild-life lover, this is a perfect place for you to visit. Sprawled in an area of 578 sq km, Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary encircles the massive fort of Kumbhalgarh. This wildlife park has imbibed its name from the same fort.
Broadening across the Aravalli Range, Kumbhalgarh sanctuary covers parts of Rajsamand, Udaipur and Pali districts. The sanctuary makes home to many endangered species of wild-life. The sanctuary provides natural abode to many creatures like Wolf, Leopards, Sloth bear, Hyena, jackal, Jungle cat, Sambhar, Nilgai, Chausingha (the four horned antelope), Chinkara and Hare. In fact, Kumbhalgarh is the only sanctuary of Rajasthan, where you can trace wolf engaged in its activities.
This sanctuary inhabits more than forty wolves in number. In the summers, one can easily find pack of wolves strolling around water sources in the sanctuary. If you find your interest in birds, then here you can see a nice variety of birds too. In the park, you can see Grey Jungle Fowl, which is usually inhibited. Peacocks and Doves also gain attention by their own charm. Apart from this, birds like Red Spur Owls, Parakeets, Golden Oriole, Bulbul, Dove, Grey Pigeons and White Breasted Kingfisher are traceable near the water holes.
Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary also enjoys a variety of flora including many trees and plants having herbal qualities. You can also take a safari trip to enjoy the natural habitat of these birds and animals. Every year, Kumbhalgarh draws many a tourists towards itself for its natural beauty. Moreover, Kumbhalgarh is easily accessible from the city of Udaipur. You can take the services of regular buses that start from Udaipur, if you are not interested for a bus ride, you can also hire private taxis to visit this sanctuary.

Jain Temple Dedicated To Tirthankara Rishabhji-Adinath

The Beautifully Carved Ceiling Of The Ranakpur Temple

The Pillars Of The Ranakpur Temple

Ranakpur

Beautiful sculptured Jain temples mark the glory of this renowned place. Marked as one of the five holy places for the Jain community, these were created in the 15 the century during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed withina wall. The central Chaumukha [four faced temple] is dedicated to Adinathji the temple is an astounding creation with 29 halls and 1,444 pillars all distinctly carved and no two being alike is a amazing evidence of the genius sense of architecture that enhances the charm of the place. Every temple has this conceivable surface carved with equal delicacy.
The ambience of Ranakpur is mainly highlighted by the location and the almost divine architecture, giving the same hue as its counter part - the great Dilwara Temple's. in Mt-Abu. Facing the main temple are the unique temples -Parasvanath - Neminath with exquisite figures carving similar to that Khujaraho sculptures. Another temple worth visiting is the nearby 'Sun Temple' dedicated to the 'Sun God' (Surya-the master of all the planets and the providerof light to the whole universe) adorned with polygonal wall, richly embellished with the carvings of warriors, horses and solar (Nakshatras, grahs') deities riding splendid 'chariots' the vehicle of the 'Sun God'- which accordingly to the Hindu Mythology is the God of prosperity and a shining destiny in this world. Many throng this shrine for these blessings. Overall Ranakpur is known as ' The tranquil pilgrimage town'. For the buffs a ride to the outskirts like ' Sadari' - 'Desuri'- 'Ghanerao'- 'Narhai', serves the purpose of their satisfaction.

Ahar

Ahar is a small town in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The place is famous for being the cremation ground of the rulers of Mewar. Today, Ahar is also renowned as an archeological site that offers interesting facts to archaeologists and research scholars. However, we were talking about the tourist attraction of Ahar, coming to the point; Ahar is famous for the cenotaphs of the Royal rulers and an archeological museum. Ahar is located at a comfortable distance of 3 kms from the city of Udaipur. You can take regular buses from the city or can reach Ahar by hiring private taxis.

Cenotaphs

Ahar Cenotaphs still boast the courage and valor of the rulers of Mewar. People visit this place to pay homage to the great rulers. Ahar has not less than 19 cenotaphs of the kings, who were cremated here. These memorial monuments have striking columns raised on big platforms sheltered by of arched roofs. The architraves of the roofs are embellished with ornamentations that will remind you of the 15th century temples. On the single upright stone of these architraves, you will find an image of Lord Shiva and a figure representing Maharana with his 'Satis' (his wives, who immolated in his cremation flames).

The cenotaph which is dedicated to Maharana Amar Singh is most arresting. The other cenotaphs include cenotaph dedicated to Maharana Sangram Singh, Swaroop Singh, Shambhu Singh, Fateh Singh, Bhupal Singh, Bhagwat Singh Mewar and Sajjan Singh. These cenotaphs are made out of marble and possess the finest carvings. The cenotaph of Maharaha Sangram Singh is another attraction that has fifty-six pillars in its porch. It possess octagonal dome in its centre with the support of eight small pillars. In 1734, Maharana Sangram Singh was cremated here with his twenty-one wives.
Many a times, the charm of this place has been presented in the movies of Hollywood. In the complex, you can trace some small and intricate tombs of ancient times. These remnants support the fact that Ahar has been crucial part of bygone era. In the late 1990's, Arvind Singh Mewar took the initiative to reinstate the cenotaphs of his ancestors.

Nagda

The Tenth Century Nagda Temple

Erotic Stone Carving At The Nagda Temple

Nagda is a small town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. In the 6th century, Nagda was found by Nagaditya, the fourth Mewar King. Initially it was known as Nagahrida and served as the capital of Mewar. Before long, the place came under the province of Sisodias. Nagda is located besides Bagela Lake at a distance of 23 kms in the north-west of Udaipur on the way to Nathdwara. Nagda comprises many small and big temples, but the main attraction is gained by its 'Sas-Bahu' temple.
Nagda is actually famous for this unusual temple that dates back to the 10th century. The term 'Sas-Bahu' suggests 'Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law' respectively. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and it is made in two structures, one by a mother-in-law and another, by a daughter-in-law. The main entrance to the temples is made through a door that has carved lintels and a multi-lobed arch in its middle. Both the structures are laid out on a same plan having an altar, a mandapa (columned prayer hall) with projections and a porch.
The temple of Sas is comparatively larger than that of the Bahu. The 'Bahu' temple has an octagonal ceiling, which is adorned with beautifully carved eight intricate female figures. The 'Sas' temple has a torana (archway) in its front and it is believed that the image of the Lord Vishnu was swung from the torana along with hymns in the praise of lord on ceremonial occasions. Both the temples are constructed on a common platform facing towards the east direction. The temple is accredited for having wonderful carvings.
These delicate carvings are acknowledged to be imbibed from the incidents of 'Ramayana' (the Indian epic). The walls of the shrine are usually plain and not engrossed with much work, but the projection is simply mind blowing with itsexquisite sculptures. The sculptures are made in two steps, one encircling the other. On the first step, images of Lord Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu are carved and on the other, there are images of Rama, Balarama and Parashurama.

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