Places to visit in Udaipur

Do you know that Udaipur is also called "Venice of India" ?We didn't believe it initially, but once we went there, we realized that yes it is, only that the boats aren't used for transportation. (Although I wish, we had boats to travel 😦 )Our trip was pretty reasonable. Our per head price for two days, one night including stay and travel from and to Delhi was around 2800 which is not at all bad for the fun we had there.Here we are listing down few places that can be visited once you are in Udaipur. Also to make your trip a little more smoother did you go through our previous blog: Don't and Do's of Udaipur!

1. Lake PicholaLake Pichola is synonymous to Udaipur. It's in the center of the city and wherever you go, you have to pass through it. It's an artificial lake named after the "Picholi Village." It houses the exquisite Jag Mandir and Lake Palace.

2. Fateh Sagar LakeThe lake was first constructed in 1687 by Maharana Jai Singh. However, 200 years later the earthern bund which formed the lake was washed away in floods. Thereafter Maharana Fateh Singh, in 1889, built the "Connaught Dam" on Lake Dewali to mark the visit of Duke of Connaught, son of Queen Victoria. The dam enlarged the lake, and it was later renamed, Fateh Sagar Lake.

3. Saheliyon ki Bari The mystic garden boasts of beautiful foundations, surrounded by exotic structures. Legend says that it was build by Maharaja Sangram Singh for his Queen and her 48 maids. To offer all of them, pleasurable moments away from the political intrigues of the court, this garden was made. This patterned garden used to be the popular relaxing spot of the royal ladies. The queen with her maids and female companions used to come here for a stroll and spend their time in leisure.

4. Sajjangarh FortRemember those lines "Safar khoobsurat hai manzil se bhi!" ? Well it was kind of applicable here. The winding road that takes us up to the palace passes through the lush green Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary. Sajjangarh fort is also known as the "Monsoon Palace". Since it's 3100 ft above the mean sea level, it overlooks the white city. The best thing about the top is the wind that blows. It's so fresh and pleasant.

Fun Fact- While coming down the hill, we didn't switch on our scooty as the hills were very steep. We were going down along the road.

P.S. You need to be a very careful driver if you are going with your own vehicle.

5. Ghats near the lakesThis had been the most relaxing part of the trip. After a tiring day, we saw sun setting down behind the mountains sitting at the Amrai Ghat. Even though we were surrounded by many people but the whole setting oozed out peace and tranquility giving us the relaxation we needed after the trip. Few major ghats that has to be visited are- Amrai Ghat, Gangaur Ghat, Hanuman Ghat, Panchdevariya Ghat.

6. Doodh TalaiDoodh Talai is the lake adjacent to Lake Pichola, it's also famous for its sunset and sunrise views. It has a garden with musical fountains. We went there early morning and the had a ravishing start to the day. A little bit of rain along with cold winds gave us all the energy that we needed to start the day. The ticket to that garden is priced Rs. 20. Also this is the point from where the boating starts.

7. City Palace City palace of Udaipur boasts of beautiful architecture and royal interiors. It's a fusion of Rajasthani, European and Mughal Architecture. The ticket to city palace is Rs. 30 and for the museum is Rs. 250.

8. Jagdish Temple The temple is build in an Indo-Aryan style and is a paradise for architecture lovers. This three-storied temple is a wonder of architecture that comprises beautifully carved pillars, decorated ceilings, painted walls and lush halls. 32 steps lead you to the main three storied temple. It was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1651.

P.S. There are good shops around the temple. If you want to take souvenirs for your friends and family, this is the place to be. For shopping for clothes and footwear, head to haathipol.

9. Bhagore ki Haveli Bhagore ki haveli is basically a museum housed in a haveli with 100 rooms. Each room has costumes, musical instruments, traditions like weddings, pagdi, dances displayed. Shri Amarchand Badwa, who was the Prime Minister of Mewar from 1751 to 1778, throughout the reigns of Maharanas Pratap Singh II, Raj Singh II, Ari Singh, and Hamir Singh respectively, built this haveli.It also hosts a musical evening with dance performances. The balconies of this museum gives a scenic view of Ganguar Ghat and Lake Pichola. The entry to this museum is Rs. 55.

10. Ahar Cenotaphs It's the least visited place in Udaipur and not many people know about this gem. Ahar Cenotaph is located a little away from the major tourist spots but that doesn't make it any less. The site contains more than 250 cenotaphs of the maharajas of Mewar that were built over approximately 350 years. There are 19 chhatris that commemorate the 19 maharajas who were cremated here. The group of cenotaphs is also known as the Mahasati.

You can also explore Kumbhalgarh or Chittaurgarh and Haldighati which is few hours drive from Udaipur but since we wanted to explore the city deeply, we were quite successful and can conclude that Udaipur is a city full of calmness and relaxation. It can be a soothing weekend getaway for both Mumbai and Delhi people as it lies midway.

For more travel stories and updates, follow us on NivavariiAlso check out our previous blog on Udaipur- Don't and Do's of Udaipur!