Bagor ki haveli A trip to the kings land

 On an amazing day in Udaipur, taking a casual stroll across town, we decided to go to the ‘Bagor ki Haveli’.  It is a magnificent haveli (palace) built by Amir Chand Badwa, the then president of mewar, in the 18^th century and is located right of the waterfront Lake Pichola.

For any of you with even a slightest interest in history, it is a must go. After the death of Amir Chand, the edifice came under the control of the royal family of mewar and was later restored and made into a museum by the joint efforts the government and the west zone cultural centre in Udaipur. It now acts as a brilliant doorway to the time of the Maharanas, portraying every aspect of the royal household from the personal chambers of the royalty to the big public events. It also very eloquently displays the royal wedding with every major ceremony, from fixing the date to vidai and graha-pravesh (departure of the bride from her home, and her welcome to her husband’s).

This museum also houses a great collection of Pagadis (turbans), and this was for me the most fascinating part of the tour. What was really fascinating to me was that the design of the Pagadi changed with the state, class and even caste and profession of men.  Apart from these colorful Pagadis, it also houses the royal weaponry, displaying the actual weapons used by the Maharanas in wars. This collection of arms is so enthralling that for a second I found myself transported to that world of war and chivalry. With every blade having a different story to tell, it was an unforgettable experience.

The meueum is however not all that this place has to offer, and you would not want to miss out on another major attraction within the haveli, so wait here a bit longer for Dharohar, which is a cultural event held here within the haveli, every evening 7pm to 8pm, in collaboration with  WZCC (West Zone Cultural Centre). This musical evening combines the 7 traditional Rajasthani folk dances, performed every day, from last 10 years. This musical evening is actually too good to be missed and what can be better than a majestic end to such a magnificent day. 

The Pagadi Collection

                                                                                  

The Royal Wedding

Part of the Weaponry

Yashaswini Sauda