Udaipur () (

ISO 15919 ISO 15919 (Transliteration of Devanagari and related Indic scripts into Latin characters) is one of a series of international standards for romanization by the International Organization for Standardization. It was published in 2001 and uses dia ...

: ''Udayapura''), historically named as Udayapura, is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

and

municipal corporation A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. The term can also be used to describe municipally owne ...

Udaipur district Udaipur district is one of the 33 districts of Rajasthan state in western India. The historic city of Udaipur is the administrative headquarters of the district. The district is part of the Mewar region of Rajasthan. History Before Udaipur d ...

of the state of

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. It is the administrative headquarter of

. It is the historic capital of the kingdom of

Mewar Mewar or Mewad is a region in the south-central part of Rajasthan state of India. It includes the present-day districts of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Pirawa Tehsil of Jhalawar District of Rajasthan, Neemuch and Man ...

in the former

Rajputana Agency The Rajputana Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire dealing with a collection of native states in Rajputana (now in Rajasthan, northwestern India), under the political charge of an Agent reporting directly to the Governor ...

. It was founded in 1559 by

Udai Singh II Udai Singh II (4 August 1522 – 28 February 1572) was the Maharana of Mewar and the founder of the city of Udaipur in the present-day Rajasthan state of India. He was the 12th ruler of the Kingdom of Mewar. He was the fourth son of Rana Sang ...

of the Sisodia clan of

Rajput Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...

, when he shifted his capital from the city of

Chittorgarh Chittorgarh (also Chittor or Chittaurgarh) is a major city in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgarh District. It was a major stronghol ...

to Udaipur after Chittorgarh was besieged by

Akbar Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (25 October 1542 – 27 October 1605), popularly known as Akbar the Great ( fa, ), and also as Akbar I (), was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Hum ...

. It remained as the capital city till 1818 when it became a British princely state, and thereafter the Mewar province became a part of Rajasthan when India gained

independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...

in 1947. The city is located in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, near the

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

border. It is surrounded by the

Aravali Range The Aravalli Range (also spelled ''Aravali'') is a mountain range in Northern-Western India, running approximately in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana, Rajasthan, and ending in Ahmedabad Gujarat. T ...

, which separates it from the

Thar Desert The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is an arid region in the north-western part of the Subcontinent that covers an area of and forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. It is the world's 20th-largest desert, a ...

. It is placed almost in the middle of two major Indian metro cities, around 660 km from

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...

and 800 km from

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

. Besides, connectivity with

ports provide Udaipur 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 Maharana Pratap Airport is a domestic airport serving Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. It is situated at Dabok, located 22 km (14 mi) east of Udaipur. The airport is named after Maharana Pratap who was a Maharana (ruler) of the prince ...

. Common languages spoken include

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and

Rajasthani Rajasthani may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Rajasthan, a state of India * Rajasthani languages, a group of languages spoken there * Rajasthani people, the native inhabitants of the region * Rajasthani architecture * Rajasthani art ...

(

Mewari Mewari is an Indo-Aryan language of the Rajasthani group. It is spoken by about five million speakers in Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh districts of Rajasthan state and Mandsaur, Neemuch districts of Madhya Prades ...

). Dubbed "the most romantic spot on the continent of India" by

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

administrator

James Tod Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod (20 March 1782 – 18 November 1835) was an officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar. He combined his official role and his amateur interests to create a series of works about the hist ...

, Udaipur is a tourist destination and is known for its history, culture, scenic locations and the Rajput-era palaces. It is popularly known as the "City of Lakes" because of its sophisticated lake system. It has seven lakes surrounding the city.

Five 5 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 5, five or number 5 may also refer to: * AD 5, the fifth year of the AD era * 5 BC, the fifth year before the AD era Literature * ''5'' (visual novel), a 2008 visual novel by Ram * ''5'' (comics), an awa ...

of the major lakes, namely

Fateh Sagar Lake Fateh Sagar Lake is situated in the city of Udaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is an artificial lake named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar, constructed north-west of Udaipur, to the north of Lake Pichola in the 1680s. ...

Lake Pichola Lake Pichola, situated in Udaipur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, is an artificial fresh water lake, created in the year 1362, named after the nearby Picholi village. It is one of the several contiguous lakes, and developed over the last ...

Swaroop Sagar Lake Swaroop Sagar Lake is situated in the city of Udaipur in the Rajasthan state of India. It is an artificially created lake, named after Maharana Swarup Singh of Udaipur. It is also known as Kumharia Talab, which is a combined water body compri ...

, Rangsagar, and

Doodh Talai Lake Doodh Talai Lake or Dudh Talai lake, is a small pond located adjacent to the Lake Pichola, near Shiva Niwas Palace (residence of Maharana Fateh Singh), in the heart of Udaipur, Rajasthan. Access The Doodh Talai Lake is located very much near ...

, have been included under the restoration project of the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) of the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

. 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 the several lakes present here, it is sometimes dubbed "''

Venice of the East The following is an incomplete list of places which have been nicknamed Venice of the East. List See also * Venezuela, country whose name means "Little Venice" * Venice of the North * Little Venice Little Venice is a district in West Lon ...

''". Udaipur 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,

Hindustan Zinc Limited Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) is an Indian integrated mining and resources producer of zinc, lead, silver and cadmium. It is a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited. Earlier it was a Central Public Sector Undertaking, sold by Government of India to Ved ...

, and Rajasthan State Mines and Mineral Corporation Limited. Besides, Udaipur is rising as educational hub as well, with 5 Universities, 14 colleges and more than 160 high schools. Udaipur is home to IIM Udaipur, the fifth best management institution in the country according to NIRF ranking released by the

MHRD The Ministry of Education ( MoE; formerly the Ministry of Human Resource Development from 1985 to 2020) is a ministry of the Government of India, responsible for the implementation of the National Policy on Education. The Ministry is further d ...

History

Pre-Historic Era

The

Ahar River The Ahar River is a tributary of the Berach River (itself a tributary of Banas River, which in turn is a tributary of Chambal river, itself a tributary of Yamuna River, which in turn is the most important tributary of Ganges River). The r ...

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 Bhil or Bheel is an ethnic group in western India. They speak the Bhil languages, a subgroup of the Western Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages. As of 2013, Bhils were the largest tribal group in India. Bhils are listed as tribal people of t ...

/Bheels, the indigenous tribes originated at this place, and are still residing in the area in large numbers. The second footprints were of

Rajputs Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...

, who once entered the enclosed valley, and then continued to live in this place for centuries.

Establishment as a city

Statue of Maharana Pratap of Mewar, commemorating the Battle of Haldighati, City Palace, Udaipur

Udaipur was founded in 1559, by Maharana

in the fertile circular Girwa Valley to the southwest of

Nagda Nagda is an industrial town in Ujjain district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It lies in the administrative headquarters of the city of Ujjain, in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh. It is situated on the bank of the Chambal Riv ...

, on the

Banas River The Banas is a river which lies entirely within the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is a tributary of the Chambal River, itself a tributary of the Yamuna, which in turn merges into the Ganga. The Banas is approximately 512 kilometre ...

. The city was established as the new capital of the

Mewar kingdom Kingdom of Mewar, sometimes known as Udaipur State, was ruled by the Sisodia dynasty. It was an independent kingdom in Rajputana region of India. It was established around the 7th century as minor rulers of the Nagada-Ahar region of Udaipur a ...

. 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 was thus already well known to Chittaud rulers who moved to it whenever the vulnerable tableland Chittaurgarh was threatened with enemy attacks. Rana Udai Singh II, in the wake of 16th-century emergence of artillery warfare, decided during his exile at

Kumbhalgarh Kumbhalgarh (literally "Kumbhal fort") also known as the Great Wall of India is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, just about 48 km from Rajsamand city in the Rajsamand district of the Rajasthan state in western India. I ...

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 a

hermit A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions. Description In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Ch ...

while hunting in the foothills of the

Aravalli Range The Aravalli Range (also spelled ''Aravali'') is a mountain range in Northern- Western India, running approximately in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana, Rajasthan, and ending in Ahmedabad Gujarat. ...

. 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 The Mughal emperors ( fa, , Pādishāhān) were the supreme heads of state of the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Mughal rulers styled t ...

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 is still known as the old city or the walled city. In September 1576,

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 Nur-ud-Din Muhammad Salim (30 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was the fourth Mughal Emperor, who ruled from 1605 until he died in 1627. He was named after the Indian Sufi saint, Salim Chishti. Ear ...

and Udaipur remained the capital of the state, which became a

princely state A princely state (also called native state or Indian state) was a nominally sovereign entity of the British Raj, British Indian Empire that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule, ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

in 1818. Being a mountainous region and unsuitable for heavily armoured Mughal horses, Udaipur remained safe from Mughal influence despite much pressure. At present,

Maharana Maharana is a variation on the Indian royal title Rana. Maharana denotes ' king of kings', similar to the word "Maharaja". Ruler title in British India Salute states (all in present India) The gun salutes enjoyed by the states that acceded to ...

Mahendra Singh Mewar is the 76th custodian of the Mewar dynasty.

Geography

A dusk view of Lake Palace Udaipur Rajasthan India

Jharmar Kotra national geological monument

Jharmar Kotra Stromatolite Fossil Park at Jharmar Kotra south-east of Udaipur has been declared the

National Geological Monuments of India National Geological Monuments are geographical areas of national importance and heritage, as notified by the Government of India's Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their maintenance, protection, promotion and enhancement of geotourism.

by the

Geological Survey of India The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is a scientific agency of India. It was founded in 1851, as a Government of India organization under the Ministry of Mines, one of the oldest of such organisations in the world and the second oldest survey ...

(GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of

geotourism Geotourism is tourism associated with geological attractions and destinations.Dowling, R. & Newsome, D. (Eds.)(2006) ''Geotourism'' ; Elsevier, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford Geotourism deals with the abiotic natural and built environments.Sadry ...

Gossan in Rajpura-Dariba Mineralised belt

Gossan in Rajpura-Dariba Mineralised belt nearby, consisting of

gossan Gossan (eiserner hut or eisenhut) is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein. In the ''classic'' gossan or iron cap all that remains is iron oxides and quartz, often ...

, has been declared the

by the

(GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of

Topography

Udaipur is located at . The city covers an area of and lies at an altitude of above sea level. It is located in the southern region of Rajasthan, near the

border. The city lies southwest of the state capital,

Jaipur Jaipur (; Hindi: ''Jayapura''), formerly Jeypore, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth most populous city in the country. Jaipur is also known ...

and northeast from

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

. Udaipur with its lakes lies on the south slope of the

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 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 Jodhpur District is a district in the State of Rajasthan in western India. The city of Jodhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district. As of the 2011 census, it is the second highest populated district of Rajasthan (out of 33), af ...

. 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 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 Yamuna (Hindustani language, Hindustani: ), also spelt Jumna, is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in List of major rivers of India, India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a ...

. The Udaipur Lake System can be divided into the following categories: * Upper lakes: Lake Badi, Chhota Madar and Bada Madar * City Lakes:

, Rang Sagar, Kumharia Talab, Goverdhan Sagar. * Downstream Lake: Udaisagar Lake * River: Ayad River File:Maharaja Fateh Singh of Udaipur, (r.1884-1930), on royal barge, Udaipur.jpg, Maharana Fateh Singh (1884–1930) of Udaipur, on a royal barge, in Lake Pichola. File:Udaipur-Rajasthan.jpg, View of a

from a distance. File:The View from the history.jpg, A view of Udaipur from

City Palace, Udaipur City Palace, Udaipur is a palace complex situated in the city of Udaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It was built over a period of nearly 400 years, with contributions from several rulers of the Mewar dynasty. Its construction began in 155 ...

. File:Udaipur city view.jpg, alt=Udaipur from the City Palace, View of Udaipur as seen from the City Palace

Climate

Udaipur city has a hot

semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-ar ...

. 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 to in the months of March to June. Monsoons arrive in 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 to . Udaipur's monsoon and winter climates are 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 . Mornings, evenings and nights are cold.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, the total population of Udaipur city was 451,100. Including suburbs outside 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, 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.

and

are the major languages spoken in Udaipur. Marwari, Wagdi,

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

Gujarati Gujarati may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Gujarat, a state of India * Gujarati people, the major ethnic group of Gujarat * Gujarati language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by them * Gujarati languages, the Western Indo-Aryan sub ...

are some others which are in use in the city.

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

is the major religion followed in the city, with 72.9% of the city's population being

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraha ...

come second at 15.6%. The city also has a large Jain community.

Jains Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...

makes about 10% of the population of Udaipur, as compared to the national average of 0.37%.

Government

Udaipur is governed by the

Udaipur Municipal Corporation Udaipur Municipal Corporation is the municipal corporation of Udaipur city in Rajasthan state of India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, se ...

. 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 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 Udaipur () ( ISO 15919: ''Udayapura''), historically named as Udayapura, is a city and municipal corporation in Udaipur district of the state of Rajasthan, India. It is the administrative headquarter of Udaipur district. It is the historic cap ...

has its own constituency for representation in the

Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-past ...

. The current representative of Udaipur is Arjunlal Meena of the

BJP The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Mo ...

Economy

Durbar Hall, Fateh Prakash Palace Hotel, Udaipur

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 the

Smart Cities A smart city is a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect specific data. Information gained from that data is used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in retur ...

mission initiated by the

, 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. ;Handicrafts 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 the Shilpgram, with an aim to encourage the regional arts and crafts, the handicraft and hand-loom works. ;Tourism City Palace Aerial View by Pranshu Dubey

City Palace Aerial View by Pranshu Dubey

A view of Villages and farms in south Rajasthan India

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 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. ;Metals and Minerals industries

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 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 the world's second largest Zinc producer,

Hindustan Zinc Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) is an Indian integrated mining and resources producer of zinc, lead, silver and cadmium. It is a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited. Earlier it was a Central Public Sector Undertaking, sold by Government of India to Ved ...

Electronics design and manufacturing

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 the globe. ;Agriculture 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 Kharif crops, also known as monsoon crops or autumn crops, are domesticated plants that are cultivated and harvested in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh during the Indian subcontinent's monsoon season, which lasts from June to November depending o ...

season and Wheat and Mustard in the Rabi season. Pulses, groundnut and vegetables like brinjals 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 the field of production technology for agricultural development since its establishment.

Tourism

List

Culture

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. Like any other place in the state of Rajasthan, folk dance and music have an important place in adding to 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. *

Ghoomar Ghoomar or ghumar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan. It was the Bhil tribe who performed it to worship Goddess Sarasvati which was later embraced by other Rajasthani communities. The dance is chiefly performed by veiled women who wear fl ...

dance is a part of the Hindu culture of the Mewar Region of Rajasthan. This is a community dance for women and performed on auspicious occasions where the ladies move in circles. *

Kalbelia The Kalbelia are a snake charming tribe from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. The dance is an integral part of their culture and performed by men and women. Kalbelia tribe Kalbelias are followers of Sage Kanifnath, who drank a bowl of poi ...

, one of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan, is performed by the Kalbeliya snake charmers' community with the ''Sapera'' dancers wearing long, black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons. *Bhavai dance consists of veiled women dancers balancing up to seven or nine brass pitchers as they pirouette and then swaying with the soles of their feet on the top of a glass or on the edge of the sword * Kachchhi Ghodi dance is performed on dummy horses where men in elaborate costumes ride the decorated dummy horses. Holding swords, these dancers move to the beating of drums and fifes. 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 the most famous paintings developed under the patronage of the rulers of

. 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 . The people of 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 Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is a cultural institution based in Udaipur in Rajasthan state in India engaged in studying folk art, culture, songs and festivals of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province ...

is a cultural institution based in the city. The institute with its museum is a platform that displays a collection of

Rajasthani culture The culture of Rajasthan includes many artistic traditions that reflect the ancient Indian way of life. Rajasthan is also called "Land of Kings". It has many tourist attractions and facilities for tourists. This historical state of India attrac ...

. Offering an insight into 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.

Festivals

Gangaur Festival

Gangaur Gangaur ( hi, गणगौर, ISO 15919: ''Gaṇagaura'' ) is a festival celebrated in the Indian state of Rajasthan and Nimaar region (Barwani, Khargone, Khandwa etc.) of Madhya Pradesh. It is also celebrated in some parts of Gujarat and West ...

is one of 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 Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

and "Gauri" or "gaur" stands for Hindu Goddess

Parvati Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...

, 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 Chaitra (Hindi: चैत्र) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In the standard Hindu calendar and India's national civil calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the year. It is the last month in the Bengali calendar, where it is called Cho ...

(March–April), the first month of the Hindu calendar. This month marks 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 a Ghat named after Gangaur.

Gangaur Ghat Gangaur Ghat or Gangori Ghat is a main ghat situated near the waterfront of Lake Pichola in Udaipur. It is situated near the Jagdish Chowk area. It is known for Bagore-ki-Haveli, a popular tourist destination of the city. Overview 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 Utsav

Shilpgram, 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 the younger generation. Special emphasis is laid on workshops for children on arts, crafts, theatre, and music.

Hariyali Amavasya

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 the city.

Jagannath Rath Yatra

In Udaipur, the third biggest

Ratha-Yatra Ratha Yatra (), or Chariot festival, is any public procession in a chariot. The term particularly refers to the annual Ratha Yatra in Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other East Indian states, particularly the Odia festival that involve a ...

is organized on the auspicious day of

Ashadh Asharh ( bn, আষাঢ় ''āshāḍh'', or, ଆଷାଢ଼ ''āsāḍha'') is the third month of the Bengali and Odia calendars and the Nepali system of the Hindu calendar. It is the first of the two months that comprise the wet season, loca ...

Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) Dwitiya according to Indian

Vikram Samvat Vikram Samvat (IAST: ''Vikrama Samvat''; abbreviated VS) or Bikram Sambat B.S. and also known as the Vikrami calendar, is a Hindu calendar historically used in the Indian subcontinent. Vikram Samvat is generally 57 years ahead of Gregorian Calend ...

. 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 Jagannath ( or, ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, lit=Lord of the Universe, Jagannātha; formerly en, Juggernaut) is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions in India and Bangladesh as part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra, and sister ...

(

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

), Balabhadra (

Balarama Balarama ( Sanskrit: बलराम, IAST: ''Balarāma'') is a Hindu god and the elder brother of Krishna. He is particularly significant in the Jagannath tradition, as one of the triad deities. He is also known as Haladhara, Halayudha, Bala ...

) and their sister Subhadra are taken through 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.

Jal-Jhulni Ekadashi

According to the Hindu calendar, Gyaras, or Ekadashi is basically, the 11th day of each waxing (

Shukla paksha Paksha (also known as ''pakṣa''; sa, पक्ष, Nepal Bhasa: ''thwa'' and ''gа̄''; ) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning "side", a paksha is the period either side of the F ...

) and waning moon (

Krishna paksha Paksha (also known as ''pakṣa''; sa, पक्ष, Nepal Bhasa: ''thwa'' and ''gа̄''; ) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning "side", a paksha is the period either side of the Ful ...

). This Ekadashi, known as Jal-Jhulni Gyaras, or Jal-Jhulni Ekadashi, like all other festivals, is celebrated with enthusiasm.

Udaipur in popular culture

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 is a blend of sights, sounds and experiences, which have made it one of the top destinations for weddings and celebrations. ;Movies and Television Udaipur is mentioned under the spelling ''Oodeypore'' in

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

's ''

The Jungle Book ''The Jungle Book'' (1894) is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, w ...

'' as the birthplace of Bagheera, the fictional

panther Panther may refer to: Large cats *Pantherinae, the cat subfamily that contains the genera ''Panthera'' and ''Neofelis'' **'' Panthera'', the cat genus that contains tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards. *** Jaguar (''Panthera onca''), found in So ...

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 the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

film ''

Octopussy ''Octopussy'' is a 1983 spy film and the thirteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions. It is the sixth to star Roger Moore as the MI6 agent James Bond. It was directed by John Glen and the screenplay was written by G ...

'' were filmed in the city, the Lake Palace, and the Monsoon Palace. The nearby desert was the backdrop of the remarkable rescue of

(

Maud Adams Maud Adams (born Maud Solveig Christina Wikström; 12 February 1945) is a Swedish actress and model, known for her roles as two different Bond girls, first in '' The Man with the Golden Gun'' (1974) and then as the eponymous character in ''Oct ...

) 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 the other non-Indian movies and TV shows filmed in Udaipur include: '' Darjeeling Limited'', '' Opening Night'', ''

Heat and Dust ''Heat and Dust'' (1975) is a novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala that won the Booker Prize in 1975. The book was also ranked by ''The Telegraph'' in 2014 as one of the 10 all-time greatest Asian novels. Plot summary The initial stages of the nove ...

'', ''Indische Ring'', ''Inside Octopussy'', ''James Bond in India'', ''

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ''The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'' is a 2011 British comedy-drama film directed by John Madden. The screenplay, written by Ol Parker, is based on the 2004 novel ''These Foolish Things'' by novelist Deborah Moggach, and features an ensemble c ...

'', ''

Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

'', and '' The Fall''.

Jag Mandir Jag Mandir is a palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola. It is also called the "Lake Garden Palace". The palace is located in Udaipur city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Its construction is credited to three Maharanas of the Sisodia Rajp ...

, a documentary film directed for television by

Werner Herzog Werner Herzog (; born 5 September 1942) is a German film director, screenwriter, author, actor, and opera director, regarded as a pioneer of New German Cinema. His films often feature ambitious protagonists with impossible dreams, people with u ...

in 1991, was also filmed in the city. Udaipur has been a location for a number of

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

movies. Some of them shot here include: ''

Dhadak ''Dhadak'' () is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate roma ...

'', ''

Guide A guide is a person who leads travelers, sportspeople, or tourists through unknown or unfamiliar locations. The term can also be applied to a person who leads others to more abstract goals such as knowledge or wisdom. Travel and recreation Ex ...

'', ''

Mera Saaya ''Mera Saaya'' () is a 1966 Indian Hindi-language thriller film directed by Raj Khosla. The music is by Madan Mohan and lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The film stars Sunil Dutt and Sadhana. This is director Raj Khosla's third film with Sadha ...

'', '' Phool Bane Angaray'', '' Kachche Dhaage'', ''

Mera Gaon Mera Desh ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh'' () is a 1971 Indian action drama film, directed by Raj Khosla, written by Akhtar Romani, and starring Dharmendra, Asha Parekh in lead roles and Vinod Khanna as the villain. It was a box office success. The film contains ...

'', ''Jalmahal'', '' Yaadein'', ''Return of the thief of the bagdad'', '' Eklavya: The Royal Guard'', ''

Dhamaal ''Dhamaal'' () is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by Indra Kumar and produced by Ashok Thakeria. The film stars Sanjay Dutt, Ritesh Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Aashish Chaudhary and Javed Jaffrey in the lead roles while Asrani, ...

'', ''Jis Desh Mei Ganga Rehta Hai'', ''

Chalo Ishq Ladaaye ''Chalo Ishq Ladaaye'' ( ''Come, Let's Fall In Love'') is a 2002 Indian comedy film directed by Aziz Sejawal, starring Govinda, Rani Mukerji, Zohra Sehgal and Kader Khan. Plot Popular but lonely Bollywood actress, Sapna, lives a fairly isol ...

'', ''

Fiza ''Fiza'', also known as ''Fiza: In Search Of Her Brother'', is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film written and directed by Khalid Mohammed. It stars Karisma Kapoor as the eponymous lead, along with Hrithik Roshan as her terrorist ...

'', '' Gaddaar'', ''

Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke ''Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke'' () is a 1993 Indian romantic comedy-drama film, directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by Tahir Hussain, with screenplay written by Aamir Khan and Robin Bhatt, and with a musical score by Nadeem-Shravan. It stars Aamir ...

'', ''

Khuda Gawah ''Khuda Gawah'' (, also translated and released as ''God Is My Witness'') is a 1992 Indian epic drama film written and directed by Mukul S. Anand. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Sridevi, Shilpa Shirodkar, Danny Denzongpa, Kiran Kumar ...

'', ''

Kundan Kundan, meaning pure gold, is a traditional form of Indian gemstone jewellery involving a gem set with a gold foil between the stones and its mount, usually for elaborate necklaces and other jewellery. History Origins of Kundan jewelleries i ...

'', ''

Nandini Nandini is a female given name. It is derived from the Sanskrit verbal root ''nand'', which means "to rejoice, delight". Literally, ''nandinī'' means a woman who brings joy. The name also specifically refers to a daughter, as a daughter brings ...

'', ''Saajan Ka Ghar'', ''Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'', ''Pataakha'', ''Mirzya (film), Mirzya'', ''Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela'', ''Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, ''Love Aaj Kal, Angrezi Medium. Udaipur is also the setting of various Television series like ''Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'', ''Rakhi Ka Swayamwar'' and ''Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap''. ;Events 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 is also the host for the Udaipur Lake Festival, a cultural event organized by the

. 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 September 21–29. There are total of 10 countries included and are taking part in 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.

Transport

Udaipur is well connected to the major cities of India by land, rail, and air. Airport-Udaipur Terminal

;Air

, is a small domestic airport situated in a satellite town about 20 kilometres from Udaipur. Daily flights connect Udaipur with

, Chennai, Aurangabad Airport, Aurangabad, Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, Surat Airport, Surat and Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi . Air India, IndiGo and Spice Jet are operational at present. The airport having just three boarding gates, gate 1 is on the ground floor while gates 2 & 3 are at the first floor, and only ten check-in counters can barely handle 600 passengers at a time. The airport has been renovated by the Airport Authority of India for a though remote but possible International airport status. ;Rail Udaipur City railway station and Rana Pratap Nagar railway station are two railway stations in Udaipur. Through them, Udaipur has direct train connectivity on the broad gauge network to most of the major cities in Rajasthan and the rest of India such as Mysuru, Bengaluru, Khajuraho, Alwar,

, Kota, Rajasthan, Kota,

, Ajmer,

, Kolkata, Ratlam, Indore, Ujjain,

, Surat, Vadodara, Gwalior and Agra and a broad gauge conversion is going on to

. Luxurious trains, Palace on Wheels, The Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Maharaja Express and The Indian Maharaja have Udaipur as the scheduled stop on their itinerary. Trains connecting Udaipur with the Capital of India, Delhi include the Mewar Express and Chetak Express. ;Road The city lies on the intersection point of North-South and East-West Corridor, East West Corridor, Golden Quadrilateral, National Highway (NH) 76 and National Highway (NH) 8, midway between

and

, located around 700 kilometres from either city. The North-South and East-West Corridor, East West Corridor which starts from Porbandar and ends at Silchar is intersecting the Golden Quadrilateral and shares the common space from Udaipur to Chittor. The roads in this part of the country are paved and fit for private vehicles. One can either drive from Jaipur (around 6 hours), Ahmedabad (4.1/2 hours) or Surat (9 hours) on NH 8 or Golden Quadrilateral, from Kota (3 hours - EW Corridor or NH 76). Udaipur City Bus Depot has lines running for the majority of other destinations in Rajasthan and farther north and west towards Madhya Pradesh and

. Apart from Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC), there are numerous private operators and companies providing bus services to and from the other cities. ;Local transport Unmetered taxis, private taxi, radio taxi, auto rickshaws, and regular city bus services are available in the city. Since 2015 Uber and Ola cab services are available.

Places nearby

A view of Udaipur Rajasthan India March 2015 d

Apart from the local attractions within the city, there are several charming places to see around Udaipur.

Sports

Popular sports include cricket, football, hockey, tennis, chess, badminton, archery, etc. ;Stadiums Gandhi Ground is the main sports venue for various events, like athletics, basketball, field hockey, football, Kho Kho and volleyball. Luv Kush Indoor Stadium is generally used for the indoor sports especially Badminton and TT. Maharana Bhupal Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium used for organising matches of football, cricket and other sports. For Encouraging Sports in the city and even for encouraging International Sports in the city, a step has been put forward by establishing 'Khel Gaon (village)'or Maharana Pratap Khel Gaon in Chitrakoot Nagar. It will be committed to 12 sports namely like Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Handball, Archery, Rifle shooting, Judo – Karate, Boxing, Swimming, Squash. Udaipur International Cricket Stadium is a proposed cricket stadium in Udaipur. In 2013, after a dispute between Rajasthan State Sports Council and Rajasthan Cricket Association over the availability of Sawai Mansingh Stadium during the Indian Premier League, the RCA decided to have plans of having their own stadium. RCA has gained land in Udaipur with 9.67 acres from the Udaipur Improvement Trust on a 99-year lease and stadium will have a capacity of 35,000. ;Cricket Udaipur has several Cricket Clubs, cricket clubs and is home to many state-level players. Ashok Menaria of Udaipur has represented India in U-19 world cup. Ashok Menaria and Dishant Yagnik of the city have played in Indian Premier League, IPL for Rajasthan Royals. ;Chess Chess is a popular game in the city among both young and senior players. Udaipur has over 120 International FIDE rated chess players. Players from Udaipur have Represented Rajasthan several times in different Nationals such as Arena Grandmaster Chandrajeet Rajawat. Chandrajeet Rajawat has also won Rajasthan State Championship over seven times in different categories. Udaipur also has top FIDE rated players of Rajasthan recognized by All India Chess Federation, AICF. Udaipur is also a favourite destination for chess players. With many international chess events throughout the year, bringing more than 1500 players each year from all over the world to compete. ;Water Sports The city's lakes provide an opportunity for water sports. The nearby Dhebar Lake, Jaisamand Lake, situated about 56 km from the city, is equipped with water sports facilities with a range of different boats available. Kayaking and Canoeing Sports Camps have also been started at the

. The city also hosted the 2012 National Kayaking and Canoeing Championship with Fateh Sagar Lake serving as the venue. ;Powerlifting The Asian Powerlifting Championships 2016, organised by Indian Powerlifting Federation, and sanctioned by Asian Powerlifting Federation and International Powerlifting Federation, was held in Udaipur from 7 June 2016 to 12 June 2016. The city also served as the venue for the Asian Powerlifting Championships in 2012.

Education

Udaipur is home to various government, deemed and private universities. Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology and Rajiv Gandhi Tribal University are the major government universities in the city while Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University, J.R.N. Rajasthan Vidyapeeth is a deemed university and Pacific University, Bhupal Nobles University and SPSU are amongst leading private universities of repute. The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, established in 2011, also resides in the city.

Media

Newspapers in Udaipur include Hindi dailies ''Rajasthan Patrika'', ''Dainik Bhaskar'', ''Navbharat Times'', ''Apranha Times'' and ''Pratahkal''. ''The Times of India'', ''The Economic Times'', ''The Hindustan Times'', ''The Hindu'' are the English language newspapers circulated in the city. The national, state-owned All India Radio is broadcast both on the medium wave and FM bands (101.9 MHz) in the city. Also broadcast in the city there are four private local FM stations: Radio City FM (91.9 MHz), BIG FM 92.7, Big FM (92.7 MHz), My FM (94.3 MHz) and Radio Tadka (95 MHz). The public broadcaster Doordarshan (Prasar Bharati) provides a regional channel besides the mainstay channels. The city is switching over to digitalisation of cable TV as per the third phase of the digitalisation programme by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

References

* * * Mehra, S, Mehra, S. P. & Sharma, K. K. (2012). Importance of aquatic avifauna in southern Rajasthan, India. Pg. 159–183. (In: Rawat., M. & Dookia, S. (eds.) Biodiversity of Aquatic Resources, Daya Publishing House, Delhi, 2012) (978-81-7035-789-6) * Mehra, S, Mehra, S. P. & Sharma, K. K. (2012). Aquatic Avifauna: Its Importance for Wetland conservation in Rajasthan, India. Pg. 179–190. (In: Mathur, S. M.; Shrivastava, V. K. & Purohit, R. C. (eds.) Conservation of Lakes and Water Resources Management strategies, Himanshu Publications, Udaipur, 2011) (978-81-7906-263-0) Mehra, S, Mehra, S. P. & Sharma, K. K. (2011). Aquatic avifauna of Aravalli Hills Rajasthan, India. pp. 145–167 (In Gupta, V. K. & Verma, A. K. (eds.) Animal Diversity, Natural History and Conservation Vol. I, Daya Publishing House, Delhi, 2011) () * Sharma, K. K. & Mehra, S. P. (2007). Need of studies on anuran in habitats of southern Rajasthan. Frogleg 13: 12–16. * Islam, M. Z. & Rahmani, A. R. (2004). Important Bird Areas of India: Priority Sites for Conservation. Indian Bird Conservation Network: Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International (UK). Pp. xviii + 1133. ()

External links

Udaipur District Govt website

Udaipur city Portal

Udaipur News website

{{Districts_of_Rajasthan Udaipur, Smart cities in India Cities and towns in Udaipur district Former capital cities in India Populated places established in 1559 1559 establishments in Asia Former capitals of Mewar