The City Palace Preface

Hathiyon Ka Halka (Elephant Zone)

At a glance:

The area between Badi Pol and Tripoliya gate was known as Hathiyon ka Halka or the Elephant Zone area. The elephants used for royal rides were shackled here to their stone post which is still visible. On the west of Tripoliya there is a stable where the elephant which was the first in the Maharana's procession carrying the 'Nissan' the Royal Standard was kept. To the east of Tripoliya there was the pen where female elephants with their calves were kept.

The building on the west of the elephant zone was used as the departmental building for all necessary requirements for the up-keep of the elephants, including their items of decorative clothings, jewellery, elephant seats both for ceremonial use and hunting, (howdah and faarki) etc. The person in-charge of this department had his office here. As you enter the Badi Pol on the west near the 'Neem' tree is a huge water tank (now covered) for the elephants to drink from. Next to this was the room (now with The Vijaya Bank), where the Mahawat, (one who controls the elephant), used to stay and here only the bread (roties) for the elephants were baked.

Outside Badi Pol on the west behind the Gulab Swaroop Bihariji temple was the pen where elephants who were intoxicated or frenzied were kept. In the huge vaults below The Manek Chowk (now housing the Maharana Mewar Special Library) fodder for elephants was stored. In Manek Chowk there are elephant beds, which still exist where the elephants would rest after a tiring day. For elephant fights - a bloodless sport, Maharana Sangram Singh II (r.1710 - 1734 AD), had made a 5ft tall wall called 'Aagad'. Of this one wall was near the platform from where the Maharana would sit on the elephant and one near the elephant stable which is still in existence.

In the elephant zone at least 10 to 12 elephants were always tied. The rest of the elephants were kept in The Manek Chowk or in the 'Hastishala' i.e. elephant stables around Manek Chowk. During the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh (r.1884 - 1930 AD) there were about 100 elephants with the Mewar State which were reduced to 20-25 during the reign of Maharana Bhupal Singh (r.1930 - 1955 AD). By the time of Maharana Bhagwat Singh (r.1955 - 1984 AD), there were still 12-15 elephants which were slowly reduced to just one Royal elephant.