Students Exploring Udaipur and its Heritage

Known as the “City of Lakes” and the “White City of Rajasthan,” Udaipur possesses beautiful forts and palaces as a heritage from the previous rulers of Mewar. This land of beauty and bravery has produced great rulers such as Rana Kumbha, Bappa Rawal, Rana Sanga and Maharana Pratap. These men are respected and worshipped even today for their commitment to their motherland. They also possessed great knowledge of politics and warfare. The most famous ruler among them is Maharana Pratap. The stories of Pratap’s bravery and valour travelled throughout the country, including the Mughals in Delhi. The guide told us that Maharana Pratap’s biggest enemy was Akbar, the ruler of the Mughal army. It is said that Maharana Pratap never followed the path of treachery.

Not just the ranas (kings), but the ranis (queens) also showed exceptional courage. One such example we came to know about is the act of mass self-immolation (jauhar). We learnt about Rani Padmini (Padmavati), the queen of Mewar who showed immense courage by jumping into the fire along with seventeen thousand other women to save them from the evil eye of the invaders. Another notable queen of Mewar was Meerabai, who was the daughter-in-law of Rana Sanga and a great devotee of Lord Krishna. She renounced all the luxuries to worship Krishna.

Every monument or tourist attraction in Udaipur is important to the city’s legacy. The beautiful City Palace in Udaipur is inhabited by the present king Rana Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar and his family. A part of the palace has been converted into a museum, which contains exhibits such as the armour of Maharana Pratap and Chetak, as well as weapons and utensils used by the royals.

Moti Magri is a mesmerising tourist attraction. The guide told us that this site was left unbuilt by Rana Udai Singh on the advice of a saint. There is a huge statue of Maharana Pratap at this site. This statue is said to be made of five different metals and alloys. The view of the Aravalli range and Fateh Sagar Lake make this site scenic.

In conclusion, Udaipur is a city with monuments, cultural heritage and stories of bravery. Both kings and queens displayed great courage, wisdom and bravery.

Writen By Avni, Manya, Pakhi, Praganya & Reet (Delhi Public School, R.N. Extenstion, Ghaziabad).

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