Udaipur - The city of lakes

Udaipur is the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in Rajputana Agency. It is renowned as the City Of Lakes or Venice of East. Lake Pichola, Udai Sagar, Fateh Sagar Lake and Swaroop Sagar are considered as most beautiful lakes in the state. The city is a romantic land which had been much loved place of the Rajput & known for its Rajput-era palaces.

Location – Udaipur the adored city of Rajput is located in the mountains of Aravalli Range in the southern part of Rajasthan near the Gujarat border. It lies on the Golden Quadrilateral, midway between Delhi and Mumbai National Highway 8.

Language spoken – Mewari is the primary language, yet Rajasthani, Hindi and English are also spoken by people here. 

Transportation facility – Unmetered taxis, city bus, auto rickshaws and tongas are easily available here to enjoy the beauty of the city. Train connectivity is well established between Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. One can either drive from Jaipur or Surat, or take a Rajasthan Tourism bus from Rajasthan House, India Gate in Delhi. Dabok airport which is also known as Maharana Pratap Airport is 24 kilometers from the city centre which connects the city with Jodhpur, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Mumbai & Delhi. 

People & culture – Inhabitants of this city are really sociable and always entertaining to be with. It is possible that when you will first look at them, they may look a little harsh, but they are actually good. Unharmed by the speed of modern world, these people are muscular but simple & lovely. The customary clothing of women is Ghaghara choli and for males, dhoti and kurta. The city is still inhabited by people of Bhil tribe, so you could see people dressed in typical colorful Rajasthani dress with loads of silver jewelry. However, now-a-days, people like to wear casual dresses to go with the contemporary fashion. Colorful festivals and fairs represent the cultural prosperity of Udaipur. The lakes, temples, huge forts and palaces swank about the rich heritage of this city.  Jainism is the major religion which is followed by people of Udaipur. Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism & Christianity are also followed by the people in the diminishing order. 

Cuisine of adored city of Rajputs comprises most of the vegetarian dishes as there are numbers of Jainism and Vaishnavism followers. Food is usually made from lots of vegetables and lentils which are seasoned with a great variety of spices that are unique to the lands of Rajasthan. Deep-fried breads and extensive use of chili makes the cuisine of Udaipur, a mouth-watering one. Bhavai, Ghoomar, Kachhi Ghodi, Kalbeliya and Terahtaali are the famous dance of Udaipur, as they are in entire Rajasthan. Well, dance of “Dandi Gair” is specially related with Marwar and consequently with Udaipur. Like dance, the melodious music of Sarangi, Naad, Morchang Tanpura and other instruments used to reverberate the courts of Mewar kingdom.

Fest & festivals –

Shilpgram Fair
Shilpgram fair, “Craftsmen's Village” presents the enormous diversities in craft, art & culture between various Indian states, but the exquisite terracotta work along with the wooden carvings are the gift of this ethnic village. Shilpgram comprises of 26 huts, set in 70 acres of natural surroundings at the foot of the Aravali Hills. This colorful craft festival during winter seasons induces liveliness and zeal. Shilpgram is increasing awareness and knowledge of rural life and crafts, particularly, for the young generation as special emphasis is laid on workshops for children on arts, crafts, theatre and music. 

Mewar Festival
The Mewar festival is celebrated to welcome the arrival of spring. It is celebrated together with the festival of Gangaur in the city, and has a unique charm about it. Women gather to dress the image of Isar and Gangaur and then carry them in ceremonial procession. The procession takes its way to the Gangaur Ghat at Lake Pichhola. Here, the images are transferred to special boats with singing and festivity. Once the religious part of the festival gets over, cultural events with songs, dances and other programmes gets chance to portray the Rajasthani culture. 

Tourist attraction of Udaipur –

City Palace Udaipur

The palace is standing on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola. It is a gigantic palace constructed at different period from 1559. The balconies of the palace offer amazing view of "Jag Niwas", Jag Mandir. Moreover, Suraj Gokhda, Mor-chowk and chini chitrashala makes the visit wonderful. There are plenty of other fortresses like Dilkhush mahal, Moti mahal, Krishna vilas & Sheesh mahal which must be visited. These palaces contain lots of decorative furniture, antique articles, utensils and paintings & draw thousands of guests daily. The previous guesthouses of the Shiv Niwas Palace, city palace & the Fateh Prakash Palace have been rehabilitated into heritage hotels.

Pratap Museum

Pratap Museum is housed with old sculptures and inscriptions. The antique paintings of Mewar, the turban of prince Khurram also called Shah Jahan, who built the world famous Taj Mahal has also been displayed here as a token of friendship of Maharana Khazan Singh.

Maharana Pratap Memorial or Moti Magri

The Moti Magri or Pearl Hill is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favorite horse "Chetak".

Sukhadia Circle

Sukhadia Circle is a roundabout in the northern area of Panchwati which was opened in 1970. This centerpiece is a large, three-tiered fountain just over 21 m. high, which was finished into scallop dishes surmounted by a wheat-ear motif that represents prosperity. It honors the reminiscence of Mohan Lal Sukhadia, once the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and an inhabitant of city.

Eklingji temple

Eklingji temple is dedicated to Eklingji (a form of Lord Shiva) who is the guardian deity of Mewar. In the main temple there is a four-faced black marble idol of Shiva. In the idol of Eklingji the one who is facing west represents Brahma, north facing is Vishnu, south facing is Maheshwar and east facing is Surya (Sun).

Jagdish Temple

Jagdish temple is situated in the middle of the city which is a big tourist attraction & a great example of Indo - Aryan architecture. This largest temple in city was built by Maharana Jagat Singh 1^st in 1651 A.D which houses an image of Lord Vishnu in black stone, along with a brass image of Garuda, his carrier.

Bohara Ganesh JI

Bohara Ganesh ji temple with standing statue of Shree Ganesh Ji is situated near old railway station (Thokar) and M L S University which is considered to be very fruitful (Chamatkarik).

Fateh Sagar Lake

Fateh Sagar Lake is situated in the north of Lake Picholas which was originally built by Maharana Jai Singh in the year 1678 AD, but later on reconstructed by Maharana Fateh Singh after much destruction caused by heavy rains.

Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola is a lake with two islands, Jag Niwas and the Jag Mandir, originally built by Maharana Udai Singh II. This lake is 4 km long and 3 km wide & has many ghats. This can be approached throughout boats from the City Palace (Bansi Ghat).

Bagore-ki-Haveli

Bagore ki Haveli is an old building built right on the harbor of Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat which was constructed by Amir Chand Badwa, the Prime Minister of Mewar in the 18^th century. The palace has over a hundred rooms, with displays of costumes, modern art, magnificent glass works. After the death of Badwa the building became the property of Mewar State which was later on occupied by Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore, who built the palace of the three arches in 1878, and it acquired its name of Bagore-ki-haveli, the house of Bagore.

 

Neemach Mata Temple, Saheliyon-ki-Bari, Udaipur Solar Observatory, Gulab Bagh & Zoo, Doodh Talai, Nehru Garden, Ahar Museum are some other tourist spots which attracts numbers of tourists.

 

Accommodation –There are numbers of heritage hotels, Luxury hotels, resorts, Guest houses & budget hotels in city. So accommodation is not a problem in the city of Lakes. The hotels in city are simply the best for holidaying with peace. Dotted with endless number of vacationer’s hot spots, the tourists could satisfy their senses by spending some time in their peaceful domains.

 

The city of lake is a favorite tourist destination of tourists who are on the trip of Rajasthan. So don’t waste your time & pack your bag to enjoy the Romantic city of Udaipur.