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Gay India Travel: Udaipur, the City of Lakes
The really, really rich and powerful who built and ruled this corner or Rajasthan literally had it all. You can see opulent palaces and ornate temples in the morning, then shop and take a lazy boat ride in the afternoon. Udaipur, the City of Lakes is one of India's most fascinating and colorful destinations. | ||
Lavish Palaces, Lush Gardens, Bustling Markets and Scenic LakesOne of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan is Udaipur the "City of Lakes." The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the city's lakes make Udaipur seem almost unreal. Surrounded by the ancient Aravali Mountains and set on the edge of three lakes, is a brilliant kaleidoscope of narrow lanes flanked by bright stalls, gardens, lakes, palaces and temples. The Lake Palace Hotel, in the middle of Lake Pichola, is a fine example of its architectural and cultural contribution to the region. The City Palace on the banks and the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above complete the perfect picture postcard setting.
Morning transportation to the airport for your flight from either Delhi or Jaipur to Udaipur, the City of Lakes. Our staff meet you on arrival and see you to your hotel. In the afternoon, proceed for a tour of the City Palace. Completely white and majestic, The City Palace stands on a hill surrounded by intricately scalloped walls. Its main entrance is through the triple arched gate, The Tripola, built in 1725. There is Suraj Gokhada, the Balcony of the Sun where the Suryavanshi Maharana (the descendent of the sun) of Mewar presented themselves in time of trouble to the people to restore their confidence. The More Chowk, or the Peacock Courtyard, gets its name from the vivid mosaics in glass, which decorate its walls.
Start with a morning excursion to Ranakpur. Renowned for some marvelous carving in Amber stone, Ranakpur is one of the five holy places of the Jain Community. The temples were built around the 15th century A.D. during the reign of Rana Kumbha and are enclosed within a wall. The central ‘Chaumukh' or four faced temple is dedicated to the venerated the Tirthankara Rishabhji. Open on all four sides, it enshrines the four faces (images) of Adinath. Sprawling over 48,000 square feet, the temple is an astounding creation with twenty-nine halls and 1,444 intricately carved pillars. Images of 24 "tirthankaras" (saints) are carved on the ‘mandaps' or porticoes in a corridor around the shrine with each mandap having a ‘shikhar' or spire adorned with little bells on the top. The gentle breeze wafting through the corridors move the bells creating celestial music all around the complex. Rising in three stories, the temple has four small shrines, with eighty spires supported by four hundred twenty columns. Two temples, dedicated to saints Parasvanath and Neminath, face the main temple. The temples have beautiful carvings similar to that of Khajuraho. Another temple worth visiting is the nearby Sun Temple, an eighth century A.D. temple dedicated to the Sun God. The temple has polygonal walls richly embellished with carvings of warriors, horses and other deities riding chariots.
In the morning, enjoy an excursion to Eklingji with its multiple temples within one complex and Nagda famous for its Sas Bahu or Sahastra Baahu Temple ruins. Later, we deliver you to the airport for your flight to Delhi or Jaipur.
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