Udaipur

Udaipur
Metropolis
From Top to Bottom: Evening view of the city, City Palace complex
Nickname(s): "City of Lakes"
Udaipur
Udaipur
Location in Rajasthan, India
Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur (India)
Coordinates: 24°35′N 73°41′E / 24.58°N 73.68°E / 24.58; 73.68Coordinates: 24°35′N 73°41′E / 24.58°N 73.68°E / 24.58; 73.68
Country  India
State Rajasthan
District Udaipur
Founded by Maharana Udai Singh II
Government
 • Body Udaipur Municipal Corporation
 • Mayor Chandra Singh Kothari (BJP)
Elevation 600 m (2,000 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Metropolis 451,100
 • Metro 474,531
Language
 • Official Hindi, English
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 313001- 313024
Telephone code +91- 294
Vehicle registration RJ-27
Nearest cities Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Kota, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Indore
Climate BSh
Website www.udaipur.rajasthan.gov.in

Udaipur ( pronunciation ), also known as the "City of Lakes" is a major city, municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.[2] It is the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency. It was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II of the Sisodia clan of Rajput,[3] when he shifted his capital from the city of Chittorgarh to Udaipur after Chittorgarh was besieged by Akbar. It remained as the capital city till 1818 when it became a British princely state,[4] and thereafter the Mewar province became a part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947.[5]

Panoramic view of old city of Udaipur with City Palace behind it.

Udaipur is not located in the eastern part of Rajasthan but rather southernmost part of Rajasthan state, just near to the Gujarat border. It is surrounded by Aravali Range, which separates it from Thar Desert. It is around 655 km from Delhi and approximately 800 km from Mumbai, placed almost in the middle of two major Indian metro cities. Besides, connectivity with Gujarat ports provide Udaipur a strategic geographical advantage.[6] Besides, Udaipur is well connected with nearby cities and states by means of road, rail and air transportation facilities, including Maharana Pratap Airport. Udaipur is spread across an area of 200 km2, and stands as the sixth largest city in Rajasthan by population, supporting a population of 451,100 according to 2011 Census.[1] Popular languages spoken include Hindi, English and Rajasthani (Mewari).

Dubbed "the most romantic spot on the continent of India" by British administrator James Tod,[7] Udaipur is a popular tourist destination and is known for its history, culture, scenic locations and the Rajput-era palaces. It is popularly known as the "City of Lakes" because of its sophisticated lake system. It has seven lakes surrounding the city. Five of the major lakes, namely Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Pichola, Swaroop Sagar Lake, Rangsagar and Doodh Talai Lake have been included under the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Government of India.[8] Besides lakes, Udaipur is also popular for its massive historic forts and palaces, museums, galleries, natural locations and gardens, architectural temples, as well as traditional fairs, festivals and structures.[9] The Udaipur economy is primarily driven by tourism, though minerals, marble processing, chemical manufacturing and development, electronic manufacturing and the handicraft industry are also contributors.[10] Udaipur hosts several state and regional public offices, including offices of Director of Mines and Geology, Commissioner of Excise, Commissioner of Tribal Area Development, Hindustan Zinc Limited, and Rajasthan State Mines and Mineral Corporation Limited. Besides, Udaipur is rising as educational hub as well, with 5 Universities, 14 colleges and more than 160 high schools.[11] Udaipur is home to IIM Udaipur, the fifth best management institution in the country according to NIRF ranking released by MHRD. A new mall named Urban Square is also under construction in udaipur.

History

Statue of Maharana Pratap of Mewar, commemorating the Battle of Haldighati.

Pre-Historic Era

The Ahar River bank was inhabited by men in about 2000 B.C. There are footprints of two different civilizations, which provides claims about earliest inhabitants of the Ahar culture: the first ones are the Bhil/Bheels, the indigenous tribes originated at this place, and are still residing in the area in large numbers. The second footprints were unknown foreigners, who once entered the enclosed valley, and then continued to live in this place for centuries.[12]

The Establishment of Udaipur as a city

Udaipur was founded in 1559,[3] by Maharana Udai Singh II[13] in the fertile circular Girwa Valley to the southwest of Nagda, on the Banas River. The city was established as the new capital of the Mewar kingdom. This area already had a thriving trading town, Ayad, which had served as capital of Mewar in the 10th through 12th centuries.[14] The Girwa region was thus already well-known to Chittaud rulers who moved to it whenever the vulnerable tableland Chittaurgarh was threatened with enemy attacks. Maharana Udai Singh II, in the wake of 16th century emergence of artillery warfare, decided during his exile at Kumbhalgarh to move his capital to a more secure location. Ayad was flood-prone, hence he chose the ridge east of Pichola Lake to start his new capital city, where he came upon a hermit while hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range. The hermit blessed the king and guided him to build a palace on the spot, assuring him it would be well protected. Udai Singh II consequently established a residence on the site. In November 1567, the Mughal emperor Akbar laid siege to the venerated fort of Chittor. To protect Udaipur from External attacks, Maharana Udai Singh built a six kilometre long city wall, with seven gates,[15] namely Surajpole, Chandpole, Udiapole, Hathipole, Ambapole, Brahmpole and so on. The area within these walls and gates is still known as the old city or the walled city.

As the Mughal empire weakened, the Sisodia rulers, reasserted their independence and recaptured most of Mewar except for Chittor. Udaipur remained the capital of the state, which became a princely state of British India in 1818. Being a mountainous region and unsuitable for heavily armoured Mughal horses, Udaipur remained safe from Mughal influence despite much pressure. At present, Arvind Singh Mewar is the 76th custodian of the Mewar dynasty.[16]

Geography

Udaipur's Landscape during Monsoon
Topography

Udaipur is located at 24°31′30″N 73°40′38″E / 24.525049°N 73.677116°E / 24.525049; 73.677116.[17] The city covers an area of 64 km2 and lies at an altitude of 598.00 m (1,962 ft) above sea level. It is located in the southern region of Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border.[18] The city lies 403 km (250 mi) southwest of the state capital, Jaipur and 250 km (155 mi) northeast from Ahmedabad.

The City Palace alongside Lake Pichola.

Udaipur with its lakes lies on the south slope of the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan. The Northern part of the district consists generally of elevated plateaus, while the eastern part has vast stretches of fertile plains. The southern part is covered with rocks, Hills and dense Forest. There are two important passages in the Aravali ranges viz. Desuri Nal and Saoke which serves as a link between Udaipur and Jodhpur District.[19]

File:Udaipur-Rajasthan.jpg

Cityscape
Maharana Fateh Singh(1884–1930) of Udaipur on a royal barge in Lake Pichola
A view of City of lake 'Udaipur' from City Palace Udaipur

The lakes of the city being interconnected form a lake system which supports and sustains the ground water recharge, water availability for drinking, agriculture, industries and is a source of employment through tourism. The lake system has three main lakes in its upper catchment area, six lakes within its municipal boundary and one lake in the downstream. The Udaipur lake system, arising out of the river Berach (Banas Basin) and its tributaries, is an integral component of the upper Berach basin. The upper Berach basin is a part of the Gangetic river system, wherein the river Berach meets river Ganga through the rivers Banas, Chambal & Yamuna.[20]

The Udaipur Lake System can be divided into the following categories:[20]

Watershed or the catchment areas include :

  • Bada Madar: 8780.48 ha
  • Chhota Madar: 2987.23 ha
  • Badi Lake: 1906.55 ha

The city lacks an organised sewerage system and treatment facility for the solid wastes and sewage generated. With an absence of waste segregation, processing and scientific disposal facilities, the city's lakes have been facing increased levels of pollution, thereby threatening an ecological degradation.[21] Five of the major lakes have been included under the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Government of India in order to preserve the cleanliness of the water bodies in the city.[8] These are :

In a judgement passed by the Rajasthan High Court, all bathing activities at the lake shores and immersion of religious idols in the lake waters was banned in the city.[22]

The city recently scored poorly in the Swachh Bharat list of the cleanest cities in India, getting placed at 417th position out of a total 476 cities.[23] [24]

View of Udaipur and Fateh Sagar Lake from Neemach Mata Temple at dawn

Climate

Udaipur city has a hot semi-arid climate. The three main seasons, summer, monsoon and winter respectively, dominate the city of Udaipur. Being located in the desert lands of Rajasthan, the climate and weather of Udaipur is usually hot. The summer season runs from mid-March to June and touches temperature ranging from 23 °C (73 °F) to 44 °C (111 °F) in the months of March to June. Monsoons arrive in the month of July heralded by dust and thunderstorms.[25] With lush greenery and enchanting lakes, the sporadic rainfalls enhance the beauty of the city, making it one of the top monsoon destinations of the country.[26] The winter season prevails from the month of October till the month of March. Humidity, which prevails during monsoons, diminishes at the arrival of winters. The city observes pleasant sunny days and enjoyable cool nights with the temperature ranging from 5 °C (41 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F).[27]

Udaipur's winter climate is the most appealing time to visit. Tourists arrive in large numbers, anytime between mid-September to late March or early April. Even in January, the coldest month, the days are bright, sunny and warm with maximum temperature around 28.3 °C (82.9 °F). Mornings, evenings and nights are cold.[28]

Climate data for Udaipur
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 24.2
(75.6)		 26.9
(80.4)		 32.8
(91)		 37.4
(99.3)		 39.8
(103.6)		 37.3
(99.1)		 33.9
(93)		 30.3
(86.5)		 32.6
(90.7)		 33.3
(91.9)		 29.3
(84.7)		 25.5
(77.9)		 31.8
(89.2)
Average low °C (°F) 7.0
(44.6)		 9.1
(48.4)		 14.3
(57.7)		 20.2
(68.4)		 25.0
(77)		 26.1
(79)		 24.5
(76.1)		 23.2
(73.8)		 21.4
(70.5)		 16.9
(62.4)		 11.7
(53.1)		 7.7
(45.9)		 17.2
(63)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 3.5
(0.138)		 2.0
(0.079)		 1.2
(0.047)		 6.6
(0.26)		 18.2
(0.717)		 92.7
(3.65)		 188.8
(7.433)		 205.1
(8.075)		 96.2
(3.787)		 19.1
(0.752)		 17.2
(0.677)		 3.6
(0.142)		 654.3
(25.76)
Source: IMD

Demographics

Population Growth of Udaipur 
CensusPop. %±
189146,700
—
190145,600-2.4%
191146,0000.9%
194159,600
—
195189,60050.3%
1961111,10024.0%
1971162,90046.6%
1981229,80041.1%
1991308,60034.3%
2001389,43826.2%
2011474,53121.9%
source:[29]
Religions in Udaipur
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 72.90%
Muslims
 
 15.67%
Jains
 
 9.86%
Sikhs
 
 0.8%
Christians
 
 0.63%
Buddhists
 
 0.02%
Distribution of religions

According to the 2011 census, the total population of Udaipur city was 451,100. Including suburbs outside the city limits the population was 474,531.[1] As per the data, the male population of the city was 233,959 and the female population was 217,141 in 2011. The total population for the age group of 0–6 years old was 47,932. The sex-ratio of the city was 928. The child sex-ratio (0–6 years of age) was 866.

Udaipur has an average effective literacy rate of 90.43 percent, as compared to the national average of 74.04 percent:[30] male literacy rate being 95.41 percent while the female literacy rate being 85.08 percent.[31]

Hindi and Mewari are the major languages spoken in Udaipur. Marwari, Wagdi, Urdu and Gujarati are some others which are in use in the city.[32]

Hinduism is the major religion followed in the city. 2nd most are Muslims with approx 16% of total population. With a large Jain community, Jainism is amongst the other main religions practised. Jains makes about 10% of the population, as compared to the national average of 0.37%.

Government

Udaipur is governed by the Udaipur Municipal Corporation. The corporation has 55 municipal wards and Chandrasingh Kothari is the mayor. The city had city council that was converted into municipal corporation in 2013.[33]

Recently, an all-woman police patrol team was deployed in Udaipur. The initiative, taken by the Rajasthan government, is aimed at ensuring security of women from eve-teasers, and for general safety of public, specially tourists. The team is fully equipped with arms, security equipment, first aid and other amenities besides motorcycles for patrolling the city.[34]

Economy

The Durbar Hall, Fateh Prakash Palace Hotel

Udaipur has a diversified economic base. The major contributions to the city's economy come from tourism, agriculture and mineral industries. The handicraft and cottage industry sectors play an important part in contributing to the growing economy.[35] The city has also been included under the Smart Cities mission initiated by the Government of India,[36] and is selected in the list of first 20 cities to be developed as smart cities.[37] In the 2001 census of India, 36% of Udaipur resident were reported to be meaningfully employed.

Handicrafts

Udaipur is well known for handicrafts such as paintings, marble articles, silver arts and terracotta. The Shilpgram is a platform where regional handicraft and hand-loom products is developed. Craft bazaars are organised by the Shilpgram, with an aim to encourage the regional arts and crafts, the handicraft and hand-loom works.

Tourism
Aerial view of City Palace on Lake Pichola
Farming lands amongst the Aravali hills

Udaipur, with its picturesque landscape, lakes, and historic palaces and architecture, is a major destination for tourists, both domestic and foreign nationals visiting the state. Over 1.4 million tourists visited Udaipur in 2016. With numerous hotels to serve visiting tourists, Udaipur is home to some of the world's most renowned and the country's best luxury hotels and resorts.[38] The Oberoi Udaivilas has been ranked as the world's number 1 hotel in 2015.[39][40] The Taj Lake Palace and the Leela Palace Udaipur are also amongst the most expensive hotels in the country.[41] With various other renowned hotel chains present in the city, the tourism sector has been a fairly large contributor to the economic growth and fame of Udaipur.

As a capital of the erstwhile Mewar kingdom, Udaipur is also the launching point for visits to the historic forts of Khumbhalgarh and Chittor and the temple of Ranakpur, Shrinathji at Nathdwara and Eklingji. Religious tourism is a major source of regular visitors to Udaipur.

Metals and Minerals industries

Udaipur district is particularly rich in mineral resources as a large variety of important minerals are found here. Copper, lead, zinc and silver, industrial minerals like phosphate, asbestos, calcite, limestone, Talc (soapstone), barites, wollastonite and marble are the major driving resources behind the industries based in the city.[42] Marble is exclusively mined, processed and exported from here around the world. The marble industry is well set and established with proper infrastructure and technological support for mining and processing. It is the largest sector giving employment to many people of the city and the immigrants from nearby areas. Udaipur is also home to the world's second largest Zinc producer, Hindustan Zinc.[43]

Electronics, electrical equipment design and manufacturing

Udaipur is host to medium and large enterprises designing and manufacturing electronic instruments, control panels, sensitive metering technology and LED lamps. The electrical and electronics industry in Udaipur employs over 6000 people. These businesses are Tempsens, Pyrotech and Secure Meters Ltd.[44]

Agriculture

Agriculture as in most other parts of the country, remains a leading sector in the city's economy. The Major crops of the area are Maize and Jowar in Kharif season and Wheat and Mustard in the Rabi season.[45] Pulses, Groundnut and vegetables like brinjals are some of the major food products grown in the city.[46] The Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, along with its affiliated institutions, has been working towards identifying, designing, preparing and adapting new techniques in the field of production technology for agricultural development since its establishment.

Retail

Udaipur has both traditional as well as modern retail shopping destinations. The traditional markets include Bapu Bazaar, Chetak Circle, Suraj Pole, Nehru Bazaar, Bada Bazaar and Chand Pole, while the areas including Durga Nursery Road, Shakti Nagar and Sudkhadia Circle provide opportunities to new entrants. Udaipur is also progressing towards a mall culture, and has witnessed many retail malls including Forum Celebration Mall, Lakecity Mall, Arvana Shopping Mall, Chetak Shopping Mall, City Centre Mall, Mangalam Square Mall and R.Kay Mall.[47]

Tourism

List

PictureAttractionPeriodDescription
City Palace, Udaipur1559Standing on the east bank of Lake Pichola is a massive series of palaces built at different times from 1559. Its main entrance is through the triple-arched gate - the Tripolia, built in 1725. This gate leads to a series of courtyards, overlapping partitions, terraces, corridors and gardens. The palace now houses a museum with many antique articles, paintings, decorative furniture and utensils from the royal era.
Lake Palace1743–1746Situated over an island in Lake Pichola, the Lake Palace was constructed to serve as a royal summer palace. Built of white marble, the palace is now a luxury 5 Star hotel, operating under the "Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces" banner.
Jag Mandir1551–1652Jag Mandir is a palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola. Also known as the "Lake Garden Palace", it was constructed by three Maharanas of the Mewar kingdom. The construction started in 1551 and was completed by 1652. The royal family used the palace as a summer resort and pleasure palace.

 Kesariyaji Temple 9th century

The temple is dedicated to Lord Rishabh dev, the first Jain Tirthankara. The temple is very artistic. Its pinnacles, arches, doors, walls are very artistic, beautiful and fascinating. The fifty-two pinnacles of the temple are seen from a long distance. The main idol in the temple is of Tirthankara Rishabha, carved in black stone in padmasana posture, about 3.5 feet (1.1 m) tall.

Monsoon Palace-Monsoon Palace, also known as Sajjan Garh Palace, was built as an astronomical centre to keep track of the movement of monsoon clouds in the area and also served as the summer resort of the Maharanas. Built with white marble, it is located on Bansdara peak of the Aravalli hill range at an elevation of 944 m (3100 ft) above mean sea level. The palace offers a panoramic view of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside.
Jagdish Temple1651The Jagdish Temple is a large Hindu temple in the middle of Udaipur, built by Maharana Jagat Singh I. A key tourist place in the city, this temple is an example of Māru-Gurjara Architecture.
Fateh Sagar Lake1678Lake Fatehsagar is an artificial lake situated in the north-west part of Udaipur. The lake was originally built by Maharana Jai Singh and later reconstructed and extended by Maharana Fateh Singh. It is one of the most popular destinations in the city for tourists and the city residents. It also houses an aquarium named 'Under the Sun' inaugurated in 2017.
Sukhadia Circle-Sukhadia Circle (square) is large roundabout in the city's northern suburb and is a popular recreational centre. The square has in its centre, a small pond amidst which lies a 21 ft high three-tiered fountain. The fountain, made of marble is surmounted by a wheat-ear motif, a symbol of prosperity.
Saheliyon-ki-Bari1710–1734Sahelion ki Bari is a major garden and a popular tourist space in the northern part of the city. The garden with its fountains and kiosks, a lotus pool and marble elephants, was laid for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry.
Lake Pichola1362Lake Pichola is an artificial freshwater lake and is one of the several contiguous lakes in the city of Udaipur. The lake's surroundings and the several islands within the lake have been developed over the centuries, with palaces, marble temples, family mansions, bathing ghats (Gangaur Ghat, Ambrai Ghat, Hanuman Ghat) and chabutaras (a raised platform, normally within a courtyard)
Moti Magri-Moti Magri or Pearl Hill, is a memorial of the Rajput hero Maharana Pratap. It is basically a small hilloc, atop of which there is a bronze statue of the Maharana astride his favourite horse "Chetak". It was initiated by Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar, and carried over and completed with the help of a public trust.
Neemach Mata Temple - Neemach mata is located on a hill near Fateh Sagar Lake. The temple is 900 meters above on the top of the hill. This location provides a holistic view of entire Udaipur.
Karni Mata, Udaipur-Karni mata temple is located at Doodh Talai near Pichola. There is a rope-way which takes you to a hill at which this temple is located. If you visit in evening you can have a picturesque view of Pichola lake, Jag Mandir and Doodh Talai. From the top one can view the whole city.
Pratap Gaurav Kendra - Pratap Gaurav Kendra Rashtriya Tirtha is situated at Tiger Hill. It was started by the Veer Shromani Maharana Pratap Samiti, and aims at providing information about Maharana Pratap and the historical heritage of the area with the help of modern technology.
Gulab Bagh and Zoo - Gulab Bagh is the largest garden in Udaipur, situated at heart of the city. It is known for a wide variety plantation and includes various attractions including ponds, a library, toy train, zoological park, temples and a religious place for Arya Samaj, as well as several government offices.
Pratap Park 2016 Pratap Park is a new garden situated near the bank of Pichola Lake. It has an open Gymnasium, besides several other attractions. It has gained attraction due to the human sized alphabets reading "I LOVE UDAIPUR", with a picturesque view of Lake Pichola and City Palace in the background.

Culture

Wall painting at Shilpgram, Udaipur
Mewari artist at work

Udaipur has received a rich cultural heritage from the bygone ages. The lakes, temples, huge forts and palaces boast about the rich legacy of this city. The city has kept a balance between preserving the rituals and traditions of the past while keeping up with the modern advancements and changes in lifestyle. Like any other place in the state of Rajasthan, folk dance and music have an important place in adding to the city's cultural richness. The dynamic and vibrant dances of Bhavai, Ghoomar, Kachchhi Ghodi, Kalbeliya and Terahtaali add a sparkle to the rich cultural heritage of Udaipur.

  • Ghoomar dance is a part of the royal culture of the Mewar Region of Rajasthan. This is a community dance for women and performed on auspicious occasions where the ladies move gracefully in circles.
  • Kalbelia, one of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan, is performed by the Kalbeliya snake charmers' community with the sapera dancers wearing long, black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons.
  • Bhavai dance consists of veiled women dancers balancing up to seven or nine brass pitchers as they dance nimbly, pirouetting and then swaying with the soles of their feet perched on the top of a glass or on the edge of the sword
  • Kachchhi Ghodi dance is performed on dummy horses where men in elaborate costumes ride the equally well-decorated dummy horses. Holding naked swords, these dancers move rhythmically to the beating of drums and fifes.[48]

Following a lineage of age-old traditions and adhering to religious significance, the various dances complement the fairs and festivals held in the city. The city's music consists mainly of the use of Morchang, Naad, Tanpura, and Sarangi, among many other instruments, that used to echo in the courts of the erstwhile rulers of the state.[49]

Miniature paintings are amongst the most famous paintings developed under the patronage of the rulers of Rajasthan. The simplest among these are done on walls, and though folk in style, they nevertheless have some of the flavour of frescoes one sees in the old palaces. The tradition of painting the wall of houses with scenes from mythological and chivalric tales has been prevalent in Rajasthan for the past many centuries. The people of the city make use of such wall paintings for decorations during wedding celebrations. Noted amongst the miniature style of paintings are particularly the Pichvais, which are those made on cloth, and Phad, made on cloth scroll in folk style.[50]

The Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is a cultural institution based in the city. The institute with its museum is a platform which displays a collection of Rajasthani culture. Offering an insight into the lifestyle of the royal era in Udaipur, the museum has a fine collection of dresses, tribal jewellery, turbans, dolls, masks, musical instruments, paintings and puppets. With various cultural events including folk song and dance performances, theatre and puppetry, the institute highlights the different social stigmas, thereby proving to be a powerful education tool for the masses.[51][52]

Festivals

An idol of the deity decorated as per Rajput traditions

Gangaur Festival

Gangaur is one of the most important local festivals in Rajasthan.[53] In some form or the other it is celebrated all over Rajasthan.[54] "gan" is a synonym for Lord Shiva and "gauri" or "gaur" stands for Goddess Parvati, the heavenly consort of Lord Shiva. Gangaur celebrates the union of the two and is a symbol of conjugal and marital happiness.

It is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March–April), the first month of the Hindu calendar. This month marks the end of winter and the onset of spring. This festival is celebrated especially by women, who worship clay idols of "Gan" & "Gauri" in their houses. These idols are worshiped by the girls who seek the blessings of Gan and Gauri for a good spouse, while the married women pray for the good health and long life of their husbands. On the eve of Gangaur festival, women decorate their palms and fingers with henna. Udaipur has the privilege of having a dedicated Ghat named after Gangaur. Gangaur Ghat or Gangori Ghat is situated on the waterfront of Lake Pichola. This ghat serves as a prime location for the celebration of multiple festivals, including Gangaur festival. The idols of Gan and Gauri are immersed in the Lake Pichola from this ghat.

A traditional procession of Gangaur commences from the City Palace which passes through various areas of the city. The procession is headed by old palanquins, chariots, bullock carts and performance by folk artists.

Shilpgram Utsav

Shilpgram, a crafts village 3 km west of Lake Fateh Sagar, has displays of traditional houses from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra. There are also demonstrations by musicians, dancers, or artisans from these states. The 10-day festival organised here[55] is a treat for the visitor to an array of exquisite art and craft. One of the important objectives of Shilpgram festival is in the sphere of increasing awareness and knowledge of rural life and crafts, specifically, for the younger generation. Special emphasis is laid on workshops for children on arts, crafts, theatre and music.

Hariyali Amavasya

Hariyali Amavasya (new moon day of the Sawan / Shravan month) marks the beginning of the monsoons and greenery. It arrives three days before the famous Hartalika Teej (Shravan Shukla Tritiya). People worship God Shiva for abundant rains and good agricultural season. Melas and fests are arranged in several places in the city.

Jagannath Rath Yatra

In Udaipur, the third biggest Ratha-Yatra[56] is organised on the auspicious day of Ashadh Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) Dwitiya according to Indian Vikram Samvat. On this cultural day of summer solstice theme, June 21 of every year, the journey of the Lord Jagannath to their aunt's house is started. The presiding deities of the temple lord Jagannath (Krishna), Balabhadra (Balarama) and their sister Subhadra are taken through the streets in heavily decorated wooden chariots, which are made every year for the purpose. The Chariot of Lord Jagannath, called Nandighosha, has 16 wheels and is draped in red and yellow.

The sanctity of the festival is such that even a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which these are pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages.

Jal-Jhulni Ekadashi

According to the Hindu calendar, Gyaras, or Ekadashi is basically, the 11th day of each waxing (Shukla paksha ) and waning moon (Krishna paksha). This Ekadashi, known as Jal-Jhulni Gyaras, or Jal-Jhulni Ekadashi, like all other festivals, is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Udaipur.

Udaipur was voted the Best City in the World in 2009 by the Travel + Leisure magazine,[57][58] and is now amongst the favourite wedding destinations for Indian as well as foreign nationals.[59] The city is a blend of sights, sounds and experiences, which have made it one of the top destinations for weddings and celebrations.[60][61]

Movies and Television

Udaipur is mentioned under the spelling Oodeypore in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book as the birthplace of Bagheera, the fictional panther in the king's Menagerie.

Because of its picturesque and scenic locations, Udaipur has been the shooting location for many Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Indian sections of the James Bond film Octopussy were filmed in the city, the Lake Palace, and the Monsoon Palace. The nearby desert was the backdrop of the remarkable rescue of Octopussy (Maud Adams) by Bond (Roger Moore). Some scenes from the British television series The Jewel in the Crown were also filmed in Udaipur. The Disney channel film, The Cheetah Girls One World, was shot in Udaipur in January 2008. Some of the other non-Indian movies and TV shows filmed in Udaipur include: Darjeeling Limited, Opening Night, Heat and Dust, Indische Ring, Inside Octopussy, James Bond in India, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Gandhi, and The Fall. Jag Mandir, a documentary film directed for television by Werner Herzog in 1991, was also filmed in the city.

Udaipur has been a popular location for Bollywood movies. Some of them shot here include: Dhadak, Guide, Mera Saaya, Phool Bane Angaray, Kachche Dhaage, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Jalmahal, Yaadein,[62] Return of the thief of the bagdad, Eklavya: The Royal Guard, Dhamaal, Jis Desh Mei Ganga Rehta Hai, Chalo Ishq Ladaaye, Fiza, Gaddaar, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Khuda Gawah, Kundan, Nandini, Saajan Ka Ghar,Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,[63]Ramleela,[64] Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Udaipur is also the setting of various Television series like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Rakhi Ka Swayamwar and Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap.

Events

Udaipur is a popular destination for organising various national and international cultural events. Recently, Udaipur hosted the first edition of India's first World Music Festival, a two-day festival held on 13 and 14 February 2016. Performances were made by artists and musicians from more than 12 countries, including Spain, Ghana, Venezuela, Italy, France as well as India.[65] Udaipur is also host for the Udaipur Lake Festival, a cultural event organized by the Udaipur Municipal Corporation. In this festival, Musical programs, adventure sports, jungle safari, bird watching, light and sound shows, art fair etc. are held around the lakes during the three to four day period.[66]

Udaipur is also the host city for the first ASEAN Art camp being organised by union ministry of external affairs from September 21–29. There are total 10 countries included and are taking part in the event: Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and India. This 10 day long art camp acts as a platform for cultural and artistic exchange among the participating countries.[67]

Transport

Udaipur is well connected to the major cities of India by land, rail and air.

Air

Maharana Pratap Airport,[68] is a very small domestic airport situated in a satellite town about 20 kilometres from Udaipur. Daily flights connect Udaipur with Jaipur, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and Spice Jet are operational at present. The airport having just three boarding gates, gate 1 is on the ground floor while gates 2 & 3 are at the first floor, and only 4 check-in counters can barely handle 600 passengers at a time. The airport has been renovated by the Airport Authority of India for a though remote but possible International airport status.

Rail

Udaipur City railway station and Rana Pratap Nagar railway station are two railway stations in Udaipur. Through them, Udaipur has direct train connectivity on the broad gauge network to most of the major cities in Rajasthan and the rest of India such as Mysuru, Khajuraho, Alwar, Jaipur, Kota, Chittorgarh, Ajmer, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ratlam, Indore, Ujjain, Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, Gwalior and Agra and a broad gauge conversion is going on to Ahmedabad.[69] Famous luxurious trains, The Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Maharaja Express and The Indian Maharaja have Udaipur as the scheduled stop on their itinerary.[70] The popular trains connecting Udaipur with the Capital of India, Delhi are Mewar Express and Chetak Express.

Road

The city lies on the intersection point of East West Corridor, Golden Quadrilateral, National Highway (NH) 76 and National Highway (NH) 8, midway between Delhi and Mumbai, located around 700 kilometres from either city.[71] The East West Corridor which starts from Porbandar and ends at Silchar is intersecting the Golden Quadrilateral and shares the common space from Udaipur to Chittor. The roads in this part of the country are paved and fit for private vehicles. One can either drive from Jaipur (around 6 hours), Ahmedabad (4.1/2 hours) or Surat (9 hours) on NH 8 or Golden Quadrilateral, from Kota (3 hours - EW Corridor or NH 76). Udaipur City Bus Depot has lines running for majority of other destinations in Rajasthan and farther north and west towards Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Apart from Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC), there are numerous private operators and companies providing bus services to and from the other cities.

Local transport

Unmetered taxis, Private Taxi, Radio taxi, auto rickshaws, and regular city bus services are available in the city.[72] Since 2015 Uber and Ola cab services are available.

Udaipur Panorama from Jag Mandir Island

Places nearby

The renowned Jain Temple at nearby Ranakpur

Apart from the local attractions within the city, there are several charming places to see around Udaipur. Each place has a great legacy of cultural, spiritual and traditional history. Various such places with rich historical background and importance, lakes and forests and important religious temples and shrines are located nearby the city. Most of them are easily accessible by road and railways.

Sports

Popular sports include cricket, football, hockey, tennis, chess, badminton, archery, etc.

Stadiums

Gandhi Ground is the main sports venue for various events, like athletics, basketball, field hockey, football, Kho Kho and volleyball. Luv Kush Indoor Stadium is generally used for the indoor sports especially Badminton and TT.[73] Maharana Bhupal Stadium is a multi purpose stadium used for organising matches of football, cricket and other sports.[73] For Encouraging Sports in the city and even for encouraging International Sports in the city, a step has been put forward by establishing 'Khel Gaon (village)'or Maharana Pratap Khel Gaon in Chitrakoot Nagar. It will be committed to 12 sports namely like Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Handball, Archery, Rifle shooting, Judo – Karate, Boxing, Swimming, Squash.

Udaipur International Cricket Stadium is a proposed cricket stadium in Udaipur.[74] In 2013, after a dispute between Rajasthan State Sports Council and Rajasthan Cricket Association over the availability of Sawai Mansingh Stadium during the Indian Premier League, the RCA decided to have plans of having their own stadium.RCA has gained land in Udaipur with 9.67 acres from the Udaipur Improvement Trust on a 99-year lease and stadium will have a capacity of 35,000.[75][76][77]

Cricket

Udaipur has several cricket clubs and is home to many state level players. Ashok Menaria of udaipur has represented India in U-19 world cup. Ashok Menaria and Dishant Yagnik of the city have played in IPL for Rajasthan Royals.

Chess

Chess is a popular game in the city among both young and senior players. Udaipur has over 80 International FIDE rated chess players. Players from udaipur have Represented Rajasthan several times in different Nationals like Chandrajeet Rajawat, Kapil Dadich etc.[78] Udaipur also has top FIDE rated players of Rajasthan Recognized by AICF.[79]

Water Sports

The city's lakes provide an opportunity for the water sports. The nearby Jaisamand Lake, situated about 56 km from the city, is equipped with water sports facilities with a range of different boats available.[80] Kayaking and Canoeing Sport Camps have also been started at the Fateh Sagar Lake. The city also hosted the 2012 National Kayaking and Canoeing Championship with Lake Fathehsagar serving as the venue,[81]

Powerlifting

The Asian Powerlifting Championships 2016, organised by Indian Powerlifting Federation, and sanctioned by Asian Powerlifting Federation and International Powerlifting Federation,[82] was held in Udaipur from 7 June 2016 to 12 June 2016.[83][84] The city also served as the venue for the Asian Powerlifting Championships in 2012 .[85]

Education

Udaipur is home to various government, deemed and private universities. Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology and Rajiv Gandhi Tribal University are the major government universities in the city while J.R.N. Rajasthan Vidyapeeth is a deemed university. The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, established in 2011 also resides in the city.[86]

The city has a college dedicated to dairy and food science, various dental and nursing colleges, commerce and management colleges and hotel management institutes.

Udaipur is the first district in Rajasthan to have implemented a smart class system in all the government schools, enabling them with information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure. This model of ICT in education is getting replicated in all government schools of ICT infrastructure of Rajasthan State. This ICT based initiation was started on 4 December 2013 by Dept of Education, Udaipur in joint initiative with Moinee Foundation, Jaipur and is popularly known as Project Utkarsh[87][88]

According to the census-2011 data on educational status, Udaipur, with 26 graduates for every 100 persons, has the highest percentage of graduates in the entire state .[89]

Media

Newspapers in Udaipur include Hindi dailies Rajasthan Patrika, Dainik Bhaskar, Navbharat Times, Apranha Times and Pratahkal. The Times of India, The Economic Times, The Hindustan Times, The Hindu are the English language newspapers circulated in the city.[90][91]

The national, state-owned All India Radio is broadcast both on the medium wave and FM bands (101.9 MHz) in the city.[92] Also broadcast in the city there are four private local FM stations - Radio City FM (91.9 MHz), Big FM (92.7 MHz), My FM (94.3 MHz) and Radio Tadka (95 MHz).[93] The public broadcaster Doordarshan (Prasar Bharati) provides a regional channel besides the mainstay channels.

The city is switching over to digitalisation of cable TV as per the third phase of the digitalisation programme by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.[94]

See also
Udaipur Rajasthan India Jodhpur

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