Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur 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. Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur 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 Udaipur has become the pleasure park for the recreation of Udaipur dwellers.
History of Saheliyon Ki Bari
The water flowing from Fateh Sagar Lake flowing through the canals produces such unique auditory sensation that reverberates through the entire Courtyard of Maidens and resonates across Burhani Masjid and Seva Mandir Marg. Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur is an oasis amidst the arid, desert region of Rajasthan and offers a retrograde for tourists, especially nature lovers and photographers who will find ample objects to click.
Saheliyon ki Bari was built by Maharana Sangram Singh in order to please his royal queen along with 48 maidens who accompanied the princess to Udaipur as a gift. The garden provided a paradise and respite for the queen along with her maidens from the political turmoil of the court and also offered gratifying moments for the king and queen in the solitude of the garden. The modelled garden used to be a breather and recreational spot for the queen and her maidens and they used to wander aimlessly in the garden premises.
The atmosphere in the garden is heavenly with blooming flowerbeds, lush greenery, bird fountains, intricate architecture and sculptures made out of marble and of course the four pools adds to the enigmatic charm. In later period, Maharana Bhopal Singh added to the glory of the garden by creating rain fountains to create a delusion rain dance like theme for the maidens and provided a leisure spot for the kings as well.
The crafted fountains are an amazing artwork which were imported from England and still exist till this day. The man made reservoir sit at the centre with marble pavilions on 4 sides along with a black marble cubicle at the centre from which the fountain shaped like a bird spewing water creating the rain dance effect.
Courtyard of Maidens or Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur draws innumerable visitors worldwide to witness and marvel in the architectural beauty created centuries ago. Besides the museum in the garden premises also provide a lot of opportunities for the viewers to view items and collectibles, paintings and a room with glass mosaic from ancient era. The shadowed lawns in the garden provides soothing effect to tired travellers and the blossoming flowers with their aroma fill the garden with heavenly aura. Saheliyon ki Bari is a wonder which no tourist shall miss while visiting Udaipur in Rajasthan.
Architectural elements
From the flowers to the fountains, Saheliyon Ki Bari combines the best of natural and man-made marvels. In addition to beds of gorgeous blooms and sprawling lawns, Saheliyon Ki Bari is filled with breathtaking architectural features that delight the eye. Marble statues of elephants stand guard over the quiet pools and local birds splash in the spray of elegant fountains.
Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur is particularly renowned for the white marble pavilions that mesmerize with their ornate carvings, like the pavilion of rain fountains created by Maharana Bhopal Singh in 1889. With its delicate cascade of water droplets, the fountains evoke the image of the maidens of the past dancing in the rain. Elaborate fountains can be found all across the park, creating fantastic photograph opportunities.
Some of the most beautiful examples are on display in the garden’s four tranquil water pools and at the main reservoir. Here, black and white ornately-carved kiosks are crowned by sculpted figurines of birds that spurt water from their beaks. All the fountains here were imported from England, making Saheliyon Ki Bari a unique blend of gardening styles. The lotus-shaped pools are another celebrated feature of Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur, and nature lovers will adore watching the birds that come to take a dip between the lotus flowers and the fountains here.
Best time to visit Saheliyon Ki Bari
Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur gets heated up in the hot months of the year making it hard to tolerate the sunlight hence it is advisable to visit the garden during cool months, i.e., the months from September to March.
The Udaipur city is at its best during the festive months of September to March. One of the most significant events is the Shilpgram Crafts Mela, which tends to attract tourists from all around the globe.
How to Reach
Udaipur is a popular city in Rajasthan and is situated in India. Some of the popular places for sightseeing in Udaipur are Lake Pichola, Bagore Ki Haveli and City Palace of Udaipur. The city is filled with a variety of hotels in Udaipur ranging from budget rooms to luxurious resorts. The hotels help the travellers to take time and explore the city.
By Bus: Details on how to go to Udaipur by bus is as follows. Udaipur is connected with direct bus services with Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, Kota, Ahmedabad and other cities. Going on Udaipur trip by busis preferred for those looking to travel economically. Tickets for Udaipur visit by bus are available for booking online as well as directly.
By Train: Following are the details on how to reach Udaipur by train. Direct trains to Udaipur from other major cities including Delhi Indore, Mumbai and Kota are available as the city is well connected with the railway network of the country. Udaipur train timetable assists the travellers that are new to Udaipur train travel and also allows them to know the timings. The trains that are available on all days of the week are Mewar Express, Gwalior-Udaipur Express and Annanya Express. The Bandra-Udaipur SF Express and the Chetak Express are also available. Cabs can be hired from the railway station to get to anywhere in the city.
By Flight: Udaipur airport or Dabok Airport or Maharana Pratap Airport is the International airport in the city. Direct flights to Udaipur are available from other major cities of the country like Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata and Mumbai. Some of the flights that are available daily to Udaipur are Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines and Air Deccan. Udaipur travel cabs and buses are available from the airport to get to any place in the city.