Udaipur

This article is about the city in Rajasthan. For Tripura, see Udaipur, Tripura. For Others, see Udaipur (disambiguation).

Udaipur
Metropolis
Evening view of the city
Udaipur landscape
Nickname: 
The White City
Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur
Location in Rajasthan, India
Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur (India)
Coordinates: 24°35′N 73°41′E / 24.58°N 73.68°E / 24.58; 73.68
Country India
State Rajasthan
DistrictUdaipur
Established1559; 465 years ago (1559)
Founded byRana Udai Singh II
Named forRana Udai Singh II
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyUdaipur Municipal Corporation
 • MayorGovind Singh Tank
 • Municipal CommissionerRam Prakash, IAS[1]
Area
[2]
132 km2 (51 sq mi)
Elevation
423 m (1,388 ft)
Population
 (2024)[3]
751,100
 • Metro
1,374,531
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
 • AdditionalEnglish
 • RegionalRajasthani, Mewari
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
313001- 313024
Telephone code+91-294 / 0294
Vehicle registrationRJ-27 RJ-58 (Salumber)
ClimateBSh
Websitewww.udaipur.rajasthan.gov.in

Udaipur (Hindi: IPA: [ʊdəjpʊɾ], pronunciationⓘ) (ISO 15919: Udayapura) is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, about 415 km (258 mi) south of the state capital Jaipur.[4][5] It serves as the administrative headquarters of Udaipur district. It is the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar in the former Rajputana Agency. It was founded in 1559 by Udai Singh II of the Sisodia clan of Rajputs,[6] 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 Mewar became a British princely state,[6] and thereafter the Mewar province became a part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947.[7] It is also known as the City of Lakes, as it is surrounded by five major artificial lakes.[8][9]

The city is located in the southernmost part of Rajasthan, near the Gujarat border. To its west is the Aravali Range, which separates it from the Thar Desert. It is placed close to the median point between two major Indian metro cities, around 660 km from Delhi and 800 km from Mumbai. Besides, connectivity with Gujarat ports gives Udaipur a strategic geographical advantage.[10] 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. Common languages spoken include Hindi, English and Rajasthani (Mewari).

Dubbed "the most romantic spot on the continent of India" by British administrator James Tod,[11] Udaipur is a tourist destination and is known for its history, culture, scenic locations and the Rajput-era palaces. 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.[12] 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.[13] Due to the several lakes present here, it is one of several cities in Asia that are sometimes called the "Venice of the East".[14][15] Udaipur's economy is primarily driven by tourism, though minerals, marble processing, chemical manufacturing and development, electronic manufacturing and the handicraft industry are also contributors.[16] Udaipur hosts several state and regional public offices, including offices of Director of Mines and Geology, Commissioner of Excise, Commissioner of Tribal Area Development, and Rajasthan State Mines and Mineral Corporation Limited, as well as major private companies like Hindustan Zinc Limited. Udaipur is rising as an educational hub as well, with 5 universities, 14 colleges and more than 160 high schools.[16]

  1. ^ "Administration : Udaipur Municipal Corporation". June 2024.
  2. ^ "Udaipur Municipal Corporation - Annual Report 2015-16" (PDF). Janaagraha. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference c2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Udaipur location was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Srivastava, Soumya (30 July 2017). "Weekend at Udaipur: Two days are all you need to fall in love with the city of lakes". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Udaipur History". Official Website of Udaipur via Government of Rajasthan. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Udaipur History". Udaipur.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Udaipur - About". Andbeyond.com.
  9. ^ "Udaipur - The City of Lakes | Best Lakes in Udaipur". www.bamboosaa.com. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Udaipur Location". Udaipur.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Welcome to Udaipur". lonelyplanet.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  12. ^ Reddy, M.S.; Char, N.V.V. (10 March 2004). "Management of Lakes in India" (PDF). worldlakes.org. (NLCP) - National Lake Conservation Plan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Udaipur Tourist Attractions". Udaipur.org.uk. Archived from the original on 10 February 2006. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  14. ^ India (2 February 2008). "Udaipur: An eternal melding of the ages". Telegraph. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Udaipur (Venice of the East)". Technology Development for Indian Languages. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Local Economy" (PDF). Udaipurmc.org. Udaipur Municipal Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2021.