About City Palace, Udaipur
Behold thy prestine glory!
City Palace, Udaipur is one of the finest forts of Rajasthan. This
spectacular palace stands white and majestic set on a hill. The palace is
surmounted by balconies, towers and cupolas and there are fine views over
the lake and the city from the upper terraces. It is surrounded by walls for
battlements, at the entrance is a triple arched gate, called the Tripolia
which was built in 1725.
»
The Wondrous Architecture : A blend of Medieval European and Chinese
architecture, the palace complex has a number of remarkable buildings of
immense beauty, gardens and fountains, well planned and finely executed over
the years. The palace complex is approached through the 'Hati Pol', or the
'Elephant Gate' from the main road. The biggest and most beautiful temple of
Udaipur the Jagdish Temple (1651A.D), dedicated to Lord Vishnu is situated
here. The 'Bara Pol' the 'Great gate' (1600A.D) on the northern end leads to
the first court yard, which joins Tripolia or the 'triple gate'(1725 A.D).
Between the two gates there are eight carved marble arches or 'Toranas'
under which the rulers in the past were weighed against gold and silver, the
value of which was then distributed to the poor. Beyond the Tripolia there
is an arena where elephant fights were staged. The palace looks rugged from
the exterior but inside, the path leads to many enclosures with luxurious
apartments surmounted by balconies, hanging gardens, massive octagonal
towers and cupolas with breathtaking views over the lake and the city from
the upper terraces. The oldest part of the palace is 'Raj Aangan' (Royal
Courtyard-1571) which
» The Museum : The main part of the palace is now
preserved as a museum. It includes the Mor Chowk with it's beautiful mosiacs
of peacocks. The Manak Mahal has glass and mirror work, while Krishna Vilas
has a remarkable collection of miniatures. In the Bari Mahal, there is a
pleasant central garden. Another monuments which has it's own charm is the
Suraj Gokhada (the balcony of the sun). Here the Maharanas of Meware came
before the people during troubled times to restore confidence in them. The
blue and white ceramics of Chini Chitrashala are extremely fascinating.
How to get there
» Air : Indian Airlines daily connects Udaipur with
Jodhpur, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Dabok Airport is 21 Km. from
the city centre and transportation by taxi takes 35-45 minutes.
» Rail : The Railway Station is about 4 Km. from the
city centre. Udaipur is directly connected by rail with Delhi, Jaipur,
Ajmer, Chittaur, Jodhpur and Ahmedabad.
» Road : Udaipur is connected by National Highway
No. 8, the major road link between Mumbai and Delhi. The Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation operate buses to
Udaipur from various regions. Private bus companies also operate in the
region during night hours.
