India: Udaipur

Okay, so I hope our trip to India has been wonderful so far! While I'm sad that we have to leave after today, I have saved a wonderful place for us to explore for our last day. Today, I would like to spend some time in Udaipur. Udaipur, which is also known as the "City of Lakes" is a beautiful city consisting of natural beauty and gorgeous man made structures. Udaipur used to be the capital of the kingdom of Mewar. Mewar was an important kingdom in India which had several different dynasties, the last one of which did not end until 1971. People love visiting Udaipur while visiting India. In 2009, it was rated the top city by Travel and Leisure in their "World's Best" awards. I'm sure we will have a wonderful time exploring this city!

 

First, let's visit the City Palace which is a large palace complex. Construction for this complex began in 1559 and was worked on and added on to for the next 300 years. The complex consists of several palaces that are absolutely gorgeous. In fact, two of the old palaces have been converted into hotels. There are beautiful natural views from this complex as well, as it was built on top of a hill.





Another building we must see while in Udaipur is the Bagore Ki Haveli. A haveli is a term used mainly in India and Pakistan that describes a mansion with architectural and historical significance. The Bagore Ki Haveli was built in the late 18th century by Chand Badwa, prime minister of Mewer. This beautiful place has over 100 rooms, courtyards, and terraces. It is decorated beautifully with paintings, artwork, and personal items of the royal families. Exploring this beautiful palace will give us great insight into the way royal life was lived during this time period in India.

Before we leave this beautiful city, we should take a boat rid on Lake Pichola. Lake Pichola is another beautiful part of Udaipur. The lake is actually a man made, freshwater lake constructed in 1362. This lake, like the other man made lakes in Udaipur, was created as a water source for drinking water and irrigation. Today, boat rides are offered on Lake Pichola. There are a few islands on the lake, and one of those is Jag Mandir. Our boat will stop at this island and allow us to explore another palace that is an important part of Udairpur, the Jag Mandir Palace. 

 Construction of the Jag Mandir Palace began in 1551. It was used for years by royal families as a vacation home. I don't know about you, but I certainly wish I could vacation in a palace as beautiful as this! Although great for vacationing, the palace was not always used for fun and recreation. On two different occasions, the palace served as a place of refuge for asylum seekers.




Once again, I am very sad to be leaving a beautiful country behind us without getting to see all of the beauty and culture it has to offer. I think we will find this true of all the countries we visit; there is never enough time to see everything we want to see. But, we must move on, so let hop on our plane and go explore our next destination: Peru!