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City Palace
 Inside the separate palace enclosure, entered from the South of Badi Chowk, are the Shiv Niwas and Fateh prakash Palace, which are now run as hotels. The Sunset view terrace and gallery restaurants, the crystal gallery and the boat wharves for trips to Jagmandir and the Lake Palace. It costs Rs 25 for visitors to enter this area, or you can buy a package ticket (adult/child Rs 435/175) that includes entry to the City Palace museum and Crystal gallery, a boat ride to Jagdish mandir and two free drinks. The ticket must be used within two days. There's another entrance to this enclosure on the southern side of the palace, more convenient if you're staying in the Lake Palace road area.
City Palace boasts of the wonderful blend of Medieval, European and Chinese Architecture. The Palace has various towers, domes and arches, which add to the flavor of heritage site. Towering on the banks of Pichola Lake, City Palace is truly a feast to the eyes. City Palace is a marvelous assortment of courtyards, pavilions, terraces, corridors, rooms and hanging gardens. Encircled by fortifications, this imposing Palace is wholly built in granite and marble.
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Fateh Prakash Palace |
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 It's like being cocooned in authentic royal luxury at the Fateh Prakash Palace, the grand heritage palace of the HRH group. The warmth of royal hospitality greets you as you walk along the corridors lined with large paintings of the Mewar school that flourished in the seventeenth through nineteenth century.
The lake facing suites in the turrets are suitably appointed with four poster beds and period furniture, festooned with maroon velvet curtains and delicate silk tassels. It's a legacy kept alive since the early decades of the twentieth century when Maharana Fateh Singh (period of reign : 1884 - 1935) used to be the royal occupant of this palace. Till date the formality of royal occasions are maintained.
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 The Lake Palace at Udaipur can be said to be the best example of the Rajasthani achitecture. The white marble Palace stand amidst the lake Pichola. A picture perfect spot for any photographer, the Lake Palace looks amazing. The complete scene looks as if the fairytale has come alive. The Lake Palace is said to be one of the most beautiful palaces in world. It arises out of the Turquoise waters of the Pichola lake, like an elegant fantasy in white marble. The Lake palace was built in the 17th century on a natural foundation of 4 acers of rock.
The Palace was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh and was earlier called as Jagniwas Palace, after his name. The lake was used by his successors as there summer resorts. In 1959, Maharana Bhagwat Singh, the then owner of palace renovated the palace and made it a tourist spot.
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 Pichola Lake derives its name from Pichola Village was submerged and Maharana Udai Singh enlarged the lake after he founded the city. He built a masonry dam known as Badipol and lake is now 4 km long and 3 km wide. This picturesque lake encloses the Jag Niwas Island and the Jag Mandir. And, the City Palace extends along its eastern banks.
A man made lake, Lake Pichola is one of the prime attractions of Udaipur. The lake is known for the palace build amidst the lake. The lake was built basically for defence purpose. Cradled amongst hills, gardens, havelis, temples and ghats, Lake Pichola is the picturesque spotlight of Udaipur. The lake sports two islands palaces- Jagniwas (Lake Palace) and Jagmandir. The beauty of the lake and its surroundings can only be felt by seeing it, which increases many folds during sunrise and sunset.
Boat trips10.00 am to 17.00 pm from Bansi Ghat Tariffs:
(1/2 hour cruise) Adult: Rs 75/-, child: Rs: 40/-
(3/4 hour trip) Adult: Rs. 150/-, child: Rs: 75/-
(1 hour solar boat) Rs: 1200 up to 8 persons.
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 This delightful lake, bordered by hills and woodland was constructed by Maharana jai Singh to the north of Lake Pichola. It is an artificial lake dug up in 1678, reconstructed by Maharana Fateh Singh A canal links the two, via Swaroop Sagar and Rang Sagar Lakes. The beautiful Nehru Island as well as an islet bearing a solar observatory rises from the lake.
Within the confines of the Fateh Sagar Lake, there are three small islands.; the largest of these islands has been developed as a park called Nehru Park, which is a popular garden with a restaurant. The second island houses a public park with an impressive water-jet fountain and the third island is the address for the Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO). The Nehru park is accessed by inboard motor boats from the bottom of Moti Magri. Blue waters of the lake and the backdrop of green has given the sobriquet of ‘the second Kashmir’ to Udaipur town.
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 Jaisamand Lake is renowned for being the second largest artificial lake in Asia. Located at a distance of 48 kms from the city of Udaipur, Jaisamand Lake is also known as Dhebar. In 1685, Maharana Jai Singh built this lake while making a dam on the Gomti River. This lake covers an area of 36sq km, stretches to the length of 14 km and width of 9 km. The lake is deep to the maximum of 102 feet and has a circumference of 30 miles.
Jaisamand Lake was the largest artificial lake in Asia, till the time when Aswan Dam of Egypt was not constructed. The dam on this lake is worth mentioning due to its massive size. It is 1202 feet in length, 116 feet in height and width of 70 feet at the bottom. The kings of Mewar were religious by nature and this is conformed by the fact that this dam has a Shiva temple. Centrally located, this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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Rajsamand Lake is one of the five popular lakes of Udaipur. Located 66kms in the north of Udaipur, Rajsamand Lake lies between Rajnagar and Kankroli. The lake is also known by the name of Rajsamudra Lake in Rajasthan. Rajsamand Lake was built by Maharana Raj Singh in 1660. Noticing the statistics, the lake stretches to the length of 4 miles and 1.75 miles in width. The lake has the approximate depth of 60 feet.
River Gomti is the main supplier of water to Rajsamand Lake. This lake also boasts of a glorious dam that was built in the 17th century. On the southern end of the lake, the huge embankment is all made in white marble. It has marble terraces and stone steps that touch the waters of the lake. Here, one can also see the five toranas (weighing arches), where Maharana Raj Singh and his descendants organized the event of Tuladan (Kings used to weigh themselves in gold and then distributed it amongst the Brahmans).
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City Palace Museum is located within the City Palace complex. It has an impressive collection of curios that will remind the visitors of the by gone eras. Besides the curios there are paintings stone and wooden sculptures, antiques and inscriptions. They throw ample light on the history and craftsmanship of the Rajputs and in particular the taste of the Sisodiya rulers. The entrance gate of the City Museum is known as Ganesh Deori. It literally means the `door of Lord Ganesha.`
City Palace Museum , Udaipur , Rajasthan The first part of the museum houses the weapons that the Rajputs used. Watch out for the unique two-edged swords. The Pratap Museum is also located here and the collection of the armors of Maharana Pratap is put on display here. The major attraction of the City Palace Museum is the Rajasthani artifacts. These comprise of coins, wall paintings, inscriptions and portraits. A turban of prince Khurram (Shah Jahan). In a way the turban is a mark of friendship that developed between the Mughals and Rajputs, though for a short span of time.
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Literally meaning a "Craftsmen's Village" is a living ethnographic museum depicting the enormous diversities in craft, art & culture between various Indian states, but the exquisite terracotta work mainly in dark red and dark brown sand material along with the wooden carvings are the forte of this ethnic village . Shilpgram comprises 26 huts set in 70 acres of natural surroundings at the foot of the Aravali Hills.A colourful craft festival during winter seasons to the whole set up induces viatanity and zeal.
Situated 3 kms west of Udaipur near the Havala village is the Centre's Shilpgram - the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex. Spread over an undulating terrain of 130 bighas (70 Acres) of land and surrounded by the Aravallies, the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex is conceived as a living enthnographic museum to depict the lifestyles of the folk and tribal people of the West Zone. Within this complex, huts of the member states are constructed incorporating traditional architectural features of different geographical and ethnic groups residing within the West Zone of India comprising of five Federal States.
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Located about 2 kms east of Udaipur is an impressive cluster of cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar. There are about nineteen cenotaphs of Maharanas cremated there. The most striking cenotaph is that Maharana Amar Singh, who reigned from 1597 to 1620. Nearby is also Ahar Museum, where on display is limited but very rare earthen pottery. Some sculptures and other archaeological finds. Some pieces date back to 1700 BC and a tenth century metal figure of Buddha is a special attraction.
The Ahar Museum puts on view the regal commemorative plaques and monuments of the Maharajas of Mewar. They are indeed noteworthy and you can’t afford to miss them. Out of the nineteen conspicuous cenotaphs stored in the Ahar Museum, the most attention- grabbling one is that of Maharana Amar Singh, who ruled over the land of Udaipur between the periods of 1597 to 1620.
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Vintage Collection of Classic Car Museum |
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 The collection within the grounds of the Garden Hotel comprises a variety of classic and interestingly rare transportation vehicles; some stately and vintage like Cadalec, Chevalate, Morais etc., while the others are sleek and fast .
The Maharanas of Udaipur once possessed and used these regal splendours of automobiles as their luxuries but most of the other models are gradually being added to the collection ,since it provides a unique aristocratic safari for the exclusive guests.
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 A RELIGIOUS COMPLEX Northern region of Mewar (22 Kms)
It houses 108 temples chiselled out of sandstone and marble,this temple of Eklingji was built in 734 AD. Enclosed by high walls, it is devoted to Eklingji (A form of Shiv Deity adored under the epithet of EKLINGA).
One of the prominent deity of the Maharanas of Mewar, worshiped as Mahadeva Chaumukhi,the quadriform divinity, represented by a bust with four faces., it has an ornate Man dap [ A pillared hall ] and the huge pyramidal roof composed of hundreds of knots very vividly carved and finely decorated with the coloured stones. Before the entrance in the main temple there is a beautifully sculpted huge Nandi [ the sacred brazen bull who is the loyal steed of Lord Shiva and has his altar attached to all his shrines.
The temple of EKLINGJI was constructed roughly in between the Uda- Nath route, with the hills towering around it and abundant small springs of water where more or less every tourist takes a break. And locals pay homage through out the whole year.The Belief is such.
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 Nathdwara lies 48 kms from Udaipur and literally means the gateway to the Lord. This great Vaishnavite shrine was built in the 17th century on spot exactly defined by the Lord himself. The legends have it that the image of the Lord Krishna was being transferred to safer place from Vrindaban to protect it from the destructive wrath of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The image when it reached the spot it vehicle the bullock carts wheel sank axel deep in mud and refused to move further. The accompanying priest realised that this was lord's chose spot and the image did not want to travel any further. Accordingly a Temple was built here.
This is revered temple and place of pilgrim amongst believers. Devotees throng the shrine in large number during occasions of "Janamashtmi" the day of Lord's birth and other festivals like Holi. The priests treat if like a living deity and tend to the lord with daily normal function like bathing- dressing meals called "prasad" and the resting times in regular intervals.
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 Ambika Mata Temple is a small shrine made in crevice of a rock. The temple dedicated to Goddess Ambika (a form of Goddess Durga). Being located at the village called Jagat in Rajasthan, the temple is also known as Jagat Temple. The shrine is comfortably positioned at a distance of 58kms in the south-east of Udaipur. Built in 961 A.D, the Jagat Temple is renowned for its intricate carvings in the exteriors.
The village Jagat is popular with the term of 'Khajuraho of Rajasthan' and the place is particularly famous for its well-preserved temple of the 10th century. Though Ambika Mata Temple is not very big, but its splendid architecture makes it different from others. The main shrine has an image of Ambika, a form of the Hindi Goddess Durga. The goddess is worshipped as Shakti (Power) that is a primitive source of energy. Goddess Ambika is linked with Maa Durga due to the presence of Lion as her mount.
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 Nagda, that is located at 23 kilometers from Udaipur, is the former capital of the ancient Mewar. Though initially known as Naga-hrada, present day Nagda was found in the 6th century by the Nagaditya. Tourists mainly come to this part to see the ruins of the Vishnu, Shiva, Jain temples that reflect the great architecture of the past days. Of the local architectures that characterize this place the 'Sas-bahu temple' and the temple of 'Adbudji' are the most renowned.
The 'Sas-bahu temple' of Nagda is one of the most famous for the exotic range of carvings that mostly remind one of the relics of the great Indian epic of Ramayana. Divided in two parts the 'Sas' temple is lager compared to the 'bahu' part. Built in the 10th century this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Enjoy the exquisite octagonal ceilings of the 'Bahu' temple that houses eight female figurines that reflect the rich artistic skills of the ancient architecture. If you visit this pace you can find a total of 10 smaller shrines surrounding the 'Sas temple' while the 'bahu temple' has 4 temples around it.
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Rikhabdev Pilgrimage |
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 Rikhabdev is famous only for its temple dedicated to Lord Rikhabdev, the first Jain Tirthankara. Rikhabdev is also claimed by the Vaishnavas as the eighth Avatar of Lord Vishnu. The temple belongs to the Svetambara sect of the Jains but at present is under the control of the State of Rajasthan. The temple is better known as Kesariyaji, derived from kesar or saffron that is put on the forehead of the idol of the Lord.
The tribals, Bhils, who worship the idol, call it Kalaji due to the black image of the idol. The town of Rikhabdev is also known as Dhulev as the Bhil Dhula had once protected the idol and worshipped it at this place.
The Bhils are very loyal to this Lord and always take an oath by uttering the name of Kalaji. No sign or inscription as such has been found about the origin of the idol but it is believed that it is very ancient. Locals here say that the idol was there during the times of Ravana, the anti-hero of the epic Ramayana.
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