Ahar Cenotaphs Udaipur is a cremation ground located in the Udaipur district, in Rajasthan. It is considered as one of the best tourist attraction sites in the Udaipur district as Maharanas or Maharajas of Mewar were cremated along with their wives.
The Ahar Cenotaphs is the most famous archaeological site in the whole of Rajasthan as the wives were immolated with the king’s cremation. The wives would sacrifice themselves whenever the king passed away; even Maharana Sangram Singh was cremated at this cremation ground with his 21 wives. Each Cenotaph represents each king who ruled the Mewar along with the wives and the cenotaph was carved in a unique design. The Ahar Cenotaphs Udaipur refer to the empty tomb monument which was built as an honour or a memorial of the King.
There are a total of 19 cenotaphs present in this site. Image of Lord Vishnu, the Maharana and the queens are carved into the dome of the cenotaph and the architecture of these cenotaphs was very similar to that of a Hindu temple. All the royal cenotaphs consist of 8 hand-carved pillars supporting the octagonal dome in the middle. Ahar Archeological Museum is also located within the vicinity of the cremation ground.
The State Government of Rajasthan created this museum to protect the artefacts and other items which were excavated from the Mewar period. It became the most famous tourist sites within months and tourists had a chance to view how people of Mewar used to live and what kind of object they used to use in the ancient period which included the relics and the religion they used to follow.
History of Ahar Cenotaphs
Ahar Cenotaphs Udaipur, commonly known as the royal cremation ground is a legacy of the Mewar Kingdom built over 400 years ago. There are about nineteen rulers of the Mewar dynasty cremated in this glorious ground Udaipur Tour Packages.
The last cenotaph was constructed for the cremation of Maharana Bhagwat Singh in 2004. The Ahar Cenotaphs has always attracted tourists, and it has been part of some of the Hollywood movies.
In the 1990s, an initiative to restore the legacy of the ancestors of Mewar dynasty was started by Arvind Singh Mewar. He carried out programs to reinstate its past glory. In this process, he got a museum constructed in the compound presently known as the Ahar Archaeological museum. The Ahar Archaeological Museum is home to artifacts coming from the 10th century.
The Architecture of Ahar Cenotaphs
Since ancient time till today, the Ahar Cenotaphs Udaipur has been attraction for the local and tourists to pay honour to the valiant rulers of the Rajasthan.
When you visit Ahar Cenotaphs, you will be amazed by seeing the striking architecture of the memorial. The arched roofs neatly shelter the columns which are placed on the platforms whereas the ceilings are beautifully studded depicting the stories.
The cenotaphs are constructed in marble and are studded with great carvings. When you look from the inside, you will find the sculptures of Lord Shiva.
Places to visit near Ahar Cenotaphs
Some of the places to visit nearby are mentioned below.
- City Palace- Ahar Cenotaphs is 4.7 km away from City Palace. Found on the banks of Lake Pichola, City Palace is one of the most exquisite architecture of the 15th century built under the reign of Maharana Udai Singh.
- Vintage and Classic Car Museum– You can reach the Ahar Cenotaphs from Vintage and Classic Car Museum in about 40 minutes as it is 3.8 km away, but the place is quite high on traffic.
- Jagdish temple- Situated about 4.2 km from Ahar Cenotaphs; Jagdish Temple is a lavish temple built in the 6th century under the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh and is one of the largest in the Udaipur City.
- Lake Palace- Lake Palace that boasts of exotic beauty of marbles residing in the Aravalli hills is found 3.9 Km away from the Ahar Cenotaphs.
- Doodh Talai- Located 5 km away from the Ahar Cenotaphs, Doodh Talai is the best place to take pleasure of scenic beauty of Lake Pichola which is located in the proximity offering exquisite beauty and peaceful environment.
How to reach Ahar Cenotaphs?
Ahar Cenotaphs Udaipur are easily accessible and located within the range of tourist activities in Udaipur Tourism. This archaeological site is approximately 19.4 km away from Maharana Pratap Airport, 5 hm away from Udaipur Railway Station.
Also, you can reach the Ahar Cenotaphs by boarding the public transport or hire a taxi or auto to reach this destination.