CITY PALACE UDAIPUR

Udaipur, the erstwhile city of India also known as “Venice of East”, and “City of Lakes“.

A few months back, I went to this beautiful place for a friend’s wedding, destined for City Palace. I loved this royal site and enjoyed the pinch of every delicacy it offered.

History of City Palace

City palace is situated in the city of Udaipur on the east bank of Lake Pichola. The Mewar Dynasty historically owned it, and at present, it is under Arvind Singh Mewar and Mahendra Singh Mewar. They are the famous business tycoons of our nation at present. When it comes to the architecture of this beautiful palace, it follows the Rajputana Style of architecture which has the influence of Rajasthani architecture in it. Maharaja Udai Singh built this beautiful palace. The scenic beauty of this palace attracts the most viewers. It is situated in Aravalli Hills and gives a glimpse of Jal Mahal, Nimach Mata mandir etc. This historical site has attracted various Bollywood directors over the years, and movies like Guide have been shot here. This palace is also famously known as Dil Kushal and Mor chowk.

Inside the City Palace

The City Palace is famous for its various structures, starting from major Gateways present inside the castle. In contrast, Bara pol is considered the main gateway because this was an important place during the ancient time’s when Maharanas were weighed in gold and wore precious jewels.

Amar Vilas and Badi Mahal are also considered essential parts of the palace. Amar Vilas is the Garden area, and Badi Mahal is the palace in the garden area.

Some other essential and royal sites to visit in the City Palace include Fateh Prakash Palace, which has now been converted into a hotel.  

It also includes Bhim Vilas, Chini Chitrashala, Choti Chitrashali, Krishna Vilas, Manak Mahal, Mor Chowk, Rang Bhawan, Sheesh Mahal and Museum, which was the place for women earlier and is now converted into a museum; this is one of the most beautiful parts of the palace.

How to reach City Palace? 

City palace is the principal city attraction in Udaipur, that is why you can easily reach this place through any corner of Udaipur by cabs, rickshaws etc.

Timings and Entry charges to City Palace –

The Royal site is open throughout the year for the visitors, whereas talking about the timings during which the visitors are allowed in the palace starts from 9:30 a. m. in the morning to 5:30 p. m. in the evening. Moreover, when talking about the charges charged from an adult is ₹300, and the students and children are set ₹100 each. It takes around 3 hours to have a good look at this palace for a visitor. Overall, it is usually suggested by the vloggers and bloggers that the evening time is good for visiting the City Palace because of the cooler temperature.

Visit SRI MANSAPURNA KARNI MATA MANDIR VIA ADVENTUROUS ROUTE

KARNI MATA MANDIR

Shri Mansapoorna Karni Mata mandir, which is famously known as Karni Mata mandir among the locals, is a beautiful temple located on the bank of Lake Doodh Talai Lake. Karni Mata Mandir is a Hindu shrine located on the hills which are known as Machala Magra.

The scenic beauty of this place is enough to grab your attention and will make you fall for it within seconds.

It has been heard through locals about the beliefs of the temple that if someone visits this shrine twice in a day, all the wishes of them are fulfilled by Mansapoorna Karni Mata, even the name Mansapoorna stands for “the one who fulfils wishes”. Moreover, it has also been said that if you feed the rats here in this temple,it results in bringing good vibes and values in your life.

History of Karni Mata mandir:-

The temple has the idol of Karni Mata, who has been praised over the years. It is usually claimed by the locals that Karni Mata, whose original name was Ridhu Bai and was considered to be the reincarnation of Goddess Durga. She lived the life of a sage even though she was born in the famous charan clan of Jodhpur as the seventh daughter in the year 1387.

 The temple was constructed under the orders of Maharana Karan Singh. He decided to make this temple after he conquered the area of Machala Magra Hills. The structure of the temple started in the year 1620, and it continued till 1628.Being located on the hills, this temple was not so popular among the locals and the tourists. After 1997, when the Karni Mata Development committee started the temple’s renovation, this place earned its deserving prominence. To date, it is complete with devotees and tourists visiting from across the globe.

Now, the renovated version of the temple has got everything covered, from the proper staircases to the shops of refreshments nearby, which have made it convenient for the visitors to reach the temple easily.

How to reach the Karni Mata Mandir?

The locals are now well aware of the temple, and being a shrine located in the middle of the city it becomes easy for one to reach out to this place.

Moreover, if you are a visitor and planning to visit this place for the first time, then for the reference I must tell you that this place is located 25 km away from the airport, after getting a stay at an accomodation of your convenience you can visit here through private cab or local conveyance which involves rickshaw etc. If one is coming via Railway station, it is about 4-5 km away from there, making it even more accessible to visit here.

After reaching Dudh Talai Lake, no vehicles are allowed in this region, which also makes it pollution-free, and that’s what makes it stand out from the crowd. If you have many places in the list to visit the same day or if you’re looking for better convenience, you can take the ropeway which will take you directly to the temple. If you want to enjoy this place as a trekking experience, there are adventurous ways followed by staircases and a complete view of the scenic beauty of the city of Udaipur, which makes it a suitable venue for people from any age group.

What are the timings to visit Karni Mata Mandir?

If you want to visit this beautiful shrine imbibed with scenic beauties, the suitable time to be here is in the morning between 04:30 a. m. to 07:00 a. m. After this timing, the gates to the shrine are open from 10:00a. m. in the morning till 13:30 p. m. whereas for the evening aarti, the temple is open from 05:00 p. m. to 07:30 p. m.

There are many other wonders about this place, which are beyond expression and words and to experience that I won’t fall back to request you to visit here.

LAKE PICHOLA UDAIPUR

Udaipur, the city of lakes never leaves a chance to mesmerize us with its scenic beauty and the kind of royalty it carries. And amidst this serene city, is a visiting point to which we all are very well familiar with and that is LAKE PICHOLA.

Lake Pichola is named after the Pichola village situated nearby in Udaipur city. It is an artificial freshwater lake that was made in 1362 B.C. It covers an area of 6.9 kilometres in and around Udaipur city. It is a scenic beauty and very well known among the natives for its sunset point and boating facilities. Pichola is surrounded by different islands, Royal palaces etc which works as a dessert on the platter.

This lake was built by the Banjara tribesmen when Maharana Udai Singh was the ruler. The King was influenced by the lake Pichola to an extent that he decided to build a city around it and to which we know as Udaipur city. The King decided to build this city as per the suggestions of meditating Sadhu when the king was in search of building his capital as he was annexed from his throne by Mughal emperor Akbar.

Lake Pichola has some amazing attractions which include Lake Palace, Jag Mandir and Mohan Mandir. The visitors are quite driven towards the ethnicity and royalty of these places and that’s the reason why all of this plays a different role.

When talking about these palaces in a consolidated manner, Lake palace is the place wherein ancient times the king during his reign used to visit there to enjoy his summer retreat. Nowadays, this palace is under the Taj Group and the best part of this palace is it has around 80 rooms.

 Whereas when talking about the Jag Mandir, this is another mesmerizing beauty of Lake Pichola. Jag Mandir occupies one whole island and the reason why its name is so is that it was completed during the reign of Maharaja Jagat Singh and thus also known as Jagat Mandir.

 Mohan Mandir is another centre of attraction about Lake Pichola because this was the palace spot built by the king to watch Gangaur pooja from this point, which is the famous traditional festival enjoyed by the Rajasthani population.

Whereas, this city and Lake Pichola is famous for their serenity among the locals and visitors across the world. Hence, the lake is kept open for visitors throughout the week from 9 a.m. to 6 p. m. in the evening.

The best part is that there are no entry fees charged for this place. Moreover, if one decides to go boating during the day, the charges are Rs-400 for each adult and Rs-200 for each child. Whereas the beauty of the lake remains at peak during the sunset and visitors love to visit here at that time, that may be the reason they have kept the charges a bit high, that is Rs-700 per adult and Rs-400 per child but the serenity of the lake during those hours are worth it.

Lake Pichola has my heart and I am sure you will even get mesmerized by the ethnicity, beauty and royalty of this place which makes it a must-visit place once in your lifetime.

Udaipur Monsoon hill station destinations

Udaipur Monsoon hill station

Monsoon – the word itself is enough to paint a beautiful picture of lush green hills amidst the freshness of dewy petrichor. This season is indeed the perfect one to convince yourself to take a break from the monotonous routine and find solace in the arms of nature.

Udaipur, as we all know, seems to be at the pinnacle of elegance and beauty during the monsoons. So here we put forward some of the breathtakingly beautiful hilly destinations for a perfect weekend getaway nearby Udaipur.

1. Kamalnath

The Kamalnath temple is situated at a distance of approximately ​60/80​km from Udaipur in Jhadol amidst the admirable Awargarh hills. The rich dense forests and the hilly steep roads leading to the destination account for the charismatic beauty of the place. The most peculiar thing about the temple is the age-old ritual of worshipping Ravan – the mythical demon king of Lanka before worshipping Lord Shiva. It is believed that when Lord Brahma tried to sabotage Ravan’s religious austerity, he immediately cut his head off and used it as an offering to please Lord Shiva. As a reward of his utmost dedication and devotion, Lord Shiva granted him the boon of having nectar in his navel.

2. Keleshwar

Located at a distance of 35 km from Udaipur, the Keleshwar temple is one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the localities, its origin dates back to more than a thousand years. The temple is said to have been named by Maharana Pratap – the most valiant king of Mewar. Before the construction of a proper temple, one could always spot a natural parasol formed by the leaves of banana plants atop the shivling. The presence of a natural waterfall nearby adds on to the scenic beauty of the destination.

3. Jarga Ji

Jarga Ji, the fourth highest peak of the mighty Aravali ranges, lies at an altitude of 1431 meters. It is home to numerous worth-visiting spots including the four-headed shivling, share Mata temple, and Ramdev temple to name a few. The serene atmosphere in the arms of nature casts an enticing spell on the visitors. It is believed that the founder of the Mewar dynasty, Bappa Rawal, rewarded Jarga Ji for his austerity by naming the peak after him. Some other prevalent stories portray him as a dedicated and selfless devotee of RamDevJi. The place indeed is a perfect blend of beauty and bliss.

4. Raita hills

Surrounded by lush green valleys on both sides, the way to raita hills is an epitome of ethereal elegance. It is the perfect getaway for all the shutterbugs, snappers, and nature lovers. It is approximately a 20-25 km ride from Udaipur. The frequent showers of rain during the monsoons seem to rejuvenate the entire atmosphere making it even harder to resist paying a visit.

 5. Sajjangarh

Known as the Monsoon Palace of Udaipur, Sajjangarh is a magnificent ancient palace named after Maharana Sajjan Singh. With its marble floors, pillars, and floral carvings, it acts as an exquisite example of the vibrant Rajasthani architecture and holds an immense historical significance. It offers an exhilarating scenic view of the city along with its lakes. For all those who have a thing for sunsets, Sajjangarh is a perfect choice. During monsoons, one can feel the cold winds carrying the fragrance of freshness caressing their cheeks gently and leaving behind a soothing effect.

FATEHSAGAR LAKE- THE LAKE OF ISLANDS

FATEHSAGAR LAKE
India is a nation of immense natural beauty, and when it comes to beautiful water bodies, we as a nation stand out from the crowd. We have a number of waterfalls, rivers and lakes.

Udaipur, famously known as the lake city of India or the Venice of the East, and as the name suggests, it is famous for its lakes. And all these lakes include one more such lake, that is, Fatehsagar Lake.

Fatehsagar Lake is the second-largest artificial lake, and the beauty of this lake is beyond words. It is a famous hangout point amongst the locals as well as the tourists. So, if you want to enjoy your relaxed evenings with the scenic beauty, then this is one of the must-visit sites. Being located in the lush green Aravalli Hills is what makes it a better choice.

History of Fatehsagar Lake
The lake was made under the kingship of Maharana Jai Singh somewhere around the 16th century, but soon, for some reason, it did not gain that attraction. In the 19th century, Maharana Fateh Singh decided to build a dam over the lake because of which gave it its present view, and to honour such a renovation of the lake, this lake was then named as Fatehsagar Lake. It covers Threaa, which is around 4 square kilometres.

Present-day attraction of the lake –

Due to its scenic beauty, which is also due to the kind of location, it has always attracted tourists and locals to spend their evenings by the side of the lake. It is the compilation of three island,s out of which one island has Udaipur Solar Observatory, which offers the best view of stars beyond the skThehe immense beauty of the lake is mesmerising enough for you to plan for a picnic or a birthday celebration over there. Also, it holds various attractions and cultural events occasionally. It also has boating facilities to make it a complete family trip.

Well , when it comes to the Boat ride,₹15-30 (Indians) and ₹ 60-125 (Foreigners). And for Motorboat, ₹ 200 (Adult) and 100 (Child,d), whereas for Speedboat, at ₹ 200 for 30 minutes (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM).

How to reach Fatehsagar Lake?

In order to reach Fatehsagar Lake, you can get private cabs from any corner of the city. Moreover, if you are thinking about public transportation, you can get yourself a tonga or ra rickshaws, which will take you to the lake easily and also at a cheaper cost.

THE UNCHARTED REALITY OF UDAIPUR HISTORIC LOCATIONS

UDAIPUR HISTORIC LOCATIONS

Udaipur has its renowned name- ‘the city of lakes. Profoundly, Udaipur is also deemed to be called as one of the most romantic spots on the continent of India. But what’s more to the amidst location will be breathtaking, almost extravagant for most of you. Rather charmingly, for the copious mysteries, it carries with it.

HISTORIC PLACES OF UDAIPUR:
The City Palace

It is one of the largest palace complexes in Udaipur and is considered to be one of its types in the state of Rajasthan. Contrary to what any rational person might think, it is not only known for the Maharanas administering and living their kingdom from this palace (also making it a famous historic landmark), but it has been known far and wide for the popular culture it has created with the filming of the 1983 James Bond movie ‘Octopussy’. The full disclosure compels me to flabbergast you with the fact that during the forming of democratic India in 1949 (after the independence in 1947), the palace substantially lost its ownership but regained it subsequently along with the successor kings.

The stunning location in Udaipur is now known for owning numerous parts of the palace as heritage hotels. And as we all know, that is how tourism flows in…

But the palace is not the only location that gets it going, it’s the hues of lakes, the startling temples, the stupifying gardens like Gulab bagh, the flora and fauna that would leave you coming for more.

Keywords – (THE UNCHARTED REALITY OF UDAIPUR HISTORIC LOCATIONS)

The Lake Palace

Once a summer palace in Udaipur of the Sisodia rulers turned into what now is called Lake Palace (or Jag Niwas) is voted the most romantic hotel in the world- and of course, in India. This is where all the fairytale weddings and magical honeymoons take place. The floating palace is located across from the comparatively larger City Palace. The Venice of the east, here, also offers a special tour of vintage cars.

Fatehsagar lake

The lakes in Udaipur make it a dream destination for almost every tourist or visitor. What’s more? These lakes serve as a lifeline for many centuries now, and why wouldn’t they? It just comes naturally…

Fatehsagar is one of the four lakes that was once known as a Connaught dam. What is surely going to stagger you is that it was built as a remembrance of the visit of the son of queen Victoria- Duke of Connaught! But the city always leaves room for more mystery with tons of history.

Moti Magri (Udaipur)

Moti Magri-also is known as pearl hill, not only has been a memorial of the great warrior Maharana Pratap, but it also pays tribute to the Haldighati Battle. This place in Udaipur surely gives a perceptive way to learn more about the small hill- along with the Aravali hills in the scenic background.

Gulab Bagh (Udaipur)

One of the largest urban parks in India- The Sajjan Niwas Garden is a major highlight of Udaipur due to its abundance yet well-organized rose beds. Although the roses aren’t solely the reason behind the creation of this alluring beauty- it was originally made as a wish Maharana Sajjan Singh of Mewar had. The wish was to stock the garden with curing herbs and medicinal shrubs in Udaipur which led him to make what now is an immense sheet of rich roses and more. This place makes the Udaipur city evermore scenic to the locals as well as the tourists.

Jagdish Temple (Udaipur)

In the stunning Udaipur city, the lakes and palaces don’t have it all. The temples are what sets the religious beliefs- amongst many of the locals as well as the tourists. Without a doubt, it would be difficult to challenge the beliefs of the olden days, but it is said that the marble slab in the Jagdish temple holds magical powers. Rubbing your shoulder, back, or knees on the marble accentuates a quick relief against the throbbing pain.

Towards the end, the city of lakes, with each day undermines the history to the locals, visitors, and tourists. The unfolding of such kinds of mysteries is what makes everyone hooked to the stories.

Sajjangarh Palace (Udaipur)

This stunning architectural complex in the Udaipur city is commonly known as Monsoon Palace, commonly by tourists and common residents of the city. It was built in the 19th century and it was consequently used by the great successor Maharana Fateh Singh who used it to analyze and check the monsoon clouds. Many of the residents and tourists still are unaware of the prospects this exquisite palace serves.

It is known that it collects rainwater for harvests which is capable of storing up to 195,500 liters. But it was found to be acc little storage for harvest by many and due to this adequate supply, the Palace was later abandoned.

Ambrai Ghat (Udaipur)

Previously this resplendent Ghat was quite famously known as Manjhi Ghat where it passes through the old streets that are also known as the ‘old city’ in Udaipur. This place has a peek wind chill and one can easily spot children flaring their kites in the hues of the sky.

The Ghat is one of the many romantic soots for couples and has witnessed many pre-wedding photoshoots.

Baghor Ki Haveli (Udaipur)

The stunning palace cum museum has a lot stored in for the residents and the tourism that flows in the Udaipur city. Divided into numerous sections like the weapon section, the puppet section and so much more to explore. The lobby in the museum depicts various paintings that give a reflection of what the royal age might have looked like.

There are paintings of the kings prepared for the war, and one can conveniently admire the enthralling craftsmanship and architecture of the Haveli in the Udaipur city.

Towards the end, the city of lakes, with each day undermines the history to the locals, visitors, and tourists. The unfolding of such kinds of mysteries is what makes everyone hooked to the stories.

LAKE BADI

LAKE BADI
I dream of the ancient times with a thought in my mind that how can people who were involved in administration and all sorts of other works in a state could use organic ways to the best.

And, one such gift to the city of Udaipur is Lake Badi which is famously known amongst the locals as Badi Talab. This lake was built to divide the water flow out of the town to emerge out as a boon during famines and if any other critical situation occurs.

History of the Lake Badi –
The lake was built under the kingship of Maharana Raj Singh 1 in 1680. The primary purpose of this lake was to reduce the adversities that famine and drought could bring to the city. The lake was also named Jiyan Sagar, which was because of the name of the King’s mother, Jana Devi.

Well, if we peep into the past, the lake has justified the expectations of Maharana because it turned out to be the saviour of the city during the drought that happened in 1973 and supplied water to the town.

A Tourist attraction in recent times –

Badi Lake or Jiyan Sagar has located 12 km outside the city of Udaipur. It covers around 155 km square and has a barrier of 18m in width and 180 m long. Situated amidst the lush green Bahubali Hills, which is also a trekking way, and it takes around 30 min. So, if you are somebody who is too much into tracking and scenic view fascinates you, then lake badi is a treat to your soul. The lake is one of the finest freshwater lakes and is famous for the tranquillity it offers to visitors. Moreover, the variety of flora and fauna it has, connects you to nature in other worldly ways. You can visit there and enjoy your evenings tea and coffees below the chattris.

Things to do –

The Lake has so much tangibility to offer rather than materialistic things. You can plan your picnics with your friends or families and enjoy the abundance of nature and scenic views at the same time. The architecture of chhatris all around the dam has royal vibes, and they are designed beautifully.

How to reach?

The lake is located 12 km away from Udaipur city so that you can avail the services of public or private cabs anytime. Well, if you are a tourist and want to enjoy the traditionality of the state, then you can take rides of tuk-tuk and tongas at the lake.

So, What are you waiting for?

पधारो नी माहरे देस!