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74-633: The Monsoon Palace , also known as the Sajjan Garh Palace , is a hilltop palatial residence in the city of Udaipur, Rajasthan in India , overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake . It is named Sajjangarh after Maharana Sajjan Singh (1874–1884) of the Mewar dynasty , whom it was built for in 1884. The palace offers a panoramic view of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It

148-716: A hermit while hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range . In the myth, the hermit blessed the king and guided him to build a palace on the spot, assuring him it would be well protected. Udai Singh II consequently established a residence on the site. In November 1567, the Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Chittor . To protect his territory from attack, Rana Udai Singh built a six-kilometre-long city wall, with seven gates, namely Surajpole , Chandpole , Udiapole , Hathipole , Ambapole, Brahmpole, Delhi Gate, and Kishanpole. The area within these walls and gates

222-673: A Ghat named after Gangaur. Gangaur Ghat or Gangori Ghat is situated on the waterfront of Lake Pichola. This ghat serves as a location for the celebration of some festivals, including the Gangaur festival. The idols of Gan and Gauri are immersed in the Lake Pichola from this ghat. A traditional procession of Gangaur starts from the City Palace which passes through the city. The procession is headed by old palanquins, chariots, bullock carts, and performance by folk artists. Shilpgram ,

296-467: A beautiful view of the sunset. Its builder, Maharana Sajjan Singh , originally planned to make it a five-storey astronomical centre. The plan was cancelled with Maharana Sajjan Singh's premature death. It was then turned into a monsoon palace and hunting lodge. High in the Aravalli Hills , just outside Udaipur, the palace is illuminated in the evenings, giving a golden orange glow (see image in

370-529: A crafts village 3 km west of Lake Fateh Sagar, has displays of traditional houses from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra. There are also demonstrations by musicians, dancers, or artisans from these states. The 10-day festival organized here is a treat for the visitor to an array of exquisite art and craft. One of the important objectives of the Shilpgram festival is in the sphere of increasing awareness and knowledge of rural life and crafts, specifically, for

444-407: A hot semi-arid climate . The three main seasons, summer, monsoon and winter respectively, dominate the city of Udaipur. Being located in the desert lands of Rajasthan, the climate and weather of Udaipur is usually hot. The summer season runs from mid-March to June and touches temperature ranging from 23 °C (73 °F) to 44 °C (111 °F) in the months of March to June. Monsoons arrive in

518-580: A large Jain community. Jains makes nearly 10% of the population of Udaipur, as compared to the national average of 0.37%. Udaipur is governed by the Udaipur Municipal Corporation . The corporation has 70 municipal wards and Govind Singh Tak is the mayor. The city had a city council that was converted into a municipal corporation in 2013. Recently, an all-woman police patrol team was deployed in Udaipur. The initiative, taken by

592-671: A number of Bollywood movies. Some of them shot here include: Dhadak , Guide , Mera Saaya , Phool Bane Angaray , Kachche Dhaage , Mera Gaon Mera Desh , Jalmahal , Yaadein , Return of the thief of the bagdad , Eklavya: The Royal Guard , Dhamaal , Jis Desh Mei Ganga Rehta Hai , Chalo Ishq Ladaaye , Fiza , Gaddaar , Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke , Khuda Gawah , Kundan , Nandini , Saajan Ka Ghar , Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani , Pataakha , Mirzya , Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela , Prem Ratan Dhan Payo , Love Aaj Kal , Angrezi Medium . Udaipur

666-749: A part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947. It is also known as the City of Lakes, as it is surrounded by five major artificial lakes . The city is located in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border. To its west is the Aravali Range , which separates it from the Thar Desert . It is placed close to the median point between two major Indian metro cities, around 660 km from Delhi and 800 km from Mumbai . Besides, connectivity with Gujarat ports gives Udaipur

740-583: A problematic figure for the British Government. This left him at odds with the British, thereafter, under the garb of ignoring a social unrest in Mewar, on 28 July 1921, his powers were curtailed and he was formally deposed, he was however allowed to retain his title, the effective power was handed to his son and heir, Bhupal Singh . He was first married in 1867, to Rani Phool Kumari, daughter of

814-468: A short period of 10 years until his untimely death. The Mewar dynasty traces its history to Guhil, who founded the Mewar State in 568 AD. Sajjan Singh came to the throne when he was 15 years old. However, his uncle Sohan Singh challenged his right to the crown and even plotted through astrologers, who said the timing for the coronation was not appropriate. Fortunately for him the then British agent, who

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888-492: A storage capacity of 195,500 litres, exists in the precincts of the palace. In spite of this, the water supply was found to be inadequate and the palace was therefore abandoned. Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, which encircles the palace, was established in 1987. It covers an area of 5.19 square kilometres (2.00 sq mi). It is now a well-protected sanctuary, with the Kishan Pol concrete wall surrounding it. The hillside

962-498: A strategic geographical advantage. Udaipur is well connected with nearby cities and states by means of road, rail and air transportation facilities. The city is served by the Maharana Pratap Airport . Common languages spoken include Hindi , English and Rajasthani ( Mewari ). Dubbed "the most romantic spot on the continent of India " by British administrator James Tod , Udaipur is a tourist destination and

1036-636: A trek (as an adventure) starting from the Gorilla Point to the Jiyan Sagar or the Bari Lake, to view the Aravalli hills and the wildlife of the reserve forest. The Monsoon Palace was used as a location for the filming of the 1983 James Bond film, Octopussy . It appears as the residence of the principal villain, an exiled Afghan prince named Kamal Khan ( Louis Jourdan ). Sequences shot at

1110-491: Is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of Udaipur and overlooks Lake Pichola. The palace can be accessed by a winding road through the surrounding Sajjan Singh Sanctuary by taxi or 'auto rickshaw'. The palace and the Sajjan Singh Sanctuary are major attractions and are open to visitors until sunset. A boat ride across Lake Pichola in Udaipur provides views of the palace and allows visitors to view the palace. Udaipur

1184-502: Is a blend of sights, sounds and experiences, which have made it one of the top destinations for weddings and celebrations. Udaipur is mentioned under the spelling Oodeypore in Rudyard Kipling 's The Jungle Book as the birthplace of Bagheera , the fictional panther in the king's Menagerie. Because of its scenic locations, Udaipur has been the shooting location for many Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Indian sections of

1258-577: Is also the host for the Udaipur Lake Festival, a cultural event organized by the Udaipur Municipal Corporation . In this festival, Musical programs, adventure sports, jungle safari, bird watching, light and sound shows, art fair etc. are held around the lakes during the three to four day period. Udaipur is also the host city for the first ASEAN Art camp being organised by the union ministry of external affairs from 21–29 September. There are total of 10 countries included and are taking part in

1332-539: Is also the setting of various Television series like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai , Rakhi Ka Swayamwar and Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap . Udaipur is a destination for organising various national and international cultural events. Recently, Udaipur hosted the first edition of India's first World Music Festival , a two-day festival held on 13 and 14 February 2016. Performances were made by artists and musicians from more than 12 countries, including Spain, Ghana, Venezuela, Italy, France as well as India. Udaipur

1406-457: Is an edifice with a tower on each of its four corners crowned by domed chhattris . This palace is a grand specimen of modern Indian architecture and at present houses a museum. The Shiv Niwas Palace at Udaipur was also built by him. The palace was reserved exclusively by the House of Mewar for visiting dignitaries and guests during British Raj . It now has been turned into a luxury hotel. He

1480-578: Is basically, the 11th day of each waxing ( Shukla paksha ) and waning moon ( Krishna paksha ). This Ekadashi, known as Jal-Jhulni Gyaras, or Jal-Jhulni Ekadashi, like all other festivals, is celebrated with enthusiasm. Udaipur was voted the Best City in the World in 2009 by the Travel + Leisure magazine, and is now amongst the favourite wedding destinations for Indian as well as foreign nationals. The city

1554-592: Is covered with rocks, hills and dense forest. There are two important passages in the Aravali ranges viz. Desuri Nal and Saoke which serves as a link between Udaipur and Jodhpur District . The lakes of the city being interconnected form a lake system which supports and sustains the groundwater recharge, water availability for drinking, agriculture, industries and is a source of employment through tourism. The lake system has three main lakes in its upper catchment area, six lakes within its municipal boundary and one lake in

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1628-790: Is known for its history, culture, scenic locations and the Rajput-era palaces. It has seven lakes surrounding the city. Five of the major lakes, namely Fateh Sagar Lake , Lake Pichola , Swaroop Sagar Lake , Rangsagar , and Doodh Talai Lake , have been included under the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the Government of India . Besides lakes, Udaipur is also known for its historic forts and palaces, museums, galleries, natural locations and gardens, architectural temples, as well as traditional fairs, festivals and structures. Due to

1702-512: Is located in the southern region of Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border. The city lies 403 km (250 mi) southwest of the state capital, Jaipur and 250 km (155 mi) northeast from Ahmedabad . Udaipur with its lakes lies on the south slope of the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan. The northern part of the district consists generally of elevated plateaus, while the eastern part has vast stretches of fertile plains. The southern part

1776-584: Is rising as an educational hub as well, with 5 universities, 14 colleges and more than 160 high schools. The Ahar River bank was inhabited in about 2000 BCE. There are footprints of two different civilizations, which provides claims about earliest inhabitants of the Ahar culture: the first ones are the Bhil /Bheels, the indigenous tribes originated at this place, and are still residing in the area in large numbers. The second footprints were of Rajputs , who once entered

1850-549: Is still known as the old city or the walled city. In September 1576, Akbar himself arrived at Udaipur and remained there for 6 months until May 1577. In 1615, Rana Amar Singh accepted vassalship to Mughal rule under Emperor Jahangir and Udaipur remained the capital of the state, which became a princely state of British India in 1818. Being a mountainous region and unsuitable for heavily armoured Mughal horses, Udaipur Udaipur remained safe from Mughal influence despite much pressure. At present, Maharana Mahendra Singh Mewar

1924-636: Is the 76th custodian of the Mewar dynasty. Jharmar Kotra Stromatolite Fossil Park at Jharmar Kotra south-east of Udaipur has been declared the National Geological Monuments of India by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of geotourism . Gossan in Rajpura-Dariba Mineralised belt nearby, consisting of gossan , has been declared

1998-459: Is the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency . It was founded in 1559 by Udai Singh II of the Sisodia clan of Rajputs , when he shifted his capital from the city of Chittorgarh to Udaipur after Chittorgarh was besieged by Akbar . It remained as the capital city till 1818 when Mewar became a British princely state , and thereafter the Mewar province became

2072-500: Is thickly wooded and the former rulers maintained this area as a royal shooting preserve. When Udaipur was attacked by the Scindias in 1764, the hill was used as an ordnance dump; some cannons still remain. The palace overlooks the sanctuary, which is a reserve for reptiles , tigers , nilgai , sambhar deer , wild boars , hyenas , panthers , and jackals . It is also popular for bird watching. The reserve can also be approached by

2146-406: Is well connected by road and air links to all parts of the country. Udaipur, Rajasthan Udaipur ( Hindi : IPA: [ʊdəjpʊɾ] , pronunciation ) ( ISO 15919 : Udayapura ) is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan , about 415 km (258 mi) south of the state capital Jaipur . It serves as the administrative headquarters of Udaipur district . It

2220-490: The BJP . Udaipur has two legislative assembly seats: Udaipur City and Udaipur Rural. The current representative of both the seats are from BJP . Udaipur has a diversified economic base. The major contributions to the city's economy come from tourism, agriculture and mineral industries. The handicraft and cottage industry sectors play an important part in contributing to the growing economy. The city has also been included under

2294-713: The James Bond film Octopussy were filmed in the city, the Lake Palace, and the Monsoon Palace. The nearby desert was the backdrop of the remarkable rescue of Octopussy ( Maud Adams ) by Bond ( Roger Moore ). Some scenes from the British television series The Jewel in the Crown were also filmed in Udaipur. The Disney channel film, The Cheetah Girls One World , was shot in Udaipur in January 2008. Some of

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2368-617: The National Geological Monuments of India by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of geotourism . Udaipur has been ranked 14th best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India. Udaipur is located at 24°31′30″N 73°40′38″E  /  24.525049°N 73.677116°E  / 24.525049; 73.677116 . The city covers an area of 64 km (25 sq mi) and lies at an altitude of 598.00 m (1,962 ft) above sea level. It

2442-532: The Smart Cities mission initiated by the Government of India , and is selected in the list of first 20 cities to be developed as smart cities. In the 2001 census of India, 36% of Udaipur resident was reported to be meaningfully employed. Udaipur is well known for handicrafts such as paintings, marble articles, silver arts and terracotta. The Shilpgram is a platform where regional handicraft and hand-loom products are developed. Craft bazaars are organised by

2516-512: The Maharana died prematurely at the age of 26 (after only 10 years of rule between 1874 and 1884), which resulted in the shelving of his plans for some time. Before his death, he had built it partially, and it was subsequently completed by his successor king Maharana Fateh Singh who used it to watch the monsoon clouds. The royal family also used this building as a hunting lodge. The white marble palace has high turrets and guards regulating each of

2590-681: The Mewar kingdom, and to remind him that his was a princely state under the British Raj , he was conferred the title of "Grand Commander of the Star of India" in November 1881 by Lord Ripon , on the occasion of Queen Victoria 's crowning as the Empress of India . The palace, built with white marble, is located on Bansdara peak of the Aravalli hill range at an elevation of 944 m (3100 ft) above mean sea level, overlooking Lake Pichola from

2664-476: The Rajasthan government, is aimed at ensuring the security of women from eve-teasers, and for the general safety of the public, especially tourists. The team is fully equipped with arms, security equipment, first aid and other amenities besides motorcycles for patrolling the city. Udaipur has its own constituency for representation in the Lok Sabha . The current representative of Udaipur is Mannalal Rawat of

2738-488: The Shilpgram, with an aim to encourage the regional arts and crafts, the handicraft and hand-loom works. Udaipur, with its lakes, and historic palaces and architecture, is a major destination for tourists, both domestic and foreign nationals visiting the state. Over 1.4 million tourists visited Udaipur in 2016. With numerous hotels to serve visiting tourists, Udaipur is home to some of the country's most popular luxury hotels and resorts. The Oberoi Udaivilas has been ranked as

2812-410: The city limits the population was 474,531. As per the data, the male population of the city was 233,959 and the female population was 217,141 in 2011. The total population for the age group of 0–6 years old was 47,932. The sex-ratio of the city was 928. The child sex-ratio (0–6 years of age) was 866. As per the estimated 2019 population data, the total population of Udaipur is 662,992. In recent years,

2886-501: The city make use of such wall paintings for decorations during wedding celebrations. Noted amongst the miniature style of paintings are particularly the Pichvais, which are those made on cloth, and phad , made on cloth scroll in a folk style. The Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is a cultural institution based in the city. The institute with its museum is a platform that displays a collection of Rajasthani culture . Offering an insight into

2960-458: The city's cultural richness. The dynamic and vibrant dances of Bhavai, Ghoomar, Kachchhi Ghodi, Kalbeliya, and Terahtaali add a sparkle to the rich cultural heritage of Udaipur. Following a lineage of traditions and religious significance, the various dances complement the fairs and festivals held in the city. The music consists mainly of the use of morchang, naad, tanpura, and sarangi, among many other instruments. Miniature paintings are amongst

3034-504: The city. In Udaipur, the third biggest Ratha-Yatra is organized on the auspicious day of Ashadh Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) Dwitiya according to Indian Vikram Samvat . On this cultural day of summer solstice theme, June 21 of every year, the journey of the Hindu god Jagannath to aunt's house is started. The presiding Hindu gods of the temple Jagannath ( Krishna ), Balabhadra ( Balarama ) and their sister Subhadra are taken through

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3108-468: The downstream. The Udaipur lake system, arising out of the river Berach (Banas Basin) and its tributaries, is an integral component of the upper Berach basin. The upper Berach basin is a part of the Gangetic river system, wherein the river Berach meets river Ganga through the rivers Banas , Chambal and Yamuna . The Udaipur Lake System can be divided into the following categories: Udaipur city has

3182-500: The enclosed valley, and then continued to live in this place for centuries. Udaipur was founded in 1559, by Maharana Udai Singh II in the fertile circular Girwa Valley to the southwest of Nagda , on the Banas River . The city was established as the new capital of the Mewar kingdom . This area already had a thriving trading town, Ayad, which had served as the capital of Mewar in the 10th through 12th centuries. The Girwa region

3256-423: The end of winter and the onset of spring. This festival is celebrated by women, who worship clay idols of "Gan" & "Gauri" in their houses. These idols are worshiped by the girls who seek the blessings of Gan and Gauri for a good husband, while the married women pray for the good health and long life of their husbands. On the eve of the Gangaur festival, women decorate their palms and fingers with henna. Udaipur has

3330-527: The event: Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and India. This 10-day long art camp acts as a platform for cultural and artistic exchange among the participating countries. Maharana Fateh Singh HH 108 Shri Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Ravi Kula Bushana-Mahi Mahendra Yavadarya Kula Kamaldhivakara Chattis Rajkul Shringar Maharana Shri Sir FATEH SINGHJI Bahadur Hindua Suraj Hindupati GCSI GCIE GCVO (16 December 1849 – 24 May 1930),

3404-469: The field of production technology for agricultural development since its establishment. Udaipur has a rich cultural heritage from the past e.g. lakes, temples, huge forts, and palaces. The city has kept a balance between preserving the rituals and traditions of the past while keeping up with the modern advancements and changes in lifestyle{citation needed}. Like any other place in the state of Rajasthan, folk dance and music have an important place in adding to

3478-643: The globe. Agriculture as in most other parts of the country, remains a leading sector in the city's economy. The Major crops of the area are Maize and Jowar in Kharif season and Wheat and Mustard in the Rabi season. Pulses, groundnut and vegetables like brinjals, tomato, bottlegaurd are some of the major food products grown in the city. The Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology , along with its affiliated institutions, has been working towards identifying, designing, preparing and adapting new techniques in

3552-419: The grand staircase and finally a basement rendezvous for the villains in the film, were not shot inside the Monsoon Palace, nor were the sets for those sequences based on the layout or features of the Monsoon Palace. In 2008 The Cheetah Girls filmed the song " Dance Me If You Can ", for their Indian movie, at the palace. ‹The template Manual is being considered for merging .›   The Monsoon Palace

3626-433: The infobox). The palace appeared in the 1983 James Bond film Octopussy as the residence of Kamal Khan (Portrayed by Louis Jourdan ), an exiled Afghan prince. The history of the palace reflects the history of the Mewar kingdom . Maharana Sajjan Singh, (b. 18 July 1859 d. 23 December 1884), the initial builder of the Monsoon Palace was the seventy–second ruler of the Mewar dynasty (1874–1884) and ruled from Udaipur for

3700-404: The lifestyle of the royal era in Udaipur, the museum has a collection of dresses, tribal jewelry, turbans, dolls, masks, musical instruments, paintings, and puppets. With various cultural events including folk song and dance performances, theatre and puppetry, the institute highlights the different social stigmas, thereby proving to be a powerful education tool for the masses. Gangaur is one of

3774-409: The major driving resources behind the industries based in the city. Marble is exclusively mined, processed and exported from here around the world. The marble industry is well set and established with proper infrastructure and technological support for mining and processing. It is the largest sector giving employment to many people in the city and the immigrants from nearby areas. Udaipur is also home to

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3848-404: The major languages spoken in Udaipur. Marwari , Wagdi , Urdu and Gujarati are some others which are in use in the city. Hindi is spoken by 54.77%, 23.03% Mewari, 11.39% Rajasthani , 3.87% Urdu and 2.97% Sindhi as their first language. Hinduism is the major religion followed in the city, with 72.9% of the city's population being Hindu . Muslims come second at 15.6%. The city also has

3922-564: The masonry dam re-built to improve storage capacity, as well as preserving the historical heritage in line with his personal interest in the arts and culture. The most ambitious project he undertook was building the Sajjan Garh Palace, or the Monsoon Palace, as a western backdrop to Udaipur city. It was during Sajjan Singh's rule that Udaipur gained recognition as the second Municipality in India, after Bombay . In recognition of his outstanding achievements in preserving and developing

3996-501: The month of July heralded by dust and thunderstorms. With its greenery and lakes, the city is one of the top monsoon destinations of the country. The winter season prevails from the month of October till the month of March. Humidity, which prevails during monsoons, diminishes at the arrival of winters. The city observes pleasant sunny days and enjoyable cool nights with the temperature ranging from 5 °C (41 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F). Udaipur's monsoon and winter climates are

4070-410: The most appealing time to visit. Tourists arrive in large numbers, anytime between mid-September to late March or early April. Even in January, the coldest month, the days are bright, sunny and warm with maximum temperature around 28.3 °C (82.9 °F). Mornings, evenings and nights are cold. According to the 2011 census, the total population of Udaipur city was 451,100. Including suburbs outside

4144-428: The most famous paintings developed under the patronage of the rulers of Rajasthan . The simplest among these are done on walls, and through folk in style, they nevertheless have some of the flavors of frescoes one sees in the old palaces. The tradition of painting the wall of houses with scenes from mythological and chivalric tales has been prevalent in Rajasthan for the past many centuries {citation needed}. The people of

4218-426: The most important local Hindu festivals in Rajasthan. In some form or the other it is celebrated all over Rajasthan. "gan" is a synonym for Shiva and "Gauri" or "gaur" stands for Hindu Goddess Parvati , the wife of Shiva. Gangaur celebrates the marriage and is a symbol of conjugal and marital happiness. It is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March–April), the first month of the Hindu calendar. This month marks

4292-404: The other non-Indian movies and TV shows filmed in Udaipur include: Darjeeling Limited , Opening Night , Heat and Dust , Indische Ring , Inside Octopussy , James Bond in India , The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel , Gandhi , and The Fall . Jag Mandir , a documentary film directed for television by Werner Herzog in 1991, was also filmed in the city. Udaipur has been a location for

4366-493: The palace include a 'tiger' hunt on elephants where James Bond ( Roger Moore ) escapes from the palace and is pursued into the jungle and the finale, complete with a battle in the courtyard and an escape by Union Jack hot-air balloon . Other footage in the film was shot at Shiv Niwas Palace and the Lake Palace Hotel . However, scenes showing Bond eating dinner inside the palace, running between rooms, sliding down

4440-407: The population growth of Udaipur has increased amazingly due to its weather, relaxing environment and wonderful places to visit nearby. Udaipur has an average effective literacy rate of 90.43 percent, as compared to the national average of 74.04 percent: male literacy rate being 95.41 percent while the female literacy rate being 85.08 percent. Languages of Udaipur (2011) Hindi and Mewari are

4514-737: The several lakes present here, it is one of several cities in Asia that are sometimes called the " Venice of the East ". Udaipur's economy is primarily driven by tourism, though minerals, marble processing, chemical manufacturing and development, electronic manufacturing and the handicraft industry are also contributors. Udaipur hosts several state and regional public offices, including offices of Director of Mines and Geology, Commissioner of Excise, Commissioner of Tribal Area Development, and Rajasthan State Mines and Mineral Corporation Limited , as well as major private companies like Hindustan Zinc Limited . Udaipur

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4588-401: The streets in decorated wooden chariots, which are made annually. The Chariot of Hindu god Jagannath, called Nandighosha, has 16 wheels and is covered in red and yellow. For many Hindus, the sanctity of the festival is that a touch of the chariot or pulling ropes is considered to give the results of several pious actions or penance for ages. According to the Hindu calendar, Gyaras, or Ekadashi

4662-528: The towers. The palace has a grand central court with a staircase and many rooms and quarters. The palace is built on marble pillars, which are carved with exquisite motifs of leaves and flowers. The walls are plastered with lime mortar. At night, the illuminated palace with the Rajasthani architecture comprising domes, fountains and jharokas gives it a "fairy tale beauty". A unique water harvesting structure to collect rainwater in an underground cistern, with

4736-403: The west about 1,100 ft (340 m) below the palace. The intention of the original planner, Maharana Sajjan Singh, was to build a nine-storey complex, basically as an astronomical centre and to keep track of the movement of monsoon clouds in the area surrounding the palace, and also to provide employment to people. It was also meant to serve as a resort for the royal family. Unfortunately,

4810-652: The world's number 1 hotel in 2015. The Taj Lake Palace and the Leela Palace Udaipur are also amongst the most expensive hotels in the country. With various other renowned hotel chains present in the city, the tourism sector has been a fairly large contributor to the economic growth and fame of Udaipur. Udaipur district is particularly rich in mineral resources as a large variety of important minerals are found here. Copper, lead, zinc and silver, industrial minerals like phosphate, asbestos, calcite, limestone, Talc (soapstone), barites, wollastonite and marble are

4884-433: The world's second largest Zinc producer, Hindustan Zinc . Udaipur is host to medium and large enterprises designing and manufacturing electronic instruments, control panels, sensitive metering technology and LED lamps. The electrical and electronics industry in Udaipur employs over 6,000 people. These businesses are Tempsens, Pyrotech and Secure Meters Ltd. Secure Meter Limited is one of the major meter manufacturers across

4958-482: The younger generation. Special emphasis is laid on workshops for children on arts, crafts, theatre, and music. Hariyali Amavasya (new moon day of the Sawan / Shravan month) marks the beginning of the monsoons and greenery. It arrives three days before the famous Hartalika Teej (Shravan Shukla Tritiya). People worship God Shiva for abundant rains and good agricultural season. Melas and fests are arranged in several places in

5032-612: Was adopted by his elder brother, Gaj Singh who had no heir, subsequently Maharana Sajjan Singh of Udaipur , who too had no heir, adopted him, he eventually became the Maharaja of Udaipur in 1884. In 1887, he received G.C.S.I . In 1889, he built the "Connaught Dam" on Lake Dewali to mark the visit of Duke of Connaught , son of Queen Victoria , this enlarged the lake, and it was later renamed, Fateh Sagar Lake . He also built Fateh Prakash Palace in Chittorgarh fort , which

5106-484: Was built chiefly to watch the monsoon clouds; hence, appropriately, it is popularly known as Monsoon Palace. It is said that the Maharana built it at the top of the hill to get a view of his ancestral home, Chittorgarh . Previously owned by the Mewar royal family, it is now under the control of the Forest Department of the Government of Rajasthan and has recently been opened to the public. The palace provides

5180-415: Was considered an enlightened ruler and a "man of vision", he launched a massive programme of developmental activities in his kingdom, in particular, enlarging infrastructure facilities such as roads, water supply and other civil works. He also introduced civil administration and courts. He also improved the general environment of Udaipur by afforestation and lake improvements. He had Lake Pichola desilted and

5254-405: Was in favour of Sajjan Singh, intervened and persuaded the astrologers to give a favourable date for the crowning. The eventual Coronation of Sajjan Singh took place two years after this. As the trouble-maker uncle was still persisting with his obstructions towards the newly crowned Maharana, his property was confiscated and he was eventually imprisoned. After he was invested in 1876 as Maharana, he

5328-705: Was the Sisodia Rajput ruler of the Princely State of Udaipur once known as Kingdom of Mewar for nearly 46 years from the year 1884 to 1930, with Udaipur as his capital, and resided in the grandiose City Palace, Udaipur . He was born on 16 December 1849 at Shivrati, son of Maharaj Dal Singh of the Shivrati branch of Mewar dynasty – A descendant of the fourth son, Arjun Singh, of the Rana Sangram Singh II (AD 1710–1734). First he

5402-554: Was the only Maharaja to not attend the Delhi Durbar , both of 1903 and 1911. Then in 1921, when Edward, Prince of Wales , son of King George V and Queen Mary , visited Udaipur, he refused to receive him, citing illness and instead sent his son. The independent attitude adopted by Fateh Singh observed in his refusal to appoint a Dewan and his direct or indirect association with people of known anti-British sentiments such as Kesari Singh Barhath and Shyamaji Krishna Verma made him

5476-443: Was thus already well known to Chittorgarh rulers who moved to it whenever the vulnerable tableland Chittaurgarh was threatened with enemy attacks. Rana Udai Singh II, in the wake of the 16th-century emergence of artillery warfare, decided during his exile at Kumbhalgarh Fort to move his capital to a more secure location. Ayad was flood-prone, hence he chose the ridge east of Pichola Lake to start his new capital city, where he came upon

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