Udaipur

Udaipur

Mewar is the historical capital of the erstwhile Rajputana agency. It was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II of Sisodia dynasty of Rajput in 1558, when he shifted his capital from Chittorgarh, when Akbar surrounded Chittorgarh.

The city of Udaipur, commonly known as the city of lakes, is famous for its rich, diverse and dynamic culture as well as heritage. The city is famous for its tourism and therefore, attracts many tourists from every nook and corner of the world.

Udaipur is very safe for women traveling solo or in groups. This is reflected in lower crime rates than other cities in India. Women traveling alone should follow some useful safety practices. The most important one is hotel and transportation.

Maharana Pratap was born into a Hindu Rajput family. He was born to Uday Singh II and Jaywanta Bai. His younger brothers were Shakti Singh, Vikram Singh and Jagmal Singh. Pratap also had 2 phases: Chand Kanwar and Mana Kanwar. He was married to Ajabde Panwar of Bijolia. He belonged to the royal family of Mewar.


After Uday Singh's death in 1572, Rani Dheer Bai wanted her son Jagmal to succeed him but senior courtiers preferred Pratap as the eldest son, their king. The desire of the nobles prevailed.

Top 8 Lakes in Udaipur – The Venice of the East

1. Fateh Sagar Lake, Udaipur

Of the many lakes that Udaipur boasts of, the Fateh Sagar Lake ranks high on the list of must-sees. Summer or winter, this beautiful waterbody does not disappoint you. The 2.5-kilometer-long lake was built in the late 17th century by Maharana Jai Singh, and was later remodeled by Maharana Fateh Singh. The lake offers visitors three islands – one with a lush green park called Nehru Park and a small zoo for children to enjoy, another with a public park with water-jet fountains for the general public to enjoy, and the third with a solar observatory called Udaipur Solar Observatory.

This pear-shaped lake with its tranquil waters and gorgeous views of the Aravalli Hills attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year.  The best time to visit Fateh Sagar Lake is between October and March, so you can plan a trip accordingly. And while you are in the city, don’t forget to visit some of the must-visit places in Udaipur.

• Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm; every day
• Entry Fee: No entry fee
• Boat Ride Timings: 8:00 am to 4.30 pm; every day
• Boat Ride Charges:
  • ₹ 30 per person for regular boat rides
  • ₹ 100 to ₹ 200 per person for motorboat rides
  • ₹ 200 to ₹ 400 per person for speedboat rides

2. Lake Pichola, Udaipur

Picturesque, serene, and breathtakingly beautiful, Lake Pichola is an artificial freshwater lake built in the 14th century (in 1362 AD, to be precise). Often featured in Hollywood and Bollywood movie thanks to its picture-perfect grandeur, this lake gets an astounding number of tourists every year. Did you know that the James Bond film Octopussy was shot here on the Taj Lake Palace, a star attraction of this lake? This luxury hotel (which was once a grand palace) is located on Jag Niwas, one of the islands on the lake, and offers the well-heeled services fit for a king and queen.

But don’t be disheartened! This luxury hotel isn’t the only place with great views of the lake. The lake has three more islands on it, namely Jag Mandir, Mohan Mandir, and Arsi Vilas. Jag Mandir houses a palace by the same name, and history has it that the Prince of Khurram, who later became Shah Jahan, spent a few years living here, while rebelling against his father, Jehangir. The time he spent here with daily views of the Lake Palace inspired him to build the Taj Mahal many years later. Mohan Mandir is an uncompleted structure that looks like a temple and Arsi Vilas has a palace located on it. All these islands provide beautiful views of the lake. That’s not all! Enveloped by ghats, havelis (mansions), temples, and restaurants on all sides, visitors can choose from a range of experiences and budgets. The beauty of Lake Pichola can be enjoyed from shore too.

By the way, a boat ride on Lake Pichola is a must while you are here. Sunset is a great time to skip across the waters and capture some Instagram-worthy pictures and create everlasting memories with your family and friends.

• Timings: 9: 00 am to 6: 00 pm; every day
• Entry fee: No entry fee
• Boat Ride Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; every day
• Boat Ride Charges:
  • ₹ 400 per person for adults
  • ₹ 200 per person for children
• Sunset Boat Ride Charges:
• ₹ 700 per person for adults
• ₹ 400 per person for children

3. Udaisagar Lake, Udaipur