Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
PDF Udaipur
Udaipur
What is it? Historic city
Where is it? Rajasthan
When do I go? Between November and March
For how long? Three days
STD Code: 0294
Udaipur has sometimes been called the Venice of the East but it is its own city, one of the most charming and beautiful cities of Rajasthan. With haunting palaces surrounded by lakes and undulating hills, Udaipur looks like something out of a fairy tale. In The Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Colonel James Tod, describes Udaipur as the ‘most diversified and most romantic spot on the continent of India’. Your first impression of Udaipur when you reach the train or bus station will be disappointing; disregard it and get into the real Udaipur.
About Udaipur:
History
The Ranas of Mewar trace their ancestry back to the Sun and ruled from their seventh-century stronghold at Chittor. Udaipur was founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh II after the final sacking of Chittorgarh by the Mughal emperor Emperor Akbar. According to legend Udai had been scouting around for a new capital for some time, since Chittor was so easily sacked. He came across a holy man near Lake Pichola. The man advised Udai to set up his capital on that very spot and that is how Udaipur came into being.
On first appearance Udaipur seems to be a mistake – Chittorgarh seems far more impregnable. But surrounded by forests, the impregnable Aravalli range and its forests, it was a good decision.
Udai Singh died in 1572 and was succeeded by his son Pratap. Akbar attacked Udaipur and in a do-or-die that has gone down in history, Pratap valiantly defended Udaipur in the Battle of Haldighati in 1576.
Unlike most other rulers in Rajasthan, the Mewar dynasty never bowed down to the Mughals or any other invader, a fact they are still proud of today. After the Mughals, the city thrived for 150 years and arts and culture, architecture and town planning flourished. Then came the Marathas and a period of unrest and finally the British. Udaipur signed a treaty with the British who pledged to protect Udaipur from invaders. When India gained Independence, the kingdom acceded to the republic.
Geography
Udaipur rests in the shadows of the Aravalli Mountains, at a height of 577 m. The old city is surrounded by the city wall, on the east side of Lake Pichola. The train station and bus station are both just outside the city wall.
Time Planner
One day:
Morning: City Palace and museums.
Afternoon: Boating on Lake Pichola, Jagmandir island, Jagniwas Island, sunset at Sajjangarh
Two days:
Day one: as above
Day two:
Morning: Saheliyon ki Bari, Pratap Smarak, Shilpgram, Bharatiya Lok kala Museum.
Late Afternoon: Nathdwara, Eklinji, Haldighati
Three day:
Day one and two: as above
Day three: Chittorgarh.
Climate
The best time to visit is between November and March. In the summer months, the mercury soars to 40°C, unless you are a sucker for punishment, you will stay away in May. In the winters, carry woollens as temperatures fall to around 5°C in January.
For more information on the following topics, please see our Jodhpur travel guide below:
- Getting there
- Getting around
- Sights & Sounds
- Excursions
- Accommodation
- Eating Out
- Shopping
- Useful Information
- Survival Guide
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