" UDAIPUR " Udaipur by 10753435

Udaipur revels in reputation of being once the capital of the Mewar principality. It takes pride in being one of the few Rajput states, which did not owe their allegiance to the Muslim power in the name of realpolitik.

Mewar was the seat of the famous Sisodia Rajputs suzerains, which makes the Mewar household the longest lasting of all ruling powers in Rajasthan, and perhaps the oldest surviving dynasty in the world.

When Udai Singh II ascended the throne of Mewar in 1537, it was clear that the splendid for of Chittor was destined to be doomed. Udai Singh looked for a suitable place for his new capital and settled for the area around Lake Pichola, protected on all sides by outcrops of the Aravalli Range. He laid the foundation stones of the city in 1559. When Chittor fell to the marauding armies of the Mughals, he shifted to the new capital of Udaipur.

After his death in 1572 Udai was succeeded by his son Pratap, a legendary hero whose refusal to submit to the Mughal suzerainty led to the battle of Haldighati, which, though indecisive, resulted in the great misery for Maharana Pratap.

With the passage of time, the city of Udaipur prospered in all directions. It emerged as a great center of commerce and arts. This finds expression in the famous miniature paintings and the amazing palaces on the lake and its shore. With the decline of the Mughals, Marathas became a dominat power in India. They attacked Mewar in 1736 and as a result the city was reduced to poverty and ruin. The British, whose role in the East India Company had until then been purely commercial, stepped in to pick up the pieces, presenting the ruler of Mewar with a treaty of "perpetual alliance and friendship" in 1818. Guaranteeing protection from invaders and restoration of all its hereditary territories, this treaty and the support of the British helped to put Udaipur on the road to recovery. Yet Mewar never distanced itself from its principle of not bowing down to a foreign power and its rulers never allowed the British to interfere in the internal affairs of the state.

After Indian Independence the maharana of Udaipur at the forefront of a campaign by the princely states to join the new democratic and independent India.

The city of Lakes. Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure water lake, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravali.
Udaipur is a fascinating blend of sights, sound and experiences and inspiration for the imagination of poets, painters and writer

One of the main reasons why Udaipur in Rajasthan is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world is its proud culture, which still remains intact. Its strict adherence to the tradition and culture is indeed remarkable. The love affair of Udaipur men with the colored turbans is proverbial and women love to bask in the dazzling glory of bangles, armlets, anklet, earrings and rings as well as full Ghaghra (skirt).


Language

Besides the four major dialects - Jaipuri in the east, Marwari in the west, Mewati in the northeast, Malwi in the southeast - Rajasthani is the main language of the state. However, Hindi has been recognized as the official language of Rajasthan. There is also no dearth of English speaking people in different cities of the state.


Music & dance


Celebration is a way of life in Udaipur. Every region is characterized by its own variant of music and dance. The Kaibeliya dance of Jaisalmer and Ghoomar dance from Udaipur have been universally recognized. Folk music is an integral part of the Rajasthan culture. The past glory, chivalry, legends and history of the region are magically captured in these folklores. The songs are used to describe the heroics of the legendary battles of Rajputs. As a matter of fact, their lyrics and the tuning creates some sorts of excitement. Folk songs are commonly ballads, which tell the stories of the chivalrous deeds, romance and love, as well as religious or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis. These songs are accompanied by musical instruments like sitar, dholak, sarangi etc.


Religion

The bulk of the Udaipur, Rajasthan population is Hindus. Other significant religious groups in the state are the Muslims and the Jains. Apart from these, local deities and the local folk heroes such as Pabuji, Ramdeoji, Gogaji, Mehaji, Tejaji & Harbhuji are also worshipped by a large number of people.

Weather

In Summer: 38.3 C (Max) - 28.8 C (Min)

In winter: 28.3 C (Max) - 8 C (Min)

Rainy Season : from July to Mid Sept, and very humid (Upton 90%)

Rainfall: 62 cms.

Our suggestion: Best time to come: September to March