UDAIPUR

We got picked up at 9.30am for our tour of the city of Udaipur, known as the White City as most buildings are painted white. Although our hotel breaks the rules and has gone for cream. It's known as the Palace.  Another great day so we have been so lucky with the weather. Our last day in India. Udaipur is made up of seven man made lakes which collects all the water from the surrounding mountains. They are all interlinked to each other so if one floods gates can be opened to divert to the next one. Even though the days are sunny and very hot these areas seem to be surrounded by a light haze/mist. You wake up thinking it's going to rain then it all clears. It then comes in again in the evening.  The mountains seem to gather this hazy look most of the days but it does give a nice atmosphere. A little gem of an area  to finish our holiday of India.

Woke up this morning to a slightly clearer morning with blue skies after our arrival late yesterday afternoon when the mist had come in. Which is common in these areas. Looking out from our hotel.

Our first stop The City Palace another great building. This is taken from the back as you arrive. This is the largest Palace complex in Rajasthan built of granite and marble.

Walking up around the outside  up to the main gate. Lovely position overlooking the Pichola Lake.

Now in the enclosed area surrounded by a Fort wall. This is only half the size of it. It was built in different stages over a period of 400 years by the different generation of kings.

The work that was created on the walls. Amazing detailed work.

Inside one of the small quartyards.

A close up of the wall above.

One of the rooms.

The queens room



One of the many quartyards. This one was the biggest. Can only see half of it.

A baby's rocking crib. All in solid silver.



We then went for a boat trip around the lake and stopped off at an island in the middle for a walk round. The above is the City Palace sitting on the east bank, looking from the lake.

This is an another island but didn't stop here. One of the Kings built this structure and more recently it has been converted to up market hotel accommodation.

The bridge crossing over the end of the lake.

These are the buildings we saw as we went past.

More views from the boat.

We are now arriving at the Island where we got off for a walk around. Such a beautiful spot. One of the venue places for a wedding. They were just setting up for a wedding as we arrived. This area is well known for wedding venues and we can see why. Our guide informed us that a wedding can cost upward of $2600 NZ per person, so only for the rich. So different to anything we have seen. It's just disappointing to see the inner city is still very untidy  when the surrounding areas are so beautiful.



Just having a walk around.

Looking back over the lake to The Palace.

Over to left is were they were setting up for the wedding on the edge of the lake looking over th the City Palace.

We then went to the vintage car museum (boys stuff) . This car  a Vauxhall 12 was like what my Aunty Joan had when I used stay with her in Cambridge. Hard to imagine what we used to drive around in it.

Off for a gallop with my Prince.



After a stroll around the museum we had lunch included. Typical way of presenting the Indian food. It was too much for me as we don't usually have lunch as we have a good breakfast to keep us going for the day. PT enjoyed it more than I did. Even more kept coming out as we were eating. I'm not so keen on this type of food.

Our next stop to visit the Garden of Maidens.



A large pond full of water lilies with the elephants protecting it. There is water spraying up all around the edge.

This area is for ladies only in its day where they could come to relax and enjoyed the quietness and privacy surrounded by a high wall.

We have now arrived at the Sajjangarh Palace. So high we wound up and up the narrow road to the top. 932m in all. This Palace is lit up at night and looking over from our hotel in the dark it looks like it is floating in the sky, which you will see from my last photo below from our hotel here. Our Hotel is the long cream building above the boys heads.

Inside the gates of the palace. I forgot to take a photo looking up from the outside.

The Fort entrance.

Up on the top out in the open area. We were so high fantastic lookout from all around the Palace.

A pano looking down. You a see how the haze sits over the hills but it gives an airy calm feeling. So nice being up high after all the flat areas we have been through. Much more interesting.

A long way down couldn't get PT to look over the edge.

A couple of locals were hanging around us and our guide said they wanted a photo with us like so many families want. We said yes and they said all our families were here and from nowhere this lot arrived all excited to be in the photo such a happy lot. Of course all the Indian families are so large. They all appear to be very happy people. A bit different between the wealthy and the poor.

Above and below looking down on the housing areas and as I said earlier the city is called the White city so you can see why. As I mentioned earlier our hotel is right in the centre of the picture just above the foreshore.

The monkeys life up there around the Palace.

Went down on the lawn in front of the hotel for a last drink in India beautiful setting so you can see why this is called the city of romance.

Our last  sun has gone down in India.

Goodbye to India.

The dot in the sky is the Palace we went up to this afternoon. Moon top left hand corner.

Saturday 13th October

Well that's it for India we are being picked up at 11.30am for the airport flight leaves at 1.55pm back to Delhi. We have been told it's about 40mins to the airport. We then have to wait around until about 6.45pm for our flight to Sri Lanka so it's going to be a big day getting into Colombo late evening. We certainly have covered a lot in our 12 days here. They driver took down the mileage but forgot to get it off him last night so will put that in my next blog. All the cities were different in their own way so lots of variety but I think we are all Palace and Forts out. Some areas a real eye opener but so much to learn and see in Rajasthan, one of the provinces of India. We have had a great time meeting people, learning so much, had great informative guides in each city and a very careful considerate driver. He picked us up every morning and dropped us off safely back to our hotel every afternoon. He  had limited amount of English but we always got by. Every experience we had added to our adventure of India. Now off to our next adventure in Sri Lanka.

Later today flying through the air.

Sitting on the the plane from Udaipur to Delhi,  I realised that I wrote the above blog this morning before we left the hotel. I went and had a shower started packing and forgot to post. Couldn't do anything about it while flying through the air. Now we have arrived at Delhi airport after a good fast flight up from Udaipur. We only have to wait about three and half hours before our flight to Sri Lanka.

 We don't arrive until 10.30pm so will be late checking into the hotel. Hope all the good rooms haven't gone by then. I will post this blog as soon as we arrive if I can organise the wi fi by then.

I should have mentioned above that we covered 1701kms from Delhi to Udaipur. Doesn't sound much as it is approximately 600kms as the crow flies.

Later ---- now at our first Hotel in Sri Lanka just checked in and got to our room at mid night. Very very tired long day.  Cant see much in the dark but looks like a nice room top floor of three and looking straight out over the beach to the sea. We have a leisure day tomorrow. Which we need then start our tour on Monday.