Udaipur Information

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Udaipur is a city as romantic as a dream, with marble palaces gently afloat in a lake surrounded by low lying hills and other impressive palaces dominating the skyline with their many turrets and cupolas, imposing doorways and delicately chiselled windows

In Udaipur the Visitor finds his dream of India come true for the city combines real beauty with picturesque associations of a great and glorious past. It stands in a valley, AMID green hills on the banks of the wide, sttel blue lake pichola. On little islands in the lake, from the water's edge, rise marble Palaces of pure white that glisten like fairy castles. crowning the ridge, in which the city clusters, along the shores of the lake is palace of the maharana. Within the palace is all the magnificent views of the panorama below.

Sightseeing of Udaipur includes visits to Sahelion ki Bari, a drive around fateh sagar lake, city palace, jagdish temple and gulab niwas garden.

Reaching Udaipur

Air:
Dabok Airport is the nearest airport 21km. from Udaipur. It is well connected with domestic flights to all the major cities of India. Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Aurangabad and Mumbai.

Rail:
Udaipur has good railway links connecting all the major cities in Rajasthan. Trains from Mumbai via Ahmedabad, Delhi Chittorgarh alsso connects Udaipur. Royal luxurious train the Palace on Wheel also covers this place.

Road:
Deluxe and semi deluxe buses are operated by Rajasthan Roadways from Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad to Udaipur. The highways are very well constructed and it takes around 8-9 hr. from Jaipur. Taxis can also be hired from Jaipur and Ahmedabad. The important distances from Udaipur are: Ahmedabad- 262 km, Delhi is- 670 km from Udaipur, Mumbai- 739km, Ahmedabad- 262 km, Jaipur- 407 km

Get a Room

» Hotel Trident
» Hotel Udai Kothi
» Hotel Swaroop Vilas
» Hotel Raj Darshan
» Hotel Paras Mahal
» Hotel Lakend
» Hotel Lake Pichola
» Hotel India International
» Hotel Quality Inn Vishnupriya

The Myriad of Tourist Attractions
The City Palace
City Palace - Built in 1725, the City Palace is a wonderful blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. This palace is divided into a number of structures, the centermost being the Chandra Mahal (Moon Palace). The ground and first floor of the Chandra Mahal, form the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Museum with an extensive collection of art, carpets, enamelware and old weapons. The paintings include miniatures of Rajasthani, Persian and Mughal schools. The Mubarak Mahal (Auspicious Palace) contains the textile section of the museum. The palace also houses the Diwan-i-Am, or the hall of public audience,

and Diwan-i-Khas, or the hall of private audience. In the Diwan-i-Am, ornamental pillars support the high ceilings. The walls, elaborately painted with touches of deep red and gold, provide perfect mounts for massive medieval Afghan and Persian carpets. Miniatures from the Mughal and Jaipur schools, and Jai Singh's translations in Arabic and Sanskrit of the astronomical dissertations of ancient scientists, are displayed in glass cases.

Durbar Hall
In India the Durbar Hall is generally a place where state banquets are held and is also used for formal and informal meetings. The Durbar Hall at the Fateh Prakash Palace is undoubtedly the most lavish Durbar Hall in India. It is one of the grandest chambers in Udaipur and its sheer size makes one gasp in awe. The chandelier in the middle is the most impressive and is complimented with paintings of Maharanas and various weapons adore the walls. The hall has an exquisite ceiling and is surrounded by viewing galleries from where the ladies of the palace could get a view from the privacy of their veils. Lord Minto, The Viceroy of India laid the foundation stone for the Durbar hall in 1909.

Jagmandir Palace
In the middle of Lake Pichola, commanding a magnificent view of the City Palace, Lake Palace and Sajjangarh Fort, on its own island, was built the Jagmandir, where Prince Khurram was given refuge in the 17th centuary. A place that inspired him to build the Taj Mahal. Made of the finest yellow sandstone inlaid with marble, it has been dedicated to the Lord of the Universe. In the middle of its courtyard, is a most exquisitely carved chhatri of a special grey-green granite called "Pareva", imported especially for this purpose. Fountains play, in its magnificent courtyard as stately elephants guard the entrance to the island. A special landing on the west face was made to feed the crocodiles that live in the lake.

Excursions
Eklingji and Nagda
Nagda was the old capital of Mewar. The chief relic, now extinct consists of the twin 'Saas - Bahu' temple of the 10th century. Spartan sanctums are here, wedded to sumptuous Mandaps, that of the bigger temple being more so. This latter in a closed one, richly carved both inside and outside, as compared to the open one in the other case. The group faces a large tank, the route to which is marked by a handsome torana or ceremonial gate.

The princes of Mewar considered themselves as ruling on behalf of Eklingji (Mahadeva) enshrined in an imposing temple in the neighboring Kailashpuri. Despite the recent glitz, the palace has an atmosphere. The complex has many other temples, including the very austere Lakulish of the 10th century with an imposing black statue of the defied Shaivite preacher of 2nd century A.D.

Nathdwara
The most venerated 17th century shrine, dedicated to Shrinathji or Lord Krishna, Nathdwara attracts thousands of Pilgrims from all over the country, especially during the festivals of Diwali, Holi and Janmashtami when their number exceeds a lac.

Haldighati
Haldighati, is a small village in the Aravalli Hills about 44 km north of Udaipur and about 1,839 m. above sea level. Beyond this is Haldighati Pass, a narrow defile almost a kilometre in length, running south to northeast and finally ending in a broad plain. An interesting geographical feature of the pass is its soft yellow soil, which when crumbled resembles the turmeric (haldi), which gives the place its name. It was here that the famous Battle of Haldighati was fought on June 18, 1576 between Maharana PRATAP SINGH of Mewar and the Imperial army of Emperor Akbar of Delhi.

Jaisamand Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary
A beautifully created artificial lake, built in the 17th century A.D. by Maharana Jai Singh, Jaisamand Lake is the second largest in Asia. Graceful marble chhatris flank the bank and beautiful summer palaces of the Udaipur queens are built on either side of the lake. A trip to Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary will allow you a close encounter with the rich wildlife in their natural habitat. The fauna includes panther, wild boar, deer, four honed antelope, mongoose and various species of migratory birds.

Kumbhalgarh Fort
Located 64 kms north of Udaipur in the wilderness, Kumbhalgarh is the second most important citadel after Chittorgarh in the Mewar region. Cradled in the Aravali Ranges the fort was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha. Because of its inaccessibility and hostile topography the fort had remained un-conquered. It also served the rulers of Mewar as a refuge in times of strife. The fort also served as refuge to the baby king Udai of Mewar. It is also of sentimental significance as it is the birthplace of Mewar's legendary King Maharana Partap.

The fort is self-contained and has within its amalgam almost everything to withstand a long siege. The fort fell only once that too to the combined armies of Mughal and of Amber for scarcity of drinking water. Many magnificent palaces an array of temples built by the Mauryas of which the most picturesque place is the Badal Mahal or the palace of the clouds

Festivals of Udaipur
Mewar Festival
The Mewar Festival is celebrated to welcome the advent of spring. It coincides with the festival of Gangaur in Udaipur, and has a unique charm about it. The women folk gather to dress the images of Isar and Gangaur and then carry them in a ceremonial procession through different parts of the city.

Shilpgram Festival
Literally meaning a "Craftsmen's Village" is a living ethnographic museum depicting the enormous diversities in craft, art & culture between various Indian states, but the exquisite terracotta work mainly in dark red and dark brown sand material along with the wooden carvings are the forte of this ethnic village .