subject: The Famous City Palace In Udaipur [print this page] Udaipur is one of the most charming and romantic cities in India with the backdrop of lush green hills and water. People come from across the globe to visit this beautiful city of lakes every year. The beauty of man-made grandeur and natural splendor make the city a dream destination of tourism in India. Large number of travelers come here to spend a romantic holiday amidst serene and scenic natural ambiences. The City palace is the foremost attraction of city of Udaipur where tourists come to experience the architectural glory crafted out white marble and red sandstone. It is a heritage building known across the globe for its medieval European and Chinese architecture, beautiful gardens, fountains, amazing palaces renowned for their artwork.
One of the most remarkable constructions of the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan, the palace complex is located in the heart of the city over the Lake Pichola. It was a fortified city with massive walls enclosing a mini township within its premises. There are several colossal gateways through which one can enter the City Palace. Maharana Uday Singh initiated in the construction of the palace but succeeding Maharanas added several palaces and structures to the complex retained a surprising uniformity to the design.
Over the subsequent years, with addition of numerous additions, the City Palace complex has become a collection of several other palaces. As the palace resides on the eastern banks of the Lake Pichola, one can gaze and gain a panoramic view of this world renowned Lake Palace or the Jag Niwas as it is called, from the balconies of the City Palace. The main part of the palace is now preserved as a museum displaying a large and diverse array of artifacts. The City Palace museum is entered through the Ganesh Deori meaning the door of Lord Ganesha. This leads to the Rajya Angan, the royal courtyard that is the very spot where Maharana Udai Singh met the sage who told him to find a city here. Unlike a standard museum the sections are all divided based on rooms and each room is referred to as a palace. The Ruby Palace presents a magnificent collection of glassware and mirror work while the Pearl Palace also shows an enticing display of mirror work. A rich collection of miniature paintings can be found in the Krisna Villas while the Chini Mahal is decorated with ornamental tiles. These are just some of the rooms that can be found here ensuring that there is plenty to hold your interest.
The Palace combines elements of Chinese and European architecture. A number of domes, turrets and arches make it a fascinating sight. Edged by octagonal corner towers, the palace is flanked by octagonal corner towers surmounted by cupolas and thus is a fine blend of Rajput and Mughal styles of architecture. Made of granite and marble, the palace is constructed on a raised height and is surrounded by ramparts. The heritage building of the palace showcases the finest specimen of Rajput culture and arts.
The city of Udaipur is very well connected with other cities of the country. Udaipur can be reached by road and has many deluxe, semi deluxe or super deluxe services to and from the city connected with all the nearby major cities like Jodhpur (5 hours), Delhi (11 hours), Jaipur (8 hours), and Ajmer (6 hours). All the major cities of India are connected with Udaipur via the rail transport system as well. Trains like Chetak express and Mewar express connects Udaipur with Delhi. There are other trains too that connects Udaipur with Jaipur, Ajmer, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhopal etc. Another very luxurious and popular train in India called the Palace on Wheels also halts at Udaipur. Indian Airlines daily connects Udaipur with Jodhpur, Jaipur, Aurangabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Dabok Airport is 21 Km. from the city center and transportation by taxi takes 35-45 minutes.
