A dreamy palace snuggled beside a serene lake. Old ornate houses, revered temples, vibrant bazaarsand secrets from the past echoingthrough winding streets. Nestled inthe lap of the mighty Aravalli range,Udaipur is charm incarnate! This resplendent city in Rajasthan, also known as the Venice of the East, has something to offer every tourist. Catch the last rays of the golden sun as you glide on a lake in a cosy boat, break bread with dawn as an exotic hill-top palace reveals itself from behind a veil of mist. Or match the rhythm of folk dancers inside an ornate haveli (house).
CITY PALACE
The most popular attraction of Udaipur, the City Palace, is a majestic architectural marvel towering over Lake Pichola. The balconies, cupolas, and towers of the palace give a wonderful view of the lake and the surrounding city. The collective efforts of many kings over centuries, this complex includes four major and several minor palaces with beautiful courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and gardens. A part of the palace is now preserved as a museum displaying royal artefacts.
The grand City Palace, where a boat ride is a must-try experience (Thumnail Image)
The main entrance is through the triple-arched Tripolia gate with eight marble porticos. It is said kings were weighed under this gate in gold, the equivalent amount of which was distributed among the public. Inside the complex, marvel in awe at Suraj Gokhda, or the balcony of the sun; Mor Chowk, known for its exquisite peacock glass mosaics and Chini Chitrashala, noted for its blue and white ceramics. Don’t miss the lightand sound show organised here every evening.
LAKE PALACE
The Pichola Lake’s surroundings and the several islands within the lake have been developed over the centuries, with palaces, marble temples, mansions and bathing ghats (stepped bank). Among these, the jewel is the Lake Palace (now converted into a heritage hotel) in the middle of the lake, said to be the most photographed monument in India, after the Taj Mahal. The Lake Palace was originally called Jag Niwas and served as a summer palace. The walls are made of black and white marble and adorned with semiprecious stones and ornamented niches. Gardens, fountains, pillared terraces, and columns line its courtyards.
JAG MANDIR
Jag Mandir is a fairy-tale palace built on an island in Lake Pichola. Also called the Lake Garden Palace, the royal family used it as its summer resort and for hosting get-togethers. Interestingly, some say Mughal emperor Shah Jahan drew inspiration from it to build the Taj Mahal. Lit up at night, the palace is magical!
SAHELIYON KI BARI
Specially designed as a garden for a queen and her entourage, this green retreat on the banks of Fateh Sagar lake is a feast for the eye. Along with a small museum on Indian history, it has several attractions such as marble elephants, fountains, kiosks and a lotus pool.
SAJJAN GARH
Situated on the outskirts of Udaipur, the Monsoon Palace is a dream built in white marble. Perched on top of a hill like a fairy-tale castle, it was originally an astronomical centre, but later served as a monsoon palace and hunting lodge. From here catch the setting sun and spectacular views of the city. The James Bond film Octopussy was shot here. At the foot of the hill is the Sajjan Garh Wildlife Sanctuary.
JAGDISH TEMPLE
An important landmark in Udaipur, this much-revered temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. With carved pillars, graceful ceilings and painted walls, the three-storied temple is a majestic structure.
ART AND CULTURE
Every evening, the gracious Bagore ki haveli (an old and ornate residence), at Gangaur Ghat, hosts a colourful show of Rajasthani folk dances. Spend some time at the beautiful ghat and watch the mesmerising show of dusk. As the
sun dips, the city comes to life with glittering lights twinkling magically, rippling on the lake’s surface.
NATURE LOVERS
For birdwatchers, there is Arsi Vilas on a small lake island. A sanctuary for a variety of birds, it was once used as an ammunition depot.
Udaipur’s Jaisamand Lake is said to be the secondlargest man-made sweet water lake in Asia
Highlights
Must Visit
Jag Mandir is a fairy-tale palace built on an island in Lake Pichola. Also called the Lake Garden Palace, the royal family used it as its summer resort and for hosting get-togethers. Interestingly, some say Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
drew inspiration from it to build the Taj Mahal. Lit up at night, the palace is magical!
Must Do
To get a glimpse of Rajasthan’s rich art and craft, visit Shilpgram, a rural handicraft complex on the outskirts of Udaipur.
Travel Tip
Visit Udaipur during the annual Mewar Festival (to be held in March/ April this year) to experience the glorious traditions of Rajputana bought alive.
Try These
A boat ride in Lake Pichola is a must. Reflecting the purple mountains on its mirror-like blue surface, it’s magical. Boats leave regularly from Rameshwar Ghat in City Palace. They take you to Jagmandir Island, where you can spend some time before taking any boat back.
Plan a day trip to the majestic 15th-century Kumbhalgarh Fort, just about two hours by road from Udaipur. The fort is perched high on the Aravalli Range with its walls stretching till the horizon. It’s said it has one of the world’s longest walls. It is also the birthplace of Mewar’s legendary king Maharana Pratap. On the way back, stop at Ranakpur Jain temple complex.
If you are a car lover, see the royal vintage car collection within the grounds of the Garden Hotel.
Galleries of a we
The City Palace houses several popular galleries that showcase silver items, paintings, sculptures, textiles and palanquins etc. Located inside the Fateh Prakash Palace, which has been converted into a hotel, is the Crystal Gallery that boasts of the largest private collection of crystal in the world. The Crystal Gallery showcases an astounding collection of crystal ware from around the world! A carpet woven with gold and silver threads and studded with precious stones is certainly the showstopper!
Things to know
Eat
Udaipur is a gastronome’s delight. Start your day with poha (snack made of beaten rice flakes) and during the day feast on street delicacies like mirchi bada (snack made of chillies), a variety of kachoris (deep-fried savories) and traditional sweets like ghevar, mawa mishri, laddoo and halwa. Don’t miss the iconic Rajasthani dal-baati-churma meal. Do have a meal at any of the lake-facing roof-top cafes.
shop
While Rajasthali, the state government emporium, offers a variety of traditional handicraft items, you should explore the tiny shops lining old streets for unique handmade items. From tie-dye fabrics and clothing, to leather footwear, silver jewellery and striking home décor items, these busy markets are an experience. There are many near the City Palace entrance.
With resplendent palaces hugging the banks of mystical lakes and timeless lanes winding through charming bazaars, romance Udaipur beckons you to fall in love
Vijaya Pratap