Tag: old city

Food

This 150 Year Old Sweet Shop in Udaipur Must Be in Your Checklist!

Post author By Juhee Mehta
Post date September 25, 2018
No Comments on This 150 Year Old Sweet Shop in Udaipur Must Be in Your Checklist!

Are you a sweet tooth? Let us take you to a very famous sweet shop in Udaipur-

Lala Mishthan Bhandar

Lala Mishthan Bhandar was started by ‘Lala Narayan Ji’ somewhere 150 years ago. Apparently, the shop has been named after him. Located near the Ghanta Ghar police station, this shop is ever crowded by people who come here to relish the authentic taste of seasonal desserts and sweets and undoubtedly the sweets are mouthwatering.

We had a very interesting conversation with Mr. Hemendra Sahu who told us about the shop. He said that Lala Ji was his grandfather. He lived for an astonishing 103 years. It is getting operated from several years ago and quite evidently it has seen the golden era of kings and queens in Udaipur. Today, this sweet shop is witnessing its fourth generation.

Must try things to try at Lala Misthan Bhandar

Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamun at this place is one of the best things you’ll taste in the city. These soft, flavorsome and light on the palette Gulab Jamun will instantly melt in your mouth leaving heavenly sweetness behind. Best time to have Gulab Jamun is morning and evening when they are freshly prepared. With every Gulab Jamun in your mouth, you can enjoy the sight of their preparation.

Salty snacks!

There are various snacks that can be found at the Lala Mishthan Bhandar. From Matri, Mathiya, Kachori, Gaathiya, to various kinds of Namkeen, the sweet shop won’t let you leave you empty-handed.

Seasonal Barfis and sweets

They serve seasonal Barfis such as in winters Moong dal halwa, Gulab Jamun, Gaajar Halwa is in much demand, in rainy season sweets like ‘Rabdi ke maalpue’ are prepared specially to let the foodie rejoice the season, shrikhand and lassi are prepared for summers. These seasonal Barfis and sweets are great to satiate your sweet cravings. They claim that the special ‘aam ki barfi’ is something which is only available here in the entire town. Trust me! They are a delight!

Rot, Panjeeri and other types of ‘Prasad’ (offerings to God)

Rot (रोट) is a thick chapati made up of rough wheat flour. It is fried in ‘Ghee’ and topped up with Jaggery (Gur) and hot ‘Ghee’.

This Rot is prepared every Tuesday as an offering to Lord Hanuman. People from all around the city come and buy it to offer at Lord Hanuman’s temple situated at different places in the town. It is later shared among the devotees in the form of ‘Prasad’. One cannot find this special ‘Rot’ at any other shop except ‘Lala Mishthan Bhandar’.

Not only this, they make prasad for various occasions too, like ‘Panjeeri’ is made as an offering to the Lord.

If you still haven’t visited this amazing place, it’s just the right time!

Tell us what do you like the most at Lala Misthan Bhandar in the comment section below. Share your valuable feedback with me at juhee@udaipurblog.com.

Tags aerial video, city, Lala Mishthan Bhandaar, old city, rot, shops, sweet, Sweet shops, top, udaipur, Udaipur City, Video

Post author By Juhee Mehta
Post date May 3, 2018
No Comments on Are these places in Udaipur haunted?

While all of us have grown listening about the beautiful places and rich culture of Udaipur, there are some places which have some inexplicable stories associated with them. People from Udaipur have witnessed some weird incidents and claims that the place consists of some paranormal activities.

Let us see what these places are and what kind of activities and stories people claim there to be –

Natni ka Chabutra

Legend says that once upon a time there was a king named Maharana Jawan Singh, in city palace who assured a Natni (tightrope walker who performs various dance and activities on a rope in the air) that he would gift her half of his kingdom if she will cross the rope tied from a village on the west bank of the lake to the City Palace on the east bank. Just when she was about to finish it, the fearful king ordered to cut the rope and the Natni drowned and died in the water. Just before she died she cursed the Maharana’s family. Since then, the place is said to be haunted and no one is allowed to go there.

Old city

Apart from its rich heritage sites and colorful streets, it is also said to be the home of some inexplicable energies that prove their existence in nights. Some of the residents claim that they’ve heard and experienced something paranormal in this place. This area is said to be between Tibetan market to Jagdish temple. It is said that the kings and their kingdom who lived here once upon a time still roam around the area to ensure the safety of the place.

Bedla mata

Bedla Mata is a Hindu temple situated at Bedla road in Udaipur. It is said that the goddess of this temple takes away the ghost of people when you visit the temple and do some ritual which is to go under a shallow cave made of stones for three times. It is also said that when you return from the temple, do not look back and if you do all the ghosts that people left there will come right behind you. Scared already?

Badi Lake

There are so many Udaipurites who have different ghost stories when it comes to Badi Lake. Well, I will start with one. There was this group of 4-5 people who were on a night out and went to Badi Lake. When they were returning from there at some time around 10:00 pm, they heard a loud voice and at that very instant when they looked on the road, some unrecognizable figure crossed the road.

While night outs are all fun and frolic, such incidents make us think about it again.

Watch this viral video of Badi where a ghost was encountered.

Fatehsagar

Fatehsagar is one of the most popular lakes not only in Udaipur but all around the country. Its beauty attracts all the local people of the city as well as tourists from all around the world but ever heard that its water invites death?

There is a saying which is spread all across the city that when the first heavy rain of monsoon touches and fill the water of Lake Fatehsagar, it invites one death. People say that whoever swimming in the water of Lake Fatehsagar after heavy rains get pulled by some energy inside the water and don’t let them swim across the surface causing death.

It might be possible that you and I won’t believe it but the people who have suffered such incident will only know the horror of it. If you are one of these people who has encountered such strange activities in the town, share your experience with us in the comments section.

And until then be safe.

Tags badi lake, fatehsagar, Ghost, haunted, haunted Udaipur, horror, horror city, Lakecity, old city, spooky, top, Udaipur City

Post author By Juhee Mehta
Post date April 23, 2018
1 Comment on Things only an Udaipurite can relate to

Even after exploring all the places in the world, at the end of the day, every Udaipurite will only say ‘There’s no better place than Udaipur’. No matter how much fun we have otherwise but the feeling of home can only be felt in this city. So, there are few feelings that only an Udaipurite can connect to-

Evenings at Fatehsagar

Back in my school days, I remember, I and my friends used to bunk our coaching and used to go to Fatehsagar. There is something in this place that doesn’t tire your eyes even if you are visiting here for the millionth time. The serene feeling you get while sitting on the pal, looking at the sunset and cool breeze taking all your worries away, for a moment it feels like it’s the only thing you’re living for.

Things only an Udaipurite can relate to — Picture by: walking_captures

Streets of Old city

Old city doesn’t look old any day. It is one part of the city which always looks decorated with different colors in the shops and all the traditional clothes and jewelry on the display of the shops. While walking in the streets of Old City with all the foreign travelers accompanying you it seems like you are walking in a different part of the city.

Monsoon and Peepliya

Whenever sky pours Udaipur with drops of heaven the first place that comes to mind is Peepliya. While I am writing about it I can literally visualize the entire road and place surrounded by fog. One cannot see more than a meter on the road, the fog is that thick. Tiny droplets of water will neither completely wet you nor will keep you dry. It feels like you are entering a place in the sky via road.

School picnics at Haldighati

When I was 11, the school announced a picnic to Haldighati. The first thought that came to my mind was that does this place has Haldi (turmeric) instead of sand? Well, to my disappointment it wasn’t. But I’m sure every other child would’ve thought the same. I was in awe of Maharana Pratap when I learned the history of him back then. The name of the place still takes me to one of my favorite memories of childhood.

Family outings at Ubeshwarji and Chandni Village

In the season of outings, these are the places that come to the mind of everyone’s family members. I’m sure all of you have visited this place with your entire family at least once. Sometimes we even take all the eatables there and make it a day. Jumping into the water with your siblings and coming back with empty stomachs to hot pakoras is not a distant memory, is it?

Weekends at Sukhadiya Circle

Boating in the pond of Sukhadiya Circle, having ‘chana jor garam’ in the garden and eating at one of the stalls outside was the plan on almost all weekends back then. Every Udaipurite has one favorite stall at Sukhadiya Circle. Although the craze for boating has reduced in Udaipur a bit, the kid in us still enjoys this place.

While every city is beautiful, there’s no place like Udaipur. What connects you to Udaipur? Tell me in the comment section below, I’ll be glad to hear.

Tags Chandni Village, city, Family, fatehsagar, Haldighati, old city, Picnic, Pipliya, Sukhadiya Circle, top, ubeshwarji, udaipur, Udaipur City, Udaipurite

Post author By Fouzia Mirza
Post date September 18, 2017
No Comments on The 300 Years Old ‘Jal Sanjhi Art’ Is Something Every Udaipurite Must Know!

The 300 Years Old ‘Jal Sanjhi Art’ Is Something Every Udaipurite Must Know!

Udaipur is well-known for lakes and natural beauty of its landscape. The Old city of Udaipur is a hub of various art forms that are unique to Udaipur. Local artists create these paintings and sculptures following traditions of their forefathers. To relive these cultures one has to visit these areas to have a glimpse of the folk customs from their own eyes.

One such art form is ‘Sanjhi’.

This exclusive art form where the canvas is not any cloth or paper, but sheer water is called Jal Sanjhi. Sanjhi is made from the patripada to Amavasya of Ashwin for fifteen days but the preparations start a day earlier on Bhado Purnima.

As one legend says, these paintings came into origin when Lord Krishna’s image was seen in the water by ‘Radha’ in a pond, and the image was outlined with flowers to make a picture of the Lord. Since then it has evolved as Sanjhi which are made to honor the Lord Krishna’s ‘Leela’ in the form of pictorial depiction on water.

In accordance with the above information, Sanjhi paintings are made complimenting Lord Krishna before the onset of the festive season of Navratri. Over 300 years old, this rare art has been kept alive by just a family in Udaipur, who has been practicing it for generations now.

Rajesh Pancholi is the artist that we came in contact; the family has been practicing this art since generations and as per his nephew, Gunjan Pancholi, he is the fourth generation practicing and observing this art.

How are these paintings made?

As described by the Pancholi family and what I watched, I am going to describe it for all you curious people.

We searched for the family and finally got to know where they stay. We waited for the month before the onset of the Navratri season so that we could see it happening in front of us.

As per Gunjan, this art was started in Mathura by his ancestors. These paintings were earlier created for 15 days but due to lack of interest of people and rising inflation (the colors have become expensive), it is quite difficult for them to meet the expenses.

The tale of Lord Krishna with the ‘Shesh Naag’ known as the Naag Leela is what we watched, step by step. It took around three and a half hours to complete the entire painting- floating on clear water.

First and foremost the water is treated one night prior and then placed in a huge vessel where it is made to settle. Once settled, a base color is made to float on water. The base color is spread on the water by the use of a fine sieve little by little. The colors are true stone colors which are used after processing, which turns them turn into a fine powder and increases the ease of use.

After the completion of the base (generally white color), the stencils are kept cautiously on the base to execute the process.

Now talking of the stencils, these used by the Pancholi family are made from thin rice papers and are almost 300 years old. Their forefathers drew on them and cut them. These stencils are preserved by the family and used till date.

One by one these stencils is kept gently on the base color taking reference points. Slowly and gradually the painting emerges into its full shape and exquisiteness. For each step, there is one stencil, even for the flowers and ornamentation. It took 9 stencils to complete the Naag Leela. The last stencil was just for the outline. Real flower petals and sparkles also are included in embellishing the painting.

After Jal Sanjhi being made for three days, the fourth day a more elaborate Sanjhi is made of wood, which carries more intricate work of colors and stencils. The fifth day again marks a creation of Jal Sanjhi. It is a must see!

I was enthralled by the finesse, precision, and patience these artists have. Their hands work very tenderly creating a very fragile art. The beauty lies in the details and the delicacy with which they perform this sacred ritual of creating a divine folk art.

Wanna see these paintings?

Jal Sanjhi is a delight for every art lover. These paintings are open for public viewing every evening at their temple in the Old City during the course of the ‘Shrad Paksha’.

The wood Sanjhi will be made on 19 September 2017. You can visit and see this amazing art form live! Let us know if you went and watched the Sanjhi Art Form.

Address: Shri Radha Vallab Ji Mandir, 14 Jagdish Mandir Road.

Time: 7 pm to 10 pm