- A galaxy of patriots and heroes
- Udaipur that was once known as Mewar, is a land, which has to its credit a galaxy of patriots and heroes in quick succession. Its history has been a continuous struggle for freedom of religion, thought and land against other Rajput groups as well as the overbearing Mughals and Muslims of bygone eras. Rana Udai Singh founded the City after the fall of Chittor to Akbar in 1568. Udai Singh chose the site of Udaipur for his new capital and built an artificial lake named Udai Sagar after himself. Later he hit upon a pond said to have been made in the 15th century by a gypsy.
- The gypsy had built a dyke upon a stream for his bullocks cross over. Udai Singh further extended this pond and created one of the most picturesque man made lakes in Rajasthan. The Rana named it Pichola after the neighbouring village of Picholi. His new capital was established when in the year 1559 that he built a small palace, Nochouki, on an overlooking ridge.
- With successive generations the marble and granite palace of the Rana spread out. The city palace went on expanding until it could claim itself to be one of the largest palaces in the world.
- PRIME SITES - THE CITY PALACE
- The City Palace, one of the largest palaces in the world, can be approached through the Bari Pol or the Great Gate with the royal drums and then onto the Tripolia Gate. The Tripolia is a triple gate made of marble arches. Between these two gates are eight carved toranas or archways under which the maharanas were weighed against gold and silver which was later distributed to the poor subjects. Each part of the palace was built in a different style, either Mughal or Rajput.
- PRIME SITES - JAGDISH TEMPLE
- Jagdish Temple was constructed by Maharana Jagat Singh between 1628 and 1653. This temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath and is located at a great height. Two massive stone elephants flank the entrance to the temple. The temple has a pyramidal spire, a vestibule and a porch. The temple is a three storied structure and has 50 pillars each in the first and second stories and is one of the largest and popular Vishnu temples in Northern India.
- PRIME SITES - LAKES IN UDAIPUR
- The title of the most beautiful and enchanting lake in Udaipur has been rightly given to Lake Pichola. This lake was started by either a gypsy or a grain carrier at the end of the 14th century and was completed by Rana Udai Singh. The lake is 2¼ miles long and 1¼ mile wide and is fed by a big stream from the western mountains. The lake is surrounded by numerous palaces, marble temples, family mansions and dark hills.
