Rajasthan Govt to invest Rs 100 Cr in Maharana Pratap Tourist Circuit

Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, has announced an ambitious plan to develop the Maharana Pratap Tourist Circuit with an investment of Rs 100 crore. This announcement was made on 8 June 2023 during the inauguration of the Maharana Pratap Jayanti celebration in Udaipur, where the 484th birthday of the legendary Maharana Pratap of Mewar was celebrated on 9 June 2024 (according to the Hindu calendar).

The Maharana Pratap Tourist Circuit

The Maharana Pratap Tourist Circuit aims to preserve the rich historical and cultural heritage of the region by developing places associated with the life of Maharana Pratap of Mewar. These include:

• Udaipur
• Chawand
• Haldighati (site of the famous battle)
• Gogunda
• Kumbhalgarh
• Dewar
• Chhapli
• Chittorgarh

Under this project, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation will establish museums, provide basic amenities for tourists, and improve overall connectivity to these significant locations.

Mewar Complex Circuit

The Mewar Complex Circuit was launched by the Rajasthan Government in 2005 with financial assistance from the central government. After completing two phases, the third phase has been rebranded as the Maharana Pratap Tourist Circuit.

The Legendary Maharana Pratap

Maharana Pratap, born as Rana Pratap Singh, was the son of Maharana Udai Singh II and Jaiwanta Bai. He was born in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan, on 9 May 1540 (according to the Gregorian calendar) or on the third lunar day of the month of Jyeshtha (as per the Hindu calendar).

Maharana Pratap belonged to the Sisodia clan of the Mewar Rajputs. He was crowned the King of Mewar on 28 February 1572 at Gogunda as the 13th King of Mewar, after the death of his father, Udai Singh II, who founded the city of Udaipur.

The Battle of Haldighati and Legacy

Maharana Pratap was one of the few Rajput kings who refused to surrender or make an alliance with the Mughals. The famous Battle of Haldighati was fought on 18 June 1576 between Maharana Pratap and Raja Man Singh of Amber, who commanded the Mughal army of Emperor Akbar. Although defeated in the battle, Maharana Pratap continued his struggle against the Mughals.

In 1579, he regained control over the Western Mewar area, including Kumbhalgarh, Udaipur, and Gogunda, but he could never reclaim Chittor, the capital of Mewar. He established a new capital at Chavand, near modern Dungarpur.

Maharana Pratap died on 19 January 1597 at Chavand. His son Amar Singh succeeded him, and in 1614, he submitted to the Mughal Emperor Jahāngīr, son of Akbar.

The Maharana Pratap Tourist Circuit aims to honour the legacy of this valiant warrior and preserve the historical significance of the places associated with his life and struggles against the Mughals.