Chetak Smarak, also called Chetak Samadhi, is a memorial to

Maharana Pratap Pratap Singh I (9 May 1540 – 19 January 1597), popularly known as Maharana Pratap (), was king of the Kingdom of Mewar, in north-western India in the present-day state of Rajasthan, from 1572 until his death in 1597. He is notable for leadi ...

's famed steed Chetak, in the Indian state of

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

. The horse died of battle wounds after helping the Rana effect a miraculous escape from the

Battle of Haldighati The battle of Haldighati was fought on 18 June 1576 between the Mewar forces led by Maharana Pratap, and the Mughal forces led by Man Singh I of Amber. The Mughals emerged victorious after inflicting significant casualties on Mewari forces, ...

. The memorial is said to have been built at the spot that Chetak died. It is situated in the

Aravalli hills The Aravalli Range (also spelled ''Aravali'') is a mountain range in Northern-Western India, running approximately in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Ahmedabad, Gujar ...

in the lake district of

Rajsamand Rajsamand is a city, located in Rajsamand Mewar district of Rajasthan, India. The city is named for Rajsamand Lake, an artificial lake created in the 17th century by Rana Raj Singh Rajsamand Udaipur of Mewar. It is the administrative head ...

, at the village of Balicha. In 2003, the shrine was declared a

Monument of National Importance A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical ...

in Rajasthan by the

Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander ...

. It is an interesting little place with an old museum dedicated to the battle, and a new one coming up close by. It can be reached easily by road, about 4 km from the temple town of

Nathdwara Nathdwara is a city in the Rajsamand district of the state of Rajasthan, India. It is located in the Aravalli hills, on the banks of the Banas River and is 48 kilometres north-east of Udaipur. Shrinathji, is a swarup of lord Krishna whic ...

References

Monuments and memorials in Rajasthan Tourist attractions in Rajsamand district Memorials to Maharana Pratap {{India-struct-stub