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 The city of Dawn,
Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure water lakes, hemmed in
by the lush hills of the Aravalis. A vision in white drenched in
romance and beauty, Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights,
sounds and experiences - an inspiration for the imagination of
the poets, painters and writers. Its kaleidoscope of fairy-tale
palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes strewn with
stalls, carry the flavour of heroic past, epitomising valour and
chivalry. Their reflection in the placid waters of the Lake
Pichhola is an enticing sight.
Udaipur was the
capital of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar, ruled by Ranawats of the
Sisodia clan. The ancient capital of Mewar was Chittor or
Chittorgarh, located on the Banas River northeast of Udaipur.
Legend has it that Rana Udai Singh II came upon a hermit while
hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range. The hermit
blessed the king and asked him to build a palace on the spot and
it would be well protected. Udai Singh established a residence
there. In 1568 the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittor, and
Udai Singh moved the capital to the site of his residence, which
became the city of Udaipur. As the Mughal empire weakened, the
Sisodia ranas, and later maharanas, reasserted their
independence and recaptured Chittor, but Udaipur remained the
capital of the state, which became a princely state of British
India in 1818. After India's Independence in 1947, the Maharaja
of Udaipur acceded to the Government of India, and Mewar was
integrated into India's Rajasthan state. |
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Lake Palace -
Originally known as the Jag Niwas, took three years to build and
was inaugurated in 1746. Nothing but marble is used in the
composition of this palace. |
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Jag Mandir - Another island in the Lake
Pichola, which is known
for its beautiful garden courtyard. Shah Jahan took refuge here
while revolting against his father. |
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Kankarwa Haveli - On the banks of Lake Pichhola is a beautiful
Haveli with a grand tarrace overseeing the lake recently
converted into a hotel. |
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City Palace and Museum - Next to Fateh Prakash Palace, houses
beautiful glass and mirror works. |
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Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandir - An excellent museum of folk arts.
Also hosts great puppet shows in its auditorium. |
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Maharana Pratap Memorial - Rana Pratap's bronze statue seated on
his loyal horse Chetak. |
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Sajjangarh Fort - The summer resort,Monsoon Palace, of the
Maharajas. Atop the hill overlooking all the lakes. This palace
had an ingenious way to collect rain water for consumption all
year around. |
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Sukhadia Circle - A landmark built on a traffic roundabout in
Udaipur. It is a three tiered fountain that is lit at night and
is a popular place for the locals in evenings. |
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Jagdish Temple
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Ambika Mata Temple
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Fateh Sagar Lake
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Nehru Garden
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Bagore-ki-Haveli
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Moti Magri
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Saheliyon-ki-Bari
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