Udaipur

By jyotsnaraja

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Sajjangarh fort

City view from Sajjangarh fort

Udaipur, also called the City of Lakes, is one of the most romantic places in India. Set against the backdrop of the rich cultural heritage of the Rajput rulers in Rajasthan, it takes you to another era…an era of grandeur, opulence, and beauty.

Udaipur was built in 1557 AD by Maharaja Udai Singh. It is surrounded by the Aravalli Hills and offered a natural barrier against attacks especially from the Mughals. For this reason, in 1568, the capital city of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar was shifted from Chittorgarh to Udaipur. Udaipur continued to be the capital of Mewar, till it became the princely state of British India in 1818. When India became independent in 1947, the Maharaja of Udaipur granted the place to the Government of India. At that time, Mewar was merged into the state of Rajasthan. The famous Maharana Pratp Singh is the son of Maharaja Udai Singh. Statues of his famous horse, Chetak are found throughout the city and the city centre, Chetak circle is named after it.

The main attractions of the city are its lakes, lake palaces and gardens. Pichola lake is the oldest and one of the largest lakes in the city and on one of its islands lies the world famous Lake Palace. A boat ride during sunset is one of the most enchanting rides I have had. Other famous attractions include the City Palace that contains some of the most exquisite mirror mosaics of peacocks, MorChowk. It also has a museum inside and there is an entry fee. The City Palace is open 0930hrs to 1630 Hrs and is closed on Sundays. Another interesting place to go to is an Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal which hosts samples of the colorful and vibrant culture of the Rajputs as well as a Puppet show that can be a treat to adults and children alike.

Sahelion Ki Badi is one of the gardens that you must visit. It is beautifully designed and the fountains are fed from the lakes and during monsoons, water jets reach amazing heights.

The Sajjangarh fort adjoining the Upaipur city offers a trekking trail and a magnificent view of the city.

There are also attractions for shopping enthusiasts. There are government emporiums with fixed prices as well as the local vendors where you can get some great bargains for beautiful works of art.


Udaipur is well-connected by air, road and rail. Maharana Pratap Airport is about 22 Km away from the city and flights are available from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Jaipur.

Udaipur Railway Station is well connected with other cities of Rajasthan as well as India. Udaipur is a major destination on the itinerary of the luxurious train, Palace on Wheels. Trains run frequently from Udaipur connecting Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi.

I went by car from Delhi to Udaipur and went on to Mumbai after a two-day halt. There are also buses plying between Udaipur and Jaipur, Delhi, Chittorgarh, Kota, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, and Mt. Abu.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udaipur




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