Surrounded by lush green fields and mountains on three sides, the awe inspiring Devi Garh is a 40 minutes scenic drive from the city of Udaipur. This 18th century fort palace, tucked away in the age-old Aravali hills of Rajasthan, overlooking the village of Delwara, is close to the temples of Eklingji, Nagda and “Nathdwara – The first of Vaishnava Tirth.” The towering fort, a traditional Rajasthani village and the temples make a delightful and interesting mix. The imposing and impressive structure Devi Garh has regained much of its charm after years of restoration and reconstruction. Maharana Pratap awarded this strategically significant principality to Sajja Singh in recognition of his bravery and loyalty at the battle of Haldighati, in 1576, against the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The actual construction of the fort palace started only in the 1760s, under Raghudev Singh II, with further additions being made to the structure by the rulers

who followed. The palace was absorbed into the state of Rajasthan in the 1960s, and was subsequently abandoned. The imposing and impressive structure Devi Garh has regained much of its charm after years of restoration and reconstruction. The fort palace stands, quite literally, in two worlds: the traditional and the modern. Its ambience is an eclectic mix of skillfully crafted designs, both old and new, using marble and semi-precious stones in contemporary designs. The places of interest from Devi Garh are: Udaipur, a city of palaces, gardens and lakes, was founded in 1567 by Maharana Udai Singh ji on the bank of Lake Pichola. Considered one of the most beautiful cities in India, it was the last capital of the state of Mewar. The Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, the beautiful Fateh Prakash Palace (part of which has been converted into a museum housing the largest collection of crystals in the world), and Sahelion Ki Bari are but a few of Udaipur’s main attractions. Eklingji, a temple complex consisting of 108 temples built of sandstone and marble, dating back to 734 A.D., is 5 kilometers away. Nagda, in close proximity to a lotus pond 6 kilometers away, is a cluster of temples that have intricate stone carvings. Nathdwara, built in the 18th century and one of India’s most renowned Vaishnava place of worship, is a shrine to Shri Nathji (the Hindu God Krishna) about 24 kilometers away. The complex houses one of the most beautiful and an excellent example of Indian workmanship. Ranakpur, 110 kilometers away, is a day’s excursion from Devi Garh.  The complex houses one of the most beautiful and an excellent example of Indian workmanship

-LawZ Bureau