We had our sumptuous breakfast by 9 am, after that we reached Jagdish temple where we hired a scooty for 1000/- for whole day. Bikes on rent are easily available just outside the gate of City Palace, near Jagdish Temple. Our first destination was the main attraction of Udaipur that is City Palace. Along with City Palace you can also visit Lake Pichola Boat Ride (Sunset Boat Ride is recommendable), Jagmandir Palace, Crystal Gallery, Vintage & Classic Car Museum. You can get all the tickets from the main gate (Badi Pole) of City Palace or you can get the tickets from the spot also.
Simply Marvellous Udaipur City Palace – The Royal Courtyard, The Huge Entrance Gate (Pole)
10:00 AM: City Palace Museum
Timing of City Palace: 9:30 Am – 5:30 PM
Price of Tickets:
The City Palace Museum : 300/- per adult
Vintage & Classic Car Museum : 350/- per adult
Crystal Gallery : 750/- per adult
Boat Ride on Lake Pichola : 450/- per adult
Sunset Boat Ride on Lake Pichola : 750/- per adult
We took all these tickets from Main entrance gate (Badi Pol) of City Palace and we hired a guide for 250/- (highly recommended, if you don’t take guide, you may get lost in this huge palace, as the guide knows the proper routes of entry and exit of the palace, moreover you will get the original charm of the palace when you understand the history or facts behind each and everything inside the palace. It will take around 2 hrs to see the whole City palace Museum. This palace is the second largest palace of India, first being the Mysore Palace.
As we walked inside the palace from Badi Pol which leads to a huge courtyard. There are three major entrance gate (Pole) to the palace, the entrance gate to the complex known as Hati Pol (Elephant Gate) which is followed by Bari Pol and Tripoli. The Mahals have now been transformed into museums. The Palace is a mixture of Mahals, courtyards, corridors, terraces, rooms and hanging gardens. This marvelous architectural monument made of granite and marble is a contrast to its natural surroundings of the Aravalli Hills. Both insides and outside of the palace are beautifully decorated. Graceful balconies, tall towers, domes and the breathtaking view of Lake Pichola. The bird eye view of Udaipur from the terrace in the upper part of the palace is mind blowing. The intricate marble-work, mirror-work, murals, wall paintings, silver-work, windows decorated with colorful glasses.
Marble-work, Mirror-work, Wall paintings, Silver-work
Structures within the complex are the Suraj Gokhda (public address facade), Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), Dilkhush Mahal (heart’s delight), Badi Mahal (the big palace), Surya Chopar, Sheesh Mahal (Palace of glass and mirrors), Rai Angan (the royal courtyard), Moti Mahal (Palace of Pearls), Krishna Vilas, Shambhu Niwas, Bhim Vilas, Amar Vilas (with a raised garden), Zenana Mahal, Fateh Prakash Palace and the Shiv Niwas Palace (present King stays in a part of this palace and another part is transformed into luxurious hotel owed by the King).The Mewar royal family owns the entire Palace complex and the structures in the complex are maintained by various trusts. The Fateh Prakash Palace and the Shiv Niwas Palace are now transformed into heritage hotels.
Mor-chowk (Peacock courtyard), Rai Angan (the royal courtyard), Amar Vilas (with a raised garden), Windows decorated with colorful glasses
Sheesh Mahal (Palace of glass and mirrors), Moti Mahal (Palace of Pearls), Windows decorated with colorful glasses
Krishna Vilas, Hand painted portrait of beautiful Queen of Udaipur, different utensils used in that era
Zenana Mahal, Royal Marriages take place here
12 noon: Crystal Gallery at Fateh Prakash Palace
Timing: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
It is situated in the Fateh Prakash Palace, which is now converted into a hotel, inside the Udaipur City Palace. This is one of the largest private collection of crystal in the world which includes crystal items of table, sofa set, dining table, dressers, lamp, footstool, beds besides a wholes array of washing bowls, huge collection of crockery sets, decanters, perfume bottles, etc. There is also an alluring jewel studded carpet, which is beyond description. There are more than 600 exquisite crystal items, which was never used before. It is said that the entire collection was ordered by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1877 from Birmingham as he was very fond of crystal. Unfortunately, there was some delay in transport and he passed away by the time consignment reached. So, this was not unboxed for 110 years. In the year 1994 Crystal Gallery was opened for the public to visit. This gallery is in the second floor of “Durbar Sabhaghar”. You will get an audio guide, which will brief you about the history of this breath taking collection of crystal gallery. Very sad to say that photography is not allowed in this gallery, so I will not be able to share with you any pictures of this gallery, but the memories that I have can never be erased.
Durbar Sabhaghar at Fateh Prakash Palace
1:00 PM: Lake Pichola Boat Ride
Timing: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
After visiting Crystal palace, we went for Lake Pichola boat ride which is inside the City palace. Lake Pichola is named after Pichola village and is one the most famous attraction of tourist. This has four main islands namely Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir, Mohan Mandir and Arsi Vilas. One should not miss the mesmerizing view of both sunrise and sunset from this lake. While riding the boat, we crossed the Taj Lake Palace Hotel in the middle of the Lake, Udaipur City Palace, Shiv Nivas Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, Roopway, Udai Villa, Trident Hotel, Laxmi Villa Hotel, Gangori Ghat, Swaroop Sagar Bridge, Chabutaras, Bagore ki Haveli etc. This is the most beautiful and serene lake I have ever witnessed. Lake Pichola boat ride is conducted from City Palace to Jagmandir Palace.
Mesmerizing Lake Pichola
1:10 PM: Taj Lake Palace
This Palace is in the middle of Lake Pichola. There is an interesting story behind this palace. Once, Maharana Jagat Singh requested his father, Maharana Sangram Singh II that he wants to reside in the pleasure palace Jagmandir with all his ladies. But his father refused his proposal and taunted him that if he has so much interest to stay in an island palace, then he should built one for himself. So the young Prince decided to built his own pleasure palace in the middle of Lake Pichola in the year 1746 which was named as “Jag Niwas” and today this is the majestic and magnificent Taj Lake Palace which is a 5 star hotel belonging to the Taj Group of Hotel, where James Bond’s Octopussy took place. Unfortunately, entry to this hotel is only restricted to the guests of this hotel. We only saw this exotic palace built with marble which features majestic architectures, only from outside while riding the boat on Lake Pichola.
Taj Lake Palace Hotel in the middle of Lake Pichola
1:30 PM: Lunch at Jagmandir Palace
Timing: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
This is another exquisite island palace in Lake Pichola which was constructed by Maharana Karan Singh. This is a beautiful marble structure in the lake has some brilliant architectures which includes a row of marble elephants welcoming the visitors to the palace. This palace includes Gul Mahal, Jag Madir, beautiful garden, Bhansi Ghat, Darikhana (restaurant), Bara Patharon ka Mahal, Museum; this place is also given for wedding or any functions. One can reach here only by boat service which is conducted by the City Palace. We had our lunch at Darikhana restaurant. This palace is also converted into hotel. I will recommend you to visit this palace during evening time and get the actual charm of this palace during sunset.
Gul Mahal, Jagmandir Palace
The majestic grandeur of Jagmandir Palace….King & Queen of the Palace!!….LOL
Lunch @ Darikhana (restaurant)
4:00 PM: Vintage & Classic Car Museum
Timing: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
After having lunch at Jagmandir, we wemt to this museum which is in the ground of the Garden Hotel and it takes only 10 minutes to reach from City Palace. Trust me if you have interest in car, this place is worth exploring. The museum showcases some of the most exquisite and rare collection of royal antique cars which includes classic Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, Morris, Chevrolet, Cadillacs, Ford, Vauxhall, etc and some of the solar operated rickshaws. This is owed by HRH group.
Exquisite and rare collection of Royal antique cars
6:00 PM: Sunset at Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
Timing: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Tuesday Closed)
Ticket Price: 60/-
After car museum, we went to the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace. The journey by our hired scooty was quite thrilling to this palace, as this is situated on the hilltop, from where you will get full view of Udaipur city. You will get to see many peacock, deer and monkeys while riding up the hills. This is one of the best places of Udaipur and worth experiencing sunset from this palace. Maharana Sajjan Singh built this palace on the top of the hill to track the monsoon clouds and forest areas were used for hunting by the royal members of Udaipur. This hilltop Monsoon Palace is visible from all places of Udaipur which affords splendid scenic beauty.
Simply Splendid view of Udaipur City from Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
7:00 PM: Bagori ki Haveli
Timing: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Ticket Price: 25/-
Dharohar Dance Show entry fee: 90/- Show Timing: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
This is a very congenial old building built right on the waterfront of Lake Pichola at Gangaur Ghat. Amir Chand Badwa, the Prime Minister of Mewar built it in the 18th century. This palace has over 100 rooms, three chowks namely Kuan Chowk (Well court), Neem Chowk (stage for music and dance performances) and Tulsi Chowk (Zenana, the women’s quarters where Ghoomar was performed by the ladies of the Haveli). Chowk displays a beautiful collection of turbans and women’s costumes. There is also Shringar Kaksh (dressing room for ladies), Sangeet Kaksh (music room for ladies), Manoranjan Kaksh (game room for men). Kanch Mahal (mirrored passage) and Durrie Khana was restricted to men only. There is beautiful paintings on the walls of Queen’s Chamber. The two peacocks made from small piece of colored glasses.
There is a puppet museum, turban section, weapons section and wedding section in this Haveli. The main attraction of Bagore ki Haveli is the Dharohar Dance Show (Traditional Rajasthani Dance) that is conducted in the evenings starting around 7 pm and this take place in Neem Chowk. Types of dance are performed here are Chari Dance (pots on their head), Terha Tall Dance (13 majiras or bell tied to their hand and legs), Gorbandh dance (twirling in high speed while holding hands), Ghumar Dance (dancers dance in rhythmic circles) and Bhavani dance (pots on their head). There is also Rajasthani Puppet show.
Dharohar Dance Show (Traditional Rajasthani Dance) @ Bagore ki Haveli
This was the end of 2nd day tour of Udaipur, Day 3 Tour Plan of Udaipur coming soon on my next blog…..untill then bbye 🙂
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