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.