Udaipur, the capital of the former princely state of Mewar,
is a beautiful city in Rajasthan, India, famous for its lakes and palaces. A
current tourist favorite, especially for up-market Westerners, it was a
backdrop for numerous movies, including the James Bond flick
"Octopussy".
Udaipur is referred to as the "Venice of the East,"
the "Most Romantic City of India" and the "Kashmir of
Rajasthan" (a reference to Dal Lake) and not without reason. Tourists
flock to this enchanting city in the heart of the Aravalli Hills, which has
three interconnected lakes: Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichhola and the smaller
Swaroop Sagar Lake. With its forts, palaces, temples, gardens, mountains and
narrow lanes lined with stalls in the medieval historic center, Udaipur is a living
memory of a heroic past with valor and chivalry.
Places
to Visit in Udaipur
Lake
Pichola
Lake Pichola, situated in Udaipur city in the Indian state of
Rajasthan, is an artificial fresh water lake, created in the year 1362 AD,
named after the nearby Picholi village. It is one of the several contiguous
lakes, and developed over the last few centuries in and around the famous
Udaipur city. The lakes around Udaipur were primarily created by building dams
to meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of the city and its
neighborhood. Two islands, Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir are located within Pichola
Lake, and have been developed with several palaces to provide views of the
lake.
There are four islands on the lake :
- Jag Niwas, where is built the Lake Palace.
- Jag Mandir, with the palace of the same name.
- Mohan Mandir, from where the king would watch the annual Gangaur festival celebration.
- Arsi Vilas, small island which was an ammunition depot, but also a small palace. This one was built by one of the maharanas of Udaipur to enjoy the sunset on the lake. It is also a sanctuary catering to a variety of birds, including tufted ducks, coots, egrets, terns, cormorants and kingfishers.
City
Palace, Udaipur
City Palace, Udaipur, is a palace complex in Udaipur, in the
Indian state Rajasthan. It was built over a period of nearly 400 years being
contributed by several kings of the dynasty, starting by the Maharana Udai
Singh as the capital of the Sisodia Rajput clan in 1559, after he moved from
Chittor. It is located on the east bank of the Lake Pichola and has several
palaces built within its complex. Udaipur was the historic capital of the
former kingdom of Mewar in the Rajputana Agency and its last capital.
The City Palace in Udaipur was built in a flamboyant style
and is considered the largest of its type in Rajasthan, a fusion of the
Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles, and was built on a hill top that
gives a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding, including several
historic monuments such as the Lake Palace in Lake Pichola, the Jag Mandir on
another island in the lake, the Jagdish Temple close to the palace, the Monsoon
Palace on top of an overlooking hillock nearby and the Neemach Mata temple.
These structures are linked to the filming of the James Bond movie Octopussy,
which features the Lake Palace and the Monsoon Palace. The subsequent publicity
has resulted in the epithet of Udaipur as "Venice of the East". In
2009, Udaipur was rated the top city in the World's Best Awards by Travel +
Leisure.
Lake Palace
Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel,
of 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble walls, located on a natural
foundation of 4 acres (16,000 m2) rock on the Jag Niwas island in
Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India. The hotel operates a speed boat which transports
guests to the hotel from a jetty at the City Palace. It has been voted as the
most romantic hotel in India and in the world.
Fateh Sagar
Lake
Fateh Sagar Lake said to be the pride of the City of Lakes of
Udaipur, it is an artificial lake constructed by Maharana in north of Lake
Pichola in 1678 and to the north-west of Udaipur. A beautiful lake, overlooked
by a number of hills on the three sides and the Pratap Memorial on the north
was built by Maharana Fateh Singh. In the middle of the lake is Nehru Park - a
lovely garden island with a boat shaped cafe accessible by an enjoyable boat
ride. Blue waters of the lake and the backdrop of green has given the
soubriquet of ‘the second Kashmir’ to Udaipur town.
Jag Mandir
Palace
Jag Mandir Palace is a beautiful palace located on the
southern island of Lake Pichola. The three-storied Palace is a palatial
structure made in yellow sandstone and marble. Built in early years of 17th
century, Jag Mandir Palace was raised by Maharana Karan Singh to serve as a
hiding place for Prince Khurram (popularly known as Shah Jahan). Between the
years of 1620-28, Maharana Karan Singh ruled the region and during this period
Prince Khurram revolted against his father.
Saheliyon-ki-Bari
Saheliyon-ki-Bari (Courtyard of the Maidens) is a major
garden and a popular tourist space in Udaipur in Indian state of Rajasthan. It
lies in northern part of the city and has fountains and kiosks, a lotus pool
and marble elephants. It was built by Maharana Bhopal Singh. Saheliyon ki Bari
means Garden of the Maidens. There is also a small museum here.
Jagdish
Temple
Jagdish Temple is one of the famous temples of Udaipur.
Located in the City Palace complex of Udaipur, this temple is made in the
Indo-Aryan style of architecture. In 1651, Jagdish temple was built by Maharana
Jagat Singh, who ruled Udaipur during 1628-53. The temple is dedicated to Lord
Vishnu (Laxmi Narayan), the preserver of the Universe. It is celebrated for
being the largest temple in the city of Udaipur. The gateway of this temple can
be sited at a distance of 150 meters from the Bara Pol of the City Palace.
Monsoon
Palace
The Monsoon Palace, formerly known as the Sajjan Garh Palace,
is a hilltop palatial residence in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan in India,
overlooking the lake Fateh Sagar. It is named as Sajjangarh after Maharana
Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar Dynasty, who built it in 1884. It offers
a panoramic view of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It was
built basically to watch the monsoon clouds; hence, appropriately, it is
popularly known as Monsoon Palace. It is said that the Maharana built it at the
top of the hill to get a view of his ancestral home of Chittaurgarh. Previously
owned by the Mewar royal family, it is now under the control of the Forest
Department of the Government of Rajasthan and has been opened to the public
recently. The palace provides a beautiful view of the sunset.
Shiv Niwas
Palace
Shiv Niwas Palace is a former residence of the Maharana of
Udaipur, Rajasthan, located on the banks of Lake Pichola.
Gulab Bagh
Gulab Bagh (Sajjan Niwas Garden) is the largest garden in
Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. It is spread over 100 acres (40 ha) of land. The
garden has innumerable varieties of roses. Gulab Bagh gets its name from the
abundance of rose flowers it has.
Gulab Bagh was started by Maharana Sajjan Singh in the 1878.
It is the fourth oldest zoo in the semi-continent. By Maharana's volition, a
horticulturist from Madras, T.H. Story, was appointed in 1882 to stock the garden
with plants with medicinal values on the 66.5 acres of land and worked there
till 1920.
Moti Magri
Moti Magri overlooks the Fateh Sagar Lake in the city of
Udaipur, Rajasthan. Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill is the memorial of the
Rajput hero Maharana Pratap, which has a bronze statue of the Maharana astride
his favourite horse "Chetak".
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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