India, Rajasthan State, surroundings of Udaipur, Ahar site contains more than 250 cenotaphs of the maharanas of Mewar that were built over approximately 350 years. There are 19 chhatris that commemorate the 19 maharajas who were cremated here

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Royal Cremation Ground

Udaipur


About 3km east of the old city, at Ahar, is Udaipur’s royal cremation ground, with 372 cenotaphs of maharanas and queens of Mewar forming a spectacular city of domes built over 400 years. Nineteen maharanas were cremated here, and the most striking cenotaph is that of Maharana Sangram Singh (r 1710–34). The newest, erected in 2004, is that of Udaipur’s last maharana, Bhagwat Singh (r 1955–84), father of the current head of the ex-ruling household.

A return trip by autorickshaw should cost around ₹140, including waiting time.

The beautiful Ayad Jain Temple, 300m back towards Udaipur, is also well worth a look while you are here.

Ahar was also the site of ancient settlement that predated Udaipur by three-and-a-half millennia. Just 150m along the road from the royal cremation ground, the Ahar Government Museum contains copper and pottery objects more than 3300 years old, plus sculptures of Hindu gods and tirthankars (great Jain teachers) from the 8th to 16th centuries AD.


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Nearby Udaipur attractions

1. Ahar Government Museum

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Just 150m along the road from the royal cremation ground, the Ahar Government Museum contains copper and pottery objects more than 3300 years old, plus…

2. Vintage & Classic Car Collection

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The maharanas’ car collection makes a fascinating diversion, for what it tells about their elite lifestyle and for the vintage vehicles themselves. Housed…

3. Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum

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This private folk-art museum, with an uncannily Dalek-like entrance tower, exhibits dresses, tribal jewellery, turbans, dolls, masks, musical instruments,…

5. Jagdish Temple

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Reached by a steep, elephant-flanked flight of steps, 150m north of the City Palace’s Badi Pol, this busy Indo-Aryan temple was built by Maharana Jagat…

7. Badi Pol

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The main entrance to the City Palace complex, built in 1615.

8. Tripolia Gate

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This three-arched gate was built in 1711 and opens onto the large Manesh Chowk in the City Palace complex.

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