Udaipur Here I Come !

Ok! this weekend I'm off to Udaipur, so as a matter of habit googled it ( after all a senior once drummed it into our heads that google mein dodnd ne se bagwaan bhi miltha hai, since then its been my Geeta and Bible :) )

But I recall some legends about that place ( ya Rajasthan has more legends that the people in the state I guess, horses have legend there heavens!) 

I can recall :

• Udiapur was built from scratch by Maharana Udai Singh, this was after the Mughals attacked and captured Chitoor ( This was when the third dreadful Jauhar was held. Jauhar is a custom where the women of the fort kill themselves by jumping to a fire - something like mass sati rather then be captured by the enemy. And the men fight to the end something like Hira kiri it is called saka . These people took pride in laying down their lives !!!!Man!)

• The History of Udaipur is more colorful for the resistance to Mughal who were then the foreign invaders then the British ( that is in my mind.... cant recall such legends with Brits... lucky them!)

• Then I remember the stories of Maharanpratap who made Udaipur his base till he recaptured the famed fort of Chitor ( Yes the famed fort where 3 jauhars were held - in different eras of course! on was before Udaipur was built, one was of rani Padmini - remember how the kamena Allaudin Khili wanted to see this beautiful queen, so it was arranged for her to be seen through a mirror, the kameena villain falls for her and wages a war for her possession but the beautiful queen kills herself before the fort is captured. Well not sure if I have to feel proud or sad...)

• Ya back to Maharana Pratap : He vowed to stay in the jungle and sleep on the hard floor till the fort of Chittor was re captured from Akbar! ( He complied with both! Grit and guts the guy had!)

• The Maharana managed to wage several wars the most famous one ( or at least the one I remember from my textbooks ) was the one in which in a failing battle his leader convince him to flee ( so that the battle can be carried on later...) His Loyal commander donned his dress ( and was killed duh!) the king escaped on his horse Chetak ( Chetak was grievously injured in the battle by the elephant - it was said Chetak placed his front legs on the elephants tusk so that his master could harpoon the enemy commander on the elephant! ). But, Chetak takes his master to safety till his last breath!( there is a memorial for the horse at the spot)

• At this very spot there is another folklore, when the Maharan a was fleeing two Arab mercenaries saw him and decided to follow, on seeing this Maharana's brother (who till the was with the enemy due to some family dispute had a change of heart) followed them (that's filmi) and single handedly killed the two mercenaries ( the brothers made up after that)

• About Rana Sanga I have not heard as much . But He was Maharan Pratap's grand dad and fought Babur ( Akbar's father). He was as brave as brave could get and was suppose to be the epitome in chivalry, valor and the true follower of Hindu fighting laws ( like don't attack unarmed enemy...) 

Legends, wars, heros on horses, nobel steads, sarcifice, secrets, pride, valour, heros , beautiful damsels, wicked enemies the place has seen it all 

Well that seems to be one famous town, with some illustrious people. Reading about theses stories gives me goosebumps...To be there will be well.....