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Udaipur
Travel A
desert kingdom tucked away in the midst of hills, an impregnable
citadel, an impressive royal lineage stretching back 26 generations, a
do or die attitude and a fierce sense of independence characterise
Udaipur. Unlike its desert counterparts in Rajasthan, Udaipur is
situated in the forested, hilly region of Aravalli Ranges in complete
contrast to the arid deserts of Marwar in the northwest.
 Udaipur-
dream destination in the desert, whose sagas of great valour and stories
of high romance add colour and character to a history as proud and
unrelenting as it is long. The kingdom of Mewar was ruled by the Sisodia
dynasty for over 1200 years from Chittorgarh before Maharana Udai Singh
II founded Udaipur in 1568 following the final sacking of their hill
fortress. In sharp contrast to its spartan and martial persona are
lakes, hills, temples, gardens and fairy-tale palaces that make Udaipur
the most romantic and enchanting place in Rajasthan. Apart from
Udaipur's own splendours, there are several other places to visit in its
vicinity – Jaisamand Lake, the fort of Kumbhalgarh and the temples
at Ranakpur, Eklingji, Nagda, Kankroli and Nathdwara. Tourist
Attractions in Udaipur
- Lake Pichola, Udaipur
Lake Pichola in Udaipur is the
largest and the most beautiful of Udaipur's lakes - it is overlooked
by hills while palaces, mansions, bathing ghats, gardens and temples
dot its banks. Jag Mahal and Jag Niwas are the two island palaces
that add to the lake's romantic ambience.
- City
Palace Udaipur
A tour of Udaipur should begin at the
City Palace, on the banks of the Lake Pichola. The magnificent and
awe inspiring citadel is, in fact, a complex of several buildings
that were added at different times by different rulers spanning
nearly three hundred years.
Happily, they harmonise
beautifully with each other and maintain an overall homogeneity of
design. There are terraces, courtyards, pavilions, corridors, rooms
and hanging gardens, with lavish Mughal-inspired decorative art on
their walls, floors and ceilings. Simply astounding!
The
main part of the Palace is now a museum. You should see the Mor
Chowk for the gorgeous peacock mosaics, Chini Chitrashala for the
striking blue and white ceramics and Dutch inlaid tile work, Manak
Mahal for glass and porcelain figures and Krishna Vilas for
miniature painting. The Jagdish Temple, built in 1651 by Maharana
Jagat Singh, is located within easy walking distance from the Palace
gate. It is an impressive, beautifully proportioned structure,
covered with carved friezes and heavily decorated inside.
- Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum, Udaipur
Bharatiya Lok Kala
Museum in Udaipur houses a very interesting collection of Rajasthani
folk art – costumes, paintings, folk deities, musical
instruments, masks, dolls and weapons. The puppet collection is
particularly fascinating. A memorial to Maharana Pratap (Pratap
Smarak) is located on top of Moti Magri (Pearl Hill), which
overlooks the Fateh Sagar Lake. And from the bottom of Moti Magri
you can take a boat ride to Nehru Park, a pleasant spot on an island
in the lake where you can relax and enjoy the splendid view.
You could also spend some quiet moments at the Sahelion Ki Bari,
(Garden of the Maids of Honour), a small ornamental garden with
fountains, once the site for royal picnics, or the impressive Gulab Bagh
(Rose garden).The 18th century monsoon palace, Sajjangarh, sits
dramatically on top of a hill just outside Udaipur from where you get
spectacular views of the city’s lakes, palaces and the surrounding
countryside. About three km from the city, on the way to the
airport, is Ahar, the ancient capital of the Sisodias, before
Chittaurgarh was founded in the 8th century. There is a fine complex of
royal cenotaphs here. A small museum has an interesting collection of
rare antiquities, some dating back 3000 years, excavated from the area.
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