Udaipur: A City of Lakes and Palaces
Introduction
Udaipur, historically served as the capital city of the kingdom ruled by the Mewar Rajputs, and now a district in the state of Rajasthan, in India. When the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittor, Rana Udai Singh from the Sisodia dynasty founded Udaipur as his capital. Udaipur is one of the few places in North India, which did not succumb to the Mughal rule and still has maintained its rich history of the brave Rajputs. A city basking in the glory of its past, set against the back drop of the Aravalli range, a city full of lakes and beautiful palaces, it is no doubt that Udaipur is rightly considered as one of the most romantic destinations in India.
Getting There
Udaipur experiences very hot summers and humid monsoons. Winter that is from October to March is the ideal time to visit Udaipur. The Maharana Pratap airport located 22 kilometres away from the main city is well connected to all the main cities in India. Udaipur has a railway station and which connects to all the main cities in India. The highlight of Rajasthan Railways is the beautiful Palace on Wheels. It is a luxury train offering five star facilities and takes tourists to various destinations across Rajasthan. In fact the best and the most luxurious way to visit this state of kings and experience a royal hospitality is on Palace on Wheels. Udaipur boasts of excellent highways that connect it to the major destinations in Rajasthan and Delhi. There are numerous bus and taxi services available. From tongas to luxurious cabs one cap pick any kind of transport to travel around Udaipur.
Attractions
The lakes are one of the most proud possessions of Udaipur. The lakes are not only calm and soothing but are also surrounded by magnificent structures. Most of the lakes have marble embankments on its shores, which have beautiful pavilions carved on them; most of the lakes have several islands, which house tourist attractions like palaces and temples. One of the most beautiful lakes in Udaipur is the man-made lake built by Maharana Jai Singh, the Fateh Sagar Lake. The lake owes its name to Maharana Fateh Singh who later added on to this lake. The lake houses three small islands, one of the islands has a solar observing site and the other two have been converted into parks and gardens that make a great picnic spot. The lake is set against the backdrop of the Moti Magri Hill and houses boating facilities.
Jaismand Lake another artificial lake built by Maharana Jai Singh is located approximately 47 kilometres away from Udaipur. It holds the summer palace of the queens, marble-cenotaphs and the Jaismand sanctuary on its shores. The Jaismand sanctuary is home to a huge number of birds, deer, panthers, leopards and wild boars. Rajsamand Lake, a beautiful lake built by Maharana Raj Singh and fed by River Gomti holds a beautiful marble embankment the steps, of which touches the water. The centre of the city houses the oldest lakes in Udaipur, the Pichola Lake. This lake is surrounded by temples, beautiful palaces and a hill, known as the Machhala Magra. It is this lake that houses the famous lake Palace on one of its islands. Udai Sagar Lake, a beautiful result of a dam constructed by Maharana Udai Singh for the water supply for his kingdom.
Udaipur boasts of one of the most beautiful palaces. On the banks of Lake Pichola is the City Palace, a marble and granite puzzle of rooms, pavilions, gardens, terraces and towers. The City Palace is actually an assortment of 11 different palaces, built by various rulers at various times. Each palace has its own unique name and speciality, such as Sheesh Mahal, famous for its mirror works; Bada Mahal, known for its gardens, and Dilkusha Mahal, which houses splendid paintings. The City Palace also has one of the biggest temples in Udaipur the Jagdish Temple. The Pratap Museum located inside the City Palace boasts of a huge collection of antiques, curios and sculptures. City Palace is truly an architectural wonder, with its several rooms, which are intricately decorated and filled with beautiful Mewar paintings and hanging gardens in the towers and a breath taking view of the lake. Udaipur Lake Palace constructed by Maharana Jai Singh is spread over a four-acre island in Lake Pichola. The Lake Palace now is a five star luxury hotel managed by the Taj Group of Hotels.
In close proximity to Lake Pichola is the 18th century architectural splendour, Bagore Ki Haveli built by a minister of the Mewars, Amir Chand Badwa. This haveli also served as a palace of Maharana Shakti Singh. Today, this is a museum which houses numerous Rajput paintings and things from the Rajput palaces. Set on top of the Pearl Hill or Moti Margi, as it is known as, is a memorial dedicated to the one of the most famous Rajput hero, Maharana Pratap. The highlights of this memorial are the bronze statue of Maharana Pratap on his famous horse Chetak and of course the view of Fateh Sagar Lake. Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum, located in Chetak Circle reflects the traditional folk culture of the Mewars and Rajasthan.
Located approximately 64 kilometres from Udaipur is a 15th century fort, whose fortification wall is the second longest wall in the world, the Kumbhalgarh Fort. The way to the fort cuts across forests and watch towers. The fort boasts of seven gates and approximately 358 temples and this fort is also believed to be the birth place of Maharana Pratap. The fort also has a palace known as the Badal Mahal, which has beautiful rooms. Approximately 112 kilometres away from Udaipur, set on a hill in Chittorgarh is the biggest fort in India, the Chittorgarh Fort. The fort is spread over 700 acres and is perhaps the best reminiscence of the Rajput glory. The fort has a history of being attacked since 1300s and with that is associated the legends of Rajput bravery. The fort has numerous temples and palaces; it is also famous for its underground cellars, where the Rajput women used to commit mass suicide instead of succumbing to foreign power. The Chittorgarh fort has victory towers dedicated to the Rajput kings.
Located approximately 22 kilometres from Udaipur is the Eklingji Temple, built in 734 A.D. and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The main attraction of the temple is the four-faced Shiva statue made of black marble. Rajasthan is full of temples and there are many temples with beautiful architecture and a rich history in and around Udaipur. Some of them include Jagat temple, Ranakpur temple, Kankroli Temple and many more. There are two very famous gardens in Udaipur: Gulab Bagh, located on the banks of Lake Pichola and Saheliyon Ki Bari, located in the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake. The Gulab Bagh as the name suggest is a garden of roses, although one can find species of orchids and other flowers too, it is mainly dominated with roses. Saheliyon Ki Bari is a beautifully landscaped garden, with fountains, kiosks, pools with lotuses and also a small museum. Udaipur, like most of the destinations in Rajasthan is a shopper’s paradise, the most popular shopping areas are Palace Road, Bada Bazaar and Chetak Circle.
The Stay
A number of palaces in Udaipur have been converted in Heritage hotels and five star hotels, some of them include Laxmi Vilas Palace, Hotel Devigarh Udaipur, Hotel Lake Pichola Udaipur, Fateh Prakash Palace, Hotel Udai Vilas and the Lake Palace. The stay in these luxurious hotels can cost anywhere between Rs 10,000 to Rs176000 per night. There are a number of three star hotels, such as Hotel Heritage Resorts, and Hotel Hilltop Palace Udaipur. The stay in these hotels will cost approximately Rs 4500 to Rs 5000 per night. Being such a popular destination, Udaipur has a number of budget hotels and guest houses, such as Lal Ghat Guest House, Travelers Rest House Hotel Paras Mahal, Hotel Caravan Serai and Dak Bunglow. Udaipur is a royal city, serving cuisine that’s has been relished by the Rajput royals. The authentic Udaipur cuisine is mostly vegetarian. However, there are many restaurants serving Chinese, Thai, Italian, Continental and other cuisines. For authentic Rajasthani food, try out Gangaur Restaurant in Chetak circle or Ambrai near Lake Pichola.
Udaipur, a city of kings and palaces, with tranquil lakes and vibrant people. Forts glorify the Rajput past and each temple has a long history. A city with splendid havelis and museums. A city that reflects its cultural heritage and also has the best luxurious hotels in India. Words fail to describe the wonders of this historic city aptly. One has to visit Udaipur to understand how unique this small corner in Rajasthan is.