Udaipur India Tourism
Udaipur is known as the Venice of the east. It is also called the city of
lakes. The Lake Palace on Jag Niwas Island in the middle of Pichola Lakes
is the finest example of its architectural and cultural explosion. The grand
City Palace on the banks of the lake compliments the palace along with the
Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above. Udaipur is also the centre
for performing arts, craft and its famed miniature paintings.The Shilp Gram
festival is a center of attraction during the season.
Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1568 after his citadel Chittorgarh
was sacked by Mughal Emperor Akbar. The legends says that Udai Singh was
guided by a holy man meditating on the hill near Pichola Lake to establish
his capital on this very spot. Surrounded by Aravali Ranges, forests and
lakes this place was less vulnerable than Chittorgarh.
Maharana Udai Singh died in 1572 and was succeeded by Maharana Pratap who
valiantly defended Udaipur from subsequent Mughal attacks. Maharana Pratap
is the most revered Rajput icon and gallantly fought the Mughal at the Haldighati
in 1576. Mewar continuously defied foreign invaders and has a history of
bloody battles until the British intervention in the nineteenth when a treaty
was signed to protect Udaipur. Upon independence Udaipur merged in the union
of India.
Places to See
City Palace
City Palace towers over the Pichola Lake. Maharana Uday Singh initiated
in the construction of the palace but succeeding Maharanas added several
palaces and structures to the complex retained a surprising uniformity to
the design. The entry to the Palace is from the Hati Pol, the Elephant gate.
The Bari Pol or the Big gate brings you to the Tripolia, the Triple gate.
It was once a custom that the Maharana would weigh under this gate in gold
and silver, which was distributed to the populace. It is also now the main
ticket office. Balconies, cupolas and towers surmount the palace to give
a wonderful view of the lake. Suraj Gokhada or the balcony of the sun is
where the Maharana would grant public audiences mainly to boost the morale
of the people in difficult times. The Mor Chawk is the peacock square and
gains its name from the vivid blue mosaic in glass of a peacock that decorates
its walls.
The Lake Palace
The Lake Palace is located on the Jag Niwas Island and covers the whole
of 1.5 hectare of the island in the middle of the Pichola Lake. Built by
Maharana Jagat Singh in 1743 it was meant as a royal summer palace and now
converted in to a five star palace hotel.
It is a magical palace and its image in the middle of the lake is like a
leaf straight out of a fairy tale book with an excellent taste of intricate
craftsmanship and the ethnic themes using the textiles and handicrafts all
over highlight the beauty that is simply beyond compare the lake around
makes a pleasant murmur with its rippling waves and lapping that adds to
the mesmerising moments.
Fateh Prakash Palace
It's like being cocooned in authentic royal luxury at the Fateh Prakash
Palace, the grand heritage palace of the HRH group. The warmth of royal
hospitality greets you as you walk along the corridors lined with large
paintings of the Mewar school that flourished in the seventeenth through
nineteenth century. The lake facing suites in the turrets are suitably appointed
with four poster beds and period furniture, festooned with maroon velvet
curtains and delicate silk tassels. It's a legacy kept alive since the early
decades of the twentieth century when Maharana Fateh Singh (period of reign
: 1884 - 1935) used to be the royal occupant of this palace. Till date the
formality of royal occasions are maintained.
Udaipur India Tourism, North India Tourism Reservation Form