Maharana Pratap Memorial is a historic site that is dedicated to the gallant Maharana Pratap. Situated at the top of Moti Margi or Pearl Hill, the memorial overlooks the Fateh Sagar Lake. In Hindi, memorial is known as "smarak" and smarak is always made in the memory of loved ones. Maharana Pratap Memorial was constructed with the initiative taken by Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar with the help of a public trust.
The memorial comprises a life-sized bronze statue of Maharana Pratap balanced on his loyal and favorite horse, Chetak. It is believed that Chetak was a faithful horse. He was extremely protective towards Maharana Pratap and stood by his master till his last breath. Chetak was killed in the battle of Haldighati. People visit this memorial to pay their homage to the Rajput hero, Rana Pratap and his loyal mount 'Chetak'.
This outstanding statue has also been picturised for various Bollywood movies. If you are a photographer, then you will truly love this place. From the comfortable height of the hill, you can click some of the best pictures of Udaipur city. One can also visit the attractive Japanese Rock Garden and the remnants of one of the forts of Udaipur, which are located near this hill.
History of Maharana Pratap Memorial
Situated on Moti Magri or Pearl Mount looking across Fateh Sagar Lake, the statuette is placed on a white plinth and housed in a beautiful garden with greenery all around. Travellers pay homage standing in front of this statue and revelling in the marvel of the architecture amidst the garden premises. This place is also popular for housing some of Udaipur’s ruined forts.
As the history goes, Maharana Pratap, for whom this memorial was established, was the son of Maharana Uday Singh II of Mewar. Ascending to the throne in 1570, Maharana Pratap Singh ably fought against the Mughal Emperor Akbar defending his kingdom of Rajputana but lost the battle along with his brave horse getting killed in the battle of Haldighati in 1576. The statuette in bronze is a stupendous structure and extraordinary in its architecture so much so that a visitor will marvel in the glory of the edifice. Maharana Pratap Singh died in a battle in 1597.
There is an old fort overlooking Lake Pichola very close to Maharana Pratap Memorial which was built by the Prime Minister of Mewar, Amir Chand Badwa in 18th century. The palatial rooms and the exquisite architecture add to the charm of the place with the Haveli being converted into a resort with entertainment in the evening amidst the enchanting environment. The Japanese Rock Garden is adjacent to the Maharana Pratap Memorial.
Architecture of Maharana Pratap Memorial
Built-in the 18th century, the Memorial is one of the greatest tributes given to Maharana Pratap by Maharana Bhagwat Singh. One of the most thrilling features of the Memorial is a life-sized bronze statue of Maharana Pratap sitting on his faithful horse, Chetak. The figure is 11 feet high and weighs about 70 tonnes. The sculpture can be seen from kilometers away.
The museum built on the premises of the Memorial has an enormous collection of paintings. These paintings depict the rich history of Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh along with the few instances from the battle of Haldighati. There are other statues of near and dear ones of Maharana Pratap in the memorial premises such as Bhilu Raja, Bhamashah, Jhalaman, and Hakim Khan Sur.
The interiors of the Memorial are decorated with stunning and delicate glasswork. Some of the colored glasses form exquisite imageries, such as an image of a peacock.
How to reach Maharana Pratap Memorial
The Maharana Pratap Memorial is a famous tourist spot in the city; hence, it is easily accessible.
Airport - Maharana Pratap Airport is located 23.3 km away from the Memorial. You can take a private cab to reach the Memorial.
Railway Station - The Udaipur railway station is located at a distance of 2.4 km away from the Memorial. You can either hire an auto rickshaw or cab to reach your destination.
Public Transport - Udaipur is a well-connected city; you can either ply a private or a state-run bus to reach the Memorial, which is located 5 Km away from the City Palace. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh Transport Authority run buses regularly in and out of the city. You can also take a road trip to Udaipur as it is connected to National Highway 8.
