Udaipur Travel Guide

Udaipur is considered one of India's most romantic cities and once there you'll definitely agree. This city of lakes has also been called the 'Venice of the East' and in true oriental style it is redolent with luxurious palaces, majestic mansions and regal gardens. This desert oasis exudes a captivating charm and warmth that will make you want to linger on and stretch your stay as long as possible.

History
Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1568 after his citadel Chittorgarh was sacked by Mughal Emperor Akbar. According to legend, Udai Singh was guided by a holy man meditating on the hill near Pichola Lake to establish his capital on this very spot. Resplendent with lakes and forests and protected by the surrounding Aravali Ranges, this area was less susceptible to danger than Chittorgarh had been, so the king did not hesitate and thus the new capital of Mewar, Udaipur was born. Maharana Udai Singh was succeeded by Maharana Pratap, a revered Rajput icon, famous for his fierce battles fought against the Moghuls at Haldighati. His successors also valiantly defended Udaipur from subsequent Mughal attacks. As history played out the kingdom of Mewar was attacked many times over by foreign forces until it came under the protection of the British rule.

Places to See in Udaipur :

The City Palace Complex
The City Palace stretches along the banks of Lake Pichola. The entry to the palace is from the Hati Pol, the Elephant gate followed by the Bari Pol or the Big gate, which brings you to the Tripolia, the Triple gate. According to custom, under this gate, the Mewar kings were weighed against gold and silver, which was then distributed amongst the poor. Balconies, cupolas and towers surmount the palace to give a wonderful view of the lake. Suraj Gokhada or the balcony of the sun was the Maharaja's place of choice from which to grant public audience. The Mor Chawk is the peacock square and gains its name from the vivid blue-green mosaic in glass of a peacock that decorates its walls. The older portions of the palace are now preserved as a museum, on display is a large and diverse array of artefacts.

Fateh Prakash Palace
The Fateh Prakash Palace lies on the eastern shore of Lake Pichola, in an exclusive part of the City Palace Complex, it has now been covereted into a heritage hotel and with some restoration its guardians have recreated the historic splendour of the past with its opulent Durbar Hall and Crystal Gallery.

Jagmindir Island Palace
Take a ferry around Lake Pichola and stopover at the Jagminder Island Palace, the third palace on the edge of Lake Pichola. The palace is named after the Lord Jagdish temple it houses and is living proof that the Rajput rulers had an excellent feel for location, the view of the undulating valley, surrounding hills and sparkling waters is a must-see, infact to make your trip worth while enjoy a sumptuous lunch at the palace courtyard which also houses a restaurant and enjoy the splendid scenery while you are here.

The Lake Palace
The Lake Palace emerges like a mirage straight out of Lake Pichola, built on the 1.5 hectare Jag Niwas Island it is world famous for its stunning location. Built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1743 it was meant as a royal summer palace and has now been converted in to a five star palace hotel.

Sajjangarh Fort
Originally built for the purpose of astronomical study, the Sajjangarh Fort was later converted into kind of a personal luxury resort. Built by Maharana Sajjan Singh in the 18th century, situated on the outskirts of Udaipur, Sajjangarh Fort gives excellent panoramic view of the countryside. This fort is famous for the heavenly panoramic landscapes that are visible from here.

Fateh Sagar Lake
Fateh Sagar Lake occupies a place of pride in the landscape of Udaipur. It is a man made lake. It was constructed by Raja Jai Singh in the year 1678 and because of some heavy damage due to incessant rains, it had to be reconstructed by Raja Fateh Singh after whom the lake is named presently. You can enjoy a boat cruise on the sparkling Fateh Sagar Lake that overlooks the green pictorial landscapes. The Nehru Park, situated on the banks of Fateh Sagar is all set to provide you with delicacies that you'll relish. It is an exotic restaurant shaped like a boat located near the lake.

Rana Pratap Museum
In this city palace museum you will get an unmatched collection of various heritage items and also a turban of emperor Shah Jahan. The turban embodies the friendship between Shah Jahan and the then Maharana Khazan Singh. The Pratap Museum treasures the armoury of the gallant Maharana Pratap and also the drums and bugles of Rana Sanga. The entrance door of the museum is known as Ganesh Deori. 'Ganesh Deori' means 'doors of ganesh'. The museum has helped to preserve the intricate Rajasthan art works so that the rich past of Rajasthan could be connected with the present.

Saheliyon Ki Bari
Exclusively designed and built as a park for fun and frolic, Saheliyon ki Bari served as a place of entertainment for the ladies of the household. Later a pavilion of 'rain fountains' within the Saheliyon ki Bari was also built. The idea was to make it look as if the rain was dancing along with dancing maids. You cannot help but appreciate intricately carved marble pavilions. The majestic grandeur is very much evident as you walk along marble pathways accompanied by life size marble sculptures of elephants and lions through which water goes into the pools. Legend has it that this place was built for the 48 girls that were to be sent with the queen as part of dowry.

Other Attractions
There won't be a single moment to waste as there's a lot to feast your eyes on in Udaipur. Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar are two of its most splendid lakes. Amongst its many museums the Vintage and Classis Car Collection is the most unique. When overawed by these splendid man made creations escape into the green and quiet of the cities' many parks or go looking for wildlife at the nearby Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary.

Shopping
Udaipur is a haven for art aficionados , paintings, miniatures, contemporary Art, marble handicrafts, metal furniture, jewellery, fabric, carpets & rugs and much more can be found in its shopping arcade. The main shopping centres are the Rajasthan Government Handicraft emporium, Chetak Circle, Bapu Bazar, Chetak Circle, Hathipole and Lake Palace Road.

Weather Watch
The winter months from September to March are an ideal time to visit Udaipur. The summer is too hot but the monsoons can transform this city prettily.

How to Reach :

Air : The airport at Udaipur links it with other major cities of India like Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Aurangabad, and Mumbai.

Rail : The railway network connects Udaipur with Delhi, Chittor, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, and Jodhpur.

Road : Udaipur can be easily reached by road as well. There are well-maintained roads linking it to tourism destinations in Rajasthan and neighbouring states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Rajasthan Travel Guide
Ajmer Travel Guide	Bharatpur Travel Guide	Bikaner Travel Guide
Jaisalmer Travel Guide	Jodhpur Travel Guide	Jaipur Travel Guide
Mount Abu Travel Guide	Pushkar Travel Guide	Shekhawati Travel Guide
Udaipur Travel Guide

Udaipur Travel Guide : Reservation Form

(* represents compulsory fields)
* Name :		* Tentative Date of Travel :
* Phone : (Include Country/Area Code)		* Duration of Travel in India (Approx.) :
* Your Country :		No. of People Travelling :
* E-Mail Address :		Adult :
* Validation Code :		Children :

* Any Specific Requirements :


Rajasthan Tour Packages \| Rajasthan Monuments \| Heritage Hotels in Rajasthan \| Sightseeing Safari \| Rajasthan Pilgrimages \| Rajasthan Wildlife



Home \| Profile \| Contact Us \| Hotel Reservation \| Tour Booking \| E-mail \| Sitemap

Copyright © Rajasthan Tourism, All Rights Reserved Site Developed by Web Designing Company & Online Business Directory