Discover the allure of Bagore Ki Haveli, a magnificent palace on the tranquil shores of Pichola Lake in Udaipur. Indulge yourself in the rich heritage of Rajasthani history and culture as we unveil the architectural marvels, museum treasures, and enchanting Darohar Dance Show that bring this cultural gem to life. Join us on a virtual journey to Bagore Ki Haveli, where the story of Mewar unfolds through its architecture and traditional folk dances.

Bagore Ki Haveli Overview

Bagore Ki Haveli is a palace located at Gangaur Ghat on the right bank of Pichola Lake. Mewar Prime Minister Amar Chand Badwa designed it in the 18th century. The property went over to the Government of Rajasthan upon India’s independence in 1947. Due to neglect, the palace’s condition deteriorated, and in 1986, the Western Zone Cultural Center restored it. Visitors and residents alike are familiar with the Darohar Dance Show and the Mewar-era museum at Bagore Ki Haveli.

Bagore Ki Haveli Architecture and Museum

The Bagore Ki Haveli boasts over 100 rooms, each adorned with exhibits comprising mirrors and glasswork. The structure encompasses multiple archways, large halls, jharokas(balconies), cupolas, water fountains, terraces, and other features. The inner segments of the Haveli provide glimpses into the private quarters of the queens and royal women, featuring opulent bathrooms, recreation rooms, cosmetics rooms, bedrooms, worship rooms, guest rooms, and other facilities.

The Haveli Museum has four sections open to the public, including the Puppet Museum, Haveli Museum, Weapon Section, Turban and Wedding Section. The Haveli consists of three Chowks: Kuan Chowk, Neem Chowk, and Tulsi Chowk.

Kuan Chowk, formerly housed the horse stables on the ground floor. Neem Chowk on the first level, was once used for guest-oriented dancing acts where the folk show still takes place. Tulsi Chowk, exclusively designed for princesses and royal ladies, hosted recreational events and dancing performances. Today, this section showcases the turbans and traditional attire of the queen and princesses. Furthermore, the historic Chamber of the Royal Ladies still houses some of the original exquisite murals and paintings from the Mewar era, including two glass-crafted enchanting peacocks and other Mewari-style murals. The Haveli has transformed into a museum with Mewar-era paintings and murals.

Bagore Ki Haveli Dance Show

Darohar Dance Show Setting

Bagore Ki Haveli’s Darohar Dance Show is the place to be if you want to witness a colorful dance performance by traditional folk artists and dancers. The performance unfolds on the first floor of the Haveli at Neem Chowk, characterized by a brightly illuminated design and a fairy-light ambiance. Mattresses and a low-rise panel come together to create a center stage along one side of the wall, with additional seating on the other three sides to accommodate spectators.

Darohar Dance Show Programs

The presentation begins with a brief introduction to the Western Zone Cultural Center and a greeting in both native and English by a woman dressed in traditional Rajasthani attire. Drumming, conch shell blowing, a religious prayer song, and another folk song occur before dancing begins. The following is an approximate schedule for the program.

Chari Dance

The Chari Dance, in which the dancers balance pots on their heads and place Chari pots on a lit Diya or oil lamp, is the first performance. The dancers move gracefully in rhythm with the music while holding the scorching pot on their heads. Gurjar ladies from Kishangarh and Ajmer perform this dance, renowned for various ceremonies and festivals.

Teratali Dance

The Kamar community will perform the Teratali Folk Dance next. Ladies sit on the ground and cover their heads with a petha or hat to execute it. A beautiful pot rests on their heads, and thirteen manjeeras (brass discs), adhere to different parts of their bodies. They strum the manjeeras to the beat of the music.

Gorbandh Dance

The Gorbandh is the next dance, involving twirling to music while adorned with heavy decorations and jewelry.

Rajasthani Puppet Show

The Rajasthani Puppet Show follows as a respite from the dances, offering a different form of entertainment. This art is also popular as Kathputli, which translates to ‘doll’. The performance blends comedy and a story as a puppeteer holds a string marionette with a single string from the top of the puppet. In most puppet shows outside Rajasthan, the puppeteer and marionette are not visible on stage because they conceal themselves behind the screen. However, we can see both the puppets and the puppeteer on this stage.

Three well-decorated puppets named Anarkali, Magician, and Sukri are on display. The Anarkali puppet shows up with music and dance. Subsequently, the magician puppet emerges, moving or removing various body parts. Finally, the Sukri puppet turns out to be suffering from stomach pain, and any member of the audience is invited to diagnose and remove the thread from her mouth.

Ghoomar Dance

The following performance is the highly sought-after traditional Ghoomar dance, performed by the Bhil tribe. It initially began as a form of worship for Goddess Saraswati. The dance typically involves veiled girls dressed in flowing attire pirouetting in and out of a large circle. Ghoomar gets its name from the whirling movement of the dancers, also known as Ghoomna. This dance usually takes place at formal occasions such as weddings and festivals.

Bhavai Dance

The show concludes with the Bhavai dance. This dance is performed by balancing a number of earthen pots or brass/metal pitchers on their heads. It is the most challenging performance, as the artists must balance nine pots while dancing and swaying to the music on the edge of a sword, the rim of a brass/metal thali (plate), and broken glass.

Our Experience

During our visit, rain began right at the start of the show. Initially, we assumed the show might not take place, but fortunately, commenced. They rearranged the stage setup to accommodate musicians on the dias in the premise’s corridor. Additionally, the dancers performed as gracefully in the rain as they would on a normal day. However, the translation in both the native and English languages was limited to one. Due to the brief explanation, the entire performance ended in less than 45 minutes, well ahead of the scheduled time. Nevertheless, all the dance performances were completed as per the schedule.

We all sought shelter in the corridor from the rain, causing some inconvenience. Only those with raincoats could see the show from their seats, as umbrellas, blocking others’ views, were not allowed to be opened by fellow spectators. So, bring raincoats if you visit during the rainy season because the Neem Chowk, where the show is held, is not enclosed. Overall, it was an outstanding performance, and kudos to the team for persevering through the rain until the end.

How To Reach Bagore Ki Haveli

Travel Tips To Visit Bagore Ki Haveli

• Darohar’s traditional dance exhibition occurs every day at 7 pm at Udaipur’s iconic Bagore Ki Haveli. Entry to the show is 100 rupees per person for Indians and 200 for foreigners.
• The entry ticket for a regular visit to the museum is 60 rupees for Indians and 100 rupees for foreigners. Bagore Ki Haveli museum entry is open from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.
• I recommend visiting the museum in the evening, followed by a photo session at Gangaur Ghat and then seeing the Bagore Ki Haveli show. The show begins at 7 p.m., but it is best to arrive by 6.30 or 6.45 p.m. to secure a comfortable seat for watching the performances.
• It is best to attend the Bagore Ki Haveli Darohar Dance show during the winter season, from October to February, when the weather is pleasant, allowing you to enjoy the performance comfortably. If you visit during the rainy season, bring a raincoat to comfortably watch the performances.

Embrace the vibrant culture of Udaipur by attending the Bagore Ki Haveli Darohar Dance show, a mesmerizing journey through Rajasthan’s traditional dances.