Udaipur is a romantic land that had been favorite place of the Rajputs. This beautiful city has received a rich cultural heritage from the bygone age. If you are planning to tour Udaipur, it is quite necessary to know about the culture, customs and traditions that the city follows. In the present times, Udaipur has adopted the life style of big cities; still there are some customs & traditions in the city that would be new for you.
Udaipur receives ample number of tourists from all over the world every year. The city is still inhabited by people of Bhil tribe, so you could see people dressed in typical Rajsthani dress with loads of silver jewelry during your trip. Colorful festivals and fairs depict the cultural prosperity of Udaipur. The lakes, temples, huge forts and palaces boast about the rich legacy of this city. In this article, we have covered the subjects of people, cuisine, language, religion, folk dance and music of Udaipur.
Udaipur receives ample number of tourists from all over the world every year. The city is still inhabited by people of Bhil tribe, so you could see people dressed in typical Rajsthani dress with loads of silver jewelry during your trip. Colorful festivals and fairs depict the cultural prosperity of Udaipur. The lakes, temples, huge forts and palaces boast about the rich legacy of this city. In this article, we have covered the subjects of people, cuisine, language, religion, folk dance and music of Udaipur.
Udaipur cuisine comprises vegetarian dishes as the place is highly dominated by Jainism and Vaishnavism. Food is usually made from lots of vegetables and lentils. It is seasoned with a great variety of spices that are unique to the lands of Rajasthan. You can find type of curries ranging from Lentil to yoghurt. Dried mango by the name of 'Ocra' and beans of 'sangri' is accompanied by many meals. Deep-fried breads and extensive use of chili makes the cuisine of Udaipur, a delicious one.People
Udaipur dwellers are really friendly and good to be with. On your first look, you will find them rugged, but these people are really good at heart. Untouched by the pace of modern times, these desert people are well-built, simple and cheerful. Here, people usually prefer wearing bright colored clothes. The traditional attire of women is 'Ghaghra choli' (Skirt & blouse) and for men, angrakha (Kurta) and dhoti would do. In the modern times, people prefer wearing casual dress to match the contemporary fashion.
Language
To communicate, language is really important. Mewari is the primary language of Udaipur, yet Rajasthani, Hindi and English are also common in the city.
Folk Dance and Music
dance of Dandi Gair is associated with Marwar and hence with Udaipur. Talking about music, the dwellers of Udaipur find solace in the melodious music of Morchang, Naad, Tanpura, Sarangi and many other instruments that used to echo the courts of Mewar rulers. Popular Culture
* Udaipur was named Best City of the World in 2009 by Travel & Leisure.
* Udaipur is also Known as the "Venice of the East", and the Kashmir of Rajasthan.
* Udaipur is mentioned under the spelling Oodeypore in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book as the birthplace of Bagheera the fictional panther in the king's Menagerie.
* Indian sections of the James Bond film Octopussy were filmed in the city, the Lake Palace and the Monsoon Palace.
* The nearby desert was the backdrop of the remarkable rescue of Octopussy (Maud Adams) by Bond (Roger Moore) from an aeroplane being flown by the villainous Kamal Khan (Louis Jordan) and Gobinda (Kabir Bedi), which resulted in Gobinda falling to his death and (after Bond and Octopussy escaped) Khan being killed when he lost control of his helicopter and crashing it into a ravine.
* Some scenes from the British television series The Jewel in the Crown were filmed in Udaipur.
* Hollywood movies/ TV serials filmed in Udaipur: Darjeeling Limited, Opening Night, Heat and Dust, Indische Ring, Inside 'Octopussy', James Bond in India, Octopussy, Gandhi
* Hindi movies have included Guide, Mera Saaya, Phool Bane Angaray, Kachche Dhagey, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Jalmahal, Yaadein, Return of the thief of the bagdad, Eklavya: The Royal Guard, Dhamaal, Jis Des Mai Ganga Rahta Hai, Chalo Ishq Ladaaye, Fiza, Gaddaar, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Khuda Gawah, Kundan, Nandini, Saajan ka Ghar,... etc. were filmed in Udaipur.
* Many Bollywood films' songs were filmed in Udaipur.
* Udaipur is a favourite marriage destination. Many celebrities, including film stars, were married in Udaipur.
* It is claimed that Jag Mandir of Udaipur was the inspiration behind Shahjahan's creation of the Taj Mahal.
* The Disney channel film, The Cheetah Girls One World, was shot in Udaipur in January 2008.
* Udaipur is also the setting of star plus's hit serial Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.
