Introduction :
The city of Udaipur is located in the Aravalli ranges of the royal state of
Rajasthan and is also known as the jewel of Mewar. Also known as the City of
Dawn, Udaipur is surrounded by ancient mountains and set on the edge of
three lakes. It is a beautiful old city with narrow lanes flanked by bright
stalls, gardens, lakes, palaces and temples meandering through it. It is
situated at a distance of about 405 km from the state capital Jaipur.
Udaipur was founded in 1559 and named after Maharana Udai Singh. It then
replaced Chittor as the capital of the Sisodia dynasty, when according to
legend, the Maharana went out hunting one day and met a holy man who blessed
him and told him to built a palace at that very spot, as it would be well
protected. Today, Udaipur is a one of the better-known tourist destinations
of India and an integral part of any itinerary for Rajasthan.
Tourist Attractions in Udaipur :
Udaipur
offers a large number of grand forts and exquisite palaces that bear
testimony to India’s rich architectural heritage.
» Lake Palace and Lake Pichola - Lake Palace is a
shimmering granite and marble structure that overlooks the aquamarine waters
of the Lake Pichola. It is a harmonious arrangement of pavilions,
courtyards, terraces, rooms, corridors, and hanging gardens. According to
legend, the eight marble porticos that mark the spot where the Mewar
sovereigns were weighed in gold, the equivalent value of which was then
distributed to the poor.
» Bhim Vilas Palace - The Bhim Vilas Palace that
lies within the City Palace has a series of lovely wall paintings. The Mor
Chowk is known for its stunning peacock mosaics.
» Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir - The summer residence of
the princes of Mewar was called Jag Niwas, and is today a magnificent luxury
hotel. Jag Mandir, the other island palace has a marble dome and is made in
red sandstone. It was a refuge for the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan when he was
exiled after a quarrel with his father, Emperor Jahangir.
» City Palace and Museum - The imposing City
Palace towers over the Pichola Lake on a hill and is the largest palace
complex in Rajasthan. the complex manages to retain a uniformity of design
despite being a conglomeration of buildings constructed by various Maharanas
over a long period of time. It has many courtyards, pavilions, terraces,
corridors, rooms and hanging gardens.
» Saheliyon-Ki-Bari - To the north of the city lies
Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, a garden of the maids of honour. This small ornamental
garden has many fountains, delightful lotus pools, chiselled kiosks and
marble elephants.
» Jagdish Temple - The Jagdish temple was built in
1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh. Built in Indo-Aryan style , the temple is the
largest temple of Udaipur. A black stone image of Lord Vishnu and a brass
image of Garuda can be seen here.
» Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir - Bharatiya Lok Kala
Mandir, the Indian folk arts museum, has interesting exhibits that include
folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments,
folk deities and paintings. Puppet shows are held here daily.
Excursions in Udaipur :
There
are a very large number of places that can be visited when on a tour of
Udaipur.
» Ahar - Ahar is the ancient capital of the Sisodias
that lies about three kilometers from the town of Udaipur. It boasts of
numerous chhatris or cenotaphs that commemorate Mewar’s royalty.
» Ranakpur - Ranakpur boasts of some of the most
exquisite Jain temples in the country.
» Sajjangarh - Sajjangarh is a dramatic 18th century
palace that gives a breathtaking view of the Mewar countryside, and lies on
a hilltop just outside Udaipur. It was initially intended to be a five-story
astronomical center, but was later abandoned and used as a monsoon palace
and hunting lodge.
» Eklingji - Eklingi is set in a deep ravine
containing the Eklingji Lake about 22 km from Udaipur. The Ekalinga temple
here is made of white marble with a two-storey mandapa to Shiva.
» Nathdwara - Nathdwara is an important
Hindu pilgrimage center that lies 48 kilometers from Udaipur. It is also
famous for nurturing the glorious tradition of Pichwal paintings.
» Nagda - Nagda has three temples dating back to the
11th century-Adbhutji Temple and the Vaishnavite Sas-Bahu Temples-all dating
back to the 11th century.
» Chittorgarh - Chittorgarh is one of the oldest
cities in Rajasthan. It was capital of the legendary Sisodia Dynasty of
which Rana Pratap and Rana Kumbha were the kings.
Its majestic fort dominates the city. Most of the attractions are located
inside the walls of the fort. Kumbhalgarh, Ghanerao, Rajsamand Lake,
Jaisamand Lake, Sardarsamand, Haldighati, Dungarpur, Narlai, etc are the
other historical places worth visiting near Udaipur.
How to Reach :
The
city of Udaipur is connected by regular flights to Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur,
Aurangabad, and Mumbai. It lies on the Western Railway meter gauge network,
and is connected to Delhi, Chittor, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, and Jodhpur.
We offer complete travel and tour packages that are inclusive of hotel
booking, air booking, and car-hire, services, for the entire duration of
your stay in the Mewar city of Udaipur.
Important Travel Information :
Udaipur offers some irresistible shopping opportunities. The better known
items include folk toys, brightly colored garments, hand printed textiles,
batiks, dyed saris, metal images, silver jewelry, and the Pichwal wall
hangings.
Udaipur has a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from a maximum of
38.3°C to a minimum of 28.8°C during summers. Winters are slightly
cold with temperatures between 28.8°C to 11.6°C. the winters
months between September and March are the best period for visiting Udaipur.
