Places to Visit in Udaipur iv

Udaipur is also referred as ‘The Most Romantic City ‘and most beautiful of city of India. The tourist flocks to this beautiful city in the heart of Aravalli hills. Tourist comes in Udaipur from all over the world. This city of Rajasthan is fascinating the blend of sound and experience .It has interconnected three lakes Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichhola and the Swaroop Sagar Lake. It is the living memory of heroic past.

1. Fateh Sagar lake:

Fateh Sagar Lake is situated in the city of Udaipur. It is an artificial lake named after the Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and the Mewar, constructed to the north west of the Udaipur, constructed to the north west of the Udaipur, located to the north of the Lake Pichola in the 1680s.

It is one of the four lakes of Udaipur city, the other three being the Lake Pichola (within the Udaipur town), Udai Sagar Lake (13km to the east of the Udaipur) and the Dhebar Lake or the Jaisamand Lake.

2. Saheliyon-ki-Bari

Saheliyon-ki-Bari (courtyard of the Maidens) is the major garden and the popular tourist space in Udaipur in Indian state of Rajasthan. It lies in northern part of the city and has the fountains and kiosks, a lotus pool and marble elephants. It was built by the Maharana Bhopal Singh.  Saheliyon ki Bari means the Garden of the Maidens. There is also the small museum here.

3. Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum:

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal is the cultural institution in the Udaipur in Rajasthan state in India engaged in studying folk art, culture, songs and festivals of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the Madhya Pradesh and to popularise and propagate the folk arts, folk dances and folk literature. It was set up in 1952 by the Devilal Samar. The institution has the museum that exhibits the collection of folk articles from the Rajasthan like rural dresses, ornaments, dolls, musical instruments, folk deities and paintings.

4. Bagore-ki-Haveli

Bagore ki Haveli is the haveli in Udaipur in Rajasthan state in India. It is right on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at the Gangore Ghat.

The palace has over a hundred rooms, with displays of costumes and modern art. The glass and mirror in the interiors are Haveli work. It also preserves an example of Mewar painting on the walls of the Queen's Chamber. The two peacocks made from small pieces of colourful glasses are examples of glasswork.

5. Ahar

Ahar is a small town in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. The place is famous for being the cremation ground of the rulers of Mewar.

Cenotaphs Ahar Cenotaphs still boast the courage and valour of the rulers of Mewar. People visit this place to pay homage to the great rulers. Ahar has not less than 19 cenotaphs of the kings, who were cremated here. These memorial monuments have striking columns raised on big platforms sheltered by of arched roofs. The architraves of the roofs are embellished with ornamentations that will remind you of the 15th century temples. On the single upright stone of these architraves, you will find an image of Lord Shiva and a figure representing Maharana with his 'Satis' (his wives, who immolated in his cremation flames).

Resource:

http://www.eternalmewarblog.com/top-20-udaipur/

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Places to Visit In Udaipur-iii

Udaipur is the most popular tourist destination in India and most favourite place for marriage destination. It has many attractions to catch the attentions of the tourist. Here are some tourist attraction of Udaipur:

1. Ambrai Ghat

Ambrai Ghat is the great place for enjoying the photography; the location offers many vantage points. It offers the 240 degree panoramic view of the city of Udaipur. Ambrai Ghat is also known as Hanuman Ghat .

Ambrai Ghat is located on the bank of Lake Pichola.  City palace, the largest palace in Udaipur is in directly opposite of Ambrai Ghat. Anbrai Ghat confronts the Lake Palace of Jag Niwas, which is the luxurious hotel featuring the white marble walls, located on the natural foundation.

2. Monsoon Palace:

The Monsoon Palace, also known as the Sajjan Garh Palace, is a hilltop palatial residence in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan in India, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake. It is named Sajjangarh after Maharan Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar Dynasty, who built it in 1884. The palace offers a panoramic view of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It was built chiefly to watch the monsoon clouds; hence, appropriately, it is popularly known as Monsoon Palace. It is said that the Maharana built it at the top of the hill to get a view of his ancestral home, Chittaurgarh. Previously owned by the Mewar royal family, it is now under the control of the Forest Department of the Government of Rajasthan and has recently been opened to the public. The palace provides a beautiful view of the sunset.

3. Shilpgram:

Shilpgram at the Udaipur also known as the Craft Village or the Artisan’s village. It is situated at the distance of 3 kilometres west from the Udaipur near the Havala Village. The Rural Arts and the Crafts Complex is the centre of artisan’s village and is envisaged as the breathtaking ethnographic museum to portray the ways of life of the rural and the tribal citizens of the western Zone.

The Shilpgram Festival is organised every year in the month of November or December thus one should try visiting during these months.

4. Moti Magri:

Moti Magri overlooks the Fateh Sagar Lake in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan.
A top the Moti Magri or the Pearl Hill is the memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap which was the bronze statue of the Maharana astride his lovable horse “Chetak”.

5. Vintage Classic Cars Museum

The Vintage Classic Casrs Museum displays the royal collection of the 22 vintage cars including the seven seats 1938 Cadillac and the 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom.

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Places to Visit in Udaipur -ii

 Udaipur, the most romantic city of Rajasthan because of its famous palaces and lakes. Natural beauty and nature of Udaipur is the main attraction of the place. At this place one can find millions of tourist every time. The palaces of the Udaipur city depict the lifestyle of the ancient times.
Here list of top places to visit in Udaipur are:

1. Kumbhalgarh Fort:

The Kumbhalgarh Fort is the Mewar fortress in the Rajsamand District of the Rajasthan state in the western India. It is the world heritage site including in the Hill Forts of Rajasthan. Built during the course of 15th century by the Rana Kumbha and it is enlarged through the 19th century. Kumbhalgarh is also the birthplace of the Maharana Pratap, the great king and the warrior of the Mewar.

2. Eklingji Temple:

Eklingji is a Hindu temple complex in Udaipur District of Rajasthan in western India. Eklingji is believed to be the ruling deity of Mewar Princely State and the Ruler Maharana rules as his Dewan.
Eklingji Temple is dedicated to the lord Shiva of the Hindu religion.  The temple was built in 734 A.D. by Bappa Rawal. Since from that time Eklingji has been the ruiling deity of Mewar rulers.
 The double-storied temple looks awesome with its pyramid style of roof and distinctly carved tower. Outer walls of the temple are stretched with steps that descend touching the serene waters. The main temple, from inside is a huge pillar hall or mandap that is sheltered by hefty pyramid roof.  On entering in this hall, one will be welcomed by a silver image of Nandi. There are two other images of Nandi carved in black stone and brass respectively in the temple.

3. Mansapurna Karni Ropeway:

The Mansapurna Karni Ropeway is a favourite among all the age groups. It is between two mountains on the bank of Lake Pichola, this cable car gets the best views of Udaipur and its architectural wonders.

4. Jaisamand Lake:

Jaisamand Lake is also known as Dhebar Lake. It is the Asia’s second-largest artificial lake. It is located in the Udaipur District of Rajasthan state in the western India. It was created in the 17th century when the Rana Jai Singh of Udaipur built the marble dam across the Gomati River.
The Jaisamand Lake is built by the Maharana Jai Singh in 1685.

5. Udaipur Solar Observatory:

The Udaipur Solar Observatory is in the Udaipur, Rajasthan in India on an Island in the Fateh Sagar Lake. The Sky conditions at the Udaipur are quite favourable for the solar observations. Since the observatory is situated amidst a large mass of water, air turbulence which occurs due to ground heating by sun's rays is decreased. This improves the image quality and accuracy (average between 1-2 arc seconds).

Resource:
http://www.eternalmewarblog.com/top-20-udaipur/

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Places to Visit in Udaipur - i

Udaipur is the very popular tourist destination. Apart from its history, culture and scenic location, Udaipur is also known for its Rajput-era palace. Many of its palaces now have been converted into the heritage hotels. It is often called the “Venice of the East” and is also named as the “Lake City” or “City of Lakes”. Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar in this city are considered the most beautiful lakes in the country.


All garnered with the Mewar’s passion of beauty, leisure and creation, the lake city is perfect mix of the beauty, culture, architecture and the heritage. Here is the list of Udaipur attraction:

1. City Palace:

Udaipur City palace is one of the marvels of the Rajasthan; it is located peacefully on the banks of the Lake Pichola. This majestic city palace is most visited tourist attraction of the Udaipur and often distinguished as the largest palace complex in the Rajasthan. Initially, the Maharana Udai Singh built this wonder but the present form of the Palace is the result of Subsequent additions by this successors.

City Palace in Udaipur was built in amazing style and is considered the largest of its type in the Rajasthan, the fusion the Rajasthani and the Mughal architecture and it was built on the hill top that gives the panoramic view of the city and its surrounding, including the several historic monuments such as the Lake Palace in the Lake Pichola, the Jag Mandir on the another island in the lake Palace in the Lake Pichola, the Jag Mandir on the another Island in the lake, the Jagdish Temple close to the palace, the Monsoon Palace on top of an overlooking hillock nearby and the Neemach Mata Temple.

2. Lake Pichola:

Lake Pichola, is situated in Udaipur city in the Rajasthan is an artificial fresh water lake, created in the year 1362 AD, it is named after the nearby the Picholi Village. Udaipur, without this Lake Pichola is unimaginable. This 4 kilometres long Man-Made lake is considered to be the most beautiful lake of the city. The two Island, Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir are located within the Lake Pichola and have been developed with several palaces to provide the view of lake.

The beauty of this lake has not separated anyone to attract towards it. The lake looks more enchanting with the scenic surroundings. Lake Pichola is enveloped by the lofty Palaces, temples, bathing Ghats and elevated hills on all its sides.

3. Lake Palace:

The lake palace formerly known as Jag Niwas is the luxury hotel which has 83 rooms and the suites featuring the white marble walls. The Lake Palace is located on the island of the Jag Niwas in the Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India and its natural foundation spans 4 acres.

Lake Palace is Jewel of Udaipur. It is most visited palaces of Udaipur. With the lush green Aravalis in the backdrop and the Lake Pichola beneath, Lake Palace is one of the most romantic man-made structures

4. Jag Mandir:

Jag Mandir is the palace built in the Lake Pichola. It is also known as the “Lake Garden Palace”. The palace is located in Udaipur city in the Indian state of the Rajasthan. Ithe construction of this palace was started in 1551 by the Maharana Amar Singh, continued by the Maharana Karan Singh (1620- 1652) to serve as a hiding place for Prince Khurram (popularly known as Shah Jahan). It is named as “Jagat Mandir” in the honour of the last named Maharana  Jagat Singh.


In the Jag Mandir Palace, Gull Mahal catches major attention as this is the palace where the Prince Khurram lived with his family. Gul Mahal is made in the Islamic style of the architecture and the hall also has amazing interior and is decorated with the Muslim crescent.  Other pavilions that are worth watching are Bara Patharon ka Mahal, Kunwar Pada Ka Mahal was meant for the crowned prince. The Zenana Mahal offered several chambers for the ladies of the Royalty.

5. Jagdish Temple:

Jagdish Temple is one of the most famous temples of Udaipur. It is located in the City Palace of Udaipur. The temple is made in the Indo-Aryan style of architecture. In the 1651, the Jagdish temple was built by the Maharana Jagat Singh who ruled the Udaipur during the 1628-53. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu (Laxmi Narayan) the preserver of the Universe.

Jagdish temple is celebrated for being the largest temple in the city of the Udaipur. The gateway of this temple can sited at the distance of 150 metres from the Bara Pol of the City Palace.

The temple is raised on the tall terrace and was completed in 1651. It attaches the double storey Mandapa (hall) t0 the double-storey saandhara (with the covered ambulatory) shrine. The Mandapa has another storey tucked within its pyramidal bell roof while the hollow clustered spire over the Shrine contains the two more, nonfictional stories.

Resource:
http://www.eternalmewarblog.com/top-20-udaipur/

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An Indian Manners Guide for Foreign Travelers to India

To make the most of your trip to India, you may want to stay in guest houses, rather than fancy American hotel chains. That's an excellent choice for travelers who want to experience India as it really is because you will rent a room from an Indian family that will likely serve not only as your host, but also as your tour guide. It also means you will be more likely to mix with Indian nationals who may be offended by your American ways. The tips in this article will keep you from inadvertently offending your gracious Indian hosts.

Indian Meal Etiquette 

Meals are a great time to connect with your host family in India. It is also a great time to offend people, if you're not careful. Keep the following in mind during meals in India and you'll be sure to please your hosts:

*Never use your left hand for eating or for passing food to other people.

*Even if silverware is provided for you, eat with your fingers, rather than forks and spoons.

*Clean your plate. Even if you don't like the taste of something, if you put it on your plate, you need to eat it, so start with small portions and then after eating all on your plate, take more of foods you like.

Clothing Standards in India

India defines modesty differently than those in the Western world. Women travelers should not wear the following:

*Shorts, including capris

*Sleeveless tops

*Tight pants

Instead, if possible, wear Indian clothing such as loose fitting and comfortable salwar kameezes that you can pick up anywhere in India, or online on sites such as eBay. If you prefer not to wear Indian clothing, wear long, loose fitting skirts with loose blouses with sleeves.

Clothing standards for men in India are more similar to American clothing norms, but shorts and jeans should be avoided. Business casual is a good bet for men traveling in India.

When No Means Yes in India

Your host may offer you tea. You may decline. A few minutes later they may offer it again, and you decline again. The third time they offer you tea, you may finally give in to the pressure and accept tea, even if you don't want it. That happened to me numerous times when I first lived in India and didn't know the rule that no doesn't mean no until you've said it three times. To avoid doing things or eating and drinking things you don't want, be prepared to say no three times before the matter will be dropped.

Feet Can Be Offensive in India

At the end of a long day of touring you may be tempted to sit down on the floor, with your legs stretched out. If you do so, be sure not to point the bottom of your feet toward another person, particularly an Indian person. Such a posture, that is perfectly acceptable in the U.S., is very offensive in India.

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A Guide to the Forts of Rajasthan, India

When I lived in Rajasthan, India, one of my favorite things was the rich architecture, particularly the forts and palaces. From my rooftop in Jodhpur and from almost anywhere else in the city for that matter, I could look up and see the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort. I'll never forget my first trip there, and the way that walking through the halls of a building unlike any we have in the United States ignited my imagination. If you want to take a step back in time and dream about princely battles and opulent lifestyles, be sure to visit the forts of Rajasthan the next time you go to India. Below is a list of some of the forts in Rajasthan that you don't want to miss.

The Fort in Jodhpur, India

Mehrangarh Fort

Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, is truly one of the most majestic forts in all of India. Founded in 1450 by Rao Jodha and added to be later maharajas until its completion in the 19th century, sits atop a 400-foot high hill. The fort houses a museum that displays artifacts of Indian royalty. There is also a nice selection of Indian miniature paintings available for sale.

My Favorite Fort in Jaipur, India

There are actually three forts in Jaipur, but Amber Fort is one of my favorites and the favorite of many tourists as well. The Amber Fort is one of the better places in India to have an opportunity to take a ride on a brightly decorated elephant. In fact, Amber Fort was the first place I ever rode an elephant.

The construction of Amber Fort began in 1592 and took 125 years to complete. The art and architecture of Amber Fort combines both Rajput and Moghul influences.

Amber Fort Location

Amber Fort is actually located 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of Jaipur, but any rickshaw or taxi driver can easily get you there.

Hours of operation: Open daily from 9 .m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 0141/253/0293

When you visit the forts in Rajasthan, plan to also visit palaces that are typically located very close to the fort. Some of the palaces have been converted into luxury hotels, so if your pocketbook permits, you might want spend a day touring a fort and then spend the night in the luxury of an Indian palace right next door.

If you want a taste of royalty but can't quite afford a night in a palace, try making dinner reservations at a palace. My husband and I celebrated an unforgettable wedding anniversary on the terrace of the palace in Jodphur. The food was better than any I've had in India, we were served by waiters wearing Indian formal wear, including formal turbans and we had a beautiful view of the city lights as dusk turned to night.

Resources:
http://www.rtdc.in/
http://rajasthantourism.gov.in/
http://www.eternalmewar.in
http://www.rajasthan.gov.in/Pages/Home.aspx

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A Travel Guide to My Favorite International City, Jodhpur, India

Jodhpur was the first Indian city I called home. I suppose the fact that I fell in love with many aspects of India in Jodhpur contributes to my love for the city, even though it isn't the top tourist destination in India. In spite of other Indian cities being more popular, Jodhpur has some magnificent sites to visit, and the fact that it moves at a slower pace than much of India makes it a great place to spend a couple of days. It only takes about five hours to go by train from Jaipur to Jodhpur, so consider adding Jodhpur to your itinerary if you plan to visit Jaipur. Read on for a few of my favorite things to do in Jodhpur, India.

No trip to North India is complete without visiting the forts of Rajasthan. Mehrangarh Fort is one of the best forts in India. Part of the magnificence of Mehrangarh Fort is the fact that it sits atop a 410 foot high sheer rock and can be seen for miles. One of my favorite rooms in the fort is the Phool Mahal, a gilded room with intricate paintings that was built over a 20-year span between 1730 and 1750. This room was used for royal celebrations. The Moti Mahal was built in the 1500s, over a period of 14 years. This is a room that literally shines due to the mirror work on the ceilings as well as crushed shells that were mixed into the plaster on the walls to give the room a luxurious sheen. This room was used by the maharajah as a private audience hall.

Lassi at the Clock Tower

Downtown Jodhpur has a clock tower that can't be missed. Sadar Bazaar, located near the clock tower, is a great place to shop, so be sure to check it out on your trip to Jodhpur.

Even more impressive than the bazaar is an unassuming restaurant, with a spectacular yogurt drink, the lassi. The lassi shop located at the clock tower in Jodhpur serves lassis that are far better than any other I've had anywhere in India. They are so thick, you can stand your spoon up in the middle of the lassi. This lassi shop, unknown to a lot of tourists, is a favorite of locals. Even if you don't think you like lassis, give the ones at the clock tower a try. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

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