Introduction

About 3 kilometers (2 miles) east of Udaipur, Ahar is a small town famous for the cenotaphs of the royal rulers and an archaeological museum. There are regular state buses from the city; you can even hire a private taxi to Ahar. Here you will come across cenotaphs of 19 Mewar rulers built over four centuries. Take a walk around this royal cremation ground; take a closer look at the cenotaph of Maharana Amar Singh, it is massive and beautifully carved complete with embellished domes and arches.

What makes Maharana Amar Singh’s cenotaph the most arresting are the architraves on the single stone with an image of Lord Shiva, and a sculpture of the Maharana with his wives. All the marble memorials are huge, finely carved and clustered within a walled compound. Also stop to see Maharana Sangram Singh’s cenotaph that has 56 pillars in its porch and another eight smaller pillars in the centre supporting an octagonal dome. Sangram Singh along with his 21 wives was cremated in this site in 1734.

After exploring this dramatic cremation ground, continue to the nearby Ahar Museum that houses an unusual assortment of earthen pottery, iron artifacts, sculptures and archaeological finds. Some antiques are as old as 1700 BC, besides a 10th century metal statue of Lord Buddha. Many other objects are known to have been exhumed from Dhulkot, the site of a 4000-year-old township, by the archaeological department of Rajasthan. Admire the collection of skin scrubber, animal figures, grain pot, stone weights and seals from 1st century BC, in addition to terracotta toys, exquisite pottery and a huge earthen pot. Though the museum is more for history lovers, a browse through its rare collection of antiques from ancient ages can spellbind any visitor.

Special Attributes

Look-out for the lavish and beautifully ornate, marble cenotaph of Maharana Amar Singh. The Ahar Museum is famous for its collection of unusual pottery from ancient ages.

Nuisance

The site is very peaceful and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

You can wear anything you are comfortable in. However, it is better to avoid wearing revealing/short clothes.

Connectivity

State bus and private taxi

Enjoyed by

Families, Backpackers

Exposure

You will partly be indoors and partly outdoors. It is advisable to carry your sunshades, sunscreen lotion and a bottle of drinking water.

Avoidable Season

April, May, June, July, August, September

Facilities

Basic, plan accordingly

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction.

Tip

Begin early in the day so that you can explore the cenotaphs and museum at leisure, in the broad light of the day.

Type of site

Royal cremation ground and archaeological museum