LAKE PICHOLA

Lake Pichola with exceptional scenic beauty is surrounded by hills, embankments, bathing ghats, shrines and palaces. The lake was enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh II after he founded the city. He built a masonry dam, known as the Badi Pal, and the vast lake is nearly 5km in length and three km wide. The magnificence of the lake is enhanced by beautiful Lake Palaces, Jag Niwas and the Jag Mandir. Motor launch cruises can be arranged as also entry to the Jag Niwas (lake) Palace.

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LAKE PALACES

Jag Nivas This palace build in 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II, as a summer residence of the rulers is now converted to Lake Palace Hotel. The beautiful white-marble and granite building stand in the middle of the Pichola lake. The palace is 800 feet from the banks and stands on an area of 4acres. The palace one of the best examples of Mughal-Rajput architecture has ancient paintings, stain glass windows, antique furniture and an impressive array of fountains, bath reservoirs etc. Boats are available from the jetty and at the base of City palace museum. Visit : Daily from 1400 to 1800. 1/2 hour cruises on the lake are also available. Entrance is through the restaurant.

The Jag Mandir Palace is situated on an island at the southern end of the lake. This is a three storied building, built of yellow sandstone and marble slabs. The dome of this palace looks like a crown. The interior is decorated with coloured stones. There is a spacious circular apartment built elegantly in white and black marble, murals and paintings. The palace was build by three Maharanas - Amar Singh, Karan Singh and Jagat Singh and named after Maharana Jagat Singh. There is a small mosque in memory of saint-Madar inside the palace.

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Shilpgram

This is a rural arts-and-craft village, inaugrated by Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. It is at 3kms away from Udaipur. The complex is filled with recreation huts from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. Every December from 1st-10th this village celebrate the Shilpgram Utsav. The artists and craftsmen from all over the country come down to this village to display and sell their products. Open daily, 9am to 7pm. There are daily demonstrations by folk musicians and dancers.

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GULAB BAGH (ROSE GARDEN) : A spectacular rose Garden laid out by Maharana Sajjan Singh, is situated near the palace on east side of Lake Pichhola. A library in the garden has a rare collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and books.
Within the garden, there is a zoo with tigers, leopards, chinkara and many wild animals and birds are being kept.

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CITY PALACE : Standing on the bank of lake Pichola, are massive series of palaces built at different time commencing from 1559 A.D. The balconies of the palace provide panoramic view of "Jag Niwas" (Now world wide famous Lake palace hotel), Jag Mandir on one side and on the other the city of Udaipur. It's main entrance is through the triple-arched gate-The tripolia, built in 1725. The way now leads to a series of courtyards, overlapping parations, terraces, corridors and gardens - a harmonic profusion hard to describe. There is a Suraj Gokhda, where the maharanas of Mewar presented themselves in the times of trouble to the people to restore confidence. The Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), get its name from the vivid mosaics in glass decorate its walls. The chini chitrashala is noteworthy while a series of wall paintings of Krishna are on display in Bhim Vilas.
There are numerous other palaces Dilkhush mahal, Sheesh mahal, Moti mahal and Krishna vilas- in memory of princess of striking beauty who poisoned herself to avert bloody battle for her hand by rival princess.
Now the palace is housed with many antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils which attracts thousands of visitors every day.

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JAGDISH TEMPLE : The temple of Jagannath Rai, now called Jagdishji, is a major monument and should be seen carefully. Raised on a tall terrace and completed in 1651, it is a tribute alike to the tenacity of its builders and the resilence of the art - tradition it represents. It attaches a double storeyed Mandapa (hall) to a double - storied, saandhara (that having a covered ambulatory) sanctum. The mandapa has another storey tucked within its pyramidal samavarna (bell - roof) while the hollow clustered spire over the sanctum contains two more, non - functional stories.

Lannes taking off from many of the sheharpanah (city wall) converge on the Jagdish Temple and walking leisurely through them brings you face with the many layers of the cultural palimpsest that Udaipur is.

It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh Ist in 1651 A.D. It is a good example of Indo - Aryan architecture.

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MANIKYALAL VERMA PARK, DUDH TALAI (ROCK GARDEN) : A beautiful laid out "Rock Garden" from where one can enjoy sunset view in Lake Pichhola and panoramic view of old city.
   Musical Fountain is an another attraction for the visitors.

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PRATAP SMARAK (MEMORIAL) : Atop the Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favourite horse "Chetak".

FATEH SAGAR / NEHRU PARK : A beautiful lake, overlooked by a number of hills on the three sides and the Pratap Memorial on the north was built by Maharana Fateh Singh. In the middle of the lake is Nehru Park - a lovely garden island with a boat shaped cafe accessible by an enjoyable boat ride.

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SAHELION - KI - BARI (GARDEN OF THE MAIDS OF HONOUR) : Udaipur is a city of lakes and gardens, big and small. The Sahelion - ki - Bari is a fine specimen. On the eve of his departure from Mewar, Col.Tod had shifted to it so as to have some needed solitude. Much later, a thoughtful had located a library in it !

This small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing spot where royal ladies came for a stroll and hence the name. The garden has many fountains in its four delightful pools, chiselled kiosks and marble elephants.

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 BHARTIYA LOK KALA MANDAL : Bhartiya lok Kala mandal was founded by Padma Shri Devi Lal Samar in 1952. The main objective of the Institute is to conduct studies on the folk art, songs and festivals of regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh etc and to revive a vanishing folk culture. The institute has a puppet unit that trains children, teachers and other artists in the art of puppetry, as this is a very powerful non-conventional educative medium. It also boasts of regular performances that are a feast to behold. A group of 25 artists go on tour, both within India and abroad with a repertoire of puppet-shows and various folk dances. Their performances have brought the Institute a number of honours on a national and international level.

AHAR MUSEUM : The ancient capital of Sisodias, 3 km from Udaipur, Ahar boasts of a profusion of royal cenotaphs of the rulers of Mewar. A rare collection of antiquities including earthen pots, iron objects and other art items excavated in the region are displayed in a small Govt. museum.

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MAHASATYA, AHAR :

JAIN TEMPLE, AHAR :

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SAJJANGARH (MONSOON PALACE) : A former Monsoon Palace 1100 ft. high above the surrounding and 3100 ft. from sea level was built by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1884. The palace looks its best during the rainy season. It offers a panoramic overview of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding country side.
The hillside is thickly wooded and the former rulers maintained this as a royal shooting preserve.

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SHILPGRAM (ARTISAN's VILLAGE) : West Zone Cultural Centre in Udaipur, Rajasthan has set up an artisan's village called - Shilpgram, 3 Kms west of Udaipur. It is a living ethnographic museum depecting life style, traditions, customs and folk arts of the rural and tribal people of the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujrat, Goa, Daman, etc. There are several huts constructed in the traditional architectural style using mud and local building material to reflect the geographical and ethnic diversity of the different states of west zone of India.
The rural artisans and folk artists reside here and perform in the natural surroundings in a village environment. Every year, more than a lakh visitors visit this village which is spread out in an area of 55 acres, surrounded by Aravali mountains. The Shilpgram Utsav organised every year from 23rd December to January 1st, attracts massive crowd creating a scene of rural market fair and festival with live performance of folk artist from different parts of the country. The Terracotta Museum, the museum of masks, folk and musical instruments are of particular attraction.

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BAGORE KI HAVELI : Situated on the picturesque bank of Pichola Lake, This Haveli was built by Shri Amarchand Badwa, who was the Prime Minister of Mewar-the rulers of Mewar Pratap Singh, Maharana Ari Singh, Maharana Hamir Singh during the period 1751 to 1778. This palatial building reportedly has 138 rooms, balconies, terraces, courtyards and corridors. The glass and mirror inlay within the Haveli is Unique and procured in its original form. The two peacocks made with small pieces of colored glasses are unique reflection of the finest craftsmanship of glass work. What was once upon a time a living centre of nobility of Udaipur lay in darkness and ruin for nearly half a century till when it was handed over to the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) in 1986.