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The scenic beauty of Udaipur, combined with the monuments which are a tribute to its glorious past, make it a tourists’ delight, writes Desh Raj Kaistha UDAIPUR,
once the capital of Mewar, lies nearly 2,500 ft above the sea level. The
city has a healthy climate and the heat is never excessive. The winter
months are delightful for visiting the beautiful city.
Cupped by soft green hills, the opiate beauty of Udaipur is like a miracle in the dusty wind-blown heat of Rajasthan. The city combines beauty with picturesque association of a glorious past. It stands in a valley amid green hills on the banks of the steel-blue Pichola lake. Udaipur was named after its founder Maharana Uday Singh. This 16th century bastioned city is unique in the feminine quality among the masculine citadels of Rajasthan. With Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Swaroop Sagar and Udai Sagar lakes adorning it, Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes. Crowning the ridge is the palace of the Maharana known as the city palace. Within the palace is the magnificence of the east peacocks in mosaic on the walls, floors laid with tiles of rare beauty and roof gardens, which give a thrilling view of the panorama below. The building is of soft cream colour and its octagonal towers are crowned with cupolas. The Krishna vilas is the finest enclosure with its remarkable miniature. The museum has the armour of Maharana Pratap. The Jag Nivas Palace glows
pearly white on the placid blue waters of the lake. The Jag Mandir
Palace, built during the 17th century, is on an island opposite the city
palace. This was the place where Prince Khurram, later King Shah Jahan,
sought refuge while in the revolt against his father Jahangir.
The Jag Nivas Palace, built a 100 years later, has delightful courts and garden. It has been converted into a luxury hotel with oriental decor. Other places of interest in the city is the finely-carved temple of Jagan Nath, built by Maharana Jagat Singh in the 17th century, besides the eight sculptured arches between Baripol to Triple gateway under which Maharana used to be weighed against gold, which was distributed among the poor and the needy. Udaipur has many parks and gardens. The best among these is Sahelion-Ki-Bari with fountains, a lotus pond, chhatris and kiosks of black marble and the Jagdish temple with a carved edifice dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Among other places is the fortified palace of Sajjangar, on a steep hill overlooking the city, and Fatehsagar Lake offering a panoramic view of Udaipur and its environs. Three km from Udaipur is the ancient village of Ahar which has the cenotaphs of Maharanas, a wealth of white marble interspersed with trees. Here one will find Sati stones, commemorating the sacrifice of women who laid down their lives by performing johar while their husbands, pledged to die a hero's death in the service of their sacred land hurled themselves against the invading hordes. About 23 km north of the city is Ekling ji, a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and deity of Maharanas' of Mewar. About 27 km from here is Nathdwara, which has a 12th century temple which enshrines a unique black stone image of Lord Krishna. It is one of the important places of pilgrimage for Vaishnavas. Nearly 50 km south-east of Udaipur is Jalsamand lake, one of the largest artificial lakes in Asia, and another important lake Rajsammand. There are many hotels,
tourist and dak bungalows, railway retiring rooms, dharamsalas where one
can stay. Udaipur is well connected by air, rail and road. Direct rail
links to Jaipur, Agra, Bombay and Delhi, besides regular air service
from Mumbai and Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur are available. |
