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.

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Places to Visit

Bagore Ki Haveli – The Past and The Present

bagore udaipur

Bagore Ki Haveli

Rejuvenates a sheer sense of Rajgharana…

The beauty of Bagore Ki Haveli is not ‘ephemeral’ but ‘eternal’. It is situated at Gangaur Ghat adorned by the side of Lake Pichola, barely 100 meter from City Palace. It is pleased by typical Mewari architectural splendor as well as scenic beauty. The haveli is a joy to wander through and provides a further fascinating glimpse into the lifestyle of royal family. All this counteracts people from their yo-yo buildings to a royal edifice. It overlooks Jag Mandir and Lake Palace, where the Mughal Prince Khurram took refuge, who was to later become Emperor Shahjehan-the creator of Taj Mahal.

bagore ki haveli udaipur

History:

Bagore Ki Haveli was built by Shri Amar Chand Badwa,the Prime Minister of Mewar between 1751 and 1778, during the reign of Maharanas Pratap Singh II, Raj Singh II, Ari Singh and Hamir Singh. After death of Badwa, the haveli was given to Maharaj of Bagore, a close relative of Maharana. Bagore is actually a village in Bhilwara district of Meware. There were distinct areas within the haveli for different members of family.

Maharaj Shakti Singh was responsible for the construction of beautiful Kanch Mahal over the triple arched gate in 1878. He was left with no male heir, and after his death, Thikana of Bagore dissolved. The haveli was confiscated during the reign of the next maharana, Fateh Singh whose successor, Maharana Bhupal Singh renovated the haveli into a grade III guesthouse, where palace guests could be accommodated, and there used to be a tunnel system that leads directly to the City Palace.

Restoration

A testimony to the years of neglect that brought haveli to the nadir of its existence.

After independence, the haveli came under the control of the Public Works Department of the Government of Rajasthan, who utilized it for the housing of government employees. The frequent change in usage led to many alterations which ruined the character and elegance of haveli. In 1986, it was handed over to the West Zone Cultural Center (WZCC), who converted haveli into a museum because of its charming style, typical of very best Mewari architecture. After years of strenuous restoration work, Bagore Ki Haveli now depicts the royal lifestyle and cultural ethos in its pristine glory.

A Peep Into Bagore-Ki-Haveli

On passing through the impressive gates of haveli, one enters an attractive courtyard, on its southern side there is the Lotus Fountain, a fascinating two-storied fountain from whence water cascaded, cooling and refreshing the air. The household activities of staff were performed around the ground floor of Kaun Chowk (well court), and the stores and the stables were located here.

The Neem Chowk is situated on the first floor of the haveli, enfolded by a pair of magnificent brass covered doors. The chowk was used for music and dance performances. With a degree of continuity, now this court serves as an arena for authentic performing art forms.

The durrie khana and the mirrored passage (kanch mahal) over the triple arched gate were within the men’s area (mardana). The diwan-e-khas was the largest chamber in the haveli. The office of the Director, WZCC now occupies the durrie kahana.

Even in that patriarchal society women had a way out of their social ordeals.

Tulsi was the hub of aristocratic lifestyle of princess. The rooms surrounding the Tulsi Chowk once housed the women quarters (zenana). The ladies used this chawk to perform Ghoomar and to celebrate festivals. Now, the chambers surrounding this court, there are displays of turbans and women’s costumes. The gallery that surrounds the first floor of Tulsi Chowk, have been recreated in the style of the haveli’s heydays.

The dressing room (Shringar Kaksh) contained wooden trunks, to hold finery of the princesses. The ladies would apply perfume from the dispenser (itra daan) exhibited in the room.

The members of the royalty were great patrons of the arts. The haveli had a Sangeet Kaksh which was an institution in itself where the ladies learnt music and would be familiarized with musical instruments such as the sarangi, nagada, dholak, santoor, chang etc.

The haveli had a kitchen, equipped with large metal vessels and wooden utensils.

Entertainment plays a vital role in ones life. The nobility of mewar enjoyed various board games during their leisure hours. The Manoranjan Kaksh of the haveli exhibits popular games of chaupad and ganjifa.

Mirror and glass mosaic worked into complex patterns from exquisite detail above the Tripolia. The architectural feature crowning the gate is known as the Badi Burz.

Art Gallery and Exhibitions

To enrich the Mewari cultural heritage a number of exhibitions can be seen around the haveli, related to the history of Mewar, such as the largest tuban and costumes. The unique collection of models fashioned of thermocol, tends to draw grasps of astonishment from visitors. The thermocol model of Bagore Ki Haveli is the latest addition. Sculptures of the Eiffel Tower, the Victory Tower of Chittorgarh, the Taj Mahal, the Leaning Tower of Pisa are brilliantly executed in the collection. The basement has been converted into an elegant art gallery, graced with contemporary fine art works.

Indra Viman (The Elephant Chariot)

The chariot originally belonged to the Kings of Jhalawar, formerly a princely state in Eastern Rajasthan. The carriage was pulled by two elephants during various festivals. The king used to take part in a procession from his seat in the carriage. After the merger of the state with the Independent India, the carriage passed into the hands of the Government, which was later gifted to the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC). Then the carriage was brought to Bagore Ki Haveli in a dilapidated condition. ‘Indra Viman’ is on display in the open courtyard leading to the entrance of Bagore Ki Haveli.

  bagore ki haveli udaipur photo

Present

An Amalgamation of Pristine Glory and Royalty

Bagore Ki Haveli has 138 rooms, several balconies, courtyards and terraces, many with beautiful frescoes and costumes of royal kings, traditional rajasthani arts and crafts provide the decoration, and the glorious coloured-glass windows as well as two peacocks made with glass mosaics are in  display. Unique symbols of the Rajput clan, such as jewellery boxes, dice games, hukkas, rose water sprinklers and other items are also in display. The museum welcomes its viewers daily from 10a.m. to 5p.m. . Entrance fee for museum is Rs.30 for local tourists and Rs.60 for foreingners.

In the evening from 7p.m. to 8p.m., the ‘Dharohar’, a dance group holds a recommended folk dance performance there. This most popular Rajasthani ritual reflects the divine perception of various tribes. Moreover energetic backgrounds, colourful costumes make the place full of verve. Entrance fee for ‘Dharohar’ is Rs.60 for local tourists and Rs.100 for foreingners (camera fee Rs. 100).

In this way the haveli entices tourists to its sacred charm.

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Places to Visit

Kumbhalgarh : The Great Wall of India

The memories of men are frail …
therefore stands a fortress as thread ..
to hang history from then till now…

Built on a hilltop, Kumbhalgarh is a Mewar fortress located on the banks of Banas River cradled in the Aravalli Hill in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan state in western India. It is the second very most important citadel in Mewar region after Chittorgarh. The palace is known as the silent hill station of Rajasthan standing majestically on the high ridge with elevation of 1100metres (3600feet) above sea level. The longitudinal and latitudinal distance of the fort is 25.1475° N, 73.5831° E.

It was built by Rana Kumbha during the course of 15th century. In Kumbha’s time the kingdom of Mewar extended from Ranthambore to Gwalior, including vast tracts of present-day Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Kumbhalgarh was once the seat of Prince Samprati, who was the Jain descendants of the erstwhile Mauryan Dynasty, who ruled here in the 2nd century defining the boundaries between Mewar and Marwar. Rana took around 15 years to built this fort. The sentimental significance of the fort also accounts as the birth place of Maharana Pratap who was a great king and warrior of Mewar. The fort was built to serve a refuge for Mewar rulers in times of strife.

Kumbhalgarh Fort after the rains

In 1443, when the king started the construction and eventually the structure crumbled to ruins by the sunset .But then a spiritual preceptor addressed the king to offer human voluntarily sacrifice in order to ensure that the battle walls being constructed by Rana would be strong enough to withhold the siege. The king sent out word, but no one volunteered. One day a soldier from the commandment volunteered and been ritually decapitated. Today the main gate of the fortress, Hanuman Pol contains a shrine and a temple named as Vedi temple to perpetuate the great sacrifice. Because of its hostile topography the fort remained inaccessible to the mighty Mughal even after combining the armies of emperor Akbar of Delhi , Raja Mansingh of Amber and Raja Udai Singh of Marwar.

The invincible fort is the most formidable in the state of Rajasthan.

The frontal serpentine 36km long and 15 feet thick wall with soaring towers is the most impressive. The wall is claimed to be the second longest continuous wall after Great Wall of China. The wall is not in straight pattern but have many steep ascends and descends throughout its length covering mountain cliffs and valleys. According to the legends, it is believed that eight horses could run on this wall side by side. The wall also serves as an epitome of architectural excellence and exquisite art of Rajput era because the walls are still unblemished and intact inspite of being 700 years old.

Kumbhalgarh Udaipur

The impregnable fort is protected by 13 mountain peaks of Aravalli range, seven huge imposing gates just like the sentinels and 7 steel gray ramparts being folded within another with the walls  empowered by  arched bastions and  colossal watch towers.

The top of the fort offers a spectacular panoramic picturesque of sand dunes of Aravalli range and overlooks the approaches from Ajmer and Marwar.

The fort can be accessed by any of the seven gates which are named as Aret Pole, Hanuman Pole, Ram Pole, Vijay Pole, Nimboo Pole and Bhairon Pole.

At the top of the cliff Badal Mahal, also known as the palace of the clouds is situated. The two-storied structure is divided into two interconnected distinct portions namely the Zanana (quarter for females), and the Mardana Mahal (quarter for men) decorated with pastel colored murals of 19th century. The color scheme of the rooms is a contrast to the grim and earthy fortress. The Zanana Mahal is composed of stone jalis which facilitated the queens to see the court proceedings and other events in privacy. All the chambers are provided with ingenious air conditioning system which draw cool air into the rooms and ventile them from the bottom.

The  fortress consists of 360 temples within the fort out of which 300 of them are ancient jain temples and rest are hindu temples.some of them are Ganesh Temple, Vedi Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Parshvanath Temple, Bawan Devi Temple, Golerao Group of Temples, Mamadeo Temple, Pitalia Dev Temple.

The Neelkanth temple is situated near the base of the plains containing a six feet high sculpture of Lord Shiva. The rana offered regular prayers to the deity in this temple and was decapitated by his own son in this temple while offering prayers.

The fortress of Kumbhalgarh in the Aravalli Hills (Mewar)

The thick woody forests encompass the vibrant and rich foliage along with a rich variety of fauna. The fort is encircled by Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary sprawled in an area of 578 square kilometer (223 square miles). The sanctuary abode a shelter to a number of endangered species. The species found are hyena, panthers, leopards, wolfs, cats, the four horned antelope (chausingha), blue bulls, sambhars, crocodiles, peacocks, bear, wild boars, jungle fowls, flamingoes, spoonbills, parakeets, grey pigeons, yellow footed pigeons, egrets, cormorants, golden oriole and many more. Horse lovers and adventure seekers can enjoy the thrill of riding and camping in the sanctuary. Each group is accompanied by local tour operators. Horses, tents, food and fodder are provided by the Aohdin (owner of castle-type cottages) on prior notice at a very reasonable cost.

The fort is open to the public and can be easily accessed from Rajasthan state government roadways ordinary and deluxe buses (102 km) or from the Udaipur airport (84kms.) or from the Phalna railway station serves to be the closest railhead. The months of September to march serve as the ideal time to visit the palace and in clothing one must prefer cotton tropical clothes in summers and light woolen clothes in winters. One can also enjoy the Kumbhalgarh festival celebrated during the winter season to promote Kumbhalgarh as a heritage site. Tourists can be amazed by the serenity and beauty of the place with its enthralling and verdant landscapes, deep jungles and pretty gorges .The fortress is spectacularly lit by various lights and lamps each evening. Kumbhalgarh is not just these fabulous monuments and magnificent citadels, but abundance of natural splendors is gracefully bestowed on it makes it a pictorial location and an attractive tourist destination.

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Places to Visit

City Palace – A Scintillating Royal Wonder Of Eternal Mewar

City Palace, Udaipur
Photo By: Yash Sharma

City Palace

A Scintillating Royal Wonder Of Eternal Mewar

Udaipur City Palace

Moulded with exotic ingenuity, City Palace is a rich blend of Rajasthani and European architectural dexterity, which when entered, one can forget all his solace and wreath himself with bounties of the scenario. This majestic palace is located on the banks of serene Lake Pichola at 24.576°N 73.68°E, at an average elevation of 598 meters and provides a panoramic and breathtaking view of the city from its upper terraces. This majestic palace was built by Maharana Udai Singh II of Sisodia Rajput clan in 1559 and his successor Maharanas (76 generations) over a period of next 300 years. It comprises of 11 magnificent palaces, each built by 42 different rulers retaining a surprising uniformity to the design and is considered as largest palace complex in Rajasthan and is replete with history. It is often considered as ‘city within a city’.

In 8th century, the Sisodia rulers moved their capital to Chittor, where they ruled for 80 years. In 1537, Maharana Udai Singh II inherited the kingdom of Mewar at Chittor but soon faced defeat at the hands of Mugal Emperor Akbar. He then moved to Udaipur to establish his new capital. ‘Raj Angan’ or the Royal courtyard was the first royal structure built at the beginning of the complex. When Maharana Pratap took the reins of power, then he successfully defeated Akbar in the battle of Haldighati in 1576, which resulted to the peace and prosperity of Udaipur and simultaneously structures of palaces kept on augmenting on the crest of Lake Pichola. They were designed in a way to hinder enemy attacks. After independence Mewar Kings lost their opulent living and princely status. Now the successor Maharanas are running the palace by creating a trust, called the ‘Mewar Trust’. In 1969, the palace was opened to the public as the City Palace Museum. This was done in order to generate income so as to maintain the building.

Front view of City palace, Udaipur by Nelesh Mehta

The ‘Bari Poli’ or the big gate brings one to the entrance, which is the Tripola. It was custom that the Maharana would weigh himself under this gate in gold and silver, which was appropriated among common public.

‘Suraj Gokhada’ or Sun Balcony is a very famous place where the emblem of Surya Dev, is placed. This emblem is gold plated and is embedded with gems. It represents that the Maharanas, the Suryavanshi Rajputs are followers of Surya Dev and it was customary for the Maharanas to offer obeisance to the Sun facing east, every morning before taking breakfast.

‘Badi Mahal’ or the Garden Palace is situated on the highest point of the palace, 27 metres high. It consist of garden courtyard, fountain, swimming pool, which was then used for Holi festival. It is also known as Shiv Parsanna Amar Vilas.

‘Mor Chok’ or Peacock Courtyard forms the integral part of the inner courts. The design of the chamber consists of three peacocks of glass mosaic of green, gold and blue colours, depicting the three seasons of summer, winter and monsoon. These were built during the reign of Maharana Sajjan Singh.

‘Manek Mahal’ is an enclosure for public meetings and has stepped into the modern age now. It has a raised alcove inlaid completely in mirror glass. There are shops of books, clothing as well as Palki Khana restaurant and emporiums for populace. A sound and light show also is also held every evening.

Zenana Mahal, the Queen’s quarters is a part of City Palace Museum. The first floor has a picture gallery dedicated to Shri Arvind Singh Ji present Maharana of Mewar. The interesting exhibits of portraits are in display.

In 1716, Sheesh Mahal or Mirror Palace was built. It is considered as the oldest part of this royal palace.

Moti Mahal is resplendently decorated with mirrors and pearls. Maharana Rana Karan Singh had private residence in this palace. Bheem Vilas and Pitam Niwas are the two chambers of Moti Mahal.

Situated in the premises of City Place complex, Jagdish Temple is the biggest and most beautiful temple of Udaipur. This temple appeals to the aesthetic sense of the people . It is a large and aesthetically elegant temple where an idol of Lord Jagannath, a menifestation of Lord Vishnu made in black stone is deified in the sanctum. This place is now refered as Jagdish Chowk.

city palace decoration

City Palace Museum is a place where granite and marble have been lent a soul. They seem to breathe a harmonious splendor. The palace looks rugged from exterior but inside the path leads to many enclosures with luxurious apartments sparkling white filigreed balconies and windows, ornate arches and cupolas atop attractive octagonal towers. The main entrance is through the ‘Tripolia’, the triple gate. Eight carved marble arches bow a welcome in their exquisite style. Museum stretches 33 metres high, 333 metres long, and 90 metres wide. The City Palace Museum comprises the Mardana Mahal (palace for the royal men) and The Zenana Mahal (palace for the royal ladies) and the other palaces are most frequently visited. The vast Museum collection ranges from photographic and painted materials to the architectural heritage encompassed within these structures.

In front of Dhuni Mata is a gallery devoted to the legendary warrior Maharana Pratap and his horse Chetak. In this gallery there are war ornaments, horse Chetak of Rana Pratap. His sword (weighed 25 kg) is in display.  One big picture of Rana Pratap vertically killing a Mugal soldier along with his horse into two pieces in one stroke of his sword is displayed inside this gallery. The Museum is now managed by the Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation.

The current custodian of this flamboyant structure, Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, hasn’t merely been content with restoring the City Palace to its pristine glory. To develop the palace into a world class museum, approximate 20 projects are underway. The interior of the museum has beautiful artwork, which documents royal history before Udaipur got its first camera in 1857.

City Palace by Yogesh Jain

The Shiv Niwas Palace and the Fateh Prakash Palace were the latest addition to the complex and have now been converted into heritage hotels. A show named ‘The Legacy Of Honour’ from 19:00 hours to 20:00 hours shows the history of 1500 years in mere 57 minutes.

Every year City Palace, hosts the prestigious Maharana Mewar Foundation Awards. These awards honors  the recognition of service of permanent value already rendered to society in which, eminent scholars, students and common citizens who, through their chosen field of study and activity, have been of benefit to society. Various celebrities and big personalities attends it and adds glory to it. The fund generated by the trust is used for running charitable hospitals, educational institutions and promoting the cause of environmental preservation.

Sound and light shows are organized during evening hours and separate entry tickets are available for this. The museum is open on Sundays and all public holidays except on the day of Holika Dahan in March. Visiting time for the museum is from 9:30a.m. to 4:30p.m.

Entry fee to visit the museum is Rs. 50 for adults and Rs. 30 for children, students in group it is Rs. 30. Camera fee is Rs. 200 for all types of cameras. The exquisite work of City Palace cannot be bounded in words, so one must visit this palace to capture the real picture of it.

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Places to Visit

Historical Architecture: Palaces & Forts in and around Udaipur

City Palace

city-palace-udaipur
Source: Udaipur Tourism

City Palace was built by Maharana Udai Singh in 1559. It is situated at the eastern bank of Lake Pichhola and has many other palaces built within the City Palace. It is a must visiting place whosoever wishes to travel Udaipur and has a keen interest in the history of Rajasthan.

Impressive Gateways or Poles pave access to the City Palace complex. The different poles of the City Palace include Bara Pole, Tripolia Pole, Toran Pole etc.

The other complexes which are made within the premise of the City Palace are Amar Vilas, Badi Mahal, Chinni Chitrashala, Choti Chitrashali, Dilkhusha Mahal, Darbar Hall, Fateh Prakash, Jagdish Mandir, Krishna Vilas, Laxmi Vilas Chowk, Manak Mahal, Mor Chowk, Rang Bhawan, Sheesh Mahal etc.

The famous Jagdish Temple is only 150 meters away from the Palace. From the Palace, you can have a beautiful view of Lake Palace and Jag Mandir, which are both located in the midst of Pichhola Lake. The City Palace’s major part has been converted into a museum, displaying a diverse range of preserved monuments and armour. The museum exhibits a wide collection of weapons, gears, clothes, furniture etc.

Fateh Prakash Palace

The_Sunset_Terrace_Fateh_Prakash_Palace_Udaipur
Source: Wexas Travel

This palace was constructed during the time of Maharana Fateh Singh, who ruled from 1885 to 1935. The purpose of the venue was to serve the esteemed guests during the royal functions. Fateh Prakash Palace has also been converted into a luxury hotel which is now run & managed by the HRH group.

In 1909 the Viceroy of India, Lord Minto, laid down the Darbar Hall’s foundation stone. Henceforth the name was originally called Minto Hall to respect the honour to the Viceroy. The interiors are decorated with royal artefacts, miniature painting, armour etc. which would take you to the legendary historical time of the Mewar dynasty.

The Darbar Hall, Crystal Gallery, Suites and Rooms are decorated with original paintings, furniture of the historical era and would take you on the journey of the authentic heritage of that time. The scenic beauty of Lake Pichhola through the decorative valued windows would soak you in real ecstasy. The Palace offers 21 Decorative Rooms and 45 Decorative Premier Suits. It is equipped with period furniture, portraits and original miniature paintings, private sitting areas and facilities like air-conditioning, international direct dial telephone, satellite TV and a mini-bar.

Taj Lake Palace

taj lake palace udaipur
Source: Exquisite Travel Collection

Lake Palace, the name is enough to draw a picture of Udaipur and Pichhola Lake. It is another epithet of the Udaipur after the City Palace. To most of us, if asked anything about Lake Palace, the first answer comes out – it is a luxury hotel. Obviously, it is a luxury hotel, but earlier than a luxury hotel, it was a place to relax for the kings and had many different interiors.

Lake Palace was formerly known as Jag Niwas. Lake Palace is built on a natural island of around 4 acres, which was earlier called Jag Niwas Island and surrounded by Lake Pichhola. It was built in the year 1743 to 1746 by the Maharana Jagat Singh II of Udaipur. The Palace was built as a palace to spend summers. It was named after its founder Maharana Jagat Singh and hence was called Jag Niwas.

In 1971 the Taj group took over Lake Palace’s management, and the new name came out to be the Taj Lake Palace. Taj added another 75 rooms to it. Jamshyd D.F. Lam became the first General Manager of the Taj Lake Palace. Later in 2000, another restoration of the hotel was undertaken. Now Taj Lake Palace is certainly a luxury hotel surrounded by Lake Pichhola. The Lake Palace offers Luxury Rooms, Palace Rooms, Royal Suites, Grand Royal Suites and Grand Presidential Suites with all facilities like Spa, Bar, Fine Dinning etc.

Monsoon Palace aka Sajjangarh Fort

monsoon-palace-sajjangarh-palace
Source: Udaipur Tourism

An actual jewel in our city, Sajjangarh Fort has been one of the most favourite tourist’s spots, especially in the rainy season when the fort is enveloped by clouds and the mountains are lush green. The Monsoon Palace, formerly known as the Sajjangarh Palace, is a hilltop residence with a scenic view of palaces, lakes, and the surrounding countryside. This palace was designed to keep an eye on the monsoon clouds, as the name implies. The palace, which is located in the Aravalli Hills, glows a golden orange colour in the evening and is a great place to see the sunset. Don’t forget to visit this enchanting palace when in Udaipur!

Jag Mandir Island Palace

jagmandir-island
Source: TripAdvisor

This palace, also known as the ‘Lake Garden Palace,’ is undeniably one of Pichola Lake’s most beautiful views. Built on an island, this palace served as a summer retreat and a pleasure palace for holding parties for royal families. Within the palace, the Gul Mahal, Garden Courtyard, Bara Patharon ka Mahal, Zenana Mahal, and Kunwar Pada ka Mahal are must-see attractions. Don’t forget to dine at the Darikhana Restaurant for an exclusive dining experience!

Bagore ki Haveli (Gangaur Ghat)

Bagore ki haveli
Source: Udaipur Tourism

Head to Bagore ki Haveli to experience the true Rajasthani Folk art and reminisce the beauty and splendour and rich heritage of the city of lakes. In just one hour, you will enjoy a blissful cultural evening of musical dance performances, magic shows, and puppet dances influenced by Rajasthani tradition, all without burning a hole in your pocket! Festivals, weddings, childbirth, and the change of seasons are all included in the show. It’s the ideal location for learning about the Rajput royal lifestyle.

Kumbhalgarh Fort

kumbhalgarh-fort
Source: Bookety

Kumbhalgarh is 82 kilometres away from Udaipur and lies in Rajsamand District, and it is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great warrior of the Mewar. It was built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha. In the late 19th century, the fort was opened for tourists. It is the important fort of Mewar after Chittorgarh.

The fort is accessed through seven different gateways named Aret Pole, Hanuman Pole, Ram Pole, Vijay Pole, Nimboo Pole and Bhairon Pole. All gates lead to the palace complex, and some are built with additional structures at a later stage.

The different palaces built in the fort consist of Kumbha Mahal and Badal Mahal. Various religious temples include Hindu and Jain temples of different periods ranging from the 13th century to later. Various temples built and covered in the fort area consist of Ganesh Temple, Vedi Temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Parshvanath Temple, Bawan Devi Temple, and Golerao Group Temples, Mamadeo Temple, Pitalia Dev Temple, Kumbha Palace.

Kumbhalgarh fort also has several memorials like Badva Bund, Lagan Baori, Gardens, Stores, Pleasure Pavilions, and a Dam.

Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort
Source: Udaipur Trip

Chittorgarh is situated in the southern part of Rajasthan and is 120 kilometres away from Udaipur. It is midway between Delhi and Mumbai on National Highway No 8. At Chittorgarh National Highways 76 and 79 intersect.

Chittorgarh Fort is the largest fort in India. Earlier it was the capital of Mewar. The fort is spread in an area of 690 acres and situated at the height of 590 feet over a hill that lies on the bank of Berach River.

The Mewar Emperors lost the fort thrice to the Mughals in the battles fought in different periods. In 1303 Allauddin Khilji defeated Rana Ratan Singh. Bahadur Shah defeated Bikramjeet Singh in 1535, and Mughal Emperor Akbar defeated Maharana Udai Singh II in 1567, who left and founded Udaipur as his next capital of Mewar. Approximately 13,000 Rajput Ladies committed Jauhar after the successive defeats of Mewar Emperors.

A zigzag hill road of more than 1 kilometres in length from the new town of Chittor leads to the west end main gate of the fort, known as Ram Pol. Within the fort, a circular road provides access to all other gates and monuments. The fort has seven gates or Poles, and they are Padan Pole, Bhairon Pole, Hanuman Pole, Ganesh Pole, Jodla Pole, Laxman Pole and the main gate is known as the Ram Pole. A road within the fort provides access to the numerous monuments, ruined structures, and temples. Once, the fort had 84 water bodies and only 22 are left as of now. It was in the form of ponds, wells, and step wells. These water bodies were filled during the rainfall. The various other historical monuments of interest at the fort include Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh.

Photo Credits: Yash Sharma, HRH Hotels, hoparoudindia.com

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Places to Visit

Sajjangarh Fort – The Past and Present

sajjangarh fort

SajjanGarh Fort

sajjangarh fort

The numbers may change, the pages may turn…

But the palatial forts still stand firm echoing the history of Mewar Kingdom…

Perched on a high summit of Banasdara mountain of Aravalli hill range, just like a bejeweled tiara stands the glorious Sajjangarh fort. It is a white marble palace. The fort is situated 5km (2 miles) to the west of Udaipur city at an altitude of 944m (3100 ft) above sea level. The latitudinal and longitudinal of fort are 23.260 and 74.289 respectively. It was built in 1884, by seventy-second ruler of Mewar dynasty, Maharana Sajjan Singh. He was considered as a renowned ruler and a “Man of Vision” and was also honourerd with the title of “Grand Commander of the Star of India” in 1881.Having deep passion for astronomy, Maharan Sajjan Singh intended to construct a nine- storey astronomical centre that could facilitate the tracking of monsoon clouds and diagnose the weather conditions. Hence popularly known as monsoon palace. The other reason that added to building up of the fort was to serve a holiday home and hunting lodge to royal family and also to give Maharana a view of his ancestral home in Chittaurgarh.Due to untimely demise at the age of 26 , his dream remained unfulfilled with shelving of his plans by construction of partial three-storey building. But during his reign (1874-1884) Udaipur was recognized as the second Municipality in India after Bombay. The construction of Sajjangarh is considered as the most ambitious project which Maharana undertook during the span of his rule.

beautiful sajjangarh

Looming at a great height, the fort offers an exhilarating bird eye view of Udaipur city overlooking the two lakes – The Pichola & Fatehsagar. Previously the palace was owned by the royal family of Mewar but now it is controlled by the Forest department of Rajasthan Government. The importance of the fort lies in it’s unique location to give it’s visitors an astounding and charismatic view of the city. The road leading to the fort is hilly, steep, twisting with several blind turns. The best time to visit the place is at the time of rainy season because the picturesque and the scenic view of the scenery around is seen like heaven with the palace seeming as cocooned within the clouds. Rather than monsoons, from way down the city , the White Palace  renders a visual treat with a constraining attraction of pulling a visitor up to see the breathtaking spectacle of the setting sun with a colourful sky.

sajjangarh fort 2

The palace consist of a grand central court with a staircase, rooms, a huge bronze statue of Maharana Pratap, Fountains, Domes jharokhas, Marble pillars with floral carvings reflecting the vibrant art and architecture of culture of Rajasthan and royal quarters which are subdivided into Mardana Mahal(quarter for men), Zanana Mahal (quarter for females), the Diwan-e-Aam(hall for public audience) and the Diwan-e-Khaas(hall for private audience). The walls of the fort are plastered by lime mortar. The tall turrets with guards regulating each tower can be viewed from a distance. At night the illuminated palace seems like a fairytale castle floating free in the sky. The ground floor of palace is a museum with a collection of pictures, paintings and maps of the entire palace and the design of the palace that Maharana Sajjan Singh intended to construct. There is also an ingenious rainwater collection system in which 195,500 litres of water can be stored and it seems to be an innovative way of collecting rain water where dry desert conditions exists. Some cannons too still remain there, since the time Udaipur was attacked by Schindias in 1764, when the hill was used as ordnance dump. A boat ride across the lake Pichola provides a mesmerizing view of the palace.

The palace is enveloped by Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1987 which covers an area of 5.17 sq km. It is regarded as a reserve for reptiles, wild boars, blue bulls, hyenas, panthers, sambhars, jackals, spotted deers, peacocks, wild rabbits and many migratory birds. The entire hillock has been well protected with concrete wall and fences to improve the flora and fauna of the sanctuary area. To the left of the fort lies Shikarbadi or the Khas-Odi and at the northwest lies an artificial lake known as “Badi Lake”or“Tiger Lake. The adventure freak people can also make their way to the fort by trekking from the lake. On the western side of the hill lies the “ Jhar Water Hole”, a small perennial source of water encircled by numerous Mahua trees adding tranquility to the place along with a small temple of lord Shiva.

sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary

The backside of the palace gives the spectacular view of valley covered with dense, thick forest and lush greenery all around it. The place is not commercialized so no shops, no vendors etc lending a peaceful, quite and calm atmosphere. At the palace, a restaurant is operated by The Lalit Groups providing lunch, breakfast, tea, coffee etc. The fort is regarded as best sightseeing point of Udaipur and remains a popular tourist destination with an entry fee of just INR 10 for Indian, INR 80 for foreigner and INR2 for students.

Despite of being a tourist point the fort is not serving as a well maintained heritage. The interiors are ruined and the walls too are covered in graffiti by the young lads proclaiming their fascinations of their girl or vice-versa. It’s a high time for the authorized people to wake up and take effective measures to improve the conditions of the Palace.

Article and Photo Courtesy : Deepankshi Chittora

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Places to Visit

Wild Life Sanctuaries Near Udaipur

sanctuary udaipur

SAJJANGARH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY :

Everyone one is well familiar with Sajjangarh or Monsoon Palace. There is a fort which is surrounded by dense forest and honored with rich flora and fauna by the nature. In year 1987 the Government made it a Wild Life Sanctuary. At earlier times it served as a hunting forest for the kings of the Mewar dynasty. The sanctuary has many wild animals like Panther, Sambhar, Chital, Jackal, Blue Bull etc. There is also wide variety of birds and other reptile species which are the regular habitat of sanctuary. Spread across the Aravalli hills the place provides a unique experience for adventure lovers. It also has a small Shiva Temple near the Jhar Water hole.

 

KUMBHALGARH NATIONAL PARK :

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Santuary is 100 kilometers from Udaipur and lies in Rajsamand district. The sanctuary is spread across Aravali Mountain range and covers an area of 578 square kilometers. It is spread in the large area and covers the partial parts of Udaipur, Rajsamand and Pali districts. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife sanctuary is home for many different species like Leopards, Hyena, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Sambhar, Chinkara, Chausinga, Hare and other Antelopes. Bird’s life is also an enchanting experience at Kumbhalgarh. Peacock, Doves, Kingfishers etc. could be easily seen. Birds like Red Spur Owls, Parakeet, White Breasted Kingfisher could also be spotted near water holes. Foot tracking and Horse Safari being organized by the local tour operators attract the tourists visiting the sanctuary.

 

JAISAMAND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY :

The Jaisamand sanctuary was built in 1957 and it is located at the banks of the artificial Jaisamand Lake. The sanctuary is spread in an area of 62 square kilometers and serves as home for variety of migratory birds. Crocodiles are also found in this sanctuary. You may find various species like Panther, Wild Boar, Deer and other Antelopes, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Hyena and Fox etc. The lake feed various reptiles and amphibians like Crocodiles, Turtles and a wide variety of sweet water Fishes. A Jeep is the best vehicle to travel within the sanctuary. Various hotels and rest house are available for the wildlife lovers visiting Jaisamand Sanctuary. Jaisamand is located 52 kilometers south east of Udaipur. The Jaisamand Lake was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1685 which is the second largest artificial lake in the World. The lake is amazing and is spread 9 miles in breath and covers 30 miles of circumference.

BAGHDARA NATURE PARK :

A forest all surrounded by Aravali Mountain Hills with a small dam this is what offers the Baghdara Nature Park. Baghdara is situated 15 kilometers from Udaipur. Baghdara offers a nearest place to enjoy the beauty of nature with its calmness. The reserve has a lake and offer home for Crocodiles. Baghdara is famous for the Crocodile Breeding Project of Rajasthan. It is said that in earlier times Tigers were also found in this area and thus it got the name Bhaghdara. Bagh is the Hindi word which means Tiger. The carnivorous species includes Leopard,Panther, Jackal. Other herbivorous animals also include Deer, Chinkara, Sambhar, Hare, and Wild Boar etc.

Image Credits : rajasthantrip.com

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Places to Visit

Good Morning @ Sukhadia Memorial Park

sukhadia memorial udaipur

sukhadia memorial udaipur

It was quite chilling outside and in the freezing morning at around 7’O clock I stepped out towards Sukhadia Memorial Park, Durga Nursery Road. From Ashok Nagar to Durga Nursey it was quite near so I decided to have a walk. I could see several people who were either going for a walk and some were returning. I was just wondering; have I delayed my walk, perhaps I would have to visit the park somewhat earlier. But the sheer thought of coming earlier shivered my body from toe to head. Meanwhile I continued walking and reached the park.

I observed the main gate, there were many vehicles parked outside and most were two wheelers and 2 or 3 cars were also there. One could justify that some of them come here for a walk who live a few kilometers away from this place. Pouring some more and more thoughts into my brain I entered into the park. Earlier I used to come here for a walk in summers, comparing the time I found that the number of visitors has declined due to the chilling weather. Still there were people around who were jogging and having their regular morning exercise.

sukhadia memorial udaipur

The place was calm, cool and it was not less than a heaven. Full of greenery and energy, the density of trees was less and it was more due to the lush green grass, enriched with loads of early morning oxygen. You could enjoy taking deep breath and it would purify your body from deep within. It was quite an amazing feel. I too started walking down the pathway where others were having their walk.

Sun was just about to rise; the grass was covered with a blanket of dew, the small little tiny droplets of water. There were birds around, some were still at a position, it seemed as they were waiting for the sun to spread its warmth. It was quite awesome feeling realizing the nature at a place which was all surrounded by the concrete jungle and heavy traffic during day time. The one side of the Sukhaida Memorial has been covered by the Lake City Mall. This reveals the kindness of nature with human being and other creatures. It always gives us something and demands nothing, except for the fact that it should not be exploited. I gave a deep sigh and moved forward.

Having three to four rounds of the park I sat down at a bench for a while. Oops! The cemented bench was like a glacier. For a moment I felt myself at Antarctica. I gave sometime and stick to it to be normal. After giving rest to my limbs I started and had a few more rounds. No, no I am not talking about running just a simple and a sober walk. No marathon, I was not habitual to it. I spent almost an hour in the park; the sun has already risen and spread its beauty to some parts of the park. There were very few people left in the park as most of them had left to finish the rest of the day’s schedule. I too had enjoyed a walk early morning in such beautiful surrounding.

I gave a cursory look around all corners of the park. The park was ready to serve the coming events of the day. I looked at a group; they were all ready with their bags and were gathered there for some meet. I suppose it was an early morning briefing to the executives by their boss or a subordinate team member. I found quite interesting that this park serves many purpose throughout from morning to night. It caters as a central meeting place for the residents of Udaipur.

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Places to Visit Top

5 Must Visit Places in Udaipur

5 Places to Visit in Udaipur

 

Whenever we plan to visit any city as a tourist; the very first thing that strikes is, what to see there? And if your dream destination is Udaipur then of course there are places that you must visit, or else you can also plan according to your interest. Let’s explore the top five destinations of Udaipur.

 

Fateh Sagar:

fatehsagar udaipur

Udaipur city is famous as Lake City or City of Lakes and it is also known as Venice of the East. Your visit to Udaipur is incomplete till you have not enjoyed the heart throbbing views of its lakes. Fateh Sagar is one such kind of a place in Udaipur. Not only tourists, even the local residents of Udaipur always enjoy most of their time at Fateh Sagar. For a few their day doesn’t complete if they do not visit and spend some time at the lake side. This is the magic of the place. You can pass several hours sitting beside it and watching hilarious beauty of the lake. Mumbaiya Bazar would certainly catch your attraction at Fateh Sagar.

 

Gulab Bagh:

gulab bagh udaipur

Gulab Bagh is the perfect place for nature lovers. If you really want to enjoy the greenery of Udaipur then visit this place. It is situated at the center of the city. Gulab Bagh is the life line of Udaipur; it is the Green Heart of the city which provides clean and fresh air to the residents of Udaipur. The two major attractions of Gulab Bagh which would certainly grab the sight of kids are the Gulab Bagh Zoological Garden and the Mini Train. Since Gulab Bagh is quite spread in very large area, it would be a better idea to enjoy the Mini Train Ride which would cover the entire circumference of Gulab Bagh. The train ride would make your Gulab Bagh visit memorable.

 

Dudh Talai:

dudh talai

Like Fateh Sagar, Dudh Talai is another place in Udaipur which would offer of enjoying the lake side view. This place is situated near the famous Pichhola Lake. Unlike Fateh Sagar you won’t find enough space to roam around the confines of the lake Pichhola. Still you can enjoy boating and camel ride over here. This is not the end, yet there is one more adventure to go. Just near Dudh Talai there is a rope way to visit Karni Mata Temple on a small hillock. The rope way offers an amazing view of the entire Pichhola Lake, City Palace and Jagmandir. The view from the top is amazing at day and as well as at night. At the top of hillock at temple you could see the entire Udaipur city spreading its wings. The sunset point won’t allow you getting back to your home.

 

Sajjan Garh:

sajjan garh udaipur

The Sajjan Garh is a hilltop extravagant place in the Udaipur overlooking the Pichhola Lake. It was named after Maharana Sajjan of the Mewar Dynasty and was built 1884. For nature and wild life lovers it is the perfect place look upon. The Sajjan Garh offers a panoramic view of the city’s surrounding and its lakes. The place has been taken under control of the Forest Department and has been open for public over past few years. The place provides a magnificent view of Sun Set and it is very famous for it. The area of the Sajjan Garh has been developed as a wild life sanctuary. Wild animals like panther have been watched many times in the area by the local villagers of the nearby area.  Sajjan Garh is also known as Monsoon Palace.

 

City Palace:

city palace udaipur

City Palace is located at the heart of Udaipur and it was built by Maharana Udai Singh Ji. The palace is situated at the bank of Pichhola Lake. It is certainly would be a place to visit who has a keen interest in history of Rajasthan. The famous Jagdish Temple is close to it and from the Palace one can have the beautiful view of Lake Palace and Jag Mandir which are both located in midst of the Pichhola Lake. The major part of the City Palace has been converted into museum which displays a diverse range of preserved monuments and armor. The museum exhibits a wide collection of weapons, gears, clothes furniture etc.

 

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Places to Visit

Shilpgram : The Ethic Culture

shipgram udaipur

shipgram udaipur

Colors of the handmade khadi, radiance of the silky banarasi, Dazzle of the mirrored Khachhiwar, spicy smack of the Punjabi chaat and parathas, the original taste of the sour and salty makki ki raab, sweetness of the American corn, chhaach, lassi and almond milk in kulhad, the hand crafted pots, the embellishing articles of mud, frames, antiques and god idols made of wood, the classy bags, baskets and wall hanging articles of the jute, the heritage embroidered jackets and leather jutiyas, the colorful paper lamps and mashy pots, the paintings of brain teasing’s gods and the riddles, the ancient clocks, swords and armor, the ancestral songs, nukkads, kal beliya, gair and ghoomar, the caricatures and portraits of highly skilled artists, the block printed and bright cotton kurtas, the handmade clothes, flowers and bouquets, the brick and sand streets, the museum of the finest and delicate paintings from all over the country.

If you find yourself standing in the middle of all of these, then you are in one of the best fair festival of India, The Craftsmen Heaven, Rajasthan’s pride Shilpgram. Spread in area of 70 acres, Shilpgram is located 3kms to the west of the city of Udaipur near Hawala Village and makes the scene every year end since 1985. This roaring and hustling carnival is gifted by the West Zone Cultural Centre to enhance and aid the talent, skill and hard work of a craftsman not just from Rajasthan but from all 28 states of India. To reach the masquerade, you can easily find buses, auto rickshaws, carts etc that will directly take to the main archway of shilpgram. A low cost ticket or a pass will allow you open to whole of the fair till the day’s end.

At the main entrance, you will find a stage set for your welcome, where some traditional dances like kachi ghodhi, ghumar and gavri will flabbergast you. You may find numerous and diverse stalls to make you lick your fingers but you will also find a 365 days open restaurant not so far from the main archway where you will find almost every Indian exotic and scrumptious meal like daal baati, makki and bajre ki roti, raab, kadhi, besan gatta etc to overflow your belly with nourishment.

The Shilpgram Festival will mainly pledge you in hand loom clothes, ornaments and handicrafts carved of infinite materials. You may grease your hands all day in small emporiums which will never stop to delight you and force you to spend your money but at the end of the day, the festival will come to life to rejuvenate you with some never-before-seen performances and put you on your toes before you leave to put the day at rest. These astonishing and breath-taking performances start at 6p.m. to 8.30pm.

The inaugural day is known as The Welcome day where the chief guest commences the main stage ceremony and welcome performances are produced. Then after, the rest of the evenings are named after the theme and affair of the day. The show consists of folks and dances of different states, carried and executed by the residents of the particular state of which the folk is of.  The festival lasts usually for 10 days till the last date of the year. For the year 2012, the carnival starts from 21st December 2012. Being a part of this lovely culture, one should definitely visit this festival and get memories of lifetime. This will surely rejuvenate the cultural spirit in oneself and make it a worthy experience.

Post By: Lakshya Sukhija

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Places to Visit

Weekend Hangout Spot – Haldi Ghati

Sunday, Rain and Haldi Ghati – Its all That One Needs!

Finally, the long awaited rainy Rains are now in Lakecity. 2 days of continuous showers has soaked the city; the dampness of air and land has added to its magnetism; Lakes have attained the allure of late teens, frenzied n yet so beautiful, as if someone has added magic water in them; the weather is just perfect – no more scorching sun, just dark clouds and cold air ready to mesmerize every soul. And with this loving downpour, here comes our favorite Sunday J isn’t it a perfect combo – Rain and Sunday??

Photo Courtesy : columbia.edu

So this weekend let’s hangout with these dripping showers and drizzling air at a place which, even after having witnessed one of the most furious battle in history, can chant anyone with its enticing panorama. Yes, it’s none other than the “Haldi Ghati”, a terrain south west of Nathdwara, where gallant Maharana Pratap and his troops fought heroically against the forces of Emperor Akbar; the blood that was shed to safeguard their land was so much that it turned the color of soil to red. The feeling of standing on a land of merciless battle and thousands of deaths is sure to send shudders all over the body.

How to reach there:

Haldi ghati is 40 kms, by road, from Udaipur. You are sure to love the drive to Haldi Ghati; a narrow pass in the Aravali ranges, the soil all painted in yellow and the raindrops on windshield – it’s gonna be a perfect long drive… But but but be careful while driving on wet roads, they can be slippery.

What else to see:

A ‘Chattri’ is made out of delicate marbles in the memory of the loyal horse of Maharana, Chetak, who breathed his last breath only after leaving his master at a safe place. This Chattri is situated about 4 kms from Haldi ghati. Nearby, there is a village ‘Balicha’ famous for its terracotta crafts. You can also fill your mouth with the taste of original rose water and ‘Gulkand’ by visiting Badshahi Bagh.

So what are you waiting for?? Take your keys and start off for a rain drive and a trip into the glorious history of Mewar. Don’t forget to take random snaps and share them with us. Happy Rains and Happy Sunday Udaipies…!!