A Photo Essay of our Visit to Udaipur

View of the City Palace from a boat on the lake
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Just a brief explanation of the events of the days and photo's.

Arrived at the hotel mid afternoon. Had a late lunch at the 24 hour cafe. I had eaten on the plane but Marie didn't risk it. No effects from the food and it was rather nice. However kept Marie company and had another lunch - that won't help the rolls disappear!!

The ride on the elephant was a different experience altogether

Then off to the Spa for an Indian Deep Tissue Massage which was lovely - blogged and then relaxed and had room service dinner which was served in the dining room of our suite. Jolly nice actually!

This was fun
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Next morning did reading about the area, had breakfast and asked the hotel if we could go over and have a hotel tour of the new and exclusive Oberoi Hotel on the other side of the lake. They organised this for us. We had already arranged for one of the hotel staff to take us to the town markets at 11 so Naveen took us over to the Oberoi and then on to the markets. He was really good company and we had a good time. Back to the hotel and then off in the Hotel's 1947 Buick to the location of the Elephant ride. The ride in the car was a real experience.

so was this!!!
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The ride on the elephant was a different experience altogether. I didn't mind it, although after 45 minutes I was a bit stiff from sitting cross legged. We stopped in the middle of an intersection with all manner of vehicles tooting at us and then realised that the Elephant was taking a leak...buckets of it I can tell you,and right in the middle of the road. Elephant rider hopped of a short time later and also took one - in a roadside hut thing luckily. There is definitely an art to getting off an elephant - one which we are yet to master!

City Palace and Old Udapuir
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Back to the hotel and off on a lake boat trip, back to the indian dancers and then dinner in the fabulous restaurant at the hotel.

Day two

Guide arrived at 8.30..we weren't ready! Anyway he was really good and we went to the Living Hindu Temple in the old town, then on to the Queens gardens (a beautiful park) and to a miniature painting co-op. Now the miniature painting is really amazing. When I've looked at those funny dimensioned Indian paintings I thought they were just odd. However when you stand back from them they are in fact three dimentional and when you look for the side you get another perspective again. Very very clever. The masters who paint the really tiny ones or very intricate ones use single hair brushes -and guess what... we bought a miniature painting painted on camel bone. Then to a cultural museum which at first we thought was a bit of a drag but turned out to be really fascinating - focussed on the rural dwellers and their customs and way of life. We also were treated to a personal puppet show here which was really great. From here we went to the City Palace which is a most amazing building. The local Maharana - not Maharaja here because he was a great warrior and not just a ruler - still lives in part of the palace and he has turned the rest into hotels and a museum. Simply incredible architecture and built over several centuries with corresponding different architecture.

Courtyard inside the Lake Palace Hotel - one of them - a beautiful place
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Back to the hotel and had lunch and then decided to have a rest. Were planning to go to the Oberoi for dinner but cancelled due to exhaustion and we had a 5am start to leave the next day. So opted for an Indian Head Massage, a laze by the pool and room service while we packed.

The hotel staff were nothing short of amazing and we have found that everywhere we have been so far. However this place rates as my favourite people so far.

next stop Jaipur and another Palace Hotel - the Rambagh.