Udaipur is
one of the most fascinating cities of Rajasthan. Here are lakes that
come as a surprise in sandy Rajasthan, and forested hills where
wildlife still abounds. And in the lakes or by their edges are
palaces straight out of fairy tales, each more beautiful than the
other. There are rugged fortresses too- Chittaurgarh and
Kumbhalgarh, where the history of Udaipur is told as if it were but
a page from yesterday. Founded in 1599 by Maharana Udai Singh, the
house of Mewar or Udaipur as it is now better known is surrounded by
the Aravalli mountain ranges. Situated on the edge of three lakes,
its narrow streets lined with shops and craftsmen's
ateliers encourage hours of window shopping for the avid
tourist. The ambience, climate and history have combined to make
Udiapur a tourist haven - also known as the Venice of the East.