Know The City
Snuggled up in the senescent Aravalis, The lake city of Udaipur is a city
impregnated with romance and beauty. It's a city that not only fascinates
visitors and vacationers but also poets, painters and writers. Strewn with
palaces, temples, gardens and boasting a heroic past, the city of Udaipur is
today a craze among visitors. Legend has it that once Maharana Udai Singh,
while he was hunting, met a hermit who was engrossed in meditation on a hill
overlooking the Lake Pichola. The pious man blessed the maharana and wished
a fort to be built at the same spot with a fertile valley, a lake and a
coliseum of low mountains. Udai Singh followed his wish and thus the city
was founded in 1559 AD. The city, at the very first instant, takes the
onlooker into a fanciful state. With a glorious past and myriad of
attractions to visit, the city heads the itinerary of travellers to
Rajasthan.
Go
There For
The city abounds in architectural treasures and scenic beauty. You only
need to take your time out to visit and explore each of them to acquaint
yourself with the real Rajasthan. One of biggest draws for tourists here is
the dream-like
Lake Palace
that stands on the
Lake Pichola. Also known as
Jag Niwas, the stately palace was erected by Maharana
Jagat Singh II in 1754. Besides, being a treat for your eyes the palace also
discloses the aesthetic sense of the maharaja. The palace is quite a magical
spell as it seems to be emerging out of the lake, attired in white. Another
renowned treasure of the city is the
City
Palace that is positioned on a promontory on the picturesque Lake
Pichola. The huge palace complex boasts 11 mahals and the
City
Palace Museum that displays an interesting collection of royal antiques
ans artifacts. Your next visit turns out to be
Jag Mandir
which was built by Maharaja Karan Singh in 1615 AD. Here, you can see giant
elephant images and beautiful chhatris that are worth seeing. The
Saheliyon Ki Bari and the
Jagdish Temple
are the other famous tourist attractions in the city. While here, the
Fateh Sagar Lake is a must visit site for all. The
beautiful
Nehru Park lies in the middle of the lake and
attracts both locals and outsiders alike. Besides, an evening boat cruise
along the enchanting Lake Pichola awaits to take your breath away.
People & Culture
Rajasthan, from one corner to the other, pulsates with rich culture and
traditions and the city of Udaipur is no exception. The people of the city
are always eager to welcome their guests whole heartedly. You will also
notice some interesting folk customs like feeding with curd and jaggery to
someone setting out on a journey, rituals in a wedding ceremony and other
auspicious occasions. Women can be seen in their traditional ghagra-choli
while men can be seen dressed in kurta, pyjamas and turban. The city also
boasts of skilled craftsman that are into creating exquisite items of art
and crafts. Udaipur is known for metal craft, silver craft, bandhini,
textiles, meenakari work and stone carvings among others.
Feasting & Celebration
Festive occasions are a regular affair in the cities and towns of Rajasthan
roping in hundreds of thousands of tourists and vacationers from across the
globe. Though there are hordes of festivals, the Mewar Festival and the
Gangaur Festivals are the most popular ones. Partaking in the colourful
fiestas, attending religious functions, witnessing cultural performances and
adorning folk attires could mean a variety of experiences. Chief religious
festivals of the city include Ashwa Poojan, Kartik Poornima, Holi, Shriji's
Birthday and Shilpgram Festival. Being a part of these celebrations means
getting closer to the people of the city and understanding the true essence
of the region and the whole of Rajasthan. The religious fervour and the
spirit that the folks set forth is truly commands appreciation from all.
