Located at an elevation of 638 metres, Deogarh is a popular tourist destination on the boundaries of Mewar, Marwar and Merwara, to the North-East of Udaipur. Deogarh is situated on the right bank of the River Betwa at the western end of the Lalitpur Range of hills. Cliffs hanging over the bank rise to a height of 300 feet and form a steep ridge of red sandstone. The river takes a deep curve to the west and passes through picturesque countryside. The river water is deep green and has a small island in the middle.

In the bygone years, ‘Rawat’ was the title given to the chief of Deogarh, one of the 16 ‘umraos’ (feudal lords) entitled to wait on the Maharana of Udaipur, the capital of Mewar. These feudal estates called ‘thikanas’ were sanctioned by the ruling Maharana to a nobleman due to blood relationship or for an act of valour. Deogarh was also a seat of the Chudawat clan of the Sisodia Rajputs. The Deogarh Fort or Deogarh Mahal was built in 1670 by Rawat Dwarka Dasji as a family residence. This entire region is steeped in the history of Rana Pratap and the Battle of Haldighati.

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Deogarh is famous for its school of miniature paintings and frescoes which can be viewed on the walls of the Deogarh fort. Bird watching expeditions and jeep safaris also account for its popularity.

The best time to visit Deogarh is during the cool winter months from October to March, in order to avoid the scorching summer heat (April to September). Light woolen clothing can prove useful as Deogarh can get quite chilly during the night.   

Although there are travel desks at the heritage hotels in Deogarh, it is safer to get foreign currency exchanged at Jaipur international airport or at any of the exchange counters in the main cities.

Deogarh can be reached by train from any of the major cities of Rajasthan, or by road from Udaipur, Jodhpur or Jaipur. 

The nearest international airport is at Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.Few International flights operate from Jaipur. Air Arabia operates between Jaipur  and Sharjah. Indian Airlines operates to Bangkok, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Oman Air to Muscat.

By Road: Deogarh is located at a distance of 140 kms from Udaipur, 280 kms from Jaipur and 170 kms from Jodhpur. Buses and private taxis operate from these places to Deogarh.

By Rail: Deogarh lies on the Western Railway Route, between Udaipur and the Marwar Junction. It is connected by rail to Kota, Neemach (Madhya Pradesh), Chittorgarh and Delhi. 

Deogarh Mahal is a popular tourist site as visitors are eager to see the Sheesh Mahal or hall of mirrors and some of the other theme rooms such as the Yog Maya Mahal and the Temple room.

Dashavatar Temple – Built during the Gupta period, this temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is also known as the Panchayatan Temple. It was the first North Indian temple to have a shikhara or a spire. Only the lower part of the shikhara is present today. The terraced basement above the high temple plinth is adorned with a continuous row of sculptured panels. The door leading to the sanctum is richly carved with figures of Ganga and Yamuna.

Manasthamba- This site was a Jain centre from the post – Gupta period up to the 17th century and has 31 Jain temples belonging to that era. Visitors admire the carved panels depicting scenes from Jain myths, Tirthankara (teacher) images and an exquisitely carved pillar with a thousand Jain figures. There are lots of bhil villages around Deogarh, and a visit to these tribal settlements can prove to be an interesting excursion.     

Deogarh Mahal – This impressive fort built in the late 17th century by Rawat Dwarka Dasji has been converted into a heritage hotel, while a part of it is still retained as a royal residence. Sumptuous food prepared from fresh vegetables grown around the fort is served here. The Coffee Shop serves organic South Indian coffee and light snacks.  Rijahvan, the gift shop is an ideal place to purchase books, garments, antiques or any of the local specialties. 

Fort Seeng Sagar – Located a few kms from Deogarh Mahal, this quaint 4 room hotel overlooks the tranquil waters of the Seeng Sagar. Recently introduced to the public as a hotel, this fort was a luxurious villa owned by an uncle of the royal family of Deogarh. Although small in size, it is replete with archways, open terraces, jharokhas and the grandeur of Rajput architecture. The four bedrooms are exquisitely adorned with period furniture, soft furnishings and a  rewarding view of the surroundings. Traditional Rajasthani and continental cuisine is served in the open terrace overlooking the lake.

Deogarh’s altitude gives it the enviable advantage of being much cooler than most of the other cities of Rajasthan and hence is a popular tourist destination. It is a complex of luxurious heritage resorts managed by the royal family of Deogarh so one gets to enjoy a true taste of royal hospitality which should not be missed.