Saturday, 4 February 2012
City Palace Udaipur
The construction of the City Palace, Udaipur was started by Maharana Uday Singh. However, later on several additions were made to this palace by the succeeding Maharanas. Irrespective of the number of builders, the palace retains uniformity in its design. The Udaipur City Palace has a number of gates. Hati Pol, the Elephant Gate, provides you entry into the palace. Then there is the Bari Pol, the Big Gate, leading you to another gate Tripolia, the Triple gate.
City Palace of Rajasthan towers over the Pichola Lake. There are a number of balconies, towers, etc in the palace providing with an amazing view of the lake. One of the balconies of the palace is the Suraj Gokhada, the balcony of the sun. Here, the Maharana used to hold public audiences at the time of some crisis. A well-known attraction of the fort is the Mor Chowk, the peacock square, having blue mosaic of a peacock in glass. It adorns the wall of the square.
The palace also has a Surya Chopar, the sun square, which displays a huge ornamental sun. Udaipur City Palace also houses a museum displaying a rich collection of armory ranging from protective gear to a number of weapons, including the two-pronged sword. The entry to the museum is through Ganesh Deori, the door of Lord Ganesh. Further ahead is Rajya Angan, the royal courtyard.
There are a number of structures within the palace complex. Some of them are the following:
Manak Mahal, the Ruby Palace housing an amazing glass and mirror work collection.
Krishna Vilas, with some of the finest miniature paintings.
Moti Mahal, the pearl palace, with magnificent mirror work
Chini Mahal, adorned with ornamental tiles all.
Bari Mahal, having a central garden.
Zenana Mahal, the ladies chambers, comprising of some magnificent paintings of that era.
Udaipur Excursions
Situated 84 km from Udaipur is the Kumbhalgarh Fort. Maharana Kumbha got this fort constructed in the 15th century. The fort towers over the Aravalli Hills and has number of temples in it. There are also seven great gates guarding the fort’s entrance. Nearby the fort lies the Kumbalgarh Sanctuary and the Badal Mahal (Cloud Palace).
Approximately 22 km from Udaipur is the Eklingji temple complex. Built in 734 AD, this complex encompasses 108 temples carved out of sandstone and marble. It is dedicated to Eklingji (a form of Lord Shiva), the guardian deity of Mewar. There is a four-faced black marble idol of Shiva in the main temple. The one facing west represents Brahma, north facing is Vishnu, south facing is Maheshwar and east facing is Surya (Sun).
 |
| Cannon Salute for Shrinathji |
Nathdwara (gateway to the Lord) is approximately 48 km from Udaipur. Built in 17th century, it is devoted to Lord Krishna. It is believed that the Lord, himself, defined this spot. Lord Krishna’s image was being relocated from Vrindaban to protect it from Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. On reaching this spot, the vehicle’s wheel got stuck in mud and refused to move further. The escorting priest comprehended that the Lord had chosen this spot and a temple was built here.
One of the famous Udaipur excursions is Ranakpur. Built during the reign of Rana Kumbha, it is famous for its numerous Jain temples. There are 29 halls and 1,444 pillars (no two being alike) in it. Ranakpur temples are renowned for their beautiful architecture. More Pictures
Dating back to the 17th century, Deogarh Mahal of Rajasthan is an impressive monument set against the backdrop of the Aravallis. Built by Rawat Dwarka Dasji, it now been partly converted into a heritage hotel. Deogah Palace Hotel provides all the modern facilities of a hotel, while still keeping alive its age old culture and traditions.
Palace Located 28 km to the northeast of Udaipur, Devigarh fort palace dates back to the 18th century. This fort palace has now been converted into a heritage hotel. Surrounded by the Aravalli range, it serves as one of the passes into the city of Udaipur.
Haldighati
Haldighati is situated 40 km from Udaipur. Haldighati is famous for a fierce battle between Maharana Pratap and Mughal Emperor Akbar that took place here in 1576. There is a white marble Chhatri dedicated to the determined hero and his devoted horse.
Jaisamand Lake
Maharana Jai Singh got this artificial lake built in the 17th century. Lying 48 km from Udaipur, the lake has marble Chhatris on its embankments. This second largest lake in Asia also houses palaces on its either sides. These palaces were built for the queens of the King. The islands on the lake still serve as the residence of the Bhils (tribal people).
Shilpgram
Excursions around Udaipur, Rajasthan include Shilpgram (Craftsmen's Village). It is famous for its exquisite crafts, arts and culture. The specialty of the village is the terracotta work done in dark red and dark brown sand materials and the wooden carvings.
Karni Fort
Karni Fort is situated in Bambora village, approximately 50 km from Udaipur. The fort has strong links with Rajput history and now stands turned into a heritage hotel. Providing a plethora of facilities, the fort hotel serves as the perfect place for relaxation............
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
Devigarh Fort
Devigarh Fort Palace of Rajasthan is situated at a distance of approximately 28 km from Udaipur. It serves as one of the three corridors that lead to the city of lakes, Udaipur. Dating back to the 18th century, this fort palace stands enveloped by the massive Aravalli range of Rajasthan. This important principality was bestowed to Sajja Singh of Gujarat in recognition for his valiance and loyalty. He stood by Maharana Pratap Singh against the Mughal emperor Akbar, at the battle of Haldighati (1576) and was honored by the award of Devigarh. However, the construction work on the fort palace got underway only in the 1760s, under Raghudev Singh II.
After the initial construction, successive rulers made many additions to the Devi Garh Fort Palace. After merging into the state of Rajasthan in the 1960s, the palace was later abandoned. However, after years of restoration and reconstruction, it has now been converted into the Devi Garh Palace Heritage Hotel, near Udaipur. The mingling of the modern design with the age-old heritage, gives a special touch to the palace hotel. Devigarh Palace Hotel of Rajasthan is a unique all-suite boutique hotel. A stay in this heritage hotel will bring you all the comforts of a hotel, while, at the same time, giving a taste of the rich royal legacy of the state............
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
Deogarh Mahal
Deogarh Mahal of Rajasthan is an impressive palace built in the 17th century. Surrounded by the Aravallis and speckled with lakes, the palace presents a magnificent sight. The main attractions of the Deogarh Palace are its graying battlements, domes, turrets, jharokhas, massive gateways and a rich collection of miniature paintings. Standing at a height of about 2100 ft above sea level, the palace was built by Rawat Dwarka Dasji as a family residence. A part of the Deogarh Palace has now been converted into a heritage hotel and is run by the royal family. The other half still houses the heirs of the Rawat family.
Deo Garh Mahal Heritage Hotel, near Udaipur, boasts of all the comforts and amenities of a hotel, while keeping alive its traditional grandeur. Situated besides a serene lake, it serves as the perfect place to unwind after the stressful daily routines. Devgarh Palace Hotel of Rajasthan has over two hundred rooms and is adorned with exquisite frescoes and mirror work. The meals consist of traditional regional cuisine and are served in the classy dining hall. You can also enjoy the local tribal warrior dance and folk music performed by the local artisans while at the heritage hotel. The hotel makes special arrangements for the purpose............
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
Ranakpur
Ranakpur Jain temples are situated in the mountain ranges of Pali district. They are approximately 23 km from the Phalna railway station. Dating back to the 15th century, the Jain temples of Ranakpur were constructed by Rana Kumbha. Enclosing the temples from all the sides is a strong wall. The entire temple area is enclosed within a wall. The main temple is the Chamukha temple, dedicated to the Tirthankara Rishabdeoji. This temple has contains a four-faced statue of Rishabdeoji in its inner sanctum.
Also, enclosed in the temples are four subsidiary shrines, 24 pillared-halls and 8 domes supported by over 400 columns. The most fascinating feature of the temples is its columns. There are 1,444 intricately carved columns, of which not even two are the same. The shrine also has a corridor around it, containing niches for tirthankara images, each having its own spire.
In the temple, are images of Adinath (north west), Parshvanath (north east), Ajitnath (south-east) and Lord Mahavir Swami (south west). The assembly hall contains two big bells weighing around 108kg. Also, at a height of 45 feet, there are artistically carved images of nymphs playing the flute in various dance postures. Facing the main temple is a small shrine dedicated to Prashvanath. In the inner sanctum of this shrine, is a black image of the Prashvanath............
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
Shrinathji Temple Nathdwara
The Shrinathji temple, Nathdwara is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is located in Nathdwara, approximately 48km to the north of Udaipur. The Nathdwara Shrinathji temple of Rajasthan houses a statue of Lord Krishna, sculpted from a single piece of black marble. The statue has one of its arms raised, giving an impression of Lord Krishna holding the Govardhan Mountain. The other arm seems to be giving a blessing as well as holding a dance posture.
The legend has it that during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the statue of Lord Krishna was moved from Vrindaban to enshrine it at a safe place. However, when the vehicle carrying the statue passed through the particular spot where the temple now is, its wheels got stuck in the mud. The priest accompanying the image interpreted it to be an indication from the Lord himself. It was comprehended that the Lord did not wanted to move any further. Thereafter, the statue was placed in the Lord Krishna temple, Nathdwara along with proper Vedic rites and tradition. The temple has three entrances, one (Surajpol) being exclusively for women. The temple priests daily change the clothes and ornaments of Shrinathji.
Eklingji Temple
The Eklingji temple, Rajasthan is devoted to Lord Shiva, the tutelary deity of the former Mewar rulers. It is situated approximately 24 km to the north of Udaipur. Eklingji Shiva temple Udaipur is a huge complex consisting of 108 temples. Enclosing the temple are high walls with bathing terraces leading down to the water. Filling the temple with fragrance all the time are the lighted incense materials.
Udaipur Eklingji temple houses a 50 feet high multi-faced black stone statue of Lord Shiva. There are four faces of the statue, depicting Lord Shiva in his four forms. In the east is Surya (sun), in the west is Brahma, in the north is Vishnu and in the south is Rudra. In the center of these images is the Shivlinga, encircled by a silver snake. The temple houses the whole family of Lord Shiva, including Parvatiji (wife of Shiva) and Ganeshji (son of Shiva).
Eklingji temple of Udaipur also contains the statues of Yamuna and Saraswati. The temple has silver doors depicting Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya. Located nearby Eklingji Shiva temple, are the temples of Amba Mata, Ganeshji and Kalika. Also shown in the brackets are nymphs in erotic dance postures and a life size image of Bapparawal............
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
http://famousindiantouristplaces.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)