After travelling around India for a time, Udaipur is a terrific place to relax and enjoy life. Beautiful countryside, welcoming inhabitants, and plenty to see & do.
The lakes and the landscapes surrounding the lakes are certainly the most popular attractions here. Apart from the picturesque grandeur of the numerous gardens that line these water bodies, Lake Pichola, Lake Fateh Sagar, and a few other manmade lakes provide the majority of the amusement and water activities in Udaipur.
Udaipur is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the East.” It is undoubtedly one of Rajasthan’s most beautiful cities, and it is possibly India’s best site for admiring bygone-era royal grandeur. Udaipur’s regal past, majestic edifices, and colourful bazaars will undoubtedly enchant you.
Despite the city’s many distinct attractions, the following is a list of must-see tourist places to visit in Udaipur!
A cable car ride to Machla Magra (which roughly translates to ‘Fish Hill’) will provide you with a bird’s eye view of all of Udaipur, in addition to sightseeing. Shilpgram, the cultural village, will provide you with a live demonstration of indigenous music and dance genres. Shopaholics will enjoy the city’s many surprises, particularly in the Hathipole Market in old Udaipur.
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Places to Visit in Udaipur
The lakes and palaces are undoubtedly the most popular attractions in the City of Lakes. This list gives you a taste of those, as well as a few other destinations that will make your vacation worthwhile.
Udaipur Palace
This is the first place you should go after you’ve settled into your hotel room. With its towering monuments created for the old Mewar royal family, the City Palace, located on the banks of Lake Pichola, will give you an insight into Rajasthan’s regal splendour.
The palace’s beautiful interiors will dazzle visitors with meticulous mirror work, one-of-a-kind paintings, murals, antique furniture, and marble work. Amar Vilas, Bhim Vilas, Krishna Vilas, Manak Mahal, and Moti Mahal are among the many exquisite villas and palaces that make up the royal complex. The evening Mewar Light and Sound Show is also well worth the wait!
The palace is open on all days, timing is 09:00 am to 05:30 pm.
The entry fee is 30 INR for adults, and 15 INR for children
Jag Mandir Isla
The Jagmandir Island Palace, which is located on the same-named island, appears to float on Lake Pichola. Maharana Amar Singh commissioned the construction of this structure, also known as Lake Garden Palace, in 1551. The work was completed under the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh I, his grandson. As a result, the palace is known as Jagat Mandir after him.
The palace can only be reached by boat because it is located in the middle of a lake. From the jetty at Bansi Ghat, it takes around half an hour to get to Jagmandir Island Palace. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.
The palace restaurant ‘Darikhana,’ which specialises in Rajasthani food, is where most guests prefer to eat lunch. A courtyard and a gorgeous garden surround this three-story mansion, which hosts private gatherings.
Fatehsagar Lake
Lake Fatehsagar is the second largest artificial lake in Udaipur, surrounded on three sides by the Aravalli Range of mountains. The lake’s circle is surrounded by a promenade, which provides the ideal setting for a morning or evening stroll.
Lake Fatehsagar is fed by the ‘Connaught Bund dam, which was built by Maharana Fateh Singh in the late 1800s. Boating, motorboating, and speed-boating are just a few of the water sports that may be enjoyed here. There are three islands on the lake itself, two of which are parks and one of which is a sun observatory.
Lake Palace
With its beauty and beautiful setting on the 4-kilometre-long man-made Lake Pichola, the renowned Lake Palace will take your breath away.
The Taj Group presently runs the palace, which has breathtaking views of the Aravalli Hills. The history walks are to die for! This is without a doubt one of the most romantic spots in the entire state.
This magnificent palace was created by Maharaja Jagat Singh II and will take your breath away with its sculpted marble and embellishments. You can spend the entire day floating on Lake Pichola, which runs from Rameshwar Ghat to the City Palace.
Sajjangarh Fort
Sanjjangarh Palace is a fort atop the Aravalli hills’ Bansdara Peak. Maharana Sajjan Singh used it as his monsoon abode. Apart from sheltering the monarch of Mewar, it was built in 1884 with the primary objective of allowing him to see the rain clouds.
The views from up here are incredibly stunning, with most of Udaipur’s lakes and the Aravallis’ hilltops visible from the terrace courtyard. The fort is made of white marble and stands nine stories tall. There is also a system for collecting rainwater and storing it in an underground cistern.
The palace is open to the public every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is merely INR 10. It will cost you another 20 rupees if you bring your camera with you. To enter, foreign tourists must pay INR 80.
Saheliyon Ki Bari
Maharana Sangram Singh erected Saheliyon Ki Bari, or the Garden of the Maidens, in the early 18th century.
This magnificent structure was built for the maids who would accompany the Princess of Udaipur to her husband’s hearth (part of the dowry given by the Maharana). Pretty women were dancing, singing, and having a good time, and the gorgeous marble elephants, fountains, lotus pool, and kiosks attest to the wealth of the time.
Jagdish Temple
Maharana Jagat Singh is responsible for the construction of the Indo-Aryan Jagdish Temple. The temples in Udaipur are located near the City Palace’s Badi Pol entrance and require a few steps to reach.
The black stone deity of Lord Vishnu, as well as the brass Garuda image facing it, will awe you. Other shrines dedicated to the Sun God, Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, and Goddess Shakti can be found around the city. Here, the sunset Aarti will be a magical experience.
Shilpgram
Shilpgram, which means ‘artisanal village,’ is an interactive museum and bazaar showcasing Rajasthani art and craft. This experience village, which spans 70 acres, features more than two dozen cottages displaying distinct arts and crafts from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa.
Shilpgram will take at least half a day to tour thoroughly. While you’re here, you can also take in some dance and music performances. Tourists can pay INR 30 to enter between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
There are many food vendors here where you may sample real Rajasthani cuisine. The Haat Bazaar is open to shoppers who want to pick up a memento starting at midday.
Jaisamand Lake
Jaisamand Lake, built by Rana Jai Singh in the 17th century A.D., is India’s second-largest artificial lake, after Uttar Pradesh’s Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar. It is also known as Dhebar Lake and covers an area of 87 square kilometres.
When the ruling monarch of Mewar built a marble dam on the Gomati River in 1685, Jaisamand Lake began to receive its waters. On this lake, there are three islands, one of which houses the Hawa Mahal Palace, the former monarchs’ winter palace. The dam contains steps that lead down to the lake’s waters.
Sahasra Bahu Temples
In Nagda, the twin temples of Sahastra Bahu are devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu. The temples were constructed about the year 1000 A.D. The name means “a thousand arms,” referring to Vishnu’s fabled might. Even though these temples are ruins, the exquisite carvings on the pillars, beautiful ceilings, and steps leading to the shrines provide insight into traditional Rajasthani architecture.
The ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) now looks after the temples. Nagda’s white marble pathways make it stand out from the rest of the community. You can come here any day from 4 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Maharana Pratap Memorial
Maharana Pratap Memorial pays tribute to the Rajput warrior-king Maharana Pratap’s bravery and passion. The memorial is a bronze figure of the emperor riding Chetak, his favourite horse. This monument, known as the Pratap Smarak, was built by Maharana Bhagwat Singh in the 18th century. The statue stands 11 feet tall and weighs 70 tonnes.
From the bottom of the hill (near Lake Fatehsagar) to the summit, there is a twisting road (where the memorial is). From this vantage point, one can see the lake and other parts of the city.
You can stop at the museum along the road to see a scaled-down model of the Aravallis with the different forts and significant Mewar cities highlighted on it. Portraits of various members of the royal Sisodia Rajput family, as well as a few paintings collected by the Maharana, are on display.
Haldighati Museum
This museum, 45 kilometres from Udaipur, presents the account of the Haldighati fight, which took place in the valley of Haldighati in 1576 between the Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap and the Mughals (headed by Maan Singh I on behalf of emperor Akbar). The museum is located a long way from the actual site of Haldighati.
Several paintings, murals, and bronze statues represent scenes from the deadly conflict and are on display at the museum. Swords and armour specimens are also on display, carefully kept for all to see.
The Maharana Pratap, his devoted mount Chetak, and the battle of Haldighati are depicted in a short film at the Haldighati Museum. A park is located behind the museum, as well as a cafeteria that serves full meals.
The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and admission is INR 20.
Vintage Car Museum
A visit to the Vintage & Classic Car Collection, a museum dedicated to vintage automobiles, is a must.
The museum, which is housed in the former Mewar State Motor Garage, features luxury vintage wheels such as a 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II that was later converted into a pick-up truck used during royal hunts, as well as another 1934 Rolls-Royce that was converted to transport the entire Mewar royal cricket team.
Cadillacs, Mercedes-Benzes, Buicks, a Ford Model A, and a variety of other vehicles can also be seen. The Royal Shell Petrol Pump, which is still operational, is a highlight of the museum.
Doodh Talai
Doodh Talai, a lake next to Lake Pichola, is one of the most attractive spots to visit in Udaipur.
Doodh Talai (literally, ‘Milk Pond’) attracts tourists to its two parks, which are located on adjacent hillocks, even though it is only a small pond.
The Manikya Lal Verma Garden is a municipal park with stunning views of Lake Pichola and the Karni Mata Temple, which attracts a large number of people. The other public park hemmed in by Doodh Talai is Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park, which lures people with its musical fountain — a first in Rajasthan.
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