The lake city of Udaipur has once again proved why it turns into a monsoon favourite for travellers, earning a place among the sixteen best rain season destinations in the country in a new list released by a well known travel portal.
A Rajasthan Double Entry
Travel portal Conde Nast Traveller has put out a list of sixteen top monsoon destinations across India, and Rajasthan has landed two spots on it, Udaipur and Sonkhaliya. The portal picked Udaipur for its natural beauty, its historic heritage and the stunning views its lakes offer once the rains set in. Within that recognition, one landmark stood out above the rest, Sajjangarh Palace, better known as the Monsoon Palace, which the report calls the city's finest viewpoint.
Monsoon Palace Turns Into a Vantage Point Like No Other
Built in the 19th century on the hills at the edge of the city, Sajjangarh Palace looks nothing short of paradise once the monsoon arrives. When clouds wrap themselves around the hills during the rains, the palace offers a sweeping view of Udaipur's Pichola and Fateh Sagar lakes, along with the city's historic palaces and the greenery spread all around. That is exactly why travellers from within India and abroad build their monsoon trip around a visit to this spot.
Afternoons Are Best, Evenings Are Unforgettable
According to the portal, the best time to visit Sajjangarh is in the afternoon, when the clouds hovering over Pichola Lake make for a particularly striking sight. By evening, the palace lights up, and the view of the illuminated Monsoon Palace against a monsoon sky is something visitors tend to remember long after they leave. Even the drive up, along a winding hill road that is often shrouded in mist, adds its own sense of adventure and beauty to the trip.
Sonkhaliya's Bird Show Draws Its Own Crowd
The other Rajasthan entry on the list, Sonkhaliya, has made its name through the rare Lesser Florican bird and its captivating courtship dance. Every year, large numbers of nature lovers and bird experts travel to the spot to watch it. During the monsoon, the bird's distinctive dance pulls in visitors, and the destination has come to be counted among India's leading eco tourism sites.
The Rest of the List
Conde Nast Traveller's list also features several other popular monsoon destinations from across the country. These include Munnar in Kerala, Meghalaya, the Dudhsagar waterfall in Goa, Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh, Agumbe in Karnataka, and Amboli along with the wider Sahyadri region in Maharashtra. Each destination on the list was chosen for its own natural beauty, adventure activities, or a distinct tourism experience it offers. Together, these sixteen locations map out a rain season travel itinerary that stretches from the western deserts to the eastern hills, giving travellers plenty of options depending on whether they are chasing waterfalls, wildlife or mountain views.
Tourism Department Calls It a Big Win for the City
Shikha Saxena, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department, said Udaipur's inclusion on the list is a major achievement for the city's tourism. She said visitors to Sajjangarh get two experiences rolled into one, the thrill of the drive along the winding hill road, and, once at the fort, a captivating view of the entire city of Udaipur, its lakes, and the greenery covered Aravalli hills around it. That combination, she said, is why the number of tourists visiting the spot keeps climbing through the monsoon season.
