Sights in Udaipur
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Bagore-Ki-Haveli
This gracious 18th-century haveli museum, on the water’s edge near Gangaur Ghat, was built by a former prime minister and has been carefully restored. There are 138 rooms set around courtyards. Some recreate the times when the house was inhabited, others have cultural displays, including the world’s (rather saggy) biggest turban! The haveli also houses an interesting art gallery, with contemporary and folk art, and world-famous monuments lovingly carved out of polystyrene. The upper courtyard makes an atmospheric setting for fabulous Rajasthani dance performances at 7pm.
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City Palace Museum
The City Palace museum includes the Mor Chowk, with its lavish mosaics of peacocks, the favourite Rajasthani bird. The Manak (Ruby) Mahal has glass and mirrorwork, while Krishna Vilas has a remarkable collection of miniatures (no photography allowed). In the Bari Mahal there is a pleasant central garden. The Moti Mahal has beautiful mirrorwork and the Chini Mahal is covered in ornamental tiles.
More wall paintings can be seen in the Zenana Mahal. There's a large tiger-catching cage near the Zenana Mahal entrance.
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Sajjan Garh (Monsoon Palace)
Perched on the top of a distant mountain range like a fairy-tale castle, this neglected late-19th-century palace was constructed by Maharaja Sajjan Singh. Originally an astronomical centre, it later became a monsoon palace and hunting lodge. Now government-owned, it’s open to the public, but there is not much to see inside, apart from a dreary nature interpretation centre and empty rooms screaming potential. Come for the breathtaking sunset views.
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City Palace
The imposing City Palace, surmounted by balconies, towers and cupolas, and towering over the lake, is Rajasthan’s largest palace, with a facade 244m long and 30.4m high. A conglomeration of buildings created by various maharajas, it almost manages to retain a uniformity of design. Construction was started by Maharana Udai Singh II, the city’s founder. There are fine views over the lake and the city from the upper terraces.
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Crystal Gallery
There’s a stunning crystal gallery at the Fateh Prakash Palace Hotel, though the admission charge is rather expensive. Maharaja Sajjan Singh ordered this rare crystal from F&C Osler & Co in England in 1877; he died before it arrived, and all the items stayed packed up in boxes for 110 years. The extravagant, unused collection includes crystal chairs, sofas, tables and even beds. Photography is prohibited.
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Ahar Museum
About 2km east of Udaipur are over 250 restored cenotaphs of the maharajas of Mewar; it's a spectacular city of snowy domes built over a period of 350 years. Nearby you can visit the patchy remains of the Sisodias' ancient capital, and the Ahar museum, housing accompanying artefacts, some over 5000 years old.
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Jagdish Temple
Only 150m north of the City Palace entrance, this fantastically carved Indo-Aryan temple was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1651. It enshrines a black stone image of Vishnu as Jagannath, Lord of the Universe. A brass image of Garuda is in a shrine in front of the temple.
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Shilpgram
Shilpgram is a crafts village that hosts the Shilpgram festival each December – check with the Tourist Reception Centre for details. The rest of the year sees demonstrations by traditional performers and artisans from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra.
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Saheliyon-Ki-Bari
In the north of the city is the Saheliyon-ki-Bari. This small, quaint, ornamental garden was laid out for 48 women attendants who came as part of a princess’s dowry, and has fountains (water permitting), kiosks, marble elephants and a delightful lotus pool.
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City Palace Government Museum
The City Palace government museum is based in the City Palace complex. Exhibits include a freaky monkey holding a lamp, as well as more serious stuff, such as sculptures, and maharaja portraits with a spectacular array of moustaches.
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Museum
About 2km east of Udaipur you can visit the patchy remains of the Sisodias’ ancient capital, and a museum housing artefacts, some over 5000 years old.
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Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum
This small, private museum exhibits tribal jewellery, musical instruments, paintings and puppets and stages a daily puppet show.
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Vintage & Classic Car Collection
The maharajas’ Vintage & Classic Car Collection is fascinating for car buffs, with 22 splendid vehicles, including a 1938 Cadillac with modifications for purdah and the beautiful 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom used in Octopussy. If you enjoy a vegetarian thali, it’s not a bad lunch option (lunch 11am to 3pm, dinner 7pm to 10pm).
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