Best Time to Visit :Oct to March Weather :In Summer:
38.3 C (Max) - 28.8 C (Min) In Winter: 28.3 C (Max)
- 8 C (Min) Rainy Season from July to Mid Sept, and
very humid (upto 90%)
Mewar Festival (In the month of
April)
A festival to welcome the spring season. There is song, dance, processions,
devotional music and fireworks where almost everybody participates.
About Udaipur
History
Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200
Years. The foundation of the city has an interesting legend associated with
it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day
when he met a holy man meditations on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola.
The hermit blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at this
favorable located spot with a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake,
an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low mountains. Maharana
followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 A.D.
Culture
A vision in white drenched in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating
blend of sights, sound and experiences and inspiration for the imagination
of poets, painters and writers. Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces,
lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls, carry the
flavor of a heroic past,epitomizing valour and chivalry. Their reflection in
the placid waters of the Lake Pichhola is an enticing sight.Overlooking the
aquamarine expanses of the Lake Pichhola stands the splendid City Palace-a
marvel in granite and marble.
Of the original eleven gates of the Udaipur City, only five remain. The
Suraj Pol the original or Sun Gate on the eastern side is the main entrance
to the city. Exquisite lake palaces of Udaipur shimmering like jewels on
Lake Pichhola are overwhelming in splendor.
By Air
Udaipur is well connected to all the major cities which includes Delhi,
Mumbai, Calcutta, Jodhpur, Jaipur.
By Bus
Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe & air conditioned buses
from Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad to Udaipur. The roads are very good, and it
takes around 8-9 hr. from Jaipur. You can also come by taxi from Jaipur and
Ahmedabad.
By Train
Udaipur is connected to many major cities of India. There are daily trains
from Delhi, Jaipur.The best train between Delhi and Udaipur, the daily
Chetak Express. Trains take around 12 Hrs from Jaipur to Udaipur.
Getting around
Udaipur has a reasonably good city bus service. Taxi and auto - rickshaws
are unmetered. Udaipur is small enough and vehicle traffic slow enough to
make getting around on a bicycle quite enjoyable. You can hire bicycles all
over town. RTDC and several private companies offer daily tours of all the
main sites.
Shopping
Udaipur has countless small shops and many interesting local craft,
particularly paintings in the Rajput - Moghul style. There's a good cluster
of these shops on Lake Palace Road, next to the Rang Niwas Palace Hotel, and
others around the Jagdish Temple.
Places to see
City Palace
A majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded
by crenelated walls, it is a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions,
terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. The main entrance is through
the triple arched gate, the ‘Tripolia’ with eight marble porticos.
The Maharana were weighed under the gate in the gold, the equivalent amount
of which was distributed among the populace.
Saheliyon-ki-Bari
This small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing spot where royal ladies
came for a stroll and hence the name. The garden has many fountains in its
four delightful pools,chiseled kiosks and marble elephants.
The Suraj Gokhada
The balcony of the sun, is where the Suryavanshi Maharanas of Mewar
presented themselves to the people in time of trouble to restore their
confidence. The ‘Mor Chowk’ known for its exquisite peacock
mosaics in glass and the ‘Chini Chitrashala’noted for its blue and
white ceramics are other attractions in the palace.
Pratap Memorial
Atop the Moti Magri or pearl hill,overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the
memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the
Maharana.
Gulab Bagh
A spectacular rose garden laid out by Maharana Sajjan Singh. A library in
the garden has a rare collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and
books.
Eating out
Indian Food
South of the Sajjan Niwas Gardens, on the hill overlooking Lake Pichola,
the Cafe Hill Park is worth a visit just for the viewes.They offer cheap
south Indian dishes and snacks.The Roof Garden Cafe has the appearance of a
Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The popular Natural Attic is a good cheap place
to eat.
Fast food
Patel's Soda Factory, near the Suraj Pol Gate, is a clean and friendly spot
for a cold drink and fruit juice.
Continental food
Ambrai, Samor Bagh serve Indian, Chinese and continental cuisine and is
also a great place to kick back with a beer.
Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200
Years. The foundation of the city has an interesting legend associated with
it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day
when he met a holy man meditations on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola.
The hermit blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at this
favorable located spot with a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake,
an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low mountains. Maharana
followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 A.D.
A majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded
by crenelated walls, it is a conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions,
terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. The main entrance is through
the triple arched gate, the ‘Tripolia’ with eight marble porticos.
The Maharana were weighed under the gate in the gold, the equivalent amount
of which was distributed among the populace.