Udaipur

Standing On The East Bank Of Lake Pichola Is A Massive Series Of Palaces Built At Different Times From 1559. The Balconies Of The Palace Provide Panoramic Views Of The “jag Niwas” (the Lake Palace Hotel). They Also Have Views Of Jag Mandir On One Side And The City Of Udaipur On The Other. Its Main Entrance Is Through The Triple-arched Gate – The Tripolia, Built In 1725. The Way Now Leads To A Series Of Courtyards, Overlapping Parations, Terraces, Corridors And Gardens.

Lake Pichola Has Two Islands, Jag Niwas And The Jag Mandir. This Lake Is 4 Km Long And 3 Km Wide, Originally Built By Maharana Udai Singh Ii. There Are Many Ghats, Like The Bathing And Washing Ghats, Which Can Be Approached Through Boats From The City Palace Of Udaipur (bansi Ghat). In The Heart Of The Lake The Lake Palace Stands, Which Is Now Converted Into A Heritage Palace Hotel. The Lake Remains Fairly Shallow Even During Heavy Rains, And Gets Dry Easily In Times Of Severe Drought.

Fateh Sagar Lake Is Situated In The North Of Lake Picholas. It Was Originally Built By Maharana Jai Singh In The Year 1678 Ad, But Later On Reconstructed And Extended By Maharana Fateh Singh After Much Destruction Was Caused By Heavy Rains. In 1993-1994, The Water Vanished From The Lake, But In 2005-2006, The Lake Regained Its Water.

Sahelion Ki Bari Was Laid For A Group Of Forty-eight Young Women Attendants Who Accompanied A Princess To Udaipur As Part Of Her Dowry. The Gardens Set Below The Embankment Of The Fatah Sagar Lake Have Lotus Pools, Marble Pavilions And Elephant-shaped Fountains. These Fountains Are Fed By The Water Of The Lake Gushing Through Ducts Made For The Purpose.

Jagdishji, Is A Major Monument And Should Be Seen Carefully. Raised On A Tall Terrace And Completed In 1651, It Is A Tribute Alike To The Tenacity Of Its Builders And The Resilence Of The Art – Tradition It Represents. It Attaches A Double Storeyed Mandapa (hall) To A Double – Storied, Saandhara (that Having A Covered Ambulatory) Sanctum. The Mandapa Has Another Storey Tucked Within Its Pyramidal Samavarna (bell – Roof) While The Hollow Clustered Spire Over The Sanctum Contains Two More, Non – Functional Stories. Lannes Taking Off From Many Of The Sheharpanah (city Wall) Converge On The Jagdish Temple And Walking Leisurely Through Them Brings You Face With The Many Layers Of The Cultural Palimpsest That Udaipur Is. It Was Built By Maharana Jagat Singh Ist In 1651 A.d. It Is A Good Example Of Indo – Aryan Architecture.

A Beautiful Laid Out “rock Garden” From Where One Can Enjoy Sunset View In Lake Pichhola And Panoramic View Of Old City. Musical Fountain Is An Another Attraction For The Visitors.

Moti Magri Or Pearl Hill: Atop The Moti Magri Or Pearl Hill, Overlooking The Fateh Sagar Lake Is The Memorial Of The Rajput Hero Maharana Pratap With A Bronze Statue Of The Maharana Astride His Favourite Horse “chetak”.

A Beautiful Lake, Overlooked By A Number Of Hills On The Three Sides And The Pratap Memorial On The North Was Built By Maharana Fateh Singh. In The Middle Of The Lake Is Nehru Park – A Lovely Garden Island With A Boat Shaped Cafe Accessible By An Enjoyable Boat Ride.

A Former Monsoon Palace 1100ft. High Above The Surrounding And 3100 Ft. From Sea Level Was Built By Maharana Sajjan Singh In 1884. The Palace Looks Its Best During The Rainy Season. It Offers A Panoramic Overview Of The City’s Lakes, Palaces And Surrounding Country Side. The Hillside Is Thickly Wooded And The Former Rulers Maintained This As A Royal Shooting Preserve.

West Zone Cultural Centre In Udaipur Has Set Up An Artisan’s Village Called – Shilpgram, 3 Kms West Of Udaipur. It Is A Living Ethnographic Museum Depecting Life Style, Traditions, Customs And Folk Arts Of The Rural And Tribal People Of The States Of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujrat, Goa, Daman, Etc. There Are Several Huts Constructed In The Traditional Architectural Style Using Mud And Local Building Material To Reflect The Geographical And Ethnic Diversity Of The Different States Of West Zone Of India. The Rural Artisans And Folk Artists Reside Here And Perform In The Natural Surroundings In A Village Environment. Every Year, More Than A Lakh Visitors Visit This Village Which Is Spread Out In An Area Of 55 Acres, Surrounded By Aravali Mountains. The Shilpgram Utsav Organised Every Year From 23rd December To January 1st, Attracts Massive Crowd Creating A Scene Of Rural Market Fair And Festival With Live Performance Of Folk Artist From Different Parts Of The Country. The Terracotta Museum, The Museum Of Masks, Folk And Musical Instruments Are Of Particular Attraction. More About Shilpgram And Shiplgram Utsav (festival).