Amar Chand Badwa, The Prime Minister & 138 Waterfront Rooms
Standing majestically on the stone-paved water's edge of Lake Pichola at the foot of historic Gangaur Ghat, Bagore ki Haveli is one of the most magnificent, sprawling, and culturally vibrant aristocratic mansions surviving in Rajasthan. Built in the mid-18th century (between 1751 and 1778 CE) by Amar Chand Badwa, the illustrious Prime Minister of Mewar during the reigns of Maharana Pratap Singh II and Maharana Ari Singh, the haveli was engineered as a waterfront palace capable of serving both as a premier administrative seat and as a luxurious domestic haven.
Following Badwa's death, the property reverted to the Mewar royal family, passing to Maharaj Nath Singh of Bagore in 1878, from whom it derived its enduring title 'Bagore ki Haveli'. Over successive decades, royal architects added decorative wings, tiered courtyards, and ornate jharokhas that cascade down to the water, resulting in an immense palace encompassing one hundred and thirty-eight rooms organized around multiple sunlit courtyards.
After decades of neglect following India's independence, the haveli was acquired in 1986 by the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC). Undertaking a pioneering conservation project, master craftsmen spent five years carefully removing layers of whitewash, restoring authentic lime plaster (chuna), and repairing original stained glass and mirror mosaics, transforming the mansion into a world-class living museum of Mewar culture.
- 18th-Century Heritage: Built by Amar Chand Badwa, Prime Minister of Mewar, between 1751 and 1778.
- Architectural Scale: 138 rooms, multiple courtyards, and cantilevered balconies overlooking Lake Pichola.
- Living Folk Theatre: Home to the nightly 'Dharohar' cultural dance performance at Neem Chowk.
- Museum Curiosities: Displays the World's Largest Turban, royal hookahs, dice games, and bridal finery.
Every evening at 7:00 PM, the central courtyard (Neem Chowk) hosts 'Dharohar', India's premier authentic Rajasthani folk performance. Featuring master artists from the Thar, the show includes Chari dance with flaming brass pots balanced on heads, Terah Taali with 13 brass cymbals tied to limbs, traditional Rajasthani string puppetry (Kathputli), and the showstopping Bhavai dance where an artist balances nine earthen pots on her head while dancing on the edge of brass platters and broken glass.
Museum Galleries: The World's Largest Turban & Queen's Chamber
Exploring the labyrinthine corridors of Bagore ki Haveli reveals an intimate, authentic glimpse into the daily domestic life of Mewar nobility. The private apartments of the royal ladies (zenana) are particularly exquisite, featuring colored Belgian stained-glass windows that cast dancing jewel-toned patterns across polished white floors, and arched stone jharokhas that provide cooling views of boats gliding across Lake Pichola.
The haveli preserves several specialized ethnographic galleries. In the Turban Gallery, visitors marvel at the certified 'World's Largest Turban', an astonishing headgear measuring 151 feet in length and 11 inches in width, crafted from hundreds of meters of fine dyed cotton. The gallery also exhibits dozens of traditional regional turbans representing every caste, tribe, and princely state of Rajasthan.
Other curated chambers include the Weapon Gallery, showcasing Rajput curved talwars and daggers; the Puppet Gallery, featuring antique wooden marionettes; the Music Room, displaying sitars, sarangis, and dholaks; and the Queen's Dressing Chamber, complete with antique silver cosmetic chests, ivory combs, and traditional games of Chaupar and Ganjifa.
Dharohar Folk Theatre: Chari, Terah Taali & Bhavai Mastery
As twilight descends and temple bells chime across Gangaur Ghat, the central Neem Chowk courtyard of Bagore ki Haveli transforms into one of the most mesmerizing cultural arenas in India. The one-hour 'Dharohar' dance spectacle, running nightly at 7:00 PM, showcases the authentic, living folk dance and music traditions of Rajasthan's desert and tribal communities.
The performance opens with the Chari Dance, where female dancers balance burning brass pots on their heads while performing intricate footwork without dropping a flame. This is followed by the Terah Taali (Thirteen Cymbals) dance, an extraordinary devotional performance of the Kamada tribe where seated women strike thirteen brass cymbals tied to their hands, arms, and legs with lightning speed, holding a sword between their teeth.
The grand finale of the evening is the breathtaking Bhavai Dance. Veteran female performers, clad in heavy mirror-embroidered ghagras, balance up to nine stacked earthen and brass pots on their heads while dancing barefoot upon the sharp edge of brass platters and broken glass shards. The sheer balance, rhythmic poise, and joy of the performers earn standing ovations from an enraptured international audience.
The Dharohar folk dance show sells out daily. Offline tickets open at the haveli counter at 5:30 PM for the 7:00 PM show; arrive by 5:00 PM to secure tickets, or purchase advance e-tickets. Seating inside the historic courtyard is on traditional floor mattresses (gaddas); arrive early for prime front-row views.
Transit Infrastructure, Lakefront Access & Walking Logistics
Bagore ki Haveli is situated directly at Gangaur Ghat on the western edge of Udaipur's historic old city, facing Lake Pichola. Because the streets of the old city surrounding Jagdish Temple and Gangaur Ghat are extremely narrow and pedestrianized, large cars cannot reach the haveli entrance. Travelers arrive via autorickshaws, two-wheelers, or enjoy a scenic 5-minute walk from Jagdish Temple or the City Palace.
The haveli is located approximately 3 km northwest of Udaipur City Railway Station (station code: UDZ), which can be reached in about 15 minutes by autorickshaw. Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) lies 24 km to the east, accessible in approximately 40 minutes by taxi.
The surrounding lakefront quarter offers a dense concentration of Udaipur's finest heritage hotels, lakeside rooftop restaurants, artisanal silver jewelry boutiques, and miniature painting ateliers. Enjoying a sunset coffee on a rooftop overlooking Gangaur Ghat followed by the 7:00 PM Dharohar show is a quintessential Udaipur evening ritual.
- Lakefront Location: Directly on Gangaur Ghat at Lake Pichola, 400 meters from City Palace.
- Pedestrian Core: Reached via walking through historic bazaar streets or by local autorickshaw.
- Nearest Railhead: Udaipur City Railway Station (UDZ, 3 km).
- Nearest Airport: Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR, 24 km, 40 minutes by cab).
Museum Hours, Show Tickets & Photography Essentials
Bagore ki Haveli's daytime museum is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Touring the 138 rooms during daytime allows travelers to appreciate the architecture, antique collections, and lake views in tranquil, uncrowded conditions. Photography of the daytime exhibits is permitted with a modest camera fee.
The evening 'Dharohar' cultural dance show runs daily from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (with an additional second show organized at 8:00 PM during peak winter tourist season). Ticket counters for the evening show open strictly at 5:30 PM. Arrive early to purchase tickets, and queue at the courtyard gates by 6:15 PM to secure comfortable seating on the front floor cushions.
A separate camera ticket is required for photography or video recording during the dance performance. The vibrant colors of the dancers' costumes, illuminated by warm courtyard lamps against the ancient stone arches, provide sensational opportunities for cultural portrait and motion photography.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bagore ki Haveli famous for in Udaipur?
Bagore ki Haveli is famous for its 18th-century 138-room waterfront architecture on Lake Pichola, the nightly Dharohar Rajasthani folk dance show, and displaying the World's Largest Turban.
What time does the Dharohar folk dance show start, and how can one get tickets?
The Dharohar show starts daily at 7:00 PM. Tickets are sold at the haveli counter starting at 5:30 PM on a first-come, first-served basis, or via authorized online booking portals.
What unique folk dances are performed at Dharohar?
The show features the Chari dance (flaming pots on heads), Terah Taali (13 cymbals), traditional string puppetry, and the jaw-dropping Bhavai dance balancing nine pots on broken glass.
Where is the World's Largest Turban displayed?
The World's Largest Turban—measuring 151 feet in length and made from fine cotton—is displayed inside the Turban Gallery of the Bagore ki Haveli Museum.
Can cars drive directly to Bagore ki Haveli?
No. The streets of the old city leading to Gangaur Ghat are narrow and pedestrianized. Visitors arrive by autorickshaw or take a brief 5-minute walk from Jagdish Temple.