UDAIPUR
Attractions: Lake Palace, City Palace
Famous As: City Of Lakes
Best Time To Visit: October To April
In the harsh terrain of the hills and ravines of Aravallis,
flourishes the city of lakes, Udaipur. One of the most romantic places in
India, Udaipur is situated around the shimmering clear blue water lakes,
which whisper the mood of a bygone era.
The
city was founded in 1567 AD by Maharana Udai Singh on the advice of a
sage. Udaipur was last of the numerous Mewar capitals. It was in Udaipur
that legendary Maharana Pratap was born. He was obsessed with Chittaur and
the past glories of the Sisodia clan possessed his mind. Maharana Pratap
left Udaipur to win back Chittaur from the Mughals. But he failed in his
attempts and Udaipur remained the capital of Mewar till India got her
independence.The memory of the failure of noble Pratap gives Udaipur its
pervading mood of nostalgic wistfulness.
The city acquires its scenic beauty from the Aravallis. Three lakes-
Pichola,
Fateh Sagar and Udai Sagar
make it an oasis in the desert.
RAJASTHAN TRAIN TRAVEL
PALACE ON WHEELS
Ever wondered what luxury in the royal times was all about! Welcome to
Palace On Wheels, a luxury train that carries with it an ambience of the
Rajputana era and an exciting fairytale journey, which takes the visitor
to the imperial cities of Rajasthan every single day. The coaches also
carry out an image of the Rajput states with beautiful interiors. Last but
not the least the "Royal Treat" for the passengers on board
include saloons, bar lounges & libraries in every coach as well as
restaurant and organized shopping facilites. more...
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Udaipur is known as the ' City of Lakes'. The two
most scenic and famous lakes of the city are Lake Pichola and Lake Fateh
Sagar.
Lake Pichola is surrounded by hills, palaces, temples, bathing ghats and
has two island palaces- Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir. Lake Fateh sagar lies to
north of Pichola and was built by Maharana Jai Singh but it got the name
of Fateh Singh who rebuilt its dam. Both the lakes are breathtakingly
beautiful and one can take a cruise on their waters. The sunset over these
lakes is a sight to be cherished.
PALACES
City Palace: This
majestic white royal building towers itself on a hill and is surrounded by
crenellated walls. The palace stands along the shores of Pichola. more...
Lake Palace: This
former summer residence of the royal family has now been converted into a
fabulous hotel. more...
GARDENS
Sahelion-Ki-Bari:
On the shores of Fateh Sagar Lake was built a garden for the 48 young
girls waiting to be sent to the royal house as part of dowry. This garden
is laid with extensive lawns, fountains and shady walking lanes. There are
four pools with dainty kiosks and fountains with elephant trunks for
spouts. These gardens appear discrete and impeccable in taste. more...
MUSEUMS
Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal: This is a museum of folk arts, which
has rich collection of folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls,
folk musical instruments and paintings. World famous puppeteers put shows
here, on request in advance.
Pratap Memorial: Erected atop Modi Magri is this equestrian bronze
statue of the valiant hero, Maharana Pratap. Sajjan Garh, Gulab Bagh, Dudh
Talai Park, the Sunset point are also the places to be seen.
TEMPLES
Jagdish Temple: Dedicated to Vishnu, this temple was built in
1651 AD by Maharana Jagat Singh.
EXCURSIONS
TEMPLES
Eklingji: 22 kms from the
city is a temple complex of 108 temples enclosed by high walls. Built in
1734 AD, the temples are dedicated to the royal deity Ekling ji. The
complex has been chiselled out of sandstone and marble. It has an ornate
'mandap' or pillared hall, the canopy of a huge pyramidical roof composed
of hundreds of knots. more...
Nathdwara: This temple is one the
most celebrated Vaishnava shrines of Lord Krishna or Nathji. Thousands of
pilgrims visit this shrine during the festivals. Foreigners are not
allowed in the temple and photography is prohibited. It is located 48 kms
from Udaipur. more...
Kankroli: Known as Dwarkadhish, this temple is an important
Vaishnava temple and ranks very high among the temples of the
Vallabhacharya. 65 kms from the city.
Ranakpur: (98 Kms) Famous for the
beautiful Jain temples.more...
Jagat (58 Kms): The tenth century Ambika Mata Temple is well
preserved in all its splendour.
Rishabhdeoji (65 Kms): Popularly known as Kesariyaji because of
the large saffron offerings, this temple is dedicated to the Jain
Tirthankara Rishabhdeoji.
CITIES
Nagda: This ancient place in Mewar is famous for their intricate
carvings of the graceful 'apsaras'. 23 kms from the city.
Haldighati: This place, 40 kms from Udaipur, has immense
historical importance. It was at Haldighati in 1576 AD that armies of
Maharana Pratap and Mughal Emperor Akbar clashed. A 'chhatri' with
delicate white marble columns is dedicated to the indomitable hero and his
loyal charger.
FORTS
Kumbhal Garh Fort:
Kumbhalgarh Fort was built by Maharana Kumbha in the 15th century. Perched
on the Aravallis, this is the second most important fort in Rajasthan
after the Chittaurgarh Fort. Nearby is the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.
more...
LAKES
Jaisamand lake: 48 kms from the city, this artificial lake was
built in 17th century by Maharana Jai Singh. The marble 'Chhatris' along
the embankment add grace to this second largest lake in Asia. On either
sides of the lake were built the palaces for the favourite queens of the
King. People of the Bhil tribe still inhabit the islands in Jaisamand
lake.
Rajsamand lake (66 Kms): This is dam built by Maharana Rai Singh
in 1660.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: The City of Lakes is well connected by air
services. The Dabok Airport is 21 kms from the city centre.
Rail: Railway has trains from all over the country to destination
Udaipur. The Palace On Wheels covers this magnificent city during its
eight day package tour.
Road: There are bus services from tourist places in Rajasthan ,
Gujarat and Delhi.
PLACES TO STAY
The Lake Palace Hotel is considered to be among the best hotels around the world. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation provides various categories of rooms and dormitory at the Kajri Hotel. Apart from the hotels, there are Tourist guest houses and municipal guest houses. There are dharamshalas and the railway offers its retiring rooms at nominal rates. Paying guest accommodations are also available.
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
Shilpgarm Festival - The 10 day festival is a treat
for the visitor to an array of exquisite art and craft. Shilpgram hosts
the festival.
Mewar Festival -
The onset of spring brings the Mewar festival. During the festival, the
tradition and culture of Rajasthan dominates every other thing in one's
mind. more...
SHOPPING
Shopping can be a pleasure at the Hathipole, Chetak Circle, Clock Tower, Palace Road and Bapu Bazaar. Rajasthan Government also has its own Handicraft emporium. The shops of Udaipur have plenty of exquisite items to offer. The dainty folk toys, brightly coloured garments, hand printed textiles, batiks, and tie & dye sarees and fabrics to name few. 'Pichwais' or wall hangings painted on cloth are world renowned for their vivid colours and themes. The craftsmanship is at its peak in the metal images and chunky silver jewellery.
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
Tourist Office - Tourist Information Bureau (Govt. of Rajasthan) Kajri Tourist Bungalow, Udaipur, Rajasthan.
CLIMATE
The lakes surrounding Udaipur regulates the climate, which is pleasant than in any other city in Rajasthan. The summers are hot and winters are cold but the temperature does not rise to extremes. The rainfall is less, around 61 cms annually.
NEARBY CITIES
| Ajmer- 264 Kms |
| Chittaurgarh- 112 Kms |
| Mount Abu- 185 Kms |
| Ranakpur- 90 Kms. |
| Nathdwara 48 Kms. |
| Kankroli- 65 Kms. |
GENERAL INFORMATION
Population: About three lakhs
Main Languages: Rajasthani, Hindi, English
