Wednesday, 23 September 2015

HISTORY OF UDAIPUR

Udaipur is a lovely land around the azure water lakes, hemmed in by the lush hills of the Aravalis. A vision in white drenched in romance and beauty, Udaipur is a perfect blend of sights, sounds and experiences – an inspiration for the imagination of the poets, painters and writers. Udaipur is the jewel of Mewar – a kingdom ruled by the Sisodia dynasty for 1200 years.The royal city that had been the capital of Mewar rulers for centuries.

                             

The foundation of the city has an interesting legend associated with it. According to it, Maharana Udai Singh, the founder, was hunting one day when he met a holy man meditating on a hill overlooking the Lake Pichhola. The hermit counseled the King to establish a kingdom in the fertile valley that would be well-protected by the elevated Aravalli Hills. Subsequently, Maharana Udai Singh laid the foundation stone of Udaipur in 1557 A.D.

                                      

Previousy Chittorgarh was the capital of the Rajput kingdom of Mewar. Maharana Udai Singh was a successor of the Sisodias, who claimed to be the descendants of the Sun God. Amongst the warrior clans, Sisodias are recognized as the most powerful ones in Rajasthan. Another reason for shifting the capital from Chittorgarh to Udaipur was constant attacks in 1568 by the Mughal emperor, Akbar to avoid off the danger, Udai Singh shifted the whole kingdom to Udaipur. Udaipur was naturally safe under the fortifications made by Aravalli Hills.

                           

Udaipur continued to be the capital of Mewar, till it became the princely state of British India in 1818. When India got independent in 1947, the Maharaja of Udaipur granted the place to the Government of India. At that time, Mewar was merged into the state of Rajasthan. In the present date, Udaipur enjoys a favorable position on the maps of Rajasthan. Udaipur is known for its picturesque surroundings and its royal past. Various ancient monuments, massive palaces, architectural temples and beautiful lakes fascinate people to visit the ancient land of the Royalty.Udaipur is voted one of the most romantic cities of India. Due to an abundance of water, there are a number of gardens in and out of town. There are a number of reservoirs surrounding the town, along with a few forts and ancient ruins. Udaipur is a very popular tourist destination. Owing to its many lakes, the city is often called the “Venice of The East “, and is also nicknamed the “Lake City” or “City of Lakes” known for its history, culture, scenic locations and the Rajput-era palaces , Udaipur was also voted as the Best City in the World in 2009 by the Travel + Leisure magazine.

More about The rulers and places to visit in UDAIPUR will be followed in my next post….


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