Welcome to Udaipur

The city of Udaipur is located in the Aravalli ranges of the royal state of Rajasthan and is also known as the jewel of Mewar. Also known as the City of Dawn, Udaipur is surrounded by ancient mountains and set on the edge of three lakes. It is a beautiful old city with narrow lanes flanked by bright stalls, gardens, lakes, palaces and temples meandering through it. It is situated at a distance of about 405 km from the state capital Jaipur.

Udaipur was founded in 1559 and named after Maharana Udai Singh. It then replaced Chittor as the capital of the Sisodia dynasty, when according to legend, the Maharana went out hunting one day and met a holy man who blessed him and told him to built a palace at that very spot, as it would be well protected. Today, Udaipur is a one of the better-known tourist destinations of India and an integral part of any itinerary for Rajasthan.

Tourist Attractions in Udaipur

Udaipur offers a large number of grand forts and exquisite palaces that bear testimony to India’s rich architectural heritage.

Lake Palace and Lake Pichola

Lake Palace is a shimmering granite and marble structure that overlooks the aquamarine waters of the Lake Pichola. It is a harmonious arrangement of pavilions, courtyards, terraces, rooms, corridors, and hanging gardens. According to legend, the eight marble porticos that mark the spot where the Mewar sovereigns were weighed in gold, the equivalent value of which was then distributed to the poor.

Bhim Vilas Palace

The Bhim Vilas Palace that lies within the City Palace has a series of lovely wall paintings. The Mor Chowk is known for its stunning peacock mosaics.

Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir

The summer residence of the princes of Mewar was called Jag Niwas, and is today a magnificent luxury hotel. Jag Mandir, the other island palace has a marble dome and is made in red sandstone. It was a refuge for the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan when he was exiled after a quarrel with his father, Emperor Jahangir.

City Palace and Museum

The imposing City Palace towers over the Pichola Lake on a hill and is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. the complex manages to retain a uniformity of design despite being a conglomeration of buildings constructed by various Maharanas over a long period of time. It has many courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens.

Saheliyon-Ki-Bari

To the north of the city lies Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, a garden of the maids of honour. This small ornamental garden has many fountains, delightful lotus pools, chiselled kiosks and marble elephants.

Jagdish Temple

The Jagdish temple was built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh. Built in Indo-Aryan style , the temple is the largest temple of Udaipur. A black stone image of Lord Vishnu and a brass image of Garuda can be seen here.

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir

Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandir, the Indian folk arts museum, has interesting exhibits that include folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. Puppet shows are held here daily.