Udaipur’s brilliant history of the Mewar dynasty has a lot of interesting factors about it. Many of the characteristics of the glamorous Rajput rulers set them apart from others of their time, and with their blend of Mughal and Rajasthani culture and tradition in architecture, the royal families of Mewar enjoyed quite a life. Although there are a lot of things in Udaipur that capture the luxurious lifestyle of the Mewar royals, the Vintage and Classic Car Museum is one of the best ways to witness how grand it used to be back then. Many of the most amazing vehicles used by the Mewar dynasty in Udaipur that have been presented at the Vintage Car Museum. Here are a few things that will add this tourist spot to your list.
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Interesting Facts
- Lord Montagu from Beaulieu, who founded England’s National Motor Museum performed the inauguration of the Vintage Car Museum took place on 15th February 2000.
- The cars displayed in the museum are still in perfect working condition although most of them are over seventy years old.
- The most popular cars in the museum available for public access are the rare Mercedes models, Rolls-Royce, 1936 Vauxhall, 1937 Opel models, and 1939 Cadillac open convertibles.
- Many of the luxury cars were customised according to the requirements of the Mewar family owners of the respective cars. This includes the Rolls Royce and Mercedes models.
- The collection has been displayed in the Palace Garage, known as theMewar State Motor Garage in a location far away from the noise and bustle of the city, which gives visitors the best kind of experience.
- The garage was built at the time when only the members of the royal family owned cars, and it matches the splendour of the normal lifestyle of the families.
- The grand 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom was used in the James Bond filmOctopussy, and the Cadillac convertible was used to escort Queen Elizabeth to the airport back in 1961.
- The collection consists of 20 old-fashioned cars, which includes four Rolls-Royce’s, two Cadillacs, an MG-TC convertible, a Ford-A Convertible, a Vauxhall-12 and various other interesting vehicles like solar-powered rikshaws etc.
Things to See and Do
- A car lover’s paradise, the Vintage Car Museum does not disappoint in the slightest of ways, where along with the gorgeous car collection, one can also get to live the luxurious era through viewing the Shell Petrol Pump and a quaint café for a grand overall experience.
- Sometimes the cars are also driven by the elite members of royal descent, which, if you’re a lucky visitor, you might just get to see.
- Apart from the most luxurious of automobiles, the cars like the 1959 Morris Minor 100, a 1930 Ford A, the 1946 Buick, and a 1949 Vauxhall 12 Deluxe should be closely looked at.
- A sumptuous vegetarian thali can be enjoyed in the Garden hotel restaurant with the combined museum and meal ticket purchase.
Things to Carry
- If you visit during the summertime, sunglasses, hats and a bottle of water must always be carried. The tour takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on how much time is spent.
- When visiting the nearby Lake Palace along with the museum, carry your camera along.
Timings
9am to 9pm daily.
Entry Fees
Adult- Rs.250
Child- Rs.150
Best Time to Visit
October to March
How to Reach
The Vintage and Classic Car museum is located on the Lake Palace road near the Gulab Bagh zoo and can be accessed by road through public transport or personal vehicles.
Nearby Attractions
- The Lake Palace (Jagniwas) is located close by and is a popular tourist destination in Udaipur.
- The City Palace is situated on the eastern banks of Lake Pichola, along with the Lake Garden Palace on one of the islands in the lake.
- A boat ride on Lake Pichola is also quite a famous tourist activity in the city.
- Saheliyon Ki Bari is a beautiful and vast garden for a retreat during the day.
- Many of the royal palaces and monuments of Udaipur are situated quite close to the Vintage Car museum.
Udaipur’s royal background is contained in the grandiose lifestyle of the royal families of Mewar, and the Vintage Car museum only explains how rich and exquisite the life of the Rajput dynasty really was. This intriguing museum should certainly be one of the top places to visit when one goes to Udaipur.
