Udaipur : Places to Visit

City Palace:

The white walls of the City Palace soar above the peaceful waters of Lake Pichola topped by ornamental battlements and turrets. The sprawling palace has been developed by successive Maharanas since the foundation of Udaipur in 1559. Part of the palace is home to the current Maharana, a section of it is a first-class hotel (with the best restaurant in the city) and the remainder is a museum. The approach to the city palace is through Hathi Pol.

Balconies, towers and cupolas surmount the largest palace complex in Rajasthan and there are fine views over the lake and the city from the upper terraces. The grand Mor Chowk or Peacock Courtyard, with its walls covered with a dramatic glass mosaic relief of dancing peacocks, is a celebrated feature of the palace. A conglomeration of various palaces inside including Dilkhush Mahal, the Krishna Vilas and Moti Mahal, are all ornately decorated. The Manak Mahal with elaborate mirrors and coloured glasses on the ceiling, walls and even the floor is very imposing. It also includes the Chini Chitrashala. a collection of Chinese Porcelain.

Housed in the City Palace is a museum which contains a wonderful collection of old Rajput weaponry including a suit of armour worn by Maharana Pratap, the most chivalrous of the Rajput rulers. This armour weighs as much as 165 pounds. Chetak was the Rana's equally famed horse whose armour, with a fake elephant trunk, is another notable feature here.

Jagdish Temple:

Close to the City Palace is the Jagdish Temple, which is consecrated to Lord Vishnu. Built in 1651. It is the largest and most splendid temple in Udaipur. Its walls are decorated with a lavish abundance of marvelous stonemason works on white marble. There are also beautiful wall paintings of the most important Hindu deities.

Lake Pichola:

Situated on the western side of Udaipur, it derives its name from a nearby village Picholi. The lake is fifteen kms in area and has a depth of twenty-five feet. Udai Singh built a dam and since then the lake has become a meeting place for more than two hundred species of migratory and non-migratory birds. On a four-acre land at the centre of the lake is the Lake Palace built in white marble, which seems to float amongst the calm waters of the lake. One can take a boat ride and visit the numerous ghats.

The lake here was artificially created in the 14th century, two hundred years before the city was founded by the Maharanas of Chittorgarh as the capital of the indomitable Mewar. Balconies, towers and cupolas surmount the largest palace complex in Rajasthan and there are fine views over the lake and the city from the upper terraces