Udaipur

City Palace
Standing on the bank of Lake Pichola, are massive series of palaces built at different time commencing from 1559 A.D.The balconies of the palace provide panoramic view of "Jag Niwas" (Now world wide famous Lake palace hotel), Jag Mandir on one side and on the other the city of Udaipur. It's main entrance is through the triple-arched gate-The tripolia, built in 1725. The way now leUdaipur to a series of courtyards, overlapping parations, terraces, corridors and gardens - a harmonic profusion hard to describe.There is a Suraj Gokhda, where the maharanas of Mewar presented themselves in the times of trouble to the people to restore confidence. The Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), get its name from the vivid mosaics in glass decorate its walls. The chini chitrashala is noteworthy while a series of wall paintings of Krishna are on display in Bhim Vilas. There are numerous other palaces Dilkhush mahal, Sheesh mahal, Moti mahal and Krishna vilas- in memory of princess of striking beauty who poisoned herself to avert bloody battle for her hand by rival princess. Now the palace is housed with many antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils which attract thousands of visitors every day.

Pratap Museum
While entering the City palace the straight way go to the Government Pratap Museum housed with old sculptures and inscriptions. The antique paintings of Mewar, the turban of prince Khurram later on called Shahajahan, who built world fame Taj Mahal has also been displayed here as a token of friendship of Maharana Khazan Singh.

Top Jagdish Temple
The temple of Jagannath Rai, now called 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 resilience of the art - tradition it represents. It attaches a double storied 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.Lanes 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.

Dudh Talai
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.

Gulab Bagh & Zoo
A spectacular rose Garden laid out by Maharana Sajjan Singh, is situated near the palace on east side of Lake Pichhola. A library in the garden has a rare collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and books. Within the garden, there is a zoo with tigers, leopards, chinkara and many wild animals and birds are being kept.

Pratap Smarak (Memorial)
A top 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".

Fateh Sagar & Nehru Park
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.

Top Sahelion - ki - Bari (Garden of the maids of honor)
Udaipur is a city of lakes and gardens, big and small. The Sahelion - ki - Bari is a fine specimen. On the eve of his departure from Mewar, Col.Tod had shifted to it so as to have some needed solitude. Much later, a thoughtful had located a library in it! This small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing spot where royal ladies came for a stroll and hence the name. The garden has many fountains in its four delightful pools, chiseled kiosks and marble elephants.

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal
The interesting collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings. Bhartiya lok Kala mandal was founded by Padma Shri devi lal samar in 1952. The main objective of the Institute is to conduct studies on the folk art, songs and festivals of regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh etc and to revive a vanishing folk culture. The institute has a puppet unit that trains children, teachers and other artists in the art of puppetry, as this is a very powerful non-conventional educative medium. It also boasts of regular performances that are a feast to behold. A group of 25 artists go on tour, both within India and abroad with a repertoire of puppet-shows and various folk dances. Their performances have brought the Institute a number of honors on a national and international level.

Ahar Museum
The ancient capital of Sisodias, 3 km from Udaipur, Ahar boasts of a profusion of royal cenotaphs of the rulers of Mewar. A rare collection of antiquities including earthen pots, iron objects and other art items excavated in the region are displayed in a small Govt. museum.

Top Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)
A former Monsoon Palace 1100 ft. 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.

Jag Mandir
In the middle of lake Pichhola is the island palace Jag Mandir where prince Khuman Singh Later known as emperor Shahjahan who built world fame Taj Mahal, sought refuse from his father emperor Jahangir. This three story building was completed by Maharana Jagat Singh 1st in 1652 A.D.In the mutiney of 1857 A.D., the Indian regiments stationed at Neemach (M.P.) rebelled. English officers and women with their children had taken refuge in a village named Dungla, Maharana Swaroop Singh had then brought to Udaipur in safety and then kept them in comfort on the island of Jag Mandir untill order was restored.

Shilpgram
West Zone Cultural Centre in Udaipur, Rajasthan has set up an artisan's village called - Shilpgram, 3 Kms west of Udaipur.It is a living ethnographic museum depicting 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 organized 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.Top