If you are a sucker for rainy mountainous landscapes but do not want heavy downpours to dampen your travel plans, July to September is the time to pack your bags to the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan. Among various tourist destinations in the region is the historic Haldighati Valley. Whether you are visiting Udaipur or Nathdwara, a long drive to the mountain pass on an overcast day ought to be on your bucket list. Famous for the Maharana Pratap Museum, Haldighati gives visitors a chance to walk through the pages of history textbooks of school. Besides, the site also delightfully surprises you with the finest export-quality rose products and lip-smacking sugarcane juice extracted in the most rustic way! Asrashaheen.in brings you a photo feature from the Valley.
The richness of a historical experience lies in the way the past manifests itself in the social, cultural, architectural, linguistic, regional and religious diversity of people and places. In the politically-charged times of today, history is attaining a volatile reputation. The very sense of appreciation for this diversity is increasingly getting lost in the unrewarding exercises of razing stories rather than narrating them. However, only when you are willing to embrace the past with open arms the way it is can you soak yourself into the undulating experiences of humanity.
India is a country where almost every other city, town or village holds priceless treasure troves waiting to be unraveled. Haldighati in Rajasthan is indeed one of them. Situated in the Aravalli Range, Haldighati is a mountain pass between Rakt Talai in Khamnore and Bagicha village. Located 45 – 50 km from Udaipur, it is one of the popular tourist destinations around the City of Lakes today. Its name ‘Haldighati’ is coined based on the turmeric-coloured yellow soil of the area (Haldi being the Hindi word for turmeric).
The anniversary of the Battle of Haldighati on June 18 marks a glorious chapter in the history that dates back to 1576. The battle fought 446 years ago between Maharana Pratap and the forces of Mughal Emperor Akbar, led by Man Singh I of Amer /Amber resonates in Haldighati Valley through the Mewari remnants even to this day.
The historical site of Haldighati gives the visitors a chance to go back in time, catch a glimpse of the legendary battleground and walk through those pages of history that you read in school textbooks. Asrashaheen.inbrings you a photo feature from Haldighati.
Make the Best of the Long Drive on a Cloudy Day
If you are a sucker for monsoon and are planning to pack your bags to Udaipur during July – September, when the weather is quite favorable, a long drive to Haldighati on an overcast day ought to be on your bucket list. And as they say, the real fun is the journey and not merely the destination! The countryside views on the way dotted with rustic beauty with the spells of rains in between will make you stop for selfies and photo ops galore.
Maharana Pratap Museum – the Centre of Attraction
Revered as a strong warrior, the Maharana’s heroic stories of valor have been passed on through generations in the region. Maharana Pratap Museum, also known as the Haldighati museum, is the major attraction of this historic location amongst tourists. It is a result of the singlehanded efforts of Mohanlal Shrimal, a school teacher who turned his dream into reality with his unrelenting passion. Shrimal was so fascinated by the tales of Maharana Pratap that he not only narrated them to his students but also decided to establish the museum to showcase the anecdotes of the courageous warrior. The museum displays paintings and a series of interactive dioramas recreating the tales from the life of the Maharana. Visitors are also invited to watch a short film about the battle before heading to the next chamber.
The Legendry Chetak & its Interesting Anecdotes
Chetak, the legendary horse which was bought to Mewar from the Kathiawar region and presented to Pratap by the traders of Gujarat, holds a mystical significance in the famous Battle of Haldighati. It is believed that the horse got injured in the war but stayed loyal to his master by traversing the valley on three legs, carrying him all along. The horse eventually died of the wounds but not before helping the Rana safely exit the battleground. Chetak Smarak or Chetak Samadhi, a memorial to the horse, is supposed to have been constructed at his death spot.
Roses Bloom in this Part of Rajasthan, Yes You Heard it Right!
The Fragrance of Rose Products will take you by surprise: Think of Rajasthan and the image that instantly pops up in your mind is vast stretches of deserts and parched lands. But did you know Haldighati produces one of the supreme varieties of roses called the Chaitri Roses. These bloom only during March-April, the Hindu month Chaitra, hence the name. The region produces the world’s finest range of Gulkand (Rose Jam), perfumes, Gulab jal (rose water), and a distinctive medicine for diabetes. In fact, the Gulab jal is extracted through a traditional process of distillation. You can handpick these therapeutic rose products for yourself or gift them to your loved ones.
Gulab jal in Haldighati is prepared through the traditional process of distillation.
From sculpted village scenes to bull-driven sugarcane juice extraction, for the city-dwellers who wish to catch a glimpse of the rustic India, you will find plenty of curated rustic curios at a glance at this one-stop museum.
Location: About 45 – 50 km from the City of Lakes, Udaipur and about 20 km from the A Gateway to the Lord, Nathdwara
Places to see around the museum
- Maharana Pratap Memorial: Balicha, Near Chetak Smarak, 4.5 km from Rakt Talai
- Chetak Smarak or Chetak Samadhi: walking distance from the actual battleground, about 1 km from the museum
- Shrinathji Temple: 20 km from Rakht-Talai
