Udaipur Travel Guide

City Palace

City Palace towers over the Pichola Lake. Maharana Uday Singh initiated in the construction of the palace but succeeding Maharanas added several palaces and structures to the complex retained a surprising uniformity to the design. The entry to the Palace is from the Hati Pol, the Elephant gate.

The Bari Pol or the Big gate brings you to the Tripolia, the Triple gate. It was once a custom that the Maharana would weigh under this gate in gold and silver, which was distributed to the populace. It is also now the main ticket office. Balconies, cupolas and towers surmount the palace to give a wonderful view of the lake.

Udaipur has the biggest place of Rajasthan, enchanting lakes, spacious gardens and many historical monuments. Because of its charming climate through the year, this place has established its identity as a semi-hill station, and that is why Udaipur attracts every year thousands of tourists. Although climate is good all round the year but period from October to March is desirable for tourists.

Fateh Prakash Palace

It's like being cocooned in authentic royal luxury at the Fateh Prakash Palace, the grand heritage palace of the HRH group. The warmth of royal hospitality greets you as you walk along the corridors lined with large paintings of the Mewar school that flourished in the seventeenth through nineteenth century. Advertise Here The lake facing suites in the turrets are suitably appointed with four poster beds and period furniture, festooned with maroon velvet curtains and delicate silk tassels. It's a legacy kept alive since the early decades of the twentieth century when Maharana Fateh Singh (period of reign : 1884 - 1935) used to be the royal occupant of this palace. Till date the formality of royal occasions are maintained.

Lake Palace Hotel

Lake Palace is located in the middle of lake Pichola and seems like floating in the lake. Set Against the backdrop of the majestic aravalli mountains on the one side and impressive palaces on the other , the lake palace hotel spreads across 4 acre island. The gleaming lake palce hotel has put udaipur on international tourist map.
Lake palace hotel and other few hotels have been used as set for well known movies , domestic as well as international.

Pratap Smarak (Memorial)

Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl : Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favourite horse "Chetak".

Gulab Bagh & Zoo

A spectacular rose Garden laid out by Maharana Sajjan Singh, is situated near the palace on east side of Lake Pichhola. A library in the garden has a rare collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and books.Within the garden, there is a zoo with tigers, leopards, chinkara and many wild animals and birds are being kept. Meaning " The Rose Garden," is situated in Sajjan Niwas Park. Sajjan Singh laid out the Gulab Bagh in the late 19th Century. The Saraswati Bhawan Library (originally called the Victoria Hall) is a striking building that was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. It contains many rare books and a displaced statue of Victoria.

Dudh Talai

A beautiful laid out "Rock Garden" from where one can enjoy sunset view in Lake Pichhola and panoramic view of old city. Musical Fountain is an another attraction for the visitors.



Jagdish Temple

The temple of Jagannath Rai, now called Jagdishji, is a major monument and should be seen carefully. Raised on a tall terrace and completed in 1651, it is a tribute alike to the tenacity of its builders and the resilence of the art - tradition it represents. It attaches a double storeyed Mandapa (hall) to a double - storied, saandhara (that having a covered ambulatory) sanctum. The mandapa has another storey tucked within its pyramidal samavarna (bell - roof) while the hollow clustered spire over the sanctum contains two more, non - functional stories.
Lannes taking off from many of the sheharpanah (city wall) converge on the Jagdish Temple and walking leisurely through them brings you face with the many layers of the cultural palimpsest that Udaipur is.
It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh Ist in 1651 A.D. It is a good example of Indo - Aryan architecture. 

Pratap Museum

While entering the City palace the straight way go to the Government Pratap Museum housed with old sculptures and inscriptions. The antique paintings of Mewar, the turban of prince Khurram later on called Shahajahan, who built world fame Taj Mahal has also been displayed here as a token of friendship of Maharana Khazan Singh.

Crystal Gallery

A Unique Collection of Crystals of a Bygone Era
The Crystal Gallery Located in Fateh Prakash Palace (part of the Grand City Palace Complex) was opened to the public in 1994. Overlooking the Durball Hall, the Crystal Gallery has a grand collection of more than 600 rare objects collected from different parts of the world.

Inspired by the showroom of the Birmingham based company F & C Osler in Calcutta, this unique collection of the gallery was ordered by Maharana Sajjan Singhji in the year 1877. From lamps to washing bowls, perfume bottles to paperweights & writing instruments, the collection has it all. The Crystal Gallery also boasts a crystal bed, the only one of its kind in the world. Besides these, other
fascinating objects include a sofa set, a dining table, fountains, various coloured crystal objects, mirrored tabletops and exquisite decanters.
A trip to Udaipur is incomplete without visiting the CrystalGallery...

Sajjan Garh

Also known as the Mansoon Palace, it was built as an observatory by Maharana Sajjan Singh and was originally planned as a ninteen storeyed structure. However the Maharana died prematurely and the plans were curtailed. This now derelict palace dominates the skyline from its position 2468 feet high on top of Bansdara Mountain and is clearly visible from most parts of Udaipur. It affords splendid views of the City and the surrounding countryside.

Fateh Sagar

This lake was constructed by Maharana Jai Singh to the north of lake Pichola. A canal links the two. The lake is bordered on three sides by hills and on the fourth side it is dammed. The name derives from Fateh Singh, who built the dam. Visitors can take a short trip to exquisite Nehru Island Park, which is the focal point in the lake.

The City Walls

These ancient ramparts are the extensive though no longer complete. Large sections through the modern commercial area have disappeared to make way for roads and shops, but at least seven gateways remain.
These are Brahmpol (named after the god, Brahma), Ambapol (After the goddess Amba), Chandpol (the Moon Gate), and Hatipol (The Elephant Gate) to the north, Delhi Gate, Surajpol (The Sun Gate) & Udiapol (named after Udai Singh) to the East. The gateways and remaining walls are in reasonable shape but are unfortunately disfigured with hideous posters, hoardings, electric cables or pylons, learn to shacks or urinals, but plains are afoot for major restoration work.

Bagore ki Haveli

Situated on the bank of Lake Pichola & incorporating the majestic Gangaur Ghat, this haveli was built by the then Prime Minister of Mewar in the second Half of the 18th Century. It fell into a Dilapidated state until restoration by the West Zone Culture Centre began in 1986. There are 138 rooms, balconies, courtyards and terraces. The Chambers of the Royal Ladies contain fresco paintings, and the glass and mirror inlay work in the Haveli is marvelous

Sahelion - ki - Bari (Garden of the maids of honour)

Udaipur is a city of lakes and gardens, big and small. The Sahelion - ki - Bari is a fine specimen. On the eve of his departure from Mewar, Col.Tod had shifted to it so as to have some needed solitude. Much later, a thoughtful had located a library in it !
This small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing spot where royal ladies came for a stroll and hence the name. The garden has many fountains in its four delightful pools, chiselled kiosks and marble elephants.

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal

The interesting collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, folk deities and paintings.

Ahar Museum

The ancient capital of Sisodias, 3 km from Udaipur, Ahar boasts of a profusion of royal cenotaphs of the rulers of Mewar. A rare collection of antiquities including earthen pots, iron objects and other art items excavated in the region are displayed in a small Govt.museum.

Jag Mandir

In the middle of lake Pichhola is the island palace Jag Mandir where prince Khuman Singh Later known as emperor Shahjahan who built world fame Taj Mahal, sought refuse from his father emperor Jahangir. This three story building was completed by Maharana Jagat Singh Ist in 1652 A.D.
In the mutiney of 1857 A.D., the Indian regiments stationed at Neemach (M.P.) rebelled. English officers and women with their children had taken refuge in a village named Dungla, Maharana Swaroop Singh had then brought to Udaipur in safety and then kept them in comfort on the island of Jag Mandir untill order was restored.