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MEWAR RAJ – ROYALTY AT IT’S BEST
Udaipur located amidst the Aravalli Mountain range, 1961 feet above sea level a place to be visited if you wish to re-live the by gone days of Royalty and splendor. Known as the Venice of the east or the city of lakes it is one of the finest examples of architectural and cultural explosion.
Aravali Mountain range provided protection to the Mewar region from onslaughts of Marwar and Jaipur. The City Palace complex and the Resorts located around the foot of the hills on one side, the lake and the Aravalli Mountain Ranges on the other side is perfect Feng Shui, an ideal Chinese Landscape with Yang Sky, Yin land, Dragon Mountain and a White Tiger Lake.
Much of Feng Shui is aimed at tapping into the positive energy known as "dragon veins" and avoiding the negative forces. It is said that veins originate in the sky, pass through the mountain peaks and run along the earth. Importance is given to the topography of a location, which determines the quality of energy, and no doubt the City Palace Complex and the Hotels have such Yang energy swirling.
The invitation to be part of the Birthday celebrations of Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar reverentially known as “Shriji” the 76th in the line of succession, inheritor of a glorious tradition and the present heir of the Mewar kingdom made me wonder whether it would be one of the present day modern birthday celebrations or something different.
Shriji my personal friend, radiating self-confidence, kindness, royalty yet humble, attracted to the present day electronic gizmos, loves to keep updated with technology and science, a wonderful soul to spend time with. Shriji manages a corporate empire developing palace-resorts, hotels and organizing philanthropic activities ably assisted by the dynamic Princess Padmaja Kumari, Executive GM of the Palace hotel and recipient of the prestigious Intach- SATTE award for her contribution to heritage and tourism.
The City Palace complex housing the Heritage hotels formerly palace and the Residence of the Maharana is a breath taking visual delight. Shambu Nivas, the Official residence of the Maharana was all set and decorated to receive the Invitees and the Public who would come to wish Shriji on his birthday.
The residence of Maharana with a Main door facing North at 13.5 degrees and a large water feature spraying towards the main door is very auspicious and activates the North Energy representing water element. The Large door to the West going out from the formal living to the Terrace garden faces 243 degrees looking into the Pichola Lake with the mountain ranges at the far end. The energy rolling down the mountains reaches the water and is contained on the banks hence the entire energy of the place is transformed.
The celebrations began with the priests from various temples offering blessings to Shriji. Dressed in the Royal attire Shriji and his son Kanwar Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar the next generation of the Mewar family was reminiscence of the days of Maharaja and Durbar. This was followed by Greetings from Special Invitees and Public gathered on this memorable occasion.
A connoisseur of art, Shriji had organized at the exquisite Jagmandir Palace located in the middle of the Lake Pichola a stunning dance performance by the internationally acclaimed Dancer and Choreographer Ramli Ibrahim from Malaysia. The Dance Ballet “Spell bound” with a breathtaking backdrop of Palace kept the audience captivated. The Production was about tryst with timeless beauty of Odissi and emphasized that “everything changes but beauty remains”.
The uniqueness of the Heritage Hotels formerly Palaces can be seen even in the corporate logo of the Eternal Mewar group which has a very auspicious motif of a vermillion dot with 3 pieces of rice encompassed with a splash of mustard yellow. From Feng Shui perspective it’s a fabulous combination of Yang energy with Red signifying Happiness and prosperity and yellow a sign of royalty and respect, the 3 rice grains imply growth and abundance. Well what would be more appropriate as a corporate logo promoting Hospitality, Charity and Education then this?
At the southern end of the Palace complex is the Shiv Niwas Palace Hotel originally Maharana Fateh Singhji's residence. The rooms around this courtyard were used as a place for entertaining personal guests. Most of the Room’s of this Heritage hotel have a balcony opening into the lake generating a spiraling energy, sense of peace and tranquility to the occupants. The shape of Lake Pichola represents the auspicious “Baby Dragon Looking at its mother” as it meanders and embraces the land forms. The Heritage resorts and hotels are perfect examples of classical Feng Shui in terms of orientation, position and décor.
Celebrations, décor feel and the Positive Energy of the City Palace Complex is undoubtedly memorable and definitely it’s ROYALTY AT IT’S BEST.
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