Udaipur
From Freepedia
Udaipur (उदयुपर) is a city in Rajasthan, India.
Contents |
Location
Udaipur is located in the mountains of Aravalli Range. It is located in the southern part of Rajasthan near the Gujarat border.
Hindu holy town of Nathdwara and popular tourist hill station Mount Abu are near Udaipur.
About the city
Udaipur is famous around the world as the City Of Lakes or Venice of East. The Pichola Lake, Udai Sagar, Fateh Sagar and Badi Sagar in this city are considered some of the most beautiful lakes in the state.
It is known for its Rajput-era palaces. Particularly famous is the Lake Palace, which entirely covers a small island in the Pichola Lake. Many of the palaces, like Lake Palace and Fateh Prakash Palace, have been converted into some of the best hotels.
Udaipur is also home to the Udaipur Solar Observatory which is one of the six stations participating in the international Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) which is aimed at the determination of the physical properties of the solar interior.
Places of interest
- Lake Palace - Originally known as the Jag Niwas, took three years to build and was inaugurated in 1746. Nothing but marble is used in the composition of this palace.
- Jag Mandir - Another island in the Lake Picholia, which is known for its beautiful garden courtyard. Shah Jahen took refuge here while revolting against his father.
- City Palace and Museum - Next to Fateh Prakash Palace, houses beautiful glass and mirror works.
- Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandir - An excellent museum of folk arts. Also hosts great puppet shows in its auditorium.
- Maharana Pratap Memorial - Rana Pratap's bronze statue seated on his loyal horse Chetak.
- Sajjangarh Fort - The summer resort of the Maharajas. Atop the hill overlooking all the lakes. This palace had an ingenious way to collect rain water for consumption all year around.
Places nearby
- Nathdwara - The principal temple of Lord Shrinathji is 48 km from Udaipur in Rajsamand District, and is one of the most important pilgrimage site of India.
- Ranakpur - A village that is home to one of the most important Jain temples. This is one of the few temples which escaped the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's efforts to destroy Hindu and Jain temples because it is hidden in a geographically difficult terrain. 1400+ marble pillars support the temple. These marble pillars are carved in exquisite detail. Opposite the Jain temple is the much older Sun Temple. Located in Rajsamand District, 110 km north of Udaipur.
- Haldighati - A mountain pass in Rajsamand District that hosted the battle between Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar and the Mughal emperor Akbar. Now a memorial site.
- Kumbhalgarh - A 15th century fortress, built by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, with 36 kilometres of walls. Over 360 temples are within the fort. It also has a wildlife sanctuary. Located in Rajsamand District, 64 km from Udaipur. The vista from the top of the palace typically extends tens of kilometers into the Aravalli hills.
History
Udaipur was the capital of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar, ruled by Ranas of the Sisodia clan. The ancient capital of Mewar was Chittor or Chittorgarh, located on the Banas River northeast of Udaipur. Legend has it that Rana Udai Singh II came upon a hermit while hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range. The hermit blessed the king and asked him to build a palace on the spot and it would be well protected. Udai Singh established a residence there. In 1568 the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittor, and Udai Singh moved the capital to the site of his residence, which became the city of Udaipur. As the Mughal empire weakened, the Sisodia ranas, and later maharanas, reasserted their independence and recaptured Chittor, but Udaipur remained the capital of the state, with became a princely state of British India in 1818. After India's Independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Udaipur acceded to the Government of India, and Mewar was integrated into India's Rajasthan state.
Udaipur in literature and popular culture
- Udaipur is mentioned under the spelling Oodeypore in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book as the birthplace of Bagheera the fictional panther in the king's menagerie.
- Indian sections of the James Bond film Octopussy were filmed in the city and the Lake Palace.
- Some scenes from the British television series The Jewel in the Crown were filmed in Udaipur.
- Film Guide was based on Udaipur.
- Actress Raveena Tandon got married in Udaipur in 2004.
- Jag Mandir of Udaipur was the inspiration behind Shahjahan's creation of the Taj Mahal.
Udaipur District
Udaipur District is bounded on the northwest by the Aravalli Range, across which lie the districts of Sirohi and Pali. It is bounded on the north by Rajsamand District, on the east by Chittaurgarh District, on the southeast by Banswara District, on the south by Dungarpur District, and on the southwest by the state of Gujarat.
The district is generally hilly. The eastern portion of the district is drained by the Sabarmati River, which originates in the Aravalli Range of Udaipur District flows south into Gujarat. The northern portion of the district is drained by tributaries of the Banas River, including the Ahar River, which flows through the City of Udaipur. The southern and central portion of the district is drained by tributaries of the Mahi River, including the Som and the Gomati. Dhebar Lake, also known as Jaisamand Lake, has an area of 50 km² (20 square miles) when full, and was created in the 17th century when Rana Jai Singh of Udaipur built a marble dam across the Gomati.
External links
- Photographic Gallery of Udaipur
- Udaipur City Map (Maps of India)
- Udaipur District web site
- Map of Udaipur District
