One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes. The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the lakes make Udaipur seem almost like a mirage in the desert.
The founder of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh, was overcome by the misfortunes that his old capital of Chittaurgarh had to face due to repeated attacks by the Mughal armies. On the advice of a holy man, Udai Singh shifted his capital to the banks of Lake Pichola- the city was named Udaipur after him.
THE CITY PALACEOverlooking the lake Pichola is the City Palace, a marvel of marble and granite. The largest palace in Rajasthan, its exquisite worksmanship makes it a must on every visitor's itinerary. The three mahals - Baari, Dilkush and Moti, the Suraj Gokhada of the Sun Balcony, the Mor Chowk Known for its beautiful peacock Mosaics ; the shrine of Dhuni Mata and the Museum of Rana Pratap are the highlights of this complex.
Close to the City Palace is the Jagdish Temple which houses some imposing sculpted figures and heavily ornamented interiors. At a short distance is the Sahelion-ki-Bari or the Garden of Maidens which has four pools and delicately carved kiosks and elephants in marble. Built in the early 18th century, this is now a popular tourist spot.
THE LAKE PALACEThis marble palace that seems to be floating on the Lake Pichola is undoubtedly the main attraction of Udaipur. Now a luxury hotel, this palace can be accessed by boat from the city palace which overlooks it.
Other attractions in Udaipur include Krishna Vilas, Lake Fateh Sagar,Sajjan Niwas and Gulab Bagh, Machchalaya Magra, Doodh Talai, Jag Mandir, and the Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum.
AHARArchaeological ruins that date back to 4000 B.C. are found here. A museum stands next to the excavation site. Also of interest are the beautiful cenotaphs of kings near the Gangabhairu tank.
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