The Ahar cenotaph complex is a unique example of memorial and ceremonial architecture within the historic city of Udaipur which is one of its kind. What makes this complex more unique is its sacred linkage with a holy kund & its surrounding (Ahar settlement). The Gangod Bhava Kund and the Temple of Shiva carries a very sacred value and historically was the place of pilgrimage for the Mewar region while the surrounding Ahar settlement carries three layers of history [Layer I –Ancient Ahar settlement, Tambavati Nagri (2500 BC), Layer II – Ahar or Aghatapur, earlier capital of Mewar (8th-13th century AD), Layer III – Udaipur (1553 AD onwards) ] covering over a period of more then 4000 years. The cenotaph complex is also one of the largest cenotaph complexes among the other Medieval rajput cenotaph complexes covering an area of 3.2 hectare with ten distinctive heritage components which makes this complex a very significant heritage component of the medival Udaipur town. Ahar Cenotaphs commonly known as 'Mahasatya Ji' is constructed under the royal patronage of the Mewar dynasty. The complex is situated near the river Ahar on the eastern side of the walled city of Udaipur at a distance of about five kilometers from Suraj Pol. Towards the North East of the complex there are two archeological mounds which are the remains of a chalcolithic period settlement (1800 – 1200 B.C) popularly known as 'Tambavati Nagri', which was a part of the Ancient Ahar Civilization. Towards the west of the complex is the present settlement of Ahar within which is located three Jain temple complexes and a Vishnu temple from the 10th century. These temples are remains of 'Agatpur' settlement which was the earlier capital of Mewar during 8th to 12th century.
Today the complex includes three hundred and nineteen Cenotaphs (memorial chattri) among which the most prominent are the twenty one cenotaphs of the Maharanas who were cremated here. Along with the Cenotaphs, there is a cluster of temples among which the most prominent one is the 10th century temple of Shiva and Parvati constructed in Gurjar Pratihara style and couple of step wells which were built under the patronage of various rulers of Mewar. The Project supported by MMCF, Udaipur.

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Extract from the Article entitled : HICSA 2013
Publication: Conde Nast Traveller
June 2013, Page 212
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Extract from the Article entitled : The Art of Udaipur
Publication : BLACKBOOK
June 2013 Page 2
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