Udaipur City Palace To Be Closed For Tourists On March 16, 17. Here's Why

The 450-year-old City Palace in Udaipur is located in the heart of the old town overlooking Lake Pichola. It is one of the most famous palaces in Rajasthan and receives high footfall by tourists.

City Palace is situated on the banks of Lake Pichola and houses several royal palaces within its premises.

Source : Canva

Arvind Singh Mewar, the member of the royal family of Mewar in Udaipur, died on Sunday in the Rajasthan city after prolonged illness.

81-year-old Mewar, a descendant of Rajput king Maharana Pratap, was ill for a long time and was under treatment at his residence in the City Palace in Udaipur.

The funeral of the Arvind Singh Mewar will take place on Monday. As a mark of respect for the descendant of the Rajput king, the Udaipur City Palace will be closed for tourists on Sunday and Monday (March 16 & 17). 

The mortal remains of Mewar will be kept at the City Palace from 7 am onwards on Monday for members of the public to pay their last respects and homage to the departed soul. It will be followed by the funeral procession starting from Shambhu Palace and passing through Badi Pol, Jagdish Chowk, Ghantaghar, Bada Bazaar, and Delhi Gate, finally reaching Mahasatiya.

The City Palace will be open to tourists from Tuesday (March 18) from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Who Was Arvind Singh Mewar?

Arvind Singh Mewar, a descendant of Rajput king Maharana Pratap and chairman of the HRH group of hotels, was ill for a long time and under treatment at his residence in City Palace.

He was the younger son of Bhagwant Singh Mewar and Sushila Kumari. His elder brother Mahendra Singh Mewar died in November last year. 

Arvind was educated at the prestigious Mayo College, Ajmer and  pursued hotel management courses in the UK and US. He received training in various international hotels. 

He lived and worked in Chicago in the US for many years before building the HRH group of hotels as a professionally-managed corporate organisation. 

He was also an avid cricketer and made his debut in Ranji Trophy as Rajasthan's skipper in 1945-46. 

Udaipur City Palace In Contention?

The death of Arvind Singh Mewar comes three months after Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who became the titular head of the Mewar family, was denied entry in the City Palace to offer prayers in the premise.

Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who is also a BJP MLA, has faced challenge from his late uncle Arvind Singh Mewar and his son Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar.

Property dispute is at the core of the Mewar family dispute. While the Udaipur's City palace and Eklingnathji temple are under the control of Arvind Singh's family, Vishvaraj is based in Chittorgarh fort.