Natural Features of Mewar.

Climate. The district has, on the whole, a dry climate. The cold season is from December to February, and is followed by the hot season, which lasts until about the middle of June. Mid-June to mid-December constitutes the southwestern monsoon season. The post-monsoon period, from mid-September to the end of November, is one of transition from monsoon to winter conditions.

Rainfall. The district has a network of six rain-gauge stations. The average annual rainfall in the district is 650.3 mm. Rainfall generally decreases from the southwest to the northeast in the district. Kotra, on the southwestern border of the district, gets 870.00 mm. Annually, while average rainfall at Bhim is only 570.5 mm. The rainfall during the months, June to September, constitutes about 94% of the annual rainfall. July is the month with the maximum rain, which is a little over one-third of the annual rainfall. In the 50-year period, 1901-1950, the highest annual rainfall amounting to 210% of the normal, occurred in 1917 in the district. 1901 was the year with the lowest rainfall, which was only 44% of the normal. In the same 50-year period, the rainfall was less than 80% of the normal in 12 years. Two consecutive years of rainfall, less than 80% of the norm, occurred twice in the 50-year period. On an average, the number of rainy days (days with rainfall of 2.5 mm. Or more) in a year is 31. This number varies from 42 at Kotra to 21 at Rajsamand. The heaviest rainfall recorded in 24 hours was 261.6 mm., i.e., as much as 46% of the annual normal rainfall, at Bhim on August 22, 1944.

Fauna of Mewar. The wildlife found in what was the kingdom of Mewar area includes a large variety of animals, birds, reptiles and fish, many of which, such as tiger, panther, deer, wild boar, etc., were recognised and the fauna of sport, and were found in the Mewar jungles. Unfortunately, the ongoing wholesale slaughter and indiscriminate deforestation after Independence led to the extinction of big game such as the tiger.

Animals. Indian antelope, sambhar (deer), Indian gazelle, Indian gazelle raving deer, panther, sloth bear, common langur monkey, striped hyena, wolf, jackal, jungle cat, Indian fox, Indian porcupine and the common mongoose. Panther, bear, and wild boar are now found in the forest areas of Bansi, Salumbar and Kumbhalgarh.

Birds. The common crane, sarus crane, comb duck or nakta, common teal, grey jungle fowl, red jungle fowl, red partridge, grey partridge, common Indian sand grouse, common or fantail snipe, blue frock pigeon, common or grey quail, jungle bush quail, baya, koyal (cuckoo), parrot, vulture, jungle crow, bulbul, house sparrow, owl, kite, little egret, myna, seven sisters (sandy coloured birds usually found in groups of seven), and green pigeon.

Reptiles. Include cobras, kraits, vipers, ratsnakes, crocodiles and monitor lizards.

Fish. A variety of fish includes catla-catla, labcorohita, cirrhinus-mrigala, labco-calbasu, tortor, wallagoattu, mystus-seenghala, channa-marulius, labco-fimbratus, labco-gonius, cyprinuscarpio-spacularis, and cyprinus-carpio-communis. These are found in the tanks, ponds, and lakes of the districts. From time to time, the Deputy Director of Fisheries auctions the use of these tanks for fishing.

Wildlife conservation. This is regulated by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Rajasthan Forest Act of 1953, and the rules framed under these Acts. The rules provide for the protection of the following birds: cuckoo (koyal), herons (all kinds), king crow, myna and seven sisters.

Wildlife and Game Sanctuaries. On the shore of Jaisamand Lake (see JAISAMAND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY); at Kumbhalgarh (near Aodhi Hotel); Bassi (see BASSI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY); in the Pali District, near Fort Auwa Hotel; the Sitamata Game Sanctuary on the western shore of Pichola Lake; and a bird sanctuary on the island of Arsi Villas in Pichola Lake.

Flora of Mewar. The botany of Mewar belongs to the Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous type, as classified by a Mr. Champion, an expert on forestry. The canopies at all levels are more or less deciduous, the composition and quality, however, vary a great deal with the variation of soil conditions, geological formations and topography. Forests: Broadly speaking, the forests found in the area are divided into the following groups: Teak Forests. These correspond to tropical dry deciduous forests Group 4a, southern tropical dry deciduous forests, and C-1 dry teak of Champion's forests types. Teak is the dominant species and constitutes 50% or more of the crop in the well-drained, sandy or alluvial soil. It occurs in the Bansi, Dhariyawad, Salumbar, Kherwara, Jhadol, Kotra and Kumbhalgarh forest ranges. The common associates of teak are dhaura, godal, salar, khair, tendu, rohan, sadar, umbia, aonla, siris, dhok, bel, karaya, etc. Bamboo is also found along lower slopes and in the valleys (see below). Salar Forests. These forests correspond to a subsidiary edaphic type of dry tropical forest E4 Boswellia serrata of Champion's classification. Salar is found on the upper ridges of the hills in almost pure patches or in a mixture on shallow and boulder strata. Its common associates are godal and karaya, and less common associates are dhaura, khirni, jinjha, siris, tendu, etc. Miscellaneous Forests. These can be categorised as having (a) almost pure Anogeissus Pendula, forests that correspond to the subsidiary edaphic type of dry tropical forests and are mainly found in the Kumbhalgarh forest range. This is essentially a gregarious species and characteristic of quartz ridges and gneiss hillocks. When found in a mixture its associates are dhaura and salar; (b) almost pure dhok, which corresponds to the subsidiary edaphic type of dry tropical forests E-Butea monosperma of Champion's forest types. Butea monosperma is characteristic of badly drained and heavy clay soils. It is found to occur gregariously in teak and dhokra forests, occasionally mixed with Acacia Leucophloes and ber. Evidences of such areas are common in the Bansi, Dhariyawad, Kumbhalgarh, Kotra, Salumbar and Kurwar forest ranges; (c) forests containing a small proportion of teak that are mainly miscellaneous in constitution and are found in the Salumbar, Pershad, Bansi and Dhariyawad ranges. The common associates are dhaura, tendu, salar, godal, aonwla, siris, etc.; (d) miscellaneous forests with no traces of teak are mainly found in the valleys and along nullahs (seasonal streams) where soil is deep and rich. At places, the tree of mahua, bahera, am, semal and siris are as high as 15 to 18 m. The valleys and nullahs contain a scattered crop of gular, dhok, karanj, siris, kalam, jamun, umbia, sadar, tendu, etc., and are commonly found in Udaipur, Gogunda, Jhadol, Kotra and Panarwa ranges; and (e) thorn forests, which occur in the plains, lower hills and on the undulating terrain. Such areas are scattered and are found in the Pershad, Kumbhalgarh, Gogunda and Udaipur ranges. The species found in such type of forests are acacia leucophloea, zizyphus app. Flacourtia ramontchii and shrubs of euphorbia nivulies. Bamboo (Dendrocalamus Strictus) is commonly found in valleys, depressions and on moderate slopes in the Udaipur, Gogunda, Jhadol, Kherwara, Kotra, Panarwa, Bansi, Dhariyawad and Kumbhalgarh ranges. Nurseries. There are four forest nurseries located at Suitemate, Chanson, Kotra and Bansi, which nurture and supply saplings of various trees. Trees. The trees commonly found are: am (Mangifera Indica), amaltas (Cassia Fistula Lim), anwala (Emblica Officinalis), aritha (Ailanthus Excelsa), akol (Alangium Lamarckii, Thwaites), babul (Acacia Arabica), bahera (Terminalia Belerica), bakain (Malia Azedarach), bans (Dendrocalamus Strictus), bargad (Ficus Bengalensis, Linn.), bel (Aegle Marmelos, Correa), ber (Zizyphus Mauratiana, Lamk), bish-tendu (Diospyros Cordifolia Roxb.), chandan (Santalum Album), chitoran (Capparis Horrida, Linn.), dohak (Butea Monosperma, Lamk), dhaman (Grewia Tiliaefolia), dhavra (Anogeissus Latifolia), dhokra (Anogeissus Pendula, Edgew.), dudhi (Holorrihena Antidysenterica, Wall), garad (Albizzia Procera), gadha palas (Erythrina Suberosa, Roxb.), ghatbor (Zizyphus Xylopyra), godal (Lannea Coromendalica), gugal (Ficus Glomerata, Roxb.), gunda (Cordia Dichotma), gundi (Cordia Rothi), girnar (Chlorosperma Ciossypium D.C.), hingota (Balanites Egyptiaca), haldu (Adina Cordifolia), imli (Tamarindus Indica, Linn.), jamun (Syaygium Cumini), jungle jalebia (Inga Dulois, Willd.), jhinjha (Bauhinia Racomosa, Lam.), jhau (Tamarix Disca), kachnar (Bauhinia Variegata, Linn.), kalam (Mitragyna Parvifolia), kaith (Feornia Limonia, Linn.), kakon (Flacourlia Ramontchi), kanjari (Holoptelea Integrifolia), karanj (Pongemia Glabra), karaya (Sterculia Urens, Will), khajur (Phoenix Sylvestris), khejri (Prosopis Spicigera, Linn.), kohra (Terminalia Arjuna), khirni (Manilkara Hexandra), kumta (Acacia Senegal, Will), lampkana (Bridelia Retusa, Spring), mahua (Madhuca Indica), mamphla or maindal (Randia Dumitorum Lank), mokha (Schrebera Swietenioides), neem (Azabirachta Indica), pai (Dalbergia Lanceolata, Linn.), paras pipal (Ficus Cardifolia, Roxb.), pipal (Ficus Religiosa), ratanjot (Clausena Pentaphylla, D.C.), rohan (Soymida Febrifuga), rohani (Mallotus Philoppinensis, Muell), salar (Boswellia Serrata), sarjana (Morinaga Concanevisis, Nimm.), semal (Slamalia Malabarica D.C. School & Endt.), sehtoot (Morus Australis), shisham (Dalbergia Sissoo), siris kala (Albizzia Lebeck Benth), sitaphal (Anona Squamosa, Linn.), tambolia (Ehritia Laevis), timru (Diospyros Melanoxylon), umbia (Saccopetalum Tomentosum), and vilayati babool (Prosopis Juliflora). Shrubs and Herbs. The shrubs and herbs found in the district consist of adhashishi (Zanthium Strumarium), ak (Calotropis Procera), andhijhara (Achyranthes Aspera, Linn.), anwal (Cassia Auriculata), arusi (Adhatoda Vasica, Nees), arni (Clerodendron Phlomidis), bajradanti (Barleria Pronits, Linn.), tephrosi ahookeriana W & E., indigofora cordifolia heyne, indigofora oblongifoba forsk, acacia (Jacquemontii Berith), dasan (Rhus Myrosonensis Hevne), dhatura (DhaturaMetal, Linn.), fanjani (Gewia Flavecens), gangan (Grewia Tenax, Forsk), golhru (Tribulus Terrestris, Linn.), jharber (Zizijphus Nummularia, Burn. F.), karonda (Carissa Spinarum), mehendi (Lawsinia Iinernris, Linn.), nagpanithro (Cassia Tora, Linn.), thor (Euphorrbianivulia), and tulsi (Oeimum Sanctum). Climbers. There is a variety of climbers: amarbel (Cuscuta Reflexa), bajarbel (Cocculus Hirsutus Linn. Diels), chirmur or rathi (Abrus Precatorius, Linn.), dudhi (Inchnocarpus Frutesccus, Br.), ghorabel (Pueraria App. D.C.), kenwah (Mucuna Frurita) malkangani (Celastrus Paniculata), narkanta (Asparagus Dumosus, Baker), and tripatti (Oxalis Corniculata, Linn.). Grasses. Among the commonly found grasses are aujun (Cenchrus Ciliaris, Linn.), baroo (Sorghum Halipense Linn. Pers), bhangta (Apluda Mutica, Linn.), bhurat (Cenchrus Cathanitious), buhari (Eremopogon Forestatus), dub (doob) (Cyuodon Dacty Lan.), kans (Saccarum Spentanium), kared (Dicanthirum Annualatum), lampla (Aristida Spp.), munj (Saccbarum Munja), rosha (Cymbopogan Maltinii), sarwal (Heteropogon Concortus), and siran (Scfrima Nervosum).

Rivers of Mewar. The main rivers are as follows: Bamani (Brahmani). This is a tributary of the Chambal River. It originates from the hills near Haripura village and flows in an easterly direction for about 25 km., finally joining the Chambal at Bhainsrorgarh. It passes through Begun, Singoli, Barau and Bhainsrorgarh villages. Banas (literally the hope of the forest), the principal river of Mewar, rises in the Aravalli Hills about 5 km. from KUMBHALGARH and winds through the ARAVALLIS, flowing southwards to the Gogunda plateau, where it turns east and, cutting through the outlying ridges of the Aravallis, bursts into the open country of the eastern plains (the famous Vaishnava shrine of Nathdwara is there, on its right bank). It continues on a generally northeasterly course through Rajsamand and Railmagra tehsils, then crosses into the Chittorgarh and Bhilwara districts to join the Chambal River, just north of Sheopur. Important villages on its bank in the district include Khamnor, Kotharia, Kuraj, and Nathdwara. The river leaves the district near the village of Gilund (Railmagra tehsil). Its total length in Udaipur district is about 243 km. A seasonal river, it is not perennial but in the district its bed is hard and rocky, and water is long retained. The land lying along its banks is very fertile. Generally though it is often dry in Mewar's hot months but is a source of irrigation in the monsoon season. Its main tributaries are the Berach and Kotari rivers. Berach. This river originates in the hills on the north of Udaipur near Gogunda village where it is known as Ahar-ki-Nadi. It flows southeast, past Bedla and, close to Udaipur, falls into Udai Sagar Lake. From there it is called the Udaipur-ka-Nala. When it reaches the open country it is recognised as the Berach and m after flowing for about 93 km. in a northeasterly direction, leaves the district's boundary near Akola village (Vallabhnagar tehsil) and flows through the Chittorgarh and Bhilawara districts. It then joins the Banas near Bigod village in the Mandalgarh tehsil of Bhilwara district. Important villages and towns situated on its bank in the district include Ahar, Udaipur, Ayad, Vallabhanagar, Badgaon, Khempura, Akola, and Gondri. The chief tributaries of the Berach are the Wagin, the Gomuti and the Oar, all joining it on its right bank. The river retains water in its bed throughout the year in good rainfall, and is liable to flood in the event of excessive rainfall. The rulers of Udaipur State realised the importance of storing the large volume of water brought by this river and they constructed, in the upper reaches of the river and its tributaries, the beautiful lakes of Pichola, Fateh Sagar and Udai Sagar. Some medium and minor irrigation projects such as Bagolia, Khartana (1968-75) and Vallabhnagar have been constructed in its basin. Chambal River, the only perennial river in the southeast of Mewar. It originates in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh and enters Mewar near Gandhi Sagar colony, flowing northeast for about 50 km. After flowing through Rawatbhata (where a large dam, Rana Pratap Sagar, was constructed after Independence) and the Bhainsrorgarh area, it leaves the district near the village of Jadra and enters the adjacent Kota district, passing through Bundi, Sawai Madhopur and Daulpur, into the Yamuna River in the Jalaku District of Uttar Pradesh. Gambhiri River, has its source in Madhya Pradesh, from Chittor Hill near Jawad, about 11/2 km. from Chittorgarh Junction Railway Station, and flows through the Nimbahera and Chittorgarh tehsils to join the Berach about 2 km. north of Chittorgarh town. He river passes through the villages of Khor, Myara, Sarthal, and Tai. Gunjali. This river is a tributary emptying itself in the Chambal. It has its origin in Madhya Pradesh near the village of Jat and enters the district near the village of Daulatpura and flows in an easterly direction. In the Chittorgarh district, it passes through Moren, Amarganj, and Kua Khera villages. It finally joins the Chambal River at Arnia village. Jakham River, which has its source in the hills southwest of Choti Sadri in Chittorgarh district. The river enters the Udaipur district near the village of Naglia and, after flowing about 34 km. through the hilly tracts, joins the Som near the village of Deola Kalan in Lasadia tehsil. It flows for about 109 km. through the district, and important villages situated on its banks include Deola, Mina-ka-Khera, Dhariyawad, Karmal, and Manpura. Sukli and Karmai are its chief tributaries. The river is prone to floods due to the steep slope of its bed. Two pick-up weirs and two tanks, Manpura and Malpura, have been constructed on the river. Finally, it merges with the Som, which flows into Madhya Pradesh. Sabarmati. The river originates in the western slopes of the Aravalli ranges between Udaipur and Abu. It flows for about 44 km. in the district, and leaves its boundary near the village of Kotra, and enters Gujarat State. Its chief tributary in Udaipur district is the Wakal, which joins it near Kotra. Sei. This river originates from the western slopes of the Aravalli range and flows for nearly 80 km. through Udaipur district before it joins the Sabarmati in Gujarat State near the village of Dother. In the rainy season there is no approach to the tracts through which the river flows, as it is prone to flooding during good rainfall. Jhadol, a minor irrigation project, was constructed (1961-63) on Manus Nullah near Jhadol village. Som. Rising in the hills near Som village in Kotra tehsil of the district, this river flows through hilly tracts in a southeasterly direction and joins the Mahi near the village of Banshwar. Its total length in the district is about 138 km. Important villages on its banks include Laurhariya, Limboda, Bhabrana, Aspur, Kandla, Deopura, and Jawas. It leaves the district near the village of Debta (Salumbar tehsil). It is a perennial river and its chief tributaries are the Gomti and the Jakham. No major utilisation of its run-off was envisaged in the past except for Jaisamand Lake on the Gomti. Later, a project named the Mansivakal Project was surveyed and (at the time of writing) was under consideration of the government for storage of water of the Som for irrigation schemes like Semari, Ghori and Madar-ka-Naka. Tidi Reservoir was constructed (1969-71) on the Tidi River, a tributary of the Gomti, and supplies water to the Zawar mines for ore washing. Another project, Daia, is also proposed to be constructed on the Tidi River near the village of Palodra, for supplementing the water to the Jaisamand canal system. Wakal. This river rises in the hills near Ghora village in Gogunda tehsil and, flowing past Oghna and Manpur, it reaches Kotra and turns towards the west. After flowing for about 112 km. in the district, it leaves the boundary near the village of Gau Pipli and enters Gujarat State. Raghogarh, Oghna, Panwara and Kotra are important villages situated on its banks. A diversion scheme named Dewas Stage I (Gorana-ki-Nal) was constructed for augmenting the supply of water for Pichola lake in Udaipur city. Two minor schemes, Manas (1973-74) and Jhadol, were also constructed on the Manas River, which is a tributary of the Wakal.

Lakes and Tanks in Mewar. Bagolia Bewas Stage 1 (Gorana-ki-Nal); Fateh Sagar; Jaisamand (Dhebar) Lake; Pichola Lake; Rajsamand Lake; Udai Sagar; and Vallabhnagar.

Nature Cure Centre (Prakritik-Chikitsalaya), in Bhatiyani Chautta, Udaipur. It offers hot water baths and mud baths, and other similar cosmetic therapies.