The Battle and Chetak
Rana Pratap's forces were decisively outnumbered. While mounted on Chetak, Pratap made an attempt on the life of Imperial Mughal Commander Man Singh. When Pratap saw that the battle's tide was turning against him, he charged toward Imperial commander Man Singh who directing the battle seated on an elephant. Pratap made a frontal charge at the Imperial army, hacked his way through the massed ranks of enemy combatants and reached in front of Man Singh's elephant. Once there, Chetak reared high in the air and planted his hooves on the forehead of Man Singh's elephant. Pratap threw his lance at Man Singh, who ducked in time. The blow fell on the mahout (elephant driver) instead, who was killed instantly. In the general melee that followed, Chetak received a fatal wound on one of his legs. This was the turning point of the battle. Mewar's bold gamble to siege the battle in its favor had failed. As Man Singh was whisked away to safety, Pratap found himself surrounded by enemy soldiers.
Maharana was loath to leave a battle in between, but was prevailed upon by his faithful followers. By some accounts, one of the Jhala Sardar literally snatched the Royal Insignia from Maharana's person and wore them himself, thus making him a target for the Mughal Army.
As the Mughal army fell upon the Jhala sardar mistaking him for Maharana, Maharana left the battlefield with some of his loyal followers. Chetak was exhausted and seriously wounded, but labored on carrying his master, about 2 miles from the site of the battle he came across a small stream. It was here, while trying to leap across the stream that Chetak collapsed.
Maharana erected a small monument for his horse at the place where Chetak fell. The cenotaph still exists at Haldighati in Rajsamand District.
Read more about this topic: Chetak (horse)
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