Udaipur City Guide

---

This is one of the most important cities of Rajasthan because of its strategic importance in the culture and tradition is written as the golden chapters of Rajasthan.

It is Situated 420 km from Jaipur that is the capital city of Rajasthan and is there on the Jaipur-Mumbai highway and also called "City of Lakes" was founded by Maharana Udai Sigh II in 1568.

This city is also called as the "Venice of East" because of its popularity because of the lakes that is present in this city of Rajasthan. The city of Udaipur was the most prominent jewel in the crown of the Mewar kingdom that was ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for as long as1200 Years.

The foundation of the city has an interesting legend associated with it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola.

The hermit blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at this favorable located spot with a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake, an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low mountains. Maharana followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 A.D.

If you talk about the culture of this particular city then you would notice that it has immense influence of the other cities parallel to it. This particular city is considered to be one of the very beautiful cities of the state of Rajasthan. It has been an inspiration of lot of poets, painters and writers.

Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls, carry the flavor of a heroic past, epitomizing valor and chivalry.

The lean blue waters of the Lake Pichhola are an enticing sight. Overlooking the aquamarine expanses of the Lake Pichhola stands the splendid City Palace-a marvel in granite and marble. Of the original eleven gates of the Udaipur City, only five remain there intact without nay damage done to them.

The Suraj Pol the original or Sun Gate on the eastern side is the main entrance to the city. Exquisite lake palaces of Udaipur shimmering like jewels on Lake Pichhola are overwhelming in splendor.

Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1568 after his citadel Chittorgarh was sacked by Mughal Emperor Akbar. The legends says that Udai Singh was guided by a holy man meditating on the hill near Pichola Lake to establish his capital on this very spot. Surrounded by Aravali Ranges, forests and lakes this place was less vulnerable than Chittorgarh.

Maharana Udai Singh died in 1572 and was succeeded by Maharana Pratap who valiantly defended Udaipur from subsequent Mughal attacks. Maharana Pratap is the most revered Rajput icon and gallantly fought the Mughal at the Haldighati in 1576.

Mewar continuously defied foreign invaders and has a history of bloody battles until the British intervention in the nineteenth when a treaty was signed to protect Udaipur. Upon independence Udaipur merged in the union of India.

Places To Visit :

Pratap Memorial
A top the Moti Magri or prarl hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana.

City Palaces
A majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded by crenallated walls, it is a conglomeration of courtards, pavilions, terraces corridors rooms and hanging gardens. The main entrance is through the triple arched gate. The Tripolia with eight marble porticos. The maharanas were weighed under the gate in gold, the the equivalent amount of which was distributed among the populace. The suraj Gokhada, the balcony of the sun, is where the suryavansi maharanas of mewar presented themselves to the people in time of trouble to restore their confidence. The "Mor Chowk' known for its exquisite peacock mosaics in glass and the Chini Chitrashala noted for its blue and white ceramics are another attraction in the palace.

Jagdish Temple
Built in 1651A.D. by Maharana Jagat Singh, this Indoarmy temple is the largest and the most beautiful temple if Udaipur with noteworthy scupted images.

Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum
The interesting collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses ornaments puppets masks dolls folk musical instruments folk deities and paintings.

Saheliyon Ki Bari (Garden of the maids of Honor )
This small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing sport where royal ladies came for a stroll and hence the name. The garden has many fountains in its four delightful pools chiseled kiosks and marble elephants.

Fateh Sagar
A beautiful lake, overlooked by a number of jills on the three sides and the Pratap memorial on the north was built by Maharana fateh singh. In the middle of the lake is Nehru Park a lovely garden island with a boar shaped café accessile by an enjoyable boat ride.

Pichhola Lake
The picturesque lake that entranced Maharaja Udai Singh. It was later enlarged by the founder. The lake is surrounded by hills, palaces, temples bathing ghats and embankments. Two island palaces, jag Mandir and jag Niwas {Lake Palace} on the lake are of breathtaking magnificence.

Ahar
The ancient capital of sisodias, 3 Km from udaipur, Ahar boasts of a profusion of royal cenotaphs of the rulers of Mewar. A rare collection of antiquities including earthen pots, iron objects and other art items excavated in the region are displayed in a small Govt. museum

Sajjan Garh
Dominating the city's skyline is the monsoon palace of sajjan Garh. It offers a panoramic overview of the city's lakes, palaces and the surrounding countryside.

Gulab Bagh
A spectacular rose Garden laid out by mharana Sanjjan Singh A library in the garden has a rare collection of anicient handwritten manuscripts and books.

How To Reach

Air : Debock Airport is 24 km from the city centre, Dairy Indian Airliness flights connect Udaipur with Jodhpur Jaipur aurangbad, Mumbai and Delhi.

Rail : Udaipur is directly linked by rail with major cities some important train connection are : 9643 Express (Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Jaipur-Ajmer-Chittaurgarh-Udaipur.)

Road : A wide network of bus service link Udaipur with several destinations. Some of the important distance are Agra 630km, Ahmedabad 262 km Jaipur 406 km .Jodhpur 275km and Mount Abu 185km.

Suggested Tours

Royal Raja Tour in 21 Days     Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Pushkar, Ranthambore, Kota, Bundi, Chittourgarh, Bijaipur, Udaipur,     Kumbhalgarh, Jodhpur - Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Mandawa, Delhi

Classical & Royal North India in 14 Days      Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Deogarh, Udaipur, Ranakpur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Mandawa,      Delhi

Royal Tour of Rajasthan in 16 Days      Delhi, Mandawa, Pushkar, Jodhpur, Ranakpur, Mt. Abu, Udaipur, Kota, Jaipur, Agra, Delhi

Plan Your Holidays Name : * Email : * Address : People Travelling :* Adults 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15+ Children 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15+ Your Country : * Tentative Date of Travel : * MM Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec YYYY 2010 2011 Phone : * Tour Duration : * Days 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31+   Please Send Your Tour Details : * Please Enter Image code: