Udaipurian

UDAIPUR – UDAIPUR CITY – UDAIPUR RAJASTHAN – ABOUT UDAIPUR

Everything You Need to Know About Udaipur City !!


Dubbed “the most romantic spot on the continent of India” by British administrator James Tod, 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 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. The 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, and Rajasthan State Mines and Mineral Corporation Limited. Besides, Udaipur is rising as an 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 MHRD.

ABOUT UDAIPUR CITY

Udaipur also is known as the “City of Lakes” is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency. It was founded in 1558 by Udai Singh II of the Sisodia clan of Rajput 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 it became a British princely state and thereafter the Mewar province became a part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947.

The city is located in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border. It is surrounded by the Aravali Range, which separates it from the Thar Desert. It is around 660 km from Delhi and approximately 800 km from Mumbai, placed almost in the middle of two major Indian metro cities. Besides, connectivity with Gujarat ports provides Udaipur a strategic geographical advantage. Udaipur is well connected with nearby cities and states using the road, rail, and air transportation facilities, including Maharana Pratap Airport. Common languages spoken include Hindi, English, and Rajasthani (Mewari).

HISTORY OF UDAIPUR CITY

PRE-HISTORIC ERA OF UDAIPUR CITY

The Ahar Riverbank was inhabited in about 2000 B.C. 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 the enclosed valley, and then continued to live in this place for centuries.

    ESTABLISHMENT AS A CITY

    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 was thus already well known to Chittaud rulers who moved to it whenever the vulnerable tableland Chittaurgarh was threatened with enemy attacks. Maharana Udai Singh II, in the wake of the 16th-century emergence of artillery warfare, decided during his exile at Kumbhalgarh 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 while hunting in the foothills of the Aravalli Range. 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 laid siege to the venerated fort of Chittor. To protect Udaipur from External attacks, Maharana Udai Singh built a six-kilometer long city wall, with seven gates, namely Surajpole, Chandpole, Udiapole, Hathipole, Ambapole, Brahmpole and so on. The area within these walls and gates is still known as the old city or the walled city.

    As the Mughal empire weakened, the Sisodia rulers, reasserted their independence and recaptured most of Mewar except for Chittor. 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 armored Mughal horses, Udaipur remained safe from Mughal influence despite much pressure. At present, Maharana Mahendra Singh Mewar is the 76th custodian of the Mewar dynasty.

    GEOGRAPHY OF UDAIPUR CITY

      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 by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of tourism.

      GOSSAN IN RAJPURA-DARIBA MINERALISED BELT

      Gossan in Rajpura-Dariba Mineralised belt nearby, consisting of gossan, has been declared the National Geological Monuments of India by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), for their protection, maintenance, promotion and enhancement of tourism.

      TOPOGRAPHY OF UDAIPUR CITY

      Udaipur is located at 24.525049°N 73.677116°E. The city covers an area of 64 km2 and lies at an altitude of 598.00 m (1,962 ft) above sea level. It 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 is covered with rocks, Hills, and dense Forest. There are two important passages in the Aravali ranges viz. Desuri Nal and Smoke which serves as a link between Udaipur and Jodhpur District.

      The lakes of the city being interconnected form a lake system that 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.

      UDAIPUR CITY LAKE SYSTEM

      Upper Lakes: Lake Badi, Chhota Madar & Bada Madar
      City Lakes: Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Swaroop Sagar Lake, Rang Sagar, Kumharia Talab, Goverdhan Sagar
      Downstream Lake: Udaisagar Lake
      River: Ayad River

      CLIMATE OF UDAIPUR CITY

      Udaipur city has 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 are 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) from March to June. Monsoons arrive in 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 October till March. Humidity, which prevails during monsoons, diminishes at the arrival of winters. The city observes pleasant sunny days and enjoys cool nights with the temperature ranging from 5 °C (41 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F).

      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 a maximum temperature of around 28.3 °C (82.9 °F). Mornings, evenings, and nights are cold.

      DEMOGRAPHICS OF UDAIPUR CITY

      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. Hindi and Mewari are the major languages spoken in Udaipur. Marwari, Wagdi, Urdu, and Gujarati are some others that are in use in the city. Hinduism is the major religion followed in the city. 2nd most is Muslims with approx 16% of the total population. With a large Jain community, Jainism is amongst the other main religions practiced. Jains make about 10% of the population, as compared to the national average of 0.37%.

      GOVERNMENT OF UDAIPUR CITY

      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 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.

      MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

      The current MP of Udaipur is Arjunlal Meena of BJP.

      ECONOMY OF UDAIPUR CITY

      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 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.

      HANDICRAFTS IN UDAIPUR CITY

      Udaipur is well known for handicrafts such as paintings, marble articles, silver arts, and terracotta. The Shilpgram is a platform where regional handicrafts and handloom products are developed. Craft bazaars are organized by the Shilpgram, to encourage the regional arts and crafts, the handicraft and hand-loom works.

      UDAIPUR CITY TOURISM 

      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. As a capital of the erstwhile Mewar kingdom, Udaipur is also the launching point for visits to the historic forts of Khumbhalgarh and Chittor and the temple of Ranakpur, Shrinathji at Nathdwara and Eklingji. Religious tourism is a major source of regular visitors to Udaipur.

      METALS AND MINERALS INDUSTRIES IN/OF UDAIPUR CITY

      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 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.

      ELECTRONICS DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING IN UDAIPUR CITY

      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 6000 people. These businesses are Tempsens, Pyrotech, and Secure Meters Ltd. Secure meter ltd is one of the major meter manufacturers across the globe.

      AGRICULTURE IN UDAIPUR CITY

      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 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 adopting new techniques in the field of production technology for agricultural development since its establishment.

      RETAIL IN UDAIPUR CITY

      Udaipur has both traditional as well as modern retail shopping destinations. The traditional markets include Bapu Bazaar, Chetak Circle, Suraj Pole, Nehru Bazaar, Bada Bazaar, and Chand Pole, while the areas including Durga Nursery Road, Shakti Nagar and Sudkhadia Circle provide opportunities to new entrants. Udaipur is also progressing towards a mall culture and has witnessed many retail malls including Forum Celebration Mall, Lakecity Mall, Arvana Shopping Mall, Chetak Shopping Mall, City Centre Mall, Mangalam Square Mall, and R.Kay Mall.

      EDUCATION IN UDAIPUR CITY

      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 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 OF UDAIPUR CITY

      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 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 the digitalization of cable TV as per the third phase of the digitalization program by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

      Visitors can enjoy tranquil boating on Lake Pichola, the largest of Udaipur’s lakes, spend a day taking in the jaw-dropping opulence of City Palace, visit the time-weathered temples, shop at the art and curio stalls that line the streets, enjoy Rajasthani folk music and dance performances, taste mouth-watering cuisine or drive out of the city to discover legends hidden in the wooded Aravalli hills and the impregnable forts dotting its surroundings. No wonder then, Udaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country!

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