Udaipur
HISTORY:
Udaipur is known as the Venice of the east. It is also called the city of lakes. The Lake Palace on Jag Niwas Island in the middle of Pichola Lakes is the finest example of its architectural and cultural explosion. The grand City Palace on the banks of the lake compliments the palace along with the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on the hill above. Udaipur is also the centre for performing arts, craft and its famed miniature paintings.The Shilp Gram festival is a center of attraction during the season.
Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1568 after his citadel Chittorgarh was sacked by Mughal Emperor Akbar. The legends says that Udai Singh was guided by a holy man meditating on the hill near Pichola Lake to establish his capital on this very spot. Surrounded by Aravali Ranges, forests and lakes this place was less vulnerable than Chittorgarh. Maharana Udai Singh died in 1572 and was succeeded by Maharana Pratap who valiantly defended Udaipur from subsequent Mughal attacks. Maharana Pratap is the most revered Rajput icon and gallantly fought the Mughal at the Haldighati in 1576. Mewar continuously defied foreign invaders and has a history of bloody battles until the British intervention in the nineteenth when a treaty was signed to protect Udaipur. Upon independence Udaipur merged in the union of India.
BASIC INFORMATION
Coordinates 24°35′N 73°41′E
Nearest city Ahmdabad, Kota, Ajmer, Jaipur
Time zone: IST (UTC+05:30)
Area 37 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation: 600 metres (2,000 ft)
STD Code 0294
ISD Code +91
Pincode 313001/24
Vehicle RJ-27
Image description
CLIMATE
The climate of Udaipur is tropical, with the mercury staying between a maximum of 42.3°C and a minimum of 28.8°C during summers. Winters are mild with the maximum temperature rising to 28.8°C and the minimum dipping to 2.5°C. Best time to visit is during the winters preferably September to March.
FAIRS AND FESTIVAL
The city of Udaipur celebrates all the fairs and festivals with equal fervor. The important fairs and festivals that are closely associated with Udaipur are Mewar Festival and the Shilpgram Fair. If you want to catch the vigor of these desert people, catch them during their famous fairs and festivals.
Mewar Festival - Mewar festival is observed to welcome the arrival of spring season (March/April). The festival is especially meant for women and offers the best time when they dress in their finest clothes and join the celebrations of the fest. To conduct the ceremony, women assemble to dress the images of Isar (Lord Shiva) and Gangaur (Goddess Parvati). After dressing the idols, they carry them in a traditional procession passing through different parts of the city. In the last, the procession makes its move towards the Gangaur Ghat at Pichola Lake. At this point, the images are transported into special boats and immersed in the deep waters of the lake. When this religious part gets over, people engage into various dances, songs and other cultural events revealing the culture of Rajasthan. Mewar festival is concluded with a glittering show of fireworks.
Shilpgram Crafts Fair - Shilpgram Mela is held annually in the west of the city of Udaipur in the month of November/ December. The fair is organized to promote art and craft of Rajasthan. This fair is a perfect destination to try out the hand woven clothes, embroideries, mirror works and handicrafts. The hand woven clothes and camel leather items grab the major attention of visitors in this fair
Baneshwar Fair: Baneshwar show runs from Magh Shukla Ekadashi (11th day of lunar month) of Magh Shukla Purnima (full moon), according to the Hindu calendar, which is five days in February or March in a small delta formed by rivers Som and Gold in Dungarpur , which is just 13 km from Udaipur. Mainly tribal Bhils only, Baneshwar fair features Ras-lila (local theater) that takes place at night in the temple of Lakshmi Narain, and traditional folk songs that the Bhils are sharp and singing while sitting around a fire at night.
