Udaipur

Udaipur

Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sounds and experiences – an inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writers. The jewel of Mewar – Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1559 A.D. Of the original eleven gates of the city, only five remain now.

Among the places visited are the City Palace – a majestic architectural marvel towering over the lake. A conglomeration of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. The main entrance is through the Triple arched gate "Tripolia" with eight marble porticos; the Jagdish temple- built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh, this Indo – Aryan temple is the largest and the most beautiful temple of Udaipur with note worthy sculpted images; the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, which houses an interesting collection of folk dresses, ornaments, puppets, masks, dolls, folk musical instruments, paintings etc; the Saheliyon ki Bari with its many fountains etc.

A highlight of your trip to Udaipur is a sunset boat cruise on the beautiful placid Lake Pichola. The lake is surrounded by hills, palaces including the beautiful city palace, temples, bathing ghats and embankments. There are two island palaces, The Jagmandir and Jagniwas and also the beautiful Lake Palace sits on an island in this lake. Boat rides, which originate from the City Palace jetty (known as Bansi Ghat), are a popular way of exploring the natural beauty of Udaipur.

Ranthambore can be part of an extended Golden Triangle Tour or else can be combined with an extensive Rajasthan Tour. It is situated just 170 kms from Jaipur and is around 290 kms from Agra. It is a nature and wildlife lover's paradise.

Nagda and Eklingji.

Nagda : The ancient site dating back to the 6th century A.D. is the renowned for the Sas – Bahu temples ( 9th – 10th century A.D.) with interesting architecture and carvings. The splendid Jain temples of Abdudji are also worth a visit.

Eklingji built in 734 A.D. is the beautifully sculpted temple complex with 108 temples within its high walls. The temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of Mewar rulers. The walled complex encloses an elaborately pillared hall or 'mandap' under a large pyramidal roof and has four – faced image of Lord Shiva in black marble

Ranakpur Jain Temples

Ranakpur Jain Temples built in the 15th century are situated in the lovely valley of the Aravali. Its surrounding is quite and picturesque. Ranakpur has grand structures and beautiful sculpture. There are 1444 pillars in the temple different from each other. The magic of light and shade is awe-inspiring.

Udaipur is well connected by flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur & Jodhpur. Besides it is also connected by good trains from Delhi & Jaipur. It is also easily approachable by road from Jodhpur, Pushkar & Kota in Rajasthan and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, which are part of one's extensive Rajasthan tour.