Best time to visit: September - April
One of the most alluring cities of Rajasthan, Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes. Its marble palaces, aesthetically manicured gardens and lakes make Udaipur a fascinating oasis in the Rajasthani desert.
The founder of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh, had to shift here following repeated Mughal attacks on his capital Chittorgarh. Adviced by a holy man, Udai Singh shifted his capital to the banks of Lake Pichola and the city was named Udaipur.
Overlooking Lake Pichola is the City Palace, a marble and granite splendour. It is the largest palace in Rajasthan, its exquisite worksmanship a sight to behold. However, the marble palace that seems to be floating on Lake Pichola, is easily Udaipur's main attraction. 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 some of the highlights here.
Close to the City Palace is the Jagdish Temple which has some impressive sculptures and ornamented interiors. At a short distance is the Sahelion-ki-Bari or the Garden of Maidens with four pools and delicately carved kiosks.
Other attractions here include Krishna Vilas, Lake Fateh Sagar,Sajjan Niwas and Gulab Bagh, Machchalaya Magra, Doodh Talai, Jag Mandir, and the Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum.
HOW TO GET THERE
- By Air: Dabock Airport is 24 kms away from the city centre. Regular flights connect the city with major cities in India.
- By Road: A wide network of bus service links Udaipur with several destinations. Some of the important distances are Agra 630 kms, Ahmedabad 262 kms, Jaipur 406 kms, Jodhpur 275 kms and Mount Abu 185 kms.
- By Rail: Udaipur is well connected by rail to major cities in India. The railway station is located 5 kms from the city centre on the City Station Road.
