Udaipur City

Udaipur city is a beautiful city located in the Aravallis range of Rajasthan. The city was made the capital Mewar, the former princely state, by Maharaja Udai Singh. Udaipur, the City of Lakes, is one of the most romantic cities in India; it is known as the Venice of the East, the Kashmir of Rajasthan, and the city of dawn. The city is a combination of sights, sounds, and experiences; it is an inspiration for artists. Palaces and lakes of Udaipur make it among the most popular tourist destinations in India. The city is a preferred marriage destination; many celebrities hold their marriage ceremonies in Udaipur. One can enter Udaipur easily, as it is accessible from all the major cities in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.

Udaipur city was established in the 8th century by Sisodia Rajputs. They later resisted the Muslim invasion. Later, in the 18th century, the state suffered from internal dissension and incursions by the Marathas. In 1818, the city came under the British dominance. It then merged with the union of Rajasthan in 1948.

Known as the City of Lakes, Udaipur have three interconnected lakes: the Fateh Sagar Lake, the Lake Pichola and the smaller Swaroop Sagar Lake. Lake Pichola lies in the west, with its two small islands and marble palaces. One of its palaces served as a refuge for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahān, who revolted against his father Jahāngīr, before his accession.

There is a legend related to Udaipur city. Maharana Udai Singh, when he was out for hunting, met a man meditating on a hill that overlooks the lake Pichola. The man blessed Maharana and told him that if he built a palace at that spot, it would be protected. The Maharana took his words and founded Udaipur. To raise the city, many communities participated, living in different streets, and localities. For generations, these communities lived next each other in harmony.

Being known as the city of palaces, the City Palace and Lake Palace are located in Udaipur. The City Palace is among several buildings with towers and balconies. The Palace houses a crystal gallery, boasting the largest private collection of crystal in the world. The balconies of the City Palace offer splendid views of Lake Pichola. There is also Sajjangarh Fort or Sajjangarh Palace. It was built to be used as an observatory, for the Maharana Sajjan Singh to see the arriving monsoon clouds from afar.

The climate of Udaipur is moderate throughout the year, contributing in being a favorite destination for many people. The climate is shunned from all the tough weather phenomena such as viz., snow-falls, teasingly torrential rains, floods and extremities of temperature. The temperature of the city is around 38 Celsius in summer, and around 11.5 Celsius in winter. The common languages spoken in Udaipur are Rajasthani, Marwari, English and Hindi.

People of Udaipur city are diverse; they come from different backgrounds and ethnicities. Hindus form most of the population, followed by Muslims. They work in different industries like agriculture, tourism, and retail. Most of the locals prefer the traditional dresses, although western attire is gaining popularity. Men’s traditional clothes are angarakha, dhoti, and pajama while women’s are choli and ghagra. All of Udaipur people live in peace and harmony together and are friendly toward visitors.

Udaipur’s location, amidst the Aravalli ranges, and its climate, make it an important urban tourist center. These elements give a plenty of natural beauty spots in the city and favoured its growth from just a small town. Udaipur’s palaces, lakes, temples and gardens carry the flavour of its heroic past.