The City of Udaipur in former times

Udaipur, an unfolding of its rich history, culture and diversity

The valley of Oodipur, the most diversified and most romantic spot on the continent of India…
James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (1829)
Set around Lake Pichola and dominated by dramatic palaces is Udaipur; Rajasthan's most atmospheric and picturesque city.
Udaipur takes pride in having been the capital of the state of Mewar, the only one of the seven major Rajput states to uphold its Hindu allegiance in the face of relentless foreign invasions and political compromises. Its present custodian Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar is seventy-sixth in the unbroken line of Mewar suzerains, which makes the Mewar household the longest lasting of all ruling powers in Rajasthan, and is said to be perhaps the oldest living dynasty in the world.

The history of Mewar

The history of Mewar stretches back to the very first in line, Guhil, who established Mewar in 568 AD. He lived in the forest where a self-realised hermit, trained Bappa Rawal in leadership and devotion. Guhil's successors set up their capital at Nagda, which now stands in ruins just north of Udaipur. Chittorgarh subsequently replaced Nagda as capital in the eighth century, and its hilltop stronghold protected the Sisodia Rajputs for almost 800 years. Heavily fortified, it had withstood invasion for two hundred years, but it was not impregnable. By 1553 Maharana Udai Singh II decided to move his capital to the picturesque and naturally protected shores of Lake Pichola and here he would rebuild the Mewar dynasty. At that same time, the Mughal Emperor Akbar of Agra was building his own new capital, at Fatehpur Sikri but within 15 years it had fallen into ruin and was abandoned. Udaipur did flourish and around this magnificent palace, the court nobility and subjects began to establish their own dwellings. The city, protected by its massive city walls and impressive gateways, became a forum of cultural learning and exchange.

This serene lakeside location made a welcome change from the craggy heights of Chittorgarh. The two islands on the lake, topped with the white ivory domes and arches of private palaces, are the most familiar photogenic features of Udaipur. Jag Niwas, now the Lake Palace Hotel the larger of the two, was built ...

exclusively as a summer palace during the reign of Jagat Singh II (1734-51). The smaller Jag Mandir has changed little since its construction by Karan Singh in 1620. Intended as a small Rajput palace, Karan Singh offered refuge here to the Mughal prince Khurum (later Emperor Shah Jahan) exiled by his father, Emperor Jahangir, in the 1620s. Khurum succeeded his father while still in Udaipur, and the Mughal gathering for the occasion defied the established code of Rajput-Mughal enmity. During the Mutiny (1857) the island once again served as a safe haven, this time for European women and children. Udaipur's fascinating City Palace stands moulded in soft yellow stone on a promontory on the shore of Lake Pichola, its thick windowless base crowned with ornate turrets and canopies. Everywhere you look the marble and granite walls are laden with brilliant miniature paintings decorated with tiles and mosaics of coloured glass and mirrors. Exquisite seventeenth century peacocks, fashioned from 5000 pieces of coloured glass were placed there by Maharana Sajjan Singh. At the top is the Badi Mahal (Garden Palace) which although right at the top of the palace manages to enclose its own garden of sweet smelling roses, water cascades and tall trees. " There is something more than architecture in these palaces", writes Percy Brown. "Every stone is touched with the spirit of romance."

Mewar and the arts
Over the years, as the city prospered and the arts flourished; Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas and on the lakeshore - Shiv Niwas Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace and The City Palace were constructed. Painting in Mewar developed as early as the 13th century. The initial dated examples come from a Ragamala (musical modes) series painted in 1605. With this style, artists used a single hair from the throat or tail of a squirrel to execute the finely detailed work of these exquisite paintings. This expressive and vigorous style continued with some variations through 1680, after which Mughal influences became more apparent. The Mewar School continued through the 18th century and into the 19th, with production being fairly prolific. Although religious themes continued to be popular, more and more paintings concentrated on portraiture and the life of the ruler. During the mid 1800s, Mewar painting continued to flourish with Western-style portraiture of notable figures supplementing the traditional style of hunts and courtly occasions. The paintings of Kundanlal

Prince Bhupal Singh hunting leopard near Jai Samand