The city of Udaipur has a charm of its own, steeped in romance and reminiscences of an era of royalty and pomp. Travel & Leisure Magazine recently chose this city as Asia’s 2nd best, which is indicative of its popularity on the Rajasthan tour circuit. With its shimmering lakes and imposing palaces, Udaipur has a character all its own. Located in the verdant Gerwa valley, 11 gates are carved in the walled city, which lays around four lakes--- Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar and Swaroop Sagar. Udaipur with its varied attractions offers something for everyone, be it the history and heritage buff or the starry-eyed honeymooners.

Palaces

Like other cities in the Rajasthan travel guide, Udaipur is a place with memories of a glorious past. The City Palace part hotel and part museum is a complex of 11 royal palaces, with each part filled with breathtaking sights. The glasswork, miniature paintings, porcelain and other gorgeous remnants of a royal past are a feast for the soul.

The Lake Palace located on an island on Lake Pichola is another heritage structure transformed into a beautiful hotel. The only way to reach it is by boat even today and it attracts visitors throughout the year. Known as the City of Lakes, these water bodies in Udaipur present a fascinating sight, especially in the monsoon.

Temples

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the 17th century Jagadish Mandir is located near the City Palace. Nearby is the 18th century Bagore ki Haveli that is now a museum with an enchanting display of Udaipur's traditional crafts.

The Eklingi Temple is 22 km from the City of Lakes and is dedicated to the deity of the Mewar kings. Built in the 10th century, the temple has a huge marble idol of Lord Mahadeva and there are niche altars for worship of Lord Ganesha, Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. Another 2 km away is Nagda with a placid lake and numerous Jain temples.

Shopping

Shopping is a pleasure in Udaipur with its unique range of handcrafts, royal memorabilia, jewellery and so much more. The lanes and bylanes teem with small shops and Shilpgram is a village set up for the sale of these traditional Rajasthani arts and crafts.

Udaipur is a fascinating blend of the old heritage of Rajasthan with the emerging modern lifestyle of malls and luxury hotels.