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Udaipur is one of India’s glorious gems in an otherwise battle scarred and desert filled state. The city is an inspiration for many, drawing poets, painters and artists of all kinds. Not only is the city home of the respected Indian royalty, the Rajput, but the people proudly proclaim to be the descendants of Lord Rama.

Known as the ‘city of dawn’ and located in the state of Rajasthan, Udaipur is one of the most stunningly picturesque cities in India. Rolling hills provide a luscious backdrop for the lower lying lakes and treasures of unique architecture that can be found throughout the city.

Legend has it that the city was founded by Maharana Udai Singh. One day while he was out hunting, Maharan came across a holy man sitting peacefully on top of one of the hills overlooking Lake Pichola. After a formal blessing, the holy man advised the young hunter to build a palace at that very location. Looking around, Maharana realised that it was the perfect location - a fertile valley with natural features abound - and Udaipur was founded in 1559 AD.

Among Udaipur’s main attractions is the large Lake Pichola, which is overlooked by the striking City Palace, constructed from marble and granite. The city was once surrounded by 11 gates, five of which remain to this day. The Suraj Pol, located on the eastern side of the city and known as the Sun Gate in English, is the city’s main entrance and the longest standing of all the original passage ways.

In addition to this exquisite lakeside palace, Udaipur offers several other buildings and palaces that are of interest to visitors. These include Chittaurgarh, the Jain temples of Ranakpur, the mountain retreat of Abu and of course the spectacular mountain fortress of Kumbhalgarh, the site where the first plans for the city were spoken of by Maharana and his holy advisor.

History
 
The history of Udaipur is documented in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. The Sisodias, the first people to settle in the area, are said to have descended from Lord Rama. They first arrived from Kashmir, founding a number of cities en route including Vallabhai in the 2nd century BC.
The bard’s chronicles outline how, in the 6th century, Vallabhai was sacked by western invaders. While on pilgrimage away from the city, the pregnant Queen Pushpavati of Vallabhai got wind of the invasion and the fact that her husband had been slaughtered.
Devastated by the news, the young queen retired to a cave to give birth to a baby boy, who she named Guhil, meaning ‘born in a cave’. Upon his birth, the queen entrusted his care to one of her servants, blazoned a fire and walked into it hoping to join her husband in the next world.
Guhil was adopted by a local tribal group called the Bhils, an ancient people who had been residing in the hills of Aravalli for many centuries. Guhil was popular with the tribe and soon became a chieftain. He and his loyal followers were known as the Guhilols.
In the 7th century, the Guhilols made their way north to the plains of Mewar. They changed their name to Sisodia, after a village they had conquered along the way. This group have a long and proud history spent building forts and palaces and defending both their property and people with pride and honour. Upon India’s independence, the descendants of the Guhilols were one of the oldest of Rajasthan’s dynasties, having ruled for a period of about 1,500 years.
In 1567, the Mewar capital Chittor was invaded for the third time. This sacking by the Emperor Akbar saw the previous leader, Rana Udai Singh II retreat into the hills of Aravalli. It was here in this picture-perfect setting that Rana came upon a holy sage meditating. He asked for the holy man’s advice on where to build his next city. It was decided there and then that the exact spot where the man had moments before been lost in quiet meditation should be the location for the establishment of the new city.
With the Aravalli mountain range as a striking and protective backdrop and large areas of forests with intermittent lakes bringing an added sense of magic to the area, the Rana realised that it was indeed a prime location.

Maharaja Udai Singh died shortly after, but his son Pratap took over his prominent position and bravely defended the city to the last against further attacks by the Mughals. He is known in Indian history as one of the greatest warriors of the Mewar region.

Despite his brave efforts, the Mughal forces proved too strong and eventually the leader was forced into the nearby hills, where he was protected by the same Bhil tribesmen who centuries before had supported Guhil. But Pratap did not give up. He eventually won control over Udaipur and much of the Mewar region back from the Mughal forces and ruled the area with great might and honour until the arrival of the British.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Udaipur was signed over to become part of a united India and it is now one of Rajasthan’s primary tourist draws for its well-preserved palaces and lakeside setting.
Weather
 
Udaipur’s climate is typically tropical with temperatures reaching nearly 40°C in summer. This season can be an arduous time to visit for those who are unaccustomed to the heat, with high levels of humidity making the smallest of tasks seriously hard work. Those arriving here during this period are advised to pack light cotton clothing and drink plenty of fluids to keep hydrated.
Winter is a much more pleasant time to set out for Udaipur. Temperatures are far more bearable at this time, varying between 11°C and the high 20s (°C). September to March is the best period to travel to Udaipur, when lower temperatures make getting out and about much more comfortable than in summer. Light woollens should be included on your packing list, but bring some lighter fabrics such as cotton as well for day time wear.
Monsoon season brings heavy rainfalls for a number of months, starting in July. The region usually sees about 60cms of rainfall per year. Wind and rain bring in dust from the desert and Udaipur experiences frequent thunderstorms during the monsoon season, making it an unsuitable time to visit. Humidity is also at its highest during the wet season.
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