Dynasties in Udaipur

Sisodia Rajput Dynasty at Udaipur :

Rana Laksha of the Sisodia Rajput clan with all his 10 sons had rallied in defense of Chittor but in vain. The Sardars decided that it was time to safeguard the royal lineage. There is mention of only two sons of Rana Laksha by name, Ari Singh and Ajay Singh. Ari Singh I had a son named Hammir Singh I who was taken by his uncle Ajay to Kelwara for safety. After the defeat of Mewar at Chittor by Alauddin Khilji, in which Rana Laksha and his son Ari Singh perished, the people began to rally behind Ajay who pursued a guerrilla campaign until he too died in the 1320s. The Sardars now picked Hamir Singh I as head of the Sisodia clan and rightful heir to the throne of Mewar. He married the daughter of Maldeo of Jalore, who now governed Chittor for the Delhi Sultanate. He overthrew his father-in-law and reclaimed his ancestral homeland.

                                

                                 

                                                                                         Maharana Pratap Singh

Name		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Maharana udai singh	1568	1572
2	Maharana Pratap Singh I	1572	1597
3	Maharana Amar Singh I	1597	1620
4	Maharana Karan Singh II	1620	1628
5	Maharana Jagat Singh I	1628	1652
6	Maharana Raj Singh I	1652	1680
7	Maharana Jai Singh	1680	1698
8	Maharana Amar Singh II	1698	1710
9	Maharana Sangram Singh II	1710	1734
10	Maharana Jagat Singh II	1734	1751
11	Maharana Pratap Singh II	1751	1754
12	Maharana Raj Singh II	1754	1761
13	Maharana Ari Singh II	1761	1773
14	Maharana Hamir Singh II	1773	1778
15	Maharana Bhim Singh	1778	1828
16	Maharana Jawan Singh	1828	1838
17	Maharana Sardar Singh	1838	1842
18	Maharana Swarup Singh	1842	1861
19	Maharana Shambhu Singh	1861	1874
20	Maharana Sajjan Singh	1874	1884
21	Maharana Fateh Singh	1884	1930
22	Maharana Bhupal Singh	1930	1956
23	Maharana Bhagwat Singh - "Last ruler of Udaipur State"	1956	1984

HISTORY OF UDAIPUR

Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure water lakes, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravalis. A vision in white drenched in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a perfect blend of sights, sounds and experiences – an inspiration for the imagination of the poets, painters and writers. Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar – a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 years.The royal city that had been the capital of Mewar rulers for centuries.

                             

The foundation of the city has an interesting legend associated with it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola. The hermit counseled the King to establish a kingdom in the fertile valley that would be well-protected by the elevated Aravalli Hills. Subsequently, Maharana Udai Singh laid the foundation stone of Udaipur in 1557 A.D.

                                      

Previousy Chittorgarh was the capital of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar. Maharana Udai Singh was a successor of the Sisodias, who claimed to be the descendants of the Sun God. Amongst the warrior clans, Sisodias are recognized as the most powerful ones in Rajasthan. Another reason for shifting the capital from Chittorgarh to Udaipur was constant attacks in 1568 by the Mughal emperor, Akbar to avoid off the danger, Udai Singh shifted the whole kingdom to Udaipur. Udaipur was naturally safe under the fortifications made by Aravalli Hills.

                           

Udaipur continued to be the capital of Mewar, till it became the princely state of British India in 1818. When India got independent in 1947, the Maharaja of Udaipur granted the place to the Government of India. At that time, Mewar was merged into the state of Rajasthan. In the present date, Udaipur enjoys a favorable position on the maps of Rajasthan. Udaipur is known for its picturesque surroundings and its royal past. Various ancient monuments, massive palaces, architectural temples and beautiful lakes fascinate people to visit the ancient land of the Royalty.Udaipur is voted one of the most romantic cities of India. Due to an abundance of water, there are a number of gardens in and out of town. There are a number of reservoirs surrounding the town, along with a few forts and ancient ruins. Udaipur is a very popular tourist destination. Owing to its many lakes, the city is often called the “Venice of The East “, and is also nicknamed the “Lake City” or “City of Lakes” known for its history, culture, scenic locations and the Rajput-era palaces , Udaipur was also voted as the Best City in the World in 2009 by the Travel + Leisure magazine.

More about The rulers and places to visit in UDAIPUR will be followed in my next post….