Haldighati is a mountain pass situated between the villages of Khamnore and Balicha in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, India. The mountain pass located in the Aravalli range connects the 2 cities of Rajsamand and Udaipur. The mountain pass is located at a distance of 44 kms from Udaipur.
The mountain pass got its name ‘Haldighati’ from the rocks which, when crushed, produced bright yellow soil resembling turmeric powder (haldi in hindi).
The mountain pass is a significant historical location, as it has been a witness to several important events including the epic battle between Maharana Pratap of Mewar state and Mughal Emperor Akbar. Tourists can reach Haldighati pass from 10 AM to 6 PM, and there is no entry fee. The Battle of Haldighati, which took place in 18th June 1576, started 3 hrs. after sunrise. In the battle. the Kingdom of Mewar army led by Hakim Khan Sur, a descendent of Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan general who became Emperor of India between 1530s and 40s; and the Mughal Army was led by Kunwar Man Singh I of Amber.
Maharana Pratap lost the battle and had to flee the battlefield on his trusted horse Chetak. The horse Chetak played a pivotal role in the Battle of Haldighati. Although Chetak was fatally wounded in the battle and died on same day; but before collapsing from injury; it managed to jump over a seemingly wide enough gorge, which was something not possible for the horses of Mughal Army chasing Maharana Pratap. This way, the horse managed to save Maharana Pratap’s life. Maharana Pratap erected a small monument called chhatri or cenotaph for his beloved horse, at the very spot where Chetak fell down and died. The cenotaph, located at a distance of 4 kms from the site of Battle of Haldighati, is made of pure white marble as a remembrance to the horse, Chetak. It exists at the spot in Haldighati till this day.
Maharana Pratap National Memorial was commissioned by Government of India in 1997, and it was completed and thrown open to public on June 2009. The memorial. Features, a huge bronze statue of the Maharana astride Chetak, and is a major tourist attraction. There is also a museum beside the memorial. The museum open from 8 AM to 6 PM; depicts life and times including many incidents related to Maharana Pratap. There is also a ‘light and sound’ show, held at the museum every evening. The charges are, INR 100 for adults and INR 50 for kids. Tourism in Haldighati is not just about the battle and the memorial, but also about rose products and mud art of Molela, that are much in demand by tourist.
There are other places worth visiting; in and around Haldighati, these include Balicha village known for its unique terracotta arts and crafts. There is also Badshahi Bagh, a stunning garden worth visiting. It is famed for ‘Chaitri-Gulab’ authentic rose water, and ‘Gulkand’, a type of jam made from rose petals, and used with betel leaves (pan).
The Battle
The Battle of Haldighati was a battle fought on 18 June 1576, between the Kingdom of Mewar forces of Maharana Pratap led by Hakim Khan Sur, and the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar, led by Man Singh I of Amber. This battle was the result of the 3rd siege of Chittorgarh in 1567, when Akbar defeated Maharana Pratap’s father Uday Singh. The 3rd siege of Chittorgarh, had resulted in Mewar Kingdom losing much of its land and the Chittorgarh fort. Mughal army outnumbered the Mewar forces by 4 to 1.
The Mughals won the battle eventually after inflicting significant casualties on Mewar forces. Despite initial successes, the Mewar forces lost the momentum and the battle as the day progressed. Maharana Pratap was himself wounded in the battle. Though the Mughals failed to capture Maharana Pratap even after giving him a chase, who had reluctantly retreated from battlefield on being persuaded by his fellow commanders; and his beloved horse Chetak jumped over a seemingly wide gorge to save his life before dying of wounds.
A few men under Jhala Man Singh covered his retreat from battlefield in a rearguard action. After Chetak ensured he was safe with the amazing jump; Mughal forces didn’t chase him any further on orders of Man Singh I, an act for which he was banished from Mughal court for some time, by Emperor Akbar. More than 1000 people died in the battle on both sides, that lasted for over 4 hours. Legend says, the soil at the sight of the battle had turned red instead of yellow. Despite the loss at Haldighati, Maharana Pratap continued to resist the Mughal empire and waged a long battle against the much superior Mughal forces through a sustained guerrilla warfare campaign.
In subsequent years, Maharana Pratap managed to recover much of his lost territory and some other forts that were part of his ancestral kingdom; that were earlier captured by Mughal forces. Though by the time of his death; he couldn’t recover the Chittorgarh Fort that had been reinforced by Mughals under Akbar. However, after death of both Maharana Pratap and Emperor Akbar; in 1606, Akbar’s son Jahangir as the next Mughal Emperor returned the fort, much of it by that time had been ruined due to no maintenance; to Pratap’s son Amar Singh I, with a promise of peace and no hostility.
Haldighati can be can easily reached by car, taxi and bus from Udaipur, which in itself is well-connected by rail, road and air; with all major cities of India. The best time to visit Haldighati, is during the winter months of October and March. If interested, tourist can also visit during the rainy season from July to September. The tourists need to keep; sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses handy to save themselves from scorching heat.
