Udaipur,
the city of lakes, also known as "the Venice of the East", is the
second most visited city in Rajasthan, after Jaipur. A royal past makes itself
evident in every nook and corner in Udaipur. Whether it is the ornate doors
that are entrances to people's homes or the palaces, gardens and monuments,
Udaipur gives one a glimpse of what the place would have looked like in its
time of glory. Founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1568, and considered the jewel
of Mewar, Udaipur's air is filled with a strong sense of romance, adventure
and the best of Rajputana.
Udaipur is also
a centre of historic arts and crafts of Mewar, like the Mewar School of
Miniature Painting. There is of course the modern face of Udaipur that one
can look at if interested, but given the other sights from a glorious past,
modernity is no real distraction. This is a place that will hold you in its
thrall no matter who you are or where you come from.
Population: Approx 2.6 million
Climate: With scanty
rainfall and summer temperatures reaching 40ºC only every once in a few
years, Udaipur has pleasant winters, making it a year round destination.
Best time to visit: While Udaipur is visitable all year
round, the best time would be from October to April.
City
Palace
Built in 1725, the grand City Palace is actually a
conglomerate of eleven palaces overlooking the sprawling Lake Pichola. One
of the largest, most beautiful palaces in the state of Rajasthan, it is now
a museum, royal residence and a luxury hotel. This intricately designed
monument is an architectural wonder in granite and marble.
Jagdish
Temple Built in 1651 by Maharaja Jagat Singh, this temple is
dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in the centre of the old city. The
temple has a black marble image of Lord Vishnu, which is unusual for the
northern part of the country, where statues of Gods are normally in marble.
Fateh Sagar Originally built in 1678 by Maharana
Jai Singh, Fateh Sagar was rebuilt by Maharana Fateh Singh after the rains
destroyed the dam. The garden island in the middle of the lake is Nehru
Park, which also has a cafe. You can also hire pedal boats to tour the lake.
Lake Pichola With its main attractions being the
two palaces on the islands in the lake, Jagniwas and Jagmandir Lake Pichola
is about 4 km in length and 3 km wide. Jagniwas was earlier the summer
retreat of the prince of Mewar and now a five-star hotel. The city palace
extends along the eastern shore of the lake and you can go for a boat ride
from Bansi Ghat.
Shilpgram Udaipur has some
fabulous handicrafts, which is why Shilpagram or the art village is a great
place to go to. A craft bazaar, it is on the outskirts of Udaipur, about 3
km from Fateh Sagar. The place showcases crafts from Maharashtra, Goa,
Gujarat and Rajasthan, and you can pick up quite a lot of wonderful pieces
from here.
Bharatiya Lok Kala Udaipur Folk Museum
Conserving local folk arts like paintings, dolls, masks and musical
instruments, this museum can be quite an eye opener on everything from the
society that exists here to the talent and creativity of its people.
Ashwa Poojan:Navratri, the festival that is celebrated
for nine nights and ends with Dussehra on the tenth day is preceded by the
worship of the horse. In the land of Rajputana, the horse is sacred for it
was the Rajput warrior's most trusted and faithful companion, both in the
battlefield, and also in times of peace. Ritual prayers are offered to the
steed, with the Maharana himself offering prayers to the animal on the
occasion.
Gangaur:Celebrated mainly by unmarried
women in the belief that it will bring matrimony, processions of the idols
of Issar and Gangaur, manifestations of Shiva and Parvati, are taken out and
worshipped.
Kartik Purnima:The full moon night of
November, when the Pushkar Mela is in full swing in Pushkar, near Ajmer, is
also the time for the festival of the full moon in Udaipur. Lord Brahma is
offered ritual prayers, but in Udaipur the occasion is also celebrated with
a festival of classical performing arts against the backdrop of the Jag
Mandir. The City Palace remains illuminated throughout the night.
New Year's Eve: Udapur has its own way of ringing in the
New Year. Held in the opulent Durbar Hall of Fateh Prakash Palace, a formal
banquet is served with all the pomp and ceremony of a royal occasion. The
Maharana is in attendance, and there is live entertainment on offer.
Shriji's Birthday: In commemoration of the birth
anniversary of the 76th Maharana, this is an occasion where the current
Maharana known affectionately as Shriji is greeted by people that are
symbolically his subjects. No appointments, this occasion makes people feel
that the ruler is accessible and sympathetic to their problems. In the
evening, he celebrates the event with his extended family and friends and is
a private affair.
Holi:Holi, the festival of
colours, is celebrated in February/ March and marks the end of winter and
the beginning of spring. The Udaipur royal family hosts an elaborate
function at the City Palace.
HOW TO
GET THERE:
By Road: Udaipur is well connected to most parts of India.
Jodhpur
(275 kms),
Ahmedabad
(250 kms) and Ajmer (260 kms) are important entry points.
By Air: Indian Airlines and Jet Airways connect Udaipur with Jodhpur,
Jaipur,
Mumbai
and
Delhi.
By
Rail: Udaipur is connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer and
Ahmedabad.
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India Travel Hotel.
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