Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur, Entry Fee, Timings, History, Main Attractions, Location, Architecture, Museum, Best Time to Visit, How to Reach.

Saheliyon Ki Bari Udaipur, Entry Fee, Timings, History, Main Attractions, Location, Architecture, Museum, Best Time to Visit, How to Reach.

About Saheliyon Ki Bari

Saheliyon Ki Bari was constructed by Maharana Sangram Singh II in 18th century for the recreation of royal ladies who came here for a stroll and to provide them with pleasurable moments away from the political intrigues of the court. This 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.

The Sahelion ki Bari or the Garden of the Maids of Honour was designed as a peaceful retreat outside the old city of Udaipur. This beautiful garden is said to have been built by Maharana Sangram Singh II in 1710-1734 for the 48 girls, received as part of his dowry. The garden is well known for its lush green lawns, marble art and fountains. It has a white marble chhatri fountain in the centre and black marble chhatris at the corners. Outside this courtyard are fountains, pools, lawns, flowers and trees. Many of the fountains present here are made of cast iron. They were made in England and would not be out of place in an English seaside resort. The large circular fountain pool is ornamented with marble elephants and fountains. This garden presents a perfect fusion of Indain and English syle of architechture.

Saheliyon Ki Bari, one of the most beautiful and popular destinations of Udaipur is located on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake. Apart from scenic beauty the garden also possesses a museum, of which the main attraction are some stuffed cobras. After few years, Maharana Bhopal Singh imported some fountains from England and built a pavilion of rain fountains in 1889. One can also see some of the cenotaphs made of marbles inside the garden. The terraces of these cenotaphs have water fountains shaped like birds from whose beaks water gushes out in thin sprays like the singing rain – producing a wonderful sight. All these things make Sahelion ki Bari an interesting place to visit. During the reign of Maharana Fateh Singh, the flood occurred in Fateh Sagar lake and damaged some part of the Sahelion ki Bari but king reconstructed it to give the present form.

Location– The Maharana Pratap Airport is 25 km away from Saheliyon-ki-Bari. The Udaipur railway station is also just a mile away. Tourists can easily hire a cab or rickshaw to reach the historic garden.

Timings – The Saheliyon-ki-Bari is opened from 8 am to 7 pm.

Entry Fee

Rs. 10 for Indians

Rs. 50 for Foreigners

History

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 in 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 in 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.

Architecture

• The garden is well maintained with green lush trees, plants and grass.
• In the heart of the garden resides a white marble canopy (chattri) surrounded by a pool equipped with fountains.
• The center white canopy is accompanied with 4 black marble canopies on each side of the pool.
• The fountains near the main canopy were imported by Maharana Bhopal Singh ji from England, which provide the impression of rainwater falling from the skies!
• The water flowing from the fountains is acquired from the nearby lake Fateh Sagar.
• The garden is also famous for its lotus pool and elephant shaped white marble fountains, shown in the picture below.

Attractions

Fountains – There are six fountains in the garden. Each one has its own unique design and also its own particular shower. The Sawan Bhandon fountain symbolizes the rains in the monsoon months that are known as Sawan in Hindi. Then there is the Swagat fountain that welcomes people into the area. The Kamal (lotus) Talai is known for its lotuses while Bin – Badal Barsaat(Rain without clouds) fountain is known for its rain like showers. The Raas Lila (courtship) fountain was a favourite of the Maharana when he was in a romantic mood.

Lotus Pool – The lotus pool is known for the lush green lotus plants that fill the entire pool.

Elephant Sculptures – The mighty elephant sculptures of the Saheliyon Ki Baari are not to be missed. Each of the elephants is carved out of a single piece of marble which is what makes it so special.

Main Reservoir – This is the main source of the water for all the fountains. It has four kiosks around it in black marble and another one right in the centre carved out of white marble.

Museum – Offering many paintings and household objects from the Maharana’s era, this museum is most famous for its many stuffed animals. The building of the museum is ornately designed in keeping with the Rajput architecture of the 18th century.

Museum

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.

Best Time to Visit

Best time to visit Saheliyon ki Bari is between September to March.

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.

By Car: One will find that it is more comfortable to drive to Udaipur by car if travelling with family, kids or seniors. The advantage of driving to Udaipur by road is that it allows one to see the sights along the way. The route is filled with ATMs, fuel pumps and food joints to help travellers on the road. Udaipur car rental is also available for those looking to drive and explore the city by themselves.

The Saheliyo ki Bari is a major tourist attraction located towards the north of Udaipur. You can head to the place by means of bus, taxi and rickshaw.