Udaipur, This Valentine’s Day

 

As corny as it may sound, but with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I have been thinking of romantic destinations to blog about. And there is no dearth of such locations, really, both nationally and internationally. I thought of Paris, Venice, Kerala, Maldives, Goa, Agra and then, Udaipur crossed my mind and I stopped thinking further. One of the reasons why I always link Udaipur to romance is because my parents went there as newly-weds for their honeymoon and till date, talk fondly about their trip and the memories.

(Looking to impress your Valentine like never before? Here’s a gift they’ll treasure forever).

With its majestic palaces and havelis, beautiful temples, art galleries and museums; like most of the royal Rajasthan, Udaipur too is internationally famous and also often called the ‘Venice of the East’. Adorned with beautiful lakes like Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar, Udaipur is also rightly called the ‘City of Lakes’.

Lake Palace, Udaipur – The illustrious Lake Palace, sitting majestically in the middle of Lake Pichola, is among the most compelling of Udaipur’s attractions. And there’s nothing like it, if one can afford a stay there. Palatial rooms, the royal treatment, splendid views from practically every corner of the Palace and simply the fact that you are in the middle of a lake, basking in a shining white marble palace; sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Built over two and a half centuries ago by Maharana Jagat Singh II, this marvel, now the Taj Lake Palace, is considered one of the most romantic hotels in the world, where guests arrive on a boat. The Aravalli Mountains and city palaces as backdrops add to the sheer beauty of the Palace and its surroundings.

When a couple goes to Udaipur for a holiday, it is highly unlikely that either one or both of the spouses won’t indulge in shopping and more often than not, it’s the ladies who just can’t keep away from the shops! You can’t really blame though. With the vibrant colours and fascinating trinkets and everything else in between, Udaipur is really a shopper’s delight.  In Udaipur, shopping is about bright colours, exquisite handicrafts, beautiful jewellery in Kundan, silver and a variety of stones, tie and dye fabrics, colourful folk toys and puppets and, much more. If you have an eye for art, do shop for the famous Pichwai and Phad paintings of Rajasthan, apart from other traditional Rajasthani artwork. The city is filled with lively bazaars among which Hathi Pol, Bada Bazaar, Chetak Circle and Palace Road are some of the most popular.

For one of those romantic strolls, visit Saheliyon-Ki-Bari, in the northern part of Udaipur. Saheliyon-Ki-Bari means ‘Garden of the Maids’ in English, and was built by Maharana Bhopal Singh for a group of 48 young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry. With its lush greenery, flowers, beautiful fountains, lotus pools, and marble artifacts and pavilions, Saheliyon-Ki-Bari offers splendid views and an ideal romantic setting, almost Bollywood-like.

Even though historical sight-seeing might not be on the agenda, while on a romantic getaway, a visit to the City Palace is a must while in Udaipur. A palace complex built by Maharana Udai Singh, the City Palace is grandeur personified. A conglomeration of several buildings with towers, balconies and cupolas built all over, the City Palace is one of Rajasthan’s largest palaces and offers splendid views of Lake Pichola; a real treat for photographers.

Much like the rest of Rajasthan, Udaipur too, is a food lover’s heaven. And when in Udaipur, do as the locals do. Gorge on mouth-watering Rajasthani delicacies like Daal Baati Choorma and Gatte ki sabzi. Also try out Udaipur’s famous Kachori. A word of advice though; it’s spicy, so you might want to keep a water bottle or two handy! There also a number of restaurants in the city which offer Thalis with huge portions of local dishes from Rajasthan and Gujarat. Eating-out is without a doubt a must do activity in Udaipur. After all, a full stomach makes a happy heart!

It is not without a reason that Udaipur is Rajasthan’s most romantic city. You’ve read a few reasons above. To find out the rest, why not travel to Udaipur this Valentine’s Day?

Book Your Holiday in Udaipur Now!