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Things to Do in Udaipur

Constructed on the banks of the Lake Pichola, the City Palace of Udaipur is another marvel of Rajasthan. The work of this palace began under the leadership of Maharana Udai Singh and was completed by his successors. The structure is a nice blend of Chinese, medieval, and European form of architecture. The domes, arches and towers enhance the splendour of the heritage site. City Palace is truly a treat for the eyes with the big corridors, courtyards, terraces, pavilions, and gardens. It is built in marble and granite.  

There are a lot of gates known as pols in here. Bara pol is the main gate of the palace. The eight marble arches are known as toranas and triple arched gate is called tripolia. City Palace has a total of 11 palaces inside it which were built by different rulers. Get enchanted with the antique furniture, unique paintings, ornamental tiles and other princely items. The Kumbhalgarh Fort is another attraction in Udaipur and it must top the things to do in Udaipur list. 

It is 64 km away from the main city and has a sentimental significance attached to it. This fort was the birthplace of the great warrior Maharana Pratap. This magnificent structure was built by Rana Kumbha in 15th Century and lies below the Aravalli range. The rugged topography of the region made it impossible to be conquered. There are beautiful buildings, temples and palaces built inside the fort and the light and sound show is a must watch. This structure was renovated by Maharana Fateh Singh in 19th Century.

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Painted with different colours of history, the City of Lakes unfolds many untold stories about its rulers. Once ruled by the mighty Mewar dynasty, this imperial city rose above all and has carved its name on the pages of history.

Walking through the fascinating lanes of Udaipur, one can easily witness its regal past. Forts, palaces, gardens and the lakes in this city still showcase its eternal beauty making it one of the cultural capitals of India. A heritage walk through Udaipur is filled with excitement and wonderment of the Mewar dynasty.

Discover the rustic charm of Udaipur, interact with the locals, know more about its history, enjoy shopping in the local markets and bring home pleasant memories of your heritage walk in the city.

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When planning things to do in Udaipur, you must take time out and visit these stunning structures. The most celebrated among the palaces here is the Lake Palace situated on the Jag Niwas Island amidst the waters of Lake Pichola. It was built by the Maharanas of Mewar as a summer retreat, keeping in mind the blistering heat of Rajasthan. But now, this plush palace has been converted into one of the finest heritage hotels in India.

Providing the perfect setting is this fairy-tale place of elegant white structure against the cool blue waters and a perfect sunset. The rooms in here are adorned with lotus leaves, painted mirrors, pink stone works and cusped arches. The use of local textile and handicrafts inside the palace weaves a magic. The fountains, pillared terraces and gardens add to the beauty.

This palace is well equipped with all the modern amenities like restaurants, cafe, bar and lounge, swimming pool, conference rooms, 24 hour business centre, and 12 banquet halls. It has now become the most popular destination for marriages.

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Located near Udaipur, Haldighati plays an important part in Indian History. A mountain pass in the Aravalli Hills linking Pali and Rajasamand, it is a haven for those fascinated with historical sites. Situated at 40 km away from the main city, it was named so because of the yellow coloured soil of the region which looks like turmeric.

While here, you can pay your respects to the great warrior Maharana Pratap and his horse Chetak. Haldighati is where a severe battle was fought between Maharana Pratap and Raja Man Singh of Amber and also things to do in Udaipur. 

The battle led to a lot of bloodshed and the yellow ground was said to be turned red. This is the very place where Chetak saved his master from the enemy. There is a cenotaph built in the memory of the faithful horse Chetak at a distance of 4 km from the battleground.

Best time to visit: During the Day

Distance : 40 kms from Udaipur      

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The Jain Temple at Ranakur is one of the most beautiful temples in India. A three storey temple, it is popular for its sculptures and architecture and must be included in things to do in Udaipur list. The place of worship is surrounded by Aravalli Hills and stands on the banks of the river “Magai”.

This grand structure was erected in the 14th Century and has four facets. It spreads over 48000 sq ft area and is 102 ft tall and echoes the 50 years hard work of hundreds of sculptors and artisans. 

Located in the lap of Madri hills, it was gifted by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar. This is the reason why a small town came into being just 2 km away from the temple.

Earlier known as Ranpu, Ranakpur got the name from Rana . The Ranakpur Jain Temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankar, Lord Adinath. Erected on a high platform, this structure has nine basements, 84 gods, 4 Megh Mandaps and 1444 stunningly decorated pillars. There are two shrines of Surya Narayan and Lord Parsvanath and also things to do in Udaipur.

Location: In Ranakpur, near Sadri town

Distance From Udaipur : 91 kms

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The sound and light show at the Kumbhalgarh Fort is a spectacle that must not be missed. It takes place every evening in the fort which is lit brightly with floodlights. This performance describes the history and rich culture of the Maharanas of Mewar and the Kumbhalgarh Fort and also one of the best things to do in Udaipur.

This show starts at 6.45 pm and gives an overview about the royal Rajputs. It is narrated in Hindi language and is organised by the tourism department of the Rajasthan State Government. This show lasts for 45 minutes and is highly recommended to all the tourists if you plan to stay at the Kumbhalgarh Fort or nearby areas for the night.   

Distance from Udaipur : 65kms

If you like astronomy or want to know more about Sun then the best place for you to visit in the desert land is the Udaipur solar observatory. This site is known to be among the best in the whole of Asia and is one of the celebrated places of interest in the map of Rajasthan.

The solar observatory is located in an island on the Fateh Sagar Lake and is one of the rare ones to be situated in an island across the world. It was designed according to the model observatory situated at the Big Bear Lake in California. 

Dr. Arvind Bhatnagar and Vedhashala trust of Ahmedabad were deeply involved in establishing this organization. This marvel aids the research in Modern science and technology.

It is the main place for the development of solar physics in India. The device gives accurate observations of the sun because of the atmosphere around it. As it is located on an island covered with water on all sides it serves as a perfect atmosphere for the observations. The air turbulence on the island is lesser than on the level ground and thus it becomes easy to catch the sharp images of the sun.

Another advantage that the observatory gets is that it is located on a desert land where it will always receive the proper and maximum sunlight. This must be on the things to do in Udaipur list.        

There is a wide variety of telescopes on display in the solar observatory all of which provide the best observation of sun. Off late, there is a new instrument brought in known as the Solar Vector Magnetograph. This instrument will prove really helpful to the physicists and other scientists there to determine the activated magnetic field of the sun.

Distance from Udaipur : 7.5 kms

The Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary is a paradise for wildlife, nature and photography lovers. This reserve falls in the district of Rajasamand area in the state of Rajasthan and is 65 km away from the main city of Udaipur. 

This wildlife sanctuary spreads across 578 sq ft area and circles the Kumbhalgarh Fort. It covers a large area that includes the districts of Rajasamand and Pali, the city of Udaipur.

The sanctuary was established to protect the endangered animals like sloth bear, jungle cat, jackal, wolf, hyena, chuasingha, chinkara, chital, wild boar, blue bull, and leopard etc. This is the only sanctuary in the state of Rajasthan where it is easy to trace the activities of the wolf.

This sanctuary has a total of forty wolves and in the summer days you can easily spot a pack of them strolling around the small lakes nearby. It is here you will find a wide variety of birds in the area including the peacock, doves, grey jungle fowl, bulbuls, parakeets, white breasted kingfisher, red spur owls, grey pigeons and golden oriole. The birds can also be easily spotted near the water sources.

There is wide variety of flora and fauna in the sanctuary. You will be able to locate many medicinal herbs in the area. The jeep safaris are always available for a day trip inside the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Distance from Udaipur: 65kms

Shilpgram is a very celebrated crafts fair organized at Udaipur every year and is one of things to do in Udaipur. Organized at the western side of the city, this fair is held to promote the textile, crafts and handicrafts of the region.

Rajasthan is extremely famous for textiles and handicrafts. The marble and terracotta sculptures, tie and dye, bandhni, mirror work are some of the highlights of the region and are available at the fair. Camel leather work, embroideries, hand woven clothing items are some other items that you can look forward to.

Since the winter time is the ideal for something like this, the Shilpgram fair is held during the months of November and December. This grand affair goes on for ten days. It is mainly held to market the products of local designers of the region and other artists. 

This fair also holds a lot of workshops that can be enjoyed by the tourists and local people. It is especially a delight for those who are interested in learning pottery or other type of handicraft. Crafts and tourism are an important industry for the state of Rajasthan.

During this fair, Shilp Darshan is organized. This program is specially designed for the tourists and others who do not know about the traditional skills and troubles local artisans go through in making the goods. It is held to help selling the goods of these talented people. A crafts bazaar that is held here helps in selling the souvenir and other handicraft items. This fair is organized by the government to promote the cottage industries of the desert land.

Distance : 3kms West from Fateh Sagar Lake