Rana Pratap Sagar: Created in the 1950s - a very large reservoir damming the Chambal & Gunjali Rivers -- resulting in an enormous sheet of water in a very dry land. There should be birds - a local guide could show us the best birding sites and ancient places on their shores. Both these places are part of Chittaurgarh district. Bhainsrodgarh, on the right bank of the Chambal river, has wonderful natural surroundings and a whole village is established in the fort. On the way, the ancient temple of Goparnath Mahadev can be visited. Bhainsrorgarh:
An impregnable fort, inhabited from at least the 2nd cen. BC, dramatically
positioned between two rivers. It had passed through the hands of
several clans before becoming the seat of a premier noble of Mewar,
the large region around Udaipur, Princely State of the exalted Sisodia
clan before Independence. It contains 5 tanks, temples to Devi Bhim
Chauri, Shiva, and Ganesh and a palace that is presently for rent!
Legend connects this place with the marriage of the Mahabharata hero,
Bhima to the lovely demoness, Hidamba. Court life here was known for
its poisonings, often put in a paan [betelnut digestif].
Several excellent stone murtis [sculptures] are mentioned
in old architectual texts as being here, but they may have been sent
to museums. One, a sleeping Vishnu, was considered by an early British
archaeologist to be the most beautiful of all Hindu sculptures. Also
a set of ‘the 8 Mothers’ and a Trimurti [3 faced image]. Let’s hope
they’re still here! |