Blogs from Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, Asia - page 42

We arrived in Udaipur on the first of May, just in time for the Mewar Festival. Udaipur is known as the city of lakes, the town literally overlooks the Pichola Lake and is surrounded by the hills of the Aravali. Pichola Lake was enlarged by Maharaja Udai Singh II after he founded the city. He built a masonry dam, known as the Badipol, and the lake is now 4km long and 3 km wide. Nevertheless, it remains fairly shallow and can actually dry up - in severe droughts it's possible to walk to Jagniwas and Jagmandir island. A handful of crocodiles are believed to inhabit the more remote parts of the lake, near the inhabited sections of the shore. The City Palace extends for a long stretch along the east bank. After we managed to find ... read more

Unfortunately, still no pictures. I am sorry = Hopefully soon. Steph and I have spent the last day in Udaipur still in the province of Rajasthan in India. We came over via a long 8 hour bus ride from Pushkar. The tourist bus we were on, did not really end up being much of a tourist bus. It was more like a luxury local bus. Overall, it was fine until one hour from Udaipur when they started picking up everyone and his brother. There were no seats left on the bus so everyone was standing. Poor Stephanie had the aisle seat. She had the pleasure of smelly armpits in her face! Apart from that, we had to endure only glaring stares from the local men. We had met two girls from Boston on the bus, one ... read more

Hi peeps,Sorry for the lack of blogs but we hardly made it off our rooftop cos the viewa and sounds were great.We got here last night affter a nine hour bus ride.One thing you learn pretty quick out here is the lack of personal space you have but its amazing what you get used to.We had forgot how much people stare at you on the public transport. And im not talking a casual glance we are talking full on stares inches from your face for a good hour.But there just interested to know why we would waste money traveling around there country.Pushkar was real nice it was hard to leave as even the shopkeepers are chilled out.There was alot of people (((finding themselfs man))) with a lot of talk of yoga and meditation.Its ok we are ... read more

Udaipur, city of sunrise, city of white, sits in the Eirwa Valley of Southern Rajasthan, as witness to the Aravalli Hills, rocky out croppings in semi arid, sandy, stingy soil. The city was founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh and surrounds Lake Pichola, the placid. Four palaces frame the lake, along with ghats, gardens, temples, a mosque and havelis, homes of the nobles from those pristine times. The City Palace is just up hill from the lake; and showcases the Maharanas of Mewer, their possessions and contributions to the realm; all seventy-six rulers, from 546 AD to date. Though no longer a sovereign, the current Maharana, Shriji Arvind Singh, still lives there; and attends weekly pooja, prayers with his people. A modern man, engaged in the hotel business, he has also been engaged in path ... read more

I noticed again this morning that Udaipur seems to be a bit of a fly magnet. Sitting at breakfast, I was constantly having to brush them away from my food, my book, me, etc. They're also tenacious little blighters - a half-hearted brush at one isn't enough to scare it away, you need a full-blooded slap with intent to maim. This morning was dedicated to the City Palace and I think it's the most impressive place I've seen in all of Rajasthan. It's the largest royal complex in the state, and for most of its history was occupied by members of the Mewar dynasty, who have ruled Udaipur for over 1,500 years (making the Mewars possibly the oldest dynasty in the world today). In the many rooms, connected by low twisting corridors to hinder invaders, are ... read more