Rajasthan never ceases to amaze. And among all the beauties Rajasthan has to offer, Udaipur and its glorious lakes take a special place in every tourist’s heart. There is a good reason why this city is often referred as the ‘Venice of the East’ because Udaipur is surrounded by azure water lakes and is bordered by lush green hills of Aravallis. It is the home to the second largest man-made sweet water lake in Asia, Jaisamand Lake and as well as the famous Lake Palace in Pichola lake. Plus, no matter where you are in Rajasthan, you can never escape its mighty architecture and ancient artworks. Founded by MaharanaUdai Singh II as the new capital of Mewar Kingdom in 1553, Udaipur is also famous for its profusion of zinc and marble.
Lake Pichola is the reason why Udaipur is called ‘the Venice of the East’. Built in 1362, the lake is 3 miles in length and 2 miles in breadth and is a famous place to visit in Udaipur. This iconic place surrounds some of Udaipur’s famous tourist sites, including Udaipur City Palace, Mohan Mandir, Eklinggarh Fort, Jag Mandir, Pichola Palace, etc.
The City Palace is the heart of Udaipur’s true beauty. The marvelous architecture is located in Lake Pichola. The city palace is now a big staying place that offers courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms, and hanging gardens. The Palace offers some marvelous beauties including the triple arched gate, the “Tripolia”, the balcony of the sun, Thesurajgokhada, The ‘MorChowk’ and the ‘ChiniChitrashala’.
Once known as Jagniwas, a summer palace for royals, it is now a stunning resort. The palace was established between 1743 and 1746 on the island near Jagmandir in Lake Pichola. The beautiful artwork of black and white marble on the walls is a sight to behold.
Jagmandir was built between 1620 and 1652 on an island on Lake Pichola. It’s also known as the ‘Lake Garden Palace’. This royal family used to host summer parties here. The palace holds many histories over time. Legend says that the palace inspired one of the world’s magnificent wonders, The TajMahal.
Located on the top of Bansdara hills, the monsoon palace was once a hunting lodge for the royal family. Built by MaharanaSajjan Singh, it was supposed to be an astronomical center, but later the plans were dropped after the king’s death. However, the Monsoon palace still offers a gorgeous view of the entire city above the hill.
Located close to the Maharanas of Mewar, the museum holds a rare collection of earthen pottery, sculptures, and archaeological finds dating back to 1700 BC.
If you want to see something different from Rajputana artworks, then Jagdish Temple is a marvelous example of Indo-Aryan architecture. Built in 1651 by MaharanaJagat Singh I, this three-storied temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
FatehSagar Lake is another famous tourist spot in Udaipur. Located to the north of Lake Pichola, it is a man-made lake connected to Lake Pichola by a canal. It houses the Udaipur Solar Observatory. It was originally built by the Duke of Connaught and was known as the Connaught Bundh.
Saheliyon-ki-Bari is a uniquely beautiful garden made by MaharanaSangram Singh II for women. It is a beautiful place to go on an evening walk with your girl gang.
Udaipur is the home to the second largest man-made sweet water lake in Asia. Jaisamand Lake is a very popular tourist site built to hold the waters of the Ruparel River. It’s now home to many migrating birds.