WELCOME TO HOTEL NATURAL

'Udaipur', known as the lovely lakeside capital of Mewar. The kingdom of Mewar, with which many legends of bravery are associated, was considered the most respectable of all Rajput princely states in Rajasthan. The Rulers of Mewar are still remembered for their bravery & courage they showed for protecting their motherland from external invaders. Udaipur beauty and its remarkable past blossoms in the heart of the visitors for a long time.

The main attraction of Udaipur
 

City Palace - City Palace towers over the Pichola Lake. Maharana Uday Singh initiated in the construction of the palace but succeeding Maharanas added several palaces and structures to the complex retained a surprising uniformity to the design. The entry to the Palace is from the Hati Pol, the Elephant gate. The Bari Pol or the Big gate brings you to the Tripolia, the Triple gate. It was once a custom that the Maharana would weigh under this gate in gold and silver, which was distributed to the populace. It is also now the main ticket office. 

Lake Pichola -  lake Pichola The famous "white" city of Rajasthan state, Udaipur stands on the banks of the lake Pichola, its many white marble palaces reflecting in the lake's calm waters. Udaipur is voted one of the most romantic cities of India. Due to an abundance of water, there are a number of gardens in and out of town. There are a number of reservoirs surrounding the town, along with a few forts and ancient ruins.



 

Sahelion ki Bari -  Saheliyon ki Bari lies just beneath the Fateh Sagar Lake. Maharana Sangram Singh II designed this garden in the early 18th century purely as a pleasure garden and a summer palace for the 48 young maids that formed a part of the prince’s dowry. It is also said that the garden was presented as a peace offering from the Emperor of Delhi. Inside the garden is a reservoir surrounded by four black marbled cenotaphs in its four corners and one white marbled one in the centre. The terraces of these cenotaphs have water fountains shaped like birds from whose beaks water gushes out in thin sprays like the singing rain – producing a wonderful sight.

 

Jagdish Mandir - The temple of Jagannath Rai, now called Jagdishji, is a major monument and should be seen carefully. Raised on a tall terrace and completed in 1651, it is a tribute alike to the tenacity of its builders and the resilience of the art - tradition it represents. It attaches a double storied Mandapa (hall) to a double - storied, saandhara (that having a covered ambulatory) sanctum. The mandapa has another storey tucked within its pyramidal samavarna (bell - roof) while the hollow clustered spire over the sanctum contains two more, non - functional stories

 

Jag Mandir Island Palace - A beautiful palace located on an island surrounded by the exotic Lake Pichola. which was constructed by Maharana Karan Singh as a hideout for Prince Khurram the estranged son of Emperor Jehangir the implacable foe of the Maharana. The reason for the aid was that the prince was the son of a Rajput mother. It is also said that Shah Jahan [prince Khurram] derived some of these ideas for the Taj Mahal from this palace when he stayed there in 1623-24.


 

Ahar  - The most striking cenotaph is that Maharana Amar Singh, who reigned from 1597 to 1620. Nearby is also Ahar Museum, where on display is limited but very rare earthen pottery. Some sculptures and other archaeological finds. Some pieces date back to 1700 BC and a tenth century metal figure of Buddha is a special attraction




 

Gulab Bagh -Sajjan Niwas Garden is the largest garden of Rajasthan, sprawled over 100 acres of land. During 1850's, Maharana Sajjan Singh took the initiative to built this beautiful garden.The soothing vistas with unusual rose beds, robust trees, orchids and spacious lawns leave any visitor in a delusion. While you are enjoying this beautiful scenery, you can leave your kids to enjoy their much loved amusement. It is a toy train in the premises of the garden that would be cherished by your child. The garden also comprises a small zoo that has number of animals like chinkara, leopards, tigers and  birds.

Sajjan Garh -A former Monsoon Palace 1100 ft. high above the surrounding and 3100 ft. from sea level was built by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1884. The palace looks its best during the rainy season. It offers a panoramic overview of the city's lakes, palaces and surrounding country side. The hillside is thickly wooded and the former rulers maintained this as a royal shooting preserve.



 

Bagore ki Haveli -Situated on the picturesque bank of Pichola Lake, This Haveli was built by Shri Marchland Badwa, who was the Prime Minister of Mewar-the rulers of Mewar Pratap Singh, Maharana Ari Singh, Maharana Hamir Singh during the period 1751 to 1778. This palatial building reportedly has 138 rooms, balconies, terraces, courtyards and corridors.                                    



 

Shilp Gram -Barely 3km outside the city premises and located in the Aravalli, Shilpgram is a planned village-cum-exhibition centre of traditional craftsperson and artisans presenting their handicrafts. It was established in 1989, and is an ethnographic museum formed as a part of the West Zone Cultural Centre. The sole aim of Shilpgram is to encourage and appreciate the huge diversity in the folk and tribal arts, crafts and architecture of the four states of the West Zone. 26 huts spread out over a large area represent the folk and tribal communities of the member states.

Vintage & Classic Car -The collection within the grounds of the Garden Hotel comprises a variety of classic and interestingly rare transportation vehicles; some stately and vintage like Cadillac, Cheval ate, Maoris etc., while the others are sleek and fast .The Maharanas of Udaipur once possessed and used these regal splendors of automobiles as their luxuries but most of the other models are gradually being added to the collection,
since it provides a unique aristocratic safari for the exclusive guests.

The main attraction of Kumbhalgarh

Set amidst a cluster of thirteen mountain peaks of the Aravali range, the formidable medieval citadel of Kumbhalgarh Fort stands a wary sentinel to the past glory of its kings and princes. Rising from a prominent ridge, 1,914 m above the sea level, the fort was built in 15th century AD by Maharana Kumbha (1419-63 AD) and is the principal fort after Chittaurgarh Fort.

Just 85 kms from Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh Fort is fortified with 33 kms of walls, over 25 feet thick, the second longest continuous wall in the world. It holds the distinction of being unconquered and the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the most valiant among Rajput heroes of Rajasthan.

Kumbhalgarh tour also offers nature lovers endless acres of greenery, sheltering many forms of wildlife at the game sanctuary, which boasts of panthers, sloth bears, sambhars, wild boar and the rare gray jungle fowls. For the spiritual, at a short distance lie the 15th century Ranakpur Jain Temple that are a fine example of the temple architecture and Charbhujaji. The Rajsamand Lake built in 1660 by Rana Raj Singh offers a spectacular view of the sunset with beautiful 'torans' or arches and chhatris adorning the embankment.

Today, like most forts and palaces in Rajasthan being converted into heritage hotels, the majestic Kumbhalgarh Fort is reputed as one of the best heritage hotels in Rajasthan. Over looking the Kumbhalgarh valley, the Hotel Kumbhalgarh Fort offers a perfect blend of age-old hospitality and modernity. For tourists who travel to Rajasthan to experience the real essence of royalty, the Kumbhalgarh Fort is the perfect place to enjoy. Apart from the historical relics, the tastefully decorated rooms with marble inlay and individual open terrace with uninterrupted countryside are sure to leave you spellbound.

Kumbhalgarh - Tourist Attactions
 
A priest is still employed by the present Maharana to care for the shrines of his ancestors. And twice a day the Pandit's family makes the stiff uphill climb to the castle to light the sacred lamps before vermilion-daubed images of Hanuman, Chamunda, and Ekling. There is an octagonal room in which Rana Pratap was born, apart from, the hall in which his grandson Prince Karan entertained the future Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, the beacon tower from which a flame summoned Mewar's chieftains to war. The austere chambers, the vast reservoirs kept full by elephant relays, the simple garden court for the royal ladies, the easily defendable narrow staircases all declared that this was primarily a warrior's hideout, not a palace for princely pomp and show.
The imaginatively designed Aohdi nearby belongs to a descendant of one of those great warrior families, the Rathores of Ghanerao, who enjoyed the distinction of having the only hereditary seat among the premier nobles of both Mewar and Marwar. The Aohdi's castle-type cottages provide comfort and privacy for those seeking a peaceful retreat, plus a base for horse safari and trekking enthusiasts.

Horse lovers and adventure seekers can enjoy the thrill of riding and camping in the Reserve Forest around Kumbhalgarh. Each group is accompanied by experienced sawars. Horses, tents, food and fodder are provided by the Aohdin on prior notice at a very reasonable cost compared to a hacking holiday in Europe or America.

A hazardous, barely jeepable track takes you to the 586 square kilometer Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. The main attraction here would be panther, sloth bear, wild boar, four-horned antelope or crocodiles, "scientifically bred" in the lake.

The Crocodile Farm has a guesthouse belonging to the Forest Department and overnight stays are possible. Good forest cover, jungle berries, fruits and nuts, water grasses, algae, and fish provide sustenance for thousands of flamingoes, sarus cranes, spoonbills, painted storks, cormorants, purple heron, egrets, duck, and rosy pelican in winter. One also finds plenty of chakor partridge, crow pheasants, jungle warblers, golden orioles, gray jungle fowl, and the usual peacocks; parrots, pigeons, and doves.

Kumbhalgarh - Places Nearby

Ranakpur Jain Temples - The famous Ranakpur temples are just 50 kilometers from Kumbhalgarh by the scenic route through Vanpura and Saira.

Begun in 1438 by Rana Kumbha, Ranakpur became a strangely tranquil meditation center in a frequently war ravaged land. It also became a magnificent sculpture museum to which wealthy Jain merchants and ministers kept adding shrines and statues. The central Chaumukha Temple is dedicated to the venerated Tirthankara Adinath. With its 29 halls and 1,444 distinctly different carved pillars, this is an astounding monument. Two temples dedicated to the Jain saints, Parasnath and Neminath have beautiful erotic carvings very similar to those which have made Khajuraho famous. And truly worth visiting is the much earlier, probably 6th century, Sun Temple close by, which has polygonal walls richly embellished with warriors, horses, and booted solar deities driving splendid chariots.