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Introduction
Udaipur is known as the Venice of the east. It is also called the
city of lakes. The Lake Palace on Jag Niwas Island
in
the middle of
Pichola Lakes is the finest example of
its architectural and cultural explosion. The grand
City Palace on the banks of the lake compliments the
palace along with the Monsoon Palace (Sajjan Garh) on
the hill above. Udaipur is also the centre for performing
arts, craft and its famed miniature paintings.The
Shilp Gram festival is a
center of attraction during the season.
Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1568 after
his citadel Chittorgarh was sacked by Mughal Emperor Akbar.
The legends
says that Udai Singh was guided by a holy man
meditating on the hill near Pichola Lake to establish his
capital on this very spot. Surrounded by Aravali Ranges,
forests and lakes this place was less vulnerable than Chittorgarh.
Maharana Udai Singh died in 1572 and
was
succeeded by Maharana Pratap who valiantly defended Udaipur from subsequent Mughal
attacks. Maharana Pratap is the most revered Rajput
icon and gallantly fought the Mughal at the Haldighati in
1576. Mewar continuously defied foreign invaders and has a history
of bloody battles until the British intervention in the
nineteenth when a treaty was signed to protect Udaipur. Upon
independence Udaipur merged in the union of India.
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