Udaipur Holidays
Udaipur was founded in 1559 and named after Maharana Udai Singh, Udaipur became the capital of the Sisodia dynasty whose earlier capital was Chittor. According to legend, the Maharana was out hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichola. The hermit blessed the Maharana and told him to built a palace at that very spot, as it would be well protected. The Maharana followed the holy man"s advice and Udaipur came into being. Today, Udaipur is a one of the better-known tourist destinations of India. If Jaipur is a city in pink, Udaipur is a city in white. Udaipur is famous for its palaces, lake, museums, temples, and gardens. The city acquires its scenic beauty from the Aravallis. Three lakes- Pichola, Fateh Sagar and Udai Sagar make it an oasis in the desert.
How to Reach Udaipur:
By Air: The City of Lakes is well connected by air services. The Dabok Airport is 21 kms from the city centre.
By Train: Railway has trains from all over the country to destination Udaipur. The Palace on Wheels covers this magnificent city during its eight day package tour.
By Road: Udaipur is situated at a distance of about 405 km from the state capital Jaipur. The city is well connected through air, rail, and road to other important cities of India like Jaipur, Delhi, and Mumbai.
Places of Interest in Udaipur
City Palace And Museum: This majestic white royal building towers itself on a hill and is surrounded by crenellated walls. The palace stands along the shores of Pichola. It is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Although a conglomeration of buildings constructed by various Maharanas over a period of time, the complex still manages to retain a uniformity of design. The palace has many courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. One can get a magnificent view of the lake and the city from the upper terraces of the palace.
Lake Palace: This former summer residence of the royal family has now been converted into a fabulous hotel.
Sahelion Ki Bari: On the shores of Fateh Sagar Lake was built a garden for the 48 young girls waiting to be sent to the royal house as part of dowry.
Ahar Museum: About 3 km from Udaipur lies Ahar, the ancient capital of the Sisodias. A small government museum has on display a rare collection of antiquities including earthen pots, iron objects and other art items excavated in the region.
Pratap Memorial On the top of Moti Magri overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the bronze statue of Maharana Pratap on his horse Chetak. Known as Pratap Smarak (memorial), the statue is kept in a well laid out garden. Legend has it that Chetak jumped an abyss of extraordinary width in the battle of Haldighati to save his master's life.
Jagdish Temple Built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh, the temple is located at about 150 metres north of the entrance to the City Palace. The temple, built in Indo-Aryan style, is the largest temple of Udaipur.
Pichola Lake About 4 km in length and 3 km wide, the picturesque Pichhola Lake is fringed with hills, gardens, havelis, ghats and temples. The lake was enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh II after he founded the city.
Fateh Sagar This beautiful lake, constructed in 1678, lies to the north of Lake Pichola. The lake, built by Maharana Fateh Singh, is overlooked by a number of hills on three sides and the Pratap Memorial on the north.