Udaipur, the “Land of Lakes” is one of the most attractive places in Rajasthan. The city has a lot of history and rich culture to explore. Udaipur is located on the southern side of Rajasthan. The beautiful Aravalli hills surrounding Udaipur are the best attraction of the city. Udaipur is a royal city in every way, making it a perfect holiday destination.
The city will charm you with its big buildings, royal history, lively markets, calm vibe, and delicious food. Also, it is one of the most romantic cities in the country.
Lost in the wonders of Udaipur, one can’t help but wonder: jaane kya dikh jaaye? So, let’s dive into the beauty of the ‘city of lakes’.
History of Udaipur
Many years ago, Maharana Udai Singh ruled as a king. One day while hunting in the hills of Arvalli, he met an old wise sage. The sage advised the king to build a kingdom below the beautiful valley around the Aravalli mountain where the land was fertile. He liked the advice as the place was safe and nice to build a kingdom.
He built Udaipur city in 1553 AD. later, the city became the capital of Mewar and ruled over the land for many years. After that, Udaipur fought many wars with the Mughals as they were trying to take over the city.
In the 17 century, Maharana Pratap was responsible for Udaipur’s development. He also fought against the Mughal emperor Akbar and didn’t let him take over the city. Even though the rulers of the Udaipur faced a lot of problems, they still stayed independent and kept their culture alive.
Udaipur became a hub of art, writing, and buildings in the 18 and 19 centuries. The Mewar kings supported these activities a lot. People were really impressed with the architecture of forts, palaces, and temples at that time.
After India became independent in 1947, Udaipur became part of Rajasthan. Today, Udaipur is famous for its amazing palaces, forts, lakes, culture, and food.
Top attractions of Udaipur
- City palace
- Jag mandir
- Fateh Sagar lake
- Saheliyon ki bari
- Pichola lake
- Vintage car museum
- Doodh Talai
City Palace – Udaipur’s Royal Gem
The city palace in Udaipur is definitely a must-visit. The palace feels like a royal dreamland. The grand building is made of granite and shiny marble. Similarly, the grand corridors, hallways, rooms, and each part of the palace represent the beauty and elegance of the Rajput dynasty.
The construction of the palace began with Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559. It took around 76 generations of Suryavanshi Rajputs to build the city palace. The biggest part of building the palace was of Udai Mirza Singh II. An amazing fact about the palace is that there are 11 more palaces inside this grand palace.
Another fact is that earlier, kings were weighed in gold at the main entrance of the palace and the equivalent gold was distributed among the poor. This shows the rich history and luxury of Rajasthan you don’t want to miss.
Jag Mandir – Udaipur’s Island Paradise
Jag Mandir is an amazing palace built on an island in Lake Pichola. It is made from beautiful yellow sandstone and marble, guarded by 8 big and white marble elephants. In addition, the lake water around the palace makes the palace more stunning. Earlier, royal families used to throw parties in this place.
The amazing architecture of Jag Mandir even inspired Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal. The palace has different parts like Gul mahal, Zenana mahal, Darikhana, garden courtyard, bara Patharon ka mahal, and Kunwar pada ka mahal.
One can complete the experience by enjoying delicious Rajasthani food in the restaurant inside Jagmandir and doing a boat ride. Moreover, it is a must-visit place in Udaipur.
Fateh Sagar Lake – Water Wonders of Udaipur
Fateh Sagar Lake is one of the famous and second-largest lakes of Udaipur. The lake is connected with 3 islands, making it even more beautiful. It is surrounded by a lot of greenery and amazing views. The lake was built in 1960 and named after Maharana Fateh Singh.
The lake is very important for the city. It supplies water to people and also job offers to unemployed people. The lake is perfect for relaxing and having fun. One can visit places near the lake for example Nehru Park and Udaipur Solar Observatory.
After that, you can do many fun activities like taking a boat ride, watching the gorgeous beauty around the lake, and clicking pictures for your social media too.
Saheliyon ki Bari – Udaipur’s Floral Gem
Saheliyon ki bari is one of the most famous places in Udaipur. It’s super beautiful. Maharana Sangram Singh built this garden in the 18th century to make his princess happy. The garden has a lot of greenery, fountains, flowers, and statues which makes this place very romantic to walk with your partner.
There is also a cool museum with soft royal and old pictures inside the garden. Saheliyon ki bari was like a chill zone for the kings to take a break from their work and relax.
The amazing fact about this place is that it was built for the princess’s friends who went with her to her husband’s house. So it was like a gift for them from the king.
The timings to visit here is 9 AM TO 7 PM, for the whole week.
Pichola Lake – Beauty Beyond Words
If you go to Udaipur and you don’t go on a boat ride on Pichola Lake, it’s like breaking the fun law. It is one of the oldest and largest lakes in Udaipur. However, there are many islands inside the lake. Jag Mandir is one of the popular tourist attractions present here.
The blue water of the lake is very calming to look at. A boat ride on the lake during sunset is a magical experience. In addition, there are tons of temples, royal palaces, and ghats around the lake, making the place more beautiful.
The average price of a ticket for an adult for the boat ride is 400 rs and for kids is 200 rs. Timings are 9 AM TO 6 PM.
Vintage car museum – Udaipur’s Retro Ride
If you are visiting Udaipur, you must check out the collection of vintage cars in this museum. There is an amazing collection of cars owned by the rich rulers of Udaipur. For instance, you can see cars from Cadillacs to Morrises, representing their luxurious and royal lifestyle.
You can also see a Rolls Royce Phantom that belonged to the Mewar dynasty. In addition, This amazing car was even seen in some movies of James Bond, for instance, Octopussy.
In conclusion, The collection of vintage cars in this museum is absolutely stunning. So, this place is a must when visiting Udaipur.
Doodh Talai – Udaipur’s Natural Haven
Doodh Talai is like a little brother to Lake Pichola. It is an amazing spot in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This “milk pond” has two parks near the hills making it more attractive. Above all, you can get an amazing view of Lake Pichola and the city from this spot.
The peaceful surroundings around the lake will make your trip totally worth it. Moreover, the view of the magical sunset is a cherry on top.
One of the gardens near Doodh Talai is Manikya Lal Verma Garden which gives an amazing view of Lake Pichola and Karni Mata temple. Similarly, the other park is Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park which has Rajasthan’s first musical fountain. In other words, both of these parks draw a lot of tourist’s attention.
Discover your dream stay in Udaipur
If you want to experience the beauty of Udaipur with a comfortable stay, there are a lot of options. Whether you want to stay in fancy hotels or cozy guesthouses, perfect places are waiting for you.
Some of the most royal hotels to stay in Udaipur are the Taj Lake Palace, The Leela Palace, and the Oberoi Udaivilas. These hotels are very expensive but will give you a lifetime experience.
However, if you want to stay in cozy hotels that are pocket-friendly too, some of the best hotels are Hotel Padmini Palace, Hotel Pichola Haveli, and The Lake View Hotel.
How to reach Udaipur
- By Air – One can catch a flight from Maharana Pratap Airport, which is about 22 km away from Udaipur. Similarly, there are regular flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Jaipur.
- By Train – udaipur has 2 railway stations – Udaipur City Railway Station and Rana Pratap Nagar Railway Station. One can catch a train from Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Surat. Moreover, if you want to have a more comfortable experience, you can catch luxury trains like Royal Rajasthan on Wheels and Palace on Wheels.
- By Road – if you want to reach Udaipur by road, you can go from Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Indore, Kota. You can either take a bus or hire a taxi/car. Also, the deluxe buses from Ajmer, Mount Abu, Delhi, and Chittor are fully AC and very comfortable.
Few fun facts about Udaipur
- The inspiration for the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders, came from the Jag Mandir of Udaipur.
- The Udaipur Solar Observatory, ( USO) located on Fateh Sagar Lake is the best observatory in Asia.
- Udaipur is considered to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. Above all, the Lake Palace of Udaipur is voted as the most romantic hotel in India and the world.
- Rajasthan is a land of zinc and copper. The Udaipur city has been mining these metals since the medieval period.
- People fondly call Udaipur as ‘Mini Switzerland’ of India. It is because of the green hills and amazing landscapes of the city.
- Jaisamand Lake or Dhebar Lake of Udaipur is the second largest man-made lake in Asia. It has the biggest dam with 7 islands. It was created during the rule of Rana Jai Singh while building a dam on the Gomti River.
So, when are you coming to discover this timeless beauty and rich culture of Udaipur, where every corner tells a story of charm? I hope soon.
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