Two new rhodamine derivatives (L1 and L2) were synthesized, characterized and their ion recognition property has been investigated. Both of the ionophores exhibit colorimetric and fluorogenic response for Hg(2+) and Cr(3+) ions among large number of alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions tested in acetonitrile. Detail studies on determination of binding constant, binding mode, reversibility of binding, lower detection limit have been carried out. Detection of metal ions in aqueous media has also been demonstrated by preparation of simple, convenient and disposable test paper sensors with two approaches viz. filter paper and membrane filter loaded with these ionophores. Both of these methods responded sharply to both the metal ions (Hg(2+) and Cr(3+)) in aqueous solution, detectable by bared-eye. For better sensing at low concentration of metal ions, reprecipitation followed by filtration enrichment of ligands on membrane filter was employed.