Udaipur

A short flight from Mumbai brought us to the city of Udaipur yesterday. We have loved our time here. It is beautifully situated on a series of man-made lakes created by the Maharanas of Mewar in the 16th-18th centuries. The hotel where we are staying, the Lake Palace, and the Monsoon Palace at the top of a near-by mountain both featured in Octopussy and Udaipur was also the setting for the film of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

We were not really dressed for a grand arrival, but we were photographed on the boat deck anyway, and then following the boat transfer greeted by music and dancing!

After some time to relax and drinks in the bar, we had dinner in Bhairo, a lovely restaurant on the roof of the hotel looking out over the lake to the City Palace.

We learnt on arrival that the City Palace was closed, owing to some dispute amongst the royal family which had erupted into minor violence a few days ago. But this morning we were told that the dispute had been resolved and some parts of the palace were reopening today. So we set off to see the Durbar Hall, which is surrounded by a large collection of crystal imported from Birmingham in the nineteenth century, including a full size bed, thrones, tables etc as well as glassware. The Durbar Hall is shown below.

On from here by tuk-tuk to visit the Jagdish temple, in continuous use since 1651. Wonderful carvings on the exterior and lovely to see the stone left undecorated rather than being highly coloured. The inside was less impressive…

Then wandering on foot around the narrow streets of the old city - I succumbed to purchasing a made-to-measure shirt (it’s being delivered this evening) and Diana bought some earrings.

Then back to the hotel to wander, rest and swim….

…before heading out once again, this time by taxi, to take in the beautiful Saheliyon Ki Bari gardens and sunset at the Monsoon Palace, complete with monkeys.

Some beautiful views as the sky darkened on the way back to our hotel by boat.