Do not miss out Udaipur during your tour of Rajasthan. This beautiful city is also called the city of lakes. It is famous for a large number of magnificent palaces and a host of other tourist attractions. Tourism in Udaipur is ever growing, thanks to the presence of these tourist spots, as well as the right efforts of the authorities in promoting tourism. The tourist attractions in Udaipur include the palaces, temples, shines, museums, lakes, markets and also the sites located nearby. The tour packages of Udaipur are the best way to explore this magnificent medieval city founded in the 16th century by the Sisodia Rajputs.

Tourist attractions in Udaipur:

City Palace:
Covering an area of 5 acres, the city palace is the largest palace in Rajasthan. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Pichola, it is a massive fortified structure, presenting an amazing blend of Rajasthani and Mughul architecture. The city palace in Udaipur is actually a complex of many palaces and other buildings which have been constructed over a period of 4 centuries by successive rulers. The fa�ade of the palace resembles a fortress. The halls and courtyards of the palace�s older section are linked by narrow passages and steep staircases. The Tripolia gate and the Ganesh Deorhi gate are the major gates of the city palace. The other attractions are Chandra Mahal, Bari Mahal, Dilkhushal Mahal, and the Moti Mahal. The Shambhu Niwas palace is the residence of the present day members of the erstwhile royalty. It is a 19th century structure built along with Fateh Prakash palace and Shiv Niwas palace which have been converted into luxury hotels.

Jag mandir and Jag Niwas palace:
These two palaces are located on small islands in Lake Pichola separated by a short distance. The jag mandir palace was built in 1620 and is known for its marble chambers and beautiful gardens.

The Jag Niwas palace is also called the lake palace. It is today one of the best known luxury hotels in India owned by the Taj group. It was built between 1734 and 1751.

Temples:
There are many temples and religious sites in and around Udaipur. The Jagdish mandir is a 17th century temple. It is located near the main gate of the city palace and features a massive black stone image of lord Vishnu in its main shrine.

Eklingji is a complex of temples dedicated to lord Shiva. It is located at 22 kms from Udaipur and has interesting stories about the origins of Mewar rulers associated with it. The main temple dates back to the 16th century and is built of marble and granite.

Nagda is another temple site known for the 11th century Saas Bahu temples dedicated to lord Vishnu. They are known for the elaborate gateways, and sculptures depicting erotic themes and scenes from the Ramayana.

Nathdwara is one of the major religious sites of Rajasthan located 48 kilometers from Udaipur. The main deity here is lord Krishna, locally known as Srinathji. The black stone statue of this deity was brought here from Mathura for safe keeping.

Museums and other tourist attractions:
Many galleries and sections of the city palace have been brought together as part of a museum which exhibits artifacts related to the history of Mewar and its rulers. The museum at Bagore ki haveli is dedicated to the arts and crafts of Udaipur.

Ahar is located 3kms east of Udaipur and has an archaeological museum. It also has cenotaphs of 19 erstwhile rulers of Mewar.

Fateh Sagar lake, the crafts village �Shilpagram�, and the beautiful garden called �Saheliyon ki bari� are the other tourist attractions in Udaipur. The statue of Rana Pratap riding his legendary horse Chetak should not be missed while you are in Udaipur.

Learn more about the tourist attractions in Udaipur and tourism in Rajasthan in touristplacesinindia.com.