Udaipur
The Lake City of Udaipur, under the dark
shadows of green Aravali hills, is a real ‘Oasis of Romance’
in the otherwise drab land. With its three lakes Pichola. Udai
Sagar, and Fateh Sagar palaces, parks and fountains, this most
beautiful city of Rajasthan was founded by Maharana Udai Singh
in 1576 following the third sack of Chittorgarh. Udai Singh
fled to this place to escape the Mughal forces and then fashioned
a romantic city in this serene vale. This ‘Venice of the
East’ has following spots of tourist interest.
Maharana ‘s
Palace & Museum
The City Palace Complex at Udaipur overlooking
the Pichola Lake is one of the biggest in Rajasthan. With in
the palace the Sheesh Mahal, Krishna Vilas, the Bari Mahal and
the Museum containing beautiful mosaics, glass and porcelain
figures are worth visiting.
Island Palace
Out in the Lake Pichola are two islands
with two Palaces Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas. The Jag Mandir is
a three-storey high yellow sandstone structure within laid mosaics
and crowned with an imposing dome. It was here that Prince Khurram,
later Emperor Shah Jehan, took refuge when he unsuccessfully
revolted against his father Jehangir. On an another island at
the southern end is Jay Niwas Palace. Both of these palaces
were built by Jagat Singh II. Jag Niwas is now a luxury hotel.
Fateh Sagar Lake
Originally built by Maharana Jai Singh
in 1678, it was reconstructed by Maharaj Fateh Singh following
its destruction in floods. In the midst of the lake is now an
island garden called Nehru Park with a refreshment pavilion.
The Park is accessible by motor-boats which ply regularly between
the other end and the Island.
Saheliyon-ki-Bari
The garden of the ‘Maids of Honors
,right below Fateh Sagar Lake, is an excellent example of the
Hindu art of landscape gardening. Built by Maharana Sangrarm
Singh specially for the delight of damsels sent by the Emperor
from Delhi as peace-offering, .this lovely garden is lavishly
decorated with lovely lotus pool, finely designed cenotaps surrounded
by a number of fountains operable now by an electric switch.
Pratap Smarak
It is a memorial to the heroic warrior
Rana Pratap, atop the Moti Doongri overlooking the Fateh Sagar
Lake.
Kala Mandal Museum
This is a culturally very rich museum with
a fine collection of puppets, costumes, masks, paintings and
other musical instruments.
Eklingji Temple
Twenty four km. north of Udaipur is this
temple of the chosen deity (Lord Shiva) of the Mewar Royal Family.
The shrine, pyrarmidical and pagoda like with its apex crowned
with an ornamental figure of an urn and a bull, is surrounded
by hills of primitive formation.
Nath Dwara
Twenty four km. further north of Eklingji
and 48 km. from Udaipur, lies Nath Dwara, a great centre of
Hindu pilgrimage. The sculptured Krishna image in black marble
is over 600 years old. It was brought here by Maharana Raj Singh
from Mathura Vrindavan in 1669 to save it from the iconoclastic
frenzy of Muslim invaders. This temple is one of the richest
shrines in India.
Kurnbhalgarh Fort
Next only to Chittorgarh, this fort, constructed
by Maharaja Kumbha, is situated 64 km. north-west of Udaipur.
The fort is perched on a precipitous lofty hill rising over
3,000 feet.
Ranakpur
This unique complex of Jam temples is 96
km. from Udaipur and is one of the biggest Jam centres of pilgrimage.
Located in the serene and remote glen of the Aravalli hills,
they are over 500 years old yet well preserved. Most of the
present temples date back to the 12th to 15th centuries. The
Chaumukha or the four-faced shrine, is the main temple in the
centre of the complex, and is dedicated to tirthankar Adinath,
The whole complex soars like a symphony in marble.
All the places mentioned above should be visited keeping your
base at Udaipur. Udaipur is connected by air, rail and road
route to Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur. The chetak Express takes
about 20 hours to reach Udaipur from Delhi. For staying there
is a plethora of good hotel, guest houses, and lodges.
Mount Abu
Being the only hill station of Rajasthan,
Abu is a popular summer resort and a centre of pilgrimage. Situated
on a 1,220 metres high isolated plateau, Abu is an ancient place,
also mentioned in Mahabharat as the ‘Arbudgiri’.
The Agni Vanshi Rajputs are said to have originated here from
sacrificial fire of a yagya performed about 2,500 years ago.
The bracing environs, relaxed life, shaded woods, temples, beautiful
rock formation shaped by rain and wind, lake and many vantage
points and beauty spots make it a popular hill resort of the
region.
Dilwara Temples
These Jam temples here mark the culmination
of medieval Rajasthani temple architecture. Nestled in a rocky
vale, these shrines were erected between 1031 and 1231 AD chiefly
by Vimal Shah and his two ministers of the Vaghela King of Gujarat.
The three storey Parsvanath is the tallest structure here. It
was built in the 15th century.
Nakki Lake
Centrally located Nakki Lake, dotted with
rocky islets, is another land mark of Abu. The lake takes its
name from Sanskrit ‘nakh’ which means a nail. The
legend is that a thirsty god scooped it out by using only his
nails.
The other places of interest at and around Abu include Sunset
and Honey moon Points, Adhar Devi Temple, Brahma Kumari Ashram,
Achalgarh Shiva Temple and Guru Shikhar. Udaipur is the nearest
airport and Abu Road (29 km.) is the nearest railhead. Ahmedabad
is 187 km. by rail from here. Regular buses from Abu Road to
Mt. Ahu are available. There are many good hotels, l’ourist
Bungalows and Guest Houses, and Youth hotels for tourist’s
comfortable stay.
Jodhpur
Founded by Rao Jodha in 1459, Jodhpur is
a beautiful sprawling white washed city under the ceaseless
vigil of a massive fort of sheer rocky eminence. Once the Capital
of Marwar kingdom, ruled by Rathor warriors its fascinating
long-winding streets, palaces, latticed windows through which
light filters making varied patterns on ancient stone floors,
cenotaphs, temples, lakes and painted ceilings. Here the spots
worth visiting are Meherangarh Fort (straddling on a 125 meters.
high hilly scrap), Raj Mahal on the banks of Gulab Sagar Lake
and the nearby Kunj Behari and Chamunda Temples; Jaswant Thara
a white marble cenotap of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, also preserving
the geneology of the rulers of Jodhpur; and the Government Museum
set in the Umaid Gardens. Excursions include Mandore and the
town of Osian. Jodhpur is well connected by rail, road and air
with Jaipur and Delhi. There are many good hotels near the main
railway station for visitors’ stay besides some tourist
lodges and bungalows.
Jaisalmer
Jai the golden city of fiery tenderness
of creativity, is one of the most remote and unique towns of
India Founded by prince Jaisal Bhatti eight hundred years ago,
Jaisalmer, the biggest town of the biggest Parliamentary constituency
in the world, with an average of six persons per square kilometer,
is like a dreamland where the setting sun, like a big ball of
bright copper seems so near that you feel al most touching it,
and where everything slumbers into eerie serenity. The spots
worth visiting are the Fort—a triangular edifice on 80
feet high Trikuta Hill, was built in 1178 and 1187 and the famous
Havelis in the cobbled alleys, with delicate stone carvings
and lattice work of intricate designs. Some of the magnificent
mansions include Salim Singh ki Haveli, Patvon ki Haveli and
Nathmalji ki Haveli, Mumal ki Mehri is another spot, now in
ruins, hervalding the sage of a love-lorn tragedy.
Jaisalmer is connected with Jodhpur and Bikaner by road. There
are many Tourist Bungalows, Rest Houses, etc., for comfortable
stay
Bikaner
Deep in the desert and in extreme north
of Rajasthan, on an ancient camel caravan routes going to Africa
and West Asia, lies Bikaner, a real desert town encircled by
massive battlements. Bikaner, the former capital of the state
of the same name, was founded by Bika Ji in 1488, a son of Jodha
Singh, the founder of Jodhpur. This township, on a slight elevation
a challenge to inexorable forces of bleak barrenness of the
desert, is an interesting place with its ancient palaces, shrines,
pavilions, sculptures, camel breeding farm. Colourful bazaars
and above all so Picture sque and formidable fort. The places
worth visiting are Junagarh Fort and Museum. The fort, built
in 1588- 1593 by Raja Jai Singh, is characterized by its 37
pavilions, 986 meter long surrounding wall, two entrance gateways
and a superb palace complex. Excursions here include the renowned
Camel Breeding Farm (10 km); Devi Kund, Gajner Sanctuary, Deshnok
famous for Karni Mata Shrine where thousands of rats are fed
and preserved as they are considered sacred.
Bikaner is very well connected by rail and road route to Jaipur
and Delhi and there are a score of good hotels, rest-houses,
etc., for tourists’ comfortable stay.
