The Ahar Cenotaphs lie in a quiet suburb a short distance from central Udaipur. At first glance, the site looks like a forest of stone umbrellas – more than 250 chhatris (domed pavilions) in cream stone rising above platforms, some simple, others richly decorated. These are royal memorials to the Maharanas of Mewar and their family members. Walking through the complex, you see repeated patterns of pillars, domes and small shrines, with the sky and trees framing the architecture. Nearby, the Ahar Archaeological Museum displays excavated pottery, sculptures and artefacts from the region, linking the royal memorial site to a much deeper historical timeline.
About this place
History & highlights
Ahar (also called Mahasati, “great place of sati”) has been used as a royal cremation ground and memorial site for the Mewar dynasty for around 350 years, with at least 19 cenotaphs dedicated to different Maharanas, along with many more for other royals. The chhatris follow a broadly similar architectural pattern – platforms, pillars and domes – but vary in size and ornament according to the status of the person commemorated. Historically, it was also a site where royal wives or concubines sometimes committed sati along with the deceased ruler, a practice now abolished but remembered in local narratives. Modern heritage work and tourism promotion have focused on Ahar’s architectural beauty and historical value, presenting it as a serene place to reflect on Udaipur’s royal past rather than on those painful rituals.
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