Page 404 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

402  WESTERN INDIA

d Udaipur

This fairy-tale city, with its marble palaces and lakes surrounded
by a ring of hills, was founded by Maharana Udai Singh in 1559,
and became the capital of Mewar after the fall of Chittorgarh
in 1567 (see p406). The rulers of Mewar, who belonged to the
Sisodia clan of Rajputs, traced their dynasty back to AD 566.
Fiercely independent, they refused matrimonial alliances with
the Mughals, and took great pride in their reputation as the
prime defenders of Rajput honour. The city is dominated by
the massive City Palace, which overlooks Lake Pichola with its
romantic island palaces. Picturesque havelis, ghats and temples
line the lake front, with the lively bazaars of the old walled Lake Pichola, with the Jag Mandir Palace
city stretching behind them. on an island
} Fateh Sagar Lake
Fateh Sagar Rd.
North of Lake Pichola is Fateh
Sagar Lake, with a garden café
on its island. Over looking it is
Moti Magri Hill with a statue of
Udaipur’s great 16th-century
warrior, Maharana Pratap, and
his valiant steed, Chetak.

Jag Niwas, or the Lake Palace, in its magical setting on Lake Pichola Y Saheliyon ki Bari
Saheli Marg. Open daily. &
P City Palace  Jagdish Mandir This delightful 18th-century
See pp404–405. Moti Chhohta Rd. Open daily. Bagore retreat in the north of the city
ki Haveli: Gangaur Ghat. Tel (0294) 252 (its name means “Garden of
P Jag Mandir 2567/241 0539. & the Maids of Honour”) has
Lake Pichola. Open daily. 4 City This 17th-century temple, just ornamental fountains, a lotus
Palace Jetty. & Jag Niwas: Tel (0294) north of the City Palace’s main pool and a rose garden. It was
252 8016. 0 open to non-residents. gate, has an enormous black built for a queen of Udaipur,
The palace of Jag Mandir, with stone image of Vishnu in its whose dowry included 48 maids.
its lush gardens and profusely carved main
marble chambers shrine. The entrance P Ahar
exquisitely inlaid with is flanked by stone Ashok Nagar Rd. Museum: Open Sat–
coloured stone, was elephants, and a Thu. Closed public hols. &
built in 1620. Eight bronze image of Located 3 km (2 miles) east
stone elephants stand Garuda (the mythical of Udaipur, Ahar has the
solemn guard at its bird who is Vishnu’s impressive cenotaphs of
entrance. Between vehicle) stands in front 19 Mewar rulers, and a small
1623 and 1624, this of the temple. Nearby, archaeological museum.
island palace provided at Gangaur Ghat, is
refuge to Prince the 18th-century Environs
Khurram (who would Bagore ki Haveli, now Shilpgram, 8 km (5 miles)
later become the Pichhwai painting a museum exhibiting northwest of Udaipur, is a lively
Mughal emperor Shah Udaipur’s traditional ethnographic crafts village, with
Jahan) while he rebelled against arts and crafts, costumes, musical
his father. It is believed to have instruments and marblework.
inspired many of his ideas for Folk music and dance perfor-
the Taj Mahal. mances are held here every
Jag Niwas, or the Lake Palace, evening at 7pm.
built between 1734 and 1751, was The old walled city, a jumble
once a royal summer retreat and of shops and houses, many with
is now one of the world’s great beautifully painted façades, lies
hotels. It is also a popular location east of the Jagdish Mandir. In its
for film shoots (including James narrow lanes are the Bapu and
Bond’s Octopussy). Both palaces Bara bazaars, selling wooden
can be seen on a boat tour of toys, puppets, textiles, jewels Pavilion in the Saheliyon ki Bari, an
Lake Pichola. and pichhwais. 18th-century queen’s garden
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p699 and pp712–13

402-403_EW_India.indd 402 26/04/17 11:46 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm