View of Lake Pichola from the Karni Mata Temple. The City Palace is to the right. The two islands in the Lake are Jag Mandir (left) and Jag Niwas (right), where the Lake Palace sits.
The Lake is everywhere you look.
It shimmers and gleams, turning a dozen shades of yellow and gold in the course of a day.
The city, with its magnificent palaces and temples, quaint havelis and gardens, and winding alleyways, clings picturesquely to its shores. But make no mistake, the main attraction here is the lake itself.
It is hard to believe that Lake Pichola is man-made; and that it is quite so old, having been created in the mid 1300s.
The city and its Maharanas came after the lake – almost 200 years later. Everything you see at the edge of the water – and occasionally on the water; on one of its four artificial islands – dates from the 1500s and later.
The best experience to be had in the city is to be in a boat on the lake, leisurely taking in the sights by water.
Oh yes, emerge occasionally to take in those winding streets and pay homage to the magnificent palaces and temples – in particular, the Karni Mata Temple high on the hills, where one gets a stunning panoramic view of the Lake.
And by all means don’t miss the City’s colonial district, either, in particular, the delightful Gulab Bagh Gardens, which date to the late 1800s.
But then return again to the water, and watch the theatre of life in the city pass you by as you float.
And above all observe the Lake itself as it shifts its mood and personality like an actress on the stage.
The Lake…
Jag Niwas is one of the artificial islands on the Lake – it houses the exquisite Lake Palace.
The other large artificial island on the lake is Jag Mandir, which houses the Jag Mandir Palace, which dates back to the mid-1550s.
Along the eastern bank of the lake sit residences, guesthouses, temples and gardens.
And of course – the magnificent multi-layer-caked structure of the City Palace.
Lal Ghat Guesthouse.
Gangaur Ghat is home to the beautiful Bagore-ki-haveli, which dates to the 18th century.
Floating pavilion on the Lake…
A closer view of Jag Mandir, with the Gul Mahal visible.
The Jag Mandir palace.
View from the Jag Mandir towards the City Palace.
The City Palace at dusk.
…and the City
The Jagdish Temple is a major Hindu Temple in Old Town Udaipur. It dates back to the mid 1600s.
Close-up of the relief in the Jagdish Temple.
Mural at the Bagore-ki-haveli.
Scenes in the old town…
Scenes in the old town…
Scenes in the old town…
The Vintage and Classic Car Collection.
Shepherd Memorial Church, 1877.
Fateh Memorial
Rajasthan College of Agriculture.
Sahelion-ki-bari was a pleasure garden built in the early 1700s for ladies of the court.
One of the many fountains in the Sahelion-ki-bari.
A delight fountain with cherubs at the Sahelion-ki-bari
The former Victoria Hall, at the Gulab Bagh Gardens. Victoria Hall was built in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria – it housed a museum and library.
Udaipur Train Station houses an exquisite series of freshly painted murals, in the traditional Mewari style.
Detail of murals, Udaipur Train Station.
Detail of murals, Udaipur Train Station.
And finally, a view of Lake Pichola at sunset.
Dream Of A City 