| Indian City Information,
Travel to Indian Cities, City In India, Hotels in India, Tourism in
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Udaipur,
the city of lakes, also known as "the Venice of the East", is
the second most visited city in Rajasthan, after Jaipur. A royal
past makes itself evident in every nook and corner in Udaipur.
Whether it is the ornate doors that are entrances to people's
homes or the palaces, gardens and monuments, Udaipur gives one
a glimpse of what the place would have looked like in its time
of glory. Founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1568, and considered
the jewel of Mewar, Udaipur's air is filled with a strong sense
of romance, adventure and the best of Rajputana.
Udaipur is also a centre of historic arts and crafts of Mewar,
like the Mewar School of Miniature Painting. There is of course
the modern face of Udaipur that one can look at if interested,
but given the other sights from a glorious past, modernity is
no real distraction. This is a place that will hold you in its
thrall no matter who you are or where you come from.
Population : Approx 2.6 million
Climate : With scanty rainfall and summer temperatures
reaching 40ºC only every once in a few years, Udaipur has pleasant
winters, making it a year round destination.
Best times to visit : While Udaipur is visitable all
year round, the best time would be from October to April.
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| Places of Interest
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City Palace
Built in 1725, the grand City Palace is actually a conglomerate
of eleven palaces overlooking the sprawling Lake Pichola. One
of the largest, most beautiful palaces in the state of Rajasthan,
it is now a museum, royal residence and a luxury hotel. This
intricately designed monument is an architectural wonder in
granite and marble.
Jagdish Temple
Built in 1651 by Maharaja Jagat Singh, this temple is dedicated
to Lord Vishnu and is located in the centre of the old city.
The temple has a black marble image of Lord Vishnu, which is
unusual for the northern part of the country, where statues
of Gods are normally in marble.
Fateh Sagar
Originally built in 1678 by Maharana Jai Singh, Fateh Sagar
was rebuilt by Maharana Fateh Singh after the rains destroyed
the dam. The garden island in the middle of the lake is Nehru
Park, which also has a cafe. You can also hire pedal boats to
tour the lake.
Lake Pichola
With its main attractions being the two palaces on the islands
in the lake, Jagniwas and Jagmandir Lake Pichola is about 4
km in length and 3 km wide. Jagniwas was earlier the summer
retreat of the prince of Mewar and now a five-star hotel. The
city palace extends along the eastern shore of the lake and
you can go for a boat ride from Bansi Ghat.
Shilpgram
Udaipur has some fabulous handicrafts, which is why Shilpagram
or the art village is a great place to go to. A craft bazaar,
it is on the outskirts of Udaipur, about 3 km from Fateh Sagar.
The place showcases crafts from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and
Rajasthan, and you can pick up quite a lot of wonderful pieces
from here.
Bharatiya Lok Kala
Udaipur Folk Museum Conserving local folk arts like paintings,
dolls, masks and musical instruments, this museum can be quite
an eye opener on everything from the society that exists here
to the talent and creativity of its people. |
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| Special
Festivals |
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Ashwa
Poojan:
Navratri, the festival that is celebrated for nine nights and
ends with Dussehra on the tenth day is preceded by the worship
of the horse. In the land of Rajputana, the horse is sacred
for it was the Rajput warrior's most trusted and faithful companion,
both in the battlefield, and also in times of peace. Ritual
prayers are offered to the steed, with the Maharana himself
offering prayers to the animal on the occasion.
Gangaur:
Celebrated mainly by unmarried women in the belief that it will
bring matrimony, processions of the idols of Issar and Gangaur,
manifestations of Shiva and Parvati, are taken out and worshipped.
Kartik Purnima:
The full moon night of November, when the Pushkar Mela is in
full swing in Pushkar, near Ajmer, is also the time for the
festival of the full moon in Udaipur. Lord Brahma is offered
ritual prayers, but in Udaipur the occasion is also celebrated
with a festival of classical performing arts against the backdrop
of the Jag Mandir. The City Palace remains illuminated throughout
the night.
New Year's Eve:
Udaipur has its own way of ringing in the New Year. Held in
the opulent Durbar Hall of Fateh Prakash Palace, a formal banquet
is served with all the pomp and ceremony of a royal occasion.
The Maharana is in attendance, and there is live entertainment
on offer.
Shriji's Birthday:
In commemoration of the birth anniversary of the 76th Maharana,
this is an occasion where the current Maharana known affectionately
as Shriji is greeted by people that are symbolically his subjects.
No appointments, this occasion makes people feel that the ruler
is accessible and sympathetic to their problems. In the evening,
he celebrates the event with his extended family and friends
and is a private affair.
Holi:
Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated in February/ March
and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The
Udaipur royal family hosts an elaborate function at the City
Palace. |
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| How
to get there |
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of Udaipur |
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your Package for Udaipur |
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By Road
: Udaipur is well connected to most parts of India. Jodhpur
(275 kms), Ahmedabad (250 kms) and Ajmer (260 kms) are important
entry points.
By Air : Indian Airlines and Jet Airways connect Udaipur
with Jodhpur, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi.
By Rail : Udaipur is connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur,
Ajmer and Ahmedabad. |
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