#Name: Pratap Singh, popularly known as Maharana Pratap was a Rajput ruler of Mewar province of Rajasthan. The Chittor Fort at Chittorgarh, which was Pratap’s ancestral home was under Mughal occupation. It was his dream to capture Chittor in order to give Mewar its lost glory. On 21st June, 1576, the two armies (one of Maharana Pratap and other of Akbar) met each other at Haldighati. The Mughal forces outnumbered the Rajput forces and Pratap’s generals prevailed upon him to flee the field so as to be able to fight some other day. Myths indicate that to facilitate Pratap's escape, one of his lieutenants, a member of the Jhala clan, donned Pratap's distinctive garments and took his place in the battlefield, so that Pratap can safely escape. He was soon killed. Meanwhile, riding his trusty Chetak, Pratap was able to successfully evade captivity and escape to the hills. However, Chetak was critically wounded on his left thigh by a mardana (Elephant Trunk Sword), with spear of weight 26.3 kg while Pratap had attempted to nail down Emperor Akbar. Chetak was bleeding heavily and he collapsed after jumping over a small river a few kilometres away from the battle field. A famous couplet in a poem narrates this incident of the battle:
~ Aage nadiya padi apaar, ghoda kaise utare paar; Rana ne socha is paar, tab tak chetak tha us paar... ~
English Translation :
Lies the boundless river ahead, How will the horse cross it? While Rana was thinking still on this side (of river), Chetak was that side!
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Since the train connects Delhi with Udaipur, one of the important cities of Mewar region, the train is named as Chetak Express as a mark of respect to Chetak who was a horse of unparalleled fame, courage, speed, intelligence and sacrifice who gave up his life for the cause of freedom.
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#Regions (Physical): Delhi Ridge, Aravalli Ranges, Mewar Plains
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#Regions of State: Delhi, Gurgaon Division, Dhundhar, Mewar
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#Zone,
#Division: The rake belongs to
#NWR Zone, Bikaner Division but for this run, it is maintained by Ajmer Division. The train passes through the following divisions:
#NR: Delhi;
#WR: Ratlam;
#NWR: Jaipur, Ajmer
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#Route:
> Delhi Sarai Rohilla – Rewari Line
> Rewari to Ajmer via Ringas Jn
> Ajmer – Udaipur Line
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#Halts,
#States: Serves 3 States – Delhi, Haryana & Rajasthan. The train halts at 16 intermediate stations, the statewise breakup as follows (excluding originating & terminating): DL-1, HR-3, RJ-12
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#Soils: It crosses through region having black, sand-clay mix and red-loam soil
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#Rivers: Sahibi, Hameer Lake, Luni, Banas, Berach, Ahar
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#Languages: Hindi, Haryanvi and Rajasthani (Mewari & Marwari dialect)
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#Speed: Highest average speed: 82 kmph between Phulera-Kishangarh
Lowest average speed: 15 kmph between Ranapratapnagar and Udaipur City
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#RSA: 22471/72 BKN-DEE-BKN SF Intercity Express
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#Base: Bikaner Junction (due to RSA)
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Photo Credits:
Pic-1: Train Board (
/blog/post/598074/0 )
Pic-2: Delhi Sarai Rohilla Station (
/blog/post/556715/0 )
Pic-3: Red Fort, Delhi (
click here )
Pic-4: Maharana Pratap on Chetak in City Palace, Udaipur (
click here )
Pic-5: Chetak Smarak (
click here )
Pic-6: Udaipur City Railway Station (
/blog/post/384146/0 )
Pic-7: City Palace Complex, Udaipur at Night (
click here )
