Udaipur – Single Day tour of close-by attractions

Outskirts of Udaipur
The next day we woke up early and decided to go for morning walk. My wife decided to stayed in the hotel and pack the luggage for the day trip. As the hotel was very near to the main bus stand of Udaipur, the roads were crowded with the tourist vehicles. We chat with some locals vendors and they guided to visit nearby tourist spots of Udaipur by bus. We liked there suggestion and enquired from the local tourist operator. He explained the one day bus itinerary which many tourists preferred & booked during their Udaipur trip. The tickets charges are Rs. 200/- per person for deluxe bus. He gave us ticket slip, seat numbers and told us to reach his shop sharp at 9.00 AM. We moved back to hotel.

At 8:00 a.m. we left the hotel room. We selected one restaurant next to tour operator shop to enjoy some local breakfast. We ordered for Pohaa, kachori (matar & pyaz) and jalebi. Here Pohaa preparation was different then us. Taste of Pohaa is little bit like Dhokla and bhujjia and boondi (namkeen) is spread on it. We enjoyed the breakfast and requested shop owner to pack two plates of pohaa for our journey. At 9.15 a.m. bus reached at travel agent shop. Like us many persons boarded the bus for the sight seeing. Bus is operated by some different transporter and booked by travel agents. It’s a 2×2 seater bus and we found it comfortable. After driving for half an hour bus driver stopped the bus at the roadside and offered us to become tour guide but only if everyone agreed for it. We all are agreed with his offer as he was familiar with all the tourist places and can share historical information with us. For this he asked for Rs. 20/- per person, which all passengers given to him. Some of the day trip tourist spots are as follows:

Temples
Our first stop at the outskirts of Udaipur is a small temple of Lord Srinathji. To reach there one has to climb a 100 step for the temple. Pictures are not allowed to click here. After praying there bus left for another temple on route. I forgot the name of the temple. I only remembered it was a Hanumanji Mandir & Mata Mandir. Outside the temple our bus driver had shown us one oval shape stone. It is said that stone Maharana Pratap prayed and seek blessings from goddess for winning the battle with Mughals. As per the hindu ritual he has to offer something to Goddess to seek the blessings and at that time he was outskirts of Udaipur and he has nothing to offer. His priest told him to pick one stone as offering to goddess and if he was able to pick it up that means goddess accepted his prayer and he will win the war against Mughals. He lifts the stone and then he left for the war. Many fellow passengers tried their luck. Only two are able to do it. One muscular college boy and me ☺. At first I am not able to pick it but driver guided me to change the angle of it. I tried it and picked it up. My bad luck that when I raised it my daughter forget to click it ☹.

Trying to lift the stone which Maharana Pratap lifted for Puja Offering

Maharana Pratap Museum: Our next stop was Maharana Pratap Museum. It was built in 2003 and dedicated to Great Legend Maharana Pratap. The theme of the museum is based on the life of Maharana Pratap (from his childhood to being a great leader and the famous battle he fought at Haldi Ghatti with Mughals).

The museum opened at 08:00 am in the morning and close at 07:00 pm. Entry Fee is Rs 30/- per person and it’s a must see place. One has to pay for video cameras also. After entering the museum there is beautiful lawn with many varieties of flowers along with it. A Beautiful white marble temple is there where visitors prayed.

Temple at Haldi Ghatti Museum

Next to the museum entrance wall, there is a big statue/sculture of Maharana Partap attacking Raja Maan Singh during Haldi Ghatti battle. People have to stand in a line for entering for a museum. We also wait in the corridor for get our turn to enter in the museum. During this time a small speech is given by the guide about various sections of museum.

At Haldi Ghatti Museum

After waiting for 10 minutes we all go towards auditorium to watch a 5 minute film which shows about Maharana Pratap and the famous battle he fought in Haldi Ghatti. After end of the movie, visitors have walked through statues, pictures and models to know more about old days of Udaipur, Maharana Pratap and his life and the battles he fought. The museum is divided into different sections, which tells about the life story of Maharana Pratap through light and sound shows.

Model at Haldi Ghatti Museum

Statue of Maharana Pratap

Outside the Museum some shops are there from where one can buy handicraft things – like clothes, momentous, gulkand, rose water, papads, pickles, candies, rose products etc. There’s a small pond with small boats. Only small kids can use this boating facility. A small canteen is there where we eat our lunch. Outside the museum complex peoples are enjoying camel ride. My kids also enjoyed the camel ride there.

Pond at Haldi Ghatti Museum

Kids enjoying ride on the King of Desert outside Haldi Ghatti Museum

Rameshwar Temple: After visiting Haldi Ghatti museum bus next stop was Rameshwar temple. An old famous myth about this temple is that when Maharana Pratap was preparing for the Haldi Ghatti battle his soldiers were camping outskirts of Udaipur. Due to scarcity of water Maharana Pratap soldiers getting weak. For this he prayed to Lord Shiva to save his soldiers thirst. On the prayers of Maharana Pratap, Lord Shiva appeared and blessed him. A fresh spring also erupts near by the temple. It provided the much needed respite to the Maharana Pratap soldiers. Though this myth is not confirmed but even one can see the fresh and cold water spring which satiating visitors thirst and make them feel refresh.

Lord Shiva statue at Rameshwar Temple

Spring at Rameshwar Temple

The cave inside the temple, which you can see in the below picture used by Maharana Pratap and his army as a meeting point. From outside the cave looks small but inside it is very huge. It is also used as a resting point by Maharana Pratap soldiers. Inside the cave there are many small tunnels through which one can reach Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Eklinji Temple, Nathdwara temple etc. Due to security reason the entrance to this cave has been closed by the government.

Cave near Rameshwar Temple

Chetak Samarak: After visiting Maharana Pratap Museum bus headed towards Chetak Samarak which was apx. 3 Kms. from here. It was in the valley and one can see the white marble ‘Chhatri’ (dedicated to CHETAK) from the main road itself.

It is said that during the Haldi Ghatti battle Chetak helped Maharana Pratap to escape from the battle field of Haldi Ghatti as his hind leg gets injured while attacking on Raja Maan Singh who was sitting on elephant. Chetak knew that if he continued stays in the battle field there is a chance that Maharana Pratap gets killed/ captured by the Mughal army. He ran for over 3 kilometers with his injured leg to save the life of Maharana Pratap. Chetak has taken his last breadth here.

Chetak Samarak

Haldi Ghatti: Moving further ahead bus reached a very narrow stretch of road. It’s a Haldi Ghatti – situated in Aaravali Hills. The road on which bus stopped is the exact route which had once witnessed the famous battle of Haldighati (held in 1576).

This place was a small ghatti between two mountains where the colour of soil is of haldi (turmeric). It’s a historical place remembered for the bravery of Maharana Pratap and his soldiers who fought gurella war with Mughals to save their pride and land. Mughal force was commanded by the Raja Maan Singh the commander of King Akbar. The battle was fought so intense that thousands of solders were killed from both sides.

Our bus driver/guide told us that this soil is very good for curing headache or can be used as a face pack . We also collected some piece of soil from there as a souvenir and then board the bus for our next destination.

Haldi Ghatti

Rakt Talai: It’s a small village that was once filled with blood in a battle – the battle between the Maharana Pratap and the Mughals. Haldi Ghati battle fought by Mughals to capture Udaipur. The Mughals had big trained army as compare to Maharana Pratap small army in which many were tribal people, untrained for battle. During the battle many soldiers killed from both side. The whole place is covered with soldier’s blood and it rained that evening. The soldiers blood mixed with water float towards a low lying place. The whole place seem like a pond (talai) of blood (rakht) thus getting the name Rakht Talai. As per the locals of this village; for many years the colour of the soil remains red due to the Haldi Ghatti battle (which is almost faded now).

Entrance at Rakt Talai Garden

At Rakt Talai

Srinathji Temple: Next stop of Bus is Srinathji Temple which is near to bus stand. Our Bus driver parked the bus near the main bus stand and from there groups walked or taken the Auto services to reach the temple. We preferred to go by foot as it was interesting to see the local market and enjoy the local food. Local dishes and thandai is famous here and must to try.
As per the local myth, during one of the war the idols of Lord Krishna were being transported on a bullock cart to shift it to a safer place to protect it from enemies. During the transportation bullock cart stuck. Many soldiers pushed the cart to move from here but they are unable to move the cart. Then the idol was established here as it was realized by the priests that this is the place where Lord Krishna wants to rest. A temple was built there, and named “Nathdwara”, meaning “Gateway to God”.
To enter in the main temple one has to stand in the queue and it takes 30-45 minutes time to get inside the temple. People are pushing each other to quickly get inside the temple. Some people may be smart are giving amount to local persons for VIP entry. After lot of push and pull finally we enter the temple. We get a chance to darshan the lord Krishna birth scene – when Vasudev ji crossing the river Yamuna to take Krishan ji to Mathura.

(Do not try photography inside the temple premises as it was strictly prohibited by Srinathji Temple Management). Please check the images on Google.

Eklingji Temple: After visiting the Srinathji Temple, last on the bus itinerary schedule was Eklingji Temple (Lord Shiva). The Eklingji temple is situated on the way to Udaipur from Nathdwara and just 20 km away from Udaipur. Temple is surrounded by high walls. At the entrance of the main temple there is a beautifully sculpted huge Nandi. The temple complex has 108 temples built with sandstone and marble.

Inside the main temple bhajans were sung by devotees. It makes the devotional environment. The temple is well maintained and very few tourists are there. The main thing about this temple is the absence of priests. Devotees have to perform Puja themselves and offer flowers to Eklingji (beautiful lotus and rose flowers available at the entrance gate). Many guards are standing in the temple complex. They are appointed by the temple management to protect the idols and guide the visitors. Not all the temples are opened for visitors. (Photography inside the temple is strictly prohibited by Temple Management). Please check the images on Google.

Road side view of Eklingji Temple as Photography is not allowed inside.

After spending almost an hour we all moved back to the bus as its time to return to Udaipur. We all enjoyed the day trip. My kids were very happy as they first time visited any Rajasthan city.