"Keeweeechic's Udaipur" a Udaipur Travel Page by keeweechic

Udaipur is probably the prettiest city I visited in India and is known as the City of Lakes or the ‘Venice of the East’ because of the canals connecting the lakes. Udaipur is the key city Mewar, the southern region of Rajasthan and is also known as being one of the most romantic cities in India. The city was founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh II after his citadel Chittorgarh was sacked by Mughal Emperor Akbar. He established his capital after a holy man apparently guided him to the site near Pichola Lake. He felt that the area which was surrounded by lakes, forests and the Aravali Ranges would be less vulnerable than where he Chittorgarh was and therefore less likelihood of loosing it. The city did come under attack in later years when his successor Maharana Pratap reigned, however he managed to successfully defend the city.

The city is only around 37sq kms in area and lies at an altitude of 577 metres. Udaipur is a road and rail junction. The main industries are from stone and marble quarries. It is also an agricultural market town. The city is divided into the old and the new with the old city laying on the banks of Lake Pichola. The City Palace complex which was built in the 1500’s occupies a large part of the old city area. The city was once completely surrounded by a wall but there are only some of the remaining gates and pieces of wall in the upper area remaining.