Udaipur casts its spell and everyone gets mesmerized by it! It
wouldn’t be incorrect if we label Udaipur as one of the most romantic
places in India. Proffering a perfect mélange of culture, history and
traditions, the gorgeous city makes for the perfect honeymoon destination,
cultural centre and face of Rajasthan. I believe what gives Udaipur its
pretty face is the brilliant architecture and the Mewars should be
given the credit for it. These wise rulers literally created an oasis
amid the desert, thanks to their love for leisure and passion for
creation. There is so much that one can see in Udaipur and most of these
attractions have been built and created by the Maharanas. Check out
this list of tourist places that we have prepared for you, so that you
do not miss out on the best that Udaipur has to offer:
[ Don’t forget to check these exclusive Rajasthan Holiday Packages ]
City Palace
The
true reflection of the grandeur of Rajasthan, City Palace is amongst
the top places to visit in Udaipur. It is conglomeration of several
buildings and towers and is better recognized as a Palace Complex.
Belonging to the royal Mewar family, City Palace
has a number of features that greatly attract tourist. Needless to say
that the architecture is exquisite; there are a few structures that
leave the visitor awestruck. The crystal gallery, the vintage car
museum, Daawat-i-Aam, Daawat-i-Khas, Maharani Palace and the view of the
city and Lake Pichola are the major attractions of City Palace.
Visitors also like to stay up late for the Mewar Light and Sound Show
that is organized every evening here. City Palace is the identity of the
city, and it indeed adds to the exoticism of Udaipur.
[ Also read- 15 Best Tourist Attractions in Jaisalmer Rajasthan ]
Lake Pichola
Just about everybody knows about the gorgeous Lake Pichola;
it’s like another vital identity of Udaipur. It is a 4kms long man-made
lake and is believed to be one of the most beautiful ones as well.
Visitors to Udaipur cannot miss out on taking a boat ride on Lake
Pichola which starts from Rameshwar Ghat in the City Palace. The lake
has two famed islands namely Jagniwas and Jagmandir. At Jagniwas Island
one has the opportunity to witness another famous place in Udaipur – the
Lake Palace (Now known as Taj Lake Palace), whereas on Jagmandir
Island, one can visit the popular Jag Mandir, the palace.
Lake Palace
Marvelously
built on Lake Pichola, Lake Palace is one of the most visited places in
Udaipur. Situated on Jagniwas Island it is now run by the Taj group and
is popularly known as Taj Lake Palace.
With the Aravalli Hills in the background, Lake Palace makes one of the
most romantic places in Rajasthan. Even if one cannot afford to stay
here, one should definitely consider taking a heritage walk of this
hotel. Built by Maharaja Jagat Singh II, the palace is an exemplary of
exquisite architecture that comprises gilt moldings, fretwork screens
and sculpted marbles. At Lake Palace, romance gets redefined!
Jag Mandir
A 17th century structure that stands gloriously amidst Lake Pichola on the Jagmandir Island, Jag Mandir
is an excellent place to visit on Udaipur tour. Jagmandir is an
impressive set of structures with the central building being called
Jagmandir, which can be recognized by the marble-made elephants
positioned outside. It is a three-storied structure and includes
sections like Gul Mahal, an elegant façade, a Garden Courtyard and the
Darikhana on its northern side, the Bara Patharon ka Mahal (palace of
the 12 stones), the Zenana Mahal – a southern extension to the Gul Mahal
and the Kunwar Pada ka Mahal. During the boat ride on Lake Pichola, a
lot of tourists make sure that they visit this beautiful place.
[ Must read: 50 Things to do & see in Rajasthan ]
Jagdish Temple
Jagdish Temple
is an Indo-Aryan Temple built by Maharana Jagat Singh. The temple is
located near the Badi Pol entrance of the City Palace and one can easily
find a way up to it through the elephant-flanked steps. The deity of
Lord Vishnu in black stone (in the form of Jagganath) presides over this
temple. There is also a brass image of Vishnu’s vehicle Garuda facing
the statue of Lord Vishnu in the main shrine. There are many small
shrines other than the main temple and are dedicated to Lord Ganesha,
the Sun God, Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva. A large number of devotees
throng the temple, especially to watch the Aarti that takes place at
every sunrise and sunset.
Lake Fatehsagar
The charm of Udaipur is incomplete without Fateh Sagar Lake,
which is situated in the north of Lake Pichola and is connected to it
through a canal. It is also one of the major tourist attractions in
Udaipur. Taking a boat ride on Lake Fatehsagar is indeed a must-do
activity in the city if you are looking for some fun in the city. There
are three islands in the lake out of which Nehru Park is the most
famous. It is also an ideal place for family outing as it has a zoo.
[ You may be interested to read- Golden Triangle India- The Ultimate Travel Guide ]
Saheliyon Ki Bari
‘The Garden of the Maidens’ as it literally means, Saheliyon ki Bari
was constructed by Maharana Bhopal Singh. Situated in the northern part
of the city, this exquisite place was built for the maids who
accompanied the Princess to Udaipur (reckoned to be part of the dowry).
Saheliyon kI Bari was one of those places where the maids could make
merry, sing, dance and indulge in recreational activities. The garden is
festooned with well-maintained fountains, kiosks, marble elephants and a
delightful lotus pool. It is one delightful place that is a must visit
in Udaipur!
[ You also must read: 25 Wonders of India: Historical Edifices Par Brilliance! ]
Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum
It
is a folk-art museum in Udaipur that is situated in the Chetak Circle.
Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum is a perfect place for the history lovers as it
displays a collection of Rajasthani culture. Offering an insight into
the lifestyle of the royal era in Udaipur, the museum has a fine
collection of dresses, tribal jewellery, turbans, dolls, masks, musical
instruments, paintings and puppets, which are the highlight of the
museum.
[ Also Check out Top 10 Popular Museums in India]
Bagore Ki Haveli
It
is one of the most attractive places to see in Udaipur. Bagore ki
Haveli is situated on the Ganguar Ghat (on Lake Pichola) and thus offers
a splendid view of the lake. Known for its architectural splendor, the
Haveli is a massive structure that now offers a peek inside the royal
life of the Maharajas and the Maharanis. This grand structure has 100
rooms and each room has fine decoration with mirror work. One can also
take a look at the jewellery boxes, dice-games, hukkas, pan boxes, nut
crackers, hand fans, rose water sprinklers, copper vessels, paintings of
Mewar, and beautiful peacocks, which surely are reminiscent of one
glorious era. The evening dance and music show is also quite popular
amongst the tourists here.
[ Must Read: Top Unexplored Heritage Sites in India ]
Ahar
The
royal cremation ground in Udaipur, Ahar is situated about 3kms away
from the city. Like the palaces, the Mewar Kings have put effort to make
the cremation area look resplendent as well. With 372 cenotaphs of the
maharanas and queens of Mewar, Ahar is a spectacular place of snowy
domes. Amongst all the cenotaphs, Maharana Sangram Singh’s cenotaph has
been the most attractive and popular with the tourists. Ahar is one calm
and quiet place and is thus visited by people who either love history
or are in search of peace.
[ Also read: Top 20 Heritage Tourist Attractions in India ]
Ambrai Ghat
Located
on the bank of Lake Pichola, Ambrai Ghat is a wonderful place for
photographers. City Palace and Lake Palace overlook this beautiful ghat,
which means one gets an exclusive view of the two palaces from here.
Ambrai Ghat often remains crowded with a large number of local couples
coming here in the evening as the place is quite romantic. Sunset is the
best time to be here as one can click the most beautiful pictures at
that time.
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Monsoon Palace/Sajjangarh Palace
Located
at a distance of about 9kms from the Old City of Udaipur, Monsoon
Palace was once the favoured destination of the royal family during the
monsoon season. The palace is perched upon a hill and from a distance
looks like one of those castles from a fairy-tale. The palace is now
famed for the sunset view. One can also visit the nearby Sajjangarh
Wildlife sanctuary if you want to add to the fun of visiting the Monsoon
Palace.
Shilpgram
If
you are someone who likes to learn about culture, Shilpgram in Udaipur
is the right place for you! This Craftsmen’s Village is situated at a
distance of 3kms from the main city. Shilpgram is a wonderful place to
see the different traditions and culture of India as this
government-owned complex showcases the rural life of Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa. Other than buying the traditionally made
items here, one can also enjoy horse and camel rides along with
traditional dance and music.
Moti Magri
It
is a hilltop that has the famous Maharana Pratap Memorial. The hill
overlooks Lake Fatehsagar and also has one of the earliest palaces in
Mewar called Moti Mahal, where once Maharana Udai Singh lived. The
delightful Japanese Rock Garden and the Pratp Smarak are the highlight
of Moti Magri. The height of the hill allows tourists to click some of
the best pictures of the city. A light and sound show is also organized
in the evening here showcasing the thousand years of rule of Mewar.
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Vintage Classic Cars Museum
Another
peek at royalty can very well be taken at the Vintage Classic Cars
Museum, which has a car collection of the Maharaja. Housed in the former
state garage are 22 vehicles, which includes a seven-seat 1938
Cadillac; 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom, which was used in the famous James
Bond movie, Octopussy; and the Cadillac convertible that once whisked
Queen Elizabeth II to the airport in 1961. This museum is situated at a
short distance of 1km from City Palace and is indeed one of the best
places for sightseeing in Udaipur.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh
Fort is about two hours drive from Udaipur and is truly majestic! It
was built by Rana Kumbha during the 15th century and so far it is
considered the most important fort of the Mewar kingdom after
Chittorgarh. It is believed that the legendary Mewar warrior Maharana
Pratap was born here in the fort. Kumbhalgarh Fort is yet another
tourist attraction in Udaipur that one must not miss out on. Along with
the fort, one can also visit the famous Haldi Ghati where the great
battle involving Maharana Pratap took place.
Ek Lingji Temple
Eklingji
Temple is one of the most famous temples of Rajasthan and is located at
a distance of 22 km from Udaipur. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva
and was built in 734 A.D. by Bappa Rawal. The architecture of the
temple is worth praising; it is a double-storied temple that looks
magnificent with its pyramidal style of roof and distinctly carved
tower. Inside the main temple is a huge pillared hall or ‘mandap’ and on
entering the hall one can see a silver image of Nandi. The temple also
boasts of a four-faced idol of Eklingji (Lord Shiva) which is made out
of black marble and is of the height of around 50 feet. The Shivlinga
(The phallic form of Lord Shiva) is garlanded by a silver snake and is
also the major attraction for devotees.
You may also like to read
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Mansapurna Karni Ropeway
A
popular tourist attraction, Mansapurna Karni Ropeway is enjoyed by
almost everyone who visits Udaipur city. This cable car is installed
between two mountains on the bank of Lake Pichola. Tourist admires the
view from the Gondolas and clicks a lot of photographs as from here you
can get the best view of Udaipur. Lake Pichola, Lake Fateh Sagar, City
Palace complex, Sajjangarh Fort and the Aravali mountains on the other
side of the lake can be seen from here clearly.
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Jaisamand Lake/Dhebar Lake
It
is renowned as one of the largest artificial lakes in India and located
at a distance of about 48 kms from Udaipur. Jaisamand Lake, which is
also known as Dhebar Lake, was built in 1685 by Maharana Jai Singh. It
sprawls across an area of 36sq km, which makes it quite massive. The dam
on this lake is the major attraction as it is about 1202 feet in
length, 116 feet in height and 70 feet in width at the bottom. Another
attraction here is the Shiva Temple. The lake is a great place to sit by
or to be with a loved one; it is also an ideal place to contemplate
nature.
Udaipur Solar Observatory
Situated
on an island in the Fateh Sagar Lake, Solar Observatory of Udaipur is
considered as the best solar observing site in India. It was designed as
per the model of Solar Observatory at Big Bear Lake in Southern
California and was established by Dr. Arvind Bhatnagar. Favourably
surrounded by water, it offers a great atmosphere for solar
observations. The only way to reach the observatory is by taking a boat
and that definitely enhances the fun and adventure here. If you are in
Udaipur it is one place that you should pay a visit to!
Conclusion
Udaipur
is full of surprises, so do not consider this list the gist of the
city.. There is still much left that you can discover on your own in
this gorgeous city BUT for that you have to visit this place. Make sure
you book a hotel
well in advance and try and pick the hotel that offers a view of the
Lake Palace or the City Palace from the room, that way your stay will be
more pleasant. There are also some great places near Udaipur like
Ranakpur that one can visit; so make sure you research a bit more before
travelling to Udaipur.
