Rajasthan is a state mostly associated with barren lands and desert but right within this state lies the beautiful town of Udaipur which boasts of a rich cultural heritage and slew of lakes, popularly known as ‘The City of Lakes”.
If you are planning a trip to Udaipur, here are a few must visit places –
City Palace :
It is a palace complex which took 400 years to be built . Contributions were made by several kings of the dynasty, starting with Maharana Udai Singh II. It is located on the east bank of the Lake Pichola and has various palaces built within its complex. This palace is built on a hill top with a mix of Rajasthani and Mughal architectural styles. This palace is one of its kind and gives an extraordinary view of the Pichola lake. The palace complex has been entirely made up of granite and marble.
Fun Fact – The palace featured in the 1985 Bond film Octopussy where it was used as a hotel
Lake Pichola: It is a magnificent artificial fresh water lake it was made in the year 1362 AD and was named after a nearby village Picholi.
There are four islands on the lake:
Jag Niwas: It has the lake palace
Jag Mandir: with jag mandir palace
Mohan Mandir: This is the island from where the annual festival Gangaur was seen by the king
Arsi Vilas: This one is a small island with beautiful view of the sunset it also has a bird sanctuary.
Saheliyon Ki bari:
It is a very popular Tourist spot in Udaipur. If you are tired and just need
A little rest or a stroll to rejuvenate you visit this picturesque garden and your spirits will surely be uplifted . It is situated in the northern part of the city and has fountains and kiosks, a pool with lotus and marble elephants. The fountains are said to have been imported from England . Their is also a museum inside the garden exhibiting a huge collection of royal households.
Fateh Sagar Lake:
It is 2.4 km. long, 1.6 km. wide and 11.5 m. at its deepest point and is one of the most famous man made lakes in Udaipur . It was built my Maharana Jai Singh. There are three islands on this lake. Owing to is beauty and lush green background this place is often called second Kashmir.
Jaisamand lake:
This beautifully created lake was built in 1865 and is the second largest artificial lake in the world. There are seven islands inahbited by the Bhil Manas tribe.
Vintage car Museum:
This car museum has a collection of vintage cars and is a must visit for all car lovers.
Visit the lakes during sunset for a quaint and breathtaking view.
One visit to Udaipur is a must afterall it is renowned as the ‘Venice of The East’