In 1567 AD the Moghul armies of Emperor Akbar conquered Chittorgarh and Udai Singh had to hide out in the Aravalli hills. Here he was met by a holy man who told him he was to shift his capital and rebuild on the banks of Lake Pichola as here it would never be conquered. Udaipur was founded and eventually in 1615 AD a peace treaty was negotiated and Udaipur remained the capital of Mewar thereafter and was never conquered.
The City Palace and museums which overlook Lake Pichola are a must visit here. A marvel of marble and granite the City Palace is the largest palace in Rajasthan. The exquisite workmanship and architecture with balconies and towers make it a unique building. It is hard to imagine that the building has been added to and was once made up of eleven separate palaces. From the terrace there are views of Lake Pichola and the city. The Sun Balcony, the Mor Chowk courtyard known for its beautiful peacock mosaics, the shrine of Dhuni Mata and the Museum of Rana Pratap are the highlights in this complex.
A boat trip on Lake Picola is a wonderful way to experience Udaipur and see the Lake Palace that is stranded like a boat in the middle of the Lake. The boat rides depart from a jetty to the south of the City Palace Complex.
Another lake palace is located on an island to the south and it is called Jag Mandir. The main building here is the Gol Mahal and it houses a small exhibition about the islands’ history. Apparently when Shah Jahan was young he stayed on the island. The palace with its intricate stone inlay work and domed roof is thought to have given him the inspiration to build the Taj Mahal.
To the north of the city palace the Jagdish Temple built in 1652 is dedicated to Lord Jagannath. This is a place where worship occurs and a way of life can be observed. In the sanctuary the black stone image of Jagganath is worshipped with flower offerings.
Sahellion-ki-Bari was a summer retreat for the royal ladies. Today the gardens here is a peaceful place to visit and relax. The attractive formal walled garden and tiered fountain with its surrounding elephant statues can’t fail to impress.
The original settlement of Udaipur grew around the city palace on the eastern shore of Lake Pichola. The old city here is made up of tightly winding streets perfect for walking.
To the north there is another major lake called Fateh Sagar The drive along the road by Fateh Sagar Lake is very scenic and eventually it arrives at Shilgram village. This is an attraction for those interested in rural arts and crafts. Shilgram village promotes traditional architecture, music and crafts of tribal people in Western India.
Another famous attraction is the Monsoon palace on a hill to the west of the city. It is worth making the visit to the top if only for wonderful city view. The location for the palace was thought to be the perfect place to build a nine storey observatory to allow the royal family to see the monsoon clouds as they gathered over the countryside below. However this project never eventuated due to the untimely death of the Maharana Sajjan Singh. Unfortunately the Palace too was soon abandoned because it was impossible to pump water up to it. The palaces, landscape and lakes of Udaipur ensure that it deserves its title as the most romantic city in Rajasthan.