Rajasthan Tourism: Bagore ki Haveli, Udaipur

Located in the city of Udaipur, Bagore ki Haveli is a beautiful mansion built during the 18th century. It has now been converted into a Museum. Its splendid architecture, delicate carvings, and excellent glass work make it one of India’s most beautiful museums.

History

Bagore ki Haveli has been built by Amir Chand Badwa who used to be the Chief Minister at Mewar Royal Court. After his demise it came into possession of the Mewar State. In the year 1878 the Haveli was made residenc e of Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore and that is how it derives its name. Unfortunately, as the years passed, the mansion was left vacant for a period of 50 years and during this period it started to dilapidate. In 1986, the building was handed over to the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC). The WZCC in consultation with the members of the Royal Family and some experts has managed to restore the mansion in its former glory.

Udaipur-Bagore-Ki-Haveli

About the Haveli

The Haveli houses 138 rooms and has numerous corridors & balconies, courtyards and terraces. A visit to this Haveli gives a glimpse of the lives of the royalty. One can view the private quarters of the royal ladies : their bedrooms, living rooms, worship and recreation rooms. Also put up for display are jewellery boxes, dice games, rose water sprinklers, copper vessels amongst other knick knacks native to the Royalty.

Interior-of-Bagore-Ki-Haveli

Not to Miss

Every evening between 7 and 8 pm the Haveli stages a beautiful and traditional performance known an “Dharohar” It is a musical concert combining 7 traditional Rajasthani folk dances. Its a great experience to enjoy the live dances and puppetry shows. Commentary for the show is in both English as well as Hindi.

Cultural-show-in-Bagore-Ki-Haveli

This museum also houses the biggest turban in Asia having a length of 451 metres and a width of 82 inches.

Entry Fee & Opening Times

Bagore ki Haveli is open to visitors from 9 : 30am to 7pm. The entry fee is Rs 25. However, please check the rates before entering as they may be subject to change.

Best Season to visit

The best months to visit Udaipur are between September and March, as it gets rather hot during the Summer months.

Indian Festivals: Major Mahotsav's in India

India’s famous fair and festival includes Pushkar Fair,Sonepur Fair and the grand Kumbh Mela are the major attraction of international tourist. These annual Mahotsav display a colorful image of India’s diverse culture,religions,festival,Art and crafts. Famous colorful Mahotsav of India are Ganga Mahotsav of Varanasi,Surjakund Mela,Chhath Mahotsav,Rann Mahotsav of kutch and Taj Mahotsav of Agra.

Maru Mahotsav

The world famous three-day Maru Mahotsav is the rich and colorful Rajasthani folk culture festival held every year in February at Jaisalmer. Maru Mahotsav also known as the Desert Festival is known for its unique events such as camel race,traditional dance performance, and other cultural events of royal Rajasthan.

Maru-mahotsav-Jaisalmer-Rajasthan

Kalinga Mahotsav 

The Dhauli Kalinga Mahotsav is a National Festival of Martial art Dance, held every year in the month of February in Orissa. Kalinga Mahotsav is two days long martial dance performance,celebrated to mark the victory of peace over war.

Kalinga-Mahotsav-Bhubneswar-Orrisa

Malabar Mahotsav

The famous Malabar Mahotsav is a dance and music festival held on the beach of Calicut now Kozhikode, the coastal town in Kerala. Malabar Mahotsavam display the traditional Malabar Cultural, rituals and native cuisines.

Malabar-Mahotsav-Kozhikode

Braj Mahotsav

The Braj Mahotsav is a Festival to display the culture, food and the rituals of Braj region of Mathura. Braj Mahotsav celebrate in the honor of Lord Krishna before the Holi festival,the festival of color. Raas Leela is one of the mega event of the Braj Mahotsav along with other performance by folk artists from the region.

Braj-Mahotsav-Mathura-Vrindavan

Bhoramdeo Mahotsav

The Bhoramdeo Mahotsav celebrated in the Bhoramdeo Temple of Lord Shiva at Kawardha in the tribal state Chhattisgarh. Bhoramdeo temple is old Hindu temple located between the dense forests and surrounded by Maikal mountains range, It is also known as Khajuraho of Chhattisgarh. The festival of Bhoramdeo Mahotsav is celebrated every year in the last week of the month of March.

Bhoramdeo-Mahotsav-Kawardha

Van Mahotsav

The Van Mahotsav is annual day to plant trees, celebrated during the first week of month July. Van Mahotsav is celebrated across the India by planting of trees along with small road side events about the forest conservation.

Van-Mahotsav-Madhya-Pradesh

Buddha Mahotsav

The Buddha Mahotsav is a three day long festival of traditional Buddhist Customary and cultural practice, held on the occasion of Buddha Purnima in Arunachal Pradesh. Buddha Mahotsav festival is also celebrated at Bodhgaya,Ladakh,Sarnath and Kushinagar

Buddha-Mahotsav-Tawang

Ganga Mahotsav

The famous Ganga Mahotsav is a five day event held in the cultural capital of India and one of the oldest living city of India,Varanasi or Banaras or Kashi. Ganga Mahotsav reflects the traditional and cultural heritage of the Varanasi at the Ghats of holy river Gange, Every Ghats of Varanasi are lightest with lamps during this annual grand festival celebrated on the occasion of Kartik Poornima.

Ganga-Mahotsav-Varanasi

Raas Mahotsav

The Majuli Raas Mahotsav held every year in November at Howly town in the island of Majuli in Assam. Raas Mahotsav is a place to explore traditions of majuli people and Brahmaputra river culture along with art and crafts, fold dances and color of Assam.

Raas-Mahotsav-Howli

Lucknow Mahotsav

The famous Lucknow Mahotsav organized to promote the Art, Culture and Tourism of Uttar Pradesh. The 10 days long festival is the right destination for traditional dramas, Indian classical Kathak dances, music Gharana along with arts & crafts.

Lucknow-Mahotsav-Lucknow

Rann Mahotsav

The Rann Mahotsav or Rann Utsav of Kutch is a cultural festival of the unique region of Gujarat. Rann Utsav display the true flavor and cultural of the beautiful region of great rann of Kutch through the many cultural events such as Traditional Dance performance, folk songs and Thar desert safari. Rann Mahotsav held every year in November–December month and one of the major event of the Gujarat Tourism campaign Khushboo Gujarat Ki.

Rann-mahotsav-Kutch-Gujarat

Taj Mahotsav

The annual 10 day Mahotsav of Agra held in February near the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra,Uttar Pradesh. Taj Mahotsav brings the opportunity to display works of art,majestic craft work and magnetic performances of the artistes came from different parts of India .

Taj-mahotsav-Agra-Uttarpradesh

Forts of India: Sindhudurg Fort

India is full of interesting historical forts. A beautiful and well preserved example is the spectacular Sindhudurg Fort in Maharashtra, looking out over the Arabian Sea.

Sindhudurg-Fort

HISTORY

Sindhudurg Fort was built in 1664 by King Shivaji. The strategic rocky island location was carefully chosen to counter foreign forces, and to keep the nearby villages in check.

Located 510kms south of Mumbai and 130kms north of Goa the construction was done under the supervision of Hiroji Indulkar, an able architect. It is said that Shivaji invited 100 Portuguese experts from Goa for the construction of the fort and that 3000 workers were employed round the clock for three years to build Sindhudurg.

Watchtower-Sindhudurg-Fort

After Shivaji, Sindhudurg passed through the hands of Rajaram-Tarabai, Angres, Peshwa and the Bhosales of Kolhapur. It was briefly captured by the British in 1765 Ad And was renamed by them as ‘Fort Augustus’. Later in 1818 AD, the British dismantled the fort’s defence structures.

STRUCTURE

The 48 acre Sindhudurg fort has a four km long zigzag line of a 9 metres high and 3 metres wide rampart with 42 bastions.

The fort is approachable from the Malavan pier by a boat through a narrow navigable channel between two smaller islands of Dhontara and Padmagad. The main gate, flanked by massive bastions, faces the city.

West-wall-Sindhudurg-Fort

One of the most interesting features of this port is that the design of main door is an enigma, a hallmark of Maratha Architecture of fort building so that the entry can’t be located by attacking forces. The technique was so deceptive that the entrance was concealed due to blind curves. The zigzag pattern of outer wall was so built that the enemy would be visible from any point inside the fort and the troops inside could fire their guns and cannons effectively.

Sindhudurg-Fort-beach

INTERESTING FACTS AND ATTRACTIONS INSIDE THE FORT

• Shivaji’s palm and footprints are preserved here on dried lime slabs in a tower. Inside the Fort, temples of Bhavanimata, Shambhu Mahadev, Jirimiri, Mahapurush and Shivajeshwar are worth seeing, all of which are in good condition.
• Chatrapati Shivaji’s younger son Rajaram in his remembrance built this temple. Shivaji’s idol stands in a boatman’s attire inside the temple and probably only one of its’ kind in the country – where the image of Shivaji is without a beard.
• Outside the southern wall there is a small beach, called Ranichi Vela (Queen’s private beach), where Queen Tarabai, daughter-in law of Shivaji, used to enjoy her sea-bath.
• Inside the fort there are three wells of drinkable water, which is a nature’s marvel as sea surrounds the fort on all four sides.
• On a rocky island between Sindhudurg and the coast stood the small fort of Padmagad, now in ruins. It acted as a shield for Sindhudurg and was also used for shipbuilding
• The fort also houses a coconut tree which has a branch and also gives fruit. (No other coconut tree has a branch.)
• There is a hidden passage that starts in a temple that looks like a water reservoir and goes under the island for 3 km, under the sea for 12 km, and from there 12 km to a nearby village. The tunnel was used as an escape route for the women if the enemy entered the fort. However, the British partially closed this passage after the fort was abandoned.

Maharashtra Tourism: Things to see in Panchgani

Panchgani is a delightful hill station in the Sahyadri hills in Maharashtra. The unhurried relaxed charm, fresh air, strawberry farms, ravines and rivers and quaint old bungalows make it the perfect getaway.

We look at some of the places in Panchgani to explore. If the weather is good head out into the great outdoors with a picnic. Pack your baskets, fold up your sheets, get out and enjoy the sights of this delightful hill station.

Panchgani-view

Tableland

Panchgani’s crowning glory, this is a vast stretch of flat plateau offering great views of the hill station. Situated at an elevation of 4,550 ft, Tableland is a laterite rock formation, said to be the second-highest volcanic mountain plateau in Asia. The plateau gets covered with gorgeous blue bonnets and star and grasses from August-October. During peak season, there’s lots to do here with Ferris wheels, a merry-go-round, toy train, pony and horse rides and games stalls.

Parsi Point

A popular picnic spot with beautiful views of the Dhom Dam backwaters and the lush Krishna Valley. It used to be a favourite spot for the Parsis of Panchgani at one time, hence the name.

Sydney Point

Situated upon a small hillock facing the Krishna Valley, Sidney point presents enchanting views of the valley and the tranquil lake of the Dhom Dam.

Panchgani-sydney-point

Dhom Dam 

The Boat Club on the waters of the dam provides water bicycles and steamers.

Devil’s Kitchen

This cave is located in the southern part of Tableland and is believed to have served briefly as a shelter for the Pandavas during their exile.

Venna Lake

Venna Lake is located on the Panchgani – Mahabaleshwar road. Fishing and boating are popular here and you can also enjoy the mini train ride and stalls offering food and drinks and some games.

Panchgani-venna-lake

Kate’s Point

Located about 5 km away from Venna Lake towards Panchgani, this place has a beautiful view of the Krishna Valley and the Dhom Dam. It was named after the daughter of Sir John Malcom, who ‘founded’ Mahabaleshwar as a British hill station.

Panchgani-kates-point

Sherbaug

Located just beyond the Check Post, this place has a huge cacti collection, a restaurant and a children’s park.

Mapro farm

You can get a delicious lunch of cheese sandwiches, pizzas and strawberry creams at the Mapro farm, a couple of kilometers towards Mahabaleshwar. Don’t forget to pick up some fresh jam and syrups.

GETTING TO PANCHGANI

Panchgani is 98 km from Pune, 266 km from Mumbai, and 20 km from Mahabaleshwar. You can take the NH4, via Pune, Surul and Wai or come down NH17, via Poladpur. The nearest airport is Pune. By rail: Nearest rail head is Wathar.