General Information

Described as the most romantic city of India, Udaipur is interspersed with shimmering lakes, marble palaces and fortunes vying with ach other to capture the visitor’s attention.

Its founder, Maharana Udai Singh, sought shelter here from the Mughals and was advised by a holy man to build his capital on this spot as it would then be uncionquered.He did so in 1559 A.D.

The three lakes of Udaipur, the Pichola, Fateh Sagar and Udai Sagar, make one forget that this land is part of the Rajasthan desert. 48 km .from Udaipur is the famous Hindu shrine of Nathdwara, dedicated to Shri
Nathji (Krishna).

What to see

LAKE PALACE
Now a hotel, the Lake Palace stands in the middle of Pichola Lake, a three-square mile lake built in the 14th century and one of the three artificial tanks in Udaipur .This palace of curved archways, domes and cupolas almost seems to be floating in the lake .Throughout the interior there is a blend of furnishing of carved marble and mirrors studded in murals. Some of the rooms have stained –glass windows through which you can get a marvelous view of city across the lake .The palace was once known as Jag Niwas and has a companion piece, with a black marble pagoda Jag Mandi, on an island Shah Jahan into building the Taj Mahal.

CITY PALACE
Till the death of the last maharana about 30 years ago the City Palace was private property .Now the hoi polloi can enter its pottails, climb to its highest balconies for a splendid view of the Pichola lake and the Lake Palace Hotel .The Palace itself is an intricate warriors of inner patios, courtyards and balconies connected by narrow passageways and flights of stairs. The Peacock Courtyard features beautiful glass peacocks composed of thousand of tiny coloured glass shrines inset with the walls. Above is the maharana’s private apartment and below that is the tiny room. Containing a “golden sun” , a piece of reflective metal, which could be illuminated on days when cloud hide the real sun.

The rooms with mirrored walls and ivory doors, coloured glass windows and carved and inlaid marble balconies. Attached is a mirrored walls and ivory doors, coloured glass windows and carved and inlaid marble balconies. Attached is a small museum containing textiles, amour, inscribed stone blocks and row of turbaned heads.

FATEH SAGAR
The northern of the two other lakes, and along its eastern bank, which is also where Udaipur city starts, twists a serpentine road with pretty parks. A recent addition, Sanjay Park, is known for its floral displays. In the centre of Fateh Sagar is a lush island with the Nehru Park. There’s a motor boat service out from the base of Moti Magu, or Pearl Hill. At the top of the hill is Pratap Smarak Memorial.

The walk up goes through delighted gardens at the hill-top where a huge statue of Maharana Pratap, a 16th century patriot king of Mewar, dominates .The other lake Jaisamand was built in the 17th century and is the biggest of them all. It is surrounded by migratory birds on its 11 islands.

Excursions

HALDI GHAT
The site of the battle between Maharana Pratap and Akbar’s most general, Man Singh of Jaipur a fellow Rajput who sided with the Mughals . The rivalry between the royals houses of Jaipur and Udaipur even continue even today . The battlefield is really a narrow pass where Pratap with his small army laid ambush of Man Singh’s columns. The battle then spread onto the plains below.

CHITTPRGARH
The original capital of Mewar before Udai Singh built Udaipur, the fort 115 km from Udaipur, has witnessed so many battles that, according to belief, one can still hear battlecries and the clash of swords. Sacked three times, Chittor was first attacked in 1303 by Allaudin Khilji when he was bewitched Rani Padmini. In 1535, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat took over the capital. The final sack came when Akbar’s general Man Singh defeated Pratap. Almost every building was defaced every procession looted or destroyed.

The fort is perched on a 180-metre high hill and sprawls over 700 acres. The formidable 9-storeyed structure of Vijay Stambha in 1440. Kirti Stambha is dedicated to Sri Adinath, Rishabhdeo, and the first Jain Tirthankara.
A temple is dedicated to Meera Bai, mystic poetess and one of the leading figures of the Bhakti movement’s sun temple dating back to 8th century was converted in the 14th century into a Mother temple.

SAHELION KI BARI
To the north are the lovely gardens called Sahelion ki Bari, or House of friends, whose pathway and courtyard have fountains in ingenious combinations. A square tank in the inner court yard contains a white marble cupola in the centre, its roof turn into a waterfall, and blanks pavallion at each corner. In another part of the garden, four marbles spray water through their trunks and birds emit through their beaks.

GANGAUR
A stone gateway opening onto lakeside just north of the City Palace is the dancing girl used to perform, watched from an elevated barge on the lake by the nobility and their guest.

JAGDISH TEMPLE
Behind the Gangaur Ghat is the richly carved structure dating back to three centuries .Today it possesses such a valuable collection that armed guards stand on duty throughout the day.

CHETAK CIJRCLE
Named after Maharana Pratap’s steed who sacrificed his life for his master, Chetak circle is the centre of the town. The Jumma Masjid is here.North of the circle is the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal , afolk art and puppet museum

RANAKPUR:
One of the most important Jain pilgrimage centres, Ranakpur is the site of group temples in the quit and picturesque Aravali Hills. The central temple is called Charmukha (four-faced) and is dedicated to Sri Adinath Bishabhdeo, the first Jain Tirthankara, whose quadruple image is housed in the sanctum.Covering over 40,000 sq.feet of place it has 29 halls and 1,4444 pillars, each covered with intricate carving and no two of them alike .

The temple is built on a high plinth and rises to two or three stories .It has four subsidiary shrines with a total of 80 domes supported by 420 columns .In front of the Charmukh are scores of smaller shrines dedicated to
Jain deities-Neminatji and Parshawarnathji.

RISHABHDEO TEMPLE
About 65 km from Udaipur is the temple of Sri Adinath Rishbhadeo, the first Jain Tirhankara.Constructed in the 15 th century the temple housed an image of Rishabhdeoji, one metre in height and carved out of black marble.

NATHDWARA
A renewed pilgrimage centre, it is believed to have come about in an interesting manner. When Aurangzeb prohibited idolworship, devout Hindus fearing for the status of Shrinathji dedicated to move to a safer place. On the way at Singhad, 48 km from the away , the wheel of the chariot got irretrievably stuck in the mud .This was seen as a divine signal, and temple was constructed there. Nathdwara is also famous for its Pichwai Paintings.

EKLINGJI
In the valley of Kailashpuri, 22km from Udaipur, are 10 temples enclosed in high fortified walls .This complex is dedicated to Lord Shiva four-faced carved in the black marble, and some of the structure dates to the 15 th century .The main temple, built of granite and marble. Has a double storeyed Mandap under a pyramidal roof .The oldest temple is the Lakulish built in 971 AD by Nagarditya, the fourth ruler of Mewar.

Standard Sightseeing Tours:

Half day City
Visit the City Palace.Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake.Sahelion ki Bari (Queen’s resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (Folk Art Museum)

Full Day Excursion to Chittorgarh
Once the cradle of Rajput chivalry and heroism it preceded Udaipur by about a thousand years as the capital of Simodia Rajput of Mewar .The ancient bastion, described in a ninth century classic in Khoman Raza is renowned for strength within the grasp of no one. It was sacked thrice and the wide gaping wounds can still be seen. It withstood all onslaughts, which is the charm of this fort.

Half Day Eklingji andNagda
Half day celebrated visit to Eklingji which was built for the tutelary deity of the Maharana’s of Mewar, of sand stone and marble in 734 A.D.Its 108 temples are enclosed by high walls and has a pyramidical roof composed of hundreds of knobs. Later, visit Nagda, one of the ancient palaces of Mewar dating back to the 6th Century A.D.The Sas Bahu Temples are among the most exquisitely craved temples.

Boat Cruise on Lake Pichola
Boat Cruise on Pichola Lake 4 Km long and 3 km broad, surrounded by splendid hills, palaces temples, bathing ghats and embankments. Visit the Island Palace Jag Niwas which is beautifully set in the lake.