One of the most beautiful tourist places of India, and, perhaps, Rajasthan’s most enchanting destination, Udaipur--aptly called “the Venice of the East”--was the former Kingdom of Mewar. Home to the martial Rajput clan of the Great Sisodias, Udaipur has a mercurial past and energetic present that intrigue and enchant people no end.

Udaipur was the only kingdom that wasn’t molested by the Mughals. Its rulers defied even the British rulers. Udaipur was the only Indian kingdom that did not attend the durbar held in the honor of one of the colonial masters from Britain in the early 90s. No wonder, the Udaipur rulers earned the respect of not only their friends but also their foes and rivals who admired the fierce sense of independence and pride of the rulers of the great kingdom.

Udaipur’s matchless grandeur, not to mention beauty, has inspired many filmmakers from India and abroad to shoot certain scenes of their films--that include blockbusters such as Octopussy, Guide, and Eklavaya--at the many beautiful landmarks of the wonderful destination.

Attractions

Much famous as “the City of Lakes” for its many stunning lakes such as Pichola Lake, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar, Udaipur--to quote a renowned Englishman-- is “like no other place on earth”.

At Udaipur, admire the unique architecture of the place’s many striking palaces (interestingly, many of them, such as Lake Palace and City Palace, have been converted into wonderful luxury hotels complete with all modern amenities and facilities); enjoy lakeside walks at dawn, hear the many tales of royal intrigues, and go for shopping in the Old Bazaar from where you can buy fantastic handicrafts and works of art (including miniature paintings) that depict the rich cultural heritage of the place.

Also, don’t miss the chance to see the place’s many attractions such as Lake Palace (a white marble palace that appears to float amazingly on the still waters of Lake Pichola), City Palace (the largest palace complex in the state), Udaipur Solar Observatory (Asia’s only solar observatory), Dudh Talai (Rock Garden), Sajjangarh Fort (magnificent 18th century fort), Jagdish Temple (17th century temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu), Bagore-ki-Haveli (famous for its amazing architecture).

Among the nearby attractions of Udaipur, Ranakpur (famous for its wonderful Jain Temple), Haldi Ghati (the place where the great Rajput Warrior Maharana Pratap fought a fierce battle against the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the Great), Nath Dwara (Gateway to the Lord dedicated to Lord Krishna), Mount Abu (a beautiful hill station), Kumbhal Garh (famous for its 15th century fort), and Chittor Garh (the former capital of the Mewar Kingdom) are worth visiting and must not be missed.

How to reach

Udaipur is well connected by road, rail and air. Its airport connects Udaipur with the cities of Mumbai, Delhi and other major Indian cities. Good road network helps Udaipur get connected with all parts of Rajasthan and important destinations of the neighboring states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The railway station at Udaipur City connects the place with Delhi, Jaipur, Ahemdabad, Chittorgarh and several other major Indian cities.

http://www.indiatraveltrails.com