Udaipur,
the most romantic city is well known for its forts so while you plan a
trip there, don’t miss on these grand beauties which showcase the shadow
of history and culture of the city. You can rest up at
Cambay Resort in Udaipur and for sight seeing some of the well known palaces of Udaipur city which should not be missed are as follows:
City Palace, Udaipur:
Well
known as one of the biggest palaces in Rajasthan, the City Palace is a
beautiful and grand building in Udaipur. Built back in 1559 by Maharana
Udai Singh, the City Palace is set on the banks of Pichola Lake.
The
palace has a number of gateways. The main entrance of the palace is
Bara Pol or the Great Gate. Another gate is the triple arched gate which
is called Tripolia. There is a field next to Tripolia where elephant
fights used to take place. One can find eight marble arches in the
middle of these two gates.
Lake Palace in Udaipur:
Located
on Jag Niwas Island in the middle of the Lake Pichola the Lake Palace
is a mesmerizing view. It is spread across an area of 1.5 hectare of
island. The palace was built by the Maharaja Jagat Singh. It was built
as a royal summer palace retreat. However, later it got transformed into
a five star palace hotel. However, the transformation has not plundered
away the various royal features of the palace. You will truly enjoy
your visit to the palace. Even if you are not so much inclined towards
history then also a visit to the palace will be an enriching experience.
The various architectural features of the palace are also something
that has a lot of appeal towards the tourists. The unique themes that
reflect the rich handicrafts and textiles of the Udaipur are something
to watch out for.
Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur:
One
of the best heritage hotels of India, Fateh Prakash Palace is highly
praised for its traditional Marwari hospitality which oozes out luxury
in its pure form. Situated on the banks of the beautiful Pichola lake in
Udaipur, the luxury Palace is amongst the favorite destinations of the
Uber rich tourists traveling to this part of the world. Once the
residence of Maharana Fateh Singh, the Palace has been renovated and
converted into a heritage hotel. Known for its royal architecture and
par excellent services, the Fateh Prakash Palace cum hotel has
maintained its interiors with lavish paintings of the Mewar school.
Besides the historic art, the palace boasts of high rising turrets,
exquisite chandeliers and domes. Durbar Hall being the grandest section
of the Fateh Prakash Palace is adorned with different paintings of the
Maharanas and their weapons.
Shiv Niwas Palace:
Shiv Niwas Palace, located on the banks of the placid Lake Pichola, is the former residence of the Maharana of Udaipur.
Overlooking
the Lake, the crescent-shaped building palace was erected in 1920. Now a
luxury heritage hotel, it originally was the palace of Maharajah Fateh
Singhji. Till 1978, it was used by the generations of the royalty in the
form of guest quarters for the dignitaries who visited the King.
Between 1978 and 1982, the then owner Maharana Bhagwat Singh, erected a
second story to the structure of the palace for transforming it into a
sprawling luxury hotel. Like many other properties, there is a
possibility that this conversion was the result of the abolition of
privy purses. It might have become difficult for the royalty’s
descendants to fund their palatial ancestral home.
Currently
owned by the Mewar royal family of Udaipur, it is one of the hotels of
HRH Group of Hotels in Rajashtan and has been an accommodation of
several celebrities not only from India but aboard as well. If the name
of the palace is translated into English, it means the palatial abode of
Lord Shiva, the Hindu deity worshiped by the royal family. Winner of
three National Tourism Awards for the best heritage hotel in the
category of ‘Heritage Grand’, it is open to tourist in the form of a
tourist attraction. Leaving apart the section where the royalty is
residing, a visitor is free to roam around.
