Udaipur
About the city
Located in the Aravalli ranges of Rajasthan, the city of Udaipur is situated at a distance of about 405 km from the state capital Jaipur. The city is well connected through air, rail, and road to other important cities of India like Jaipur, Delhi, and Mumbai.In southern Rajasthan, amidst the low hills of the Aravallis, bounded by its two big lakes, Pichola and Fateh Sagar, and River Ahar.Udaipur is my favourite city in India and one of the nicest anywhere. There are many fine buildings, but it is above all a city of lakes and gardens. Much of the old walled city, is delightful to stroll around.
Udaipur, the ‘city of Lakes' sprawling picturesquely on the slopes of a low ridge along the banks of Pichola and Fatehsagar lakes was founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1559. It became the new capital of the Rnas of Mewar, after the death of Maharana Pratap in 1597. The beautiful city is surrounded by an ampitheatre of low hills and studded with placid blue lakes, white marble palaces, graceful gardens and sacred shrines. The amazing city is indeed a perfect blend of natural beatuty and history, offering a great vaccation to tourists with varied interests.
On the banks of the shimmering lake Pichola, is one of the most romantic cities of Rajasthan. Nestled among the lush hills of the Aravalis, it has inevitably been dubbed the 'Venice of the East'. It is a kaleidoscope of fairy-tale palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with stalls, carries the flavour of the heroic past, epitomizing valor and chivalry.
Founded in 1568 AD by Maharana Udai Singh, the city is a harmonious Indian blend of whitewashed buildings, marble palaces, lakeside gardens, temples and Havelis. According to the legend, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichola. Maharana followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city. The marvellous architecture of the palaces is spell bounding.
Demography
According to 2001 census, Udaipur has a population of about 389,317. Males consitute 52% of the population and females around 48%. Udaipur has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 60%. Male literacy is about 87% and the female literacy is around 81%. In Udaipur, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.Udaipur, the 'City of Lakes' was founded in 1599 by Maharana Udai Singh. The city hailed as the 'Venice of the East' set amidst the Aravalli hills of South Rajasthan, is one of the most romantic destinations in India. Udaipur has a profusion of marble palaces, lakes, temples, cenotaphs and rugged hills. It's also proud of its heritage as a centre for the performing arts, painting and crafts. Famous historical personalities like Maharana Pratap, Rani Padmini and Meera Bai, the poetess and devotee of Lord Krishna hail from here. The enchanting marble palaces and scenic beauty makes it a most fantastic place for leisure.
Often (and rightfully) described as India's most romantic city, Udaipur's center is the beautiful Lake Pichola, which reflects white temples and palaces and the Arvalli Hills. The city, though a favourite tourist spot is thankfully devoid of the usual drone of tourists. The lake, which really draws travelers here, tends to run somewhat dry owing to prolonged droughts. Hence, it's best visited during monsoons, when the rains fill it up again. Set aside at least 3 to 4 days here, to explore its magnificent City Palace and Lake Palace, wander in its mazelike markets, take a leisurely cruise on the Pichola or explore the temples and forts of Kumablgarh and Ranakpur. Whatever you choose to do, rest assured Udaipur's temples, palaces and vibrant culture would simply take you in.
Local Languages
Marwari, Hindi, EnglishMoving Around
There are more than enough means of transportation within the city, so moving around is not a problem. If you're taking a city tour, hire one of the yellow-and-black taxis. Tongas and auto-rickshaws are available and are relatively cheaper mode of travel. You would, however, need to bargain with the drivers. Udaipur also offers a reasonably good bus service and city buses are regularly used by people. These buses can be availed at a small amount, though they don't have any fixed schedules to follow.For a truly innovative way of traveling, hire a bicycle or motorbike, since Udaipur is a small city and traveling from one end to the other, isn't all that difficult.
Orientation
The beautiful lake town of Udaipur lies in southern Rajasthan, 270 km south of Ajmer. It is part of the Mewar region of Rajasthan. Situated on National Highway 8 and set around the magnificent Pichola Lake, it is bounded on the northwest by the Aravalli Range, on the north by Rajsamand District, on the east by Chittorgarh District, on the southeast by Banswara District, on the south by Dungarpur and on the southwest by the state of Gujarat. The original settlement of Udaipur was concentrated around the City Palace along the Lake Pichola. To the north lies the labyrinthine maze of the old city which continues to be encircled by the remains of its old fort.History
Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar, a kingdom ruled by the Sisodiadynasty for 1200 years. According to an interesting legtend, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill ovelooking the Lake Pichhola. The hermit blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace at this favourably located spot with a fertile valley watered by the stream, a lake, at an agreeable altitude and an amphitheater of low mountains. The Maharana followed the advise of the hermit and founded the city in 1559 AD.It is often said that Udaipur owes its founding to the third sack of Chittaur in 1568 but this is only partly true. In fact Maharana Udai Singh had realised the untenability of Chittaur in the face of an expansionist Mughal empire and had made advance preparations tomove the capital of Mewar. His successor Pratap Singh was actually driven out of Udaipur after the Battle of haldighati (1576), nut continued a guerilla war. Amar Singh, who followed him, eventually paid tribute to Jehangir, on his own terms and long after the other Rajput princes had capitulated. A fragile prosperity and with it much building, ensured. This ended, as did so much else, with the arrival on the scene of Aurangzeb. Udaipur had to be anandoned again, and all the temples were destroyed. This time Mewari guerilla tactics paid off, but the victory was hardly to the advantages of Udaipur. A century of chaos involving war with neighbouring states. Pindari freebooters and the Marathas resulted in depopulation and impoverishment. Finally a traty with the British in 1817 brought peace. The first British agent, incidentally, was Colonel James Tod, to whose monumental Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan we owe so much of our knowledge of Rajput legend and history.
Founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1567, Udaipur was ruled by the Sisodia clan for more than 1200 years. A long war with the Muslim rulers of Delhi rendered the old capital Chittor unsafe and Udai Singh scanned the surrounding countryside before settling for the area around Lake Pichola that was well-protected by the Aravalli hills. Foundations for the new capital of Udaipur were laid in 1559 but it was only after Chittor finally fell to the Mughals eight years later, that he took up residence here. On his death in 1572, he was succeeded by his son, the legendary hero Rana Pratap, whose refusal to bow down to the Mughals is the stuff of folklore and song. He defeated Akbar in the famous battle of Haldighati, restoring peace and prosperity in the city. Art and architecture flourished in Udaipur until 1736 when the Marathas attacked the prosperous kingdom. Later, the British stepped in to protect Udaipur from invaders and to help restore its original property by presenting the Maharana with a treaty of 'perpetual alliance and friendship' in 1818. The Maharanas of Udaipur, however, never let the British vest control even in the later years of the Raj.