One of the most romantic cities in Rajasthan, Udaipur is also known as the city of lakes. The marble palaces, beautifully laid out gardens and the lakes make Udaipur seem almost like a mirage in the desert.
The founder of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh, was overcome by the misfortunes that his old capital of Chittaurgarh had to face due to repeated attacks by the Mughal armies. On the advice of a holy man, Udai Singh shifted his capital to the banks of Lake Pichola- the city was named Udaipur after him.
Udaipur is famous around the world as the City Of Lakes or Venice of The East. The Pichola Lake, Fateh Sagar, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar in this city are considered some of the most beautiful lakes in the state. Fateh Sagar contains two small islands, one of which contains USO, or Udaipur solar observatory, and the other one has a beautiful garden called Nehru Garden.
Udaipur is well connected to the world through land, rail and air. It is known for its Rajput-era palaces. Particularly famous is the Lake Palace, which entirely covers a small island in the Pichola Lake. Many of the palaces have been converted into luxury hotels. The City Palace, or the Palace of the then King of Mewar, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the city.
Udaipur is also home to the Udaipur Solar Observatory, one of the six stations participating in the international Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) which is aimed at the determination of the physical properties of the solar interior.