Venice of the east
Area : 37 Sq. kms
Altitude : 577 metres
Best season : September-March
Languages : English, Hindi, Mewari.
Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar, a Kingdom ruled by the Sisodia
dynasty for 1200 years. Udaipur is an enchanting city dominated by
its lakes,its marble palaces and beautiful gardens.The founder
Maharana Udai Singh was overcome by the misfortunes that his old
capital Chittaurgarh had to face. Weary of the repeated attacks,
Udai Singh sought the help of a holy man and thus Udaipur was
founded and grew around the lake pichola.Set in the Girwa valley amidst the Aravalli hills of south
Rajasthan, Udaipur is a beautiful city, regarded by many Indians and
foreign visitors as one of the most romantic in India. In contrast
to some of its desert neighbours it presents an enchanting image of
white marble palaces , placid blue lakes and green hills that keep
the wilderness at bay. It is an oasis of colour in a stark and arid
region. The Lake Palace is certainly the best late example of this
unique cultural explosion , but Udaipur is full of palaces, temples
and havelis ( ornate residencies) ranging from the modest to the
extravagant. It’s also proud of its heritage as a centre for the
performing arts, painting and crafts. This is a traditionally
planned walled city, its bastioned rampart walls pierced by five
massive gates, each studded with iron spikes as protection against
enemy war elephants.In common with most Indian cities, Udaipur’s urban and industrial
sprawl goes beyond the city’s Original boundaries, and pollution of
various kinds can be discouraging.
Places to visit
City Palace: A majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake
on a hill surrounded by crenellated walls, the palace is a
conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms
and hanging gardens. The main entrance is through the triple arched
gate, the ‘Tripola’ with eight marble porticos. The Maharanas were
weighed under the gate in gold, the equivalent amount of which was
distributed among the populace.
The Suraj Gokhada, the balcony of the sun, is where the Suryavanshi
Maharanas of Mewar presented themselves to the people in time of
trouble to restore their confidence.
The main part of the palace is now preserved as a museum. The ‘Mor
Chowk’ known for its exquisite peacock mosaics in glass and the
‘Chini Chitrashala’ noted for its blue and white ceramics are other
attractions in the Palace.
Jagdish Temple: 150 mts north of the palace (1651), was built
by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651 A.D. This Indo-Aryan temple is the
largest and the most beautiful temple of Udaipur with noteworthy
sculpted images. The temple is the fine example of the Nagari style
and a little run down though renovations are under way. A Shrine
with a brass Garuda stands outside and stone elephants flank the
entrance steps; within is a back stone image of Vishnu as Jagannath,
the Lord of the Universe.
Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum: The interesting collection
exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses,
ornaments , masks , folks deities and paintings and the high point
of exhibits-puppets.
Saheliyon ki Bari: This small ornamental garden was a popular
relaxing spot where royal ladies came for a stroll and hence the
name. The garden has many fountains in its four delightful pools,
chiselled kiosks and marble elephants.
Pratap Memorial : Atop the Moti Magri or pearl hill,
overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero
Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana.
Fateh Sagar: Maharana Fateh Singh built this beautiful lake.
It is overlooked by a number of hills on the three sides and the
Pratap Memorial on the north. In the middle of the lake is Nehru
Park, a lovely garden island with a boat shaped café accessible by
an enjoyable boat ride.
Pichola Lake: This was the picturesque lake that so entranced
Maharana Udai Singh that the decided to create a city here. The
founder later enlarged it. Hills, Palaces, temples, bathing ghats
and embankments, surround the lake. He built a masonry dam, known as
the Badipol, and the lake is now 4kms long and 3kms wide. Two island
palaces, Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas on the lake are of breathtaking
magnificence.The lake is the scenic focus of Udaipur.
Fateh Sagar: North of lake Pichola, this lake is overlooked
by a number of hills.In 1678, Maharaja Jai Singh built it
originally, but after heavy rains destroyed the dam, it was
reconstructed by Maharaja Fateh Singh.In the middle of the lake is
Nehru Park, a popular garden island with a boat-shaped café.
Jag Niwas Island : Jag Niwas, the Lake Palace Hotel Island
was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh 11 in 1 754 and covers the whole
island. Formerly the royal summer palace, today it is the ultimate
in luxury hotels, with shady courtyards, lotus ponds and even a
small swimming pool shaded by a mango tree. Behind Jag Niwas is a
much smaller island called Arsi Vilas, which has been used in recent
times as a helipad.
Jag Mandir Island: The other island palace, Jag Mandir in the
south is notable for the Gul Mahal, a domed pavilion started by
Karan Singh (1620-1628) and completed by Jagat Singh ( 1628-52) . It
is built of yellow sandstone inlaid with marble around an attractive
courtyard. Flanked by a row of enormous stone elephants, the island
has an impressive chhatri carved from grey-blue stone. The view
across the lake to the city and its glorious golden palace is a
scene of rare beauty.
Ahar: The ancient capital of Sisodias, 3 kms. From Udaipur,
Ahar boasts of a prousion of royal cenotaphs of the rulers of Mewar.
A rare collection of antiquities including earthern pots, iron
objects and other art items excavated in the region are displayed in
a small Govt. museum.
Gulab Bagh: A spectacular rose Garden laid out by Maharana
Sajjan Singh. A library in the garden has a rare collection of
ancient handwritten manuscripts and books. This garden also contains
a zoo (unremarkable) and toy train.
Sajjangarh Palace: Also known as the Monsoon Palace. It is
constructed by Maharana Sajjan Singh on the top of a hill
overlooking the city in the late 19th century.The Sajjangarh Palace
is visible from a distance. The view from the palace, temples and
palaces miles away. There is a wildlife sanctuary in Sajjan Garh.
Bagore-ki-Haveli: This gracious old haveli, on the water’s
edge in the Gangaur Ghat area, was built by a former prime minister
in the late 18th century and has recently been opened to the public.
There are more than 100 rooms as well as courtyards, terraces and
the elegant balconies. The mirror and glasswork is quite lovely, as
are the frescoes in the chambers of the Royal Ladies.
Shopping
One of the principal shopping zones outside Jaipur, there are myriad
shops with paintings of the miniature and pichwai variety, as well
as terracotta tables and plaques. There are locally dyed fabrics and
textiles, embroideries, wooden toys, white metal objects d’art,
silver enamel artefacts and images of Krishna in the Nathdwara
style.
There is a good cluster of shops selling the local crafts,
particularly miniature paintings in the Rajput-Mughal style, on lake
palace Road, next to the Rang Niwas Palace Hotels and others around
the Jagdish temple. It’s also a good place to buy leather-bound
books and handmade paper.
Local Festival: March/April: Mewar Festival is a great to be
in town, with the women of Udaipur dressing up in their finest.
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