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.
Internet shutdowns have become a weekend affair for all the Udaipurites as every now and then it takes place in the city and the reason is the same ‘To stop students from cheating in the government exams’. It doesn’t just frustrates the citizens but affects several aspects in the city including IT companies, digital platforms, online banking, online booking, education sectors, the stock market, and the list is endless.
Well, if you are the one who thinks the same, then it’s a good news for you. According to a letter issued by the Rajasthan Government, it has been clearly instructed to the authorities of the city that they cannot suspend internet services of the district to prevent cheating at the Government exams getting conducted in the city.
Now, all the citizens can heave a sigh of relief for those internet-less days are gone now. At the end of the day, our authorities have finally taken a smart decision for our smart city and it won’t face any internet shutdowns now, not for a government exam at least.
If you have any feedback regarding the article or have an interesting story to share with us then write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.
The most happening festival of Rajasthan – Udaipur Light Festival 2018 is around the corner and the adrenaline rush of every Udaipurite is going to pump up real soon. But at such festivals, a little carelessness of ours makes our experience unpleasant. So before heading towards the world of amazement, check out the list we have prepared about the things you should keep in mind before going to ULF 2018.
Collect your passes and wristbands beforehand
For the entry to ULF 2018, you have to first buy the passes which will let you redeem the wristbands. The wristband is necessary for you to enter the ULF ground. Now, make sure that you collect your passes and wristbands before the event so that you don’t have to stand in long queues also the chances to miss any of the exciting activities inside reduces.
Style like you own it
Styling for an event like ULF 2018 is a very confusing as well as an important task as there are going to be a lot of people you’ll meet in the festival and you won’t want to leave a bad impression on any of the people around you, right? So it is important to select the right outfit for yourself which will not just look good on you but will also give you all the comfort that you need so that when you groove your feet on the music, you don’t have to manage your outfit repeatedly.
Don’t forget to grab a quick bite in between activities
We know the activities inside the event are too happening but make sure you grab a quick bite in between them. There will be a lot of stalls placed on the venue from where you can choose whatever you want to have. Make sure to remain hydrated throughout. You wouldn’t want to faint in the middle of the event.
Make new friends
At festivals like such, hordes of people throng from different cities. Don’t be a sourpuss and make sure that you make a lot of new friends. Be the social butterfly and I bet you won’t only have the best time of your life but you would also learn innumerable things from people with different mindsets.
Don’t miss the adventure activities
Source: Wonderfly games
While everyone is excited about the musical performances, trust me, the adventurous activities before them are as happening as ever. These interactive games and adventurous sports will give you a perfect opportunity to connect to different people while having fun. And who knows who might end up winning a game or two.
What to carry
There are several things that you should carry to the event which will make your event smooth and reduce any hindrance.
Selfie stick – Trust me, you’re going to capture a lot of pictures with a lot of people. A selfie stick will come in handy at such moments and will give you a bunch of stunning pictures.
Face mist – Sweat is very natural with a huge crowd dancing on the beats of amazing artists. A face mist will keep you going and refreshed for the rest of the event.
A water bottle – It is important to stay hydrated and at the same time it is not possible to run from one corner to another to drink water during a concert, so keep a water bottle with you to not get tired and have the most out of ULF 2018.
Some cash to go – keep a little cash with you in case you want to eat something or buy something from the stalls around.
Keep yourself updated
Keep yourself updated about the happenings of the festival you are going to attend. Thus, you can follow the official page of Udaipur light festival on Instagram and Facebook.
Mewar Helicopter Company will soon start a helicopter service from Udaipur to Ahmedabad. The helicopter will have a space of 4 people to sit comfortably and the ride from Udaipur to Ahmedabad will have a duration of one and a half hours. The initial to and fro charges for the same would be 1.5 Lacs exclusive of GST.
Source: TripAdvisor
For the same, a helipad will be constructed near Pratap Gaurav Kendra on Tiger Hills. It will be started by UIT and it has already been leased by Mewar Helicopter service for 10 years. The helipad has a parking space of 2 helicopters and it will also be used for landing of the government choppers. It will be inaugurated on 15th November and from then on the services will start regularly.
Mewar Helicopter service is currently popular for letting tourists as well as locals to explore the entire city of Udaipur via air and give them an aerial view of the city. And now people wanting to have a ride of the helicopter won’t have to go to the airport.
In this way, the helicopter services will provide a direct connectivity of Udaipur to Ahmedabad via air which has been lacking right now. You can book your ride from www.mhsrides.com.
If you have a feedback or a story you want to share with us, write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.
First time to ULF 2018? Don’t worry, we have got everything covered for you. Below is a complete guide for you to attend Rajasthan’s biggest festival – Udaipur Light Festival 2018.
How to reach ULF 2018?
The festival is taking place in the City of Lakes – Udaipur. If you are a tourist, here are the ways you can reach the city.
By air:
The nearest airport is the Udaipur Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR)
The distance of the venue from the airport – 27 km
The direct flight is available to Udaipur from the following cities – Mumbai, Jaipur, , Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
For more information about Maharana Pratap Airport, click here.
By Train:
The nearest railway station is the Udaipur City Railway station.
The distance of the venue from the Railway station – 8 km.
Major trains arriving in Udaipur –
Ananya Express (12315/12316): Runs between Kolkata and Udaipur
Bandra – Udaipur Superfast Express (22901/22902): Runs between Mumbai to Udaipur
Udaipur City Jaipur Intercity Express (12991/12992): Runs between Jaipur and Udaipur
Chetak Express (12982/12981): Runs between Delhi to Udaipur
Udaipur Ahmedabad MG Fast Passenger (52927/52928): Runs between Ahmedabad and Udaipur
Udaipur City – Delhi Sarai Rohilla Rajasthan Humsafar Express (22985/22986): Runs between Delhi and Udaipur
Nizamuddin Express (12415): Runs between Udaipur and Delhi
By road:
Volvo and comfort buses are available to Udaipur from all the major cities.
Where to stay in Udaipur?
Want to stay in Udaipur in a certain budget? Click here to know about the hostels and dorms in the city.
Want to wake up in the morning with a stunning Lake view? Click here to know about the Budget Hotels in Udaipur with a Lake View.
Want to experience the royalty of the city of Lakes? Click here to know about the best hotels and resorts in Udaipur.
Step 2 – You will receive a code on your phone number via text message and an E-mail. Carry your ID proof at the venue.
Step 3 – Reach the venue of ULF 2018 i.e. Shouryagarh Resort and Spa. Show your code and your ID proof on the entry. On showing that you’ll receive a wristband which will let you go further.
Step 4 – Create a bunch of unforgettable memories at Rajasthan’s biggest festival, Udaipur Light Festival 2018.
Venue of ULF 2018
Want to explore Udaipur after enjoying ULF 2018? Click here.
If you have any more queries regarding the same, write to us in the comment section below or mail me directly at juhee@udaipurblog.com.
Some of us are lucky enough to chase our dreams and achieve our goals, whereas there are some with just as much talent, but not as privileged in terms of resources. Maybe, that’s what struck the mind of this young man from Udaipur when he decided to make the largest badminton academy in Rajasthan.
Vikramaditya Chaufla has been playing badminton since he was 11 years old. What started as a means to keep himself engaged during the evenings turned into his passion and this is what took him on a journey that is full of achievements and accolades. From being the winner of the West Zone Inter-University tournament in Surat to representing India in the World University Championship in S.Korea, Vikram is one of the only two players (With Ravi Raj Sharma) in the history of Rajasthan to achieve this feat (a record which still stands).
During this journey of his’, he was even offered a central government job but he ditched that only to come back to his own city to build a badminton academy that will specially focus on underprivileged children.
The construction of the court has already started and will be finished by February 2019. The entire project of the court is self-funded and built with the initial help of I.E.V.O. Once the academy is up and running, the training will be provided by Vikram himself and he would be accompanied by international coaches and senior players who have represented the country. Apart from a select lot of underprivileged children, who would be completely funded by Vikram and his team, other people who are interested in the sport would also be welcomed.
Vikram has a noble vision to develop a private institute comprising of a holistic sports infrastructure and supported by the best of coaches in the field as he says that are umpteen number of great players, not just in the city but also in the rural areas who are just in need of a proper sports infrastructure and the right training.
If you have any such story which you want to share with us, write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.
After the famous Indian singer Sona Mohapatra along with several other women accused Kailash Kher of sexual harassment under the #Metoo movement, Udaipur Municipal Corporation has decided to cancel the Kailash Kher night on 30th October in the Diwali Dussehra Mela. UMC further adds up that they want to keep the celebration out of the controversy and the singer is now replaced with another famous playback singer Darshan Rawal.
Earlier, Kailash Kher along with famous comedian Raju Shrivastava was planned to be the part of this Diwali Dussehra fair at townhall. But due to Kailash Kher being the center of several sexual allegations, his show has been canceled in the fair.
Sona Mohapatra, who accused Kailash Kher to have harassed her sexually, tweeted that “I met Kailash for coffee in Prithvi Café to discuss a forthcoming concert where both our bands were playing & after the usual, a hand on my thigh with lines likes, your so beautiful, feel so good that a ‘musician got you’ (Ram) not an actor. I left not soon after”.
If you liked the article or have anything to share with us, write to me at Juhee@udaipurblog.com.
If you love unique festivals, then Udaipur Light Festival needs no introduction. ULF (Udaipur Light Festival), previously known as Udaipur Lantern Festival, is the most loved and celebrated festival of entire Rajasthan. It is a unique concept by UdaipurBlog which incepted 6 years back in the form of Diwali celebration at one place. What started as a small festival, has now turned into a mega light and music festival with time. Udaipur makes an incredible host city and the enthusiasm skyrockets every year.
In case you’re still confused about whether to attend the festival or not, we’ll give you reasons that will make you jump from your seats and book the tickets right away.
A Mind Blasting Line-Up
From authentic traditional singer Kutle Khan to one of the most soulful Punjabi singers, B Praak and Head spinning DJ’s like DJ Shameless Mani & Shanaya, you would be absolutely mesmerized with a number of artists from different genres. And when there are so many exciting artists at a single place, nobody would want to miss it, right? You will find more than you could ask for. After all, we have got everything covered for you.
Meeting People Is Always Fun
This mega festival started with an idea of uniting people to celebrate the grand festival of Diwali and it hasn’t changed even a bit today. ULF gives you an opportunity to call all your long lost friends and spend a spirited evening together. And having said that, you might bump into someone you haven’t met in ages. Too many surprises, we tell you!
Sometimes, you get to meet the artists too
With a plethora of artists coming to perform in the city, who knows you might get a chance to actually meet one of the artists. And after all, a little bit of show off on your Instagram profile won’t hurt, right?
Fun, Food, Music and Memories all at once
There won’t be a single second for you to get bored as there are so many things to dig your hands into. The entire place would be filled with energy all around which guarantees you a quality time. No time to get bored because YOLO!
Electrifying visuals that will spin your mind
A concert doesn’t look like one until there are some head-spinning visuals along with the groovy music. Creativity is paramount and surely ULF stands out from the rest. And trust me, Udaipur Light Festival won’t disappoint you in this matter. The mind bobbling visuals and the gigantic and breathtaking stage will set you on fire. Now, how can you afford to miss it?
Adventurous games and activities
Source: Wonderfly games
If you are not one of those music and dance people, we have got a reason for you too. There will be numerous games and activities which will just keep you going. And I’m sure it will help you socialize a bit too. So, get your party props on to have the most rocking evening of your life.
For some chic selfies and groupfies
Who doesn’t like getting clicked? And on the top of that ULF has got some amazing frames and props that will make your pictures stand out on your social networking sites. Let’s say goodbye to those old school pictures, shall we?
#CozitsLIT
ULF 2018’s theme is light and for the same reason whatever you bat your eyes on, it’s going to be absolutely LIT, like literally. Need I say more?
What’s in it for the tourists?
Creating a distinctive Sunday for people is what ULF thrives for. And Udaipur Light Festival is much more than just the music. The massive lineup is enough for people to just go to the festival. Nestled in the heart of Udaipur, the tourists always enjoy something which surprises them. We believe that this festival is an unbelievable excuse for anyone to come to the city of lakes. As the long list of holidays comes hand in hand with Diwali, it’s the perfect period to visit Udaipur and enjoy the city to the fullest after ULF.
If you’re still not convinced enough, have a look at the video below and I’m sure you’ll change your mind.
Enough has been said, it’s time to Rock and Roll!! See you there at Shouryagarh Resort and Spa on 4th November 2018.
Maharana Pratap had 11 wives from which Maharani Ajabde Punwar was his favorite. With those 11 wives, he had 17 sons and 5 daughters. (Though various historical records vary the number of wives and daughters)
He stood at a magnificent height of 7 feet and 5 inches.
Source: Wikipedia
At the battlefield, he used to carry a weight of around 360 kg which included a spear weighing 80 kg, two swords weighing 208 kg and his armor was around 72 kg heavy. His own weight was more than 110 kg.
Source: bobhata
He was the eldest son of Maharana Udai Singh amongst his other 32 children. Also his father – Maharana Udai Singh was the founder of Udaipur.
Rani Dheer Bai, the stepmother of Maharana Pratap initially wanted Kunwar Jagmal Singh to become the king of Mewar after Udai Singh was defeated by Mughal emperor Akbar. But after a long debate and conflict the court found Kunwar Jagmal to be unfit for the position and so Maharana Pratap was made the ruler.
Kunwar Jagmal Singh later served the Mughal emperor Akbar along with his two brothers Shakti Singh and Sagar Singh.
It is been said that in the battle of Haldighati, Maharana Pratap sliced one of the Mughal opponent Behlol Khan into two along with his horse into two.
Source: Quora
During a battle, Jhala Maan who had a close resemblance to Maharana Pratap wore the crown of Maharana Pratap and the Mughals attacked Jhala Maan misunderstanding him to be Maharana Pratap and in that battle, Jhala Maan was killed. Jhala Maan was the one himself who advised Pratap to leave the battlefield.
It was Akbar’s dream to capture Maharana Pratap but he couldn’t succeed in his lifetime. Even after all the Rajput dynasties which included Gogunda, and Bundi had surrendered to Akbar, Pratap never bowed to Akbar.
It was his dream to free Chittor and so he made a pledge that he would eat in a leaf plate and sleep on a bed of straws until he doesn’t win Chittor back. Even today some Rajputs place a leaf under their plate and straw under their bed in the honor of the legendary Maharana Pratap.
Source: Tavamithram
When he was struggling in the jungle, he had nothing to eat and he had rotis made from grass and one time the cat stole even the grass roti made for his daughter. Then he thought to surrender in front of Akbar and wrote a letter to him regarding the same. Akbar was very happy reading the letter and gave it to the Prithviraj who was the Rajput poet and warrior. In a poetic way, he said in his letter to Pratap to not quit or accept defeat from Akbar.
We all know about Chetak, the loyal horse of Maharana Pratap who sacrificed his life while saving his master after rescuing from the battle. But Maharana Pratap owned an elephant too who is said to have crushed the Mughal army in a battle. After Ramprasad, the elephant killed two war elephants, Akbar ordered his force to capture Ramprasad at any cost and for the same 7 war elephants were sent to catch Ramprasad. But its loyalty always belonged to his master, Maharana Pratap and so he didn’t eat anything nor drank any water and on the 18th day after his imprisonment, he died.
Source: Quora
Once Kunwar Amar Singh launched an attack on the camp of Abdur Rahim Khankhana who was the general of the Mughal army and took away his wives and women as trophy hostages. When Pratap came to know about his deed, he rebuked him and ordered to release all the women. Abdur was very thankful of the act of Maharana and pledged not to raise a single weapon against Mewar from then onwards. Abdur Rahim Khankhana is none other than the Rahim whose dohe and poems we have been reciting since our childhood.
Source: Free Press Journal
He survived n number of battles in his lifetime but died of an injury from the hunting accident while tightening the string of a bow with an arrow. The news of Maharana’s death made even Akbar cry.
Source: Zee News
Do you have any feedback for the article or an interesting story you want to share with us, then write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.
Dussehra is a festival which marks the victory of good over evil. There are several stories which are believed to be behind the existence of the festival all around the world. The most popular being the one of Lord Rama and Ravana. Hindu epic Ramayana says that Lord Rama who is the eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu killed the ten-headed Ravana in the Sat Yuga as he had abducted Lord Rama’s wife Sita.
But did you know that the celebration of Dussehra in Udaipur gives out one more message to the people? It is the message of communal harmony and brotherhood.
Dussehra is being celebrated in the city from last 69 years. This year’s Dussehra is going to be the 70th celebration.
Who organizes the Dussehra event in Udaipur?
In the year 1947, when the country was divided into two India and Pakistan, mass migration took place in the country. During this time, many people migrated to Udaipur fromSindh, Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan. Most of these people belonged to the Sindhi community. The people from Balochistan then gathered and formed a committee known as Shree Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti. From then on, the committee has been responsible for the entire event.
Dussehra celebration in Udaipur started as a small scale event amongst the committee members. Gurumukh Kastoori, Coordinator of Shri Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti, says “The event was celebrated in Saletiya ground initially which is currently popular by the name ‘Town Hall’. With very few resources, the things used in the event were carried in mere sacks. There were a handful of people who used to walk to the venue from far off places to attend the event. With time many things changed.”
He further says “What started with a small event with 300 people turned out to be a major festive event in the city. Today around 30,000 people can be witnessed in the ground. These people include locals as well as people coming from the nearby villages.”
Who are the makers of the Effigies (Putle)
Initially, the people from the committee itself used to make the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna. But from last 15-20 years, artisans from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh are called to make the Effigies. The interesting thing is all these artisans are Muslim. At moments like such, the sole purpose of a festival is fulfilled which is unity and harmony. When people from different community combine together to make a festive event successful.
Source: Patrika
It takes a period of 15-20 days for them to finish the making of these effigies. At the end of all this, Ravana’s effigy stands at a height of 70 ft. and that of the Kumbhakarana and Meghnad is 65 ft.
Several elements are used to make these effigies such as Bamboos, Clothes, rope, pipes and things like color, jewelry, etc. are used for the decoration purpose.
Source: UdaipurTimes
The event begins from a rally starting from Shree Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti at Shaktinagar and ends at Gandhi Ground, Chetak Circle. It consists of elephants, camels beautifully decorated with jhaankis depicting scenes of Ramayana. After all the usual ceremonial proceedings, Lanka Dahan is done by Hanuman followed by Laxman who burns Meghnad and Kumbhakarna and Lord Rama burning the effigy of Ravana. The event ends with magnificent fireworks and the smiling faces of people.
Source: Patrika
Dussehra festivities around Udaipur
1) Rajsamand – Where at other places almost the same ritual is followed on the festival of Dussehra, Krishnadham Ganbhor village at Rajsamand has its own unique way of celebrating the festival. Here, a Ravana is formed but not with bamboos or clothes, but with stones and clay pots. This Ravana is then hit with stones by the villagers until it crashes down to the ground. In the beginning, the soldiers of the Devasthan shoot the Ravana with bullets followed by hitting with the stones. This ritual is followed from last 500 years. There has been a deep connection of Mewar with Ravana and characters of Ramayana. It is said that Ravana has worshipped the Kamalnath Mahadev temple situated at Jhadol.
2) Nathdwara – In Nathdwara, the Ravana Dahan is conducted on the next day of Dussehra i.e. the ‘ekadashi’ because it is believed that during the war of Ramayana, Lord Rama sent Ravana to the verge of death on Dussehra but actually killed him on the next day of Dussehra. Since Ravana was a Brahmin, Lord Rama didn’t want to kill him on Dashmi and so he killed him on the next day.
Do you have any feedback for the article or an interesting story you want to share with us, then write to me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.
