Haldighati Udaipur

Haldighati is an important historical site in the context of Rajasthan, India. Actually, Haldighati is a mountain pass in the Aravalli range connecting districts of Rajsamand and Pali in Rajasthan. The place is at a comfortable distance of 40 kms from the city of Udaipur. The term Haldighati has been derived from the yellow colored soil of the place that gives a sense of turmeric (in Hindi, turmeric is called as 'Haldi' and valley is known as' Ghati').

Haldighati is famously known for the historical battle of Haldighati, which took place in 1576 AD between Maharana Pratap Singh and Man Singh, the general of Mughal emperor Akbar. This battle is considered as one of the most significant events in the history of the Rajputs, and this battle was also one of the shortest battles in Indian history, which lasted for only 4 hours. Today, the Haldighati pass, in which the battle took place, stands as a tourist spot, with great memories of Maharana Pratap Singh and his brave horse Chetak.

The term Haldighati has been derived from the yellow colored soil of the place that gives a sense of turmeric. This place was the battlefield for the legend Maharana Pratap and also the place where his mount, Chetak, breathed his last. Maharana Pratap erected a small monument for his horse at the place where Chetak fell. The cenotaph still exists at Haldighati. The Government of India commissioned the construction of Maharana Pratap National Memorial in the year 1997. The memorial features a bronze statue of the Maharana astride Chetak.

There is a museum named Maharana Pratap Museum which displays many weapons and paintings of the famous battle. This imaginative museum was started in the year 2003. Light and sound shows give a glimpse of the events inside the museum. Balicha Village, located at a short distance from the place, is famous for its terracotta crafts. The presence of 'Chaitri-Gulab' makes Badshahi Bagh famous. Original rose water and 'Gulkand' (jam made from rose petals) that has immense medicinal value are prominent highlights of this garden.

At a distance of around 4 kms from the battlefield, a cenotaph (chattri) is built in pure white marble. This cenotaph is dedicated to the gallant horse Chetak as a sign of respect and admiration. The bloody battle of Haldighati has been captured an inescapable place in the History of India. The battle has been known since ages in murals and ballads. In the words of Col. James Todd (a British author), Haldighati has been referred as 'Thermopile of Mewar'.

History of Haldighati
Known for the bloodiest battle fought in the region, the Battle of Haldighati has an essential place in history. If you have a slight bent towards Indian history, you will know that the Indian history is incomplete without reference to the Battle of Haldighati. This historic Battle of Haldighati has been fought on 21st June 1576 between Maharana Pratap, the Mewar King, and Emperor Akbar, a Mughal ruler. Even though it is one of the most significant battles in Rajput history, it was also the shortest battle ever fought in the past.

This ferocious fight fought on this narrow strip of mountains lasted for 4 hours, only leading to mass-scale death of the heroic soldiers of the time. The blood could be found all over the place, making it turned red instead of yellow in this case. Sadly Maharana Pratap lost the battle to Raja Man Singh of Amber, one of the most trusted army generals of Mughals during the times.

Haldighati is also significant for another reason, i.e., the unexplainable companionship of Maharana Pratap and his horse, Chetak. Chetak, the loyal companion of Pratap, took his last breath just a few kilometers away, only after leaving Pratap to a safe place.
Haldighati is considered to be the pride of the Rajsamand district of Udaipur. The stellar role of Haldighati and its indifferent aura reminds us of the sacrifices made by the gallant warriors to protect the honor of the Rajputana kingdom. The place also sends chills down the spine as it speaks of the merciless killings and selfless acts of soldiers made to protect India from the clutches of brutal foreign forces.

How to reach Haldighati
Being a very well-connected city, Udaipur is highly accessible via airways, railways, and roadways. Below mentioned are the three ideal ways to reach the glorious land of Haldighati.

· Airport - Maharana Pratap Airport is the only airport in the Udaipur which is found at a distance of 50 km away from the Haldighati. You can take advantage of regular domestic flights coming through various cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. Once you have deboarded, you can either take a direct bus or take a private cab (which is highly recommended) to reach Haldighati in no time.

· Railway Station - Udaipur Railway Station is about 146 Km away from the Haldighati region of Udaipur. It is about a 3-hour journey from the railway station and Udaipur. The Udaipur Railway Station is well-linked to significant railways stations namely Delhi, Jodhpur, Chennai, Agra, Mumbai, Bikaner, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad.

· Public Transport - Haldighati is located quite close to Nathdwara district of Udaipur, which is easily accessible. You can avail local transports like autorickshaw, cabs, taxis, or government-run buses. The transport corporation of nearby states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh runs both deluxe and non-deluxe buses to Udaipur which is a safe and affordable option for commuting to Udaipur.