Tourist attractions in Udaipur

Udaipur city, also known as the 'City of Lakes' and 'Venice of East', is a very popular tourist destination in Rajasthan, India.[1] The capital of the former princely state of Mewar, and considered as one amongst the most romantic cities of India, Udaipur is a land around the azure water lakes, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravalis.The city is a blend of sights, sounds and experiences.With its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes, the city carries the flavor of heroic past, epitomizing valor and chivalry.[2] Voted the Best City in the World in 2009 by Travel + Leisure magazine,[3] Udaipur is now amongst the favourite wedding destinations for Indian as well as foreign nationals.[4]

Some of the key tourist destinations are:[5][6]

Ahar Cenotaphs

The Ahar Cenotaphs are a group of royal cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar, located about 2 km east of Udaipur. It has about nineteen cenotaphs of various Maharanas cremated, including one of Maharana Amar Singh, who reigned from 1597 to 1620. Nearby is also Ahar Museum, where on display is limited but very rare earthen pottery, as well as some sculptures and other archaeological finds. Some pieces date back to 1700 BC, and a tenth-century metal figure of Buddha is a special attraction.

Ahar Cenotaphs

Badi Lake

Badi Lake is an artificial fresh water lake built in the village of Badi, about 12 km from the city of Udaipur. Built by Maharana Raj Singh I (1652-1680), it was aimed to counteract the devastating effects of a famine. This lake covers an area of 155 km2., and is graced by three artistic chhatris (kiosks or pavilions). Devoid of any commercial activity, the Badi Lake gives a view of a never-ending expanse providing a serene and calm atmosphere to the visitors.

Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal

Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, a cultural institution, is engaged in studying folk art, culture, songs and festivals of various regions of India, including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It also aims at popularizing and propagating folk arts, folk dances and folk literature.

City Palace, Udaipur

City Palace

City Palace, a 400-year-old palace, is located on the east bank of the Lake Pichola. It comprises a series of vilas, halls, gateways, courtyards, overlapping parations, terraces, corridors and gardens.

Bagore ki Haveli

This is an old building built right on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangor Ghat. The haveli now stages Rajasthani traditional dance and music.

Fateh Sagar Lake
Jagdish Temple
Jag Mandir
Lake Palace
Monsoon Palace at the hilltop
Saheliyon-ki-Bari

Doodh Talai Lake

Doodh Talai Lake, a small pond located adjacent to the Lake Pichola, is surrounded by small hillocks which hosts Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park, and Manikya Lal Verma Garden (or Rock Garden or Musical Fountain Garden). It provides few options for fast food centers, camel and horse rides and boat ride.

Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park

This is a garden developed around the Dudh Talai by Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) Udaipur, the local development authority. Visitors may enjoy watching a musical fountain here. A ropeway has been set up here to reach Karni Mata Temple at the top of Machhla Mangra.

Fateh Sagar Lake

Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake situated to the north of the Lake Pichola, in the north-west of Udaipur city, around 6 km from Udaipur City Railway Station. It was named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar.

Gulab Bagh and Zoo

A rose garden laid out by Maharaja Sajjan Singh is situated near the palace on the east side of Lake Pichhola. A library in the garden has a collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and books. Some of the part of the Satyarth Prakash have been written in this library. Styarth Prakash stup is situated in Gulab Bagh. Within the garden, there is a zoo which used to have tigers, leopards, Chinkara gazelle, birds, and many wild animals, but now most of these animals have been moved to Sajjangarh Biological Park. Children can still enjoy a mini train, the track of which covers the main part of the garden and the zoo.

Jag Mandir

Jag Mandir palace is built on an island in Lake Pichola and is known for its beautiful interiors and grand style of architecture. It is also known as the "Lake Garden Palace". This palace is now the Jagmandir Island Palace, a heritage hotel.[7]

Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple is a splendid example of either Māha Māru or the Māru-Gurjara architecture[8] decorated by beautiful and ornate carvings. A short walk from the city palace will bring you to this temple. The temple sanctum has an idol of the deity Lord Jagannath.[7]

Lake Palace

Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, which has 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble walls. The Lake Palace is located on the island of Jag Niwas in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India, and its natural foundation spans 4 acres (16,000 m2). Built between 1743 and 1746 under the direction of the Maharana Jagat Singh II (62nd successor to the royal dynasty of Mewar) of Udaipur, the private summer resort of the erstwhile royal family has been turned into a luxury hotel. The hotel has been ranked as amongst the best luxury heritage hotels in the country.[9]

Pichola Lake

Lake Pichola, an artificial fresh water lake created in the year 1362 AD, is one of several contiguous lakes in the city. The lake was built by Banjara, a gypsy "Banjara" tribesman who transported grain, during the reign of Maharana Lakha. Later, Maharana Udai Singh, impressed by the charm of this lake with the backdrop of green hills, founded the city of Udaipur on the banks of the lake and also enlarged the Lake by constructing a stone masonry dam in the Badipol region on the shore of the lake.

There are four islands on the lake:

Moti Magri

Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fatah Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favourite horse, "Chetak".[10]

Saheliyon ki Bari

Saheliyon-ki-Bari or 'Courtyard of the Maidens' is a garden and a popular tourist destination. With fountains, kiosks, a lotus pool and marble elephants, this garden was built from 1710 to 1734 by Maharana Sangram Singh for the royal ladies. This renowned garden is located on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake and also has a small museum with the collection of royal households.

Sajjangarh Biological Park

Sajjangarh Biological Park, a zoological garden, is situated just beneath the Monsoon Palace (also known as Sajjajgarh Garh Palace), around 4 km from the city center. The zoo houses vast varieties of animals and birds brought in from different parts of the world. At present, it has more than 60 animals of 21 species including tigers, panthers, lions, ostriches, alligators, and rhesus monkeys. Within two months of its inauguration, the park received more than 46,000 visitors in a month, generating a revenue of Rs 14 lakh for the forest department, which is a record in itself.[11]

Shilpgram

Shilpgram is a rural arts and crafts complex, situated 3 km west of the city of Udaipur. The center is spread over an undulating terrain of about 70 acres, surrounded by the Aravali mountains. The complex was established with a purpose to depict the lifestyles of the folk and tribal people of the region. With an objective of increasing awareness and knowledge about the rural arts and crafts, the Shilpgram provides opportunity to rural and urban artists to come together and interact through camps and workshops.

Places nearby

References

  1. ↑ Samtech Infonet Ltd. "Udaipur Introduction". Samtech Infonet Ltd. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  2. ↑ "Udaipur city". Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  3. ↑ "Udaipur voted best city - 2009".
  4. ↑ "Udaipur - wedding destination". Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  5. ↑ TripAdvisor LLC. "Top things to do in Udaipur". TripAdvisor LLC. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  6. ↑ udaipur.nic.in. "Top things to do in Udaipur". udaipur.nic.in. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  7. 1 2 "Udaipur - The City of Lakes". 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  8. ↑ Bose, Melia Belli (1997). Royal Umbrellas of Stone: Memory, Politics, and Public Identity in Rajput Funerary. BRILL. ISBN 9004300562.
  9. ↑ "Lake palace udaipur".
  10. ↑ More details are available at Maharanapratap.net, a collection of facts and figures on Maharana Pratap and his life.
  11. ↑ "Sajjangarh bio park celebrates record visitors". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
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Top attractions around Udaipur

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