Advertisement
Published: January 12th 2007
Edit Blog Post
We thought that we would try something different on the way to Udaipur, after John's little incident on the bus we decided that the overnight train was worth a shot. Big mistake. From the outset we should have realised that something was amiss, an 8 hour train ride for 150 rupees (all of $4.50). Well we were packed in like sardines and dipped in cold water. Someone had advised us that you should try and get the upper bunks (being the top of 3 varying levels). So we found ourselves, top bunk, with about 500mm head clearance in the bunk, once lying your face is about 250mm from the ceiling, like I said tight. Plus bloody cold. There’s one thing that I wasn’t expecting in India (not at this point anyway) is the cold. Suddenly the further north we go, the colder it’s getting, not just breezy but bitterly old. It’s getting down to 5-6 degrees at night here. And here I am in shorts and sleeveless shirts. Only packed 1 pair of jeans and a light jumper, so I have found myself forced to buy clothes for winter, and a bloody blanket to wrap myself up in-starting to look more
Udaipur
Jagniwas and the Lake Palace Hotel (White Buidling in middle of lake) as used in Octopussy. and more like a local each day.
So Udaipur, we arrive ‘shaken, not stirred’. Now most of you would have seen images of Udaipur before, but not known it. The city is famous for (or not), wait for it…….James Bond’s “Octopussy”. That’s right the film was shot here some time back, and well to be frank the city is holding on to the acquired fame, they won’t let you forget about that one movie, to the point where half the guest houses here actually play the movie every night at 7.00pm (and yes I did go and watch it, I couldn’t resist).
Finally I had arrived in Rajastan and the India you would expect to find was suddenly thrust into my face. And loved every bit of it to. Udaipur is an amazing city, set amongst a desert like, harsh, dusty setting the town is surrounded by rolling hills, to the center a lake (Lake Pichola) kissing the fringe of the city providing life to the daily rituals of the city, washing, bathing, cooking. There is a character to the city reminiscent of a fairy tale, a magically lake to which an amazing gold sandstone palace overlooks (City
Palace), two man made islands in the center of the lake supporting hotels, and a maze of tiny streets climbing from the lake - up, down and around - packed with hotels, restaurants and temples. The city has a massive vertical element to it, with each hotel and restaurant trying to out do the other in height to capture the magical view of the lake and hold true to the advertisement at ground level - highest roof top garden in Udaipur (there appears to be at least 6 or 7).
After the hectic schedule endured over the last week and a half, Udaipur became a well deserved pit stop for 4 days, to refresh and revive (mind you I think John still has concussion either that or he’s just slow). The days have been spent exploring the city, the extensive palaces, and the remote regions outside of Udaipur, gathering a glimpse of rural life. The main City Palace, towers over Lake Pichola providing picturesque views across the lake to the infamous Lake Palace Hotel on Jagniwas Island, the heart and backdrop to “Octopussy”. Perched on the hills behind, the fairy tale Palace of Sajjan Garh or Monsoon Palace can
Sea of Sari's
Entry to City Palace Museum. be seen, also an important feature in the movie. The evenings spent enjoying Rajastan curries on the infinite number of roof top terraces, providing magnificent views of the city, lake and palaces. Some what surreal. Udaipur is somewhat a magical city, a gem in a somewhat jagged rock.
Not to speak of the amazing sights a couple of hours through the harsh desert surrounds to the spectacular setting and impenetrable fort at Kumbalgarh. Set 1100m atop massive cliffs and a surrounding fortified wall (the second largest only to the Great Wall of China) stretching 36km along the knoll of the adjoining hillsides. Even amid the butal surrounds temples appear out of nowhere, such as the Ranakpur Jain temples. The greatest and most significant Jain temple in India is the Chaumukha Mandir, displaying a magnificent architectural feat with the milk white marble interior, intricately detailed columns, beams and ceilings providing a sacred site of worship.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.05s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0265s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Tezza
non-member comment
I think I just lost 2 hours of my life
Hey Tuck Gards told me to catch up on your blog as I hadn't been assed. its great. Taken me 2 hours to get thru, well worth it. I've signed up as a member, just dont go selling my contact details to some dodgy Indian call center operator. K? We had a super time in Thai. Like yourself I now have a whole new winter wardrobe. Hope John picks up and beware of GPs they love to put a stitch in anything. If it looks clean and you can hold the wound closed use butterfly tapes, they scar less. Be bad, be really bad cause that is the best way to have fun. T