Udaipur is one of the most picturesque and beautiful cities in the entire country. It is often referred to as the “Venice of the East” due to the presence of so many bodies of water in and around the city.
The city was the former capital of the Rajput state of Mewar and was established by Raja Udai Singh, who belonged to the Sisodia clan. The Mewar rulers were the only ones who refused to accept the supremacy of the Mughal government and were constantly at war with them. The city of Udaipur was established in 1568 after Emperor Akbar annexed Chittorgarh.
The city has many lakes and scattered palaces. Udai Sagar Lake, Pichola Lake, Fateh Sagar Lake and Swaroop Sagar Lake are some of the most famous lakes in the city, some of which are dotted with palaces atop their islands. The palaces display the grandeur and rich artistic and cultural heritage of the Royal Rajputs.
The Lake Palace is a living example of the grand and artistic curve of the Sisodia kings and is located on the entire island of Lake Pichola. Many of the palaces have now been converted into heritage hotels and provide traditional comfort and services in true royal Rajasthani style.
One of the most wonderful aspects of this lakeside city is the true Rajasthani cuisine that is served in the various restaurants in the city. Cooking was a serious art in the royal kitchens of the Rajput states. There is a strong influence of Vaishnavism and Jainism in the food culture of Udaipur. Hence there is a multiple variety of vegetarian food.
Udaipur is famous for true vegetarian food like Daal-Bati-Churma, Gatte ki Sabzi, Mirchi Bada, Kachori and sweets like Dil Jaani. Meals consist of dishes prepared from lentils, vegetables and a variety of spices.
The cuisine of any place is profoundly impacted by the way of life of the people there. Rajasthani cuisine has a profound impact on the warlike lifestyle of its inhabitants and the limited resources available there. Such foods were developed that would require the minimum use of water and could be stored for a longer period. The most significant thing was that it could be consumed without heating it.