GENERAL INTRODUCTION:
The city of Udaipur is known as the ‘Venice of the East.’ It’s also known as the ‘city of lakes.’ The Lake Palace (Jag Niwas), which is situated in the middle of Pichola Lake, is the most outstanding example of an architectural and cultural miracle. The majestic City Palace on the lake’s edge, as well as the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above, add to the city’s beauty. Udaipur is also known for its famous miniature paintings, as well as its performing arts and crafts. Maharana Udai Singh established the city in 1568, and it has a lot of historical value as well as being a prominent tourist attraction. Apart from the above-mentioned attractions, the scenic beauty of the area is also a major draw for visitors. The numerous forts, palaces, and museums provide travellers with a genuinely delightful experience. Mountains and hills surround the city, providing spectacular views.
Pichola Lake is another tourist attraction in Udaipur. It was built as a summer palace by Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1743 and is a wonderful palace to visit. The summer palace is currently undergoing renovations to become a five-star hotel.
HOW TO REACH:
Air: Udaipur is 24 kilometres from Dabok Airport. New Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, and Mumbai are all connected by daily air service.
Train: Udaipur is connected to Chittaurgarh, Ajmer, Jaipur, Mumbai and Delhi by train.
Road: Udaipur is connected to a large number of locations via bus, including Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Delhi, Jaipur, Chittaurgarh, Indore, Kota, Mount Abu, and Mumbai.
SHOPPING & AROUND:
With the arrival of dusk, the streets of Udaipur come alive. The streets of Udaipur comes alive with people and tourists who walk out to buy as the sun sets on the distant Aravali hill ranges, creating a play of lights. Lakes and temples are the main attractions in Udaipur. Being a part of Rajasthan, it is tainted with vibrant colours, which can be seen in plenty in its bustling markets. It boasts a plethora of tiny businesses, large showrooms, and roadside vendors that provide a wide range of options. Handicrafts, pottery, jewellery, wooden toys, puppets, antiques, and paintings are among the products available at the markets. Many articles can be found that can be incorporated into one’s outfit and lifestyle.
Some of Udaipur’s most popular street shopping arcades are Hathi Pol, Bada Bazaar, Chetak Circle, and Palace Road. Rajasthali and Sadhna are two government emporiums that sell a wide range of handmade items at a fixed price.
For shopaholics, Udaipur’s street shopping is a genuine treat. It’s the finest way to de-stress, have a good time, and learn about the old city by meeting the people that live there.
Clock Tower: The Clock Tower in Udaipur is one of the most prominent monuments in the ancient town centre, which offers good shopping opportunities. It’s one of those usual twisting lanes where you may get all kinds of exotic products, including gold and silver. Copper products made by expert coppersmiths are exceptionally good, and shopping here at night when the clock is lit up is extremely pleasant.
Lake Palace Road: Lake Palace Road is a great place to find all kinds of textiles, including embroidered and woven pieces. It’s also suitable for Hindu gods’ wooden statues. There are numerous boutiques and gift shops on both sides of the street, though the crowds are better avoided during major religious festivals.
Jagdish Temple Street: Jagdish Temple Street is famous for its bustling shopping market, which sells a wide variety of local handicrafts. The prices here are among the best in the city, and it’s also a fantastic place to buy jewellery. Make an effort to haggle.
Ghanta Ghar: In Udaipur, Ghanta Ghar Road boasts the largest assortment of fabrics. There are a slew of businesses down this stretch, and while it’s a tight squeeze, it’s jam-packed with charm and every colour and style of fabric you can think of.
Ganjaur Ghat: The eastern side of Ganjaur Ghat, which has multiple bazaars that branch out from the Clock Tower, is the best bet for shopping. Ganjaur Ghat is particularly well-known among locals for carpets, pottery, paintings, and anything made of cane. It is preferable to arrive earlier in the day.
Shilpgram Museum: Located a few kilometres from the town centre, the Shilpgram Museum is a popular crafts hamlet. It is easily accessible by rickshaw and is located on the west shore of Lake Fateh Sagar. Handicrafts abound, and a popular craft show is held here every December. The traditional Indian mud homes, many of which have been wonderfully adorned inside, are another major draw.
RESTAURANTS:
1559 AD: Named after the year Udaipur was founded, 1559 is housed in a magnificent colonial villa with a big garden where guests can dine outdoors. The meal, which includes Rajasthani game birds (farmed, not hunted) served in traditional Indian and European methods, as well as salmon, rack of lamb, and baby back ribs, is beautifully lit. Laal maas (hot mutton curry) and keema matar (minced meat with peas) are popular Indian meat dishes. There’s a real espresso machine in the café, as well as a bar with a decent wine selection. Location: P.P. Singhal Marg, near Fateh Sagar, Udaipur – 313001, Rajasthan.
Natraj Restaurant: The Natraj Restaurant is a three-story edifice that comprises two stories of a dining hall and one floor of ala carte eating. It is popular with both visitors and locals. The Rajasthani or Gujarati Thali served here are genuine regional specialties. Location: Bapu Bazaar near Railway Station Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Rainbow Restaurant: This family-run restaurant is a terrific spot for real Espresso coffee (Lavazza capsules) and superb juices—the menu offers an extraordinarily extensive list of fresh fruit juices and wacky “mocktails” that are popular with younger visitors and backpackers. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with Tandoori cuisine being the most popular—try the chicken palak (curried chicken in a spinach sauce), which is paired with high-quality basmati rice. As the sun sets, it’s also a nice site to look out over Lake Pichola and the Lake Palace. Location: 27 – 28 Lal Ghat, Lake Pichola Udaipur – 313001, Rajasthan.
Garden Palace Restaurant: This restaurant, which is housed in the former Garden Palace, maintains its old world charm. If you want to experience local cuisine that isn’t too hot, this is the place to go. It offers both ala carte and buffet thali options. A short walk away is the Vintage Car Museum, which is a great place to digest your meal while strolling through the courtyard. Please note that the Gulab Jamuns served here are quite delectable! Location: Garden Palace Hotel, Near Gulab Bagh, Suraj Pol, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Bawarchi Restaurant: This restaurant offers three types of all-you-can-eat thalis, allowing you to choose from Rajasthani, Jaini, and Gujarati delicacies. The nicest aspect about this restaurant is that it is completely vegetarian. Location: Delhi Gate, Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Ambrai Restaurant: Located on the shores of Lake Pichola, directly across from Lal Ghat, this charming and popular outdoor restaurant with a bar has a secret entrance via narrow alleyways and offers beautiful views of the City Palace complex and the Lake Palace. It serves decent continental and Chinese meals as well as good Indian fare like paneer do piaza (soft white cheese in onion gravy) and mutton Rajputana (spicy, Mewari-style). The restaurant serves all three meals and has a pleasant bar.
Savage Garden: This three-story Mediterranean-style restaurant is tucked away in the heart of Udaipur’s Old City, with indoor and outdoor seating. The food makes up for the lacklustre service—even the menu, which is only one page long, is a welcome difference from the sea of usual Indian, Chinese, and continental options elsewhere. The restaurant, which is owned by a German expat, specialises in handcrafted pastas, some of which have an Indian touch, and all of the meals are prepared using filtered water. Beer, wine, and free Internet are offered, as well as a collection of odd locally created silverware.