Tourist Places in Udaipur, India
Rajsamand Lake
On the way to Kumbhalgarh lies this stunning Rajsamand Lake which was constructed by
Maharana Raj Singh in the seventeenth century after a terrible drought swept Rajasthan.
The best views of the lake are to be had from the Digambara Jain temple, dedicated to
Adinath, situated on a steep hill.
Kumbhalgarh
84km north of Udaipur is located the remote hilltop fort of Kumbhalgarh, the second
principal fortress in Rajasthan after Chittaurgarh. Perched atop the Aravalli hills it is
the most formidable of the 32 forts constructed by Maharana Kumbha in the fifteenth
century. It contains many fine temples, beautiful palaces and well laid-out gardens. The
fort has a great historical significance. It has the distinction of never being
successfully besieged but only once when the Mughal army led by Akbar poisoned the
Sisodias' water supply. The Badal Mahal or Cloud Palace offers a wonderful bird's eye view
of the surrounding countryside. Nearby is the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary replete with
a wide variety of wildlife.
Eklingji and Nagda
20km northeast of Udaipur is situated the ruined remnants of the ancient capital of
Mewar, Nagda, dating back to the 6th century AD. A couple of kilometers away is the famous
temple complex of Eklingji.
Most of the buildings at Nagda are in ruins. But there still survives a majestic pair
of 10th century Vaishnavite temples, known as Saas-Bahu - literally
"Mother-in-law" and "Daughter-in-law".
Built in 734 A.D. the temple complex of Eklingji contains 108 temples within its
enclosure. The shrines are dedicated to the presiding deity of Mewar, Eklingji, an aspect
of Shiva.
Nathdwara
48 km from Udiapur is Nathdwara "Gateway to God, an important pilgrim center of
the Hindus. Home to one of the most revered 17th century temple, Nathdwara, attracts
thousands of devotees from all over India especially during the festivals of Diwali, Holi
and Janmashtami. The shrine, dedicated to Krishna - known also as Nath, one of the most
popular incarnations of Vishnu, is said to be the second richest temple in India after
Tirupati in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The place is also known for the radiant Pichwal
paintings, which adorn the main sanctuary of the temple.
Ranakpur
The famous temple complex of Ranakpur, 90km north of Udaipur, is considered to be one
of the five holiest places of the Jainas. The shrines boast wonderful marble works, which
put them at a par with those of the more famous Dilwara group at Mount Abu and Shatrunjaya
near Palitana in Gujarat.
The main shrine known as Chaumukha temple (four faced temple) is dedicated to Adinath,
the first Jaina Tirthankar (the ford maker), whose four-faced image is enshrined in the
sanctum sanctorum. It was built in 1439 on land donated to the Jainas by Rana Kumbha of
Mewar.
Other temples are dedicated to Parshvanath and Neminath. Also in the compound is a
contemporary Hindu temple dedicated to Surya, the Sun god. |
