Udaipur
The city of Udaipur is located in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border. It is bordered by the Aravalli Range to its west, which separates it from the Thar Desert. Located close to the midpoint between two major Indian metro cities, Udaipur is well connected to nearby cities and states via road, rail and air transport facilities. The city has the Maharana Pratap Airport. Common languages ??spoken include Hindi, English and Rajasthani (Mewari). Udaipur is a tourist destination and is known for its history, culture, sightseeing spots and Rajput era palaces. There are seven lakes surrounding the city. Five major lakes, namely Fateh Sagar Lake, Pichola Lake, Swaroop Sagar Lake, Rangsagar and Doodh Talai Lake, are under the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Government of India. Apart from the lakes, Udaipur is also known for its historic forts and palaces, museums, galleries, natural spaces and gardens, architectural temples, as well as traditional fairs, festivals and structures. Due to the many lakes present here, it is one of the many cities in Asia that are sometimes called the "Venice of the East". Udaipur's economy is primarily driven by tourism, although minerals, marble processing, chemical manufacturing and development, electronic manufacturing and handicraft industries also contribute. Udaipur has many state and regional public offices, including the offices of the Director of Mines and Geology, the Excise Commissioner, the Tribal Area Development Commissioner, and the Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Corporation Limited, as well as major private companies such as Hindustan Zinc Limited. Udaipur is also emerging as an educational hub with 5 universities, 14 colleges, and over 160 high schools.[
List of tourist attractions in Udaipur
Ahar Cenotaphs
The Ahar Cenotaphs are a group of royal cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar, located about 2 km east of Udaipur. It has about nineteen cenotaphs of various Maharanas cremated, including one of Maharana Amar Singh, who reigned from 1597 to 1620. Nearby is also Ahar Museum, where on display is limited but very rare earthen pottery, as well as some sculptures and other archaeological finds. Some pieces date back to 1700 BC, and a tenth-century metal figure of Buddha is a special attraction.
Sukhadia Circle
Sukhadia Circle in Udaipur is a famous landmark and recreation area, located in the Panchvati neighborhood. It is a popular spot for locals and tourists, with a fountain, boating and various food options available. The Circle is named after Mohan Lal Sukhadia, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan. It is a place where you can relax, enjoy the evening lights and enjoy the local atmosphere. Fountain: A central feature, especially beautiful at night with its illumination. Boating: Provides an opportunity to enjoy the water. Food stalls: Offering a variety of local snacks and street food. Greenery: Surrounded by a well-maintained park, providing a relaxing atmosphere. Evening lights: The Circle is especially attractive in the evening when the lights are lit up. Picnic spot: A good place for families and groups to relax and have a picnic.
Lake Badi
Maharana Raj Singh I (1652-1680) built the lake at Bari village, about 12 km from Udaipur, to counter the devastating effects of famine. He named it Jiyan Sagar after his mother Jan Devi. The lake covers an area of ??155 sq km and has an embankment 180 m long and 18 m wide, on which are built three artistic chhatris (kiosks or pavilions). During the drought of 1973, Bari Lake supplied water to the people of Udaipur.
City Palace
The City Palace is a 400-year-old palace located on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola. It consists of a series of villas, halls, gateways, courtyards, overlapping passages, terraces, corridors and gardens. Monuments such as the Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace and Neemach Mata Temple are all in the vicinity of the palace complex. The City Palace was also used to shoot films such as Octopussy and Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. A 1991 documentary film called Jag Mandir includes footage of an elaborate theatrical performance staged for Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar at the City Palace by André Heller.
Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal
Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, a cultural institution, is engaged in studying folk art, culture, songs and festivals of various regions of India, including Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It also aims at popularizing and propagating folk arts, folk dances and folk literature.
Jag Mandir
Jag Mandir palace is built on an island in Lake Pichola and is known for its beautiful interiors and grand style of architecture. It is also known as the "Lake Garden Palace". This palace is now the Jagmandir Island Palace, a heritage hotel.
Bagore ki Haveli
This is an old building built right on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangor Ghat. The haveli now stages Rajasthani traditional dance and music.
Doodh Talai Lake
Doodh Talai Lake, a small pond located adjacent to the Lake Pichola, is surrounded by small hillocks which hosts Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park, and Manikya Lal Verma Garden (or Rock Garden or Musical Fountain Garden). It provides few options for fast food centers, camel and horse rides and boat ride.
Jagdish Temple
Jagdish Temple is a splendid example of either M?ha M?ru or the M?ru-Gurjara architecture decorated by beautiful and ornate carvings. A short walk from the city palace will bring you to this temple. The temple sanctum has an idol of the deity Lord Jagannath.
Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park
This is a garden developed around the Dudh Talai by Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) Udaipur, the local development authority. Visitors may enjoy watching a musical fountain here. A ropeway has been set up here to reach Karni Mata Temple at the top of Machhla Mangra.
Fateh Sagar Lake
Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake situated to the north of the Lake Pichola, in the north-west of Udaipur city, around 6 km from Udaipur City Railway Station. It was named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar.
Lake Palace
Lake Palace (formerly known as Jag Niwas) is a luxury hotel, which has 83 rooms and suites featuring white marble walls. The Lake Palace is located on the island of Jag Niwas in Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India, and its natural foundation spans 4 acres (16,000 m2). Built between 1743 and 1746 under the direction of the Maharana Jagat Singh II (62nd successor to the royal dynasty of Mewar) of Udaipur, the private summer resort of the erstwhile royal family has been turned into a luxury hotel. The hotel has been ranked as amongst the best luxury heritage hotels in the country.
Gulab Bagh and Zoo
A rose garden laid out by Maharaja Sajjan Singh of Udaipur is situated near the palace on the east side of Lake Pichhola. A library in the garden has a collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and books. Some of the part of the Satyarth Prakash have been written in this library. Styarth Prakash stup is situated in Gulab Bagh. Within the garden, there is a zoo which used to have tigers, leopards, Chinkara gazelle, birds, and many wild animals, but now most of these animals have been moved to Sajjangarh Biological Park. Children can still enjoy a mini train, the track of which covers the main part of the garden and the zoo.
Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola, an artificial fresh water lake created in the year 1362 AD, is one of several contiguous lakes in the city. The lake was built by Banjara, a gypsy "Banjara" tribesman who transported grain, during the reign of Maharana Lakha. Later, Maharana Udai Singh, impressed by the charm of this lake with the backdrop of green hills, founded the city of Udaipur on the banks of the lake and also enlarged the Lake by constructing a stone masonry dam in the Badipol region on the shore of the lake.
There are four islands on the lake:
- Jag Niwas, where is built the Lake Palace
- Jag Mandir, with the palace of the same name
- Mohan Mandir, from where the king would watch the annual Gangaur festival celebration
- Arsi Vilas, a small island which was an ammunition depot, and also a small palace
Monsoon Palace
Monsoon Palace was built in 1884 by Maharana Sajjan Singh of the Mewar Dynasty giving it the name Sajjangarh. The palace is near Fateh Sagar Lake. The palace was also used in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy.
Moti Magri
Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fatah Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favourite horse, "Chetak"
Sajjangarh Biological Park
Sajjangarh Biological Park, a zoological garden, is situated just beneath the Monsoon Palace (also known as Sajjajgarh Garh Palace), around 4 km from the city center. The zoo houses vast varieties of animals and birds brought in from different parts of the world. At present, it has more than 60 animals of 21 species including tigers, panthers, lions, ostriches, alligators, and rhesus monkeys. Within two months of its inauguration, the park received more than 46,000 visitors in a month, generating a revenue of Rs 14 lakh for the forest department, which is a record in itself.
Saheliyon ki Bari
Saheliyon-ki-Bari or 'Courtyard of the Maidens' is a garden and a popular tourist destination. With fountains, kiosks, a lotus pool and marble elephants, this garden was built from 1710 to 1734 by Maharana Sangram Singh for the royal ladies. This renowned garden is located on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake and also has a small museum with the collection of royal households.
Shilpgram
Shilpgram is a rural arts and crafts complex, situated 3 km west of the city of Udaipur. The center is spread over an undulating terrain of about 70 acres, surrounded by the Aravali mountains. The complex was established with a purpose to depict the lifestyles of the folk and tribal people of the region. With an objective of increasing awareness and knowledge about the rural arts and crafts, the Shilpgram provides opportunity to rural and urban artists to come together and interact through camps and workshops.
Purohito Ka Talab
Purohito ka Talab is located at a distance of around 12 kilometres from Udaipur city. The Lake is surrounded by green mountains. Purohito ka Taalab is also called as ‘Mini Jaisamand’. It's situated between the Aravalli Range.
Statue of Belief
The 'Statue of Belief', also known as 'Viswas Swarupam', has been opened to tourists on 29 October 2022. It is located 44 km from Udaipur in Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
