Udaipur

Udaipur is situated in the south-west of the state of Rajasthan. It is located at the bottom of the Aravali mountain range. Udaipur has many names - ‘City of sunrise’, ‘City of lakes’ and ‘Venice of the East’. Udaipur was the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in Rajputana. Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar in this city are considered some of the beautiful lakes.

History
Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II. Legend says that Udai Singh was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola. The hermit blessed the Maharana and advised him to build a palace on the spot, assuring him it would be well protected.

Maharana followed the advice of the hermit and founded the city. Maharana also built a small shrine, Dhuni Mata, to mark the spot which is now the oldest part of the City Palace. Besides, Udai Singh built an artificial lake named Udai Sagar after himself. Maharana Udai Singh died in 1572 and was succeeded by Maharana Pratap. Mewar continuously defied foreign invaders and has a history of bloody battles until the British intervention in the nineteenth when a treaty was signed to protect Udaipur. Upon independence Udaipur merged with the union of India.

Culture
he city is still occupied by people of Bhil tribe. Udaipur dwellers are really welcoming and hospitable. People usually prefer wearing bright clothes. Colorful festivals and fairs depict the cultural wealth of Udaipur. Bhavai, Ghoomar, Kachhi Ghodi, Kalbeliya and Terahtaali are the remarkable dances of Rajasthan. Cuisine is mostly vegetarian as the place has a big influence of Jainism and Vaishnavism.

Shopping
Udaipur is particularly famous for its miniature paintings inspired by the Rajput & Mughal styles. The markets of Udaipur present an assortment of items including handicrafts, pottery, silver jewelry, wooden toys and antique items. Handicrafts range from toys, puppets, wall hangings, pen stands, cloth lanterns, handmade papers, painted wooden box and greeting cards. Udaipur has a large collection of pottery in both metal and mud. You can get traditional attire coloured in Batik (wax-dye) hand prints along with tie and dye saris and clothes. The Pichwai paintings which are available on silk, wood, marble, paper and Ivory are popular. Hathi Pol, Bada Bazaar, Chetak Circle, Bada Bazaar and Palace Road are some of the popular shopping arcades of Udaipur. Exploring the streets of Udaipur and bargaining with the local vendors can be fun. Also, Rajasthali and Sadhna are two government emporiums that offer all the products under a single roof. Shilpgram festival is well-known as 'Crafts Bazaar' and is held in the middle of December at Shilpgram Crafts Village which produces unique works of ceramics, pottery, and visual art.

Where to stay
There are plenty of places to stay in Udaipur which has more than 400 hotels. Udaipur Hotels are hygienic and many of them are located near lakes which give you stunning scenes of lakes. Majority of the Udaipur hotels offer a view of the placid waters of the Lake Pichola. You can stay at a luxury hotel or for a more pocket friendly budget experience stay in one of the old havelis that have been converted into hotels and are usually family run.

Where to eat
Udaipur offers local and ethnic cuisine from almost every region in the world for those who like good food and a great dining experience. Standards of international cuisine in Udaipur are high and the choice is varied. Top class restaurants in the city’s hotels offer Indian, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Mexican, Russian, British, German, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Filipino and Korean cuisine to name just a few. Lovers of junk food can go to Sukhadia Circle which has some good roadside food joints near Rana Pratap Memorial. Apart from this, Dominos, US Pizza, Uncle Sam Pizza outlets are also available.

Best time to visit
The best time to go to Udaipur is between October to March as the weather conditions are ideal to spend the entire day out exploring the city and sightseeing. During these months, the climate stays pleasant, thereby adding to your delight.

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