Roadtrip to the Most Romantic City in India!

Namaste Steemit! Greetings from India

Today I would love to take you on a ride around my favorite city in India - Udaipur. Udaipur is a lakeside paradise of shimmering marble, palaces, temples, havelis and countless narrow, crooked, timeless streets, canals that ooze romance and a European feel you just can’t find anywhere else in India.

For those hoping to find out detailed information about experiences and things to do in Udaipur, then give this blog a read.

The lovely countryside of Udaipur can be explored by Bikes, cars, feet or horseback. I spent a couple of days exploring Udaipur, wandering in the alleyways of it's old city, riding through the famous sites on the banks of the Lake Pichola, visiting memorials and gardens, stuffing myself with sweets, picking souvenirs and going on boat rides, exploring its palaces, lounging on rooftops and relaxing on the lake.

Udaipur is a very tourist friendly place. Hence every Hotel I stayed at was staffed and managed really well, the food was always great and good value and you could never really get tired of the views from the rooftop restaurant. In the day they featured the glistening lake and in the distance the hills punctuated with Rajasthani architecture of the elegant hotel roofs. At night the scene changed into twinkling lights that were reflected in the lake and a bright moon to look at while you nestled into the low cushioned restaurant couches sipping a beer all snugly wrapped up in blankets to keep away the evening chill, while you watch the James Bond Film Octopussy. A Hollywood hit that was filmed here in the 1980’s and all the restaurants and bars like to show it while you dine.

Top Sights of Udaipur

Jagmandir Island:
Jag Mandir is a palace built on an island. The royal family used the palace as a summer resort and pleasure palace for holding parties. Located at the centre of lake Pichola, the island is accessible by boat only. If you are staying at Udaivillas/Trident/Leela they have their own ferry for pick and drop otherwise you can take a boat from city palace. The cost per person is ₹400 for a round trip.

Garden of the maidens:
Get some fresh air and sunshine with a visit to Saheliyon Ki Bari.. This is one of the most visited gardens in Udaipur and makes for a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours when you don’t feel like being in a museum or palace. The ornate gardens are home to fountains, marble elephants, flower beds, a small museum, and beautiful lotus pond.

City Palace:
Udaipur City Palace is one of the architectural marvels of Rajasthan, located peacefully on the banks of Lake Pichola. This majestic City Palace is the most-visited tourist attraction of Udaipur and often distinguished as the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. City Palace boasts of the wonderful blend of Medieval, European and Chinese Architecture. The Palace has various towers, domes and arches, which add to the flavor of heritage site.

Lake Pichola:
The first thing that comes to mind when one talks about Udaipur, is the Lake Pichola. The city of Udaipur is built around it and has flourished because of it. Udaipur is known as one of the most romantic cities in India thanks to its abundance of lakes and palaces. Two of the most popular man-made lakes in the city are Lake Pichola and Lake Fatehsagar, which are connected by a canal. You won’t want to miss an evening boat ride on one of the lakes. Rides last for about an hour and offer a whole new way to experience the city. A ride on Lake Pichola also allows you to get an idea of just how sprawling the City Palace complex really is.

Vintage and Classic Car Collection Museum
The Museum has some of the rarest classic and vintage car collection. The vehicles showcased belonged to the Kings of Mewar both past and present. Despite some vehicles being over seventy years old, each one has been painstakingly restored so that they are in working order.

Bagore ki Haveli
Bagore ki Haveli is an 18th-century building that has been carefully restored and turned into a museum. There are over 100 rooms here, set around beautiful courtyards. In addition to interesting cultural displays, Bagore ki Haveli is also home to the world’s largest turban. Whether you spend time at the museum of not, you might want to consider coming to see the Dharohar, a traditional Rajasthani folk dance show.

There's a lot more that you can see and do in Udaipur, but to keep it short you might want to check out the Monsoon Palace. Perched high on a hill above the city, the palace is a popular sunset spot due to its photo-worthy views over Udaipur. Apart from this, there are many markets and bazaars in Udaipur, where you can pick up local folk art and handicrafts, including the unique Rajasthani miniature paintings. Markets with a whole lot of jewellery and colorful Rajasthani clothes. The markets here are frequented more by locals than tourists, making it potentially easier to get a bargain on what you buy.