The Devi Garh palace at the traditional
Dilwara village near Udaipur presents a unique combination of historical
antiquity and modern amenities. Surrounded by lush green fields and
picturesque Aravalli mountain ranges on its three sides, the palace and its
every corner speaks of the royal India and its inhabitants.
Significance
The Devi Garh palace, which has now been converted into a hotel, is one of
the best 100 heritage hotels in the the world. Besides, the magnificent
architecture used to renovate the palace and the palace's history are
capable enough to captivate one's heart.
History
Guarded
by the graceful Aravalli ranges in the historical land of Rajasthan, the
Devi Garh palace traces its history back to the 16th century CE, when the
chivalry and loyalty shown by Sajja Singh of Gujrat towards the Rajput ruler
Maharana Pratap in the fierce battle of Haldighati in the year 1576 won him
this principality. It was Sajja Singh who laid foundation of the palace by
constructing outer walls of the palace, though however, the actual
construction of the palace was undertaken by his successors especially
Raghudev Singh II in 1760s. The subsequent rulers kept on renovating and
making further additions to the palace till 1960s, when the royal palace
became a part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Now in the 21st century the
palace, after years of restoration and construction, has still kept intact
its glory but in the form of an all-suite boutique hotel with 23 suites and
6 tents.
Architecture
An exquisite work of art, the Devi Garh palace reflects a unique synthesis
of modernity with tradition. Basically constructed in a Rajput and Mughal
architectural style and renovated later with an aim to restore it in its
former splendour with a modern look, the palace presents an exhaustive range
of skillfully crafted designs, mosaic floor tiles, inlay work and vases. The
use of local materials such as marble and semi-precious stones is quite
evident in the contemporary designs at the palace-suites. The Durbar hall at
the palace has been decorated with two elegant sculpted metal lotuses in
marble blocks, which further reflects the lotus court outside - an excellent
work.
How to Reach
» Airways - The Maharana Pratap(Dabok) airport at
Udaipur is the nearest airport, just 28 kilometers away and is well
connected by daily flights to some of the major cities like Delhi, Mumbai,
Jaipur and Jodhpur.
» Railways - The Udaipur Station, 28 kilometers
away, is well linked to other places like Delhi, Jaipur, Ajmer and Mumbai
and while Delhi is well connected to Udaipur by the Chetak Express, the best
option to reach Udaipur from Jaipur would be taking up the Lake City
Express.
» Roadways - The city of Udaipur, which is at a
distance of 28 kilometers from the Devi Garh Palace, lies on the National
Highway number 8 which links Delhi to Mumbai via Jaipur and Ahmedabad. It
takes a drive of 45 minutes from Jaipur to reach the palace.
Tourism
in Rajasthan
