Neech Mata: see NEEMUCH MATA TEMPLE.

Neelkanth (Nilkanth) Temple, Kumbhalgarh; on the ridge below the palace of Kumbha; constructed by Maharana KUMBHA (1433-1468) for his daily worship.

Neelkantha (Nilkantha) Mahadeva Temple, Chittor; an ancient temple with a Shiva idol, near Suraj Pol gate. It is believed that BHIM, the Paramara (Pandava) king ruling Chittor, who preceded MAAN MORI, was so large that he could encircle the huge Shiva idol with his arms.

Neemach Mata: see NIMACH MATA.

Nehru Bazaar, a shopping area behind Bapu Bazaar, Udaipur.

Nehru Island Garden (Udaipur): see NEHRU PARK ISLAND.

Nehru Park Island (Nehru Island Garden), a 11/4-hectare island park that took over thirty years to construct, situated in the middle of FATEH SAGAR Lake (a boat takes visitors to the island, the fees going to the Udaipur Municipal Corporation). The island has a raised hillock and, in earlier days, the surrounding land was used for agriculture. Later, the former Mewar government turned the hillock the into a lake garden. There is a boat-shaped restaurant where one can sit and enjoy the coloured pyramid fountains, attractive flowers, lawns, tall trees and the distant Aravalli Hills of Udaipur.

Neka-ki-Chaupad, City Palace, Udaipur; an open area opposite Dhuni Mata Temple at Rai Angan in the City Palace. It was here that the Maharana sat and administered justice.

Neminath, the twenty-third Jain Tirthankara (teacher).

Neminatha Temple: see RANAKPUR.

Netawal (Ranawat), a town 140 km. from Udaipur, near Kalasan in the Chittor District; jagir of the Netawal clan. Kunwar Nath Singh was a younger son of Maharana Sangram Singh II, and the Netawal family are the descendants of Nath Singh's second son, Surat Singh, their title being 'Maharaj'. Nath Singh had five sons. The eldest lived at Bagore. The second, Surat Singh had no male issue, therefore he adopted his younger brother, Roop Singh. Maharana Bhim Singh gave two villages to Roop Singh, Soniyana and Chavandia. However, due to constant Maratha onslaughts these villages became barren, and Roop Singh migrated to Jaipur. There he was received with honour by the Maharaja of Jaipur, and was given two villages - Ganoli and Bhajera, which are still with his descendants. Maharana Jawan Singh and his adopted son, Sardar Singh took Shiv Singh with them on their pilgrimage to Gaya. Later, when Sardar Singh was Maharana, he gave the jagir of Netawal to Shiv Singh. In his later years, Shiv Singh of Netawal became a confidante of the next Maharana, Swaroop Singh.

Genealogy: Surat Singh; Roop Singh; Shiv Singh; Samdar Singh; Bhupal Singh; Hari Singh.

New Fatehpura, a northern suburb of Udaipur.

nilgai, (Hindi) a blue bull; also a large antelope.

Nilkanth Temple: see NEELKANTH TEMPLE, KUMBHALGAR, and NEELKANTH TEMPLE, CHITTORGARH.

Nimach (Neemach), a district east of Udaipur on the border of Malwa (Madhya Pradesh). It was the site of a British Cantonment during the 1857 'Mutiny'.

Nimach Mata Mandir (Temple), Udaipur, on a small hill in the northern sector of the city, overlooking the northern shore of FATEH SAGAR. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Nimach Mata Devi who is three entities in one: Shakti (the powerful), Saraswati (the wise one), and Durga (the destroyer). It is popular with locals who either wish to maintain good relations with this mighty goddess or to enjoy the splendid panorama of lakes and the city, the UDAIPUR SOLAR OBSERVATORY on its island lake, and the MAHARANA PRATAP MEMORIAL on the neighbouring hill, MOTI MAGRI. The temple is reached either by a gravel path or about eight hundred comfortable steps.

Nimbahera (Mertia Rathore), a town near Nimach in Chittor District, 29 km. from Chittor and 105 km. from Udaipur, on the border of Madhya Pradesh. The Nimbahera clan is an offshoot of BADNORE. Amar Singh, who founded the jagir of Nimbahera was the fifth son of Sanwaldas of Badnore, receiving the estate from Maharana Amar Singh II (1698-1710). Suraj Singh, son of Amar, was with Maharana Sangram Singh II (1710-1734) in the battle against Ranbaz Khan near Bandanwara.

Genealogy: Amar Singh; Suraj Singh; Maha Singh; Hari Singh; Kishan Singh; Sobhag Singh; Veeramdeo; Amar Singh; Dulah Singh; Mod Singh.

Nimbu Pol (Lemon Gate), Kumbhalgarh; the seventh and final gate into the fort, it has a temple dedicated to Chamunda Devi, a manifestation of the goddess DURGA. A shrine of the founding ruler of MER is located nearby. It was in the rooms close to Nimbu Pol that the infant UDAI SINGH lived, after being saved by his courageous nursemaid, PANNA DHAI from being murdered by BANBIR, illegitimate pretender to the throne. See also GATES (POLS) IN UDAIPUR.

Nimri (Mahecha Rathore), a town 215 km. from Udaipur; jagir of the Machecha Rathore clan, descendants of Rawal Mallinath of Mehwo. One of Mallinath's descendants was Rawal Meghraj whose son, Kalla, came to Mewar during the reign of Maharana Udai Singh II (1537-1572). The Maharana granted him the jagir of Kosithal. Kalla was killed during the third sack of Chittor (his chhatri is to be seen in the fort). Kalla's son, Bagh Singh died in the Battle of Haldighati. Bagh Singh's son, Chandan died fighting for Maharana Amar Singh I. The Maharana granted the jagir of Bhainsrorgarh to Bagh Singh's son, Mohandas, who later died in the Battle of Untala. Bhim Singh's son, Meghraj fought against Emperor Aurangzeb in Maharana Raj Singh's time. In 1691 (during Maharana Jai Singh's reign), Bhil tribals were plundering the area of Nimri, and the Maharana sent Meghraj to subdue them, which he succeeded in doing. In gratitude, Jai Singh granted him the jagir of Nimri. The House of Nimri served Mewar until the time of Maharana Jawan Singh (1828-1838).

Genealogy: Kalla; Bagh Singh; Chandan Singh; Mohandas; Amar Singh; Bhim Singh; Meghraj; Prithvi Raj; Nath Singh; Umaid Singh; Vijai Singh; Laxman Singh; Hamir Singh; Tej Singh; Dhonkal Singh; Nahar Singh; Narpat Singh; Budh Singh; Trilok Singh.

Nirvana, (Hindi) the state of peaceful release from rebirth.

nivas: see NIWAS.

niwas (nivas), (Hindi) a residence, a place of living, though it invariably does not possess the comforts of a VILAS, which is a little more stylish.

Noah: see MANU.

Nurseries, Forest, of Mewar: see NATURAL FEATURES OF MEWAR.