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TRAVELOGUE

A VISIT TO UDAIPUR

ARTICLE BY DR. SHARMILA RAY, AMQC

Udaipur, the jewel in the crown of Rajasthan, is also called the City Of
Lakes. Surrounded on all sides by the mesmerizing Aravali range, this place
is one of the best aesthetically beautiful places in India. Also referred to as
the ‘Venice of the East’, and the ‘ Jewel of Mewar’, this place is lled with
beautiful, natural sceneries, enthralling temples, and spellbinding architec-
ture, making it a must-visit place in the state of Rajasthan.

I visited Udaipur, the city of Lakes in 2015 with my family. We took a tour
package which included Jag Mandir Palace, City Palace, Crystal Gallery and Vintage Car Collection.
First, we took a boat ride on the Lake Pichola. The lake is an arti cial lake created by building
dams to provide freshwater to the city. There are four islands on the lake namely, Jag Niwas
(where Lake Palace is built), Jag Mandir, Mohan Mandir, and Arsi Vilas.
After a boat ride of 20 minutes we reached Jag Mandir gardens. It is looks like a oating marble
structure inside the lake. It was completed by Maharana Jagat Singh, hence it was named after
him as Jag Mandir Palace. History tells us that when Prince Khurram (Emperor Shah Jahan)
rebelled against his father Emperor Jahangir, he took refuge at the Jag Mandir Palace with the
help of the then Maharana of Udaipur, Karan Singh.
Many Bollywood movies including Yeh Jawani Hai Dewani was shot in Jag Mandir Palace.

After a visit to the Udaipur City Museum we visited the Crystal Gallery. It is located inside Fateh
Prakash Palace. It is said that in 1877, Maharana Sajjan Singh had ordered an entire collection of
crystals from a Birmingham-based F&C Osler rm (UK).

There was a delay in the delivery of the consignment. Maharana Sajjan Singh passed away
even before the crystals arrived. This led to the crystals being boxed in for 110 years until 1994
when the Crystal Gallery was opened and made public.

The gallery transports us to a fantasy world of the royal family.
Photography inside the Crystal gallery is strictly prohibited.

Lastly we visited the Vintage and Classic Car collection of Maharana of Udaipur.
The Vintage car Museum is an abode to 20 classic cars. The
collection includes 4 classic Rolls Royce, rare models of
Mercedes and solar operated rickshaws among many
vehicles.

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