The age of princes is past, yet it lives on for you ….in a palace on an
island on a lake girdled by hills. The Lake Palace, Udaipur. Once it was the
summer palace o the rulers of Mewar. Built two and a half centuries ago by Maharana
Jagat Singh II on a rocky island rising from the broad waters of Lake Pichola,
which was created by his forber, Maharana Udai Singh, after whom Udaipur is
named. Today, the pleasure palace is a luxury hotel like no other in India,
or indeed, the world. To stay here is an unmissable privilege, affording as
it does a glimpse of pleasures that once were the sole preserve of princes.
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Pratap Memorial : Atop the Moti Magri or
prarl hill, overlooking the Fateh Sagar lake is the memorial of the Rajput hero
Maharana Pratap with a bronze statue of the Maharana.
City Palaces : A majestic architectural
marvel towering over the lake on a hill surrounded by crenallated walls, it
is a conglomeration of courtards, pavilions, terraces corridors rooms and hanging
gardens. The main entrance is through the triple arched gate. The Tripolia with
eight marble porticos. The maharanas were weighed under the gate in gold, the
the equivalent amount of which was distributed among the populace. The suraj
Gokhada, the balcony of the sun, is where the suryavansi maharanas of mewar
presented themselves to the people in time of trouble to restore their confidence.
The "Mor Chowk' known for its exquisite peacock mosaics in glass and the
Chini Chitrashala noted for its blue and white ceramics are another attraction
in the palace.
Jagdish Temple : Built in 1651A.D. by Maharana
Jagat Singh, this Indoarmy temple is the largest and the most beautiful temple
if Udaipur with noteworthy scupted images.
Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum : The interesting
collection exhibited by this Indian folk arts museum includes folk dresses ornaments
puppets masks dolls folk musical instruments folk deities and paintings.
Saheliyon Ki Bari (Garden of the maids of Honor) :
This small ornamental garden was a popular relaxing sport where royal ladies
came for a stroll and hence the name. The garden has many fountains in its four
delightful pools chiseled kiosks and marble elephants.
Fateh Sagar : A beautiful lake, overlooked
by a number of jills 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 boar shaped café accessile by an enjoyable
boat ride.
Pichhola lake : The picturesque lake that
entranced Maharaja Udai Singh. It was later enlarged by the founder. The lake
is surrounded by hills, palaces, temples bathing ghats and embankments. Two
island palaces, jag Mandir and jag Niwas (Lake Palace) on the lake are of breathtaking
magnificence.
Ahar : 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.
Sajjan garh : Dominating the city's skyline
is the monsoon palace of sajjan Garh. It offers a panoramic overview of the
city's lakes, palaces and the surrounding countryside.
Gulab Bagh : A spectacular rose Garden laid
out by mharana Sanjjan Singh A library in the garden has a rare collection of
anicient handwritten manuscripts and books.
Lake
Palace :