Located in northwest India, Rajasthan borders Punjab in the north, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the northeast, Madhya Pradesh in the east andGujarat in the south. On the western side it shares a long stretch of border with the neighboring country Pakistan. Situated on the Thar Desert, Rajasthan protects the western border of the country standing as the sentinel who never tires. The art of Rajasthan ensures that people visit the desert.
Rajasthan is diagonally divided into the hilly and rugged southeastern region and the barren Thar Desert, which extends across the border into Pakistan. Within these divisions however, it is a storehouse of varied physical feature or topographical diversity. The arid Thar also boasts of Mount Abu the only hill station in the state famous for its flora and fauna. While the Aravali hills provide the much-needed relief to this arid land, the wide spread sand dunes of the desert and arid region make it one of the toughest terrains in the world. Jodhpur (the second biggest city of the state) is the edge of the dry and shifting desert land from where on the not so arid but cultivable land starts. It is a store house of the art of Rajasthan. Moreover, the rocky range of Amber, hilly range of Mewar, river basin of Bharatpur and fertile Aravali range gives the topography of the state a unique look.
Popular Tourist Attractions in Udaipur
City Palace : City Palace was constructed in the year 1559 by Maharana Udai Mirza Singh. The palace is situated on the banks of Pichola Lake. The palace is a blend of European, Medieval and Chinese styles of architecture. City Palace houses 11 magnificent palaces and they were all constructed during various periods and by various rulers. The size of the palace is awe inspiring with the courtyards, terraces, pavilions, hanging gardens and a lot more. Everything about the palace is magnificent be it the architecture, the antiques inside and the exclusive paintings hanging on the walls.
Bagore Ki Haveli : Bagore Ki Haveli is situated near Pichola Lake. The 18th century construction was built by Amir Chand Badwa, Chief Minister at the Royal Court of Mewar. The Haveli became the residence of Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore in the year 1878 and hence the name Bagore Ki Haveli. This was converted into museum retaining the royal touch to the building. The museum presents the culture of Mewar. The antique collections include the stuff used by Rajputs such as jewellery boxes, hand fans, copper vessels and so on. The massive building has over 100 rooms and looks splendid with its unique style of architecture. When you are there, make sure you present yourself for the shows conducted here in the evenings.
Kumbhalgarh Fort :
Kumbhalgarh Fort was constructed by Maharana Kumbha in the 15th century. One of the specialties of the fort is that it is the birthplace of the famous warrior and King of Mewar, Maharana Pratap. The near invincible fort is the most highest and strongest of forts in Rajasthan. The fort was a challenge to the greatest of kings. The fort stands formidably on 1180 m high ridge. You are sure to be stunned by the sight of the fort, which is protected by thirteen mountain peaks of Aravali. The fort is protected and surrounded by a thick wall of approximately 15 kms long. This is the second longest wall in the world and the first is known the world over – The Great Wall of China. Kumbhalgarh Fort is not to be missed on your tour if you want to know about the mighty people they were in the past.
Lake Pichhola :
Another man made wonder in the city dominated by nature, Lake Pichola was created in 1362 AD. Rana Udai Singh II extended the lake in 16th century. The picturesque lake is surrounded by huge hills, magnificent palaces, temples and bathing ghats. The islands in Lake Pichola offer various tourist attractions and hence by cruising in Lake Pichola, you are sure to have a whale of a time. Sunset views are stunning. Boat cruise offers lovely views of the town, particularly in the evenings as you watch the sun go down on your eyes, you will find the city lit up. The palaces look stunning with the lights on and it is a great view from the lake.
Sajjan Garh (Monsoon Palace) :
If you are partial to the beauty offered by nature more than man made wonders, you are sure to love Sajjan Garh. The palace is small but the views are stunning. The palace is not maintained well but the sunset view from here is awesome. The palace was constructed by Maha Rana Sajjan Singh in 1884. The aim of the king was to construct an observatory here to observe the arrival of monsoon as well as predict weather conditions. Owing to his untimely demise, the work was not completed. However, the views from here fascinate you beyond words. Nearly 1000 feet above the sea level, the views of Udaipur from here are breathtaking.
There are not enough descriptions about tourist places in Udaipur and its beauty. There are more palaces and places to see that would enthrall you. Famous temples and wildlife sanctuary assure you of quality time spent. Have a great time in the city in India that is more like a European city.
Fairs and Festivals in Udaipur
Mewar Festival :coincides with Gangaur Festival in Chaitra (according to the Hindu calendar), which usually falls in March or April. It is mainly held to welcome ‘Spring’, the season of blossoms. As it coincides with the Gangaur festival, people dressed in colorful attires take out a procession of the images of Isar and Gangaur and the Gangaur Ghat at Lake Pichhola. The idols are then sent for boating for an hour in special boats and there is much rejoicing and songs are sung. Then comes the time for cultural events where one can see the culture of Rajasthan through songs, dances and other programmes that are organized. At the end of the festival, there is a beautiful display of fireworks.
By Air
Udaipur has a good network of air services linking it to from New Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad and Mumbai. Nearest airport is Dabok Airport, which is 21 km from the city centre.
By Rail
It is well connected to and from all the major cities of India such as Chittrogarh, Ajmer, Jaipur and Delhi by trains. Palace On Wheels is a major attraction of course. The railway station is 4 km from the heart of the city.
By Road
The roads are smooth and link Udaipur to various major cities of India such as Delhi, Jaipur, Chittrogarh, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Indore, Kota, Mount Abu and Mumbai. Thus, there are bus services to and from Gujarat, Delhi and major cities of Rajasthan that end at the bus terminal, 2 km from the railway station.
Best Time to Visit Udaipur
October to March offer the best period to visit Udaipur. The winter season is pleasant and breezy making it an ideal time to explore the city at its best. With mesmerising forts and grand palaces, Udaipur's enchanting beauty is a treat for your eyes in Winter. The Mewar festival of Udaipur is held in March every year. Monsoons from July to September is another ideal time to visit Udaipur as it is pleasant and a relief from the torrid climate of Rajasthan. The windy weather is also perfect to enjoy many activities such as camel riding and boating to make your trip even more fun.
Udaipur in Winter (October-March)
Winter season is an ideal time of the year to take a trip to Udaipur. The months between October and March are pleasing and agreeable. The temperature during this period is between 10°C to 25°C. This is the time of the year where you can take lazy strolls around the colourful and lively streets of Udaipur. The pleasant weather also makes visiting all the different monuments easy and fun. Udaipur is a land of architectural marvels built with precision and perfectness. The forts, palaces and temples, all intricate house carvings and will leave you awestruck.
Winter season is also a great time to enjoy various thrilling activities and satiate your adventurous soul. You can indulge in a camel ride, trekking, boating, bird watching and so much more. During this time a lot of beautiful migratory birds fly to Udaipur. A large number of festivals take place during the winter season. Some of them include Udaipur World Music Festival, Kumbhalgarh Festival and World Living Heritage Festival. These festivals are a must witness because they make the whole place lively and chirpy.
Tips For Visiting Rajasthan
For travel to any destination, there are certain precautions that one needs to take before starting the exciting journey. There are certain tips that the travelers should follow while traveling to Rajasthan which include:
Check the itinerary: Every trip has an itinerary which the tourists follow during the travel. By checking the itinerary, you will get an idea about the duration of stay. This will help to pack enough clothes for the stay. Rajasthan is hot during the day and temperatures drop down in the night. So, take the suitable types of clothes.
Weather updates: Before packing for the trip it is better to check the weather forecast for the stipulated time duration. This will help during the travel and for selecting the types of clothes. If the climate is hot during the stay, then visitors should select the light-colored clothes. Also, if the trip is during the winter season carry winter wears.
Make a checklist: Make a list of all the things that you need during the trip. It helps to check it while packing the luggage and this way you do not miss out any of the necessary things. Strike off the item from the list once included in the luggage. Do not forget to pack important documents like identity proof, hotel and travel reservation documents, etc. in the checklist.
Pack only necessary things: It is important to take only the things that are really needed during the trip. Carry an extra set of clothes but avoid overpacking with unnecessary things.
Save some packing space: A trip to Rajasthan is incomplete without shopping. Every person who visits this beautiful land does some shopping. There’s a lot to shop from the Rajasthani markets which include clothes, artifacts or souvenirs. Anything that you purchase will be a part of the luggage. If you are traveling by air route, the luggage limit can be a problem. Hence, it is better to save some space while packing for accommodating the shopping items on the return journey.
Cash: As Rajasthan is a part of the golden triangle, many shops here accept the card for the payment purpose. But it is also necessary to carry some cash during the travel. Some small shops or exhibitions may not have the facility for card payment. At such places, the cash may become useful. Take precaution while handling cash. Do not keep all the money at single place. This will help to ensure that some money is safe even in case of theft or robbery.
Accommodation: Rajasthan is a major tourist center, it has many hotels and lodges to accommodate many crowds. But it will be better to do the prior booking. This will help to select the hotel as well as the type of room as per your needs and wish. The advance booking also helps to get the rooms at an economic rate as the last-minute bookings become more expensive.
Separate packing: Keep the toiletries and makeup material separately. If you are on medication, then pack of medicines and keep them handy so that the medication box is easily accessible in case of emergency. If you are on specific medication, carry those in sufficient amount. Being a tourist place, you will find a chemist shop but not necessarily all the medicines are available. Thus, it is necessary to carry all the important medicines along with the proper prescription.
First-Aid box: The first-aid comes handy if anyone gets hurt during the trip. Due to the change in the climate, you may suffer from cold or dehydration. The box should contain the disinfectant, bandages and common medicines for a cough, cold, etc.
Safety and Precautions: Rajasthan has hot and dry climate and thus, it is necessary that the visitors should carry proper protective gears like a cap, goggles, scarf, jacket, etc. Wear sunscreen lotion to protect them from the scorching heat.