Saheliyon Ki Bari is one the most beautiful gardens and a major tourist destination in Udaipur. The garden is famous for its lush green lawns, marble art and fountains. English translation of Saheliyon Ki Bari means "Garden of maids". This renowned garden is located on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake, presenting a green retreat in the dry lands of Rajasthan. Garden of maids was built in the 18th century by Maharana Sangram Singh for the royal ladies.
As per the legends, the garden was designed by the king himself and he presented this garden to his queen. Actually, the Queen was accompanied by 48 maids in her marriage. To offer all of them, pleasurable moments away from the political intrigues of the court, this garden was made. This patterned garden used to be the popular relaxing spot of the royal ladies. The queen with her maids and female companions used to come here for a stroll and spend their time in leisure.
Due to this fact, the garden got its name. The superb architecture of the garden provides a breath-taking view to any observer. The garden is embellished with numerous fountains in its four water pools, chiseled kiosks and marble elephants. It is also celebrated for its lotus pool and bird-fountains. The lush green lawns, flowerbeds, and marble pavilions further enhance the romantic ambience of this magnificent garden.
In the later years, Maharana Bhopal Singh really liked this place and built a pavilion of rain fountains. The thought was to form an illusion of rain dancing in cadence with dancing maids. The Kings used to enjoy around the pools and fountains of this garden. These fountains were imported from England and you can trace them along with the main reservoir of the garden. The main reservoir has four black marbled kiosks in its corners and one white marbled kiosk in its center. On the top of kiosks, these fountains are in the form of sculpted birds that spurts water from their beaks producing the rain effect.
The museum exhibiting the huge collection of royal households is another attraction of this garden. It has many ancient pictures and things of the bygone period. Sight of stuffed cobras and other animals will definitely add a tint of adventure to your trip. Above all, you can stroll through the shady lawns, where the bunch of bougainvillea will bend down to greet you. Today, Saheliyon ki Bari has become the pleasure park for the recreation of Udaipur dwellers.
History of Saheliyon Ki Bari
We all know about the Taj Mahal which was made in the honor of Mumtaz Mahal by Shah Jahan, is a token of love between the couple. Saheliyon Ki Bari is yet another token of undying love. Rana Sangram Singh, also known as Rana Sanga of Mewar dynasty, got the garden built to please his ladylove. The garden creates a unique sense of pleasure and extraordinarily calms your soul. This exquisite feeling is beyond words. The garden was also made for the 48 maids who came to Udaipur with the Queen as a wedding gift.
The garden was built to offer the Queen and the royal maidens a quick getaway from political matters. The garden also provides solitude for the king and Queen in the lap of nature. The garden was uniquely designed to create a recreational spot for Queen and its maidens. They spent long tireless hours walking and cherishing the exquisite beauty of nature.
Architecture of Saheliyon Ki Bari
The Saheliyon Ki Bari is embellished with several fountains in the four water pools along with chiseled kiosks, and the elephants made up of marble. Out of many, the most noted features of the garden are the bird fountains and lotus pools. The moment you enter the garden, you can witness flowerbeds, lush green lawns and marble pavilions, which creates a pleasing ambiance.
A pavilion of raining fountains was installed by Maharana Bhopal Singh to enhance the beauty of the garden. The concept behind the rain fountains was to create an imagery of maidens enjoying and dancing in the rain. These fountains were imported from England.
The main reservoir of the garden is embellished with one white marble kiosk located in the center and four black-marbled kiosks in all the four corners. The top of these kiosks is adorned with the sculpted figurines of birds which spurt out water from their beaks, producing the effect of rain.
The garden also has a museum showcasing a vast collection of royal households. The collection includes items from the old era such as the stuffed cobras and other animals adding to a thrilling and fun sight. The bunch of bougainvilleas in the shady lawns also adds to the glorious beauty of the garden. There is a vast bath area in the center of the garden. It is decorated with a beautiful fountain in the center.
The marble throne and 2000 crystallized fountains situated in almost every corner of the garden, the lotus flower pool, water sprinklings birds and elephants make Saheliyon Ki Bari or Garden of Maidens an exotic beauty preserved till date.
Best Time to Visit
One cannot enjoy the picturesque beauty of this magnificent place in the hot summer months as it becomes unbearable to step out. Therefore, the best time to visit Udaipur is during the months from September to March. The weather is very pleasant and you can enjoy every bit of your stay during this period. A number of festivals and celebrations take place during this time, the most significant being Shilpgram Crafts Mela, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.
How to Reach
The city of Udaipur, being a famous tourist destination, is easily accessible from all parts of India, through various means of transport.
The Maharana Pratap Airport located near Dabok is at a distance of 22 km from the main city. The railway station is located at a convenient distance from the city.
The city also has a well-established bus service network that includes deluxe and non-deluxe buses as well as state-run transport.
