Udaipur is known as Venice of the East (also known as fairytale city, white city, city of lakes, city of dawn, Kashmir of Rajasthan) set in lush green valley of beautiful white marble palaces, island palaces, hilltop fortresses, translucent lakes, ancient temples, royal havelies, and luxuriant gardens surrounded by the hills of Aravallis considered by many as Rajasthan’s most beautiful city. It is Rajasthan’s premier tourist attraction situated on NH8 connected to Delhi and Bombay and just 450 kms away from Jaipur.
History
The Mewar’s Sisodia dynasty ruled their kingdom from Chittorgarh until mid 16th century. As far as Sisodia dynasty, there are rich history associated with them - Maharana Pratap’s fight with mighty Mughals, Rani Padmini’s Jhauhar, Rana Sanga’s daughter-in-law Mira Bai’s devotion for Krishna, and Sisodia’s refusal of military-matrimonial relationships with Mughals.
Legend says Maharana Udai Singh was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola. The hermit blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at that spot. Maharana followed the advice and founded the city in 1559. After destruction of Chittorgarh in 1567 by Mughal Emperor Akbar’s Army, Maharana moved his capital to Udaipur. Later it became part of Mughal Empire after Shahjahan crushed Sisodia’s resistance in 1614. Under Mughal patronage, Udaipur flourished into beautiful kingdom. Later Udaipur continues to flourish under British Raj while getting protection against Marathas. In 1951, after independence, princely Mewar state merged into India.
My Experience
Although I been Udaipur twice previously in my life, my most recent visit to this beautiful lake city took place while I was in India in Feb 2005. We drove out in the early morning from our village near Vadodara and reached Udaipur in afternoon. Our first task was to check in motel in the walking distance of Lake Pichola in the old section of Udaipur and hire a knowledgeable Guide. Since Udaipur is just like another Indian city with narrow crowded streets of bazaars, I wanted to keep our option open to stroll at the nearby lively bazaars or walk at the picturesque banks of Lake Pichola at night times.
In the afternoon around 1.00 PM, we left for our first day’s site seeing. Our first stop was Jagdish Temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath built in 1651 situated near the narrow lanes of bazaars just north of City Palace. This temple is raised on high platform and its tall terrace can be accessed by high flight of steps. It’s a finest example of ancient Indo - Aryan architecture and contains enormous black stone statue of Lord Vishnu.
Next, we drove into City Palace at the banks of Lake Pichola. City Palace complex is a marvel in granite and marble consisting many palaces built between 16th-20th centuries. Most of palace is converted into Museum, parts of it are luxury hotels and residence for Maharana’s descendents. You can drive all the way inside through series of gates and park your car in palace’s main courtyard. Here you have option to buy package ticket for City Palace Museum Complex, Fateh Prakash Palace’s Crystal Gallery, Vintage Classic Car Museum, and ferry ride into Lake Pichola. For City Palace Museum, visitors are allowed through pre-marked narrow passages, courtyards, and staircases to see Chandra Mahal, Badi Mahal, Dilkhush Mahal, Kanch Burj, Krishna Vilas, Moti Mahal, Mor Chawk, Zeenana Mahal, and Sheesh Mahal. You can also glimpse scenic view of Lake Palace situated in middle of Lake Pichola from one of balconies of palace.
Once we came out from City Palace, we visited next-door Fateh Prakash Palace’s Crystal Gallery. Here you can see large collection of crystal household items – furniture (beds, sofas, chairs), and kitchenware (dinner sets, glasses). Later on the banks of Lake Pichola in front of Fateh Prakash Palace, we took boat tour of Lake Pichola to get close up view of Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) turned into luxury hotel and Jag Mandir Island Palace. This is must boat tour to get romantic scenic view of island palaces, city palace, surrounding hills in pristine tranquil lake. You can even take night boat tours to enjoy scenic illuminating palace complex.
In evening, we drove to the south side of City Palace on the banks of Lake Pichola for sunset. We spent evening watching sun setting over Lake Pichola, island palaces behind Aravalli Mountains. In the nighttime, after romantic candlelight terrace dinner at the one of restaurant at the backdrop of illuminating City Palace, we strolled around narrow lanes of handicraft market and lively bazaars for shopping.
Next Day morning, our first stop was Sahelion ki Bari garden built in 18th century. This garden of the maids of honor was built for queens of Udaipur as summer retreat. This beautiful garden contains ornamental fountains including lotus pool, and marble elephants and kiosks to provide much needed cool misty breeze in hot summer days for royal ladies and their maids. Visit to this garden worked as soothing refreshing medication.
Our afternoon stop was beautiful Fateh Sagar Lake area. We first drove up to Rana Pratap Memorial situated at the top of Moti Magri Hill built by Maharana Fateh Singh. Once you park your car at parking lot, you have to climb up small staircase to the memorial of the Maharana Pratap’s bronze statue riding his favorite horse Chetak. From top of hill, you can also enjoy nice aerial view of Fateh Sagar Lake and surrounding city. After coming down at the base of Moti Magri Hill, we visited Fateh Sagar Lake and enjoyed afternoon boating ride to its beautiful island, Nehru Park, a popular garden island with a boat-shaped café.
In the late afternoon, we drove across Lake Pichola to the Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) built in 1884 in Aravalli Mountains as royal shooting preserve surrounded by thick forest. You must visit this palace in the late afternoon to get best aerial panoramic view of the white city’s three lakes, island palaces, picturesque marble palaces, bathing ghats, and temples line the lakefront.
Other Activites
(#) Puppet shows at Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum
(#) Shilpgram (8 km) - Ethnic craft village. Replica of traditional houses, rural and tribal life of the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujrat, and Goa
Excursions Nearby Udaipur
You can stay at Udaipur for more than a week. You can make Udaipur as your base camp and travel around all picturesque excursions in Aravalli Mountains built by Sisodias during their dynasty.
(#) Ahar (3 km) - Ancient capital of Sisodias, Clustered royal cenotaphs in walled compound
(#) Jaisamand Lake (40 km) - Artificial Lake built in the 17th century, marble cenotaphs, wildlife sanctuary
(#) Eklingji (22 km northeast) -Temple complex of 108 temples dedicated to Lord Shiva
(#) Nagda (Short distance from Eklingji, 24 km northeast) - Saas-Bahu temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu built in the 10th century
(#) Nathdwara (48 km northeast) - Pilgrimage site for Vaishanav, Shrinathji temple dedicated to Lord Krishna
(#) Kankroli and Rajsamand (North of Nathdwara) - Rajsamand Lakes
(#) Ranakpur (80 Km northwest) - Pilgrimage site for Jains, Jain temple complex
(#) Kumbhalgarh (84 Km northwest) - Mountain fortress, wildlife sanctuary
(#) Haldighati (54 Km north) - Rana Pratap’s Chetak horse’s Chhatri
(#) Chittorgarh (115km northeast) - Ruined fort, Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh
(#) Mount Abu (185km west) - Only Hill station in hot, dusty area