Published on SonyLIV, the song ‘Mann Satrangi’ is made in Udaipur. The entire video is shot in the City of Lakes at various locations that being an Udaipurite you can easily spot! The main point to notice in the video is that it is not just shot in Udaipur but also composed, arranged and produced by Udaipuites. The duo Bharat-Hitarth envisioned this and made it happen in the City of Lakes. Currently, placed in Mumbai the duo is making their name in the world of Indian Music Industry.
cast and crew of mann satrangi
It took 3 days to shoot the video at varied locations, from a village to a café and Pipliya Ji, in Udaipur. “It was a very smooth sailing project, apart from the weather conditions. It was raining on the day we shot in Pipliya Ji. And hence we had to shoot under an umbrella. The whole shoot went quite good and the result is in front of everyone”, says one of the team members.
The Indian Idol famed Swaroop Khan has sung this song and has made it even more mesmerizing with his rustic voice. The whole cast and crew of the video belongs to Udaipur and has played their roles beautifully and proficiently.
Udaipur has been a choice of many when it comes to shooting a video or a movie. Recently, the upcoming movie, Dadhak (starring Jhanvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khattar) was also shot in Udaipur. Due to the city’s suave landscape and beautiful lakes, Udaipur has become an ideal location.
You can watch the video of ‘Mann Satarangi’ on YouTube by clicking on the link: Mann Satrangi
Special mention to the cast, singer and all the people engaged in the making of the beautiful song.
Singer: Swaroop Khan
Composed, arranged and produced: Bharat-Hitarth (From UDAIPUR)
When I come across people of Udaipur, I come to know that the city is too huge to explore and extends deeply in a dark background having a variety of communities that once fostered in the arms of the city; deeper than we can perceive. One such community is ‘Ranchi’ that claims to be a community of the Darbar.
A man of the Ranchi Community cutting bamboos into usable size
The reason why they caught hold of my attention was their incredible art. Amidst the hustle bustle of the old parts of the city, inside the ‘Mandi’ of Delhi-gate resides and works this community of people who make a living by their ancestral business of making bamboo baskets. This group of people have around 5-6 shops on the ground floor of their houses and run their ‘business’ from home.
Can you spot me making/weaving a basket with them? 🙂
Parking my vehicle, I came towards a group of ladies sitting on the dirty ground, both ripened women and adolescent girls, who were rigorously making baskets by cutting and peeling bamboo barks. Spotting a camera they went a bit apprehensive and asked, “आप नगरपालिका से हो क्या? हमें यहाँ से हटवाना चाहते हो?” Explaining them generously why I came there brought them at ease.
And then I came to know how kind and friendly these ladies were! They asked me to sit on the ground with them and weave a basket. The girls and their mothers were excited and weren’t much shy of the camera.
How These Baskets Are Made:
Bamboos stuffed and stacked in the window of their house
24 feet long bamboos are procured from Assam. The cost of per bamboo is about 200 rupees and one bamboo can be made into only 5-7 baskets of moderate size.
A woman of the Ranchi community slicing bamboos
Peeling the bamboo and taking out thin and long wafers is the first step. Cutting them to a size that can be used for making a basket (Tokri) is their step two.
After that, these pieces are given to another woman whose work is of making the basket. This is done firstly, by arranging 12 straight pieces to make a circle and then wrapping around thin, long, a bit elastic bamboo peels to give it a shape of a basket.
Arranging 12 straight pieces to make a circle
Each step of making a basket, from taking out the bamboo till the finished product, is carried out by different women of the community.
The Plight of the Ranchi Community:
Running into a conversation while weaving a basket, I came across their plight.
A basket being completed
Once these baskets were used to store fruits, ‘Chappati’, ‘Poori’ and all kinds of Indian bread but today with advancement, usage of plastic and other fiber utensils (boxes), their bamboo baskets are suffering a downfall.
These baskets are also used in taking ‘Prasad’ for the deity Shree Nath Ji. Also, these baskets are used in taking various marriage-related offerings such as fruits, dry fruits and much more.
A hopeful smile
They sell these for Rs. 10 a basic basket and goes up to a maximum of Rs. 100, depending on the size. Men women both work together to achieve a living through making these baskets.
So probably you can estimate their monthly remuneration.
stacks of baskets made from bamboo
Their max earning is in the wedding season when people, due to tradition, buy these ‘Tokri’. Another is when people buy it for offerings made to their deity as mentioned above.
Apart from these they also sell wood curtains, baskets with lid, mats, broomsticks etc.
What are we doing?
The concern is that this community and its art of making baskets are becoming extinct. Soon they won’t be having a mode of income and hence might opt out of this and look for something more lucrative.
The enthusiastic face of a woman accomplishing her task
It is not just this art or work that is meeting its end; there are so many things around us that are under the dust of ignorance.
Storing your food probably fruits in these baskets would give a kick to their dying business as well as prove a bit environment-friendly. The material used is bamboo, which is obviously eco-friendly. Disposing of these can also be easy as bamboo is a bio-degradable substance. If not helping the community, we can help ourselves and our environment by simply using these.
Well, did you get the point? All lies in the fact of ‘helping each other’ and maintaining a mutual harmony. While buying baskets will help them survive, keeping these will help our environment.
It’s tough to be a non-vegan when you can’t find good places to eat out. We know the plight and hence have listed some good places to enjoy and relish the best tastes of non-veg cuisine in Udaipur. Keep your stomach ready as you might feel the need to rush to these places ASAP!
Tribute
Non Veg Platter
The restaurant is a ‘tribute’ to the legendary horse of Maharana Pratap, Chetak. The place is a mark of respect to the magnificent culture & history of Rajasthan. Sumptuous Non-Veg cuisines and a breathtaking view make this a place like no other. The Non-Veg Platter is a must if you happen to dine at Tribute. Accompany it with a glass of your favorite wine and you will surely feel heaven on earth.
Address: 89/B, Behind Monika Complex, Near Ambamata Temple, Rang Sagar, Udaipur,
Kabab Mistri
Source: JaiSingh Garh
Kebab Mistri is the Restaurant at JaiSingh Garh. If you have some serious non-veg cravings, this place is a must visit for you! The juicy pieces of chicken will fill up your tummy like anything! Full of spices and grilled to perfection, the tender mutton portions with Peshawari naan is a must try; something you are surely gonna love. In a nutshell, the entire cuisine is lip smacking!
Address: 3, Haridas Ji Ki Mahri, Malla Talai, Fateh Sagar OR 23, Toran Bawri, Udiapole Road, City Centre
Al-Rehmaniya
Source: directmap.in
The joint is a well-known name in Udaipur for serving some hot non-vegetarian dishes. Roasted chicken, is one must-eat-dish of the place and can be taken for starters. Mutton masala is one delectable dish and can fill up your main course. You’re surely going to love the fried chicken, the portion being big enough for four people.
Address:Imli Ghat, Chandpole Road, Udaipur
Parkview
Source: Justdial
Since 1968, Parkview is perhaps the oldest restaurant which has been satisfying the taste buds of people having non-veg. It is a quite famous one when it comes to having a non-vegetarian cuisine. And I am sure you will also love the smell of those authentic spices.
Address: Opposite Town Hall, Bapu Bazar Rd, Udaipur
Raghu Mahal
Source: Raghu Mahal
Flames is the restaurant at Raghu Mahal, which is again known for its luscious non-veg cuisine. The tandoori chicken and fish tikka are to die for! If you wish to merge some good cocktails with food, you can go to their bar, Angara Bar.
Lal Bagh is Udaipur’s first restaurant focusing on organic ingredients. Their unusual cooking styles bring out flavors in the cuisine which makes it succulent. A lot of people love the food at Lal Bagh, and you’re gonna love it too!
Address: 65, M.G. College, Near Daulat Chambers, Sardarpura, Udaipur
Ambrai Restaurant
Source: blog.sagmart.com
Ambrai serves excellent non-veg delicacies to the guests. Amet Haveli (Restaurant Ambrai) is one great spot to dine in that Rajwadi sophistication and enjoying the luscious food.
Zaika is a takeaway and is running fluently for years. For the people who do not believe in eating amongst other people, takeaways are the best option. Everything is amazing here and a lot of people already crave for their servings. Zaiqa surely lives up to its name.
The huge variety of Nonvegetarian food will firstly just confuse you whether what to eat and what to miss, but at the end of the day, you will just be like ‘mmm’. And make sure you prepare your appetite well because you cannot leave the place without overeating. From chicken, fish, mutton, eggs, and kababs to laal maas you can find everything here. It is a takeaway restaurant so that you can have as much as you want and eat it leisurely at your home.
Address: Near, R Decor, Celebration Mall Road, RK Circle, Bhuwana
Bal Bal To
Source:Venuezz
It is one of those underrated and less known places of Udaipur. You might think that the ambiance will not suit you by looking at it from the outside but once you enter the place you will find that it is a perfect place for you for even a family gathering. The place is not much fancy and doesn’t have any exclusive décor but once you taste the food here, I bet you won’t regret coming here at all. It has both veg and non-veg food available here.
Address: Opposite Royal Raj Vilas, Shobhagpura Circle, Pulla Bhuwana, Shobhagpura
Mann Chicken Centre
Mann Chicken Centre is a very popular name amongst the citizens of Udaipur. It is founded by Mannpreet Singh which justifies its name. The place brought a drastic change in the city in terms of taste, quantity, and quality of non-veg food. The main attraction of the place is mutton and fish.
Address: Shop No 12, 13, Udaipur-Rajasthan – 313001, Under Seva Ashram Pulia
Biryani House
Source: udaipurtimes
The mere name of biryani is enough to get all the juices in our mouth, isn’t it? Well, Biryani house is one such place where you can satisfy your cravings for biryani. And not only Nonveg but veg biryanis are available too. There is a number of biryanis available at the place such as Hyderabadi biryani, chicken biryani, mutton biryani, Veg Biryani, Paneer makhani biryani, etc. Apart from biryani, you can enjoy other non-veg recipes too.
Address: Opposite Apaji Petrol Pump, Chetak Circle
Daawat restaurant
Situated amidst the city, this restaurant is a treat for all the non-veg lovers. It doesn’t fancy any décor or something but when it comes to food, it will be absolutely worth it. Home delivery is also available at the place.
Address: Khawaja Complex, Near Lok Kala Mandal, Madhuban
Mumal Chicken corner
This is another non-veg attraction popular in the city. Earlier it was situated near townhall and now it has been shifted to near Gulab Bagh. It is a takeaway restaurant so make sure you do not go there expecting a proper sitting arrangement. However, the taste of all the delicious delicacies will just excite your mouth like anything.
Udaipur is famous for its lakes and the scenic beauty these lakes hold. But have you ever wondered by these lakes are called by the names they have? Let us find out the hidden reasons behind the names of our lakes.
Fatehsagar Lake
Fatehsagar or FS is one favorite lake of the people of Udaipur. The reason why the lake is called Fatehsagar is here. In 1687, Maharana Jai Singh constructed the lake, but after two hundred years the earthen pit which formed the lake was washed away during floods in Udaipur.
Then in 1889, Maharana Fateh Singh built the “Connaught Dam,” the one which we cross before the Dewali area, to mark the visit of King of Connaught. The dam enlarged the lake, and it was later renamed after the King as Fateh Sagar Lake.
Pichola Lake
Lake Pichola has an unmatched view. Most of the luxurious hotels are in this area and give a panoramic view of the City Palace. Pichola is an artificial freshwater lake and has two legends behind its unusual name.
One, it was created in the year 1362 AD and is named after the nearby Picholi village. It was enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh II, by flooding Picholi village, which gave the lake its name.
Two, in 1362, the beautiful lake was built by Pichhu Banjara during the ruling period of Maharana Lakha, after whom the lake is named as ‘Pichola.’
Isn’t this interesting!!!
Badi Lake
Why the lake has the name as ‘Badi’ has two legends again!
First, because it is near the village called Badi.
Second, as it’s also known as Jiyan Sagar, it was named after Jana Devi. She was the mother of Maharana Raj Singh who built the lake Badi.
Jaisamand Lake
The Maharana following his father (Maharana Raj Singh I who built Rajsamand Lake) created the lake Jaisamand.
He did it by damming a small river, the Gomati, and building a massive embankment. Jai Singh named this lake Jaisamand after himself. The meaning of the name is supposed to be ‘Ocean of Victory’ (Jai- His name and ‘mand’ meaning ‘ocean’). The lake is also known as Dhebar Lake and is India’s second-largest artificial lake.
Udai Sagar Lake
It has a simple story; in 1559, Maharana Udai Singh constructed a dam on Berach River to make sure that his kingdom has an adequate supply of water. Udai Sagar Lake was developed as an outcome of this dam and is named after the king who built it.
Swaroop Sagar Lake
Swaroop Sagar is an artificial lake. Swaroop Sagar Lake was built by Maharana Swaroop Singh (1842-1861) after whom the lake is named as Swaroop Sagar.
The lake is also known as Kumhariya Talab, which serves as the connecting body between Lake Fateh Sagar and Pichola. It was built to avoid flood situations in the city and maintain a high water level in the adjoining lakes.
Gathering of people at Ambubashi Mela on Day 3 at Kamakhya Temple
A Bikers’ team is inviting Udaipur for the illustrious Ambubachi Fair of Assam. The noteworthy thing is that we, Udaipurites are invited personally by the group of bikers, who are currently on a 37-day-long India tour. This is for the first time that invitation cards have been published to invite people from across the country to attend this fair. The bikers, who began their journey last month, have already visited states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, inviting prominent persons, religious heads, devotees etc.
During their visit to Rajasthan, they have invited the religious heads at the Jagdish Temple and the entire Udaipur to attend this auspicious fair.
Generally, tantriks, sadhus, Bauls, aghoras, sannyasinis, khade babas, foreign pilgrims, tourists or foreign scientists visit the Kamakhya temple, where the fair is held in the Nilachal hill, during the festival days. This time, this special bikers’ tour has been arranged by the Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. so that people can be handed over invitation cards and posters by the representatives from the state.
Know about Ambubachi Fair
The Ambubachi fair is held in Nilachal Hill at Kamakhya temple. Devotees flock to the city of Guwahati in Assam, to become a part of this annual ritual. The fair is devoted to the Mother Nature; apropos of a special reason- to celebrate the annual menstruation cycle (holy cycle) of the head deity of the temple, Devi Kamakhya. During this period, the temple is closed for 3-4 days to visitors, to maintain the privacy of the menstruating deity.
This year the festival is from June 22-26.
It is believed that every year, during the monsoon (Assamese month Ahaar), the Goddess goes through her annual menstruation. This concurs with the river Brahmaputra being in full flow because of monsoon rains.
According to the belief, during this period when the goddess is in her annual Holy cycle, the fertility of mother earth increases. In a practical sense too, the fertility increases as Assam receives heavy rains during this period as the monsoons arrive around this time and this leads to an increase in fertility of the soil. During this time the farmers also stop cultivating their land, as it is believed that it causes disturbance to the menstruating mother earth.
So are you ready to explore and attend this special fair at Assam?
Rajasthan is distinguished for its famous style of paintings which include murals and miniature paintings. The wall murals found in Udaipur are truly marvelous- from graffiti to traditional- everything can be found on the street walls of the city. Palaces, Havelis, streets, buildings, all are covered with these amazing arts. Multitudes of murals greet you, and many of them vary from being painted recently, to those which are quite old found within the beautiful interiors of the palaces, temples, etc.
These exquisite murals found adorning the walls of the city are a thing to watch. Well, these are specifically found in the ‘Old-City’ of Udaipur. Some are modern arts made by the travelers who come to Udaipur while some of them are made by the city dwellers. Many of them are also made under the ‘Beautification’ process of the city.
Know about the StreetArt in Udaipur:
The Traditional Rajputana Art: The Decorative Wall Paintings
Ever thought why these elephants, men, and women are made on our streets? Just to look beautiful? No, there is also some significance behind the traditional art form.
There are a plethora of Rajputana paintings in which a common theme is found throughout. Rajputana artwork is a great manipulation of space. The insertion of fuller spaces is meant to emphasize the lack of boundaries and inseparability of characters and landscapes. In this way, the individuality of physical characters is almost rejected, allowing both the portrayed backgrounds and human figurines to be equally vivid.
In ancient times Mewar rulers wanted paintings and wall murals to portray their determination, establishing their heritage. Hence, paintings were often indicative of a king’s legacy or their changes made to better the society.
As a mark of beautification, whether during festivals or marriage ceremonies or simply otherwise, these paintings are done on the outside walls of houses and buildings. They display colorful and elaborate portraits of men, women, elephants, horses, riders and deities.
Both recent and historical paintings can be seen on the walls of the city. Walking down narrow streets of Udaipur’s old city is alike wandering in an art gallery. Whitewashed house walls make canvases for local and foreign artists, who draw cows and elephants, or princely men and women with beautiful clothes or something totally different like some graffiti or abstract art. Most often, the traditional paintings adorn the entrances of houses. They are believed to create a harmonious ambiance, to seek spiritual guidance and cut off evil. Many are decorated with tiny mirrors or mosaic.
Embellishing the Walls of Udaipur: The Modern Street Art
While there are plenty of traditional arts on the streets of Udaipur, the old city is also decorated by modern arts like graffiti by foreign travelers who come here from various parts of the world and leave a mark on the City. Some of them are quotations written on the walls of restaurants while some are typical abstract art that is very alluring to watch.
The Painted Peacock Project
One of the wall mural, somewhere near the Chandpol Bridge is the most famous in the city. It was made by 4-5 women artist from New Zealand. The women came here under a special task ‘The Painted Peacock Project‘, a trip that aimed at sharing knowledge with local children in need and teaching them the art of stenciling, painting and jewelry making.
A lot of people do not know this fact that the painting was initially made by a stencil and then faired out. Interesting!!!
For people who are missing out on what Graffiti is, these are writings or drawings that have been scribbled, scratched, or painted on a wall or other surface, often within public view.
Another quite famous wall painting is at Ambrai Ghat, made by Action Udaipur under the beautification process, making the worn out walls of Udaipur beautiful and worth staring! No doubt the mural at Ambrai is remarkable; the use of bright colors on a pale peach wall embosses the painting. The grandness of the Action Udaipur wall mural is mesmeric and entices a lot of people to click.
Action Udaipur Wall Art at Ambrai Ghat
A huge art at the Zostel is one that can mesmerize any onlooker. These murals are timeless marks on the walls that represent diverse culture and inhabitance on the globe. These have also become a spot for unmatched photos and selfies for the localities and tourists.
The streets of Udaipur are ornamented with unparalleled art that is admired by many residents and tourists as well. Indeed all such arts and elements of beauty attract a lot of tourism to our city.
I have listed down some of them, which I loved the most. Try to guess the locations of these by seeing the pictures, if you can. Also, tell me if I have missed any significant wall art anywhere in the city by mentioning the location in the comments below.
Udaipur is like a peaceful dream; a place called the City of Lakes amidst the land of sand, a city against all the odds. The very soul of the city was captured in a recent video clip named ‘A SUMMER IN UDAIPUR.’ It is the first of its kind video of Udaipur. It is a short clip of 3 minutes and 41 seconds delineating an arousing story of the city.
A mesh of inventive ideas, striking visuals, seamless editing, and the comforting soundtrack is what ‘A Summer in Udaipur’ is all about.
The sound of chirruping birds, people talking, the waves of the lakes and grandeur of the royalty of the city; A Summer in Udaipur expresses how beautiful can a place look even in the most parched and dried state of India. The city indeed is shown as a masterwork by the hands of nature. The video starts with a glimpse of a typical Rajasthani couple riding a bike. As the video finds its course, one can witness an immense aesthetic appeal. The soundtrack of the clip makes it all the more surreal. The video concludes on a quick note, leaving a mystical essence that compels the onlooker to press play again.
The Man Behind A SUMMER IN UDAIPUR- Ayush Dinker
The young and talented Ayush Dinker from Delhi is the artist behind the appealing and involving short clip shot on a trip through Udaipur and completed over the course of a month. He also runs a youtube channel named ‘Ethereal.’ Ayush traveled for more than a week through every nook and corner of the city along with UdaipurBlog’s Team from the morning before the dawn till evening, while working on this project.
A Still From The Video
The footage of ‘A SUMMER IN UDAIPUR’ was captured with a GoPro, Canon 6D Camera, Flycam Stabilizer, a microphone and three different lenses. The stills for the hyper lapses were shot handheld. The video is a mixture of match edits, in-camera effects, some hyper lapses, compositing shots and small video clips. Crash zooms, back-time cuts, picture inverses and light effects were also added to add a dramatic touch between the cuts. The real challenge was of stitching all these shots together while maintaining a fluid movement of the footage.
Nearly 5000 clicks and numerous clips and hyper lapses were taken during Ayush’s visit to the city of lakes. He traveled with our teammates to various parts of the city covering every little detail. Facing some troubles too, the video came out to be a spectacular one.
As per Ayush, whenever he used to hear about Rajasthan, he would think of some of the obvious places and the sweeping desert. He perceived Udaipur to be a small city which he knew less about.
He further expresses his sight of the city as, in his words, “The moment I sat down beside Lake Pichola on a summer evening, I knew this place is beautiful with a flavor unmatched in this world. The vast expanse of a number of lakes and the magnificent palaces huddled with narrow city lanes is a synthesis to make you a guest here. No doubt the hotels are soaring high for the best view. Whether the city has any more romance left is for you to conclude.”
The video has achieved soaring views of about 250k on Facebook alone and is still a trending video in Udaipur.
A visually compelling masterpiece takes time, patience, dedication, talent, creative vision, and a lot of hard work. ‘A Summer in Udaipur’ can indeed elevate your senses and make you love your city even more. Have a look at the video
As a ‘उदयपुरवाला,’ no one can deny knowing the much-acclaimed Facebook group of the city known as ‘Udaipurwale’. The Facebook group is a revolutionary one and one of its kind in the city. Today, the group celebrates its second anniversary. They say that behind a successful man there is a woman. The foundations of the hyperlocal group were laid when the admin was searching a particular thing for his wife. The founder, Mr. Zaheer Abbas tells in an interview, “The idea came to my mind while searching a particular thing for my wife. I thought there should be a single platform where I can ask and my friends get to know my needs and they help me find that particular thing.”
Well, after this incident he started the group Udaipurwale which was formerly known as Ask.Find.Udaipur. The Facebook aimed at being a landmark in the domain of “community help”, which solves common problems of the residents of the city. The Facebook group is a hyperlocal community, where people of Udaipur can ask and find anything. From professional needs to suggestions and reviews of local businesses, Udaipurwale is a hit in rendering answers to all the queries. The Facebook group runs on a zero profit scheme. Approximately 71,000+ members are in the group.
Last year Udaipurwale organized a free blood group test camp to mark their first anniversary.
Today Udaipurwale has become Udaipur’s most popular Facebook group. The group is highly responsive and has an active participation of members and moderating team.
The Facebook group celebrated its 2nd anniversary week in a very interesting manner by organizing a series of Online Contests on the forum. The contests began on 15th May at all three groups of Udaipurwale (Udaipurwale, Udaipurwale Foodies and Udaipurwale Women) with a Photo With Maa Contest followed by 4 word Horror Story, True False, Identify the Location, Selfie with Makeup,Selfie without Makeup, Food Decoration, Spot the Difference, Photography, Debate etc. Nearly 55 brands and businesses joined hands with Udaipurwale to sponsor gifts for winners. The gifts were in form of cash vouchers and discount coupons. The summation of the total prize money went around 13 lacs, which is a big amount for a Facebook Group to give away. Excitingly, all sponsors were also group members.
Udaipurwale has become a major source of discovering almost everything thing, from a particular place or people of any profession to selling or buying particulars in and around Udaipur.
In an interview, Zaheer said, “Online communities and evolving of social network always allure me.” His inclination towards social network and an aspiration to provide solutions to the community has evolved a group, or one can say a platform that renders help to everyone at a much greater level.
“ Aravali Ki Wadiyon Mein Janma, Sabhyata Ke Rango Mein Saja,
Itihaas Ke Panno Mein Lipta, Maharajao Ke Panth Mein Bandhaa,
Mewar Ki Rajdhani, Sundarta Se Sanjoya.
Sheher Kuch Anokha Sa, Pyaar Se Hai Piroya.”
Photo by: Tim Makins
Our beautiful Wonderland, Udaipur has turned 463 Years old. And, no wonder it’s the time of happiness and celebration for every native as our city has not only been through a lot of phases in all these years but it has also gained a lot of popularity in many sense.
When it comes to culture, heritage, traditions, and modernization, Udaipur has always shown its significance amongst everyone. Justifying its name meaning ‘Rise’, our city has always been open for all type of revolution.
And, on this special occasion, we would like to share a glimpse of information that probably everyone should know when it’s about Lake City:
History Pick-up
Founded in 1559, by Maharana Udai Singh II, Udaipur was established as the new capital of the Mewar Kingdom. And, behind the settlement of Udaipur, it was a sudden meet of Maharana Udai Singh with a hermit while hunting in the foothills of the Aravali Range. Their hermit blessed him and guided him to build a palace on the spot, assuring him it would be protected. Then, Udai Singh II consequently acknowledged a residence on the site. In 1567, Mughal emperor Akbar laid siege to the venerated fort of Chittor. At that time, to protect Udaipur from external attacks, Maharana Udai Singh built a six-kilometer long city wall, with seven gates, namely Surajpole, Udiapole, Chandpole, Hathipole, and so on. In today’s time, the area within these walls is known as the old city or walled city. And, being in the mountainous region, Udaipur always remained safe from Mughal influence despite extreme pressure.
Regarding other historical aspects, many other changes were seen before independence as well. As when it’s a catch of tourism, many foreign traders and personalities like Edward, Prince of Wales (1921), Lord Minto, Viceroy of India (1909), and several others visited Udaipur.
Udaipur’s Famous Catches
Known for its scenic locations, Udaipur is amongst the popular travel destinations to witness growing tourism each and every day. Astounding people through its cityscapes, Udaipur houses many beautiful places to look for like Lakes (Fateh Sagar, Udai Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, etc.), Palaces (City Palace, Monsoon Palace, etc.), Temples (Jagdish Mandir, Sahastra Bahu Temple, Eklingji, etc.), and much more.
In part of an economy, our city has a diversified base that includes Handicrafts Markets, Tourism, Metal & mineral industries, Agriculture and Retail sources.
In the scene of culture, our city has kept a balance between preserving the rituals and traditions of the past while influencing modern lifestyle and advancements. Dance forms like Kalbelia, Ghoomar, Kachchhi Godi, Bhavai, etc. are still performed in tribal communities.
And, when it comes to art, miniature paintings are amongst the most famous developed here. To display the forms of Rajasthani tradition, some local festivals like Gangaur, Hariyali Amavasya, Jagannath Rath Yatra, etc. are celebrated enthusiastically.
And, when it’s a part of entertainment and events, Udaipur is a city that is often recognised by many Indian and Foreign nationals for Royal Destination Weddings, Movie Shoots, Lake Festival, World Music Festival, etc.
Apart from all, it also justifies education by serving IIMU (Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur), CTAE (College of Technology and Engineering), and several other colleges and private universities.
Lastly, we can say, our Udaipur is a diamond, and we are proud of our city that has been an incredible land in its own.
Cheers to our mains!! Cheers to all of us…. WE LOVE UDAIPUR 🙂
The first thing I always noticed about it was the smell…The unique earthy smell of the early morning soil around me. I would inhale it wholly and it would make me feel like walking in heaven. Then came the mountains. Those huge, rocky and mysterious looking mountains which held many a stories in my mind’s eye. After which I always looked at the trees in those mountains. Tall, lush green trees; their leaves glistening in the morning light. And as the train would whizz past these captivating scenes, the verdant grass, my heart would start thumping madly in its chest. That feeling of anticipation!! I would glance at my brother sitting across me at the window seat, looking outside with an almost similar expression to mine on his face, his eyes shining in excitement. We would smile at each other and mentally transmit our thoughts, “It’s coming…!”
It is perhaps extremely difficult to describe how exactly I feel for Udaipur and what importance does it hold in my life in one article. That would probably require a whole book. But the above description is apt on how I would always remember arriving at the city. Me and my elder brother would get up early in the wee hours of the morning, cramp ourselves in the window seat of the train and just spend a few hours looking at the environment around us; soaking in each and every little scene before we got down at the station.
It’s been five years now since I last visited Udaipur. But there was a time when a year wouldn’t go by and I hadn’t spent a month of my life in the beautiful city. As I grew up, things changed around me and now I find it difficult to take out a few days from my schedule to visit the place. How have things changed…!! However something that wouldn’t change is my love for the city. And these days, I for some reason, increasingly crave to be back to the simple soothing lanes of the place. That is the reason I try here to recollect some of my memories of the place from the wholesome montage I have of it.
Now I shall not write about its entrancing palaces and other stuff which can easily be found on the internet by better writers than me. Let me try and pen down some of the places which made a huge impact on my psyche and made me realize the finer little things of life.
FatehSagar:
No description of Udaipur would ever be complete without a mention of Fateh Sagar. The lake might not be one of the most beautiful around, but it sure has something about it. I am certain all from the city of Udaipur have their own special memory of it. Mine was quite simple. Sitting there with my cousins as the cool and high breeze would slap my face, watching the evening sun go down; looking at the sparkling water creating small waves and losing myself in them. Then of course, there were those ‘chaat waalahs’ nearby, whom I would never miss to try out. That was how I remember the lake, and that is how I want it to remain.
Gulab Bagh:
This absolutely stunningly beautiful garden cum zoo perhaps holds the most significant of all my memories related to Udaipur. I remember going down there as a kid with my mother and aunts. Holding her hands I would gape at the squirrels scurrying about in the dense tress and make my own world in them. As I grew up, I would go there for early morning walks with my cousins. It was fun; strolling around the park, sitting and feeling in the pure and fresh surroundings around me. Sheer bliss.
I also have fond memories of the zoo connected to it. The most vivid of them all is when I once went there with my ‘nanaji’ and witnessed a ferocious fight between a tiger who was pawing away madly at the cage next to his that had a lion – lioness in it, who looked equally mad. I never forgot that scene, two of the most ferocious big cats ready to tear each other apart. That was really cool. I went there many a times again as a teenager, but was sad to find out its deteriorating condition.
But the name Gulab Bagh is etched forever in my memory.
Railway Station:
The ‘Udaipur City’ railway station. You would probably find it surprising that I mention a railway station of all the places here. However it has its own special place in my memory. Firstly, the fact that I always loved looking at the deep yellow and black bold letters of the name of the city which greeted me as the train entered the station. It gave me a feeling of warm pleasantness. I would also keep coming at the station just to have a look around, since I was a kid. The spick and clean floors, the enticing magazine stall, the fresh snacks which were available and even looking at the small tracks; I loved them all. Those tracks weren’t just normal tracks connecting trains from everywhere; they connected a vast montage of memories to my soul too.
Food:
Yes. I can safelyclaim that Udaipur brought out the foodie in me. I can’t name enough places here to describe the wide array of sumptuous delights available throughout the city. What I loved most about the food was that like its people it had a certain amount of simplicity and freshness about it. The ‘Paav Bhaaji’ at Town Hall, or puri – daal which was found in an eatery in Udiapole, or the very own ‘daal baati churma’, pani puri, paratha – dahi and other lovable delights like rabri that can be easily found in different nooks and corners of the city.
There was also a hotel called ‘Neelam’, the name of the locality escapes me, but I had wonderful memories of eating there with my cousins. The food was so simple yet mouth-watering. My fascination with ‘paneer’ took birth in this small restaurant.
I can’t finish this without mentioning the gulab jamuns. I don’t know which shop my Nanaji bought them from, but they sure were simply delicious. Small, soft, round and dripping with chaashni, I would greedily gulp down dozens in one go and they just melted in my mouth. They just don’t make it like that here.
As I mentioned, these are just a tiny part of my fascinating memories from Udaipur. There are just so many places and memories that it’s a task in itself to edit out these from the whole assemblage. Be it hanging out in Sukhadia Circle, strolling through the lanes of Bapu Bazaar, Udiapole and Surajpole, visiting those peaceful and small ‘mandirs’ located high up in the mountains, messing around the slopes of Dudh Talai, or exploring the wonders of Shilpgram. Then there are wonderful recollections from visiting that marvelous City Palace, or the breathtaking Sajjan Garh or gawking at the amazing beauty of Raj Samand Lake. To mention them all and their effect on me would really require a book.
However, more than the material aspects, what attracted me more toward Udaipur was that simplistic charm it exuded. It provided me a catharsis of pent-up emotions; gave me the opportunity to fly and live the life of a different being, allowed me to break the shackles around me, quite different from the constricted life I used to lead. I would roam around the small lanes of my colony there as a teenager; looking at the chaste Hindi names the shops would have and slurp away merrily at the ‘chuski’ from the corner ‘kiraane ki dukan’, without a care in the world. This probably came from the infectious nature of the people there who had a sense of contentment about them, always hale and hearty. That is what Udaipur was about. Simple yet soothing.
The last time I visited Udaipur, I saw it had progressed a lot from its small town days. Malls had sprung up and so had multiplexes. Swanky Coffee shops and McDonalds too have made their name in the city. From what I read in your blog, Crossword too has opened shop here. The population too has multiplied manifold. However I would still prefer ‘my’ Udaipur to remain the same, simple way it was. Not that I am against the city from developing; Udaipur deserves every bit of development it is witnessing. But somehow, I still like browsing through that small bookstore in Bapu Bazar and watch my movies at Chetak. To watch it getting all decked up is probably like seeing your child growing all handsome and mature. You feel proud about it, but somewhere deep down you miss that innocent child you had.
I do not know when I will visit Udaipur again; perhaps I am apprehensive on how I would react to this new updated version. I just hope and pray that in spite of all the progress it has made, the purity of life has remained. That is where the attraction lies.
But no matter what, the memories I have created here would remain in my soul for as long as I breathe. They are a massive part of my upbringing which I really miss and crave for. So deep runs my emotions and love for it that not a month goes by where I don’t dream about revisiting those enchanting places there. Even now as I go about my daily business; sometimes I look back over my shoulders at the milling crowd, expecting someone to give me that simple Rajasthani smile, wave and say ‘Aaaujo’.
Article by : Bhawesh Bhimani
About Him:He is a 26 years old Journalism Graduate from Kolkata and works as the Editor cum Project Manager at a Book Publishing House(Chiaroscuro Publishing)in the city. He has also worked as a Journalist in a city weekly tabloid for about a year besides being a freelancer for a few web-portals over the last three years. Besides that he also has a well-maintained blog. – http://burnighbright.blogspot.in/
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