Udaipur: The Venice of the East
Udaipur, referred to as the Venice of the East or the Lake City of India, is one of the most visited tourism destinations in India. Founded by Maharaja Udai Singh, Udaipur was once the capital of the princely state of Mewar. After the Indian Independence in 1947, Mewar seceded to the Union of India and became part of the Indian state of Rajasthan.
Today, Udaipur has emerged as one of the world’s best tourist destinations and is particularly known for its many lakes, many palaces, many temples and the regal aura that surrounds the place. Even today, Udaipur retains a royal character. This is the city’s most noticeable aspect, and is amply evidenced by the many small yet regal buildings and heritage festivals. Many of these palaces and regal structures have been converted into hotels, and most travellers across the globe agree that Udaipur is home to some of the finest luxury hotels in the world.
Places to visit in Udaipur
- Udaipur is abundant with tourist sites. Udaipur is home to many lakes, of which the more prominent and prolific are the Pichola Lake, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar Lake and Swaroop Sagar Lake.
- The most prominent palace in Udaipur is the City Palace Udaipur, one of the world’s finest royal houses that stands east bank of Lake Pichola. The City Palace is not one single palace but a network of many interconnected palaces, some of which have been converted into heritage hotels. It can be argued, however, that the most famous palace in Udaipur is the Lake Palace, which is situated on a rocky island in the middle of Lake Pichola.
- Today, the Lake Palace is a famous luxury hotel and is constantly ranked among the best hotels in the world.
- Udaipur is also home to several other attractions such as Jag Mandir, City Palace and Museum.
- Other places include Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, Maharana Pratap Memorial or Moti Magri, Sajjangarh Fort, Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon-ki-Bari, Udaipur Solar Observatory, Gulab Bagh and Zoo, Dudh Talai, Nehru Garden, Bagore-ki-Haveli, Ahar Museum, Shilpgram and Neemach Mata Temple.
Udaipur- Travel tips, languages spoken, cuisine
- Languages: Hindi and English are widely spoken, and as such communication should not be a problem.
- Cuisine: Udaipur being one of Rajasthan’s largest cities, cuisine catering to all tastes and stomachs is readily available.
- Museum: Udaipur and the surrounding regions can be more likened to an endless museum.
- Udaipur handicrafts: Udaipur is also one of the premier handicraft centres of India, and is perhaps the most perfect place in the world to get lost.
Official tour guides are available in many heritage Udaipur temples and Udaipur palaces. Udaipur tours are offered by many tour operators.
Best time to visit Udaipur
Though, Udaipur can be visited any time of the year, the summers here can be as scorching as hell. The winters are rather better but temperatures here sometimes drop to near zero.
Udaipur- Getting there
- By Air: Udaipur’s airport (located 23 kms away from the city centre) is one of India’s most prominent domestic airports, and as such flight connectivity is very good. Udaipur is connected to Jodhpur, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi by daily flights.
- By Rail: Udaipur railway station is one of the country’s largest railway stations, and is well connected to almost all major Indian cities.
- By Road: Udaipur is the preferred jump-pad for many Rajasthan tours, and is one of the best connected cities of India. Rickshaws, buses, taxis, private taxis and tongas (two-wheeled horse carriages) are the modes of transport within the Lake City.
Accommodation
Hotels, inspection bungalows, private cottages, etc. are available to suit all budgets. Udaipur abounds in family holiday apartments and bungalows. One can obtain excellent discounts on accommodation via Rajasthan tour packages. Many Udaipur resorts have some connections to the erstwhile royalty of the region.