Udaipur, also known as the City of Lakes, is the crown jewel of the state of Rajasthan. It is surrounded by the beautiful Aravalli Hills in all directions, making this city as lovely as it is. This 'Venice of the East' has an abundance of natural beauty, mesmerizing temples, and breathtaking architecture which makes it a must-visit destination in India. A boat ride through the serene waters of Lake Pichola will be enough to prove to you why Udaipur is the pride of Rajasthan.
Located in a valley and surrounded by four lakes, Udaipur has natural offerings with a grandeur multiplied by human effort, to make it one of the most enchanting and memorable tourist destinations. It justifies all names ever offered to its charm from 'Jewel of Mewar' to 'Venice of the East'. And though the entire city's architecture is flattering, the Lake Palace hotel is something that offers the city a visual definition. The revered Nathdwara temple is about 60 km from Udaipur.
Best Time To Visit :
October to March offer is the best time to visit Udaipur. The winter season is pleasant making it an ideal time to explore the city at its best. Monsoons from July to September is another ideal time to visit Udaipur as it is pleasant and a relief from the torrid climate of Rajasthan. However, summer months must be avoided as the temperatures rise up to 42 degrees.
Places To Visit :
1 . Lake Pichola :
Lake Pichola is an artificial lake located in the heart of Udaipur, Rajasthan. The oldest and one of the largest lakes of the city, Lake Pichola observes lakhs of tourists because of its tranquillity and beauty. Flanked by lofty hills, heritage buildings, and bathing ghats, it is a dream come true for peace and nature lovers. A visit to Lake Pichola is incomplete without a boat ride, especially at dawn. During evenings, it seems the entire place has been dipped in gold as you can see the heritage buildings and the pristine water turning golden with the sun's reflection. The enthralling views will take you to a different world of stillness and will also bring out your romantic side.
2 . City Palace :
Built on the banks of Lake Pichola, the City Palace in Udaipur is considered to be the largest royal complex in Rajasthan. The magnificent palace was built in the year 1559 by Maharana Uday Singh and served as the main seat of power, where the Maharanas lived and administered the kingdom from. Subsequently, the palace was made even more splendid by his successors, who added a number of structures to it. The Palace now has an assortment of Mahals, courtyards, pavilions, corridors, terraces, rooms, and hanging gardens. There is a museum here as well that showcases some of the finest elements of Rajput arts and culture - from colorful paintings to the typical architecture found in Rajasthani palaces.
3 . Fateh Sagar Lake :
Lying to the north-west of Udaipur, Fateh Sagar Lake is a sparkling lake which is one of the major tourist spots in the city. Surrounded by the Aravalli Hills, it is the second-largest artificial lake in the city and is known for its scenic beauty. The atmosphere here is calm, and tourists are bound to find themselves enthralled by the blanket of tranquillity the place warms them up with. One can witness the circumference of the Fateh Sagar Lake by driving on the Moti Magri Road and get a fantastic view of the entire lake. Apart from enjoying a laid-back afternoon in the serene beauty of this destination, you can also try your hand at boating and a number of other water sports that are available here for the visitors.
4 . Sajjangarh Palace :
Located just on the outskirts of the city of Udaipur, perched atop a hill, Sajjangarh Palace is a former royal residence belonging to the Mewar dynasty, who ruled over this place for centuries. The palatial complex is named after its patron, Maharana Sajjan Singh, who ordered its construction and had it erected in 1884. It was originally intended to be a nine-storeyed astronomical observatory to note and assess the arrival and patterns of monsoon clouds, which could be easily perceived from the palace because of its location at a strategic vantage point at one of the hilltops of Aravalli, called Bandara Peak. For this reason, it has also earned the name Monsoon Palace. It would have also created employment opportunities for the subjects.
How To Reach :
1 . By Flight :
The Maharana Pratap Airport, also known as the Dabok airport is situated at a distance of 24km from Udaipur. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur have flights scheduled every day from here, which makes the travel quite convenient.
2 . By Road :
The city lies midway between Delhi and Mumbai, at the intersection of NH 8, Golden quadrilateral, East-west Corridor, and NH 76. Road travelers can drive down to the city either from Ahmedabad through NH8 which takes approximately 5 hours or from Jaipur which is a 6-hour journey via the Golden quadrilateral. It's also a 4-hour drive from Kota through the EW corridor.
3 . By Train :
There are two railway stations in Udaipur- Udaipur City railway station and Rana Pratap Nagar railway station, both well networked to most of the cities in India like Kolkata, Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Agra, etc. Both the stations are located within a distance of 3km from the city center.