Udaipur's rulers intended the Lake Palace to be a haven of peace and solitude. Today, ensconced in its luxury, you may find it hard to imagine how hard the Mewar Rajputs fought "for the ashes of their fathers and the temples of their gods" Kumbhalgarh, Chittorgarh. Haldighati -these are names that raise a surge of fierce pride in every Rajput's breast.

And in the rare, hard-won times of peace, the rulers of Mewar gave free rein to their artistic and engineering talents in artillciallakes and gardens such as Jaisamand and Sahelion-Ki-Bari. With as much fervour as when they plunged into battle, they raised intricately carved temples in thanks giving for having emerged alive from the bloodshed. Nagda Eklingji and Nathdwara are hallowed Hindu shrines. Religious tolerance was another facet, of the Rajput sense of honour, and faiths other than their own were sheltered and honoured in the State of Mewar. The Ranakpur Temples are centres of the Jain faith.

All these fascinating sites lie within a 100 kilometre radius of the Lake Palace Hotel. Our Guest relations staff are steeped in the lore of the land, and will gladly assist you in drawing up itineraries that will fill each day's touring with interesting places to visit and people to meet, without exhausting your energy.

Sahelion -Ki -Bari
This "Garden Of The Maids Of Honour" was built by Maharana Sangram Singh in the mid-18th century for the ladies of his Maharani's zenana. The garden is only about 3 km from the Palace, and one can imagine a line of palkhis (palanquins) wending its way down to Sahelion-Ki-Bari for a day spent languidly collecting armfuls of flowers, frolicking in the fountains, and exchanging the latest court gossip.

Jaisamand Lake
It is one of the largest man-made bodies of water in the world. 14 kIlls long and 9.5 kms in breadth. The embankment which dams the lake has on it six marble chhattris (cenotaphs) and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which is guarded by stone elephants. At the southern and northern ends of Jaisamand are Hawa Mahal and Roothi Rani Ka Mahal, the summer palaces of the Maharanis of that time. There are seven islands on the lake, inhabited by Bhil tribals whose simple ways haven't changed in a thousand years.

Many species of water birds live at Jaisamand -it’s an ornithologist’s paradise, and anglers may well strike big luck along its banks. The Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary nearby is home to panther, wild boar, and antelope.

The City Palace & Museum :
From the Lake Palace Hotel, you can see the City Palace-four separate palaces built by successive rulers, but integrated by harmony of design.

Shilpg Ram
About 3 km from Udaipur city near the village of Havala, is Shilpgram -conceived as "a living ethnographic museum". It has been set up to bring together in one place a depiction of the lifestyles of the folk and tribal people of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa. Watch potters, weavers, carpenters, blacksmiths, musicians and farmers going about their daily round and common tasks in ways that haven't changed in centuries.

Kumbhalgarh
Kumbhalgarh is the second most important bastion of Mewar martial history -after Chittorgarh, which was sacked repeatedly by the Mughals. The fort is approached by a narrow pass in the surrounding hills which winds its way through five gigantic gates called "pols". Kumbhalagarh never crumbled under attack, and with just one look, you can see why.

Nagda
Nagda, aqout 23 km from Udaipur, is said to be the earliest capital of this ancient land -it was founded by Nagaditya, the fourth Mewar king. There are two temples here dating back to the 11th century : the Sas-Bahu Mandir (temple of the mother-in-law and daughter-in- law) and the Adbhutji Ka Mandir, named for the Jain saint whose statue is inside it. Both are very intricately carved and in fairly unweathered condition.

Ekungji
Very near Nagda is the temple complex of Eklingji (Lord Shiva), the tutelary deity of the Maharanas of Mewar. The chief temple, of marble on a granite base, is guarded by a stone Nandi -the bull that is the mount of Lord Shiva. Here Shri Nathji is worshipped as if a living, active being is in residence. Elaborate painted cloth backdrops are hung behind the deity at eight different times of the day, each backdrop depicting Shri Nathji in a different activity or mood -as Krishna the cowherd, Lord Krishna at play with his gopis, and other forms.

Ranakpur
About 98 kIn from Udaipur, nestled in the quiet, picturesque Aravalli hills, is this pilgrimage centre of the Jain faith. The temples here date from the 15th century. The central temple is called the Chaumukha (four-faced). Its sanctum houses a quadruple image of the tirthankara Adinath. The sheer wealth of detail in the marble carvings takes your breath away the 29 halls are supported by 1,444 pillars, no two exactly alike!