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Udaipur,
Rajasthan, India,
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In all Hindustan there is no more picturesque a city than which Udai
Singh, when driven from Chittorgarh, founded amongst the mountains."- said
King George V, visiting Udaipur in 1905. Udaipur, the city of the
Suryavansi Rajputs, hidden amongst the hills that encompass the great
Pichola Lake -- has been called the `Venice of the East`. Indeed with it`s
enchanting palaces surrounded by mirror-like lakes, undulating hills and
colourful bazaars, Udaipur looks as though it has been lifted straight
from the pages of an Arabian Night`s fairy tale book. The hills, the lakes
and the altitude give Udaipur an extremely agreeable climate. Probably no
other city in Rajasthan is quite as romantic as Udaipur. A visit to
Udaipur is a must for travellers who want to experience the unique and
vibrant history of Rajasthan.
City
Palace
The City Palace of Udaipur is one of the most remarkable constructions of
the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan. Located in the heart of the city of
Udaipur and towering over the Lake Pichola, the City Palace unfailingly
infuses a sense of awe in the hearts of its onlookers. It is the standing
testimony of Rajput passion for art and architecture despite the fact that
the exterior is not as elegant as the interiors.
The original construction of the palace was pioneered by Maharana Udai
Singh of the Sisodia clan soon after he founded the city of Udaipur.
Subsequent Maharanas added their own structures within the palace complex
later, but interestingly there is no sign of any inconsistency in the
overall appearance. Infact, the entire City Palace complex exudes a
beautiful harmony and uniformity in its construction work.
The old part of the palace complex today serves as a museum that stores
the legacy of the Rajput rulers for the visitors. Two of the newer portion
of the palace have been converted into hotels.
Eklingji Temple
The temple at Eklingji or Kailashpuri is one of the prime pilgrimage
destinations in Rajasthan. Eklingji has been the deity of the royal Mewar
family since the time of Bappa Rawal, founder of the Mewar dynasty. Ek
means 'one' while ling means 'lingum or the life giving phallic symbol of
Lord Shiva'. The patron deity of the Mewar clan is considered the actual
ruler of the region while the kings are merely the Dewan (or the Prime
Minister) of this God of Mewar.
The Eklingji Temple is located at a distance of around 22 km from Udaipur
and is said to be initially built by Bappa Rawal on the side of 72 rooms
Jain temple which housed a four faced statue of Adinath, first Jain Saint.
The site is also important as it was the place where Bappa Rawal received
religious discourse from his guru, Harit Rishi. The temple was first built
in the year 728AD, however, subsequent changes and renovation work was
done later as well. The temple that stands today is not the original
structure but the one built on the site of ancient temple. Infact, as
later as in the 15th and 16th century, Maharana Raimal too rebuilt and
renovated this temple.
The temple is open for the devotees at a little odd hours - from 4.15-6.45
in the morning; next 10.30 am - 1.30 pm and lastly from 5.15-7.45 pm
(timings need to be checked before a visit to conform any changes). Monday
is considered immensely auspicious day for devotees as such the crowd on
this day can be more than usual.
At a distance of around 1 km from the temple complex is the cave of Bappa.
This is a hot picnic spot for visitors.
Jag
Mandir Palace
Lake Pichola is home to another famous island, the Jag Mandir Island which
lies on its southern edge. The construction of a palace on this island was
begun by Maharana Karan Singh II of the Udaipur. He ruled the region
between the period of 1620-28 and it was during his reign that prince
Khurram (later Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan) revolted against his father,
Jehangir and left his kingdom. Maharana Karan Singh provided prince
Khurram, his family (wife Mumtaz and sons Dara and Aurangzeb) and his men
a safe refuge in the City Palace, however, when the nobles failed to
adhere to the Rajput customs, Karan Singh moved them to the Jag Mandir
Palace which was still under construction. After the death of Karan Singh
in 1928, his son Jagat Singh was crowned the Maharana and he added more
structures to the island palace.
The historical importance of the Jag Mandir Palace doesn't end here.
During the 1857 sepoy mutiny in India, Maharana Swaroop Singh provided a
number of European families and refuges from Neemuch, specially women and
children, a safe place to stay in this island palace.
For tourists, the Jag Mandir Palace is a marvellous place to spend some
beautiful moments. It is also heartening to note that the architecture of
the world famous Taj Mahal draws a bit of its inspiration from the pietra
dura work of this island palace. A sunrise and the sunset view is the
ultimate sight to enjoy from the Jag Mandir Island.
Lake
Palace
This white marble structure rising out of the Lake Pichola has an
irresistible charm that draws tourists from far and wide. The beauty of
the Lake Palace is in a way responsible to bring Udaipur in the list of
important tourists destinations of the world. Infact, the Lake Palace,
along with two other palaces of Udaipur has also featured in the highly
popular James Bond film, Octopussy.
The foundation of the Lake Palace was laid by Maharana Jagat Singh II in
1754. The palace covers the entire 1.5 hectares of the Lake Palace Island,
earlier known as the Jag Niwas Island. Maharana Jagat Singh was pretty
friendly with the Mughal contemporary, Shah Jahan, hence, his beautiful
creation in Udaipur reflects some of the Mughal architectural influence.
The palace served as summer residence for the Rajput rulers of Udaipur who
loved to retreat to this magnificent palace in midst of a lake.
The rooms and apartments within the Lake Palace are all a classic example
of sophisticated royalty. The beauty of the palace interiors is enhanced
multifolds because of the presence of cusped arches, inland stones of
pink, green lotus leaves and painted mirrors. The Bada Mahal, the Khush
Mahal, Ajjan Niwas, Phool Mahal and Dhola Mahal are highly attractive. The
upper rooms of the palace is perfectly round in shape. The courtyards have
columns, pillared terraces, fountains and gardens which adds to the beauty
of the palace.
The Lake Palace appears at its best during the dawn and dusk when the sun
spreads its multihued shades in the water of the lake. Shimmering with
every gust of wind, the reflection of the Lake Palace in the water is
simply magical! A boat ride in the water of the Lake Pichola to or from
the Lake Palace is an unforgettable experience for the tourists.
The
Udai Vilas Palace
The Udai Vilas Palace is situated on the Brahmapuri island on the western
side of Lake Pichola and spreads in an area of 30 acres of beautiful
gardens lined up with decorative fountains and pavilions. The palace is a
classic example of the architectural skills of the Mewar dyansty. The
palace took nearly ten years to complete and served as a hunting resort
for the royal family. Today, the palace has been converted into a heritage
hotel.
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