
Udaipur is known as `The City of Dawn`. It is a city of lakes and outstanding edifices. Surrounded by the lush
Aravalli Mountain Ranges it is well known amongst tourists for its pictorial beauty. The essence of Udaipur lies in its history and culture. It was the nucleus where the
Rajputs thrived. Most of the tales revolving around this wonderful land are bound to captivate the hearts of the listeners. The city of Udaipur was founded by
Maharana Udai Singh almost 1200 years ago.
The major attractions of the city are the
Lake Palace, the
City Palace and some of the other tourist destinations of the place are Dhuni mata temple, Bari mahal, Dilkhush mahal, Krishna Vilas and Chini Chittrasala.
The Lake Palace of
Udaipur overlooks the Pichola Lake and is a wonderful collection of courtyards, pavilions, hanging gardens and a lot more. The City palace on the other hand is a beautiful monument built of marble. A number of architectural and artistic wonders are present in the City Palace. For instance the Mor Chowk, known for its spectacular peacock mosaics and the splendid wall paintings of the Bhim Vilas mesmerizes a spectator.
Jag Niwas, the summer residence of the Prince of
Mewar have been converted to a luxury hotel in the present day and Jag Mandir, a marvel in red sandstone is another island palace in the city of Mewar.
Places around Udaipur
Sajjangarh, a wonderful breathtaking place lies on a hilltop just outside Udaipur. From this place the entire kingdom of Mewar can easily be viewed. In the early days it served as an astronomical center but later on it became a monsoon palace and a hunting ground.
Ahar which lies three kilometers from Udaipur boasts of several cenotaphs which in turn commemorate the royal status of Mewar. At a distance of 48 kilometers from Udaipur lies
Nathdwara Temple which is a famous pilgrimage for the Hindus and at the same time also houses the glorious traditions of Pichwal paintings. Another place of interest in Udaipur is
Ranakpur which is 98 kilometers away boasts of some superb
Jain temples in India. Hence these are some of the well known places of interest in and around the city of Udaipur.
Fairs and Festivals of Udaipur
The Shilp Gram or Craft Bazaar is located 3 kilometers from Udaipur. The craft bazaar exhibits the art and craft of the entire western India. Every year from December 15th, the Tourism Department of Rajasthan organises a 10 day festival which is a treat for the tourists as they get an opportunity to witness the exquisite arts and crafts of the entire western India. The Mewar Festival a traditional celebration in the city of Udaipur is celebrated every year on April 7th and 8th in order to welcome spring. It involves traditional Rajasthani dance, song, processions, devotional songs and most importantly a marvelous fire work display.
Accomodation:
There are numerous accommodation units available for the tourists. In accordance to their budgets the travelers can check into a suitable hotel. The hotels in Udaipur city can be broadly divided intro three categories-heritage, luxury and budget. As the city is largely dependent on tourism several measures have been taken to ensure a safe and comfortable vacation for the tourists.
How to Reach Udaipur
The city of Udaipur is well connected by air, rail and roads.
By Air:
The city is connected by regular flights to
Delhi,
Mumbai,
Jaipur,
Jodhpur and
Aurangabad.
By Train:
By train the city is connected to Delhi, Chittor,
Ahmedabad, Jaipur,
Ajmer, and
Jodhpur.
By Road:
As Udaipur is located on National Highway 8 and it is well connected with states of
Madhya Pradesh,
Gujarat and
Uttar Pradesh, one can get busses and private cars for sightseeing and intercity travel. The best time to visit Udaipur is the winters in the months of September to March.