Udaipur, a place, which is popular for its Rajput-period castles and grand areas, a place which is on the can rundown of such a large number of voyagers, a place where many arrangement their fantasy goal weddings, a place that conveys a wide history and culture with it and is known by the names the City of Lakes, Venice of the East, and the Kashmir of Rajasthan.
UDAIPUR: Unparalleled, Unified & Unlimited
Udaipur, also known as the "City of Lakes" is a small city. It was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II of the Sisodia clan of Rajput, when he shifted his capital from the city of Chittorgarh to Udaipur after Chittorgarh was besieged by Akbar.
Udaipur is famous for its lakes, palaces, forts, temples, gardens, and romantic backdrops. It was the setting of many movies, including the 13th James Bond film, Octopussy.
The palaces reflect the architectural grandeur prevailed during the period of Rajputs and the scenic landscape is descriptive of how nature could be generous where it chooses to be. Here are top 5 places to visit in Udaipur, which you just cannot miss.
1. The City Palace
Udaipur City Palace is one of the architectural marvels of Rajasthan, located peacefully on the banks of Lake Pichola. This majestic City Palace is the most-visited tourist attraction of Udaipur and often distinguished as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. Initially, Maharana Udai Singh built this superb wonder, but the present form of the Palace is the result of subsequent additions by his successors.
| Location: | On the banks of Lake Pichola |
| Built by: | Started by Maharana Udai Singh, completed by his successors |
| Built in: | Started in 1559 - till 18th century |
| Highlights: | Largest palace complex in Rajasthan |
| How to reach: | One can easily reach Udaipur City Palace either by taking local buses, tongas, auto-rickshaws and taxis from the city |
2. Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh)
This 19th century Sajjan Garh palace on a hilltop has seen better days. Still, if you dig sunset views over cityscapes, plan a trip. It is arguably the best place to view a sunset in Udaipur.
Best Time to Visit. Udaipur, being located in a tropical desert, is excruciatingly hot in summer, and rains in the monsoon hamper tourism, so the ideal time to visit would be in winter, from November to February each year.
3. Lake Pichola
Another man made wonder in the city dominated by nature, Lake Pichola was created in 1362 AD. Rana Udai Singh II extended the lake in 16th century. The picturesque lake is surrounded by huge hills, magnificent palaces, temples and bathing ghats.
The islands in Lake Pichola offer various tourist attractions and hence by cruising in Lake Pichola, you are sure to have a whale of a time. Sunset views are stunning.
Boat cruise offers lovely views of the town, particularly in the evenings as you watch the sun go down on your eyes, you will find the city lit up.
The palaces look stunning with the lights on and it is a great view from the lake.
Things to do at Pichola Lake
- Boat riding during sunset.
- Visit the attractions like Lake Palace and Lake Garden Palace.
- Stroll along the pathways surrounding the lake.
4. Lake Palace
The symbol of Udaipur tourism and a famous wedding destination, Lake Palace or Jag Niwas is an architectural marvel.
The palace is situated on the island of Jag Niwas in Lake Pichola and was built in the year 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II.
It was later converted into a luxury hotel in 1960s and now is a part of Taj luxury resorts. This stunning location has also been featured in many Hollywood and Bollywood movies
Things to Do near Lake Palace:
- Boat Ride in Lake Pichola.
- A tour of this historic heritage site.
- Visit the nearby Jagdish temple nearby.
- Enjoy the sunset at the nearby Lake Fatehsagar
- Have a luxurious meal in the many restaurants.
5. Lake Garden Palace
Jagmandir or Lake Garden Palace is said to have filled in as a motivation for the Taj Mahal when Shah Jahan took shelter here in his more youthful days. This royal residence has a long history and is viewed as one of the images of companionship between the Mughals and Rajputs. A progression of great structures give this royal residence a majestic vibe and would charm any guest.
Things to do at Lake Garden Palace:
- Visit the flower garden.
- Savour Rajasthani cuisine at the Darikhana restaurant.
- Visit the museum in the complex.
- Visit the nearby City Palace.
- Boat Ride in Lake Pichola.
Get Around:
While most of the city can be covered on foot and the narrow alleyways in the old city make any other form of transportation a hassle, a taxi or autorickshaw/tuk-tuk is necessary to reach the Monsoon Palace or the wilderness park.
A tuk-tuk will usually cost around ₹50, and should never cost more than ₹100 within the city. If you have a SIM card, Uber or Ola is the way to go. Uber is consistently cheaper than a tuk-tuk and will almost always be a much more pleasant ride
If you're planning for a trip to Udaipur, check out these Itineraries which will suit you perfectly
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