Bagore Ki Haveli - A Museum of Royal Culture and Tradition of Rajasthan.

 

One of the most famous places to visit in Udaipur, Bagore Ki Haveli. It is a haveli that stands magnificently on the waterfront of the surreal Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat. Built in the 18th century by Amar Chand Badwa, the then Prime minister of Mewar kingdom, Bagore Ki Haveli has been restored over the period of time and is now converted into a museum. The West Zone Cultural Centre converted the haveli into a museum, while retaining the royal look in the same old architectural style. To maintain its old charm, several royal family members were consulted and the Haveli was restored using local and traditional skills. The materials used for the restoration of Bagore ki Haveli included the traditional materials like lakhori bricks and lime mortar. The existing murals were preserved and the doors, windows and perforated screens were repaired and the extremely damaged ones were replaced.

 

 

Bagore ki Haveli is a marvellous assortment of huge courtyards, balconies, jharokhas, decorative archways, cupolas and a fountain. With around 138 rooms, the interiors of the Haveli are decorated with exceptional mirror work. The walls of the Haveli are adorned beautifully with alluring glasswork and mural paintings. One can see various rooms used by the royal family that are worth admiring for its finest craftsmanship. As one enters the gates of the Haveli, an attractive courtyard with an equally attractive two storied Lotus fountain greets them.

 

 

Bagore ki Haveli also has Shringar Kaksh, a dressing room used by the women of the Haveli. It contains a wooden trunk used by the princesses to store their possessions. One can also find Itra Daan, a perfume used by the royal women in this room. Women in the Haveli were also interested in music and Sangeet Kaksh in the Haveli was used by the royal women to learn music and indulge in playing music instruments such as santoor, chang, dholak, nagada, sarangi, etc. Manoranjan Kaksh was the place where men enjoyed playing board games and exhibits games like chaupad and ganjifa.

 

 

Bagore ki Haveli museum is divided into five sections namely Haveli Museum, The Puppet Museum, The Turban Museum, The Weapon Museum, The Wedding Depiction Section. Each of these sections is very well maintained.

 

As one strolls through the Haveli, they come across lobbies leading them to various rooms of the Haveli such as the private quarters of the royal ladies, their bathrooms, dressing rooms, bed rooms, living rooms, worship rooms and recreation rooms. The rooms are set up in the old style that showcase how the royal family used to live once.

 

 

A favourite among kids, Puppet museum has a display of a number of puppets. The entrance of the museum greets one with miniature puppets and other decor items that are handmade. At one side of the room, one can see a section dedicated to king’s courtroom setup in the form of puppets, with the king, queen and various other ministers sitting in their seats. One can also see puppets of horses, elephants, and many other dolls in various shapes and sizes in the museum. An integral part of the Rajasthani culture, this puppet museum is worth a visit especially when visiting with kids.

 

 

Located on the ground floor of the Haveli, the Turban Section showcases various turbans from different states of India such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. One gets insight into how people from different states wear their turbans which is an integral part of their culture.

 

 

Located right beside the entrance, weapons section of the museum is comparatively a smaller section. It showcases various weapons used by the kings and their armies during battle.

 

 

Another attraction of Bagore ki Haveli, the wedding section is also a smaller section that depicts different stages of an Indian wedding in the form of dolls or puppets. This section gives an insight into the various rituals and customs followed in a traditional Indian wedding, right from muhurat fixation to wedding to post wedding rituals which is both enlightening as well as entertaining.

 

 

The main attraction of Bagore ki Haveli is the Dharohar Dance Show that is conducted in the evenings starting around 7 pm. This hour long show takes place in the courtyard called as the Neem Chowk. The beautifully lit up balconies of the Neem chowk add charm to the Haveli setting up a stage for the traditional Rajasthani folk dance and music. Seating arrangements are made on the floor around the stage. The floor is arranged with large mattresses placed around the three sides of the terrace to get a good view of the dance performances.

 

 

Winter months from September to March are considered as the Best months to visit Bagore ki Haveli as the weather is quite pleasant during this time. Udaipur being a desert city, the summer months can get extremely hot and any kind of sightseeing or movement is extremely uncomfortable.

 

The Ticket price for Bagore ki Haveli Museum is Rs. 60 for Indian Adults and Rs. 30 for Indian Children aged between 5 to 12 years. The Entry fee for Foreigners is Rs. 100 for Adults and Rs. 50 for Children. Cameras are charged at Rs. 50. For Dharohar Dance show, the tickets are priced at Rs. 90 for Indian Adults and Rs. 45 for Indian Children. For foreigners, the ticket fee is Rs. 150 for Adults and Rs. 75 for Children. Cameras are charged at Rs. 150.

 

Museum - 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on all days of the week.

Dharohar Dance Show - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on all days of the week.

Timings may vary on special occasions and festivals.

 

Bagore ki Haveli is located in the Old city of Udaipur which is within the range of 1.5 km radius from the city center. The Haveli is well connected by local buses, auto rickshaws and taxis. You can also book a private cab to reach the haveli conveniently. The Haveli is at a short distance from the airport and Railway station as well.