Saheliyon Ki Bari also known as the Garden of Maidens, is one such marvel of nature created by man for a woman. In Indian history, women find little or no significant place, but things are different when we turn to the history of the Mewar Kingdom of Udaipur. Saheliyon Ki Bari is one of the rare areas in the history of India, where a particular place is built for women.
Garden of Maidens found in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan is a marvelous wonder of nature and its beauty is designed with utmost care and perfection. The garden offers mesmerizing views of handsomely carved marble pavilions, kiosks in the pool, a lotus pond, and rain fountains.
You can take help from Udaipur Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA, devoted to helping you explore every aspect of the City of Lakes in the most comfortable manner.
Location of Saheliyon Ki Bari
Located on the banks of Lake Fateh Sagar, Saheliyon Ki Bari is one of the most astonishing gardens ever built in history. This lush green lawn in the dry land of Udaipur is a unique place for sightseeing.
Also Read: Best Places to Visit in Udaipur
Architecture of Saheliyon Ki Bari
The Saheliyon Ki Bari is embellished with several fountains in the four water pools along with chiseled kiosks, and 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 create 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 four corners. The top of these kiosks is adorned with sculpted figurines of birds that 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 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, and water sprinkling birds and elephants make Saheliyon Ki Bari, or Garden of Maidens an exotic beauty preserved to date.
Also Read: Pichola Lake
History of Saheliyon Ki Bari
We all know about the Taj Mahal which was made in the honor of Mumtaz Mahal by Shah Jahan and is a token of love between the couple. Saheliyon Ki Bari is yet another totem of undying love. Rana Sangram Singh, also known as Rana Sanga of the 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 the Queen and its maidens. They spent long tireless hours walking and cherishing the exquisite beauty of nature.
Entry fees and timings of Saheliyon Ki Bari
The Saheliyon Ki Bari is open on all seven days of the week from 9 AM to 7 PM. This is a very affordable tourist destination. The entry fee to visit Saheliyon Ki Bari is Rs. 10 for Indians and Rs. 50 for foreign visitors.
Also Read: City Palace
Things to do at Saheliyon Ki Bari
Saheliyon Ki Bari is a perfect destination for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. The garden offers endless beautiful things which are worth capturing. You can spend long hours walking and exploring the wonders of nature preserved for such a long time. You can also visit the museum found in the garden.
Best time to visit Saheliyon Ki Bari
Saheliyon Ki Bari 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.
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.