Udaipur- A historical extravaganza

Ev More eryone must have heard about Venice but ever wondered where Indian Venice is located? Well, take a guess; it boasts several sparkling lakes against a backdrop of the Aravali hills. The once called Mewar kingdom located in eastern India, is none other than Udaipur.

This place offers dynamic ancestral architecture, history and culture. Not to forget a MAHARAJA (king) experience and subtle taste of Rajasthani cuisine.

Udaipur is surrounded by a series of seven lakes along with lush green aravali hills. It's known for being the place for chilling out and relaxing. It's a city to visit with your lover and soak up the romance.

It's a beautiful spot, full of glistening palaces and historic bungalows, with street art to take photos of, Ghats to watch the sunset from, and peaceful lakes to wander alongside. It was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II in 1559. And shows great cultural traditions of Rajput Gharana (heritage).

How to reach and go around Udaipur

Reaching Udaipur is not difficult as this place offers both airport and railway stations. Maharana Pratap Airport is an airport serving Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. It is situated at Dabok, 22 km East of Udaipur. Also, the name of the railway station is Udaipur railway station.

Although, Most of Udaipur can be traveled on foot. But, one can get car rental services and taxis to go around the city. If you are on a tight budget, perhaps you should try bus services.

Accommodation

There are two main areas to stay in Udaipur; either around lake Pichola, or a bit far from the central area. Depends, where one wants to reside. Also, this place offers Air bnbs and hostels.

Explore Udaipur

1. Lake Pichola-Fun fact about this lake is that the whole city of Udaipur thrived around and in it historically as well as to its present state. It is a man-made lake interestingly by a gypsy, who is popularly known as "Banjara; in Rajasthan. The Taj Palace hotel situated in the lake itself, glorifies by shimmering like a heaven during night.
2. The Bagore Ki Haveli- Located near lake Pichola, it is a must visit tourist spot. It offers an amazing view of the lake. The massive structures act as a live museum, giving a peek of the royal loves of the kings and queens. If you ever visit this place, never miss the Dharohar Dance Show at Bagore Ki Haveli which starts around 7 PM and is an hour-long show in the courtyard.
3. Udaipur City Palace-The City Palace is located on the banks of Lake Pichola, a quite renowned place. This grand palace is an unequaled visual of the status and charm of the Mewar dynasty. A visit to the Udaipur City Palace is incomplete without visiting the palace museum. This is one of the best things to do in Udaipur.
4. Jag Mandir- Anyone who thinks it's a temple, well no. It is a palace which was constructed by a series of rulers. This palace has quite a history to its name as it served as a refuge to the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The large elephant statues welcome people to this beautifully landscaped island.
5. Saheliyon Ki Bari- A beautiful garden curated by Maharana Bhopal Singh. Built near the Fateh Sagar Lake, it has beautiful gardens, lotus ponds, and even has a small museum.
6. Vintage Car Museum- Experience the old world charm with a visit to the Vintage Car Museum. Situated on Gulab Road in Udaipur, the Classic and Vintage car museum is a collection of motor cars used by the Maharana of Mewar.
7. Moti Magri- Moti Magri or Pearl Hill overlooks Fateh Sagar Lake and has a memorial of Maharana Pratap. The statue of Maharana Pratap on his horse Chetak is made entirely of bronze.
8. Udaipur Ghat- If you are a sunset lover, Udaipur ghat offers you one of the most picturesque sunsets to end your day.
9. Bada Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar - You can't miss shopping some chick rajasthani folklore if you are in Udaipur. This market has it all in its vicinity. If you want Udaipur's decorations, do hit Bapu bazaar.
10. Fateh Sagar Lake- Also known as the house of solar observatory, one can get a clear view from Moti Mahal road. You can experience various boat riding options along with enjoying the serene beauty of the lake.
11. The Monsoon Palace: The Monsoon Palace, also known as the Sajjan Garh Palace, is a hilltop palatial residence in the city of Udaipur, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake. The Sajjan garh Palace is 10km away from central Udaipur City. You can take a local cab, auto-rickshaw or a bus run by the government. Located on the Aravali hills, this is an amazing fort with a breathtaking view. It is open from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening on weekends.
12. Ahar Cenotaphs: A place with high architectural significance. This destination offers more than 250 cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar that were built over approximately 350 year. A person with archaeological interest will be mesmerized by the ancient sculptures and artifacts. The Ahar Cenotaphs are open on all days from sunrise to sunset which is mostly from 6 am until 6 pm.
13. Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum- An artist's paradise, this museum houses historic masks, models, dolls, pictures, puppets and musical instruments sourced from personal collections, public donations and bequests. The entry fee is 20 rupees and is open on weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm.
14. Religious temples- SahastraBahu Temple, Eklingji Temple and Jagdish Temple are not only famous for devotion but their intricate architecture as well.
15. Jaisamand Lake- Built-in the 17th century, Jaisamand Lake also known as the Dhebar Lake, is the second-largest human-made Lake in India. It is huge and beautiful and far cleaner than the other lakes in the district. You should definitely watch sunsets from this place.
16. Mewar biodiversity Park- A trekker's delight in the city of lakes. This park is a part of Aravali hills, spread largely on forested Amberi area. The park is home to a variety of wildlife and 3-4 panthers can be seen wandering here. The park timings are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
17. Under the Sun Aquarium- Under the Sun Aquarium is India's Biggest Public Aquarium. It has more than 100 species of fish under its care, many of which are rare and exotic. It is open from 8 am to 10:30 pm.

Munch Rajasthani food

Udaipur is the hub of delicious rajasthani food experience. Kabab Mistri, Jaiwana Haveli (Rooftop Restaurant), Raas Leela: Lakefront Restaurant, Charcoal by Carlson, Sheesh Mahal, Upre By 1559 AD offers fine dine with a photogenic location, Sunset Terrace is ideal for a romantic dinner for 2. 

Conclusion

Three days are enough to go around this destination and seek the Rajasthani royal ambience. The ideal time to visit Udaipur is during winters between Novembers to Februarys. Also, don't forget sunscreen because nobody wants to return with getting too tanned.