Inside the Sisodia Legacy: Warriors, Palaces, and Pride

Step into the realm of golden sands of Old Rajasthan, where every fort carries an element of story and every street has an echo of valor in its hearts. Having been termed the “Rajaon ka Stan”, Rajasthan’s prachin cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, and Chittorgarh can be contemplated as living museums preserving the glory of kings, architectural beauty, and dry-worn traditions. The term “Old Rajasthan” is often mentioned in reference to the historical heartlands that used to comprise the mighty Rajputana region-a confederacy of princely states ruled by brave Rajput clans.

Steeped in honor and loyalty, the Rajputana legacy stands tall. Whatever the occasion, Rajput warriors constructed palaces and huge fortresses for artistry and protection of their kingdoms. Their culture was one marked by valor in combat, service to dharma (duty), and support of art, music, and literature.

Whether from the ballads of valiant warriors and tragic queens or the vivid traditions reflected in attire, food, and celebrations—the heritage of Rajputana courses through Rajasthan. This culture is an amalgam of fierce pride and sublime charm, under which royal hospitality (“Atithi Devo Bhava”) has always prevailed.

Similar to many folktales that have been read and used in the History books of the children, the region of Mewar has always been glorified for their prominent rulers and also for their forfeiting victory and non-surrendering attitude to the mughal rulers. The cities that come under the Mewar region are “Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Nathdwara, Banswara, Dungarpur and Shahpura.” Mewar is significantly known as the southern central Rajasthan which is popular for its rich history and royal heritage.

Old Rajasthan isn’t just history—it’s a heartbeat that continues to echo through sandstone walls, ornate havelis, desert winds, and the warm spirit of its people.

Interesting Folklore into Sisodia Dynasty

The Sisodia Dynasty is part of the Guhila Dynasty who have ruled the Mewar kingdom for many years, which is now known as the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India. 

This dynasty or should we say the group of rulers who belonged to the same family have many rulers who are known for their valor and bravery. This Rajput legacy has been taken forward by these rulers who are Rana Hamir, Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga ,Maharana Pratap and Maharana Amar singh. 

These rulers have been celebrated and known for their history of resistance and bravery against the muslim rulers and their allies. 

Here is a detailed breakdown into the Sisodia Dynasty:

The origin of Sisodia Dynasty: The introduction of the Sisodia kingdom came into existence from the Guhila Dynasty who themselves have their origins back to Rahapa who is a son of King Ranasimha. 

Founding of the Dynasty: Rana Hamir was a member of the Sisodia branch who had re-established the kingdom of Mewar in 1326 after the rule of the period of Muslim rule. 

Capital: Chittor was one of the most powerful forts in Mewar which is present day Chittorgarh and served as the main capital of the Sisodia dynasty.

Notable Rulers:

• Rana Hamir: He reclaimed Mewar and established the Sisodia branch.
• Rana Kumbha: He was the one who has been considered to have constructed the very impressive Kumbhalgarh Fort and promoted art and architecture.
• Rana Sanga: A formidable warrior which is known for his bravery in the battle against various rulers.
• Maharana Pratap: He is very famous in the city of Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh because of his bravery and non-surroundence to the mughal army during his battle at Haldighati. 

Legacy: The Sisodia Dynasty have left behind a legacy of resistance, bravery and cultural achievement. This has now made a solidifying achievement in their position as the prominent Rajput Dynasty in Indian History.  

History of the Sisodias

The story of the Sisodia’s starts from their capital of Mewar which is Chittorgarh. Originally Chittor fort is said to be built and ruled by the Maurya dynasty before Bappa Rawal fought and captured the fort. It is believed that after the capture of the fort by Bappa Rawal, his successors have fought many battles with the mughals and the britishers to regain their fort and rule in the Mewar Region.

The Sisodias are the Chattari Rajputs of the Suryavanshi Lineage who have ruled over the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan who were prior to Rana Hamir whose clan was known as the Gehlot or Guhilot. 

In 1303 CE, Alla-ud-din Khilji had attacked Chittor for the second time in 5 years, so in accordance to the legends, the  events which took place to destroy Chittor was quite in inevitable and evident as the ruler of Chittor was killed in this war and Rani Padmini had committed Jauhar (self- immolation) with all the Rajput women in the fort. She did this because she knew that when the women were caught as war bounty. Therefore the act of Jauhar. 

The young boys of this family were not present in the fort during the war with Khilji; Hence this helped to keep the family lineage going. Amongst the survivors of the family were Hammir who came from Sisoda village. Hamir’s queen and daughter of Mal Dev Songira have helped him immensely to get back Chittor. It is believed and said that Hammir regained his hold on Fort Chittor after 16 years of muslim occupation. Therefore his clan was named Sisodia after their village of “Sisoda”.

Now let’s read about the brave rulers who have played a significant role in making Mewar the strongest and the most powerful kingdom of all times.

1. Hammir Singh (1302 -1364): Maharana Hammir Singh was a 14th century ruler of Mewar in present day Rajasthan, India and was a key figure in the re-establishment of the Sisodia Dynasty. Hammir Singh is considered the pioneer of re-establishing the rule and power back in the then capital state of Mewar that is Chittor or Chittorgarh. It is believed and read that Hammir Singh regained control over Chittorgarh after defeating the Tughlaq dynasty and the muslim forces in Delhi. 

Later on after his death, his son Kshetra Singh, grandson Lakha Singh and great grandson Mokal Singh protected and expanded their ruling region and regained their power at the capital. It is also said and believed that Lakha Singh was the one who rebuilt the temples and the other shrines which were destroyed by Allaudin Khilji. Lakha’s son Mokal Singh is said to have defeated the Sultan of Nagaur, Gujarat; however was assassinated by his uncles when the Sultan of Gujarat invaded Mewar again.

2. Rana Kumbha (1417- 1468): Rana Kumbha or Kumbhkaran Sinivgh was the successor of Mokal Singh who was killed by his uncles. The first achievement as a ruler of Rana Kumbha was that he killed his father’s assassins. It was during his rule that the Kingdom of Mewar became one of the most popular political powers in northern India. 

When reading about the military career of Rana Kumbha, it is said that, Rana Kumbha had ascended the throne and the whole region of MEWAR which consisted of Chittorgarh, Kumbhalmer, Rajsamand, Mandalgarh, Ajmer, Mandasaur, Idar, Badnore, Jalore, Hadoti, Dungarpur and Banswara. Rana Kumbha is known for increasing his ruling region by fighting 56 battles in his lifetime and is also honoured to not lose any of these battles. 

The mighty king is known to have created and constructed many forts in the region of Mewar. It is said that out of the 84 fortresses that form the defense of Mewar, Rana Kumbha himself constructed 32 forts out of which Kumbhalgarh Fort is the highest fort in Rajasthan. 

He is believed to have given many contributions in the field of arts and music and apart from fort construction, he has built the Vijay Stambha in Chittor. The end to this mighty King was done by his own son Udai Singh I who himself died in 1473 and the cause of his death is still unknown.

After the death of Rana Kumbha, his two sons fought for the throne. Udai Singh 1 is infamously known for killing his father and was defeated by his own brother five years later. The second son Rana Raimal followed the path of Bhagvad Geeta and established the dharma by avenging his own brother and showing his people that adharmis are supposed to be punished no matter the relation they have with you. 

3. Rana Sanga (1508- 1527): Though Raimal himself guided and safeguarded the Mewar region, his son Rana Sanga (Sangram Singh I) who ascended the throne of Mewar and became a Maharana was a braveking too. He had led many wars and battles. Having a fair share of defeats and wins, Rana Sanga is said to have 80 wounds on him each from the battles he has fought. He had lost one eye during a battle with his own brothers while also being crumpled by one leg and lost his one wrist during the battles. He is known as the single and last ruler to have independence on ruling over such a big region of Mewar. He is said to be killed by his own court members by poison and the date of his death is not confirmed.

Then after Rana Sanga, his son Ratan Singh II  was defeated and killed by the Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. Sanga’s second son was also assassinated by his cousin Banvir Singh and the latter then ascended the throne as being the rightful heir to the throne but he was not supported by the loyal followers of Mewar as he was an illegitimate child of King Prithviraj and was the nephew of Rana Sang, he was then defeated and killed by the fourth son of Rana Sanga “Udai Singh II”.

4. Udai Singh II (1540- 1572): Udai Singh II is the fourth son of Rana Sanga has seen many betrayals since his childhood because of the battle of capturing to the throne by his uncles and brothers. When Udai Singh was very small, maybe three or four years old, his uncle Banvir Singh tried killing him in order to be the only one to ascend the throne righteously. 

However, the very loyal and most trusted Panna Dai gor to know about the attack and kept her son Chandan in place of Udai Singh II and took him away from Chittorgarh and raised him under a disguised name till he became 14 years old and could ascend the throne legally and rightfully, she took him to Chittor and told everyone that he is the rightful successor to the throne. 

After he ascended the throne and defeated and killed his uncle Banvir Singh, he went on to have other great achievements and conquering Chittorgarh back again from the mughal rulers. After he became the King of Mewar, he founded the city of Udaipur which is named after him and during his reign, he shifted his capital from Chittorgarh to Udaipur because of constant threat of conquerment and siege of Chittorgarh. 

It is said that Udai Singh II was crowned in Kumbhalgarh and his first son Maharana Pratap Singh was born in the year at Kumbhalgarh in the year of 1544. Udai Singh II had 24 sons and two daughters. It is said that Udai Singh had done many peace treaties and battles with the mughal emperors. 

It is believed that Udai Singh II lost his Chittorgarh to Akbar after a fierce battle of 4 months and later he resided in Gokunda where he took his last breath. After him, Jagmal Singh, the half brother of Maharana Pratap Singh was trying to seize the throne but the loyal nobles of Mewar prevented this from happening and placed Maharana Pratap Singh on the throne.

5. Maharana Pratap Singh (1540-1597): Pratap Singh I very popularly and lovingly known as Maharana Pratap Singh was the eldest son of Udai Singh II and had vowed to never bow down to the Mughals. He ruled over the mewar region which is the present day state of Rajasthan and the capital city is known as Udaipur where the present royal family is residing from many past years. 

Maharana Pratap was respected and considered as a notable leader of the Sisodia dynasty because of his leading Rajput resistance from 1572 until the time of his death. His resistance against the surrender to the Mughal Emperor Akbar led him to have two most important battles which was the Battle of Haldighati and Battle of Dewair. Below is an account of the Battle of Haldighati and the significance of the Battle of Haldighati.

The Roar of Mewar: Maharana Pratap at Haldighati

The battle of Haldighati is one of the most remembered and respected wars between the rajput warriors and the Mughal Troops. It is said that this Battle of Haldighati showed the valore in which Maharana Pratap Singh the prominent ruler of Mewar and the bravest king of all times is seen in the bloodline of the Sisodia dynasty fought with resilience and non-surrendence against the Mughal Army of Akbar which was lead by the Raja Man Singh 1. 

The overview of the Battle of Haldighati

The Battle of Haldighati was fought on 18 June, 1576 between the great, brave and fearless ruler of Mewar Maharana Pratap Singh and the Mughal Emperor Akbar whose army was led by Raja Man Singh 1 of Amber. The war was fought in Rajasthan’s Haldighati Pass which is a section of the Aravalli Mountain Ranges that helps in connecting the city of Pali with Rajsamand.

• The Mughal army which led to Haldighati was a force of approximately 28000 troops while the Mewar warriors were only 4000 along with 3000 bhil tribesmen. 
• The war was not won by both sides either, however it symbolised Rajputana warriors ‘ valor  and the ongoing struggle for independence and sovereignty against the mughal army.

The Significance of this battle of Haldighati

• Through this battle of Haldighati, one gets to know the glorious past of Rajput power and grace. The Spirit of Sacrifice for the cherished principles of Mewar.
• The battle is also a reflection to the great will power of the Rajput rulers which made them fight the foreign subjugation and maintain their independence.
• The battle of Haldighati gave major focus on the usage and effectiveness of the Guerilla warfare as a technique to resist a powerful enemy.
• After the successful implementation of this technique by Maharana Pratap Singh, Shivaji and the Deccani General Malik Ambar developed and adapted this intermittent warfare.

The Forgotten Victory: Maharana Pratap at Dewair

The most victorious war of Dewair is a folklore that has been forgotten by the historians or not mentioned grandly in the way Battle of Haldighati is mentioned. It is said that in the year of 1582, on the occasion of Dussehra (Vijayadashami) Maharana Pratap attacked Dewair. In this battle of Dewair, the mughal empire was defeated very badly and Maharana Pratap Singh took back most of his mewar region and closed the 36 mughal posts in Mewar along with the surrender of 36,000 mughal soldiers. 

Background of Battle of Dewair

• Following the battle of Haldighati, Maharana Pratap Singh was left with only 7000 soldiers in the whole region and the mughals were mercilessly capturing the main mewar regions like Kumbhalgarh, Gogunda, Udaipur and Chappan. 
• In such a time where he knew that he is losing power and the locals of Mewar were leaving their homeland because they did not want to be ruled by the mughals, Maharana Pratap Singh decided to change his war technique from open battlefields to Guerilla Techniques and did not allow the Mughals to settle and enjoy their victory. 
• Akbar attempted many ways to capture and kill Maharana Pratap Singh, but all his attempts failed. Akbar then himself came to Dewair and fought fearlessly for six months before accepting defeat and returning to Agra.
• The time period between the battle of Haldighati and Battle of Dewair is somewhere around seven to eight years. During these years, the most loyal and trusted minister Bhamashah helped and funded the army of Maharana Pratap Singh. Therefore, his name is engraved and preserved as saviour of Mewar.

6. Amar Singh I (1597-1620): He was the oldest and the eldest son of Maharana Pratap Singh. He succeeded to the throne of Mewar and was considered as the 14th Rana of Mewar. He followed his father’s footsteps initially by conquering back the land captured by Mughals during his father’s reign. 

Later on, he made peace treaty contracts with the mughals because of falling short of resources and made peace with the mughals which marked the end of 46 years of battles between the rajputs and the mughals. Succeeding to this event, Amar Singh led an uneventful life and died in 1620 due to old age.

After Amar Singh I, his son and his grandsons and great grandsons continued the peace treaty with the Mughals, built temples and  restored the temples which were broken or damaged by the mughal invasion. Jagat Singh I, great grandson of Amar Singh I tried to restore Chittorgarh but his actions were stopped by Shah Jahan because the mughals still feared that if Chittorgarh was restored then the Mewar dynasty could come together and attack the mughal empire. 

These successors of Sisodia Dynasty then had their own ways of ruling and addressing the issues of the mughals and the britishers. Some of them had made significant contributions on the ruling of Mewar, therefore in the present times there are some places that are named after them like the Rajsamand Lake was named after Rana Raj Singh. Raan Raj Singh is also considered as the mewar ruler who protected the idol of Krishna ji from Mathura and placed it in Nathdwara.

7. Fateh Singh (1884-1930):  Though there are not many folklores favouring his reign in the region of Mewar, his non-compliance with the Britishers had brought him enough limelight during his reign. He is the one who has created and constructed some of the most known tourist places in Udaipur. The Fateh Sagar Lake is named after him. He had also built the Fateh Prakash Palace in Chittorgarh Fort and a Shiv Niwas Palace in Udaipur which is now a luxurious hotel.

After him, his successors had ruled and reigned under the rule of Britishers and seeked independence from the British Raj. After India gained freedom from Briitishers, the successors were just titular kings which means that they do not rule over the state or their regions just like their ancestors.

8. Bhagwat Singh (1955- 1984): Bhagat Singh succeeded to the throne after his father  Bhupal Singh  and was a titular ruler of the former Indian Princely state of Udaipur or Mewar in the year of 1955 until the Indian Government abolished all royal titles in 1971. During his reign, there were no major changes in the region of Mewar and some palaces that were under his name were Jag Niwas, the island in Lake Pichola and the Monsoon palace. 

He had two sons, Mahendra Singh and Arvind Singh Mewar. During his last days, he made Arvind Singh mewar the sole handler of all the princely estates and responsibilities, however, both his sons have taken on the titles of being Maharanas. The elder son Mahendra Singh is crowned in Chittorgarh while the younger son Arvind Singh Mewar is crowned here in Udaipur and looks after all the royal properties and responsibilities. 

Further to this, Maharana Bhagwat Singh has two grandsons from his two sons who are now looking after the running of the state and all the royal duties and responsibilities. The names of the present kings ruling over Mewar are “Vishwaraj Singh Mewar” and “Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar”. They have taken to the throne after the death of their respective fathers in the year of 2024 and 2025.

The Royal Controversy of Udaipur amongst the ruling family

Bhagwat Singh’s one decision made the whole royal family come under controversy. He wanted to convert some palaces into Hotels that were not used by the royal family in order to have continuous income in the family, but his elder son Mahendra Singh opposed this idea and filed for a lawsuit against his own father. To see the matter legally and rightfully, then Mahendra Singh being the elder son should have taken the throne after his father, but instead of him Bhagwat Singh made his younger son Arvind Singh Mewar the Maharana of Mewar. 

This decision also made people question the decision as it is a hierarchical process of the elder son of the family to ascend the throne after the father; but after the death of their father and accordingly to the will of the Bhagwat Singh, the younger son took the throne  and retained the name of Maharana here in Udaipur while Mahendra Singh was crowned as the Maharana of Mewar in Chittorgarh and Samor Bagh was handed over to him in Udaipur for use when he or any of his ally visit Udaipur. 

This royal controversy has been taking place since the last 40 years and it still continues to be in court. However in the year of 2020, the court ruled out a statement stating that all the properties of the Royal Family should be divided into four parts. The first three parts are in the name of the three children who are Mahendra Singh, Arvind Singh Mewar and their sister and the last and the fourth part in the name of their father Bhagwat Singh which can be used by each child and their family every four years.

Fortresses of Freedom: Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh

Chittorgarh and Kumbhalgarh are the most iconic forts in Rajasthan which are dipped deep in their history and legacy. Chittorgarh Fort which was once the capital of Mewar region saw many captures and battles against Alaudiin Khilji and Akbar. Kumbhalgarh Fort is known for its huge walls (the second largest in the whole world after China) was built by the Rana Kumbha in the 15th century; this fort served as a refuge and birthplace of Maharana Pratap. 

Chittorgarh Fort:

• Early History– The historical fort was built and ruled by the Mauryas prior to the siege or power taken over by the Gehlot ruler Bappa Rawal in 734 CE.
• Mewar Dynasty– Chittorgarh served as the capital of the Mewar clan for many centuries and witnessed many captures and battles.
• Siege by Alauddin Khilji– The most popular battle of the Chittorgarh was when Alauddin Khilji sieged the fort in 1303 resulting in mass self-immolation (jauhar) of  the great Rani Padmini and the other rajput women.
• Akbar’s Conquest–  In the year of 1567, Akbar the mughal emperor conquered the capital of Mewar “Chittorgarh” which made a major shift in the fort’s history.
• Later History– Following Akbar’s conquest of Chittorgarh, the fort was under Mughal control but remained a site of historical and cultural presence.

Kumbhalgarh Fort:

• Rana Kumbha’s Construction: The Kumbhalgarh fort was constructed by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. The fort is specifically known for its impressive fortifications and the largest second wall in the world after China’s Great wall of China.
• Birthplace of the great warrior of the Sisodia Dynasty: Along with being the fort that is recognised by the UNESCO world heritage site, the fort also has historic significance because it is the birthplace of the legendary Maharana Pratap Singh.
• Strategic Importance: The location of the fort on the Aravalli hills and the way it is engineered and made speaks high volumes about the skills and mindset of the kings and the workers who helped in the construction of the fort. The fort stands tall and is a refuge for the rulers of Mewar.
• Defensive Features: Kumbhalgarh Fort is designed in a way that it has hidden rooms, underground reservoirs for water supply, hidden passageways which make a difficult task for the enemy to attack the royal family or their kins.
• Breaching the Fort: It is believed that the fort was breached only once by the mughal and the amber forces together and the reason was the water. During those times, half of Rajasthan was suffering from the water crisis. To overcome these issues, the kings and princes have constructed lakes, dams, etc to cater to their needs.

The Shift to Udaipur and the Emergence of Udaipur Royalty

After several attacks and siege of Chittorgarh, the Sisodia royal family chose to have Udaipur as their new capital of Mewar. A new era began in the history of Mewar with the foundation of the Udaipur City Palace overlooking Lake Pichola. The palace was built and designed in a combination of Rajasthani and Mughal styles and is the pride of Udaipur royalty today for demonstrating the artistic flows of Rajput architecture.

Cultural Continuity: Festivals and Traditions

Among the said Sisodia traditions, culture, art and optimizing one particular domain for a greater common good can be derived. They were patrons of the arts, champions of music, and custodians of traditions. Rajput festivals like Holika Dahan, Gangaur, Ashwa Poojan and Mewar Festival stand testimony to the ancient past and are still celebrated in Udaipur and its immediate surroundings with great pomp and show. These festivals stand as living testimonials of the ancient Mewar culture and sustain an identity for the modernist Rajput in fluid times. Let’s read a little about these cultures:

• Mewar Festival: The Mewar Festival marks the foundation of the City Palace and also the shift of the Capital from Chittorgarh to Udaipur. This is a three day festival that is celebrated in the months of March and April. When this festival comes closer to the dates of the celebration, the whole city is decked up with flowers and lights and lamps. This festival is a historic symbol to Mewar’s rich regal heritage and every year it is celebrated with the same grandeur. This festival combines with the grand Rajasthani festival  “Gangaur”.
• Gangaur: Gangaur festival is a 10 day festival which is often celebrated after Holi and Dhulandi. This festival also brings in the same enthusiasm and energy in the city because of the celebration, colourful decorations and the folk culture and traditions followed in the city till date. So if you happen to be in the city during these times, then you should definitely make it a point to be part of such festivals.
• Holika Dahan: Holika Dahan is celebrated with full energy and tradition in the city. Holi is a festival that is celebrated grandly and with full amplitude in the whole of North India and the rest of India too. Holi is celebrated here with full energy, love and laughter because it is their way of welcoming the Spring season with a good combination of the colours flying in the air. 
• Ashwa- Gaj Poojan: Ashwa Poojan in the mewar culture is one of the celebration and  worship of horses. The Maharana of Mewar carries out this tradition during the nine days of holy worship of Goddess Durga (Navratri). It is said that the Maharana worships the horse and elephants during these auspicious nine days because of the reason that these animals have helped their ancestors to achieve victory during wars. 

Artistic Expression: Architecture, Art, and Symbolism

The architecture, art and symbolism of the ancient culture of the Sisodia Dynasty is all seen from the intricate frescoes and the elaborate jharokhas. The temples and the other religious shrines built by them are absolutely known for their own spiritual depth and sculptures carved on them. The expression of the art, culture and music had been recognised and seen from the time of Rana Kumbha as he himself was very fascinated with music and culture. THE Mewar School of Miniature Painting is yet another feather in the cap of Mewar.

   

The Sisodia Royal Family in the Colonial Era

In the above blog, we have read about the Sisodia Resistance against the Mughal Resistance and their attempt to capture these Mewar checkposts. However after the mughals started fleeing to their homelands; then came in the Britishers who were trying to divide and rule the states of India. However after Amar Singh I, there was a treaty and understanding made between the Britishers and the Sisodias that they will live in harmony and follow the new administrative ways of the Britishers along with following the customs. Udaipur was a princely state under British rule but also kept the essence of Rajput pride intact. 

Legacy in the Modern Era: Carrying the Torch Forward

The present generation of successors of the Sisodia family have been actively engaging in saving the heritage and traditions of Mewar. The regal family indeed has many charitable causes and cultural events through which they donate for a good cause or are a part of those initiatives. The tourism of Mewar has been very active which is helping in attracting thousands of travellers each year to palaces, forts, and different festivals. The modern face of Rajput runs with historical grandeur and modern changes having been deeply dipped in Rajput values.

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