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Excursions – Udaipur Tourist Places

There are many places of historical and religious significance Udaipur Tourist places one can visit. During your stay with us, some famous Udaipur Tourist Places are recommended below.

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Located 65 Kms from Gogunda Palace. This is a UNESCO world heritage site included in the Hill Forts of Rajasthan and one of the famous Udaipur tourist places to visit. It is an important citadel in the Mewar region. It was built in the 15th century AD by Rana Kumbha and served as a refuge for the region in times of strife. The fort also served as refuge to King Udai of Mewar in his early childhood when Banbir killed Vikramaditya and usurped the throne. It is of immense sentimental significance for the people being the birthplace of Mewar’s legendary king Maharana Pratap.
The fort is self-contained in all respect to withstand a protracted siege. Its defences could be breached only once by the combined armies of the Mughal and Amber primarily for the scarcity of drinking water. There is a magnificent array of temples built by the Mauryas of which the most picturesque place is the Badal Mahal or the palace of the clouds. The fort also offers a superb bird’s eye view of the surroundings. The fort’s massive wall stretches some 36 km with a width enough to take eight horses abreast. Maharana Fateh Singh renovated the fort in the 19th century. The fort’s large compound has very interesting ruins and a walk around it can be very educative.

Haldi Ghati

Located 40 km from Gogunda Palace. This mountain pass in the Aravalli Range is named after the yellow-colored soil of the region. This historic site is where the Battle of Haldighati was fought in 1576 between Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar and Raja Man Singh of Amber who was the general of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. A memorial for Maharana Pratap dedicated to his spirit and valour is now at the site. It is also well known for its charity rose products and mud art of Molela One of the most bloody and fiercest battles ever fought in Indian history is the ‘Battle of Haldighati’. Haldighati is a magical place, appearing like a canvas painted in dark yellow colour. The full wind blowing on the field narrates the bravery and valour of Maharana Pratap of the Mewar dynasty. This historic Battle of Haldighati has been fought on 21st June 1576 between Maharana Pratap, the Mewar King, and Emperor Akbar, a Mughal ruler. Even though it is one of the most significant battles in Rajput history, it was also the shortest battle ever fought in the past.
This ferocious fight fought on this narrow strip of mountains lasted for 4 hours, only leading to the mass-scale death of the heroic soldiers of the time. The blood could be found all over the place, making it turn red instead of yellow in this case. Sadly Maharana Pratap lost the battle to Raja Man Singh of Amber, one of the most trusted army generals of Mughals during the time.
Haldighati is also significant for another reason, i.e., the unexplainable companionship of Maharana Pratap and his horse, Chetak. Chetak, the loyal companion of Pratap, took his last breath just a few kilometres away, only after leaving Pratap in a safe place.
Haldighati is considered to be the pride of the Rajsamand district of Udaipur. The stellar role of Haldighati and its indifferent aura reminds us of the sacrifices made by the gallant warriors to protect the honour of the Rajputana kingdom. The place also sends chills down the spine as it speaks of the merciless killings and selfless acts of soldiers made to protect India from the clutches of brutal foreign forces. There is a cenotaph called chhatri in Hindi built on the place where the horse of Maharana Pratap, Chetak breathed his last. This cenotaph is located at a close distance of 4 Km from the Haldighati in pure white marble to pay respect and admire the contribution of the fastest horse in Indian history.
You can find Balicha village located close to the region known for its unique knowledge of arts and crafts via terracotta. There is a stunning garden in the name of Badshahi Bagh. The presence of ‘Chaitri-Gulab, original and authentic rose water, and ‘Gulkand’ (jam made from rose petals) is unique to this garden. The rose water is of great medicinal importance.
In proximity, you can find the Maharana Pratap National Memorial, built in the year 1997 under the commission of the Government of India. The memorial showcases an extraordinary statue of Maharana Pratap riding his horse made of bronze metal. You can also locate a museum in the name of Maharana Pratap. The doors of the museum were opened to the public in the year 2003.

Ranakpur Temple

Located 55 km from Gogunda Palace. This Svetambara Jain temple is one of the largest and most important temples of Jain Culture. Featuring intricate designs this temple stands out as one of the most brilliant architectural monuments on the Indian subcontinent. It took 50 years to build this temple by thousands of craftsmen and sculptors. The Ranakpur temple complex in Rajasthan comprises of 1444 intricately carved pillars, 24 pillared halls accompanied by 80 domes which are borne by 400 columns. The apogee of this entire temple architecture is the fact that no two pillars here are the same!

Ranakpurpur Jain Temple was built to order by a local businessman named Darna Shah. He wanted a beautiful temple built after he had a dream of a celestial vehicle. Many sculptors and artists submitted their designs to Shah but none of them matched the image he had dreamt of. One plan that matched his dream was by an architect named Deepak from Mundara. Deepak was able to make a design because he was impressed by the dedication of Shah to build this temple. Afterwards, Shah sought the land to build the temple from King Rana Kumbha. Not only did he give a big piece of land to build the temple on, but he also asked Deepak to build a town around it. The town built was named Ranakpur, after the king, and the same town is now known as Ranakpur. The construction of the temple began in the 14th century and went on till the 15th century.
There are a total of 5 temples in India that are considered the most sacred for Jain. One of them is Ranakpur Jain Temple. The others on the list are Dilwara Temple in Mount Abu, Rajasthan; Khajuraho Temples in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh; Palitana Temples in Shatrunjya Hills, Gujarat; and Gomateshwara Temple in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka.
When you’re visiting Rajasthan, Ranakpur temple is one of the places recommended to visit. It also goes by the name of Charturmukha Dharana Vihara and is dedicated to Tirthankara Rishabhanatha who was the first Tirthankara of Jainism, and he also founded the Ikshvaku dynasty. The complex of Ranakpur ka Jain mandir includes 5 temples.

Chittorgarh Fort

Located 150 Km from Gogunda Palace. This Fort is one of the largest forts in India. A UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan. This Fort has seen the history of Rajasthan unfold over the decades and has many places of interest that you can visit.
Chittorgarh Fort has received the credit of being the largest fort of India. The massive fort is located on a high hill near the Gambheri River in Chittorgarh. Chittorgarh Fort lies at a distance of 112 kms from the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan. This fort was built by various Maurya rulers in the 7th century. This huge fort covers an area of 700 acres, extending to 3 kms in length and 13 kms in peripheral length. Standing on an elevated hill of 180m, the impregnable fort has witnessed three battles.
Chittaurgarh Fort is truly an embodiment of the chivalry and pride of the Rajputs. The fort has a long story of romance, courage, determination and sacrifice. A glimpse of the fort still makes one think of the glory of the Rajputs who once lived here. The imposing Fort boasts well-designed palaces, magnificent cenotaphs and huge towers. The Fort of Chittorgarh has a colossal structure that is secured by several strong gateways.
Chittorgarh Fort is an acknowledgement of the courage of the gallant Rajput rulers who sacrificed their life combating dominant rivals instead of surrendering before them. The history of this majestic fort can be traced to the time of Khilji’s. Chittorgarh Fort is said to have been the capital of the Gahlot and Sisodia kings who ruled Mewar between the eighth and the sixteenth century. The Fort was named after Chittrangad Maurya.
The fort was attacked three times and every time it got saved by the daring heroism of the Rajput warriors. In 1303, for the first time, this fort was attacked by Allaudin Khilji to fulfil his desire to make off with Rani Padmini. For the second time, the Fort was sacked by Sultan Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1535. In 1567, it was attacked for the last time by Mughal Emperor Akbar to conquer Maharana Udai Singh. Every time, a jauhar (mass suicide) was observed and the womenfolk of the Royalty never submitted themselves.
This colossal fort is accessible through seven huge gates (Pols) that are comprised of strong iron spikes and served as a watch tower in earlier times. The way to Chittorgarh Fort will take you through crisscross paths that would be interrupted at intervals by seven giant pols (gateways). The foremost gate you will come across is the ‘Ram Pol’ (the gate of Lord Rama) which has a temple in its vicinity. While climbing further, you would find two cenotaphs near Padal Pol. These cenotaphs are dedicated to Jaimal and Kala, who was killed by Akbar in the battle of 1567.
On your way, you will find Padal Pol, Bhairon Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Lakshman Pol and Hanuman Pol. Next to Padan Pol, there is the memorial which was erected in the memory of Rawat Bagh Singh. He was the one, who got united with King Vikramaditya to battle against Sultan Bahadur Shah. The Bhairon Pol was named to memorize Bhairondas Solanki, who also fought in opposition to Sultan Bahadur Shah in 1534. However, the main gate to enter the fort is Suraj Pol (the Sun Gate).
Apart from these massive gates, the Fort has many palaces to boast of including Rana Kumbha Palace and Padmini’s Palace, which are wonders of Rajput architecture. Padmini’s Palace is the same palace that used to serve the beautiful queen of Rattan Singh. Rana Kumbha Palace is the place that has underground cellars where queen Padmini committed ‘Jauhar’ along with the children and the other ladies of the household.
The Fort also comprises several temples including Sammidheshwara Temple, Jain Temple, Kalika Mata temple, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Meerabai Temple and Kumbha Shyam Temple. These are ancient temples that have noteworthy carvings and intricate work. Gaumukh reservoir and Bhimtal Tank are other places worth visiting. Gaumukh reservoir is a huge water tank that gets water from Cow’s mouth-shaped rock. In the waters of this same reservoir, Allaudin was allowed to see the reflection of Queen Padmini that led to the whole battle.
Above all, the fort has towers that depict the glorious history of the Rajput rulers. Vijay Stambh and Kirti Stambh are the most famous towers celebrating the victory of the Rajputs. Kirti Stambh is the tower that means ‘the Tower of Fame. Built in the 12th century, this tower is dedicated to Adinath Ji, the first Jain thinker. Kirti Stambh is a seven-storied structure with a height of 22 m. one can reach the different floors by climbing through a cramped staircase of 54 steps. The tower is embellished with sculptures of the Jain Pantheon.
Talking about Vijay Stambh, literally, it means ‘the tower of victory’. Vijay Stambh is the most impressive structure of the Chittorgarh Fort. It was constructed by Maharana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over Mohammed Khilji in the 15th century. This giant tower is nine-storied and offers a picture-perfect view of the downtown from its balconies. This huge tower extends to a height of 122 feet and a width of 47 sq ft at the base. The circular stairs of this tower have 157 steps. This imposing tower took 10 complete years to construct. You can trace sculptures of the Hindu gods on the alcoves of this tower.

In the evenings, Vijay Stambh is illuminated and looks all the more mesmerizing. Chittaurgarh Fort welcomes many tourists around the world to its complex every year. Moreover, the history of this majestic fort makes the visits to this place more interesting. The magnificent monuments of this fort are definitely worth spending some time in seclusion pondering over the heroism of Mewar rulers. This heritage fort of Rajasthan is a ‘must-visit’ place that cannot be afforded to miss.

Eklingji Temple

Located 40 Kms from Gogunda Palace. This temple built by the Maharanas of Mewar is dedicated to Lord Shri Ekling Ji (Shiva). The temple is also of architectural importance. Eklingji Temple has marvellous architecture. The temple is double-storied with a colossal pyramidal style roof and remarkably carved tower which adds to its beauty.

  • Exterior– The exterior walls of temples are stretched with stairs which directly descend in the water.
  • Entrance– On entering the temple, you will greet a silver image of Nandi (bull). According to mythology, Nandi is considered to be the gate-guardian deity of Mountain Kailasa. There are two other carvings of Nandi in brass and black stone in the temple.
  • Interior– The four-faced idol of Lord Shiva or Eklingji is placed in the main temple. The statue is placed in a towering pillared hall called a mandap.

Four-faced Statue

The idol is about 50 feet in height and is made out of black stone. The four-faced figure depicts four different forms of Lord Shiva. The eastern side recognizes Surya (the sun), the western side recognizes Lord Brahma (the ultimate creator), the northern side recognizes Lord Vishu(the supreme being), and the southern side is Rudra (the mightiest of the mighty). The Eklinga statue is encircled with the figures of Goddess Parvati (Wife of Shiva), Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikay (sons of Shiva).
The history of Eklingji Temple is recorded in the Ekalinga Mahatmya, a historical text written in the 15th century. According to the text, the original temple was built in 734 A.D. by ruler Bappa Rawal. The temple has been a victim of loot and plunders during the rule of the Delhi Sultanate. The original temple and its idols were physically damaged.
In the late years, the temple was renovated and modified by many kings to preserve the glory and faith of the people in Shri Eklingji. The temple originally belonged to Pashupata sect, then Nath sect and post 16th century it is managed and controlled by Ramanandis. In the 14th century, post-invasion, the first idol was placed by Hamir Singh in the main temple. In the 15th century, Rana Kumbha renovated the temple by adding the Vishnu temple. In the 1460 inscription, Rana Kumbha is described as the accomplice of Lord Eklingji.
Later in the 15th century, the temple was again attacked by the Malwa Sultanate’s Ghiyath Shah. He was defeated by the Rana Raimal, the son of Rana Kumbha. Rana Raimal captured Shah and procured ransom for his release. He used the money to reinstate the glory of the temple. This was the final rebuilding of the temple, and an idol of Eklingji was installed in the main temple complex.

Nathdwara Shreenathji Temple

Located 65 Kms from Gogunda Palace. Shrinathji is a Swarup of Lord Krishna which resembles his 7-year-old “infant’ incarnation of Lord Krishna. Nathdwara translates to “Gateway to Shrinathji (god)” and is a significant Vishnavite Shrine. The temple is also known as the “Haveli of Shrnathji” (mansion of god). The shrine at Nathdwara was built in the 17th century at the spot as exactly ordained by Shrinathji himself. The idol of Lord Krishna was being transferred from Vrindaban to protect it from the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. When the idol reached the spot at village Sihad or Sinhad, the wheels of the bullock cart in which the idol was being transported sank axle-deep in mud and could not be moved any further. The accompanying priests realised that the particular place was the Lord’s chosen spot and accordingly, a temple was built there under the rule and protection of the then Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar.
Nathdwara Artists are a group of artists working around the precincts of the famous Nathdwara temple in Rajasthan. They are noted for Rajasthani-style paintings, called Pichwai Paintings, belonging to the Mewar School. The paintings revolve around the image of Shrinathji, the enigmatic black-faced figure of Krishna, who is shown holding up Mount Govardhan. Several authoritative books have been published on this subject.[14] Apart from Pichwai Paintings, the artists also produce small-scale paintings on paper. Themes from Krishna legend predominate. Mentioned under notable citizens are some of the famous artists who have won accolades/awards in the past.

Mount Abu

Located 125 Kms from Gogunda Palace. This is the only hill station in Rajasthan and has been a popular destination to retreat from the heat of Rajashtan for centuries. The mountain is home to several Hindi temples carved out of solid rock. The Achargarh Fort built in the 14th century is nearby along with Nakki Lake. The mountain is also home to several Jain temples including the famous Dilwara Temples which are a complex of temples carved out of white marble built between the 11th and 16th centuries. Serving as a source of comfort from the sultry desert climate of Rajasthan, Mount Abu, the state’s only hill station stands at a height of 1722 metres above sea level, and is embraced by lush green hills of the Aravalli range.
Studded with a colourful mix of rustic abodes of tribal communities and posh houses inclusive of British-style bungalows and royal holiday lodges, Mount Abu appears to be no less than a wonder in this desert state. Covered in vast stretches of green forests, serene lakes, and effusive waterfalls, this region allows you to revel amidst panoramic vistas, all year round.
Other than its scenic beauty, Mount Abu is also popular as a seat of religious importance for Jains. The structural architectural wonders in Mount Abu, among other places to visit, have been drawing history buffs and architecture enthusiasts from different corners of the world.
Our Front Office staff will be able to help arrange for transportation to visit any of these historic places.

In & Around Gogunda

The adventure-inclined can immerse themselves in activities such as Village Walk, Jeep Safari, Cycling, Trekking Tours and Bird Watching in the Aravalli Hills. Our Front Office staff will be happy to help you plan activities in and around the Palace. Excursions can also be planned as per guest preferences. Activities are available based on the seasons and weather of the region.

Yoga

A Yoga teacher can be arranged for a private session. Exhale.