These 5 places are the ones you must not miss to visit whether you are a localite or a tourist. These places are beautiful and define the brilliance of Udaipur. Each place is a masterpiece of architecture and showcases the royalty of the City of Lakes. All the 5 places are not situated in the city, rather outside the periphery. Let us have a brief insight of these 5 places to visit near Udaipur.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built by the ruler Rana Kumbha during the 15th century. Perched high on the Aravali Range, its wall is the second longest wall in the world, after the Great Wall of China. Tourists can hike along a large section of the wall, which has been restored.
Some of the major attractions at Kumbhalgarh Fort are hundreds of ancient temples, palace ruins, step wells, and cannon bunkers. Plan to spend three to four hours exploring the fort. Another breath-taking attraction is the light and sound show in the evening which starts at 6.45 pm, and you may not wish to miss it. Also, the annual Kumbhalgarh Festival takes place at the fort in December and features performances from folk artists.
Timings: Sunrise until sunset, daily
Ticket: 200 rupees for foreigners, 15 rupees for Indians
The sound and light show costs 100 rupees
Chaumukha Mandir, Ranakpur
Dedicated to the first Tirthankar who instituted Jainism, it’s the country’s biggest and most significant Jain temple. The main temple, Chaumukha Mandir, is made out of white marble and was built in the 15th century and has 29 halls, 80 domes, and 1444 engraved pillars. A dress is required for both men and women to wear before entering into temple complex. Leather things and items like belts, shoes are not allowed on the premises. Also, food items and cigarettes are not allowed. From Ranakpur, you can go hiking and explore the neighboring Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.
Location: 2 hours northwest of Udaipur. Ranakpur is frequently visited along with Kumbhalgarh on a day trip. The travel time between each place is around 90 minutes.
Timings: Non-Jain people can enter the temple from noon to 5 pm while mornings prayers are reserved.
Ticket Cost: Entry is free for Indians but for foreigners, it’s 200 rupees each, with an audio guide. Also, 100 rupees charge will be there for carrying a camera.
Saas Bahu Temple (Sahastra-Bahu Temple)
It is an undeniably beautiful 8th century Shri Eklingji Prabhu Temple. The temple complex is made completely out of marble and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The original shrine was built by Bapa Rawal, founder of the Mewar Dynasty. The current head of the Mewar royal family continues to worship at the temple every Monday. Photography isn’t allowed inside the temple while the outside is a major attraction for shoots as it gives a flamboyant background. The temple is covered with intricate sculptures.
Location: Kailashpur (Eklingji), about 30 minutes north of Udaipur along NH8.
Timings: 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m, and 5 p.m. to 7.30 7.30 p.m.
Ticket: There’s a nominal fee at the Saas Bahu temples.
Chittorgarh Fort
Chittorgarh had been the capital of the Mewar kingdom for over 800 years until 1568. It is believed that its history extends back to the 7th century when local Mauryan rulers started constructing it. Chittorgarh became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2013. It’s a massive fort and considered the largest fort in India. Inside the fort, there are numerous old palaces, temples, Vijay stambh and other towers, a reservoir and a royal cremation ground. There is an evening light and sound show that tells the story of the fort, but usually, it’s in Hindi.
Location: About 2 hours northeast of Udaipur
Timings: Sunrise to sunset, daily
Tickets: 200 rupees for foreigners, 15 rupees for Indians
Delwara Temples Mount Abu
The Delwara Temples of India are located in Mount Abu- the only hill station in Rajasthan. These Jain temples were built by Vimal Shah and designed by Vastapul-Tejpal, Jain laymen, between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The Delwara temples are known for their use of marble and intricate marble carvings. The decorative details scattering over the carved ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels are simply amazing.
The five marble temples of Delwara are a sacred pilgrimage place for the Jains. Each is named after the small village in which it is located. These are:
- Vimal Vasahi
- Luna Vasahi
- Pithalhar
- Parshvanath
- Mahavir Swami
Location: About 2.5-3 hours drive from Udaipur
Timings: Sunrise to sunset, daily
Tickets: It is free