My TripAdvisor Review No.43: Lake Fateh Sagar, Udaipur

“Good for a Walk along the Lakeshore”

Reviewed 15 August 2014 NEW

This is the second big lake amongst the seven lakes of Udaipur. It lies to the north of Lake Pichola and is connected to it by a canal. It has a small island which has a public park, known as Nehru Garden. Another small island at the far end houses the Udaipur Solar Observatory.

The lakeside is more open and less crowded by buildings than Lake Pichola. There are some food stalls and vendors on one side, where the local people come to spend the evening and enjoy the breeze from the lake. The promenade along the dam wall on the eastern side of the lake is good for long walks and many of the local citizens come here for their morning walks. Some of the locals can be seen jumping into the lake and enjoying a quick swim.

Boat rides, including speed boats, are available which take you around the lake, but there is not much to see except the Nehru Garden in the middle of the lake. The boat ride on Lake Pichola is more interesting.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.42: Lake Pichola, Udaipur

“Good for a Boat Ride in Fantasy Land.”

Reviewed 13 August 2014 NEW

Lake Pichola is probably one of the most beautiful urban lakes in all of India, if not the world. In the background it is surrounded by the lovely hills of the Aravalli range, and on the banks are the magnificent palaces and havelis of the Rajput maharajas and noblemen. The most prominent amongst these palaces is the City Palace, built by Maharana Udai Singh in the 16th century.

There are two beautiful palaces in the middle of the lake too, the Jagmandir and the Jagniwas. The Jagmandir palace has been converted to a restaurant, whereas the Jagniwas palace has been converted to the famous ‘Lake Palace Hotel’ run by the Taj group of hotels.

We took a boat ride from the jetty near Dudh Talai, which is run by a private operator, and charges Rs.100 per head for a 20 minute motor boat ride. They take you around the lake and you can see the various palaces and havelis from close quarters. There is another boat ride originating at the City Palace jetty which charges Rs.325 per head, which lets you disembark on the Jagmandir Island for 20 minutes, and then brings you back.

Many of the havelis around the lake are now hotels, and their restaurants are generally on their rooftops and terraces, where you can enjoy a romantic dinner watching the glittering lights on the lake.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.41: Jain Temple - Ranakpur.

“A Jewel in the Jungle”

Reviewed 12 August 2014 NEW

This is a beautiful temple complex, built in the 15th century, standing in the middle of the forests about 90 km from Udaipur. We hired a taxi from Club Mahindra Fort Kumbhalgarh and it took about an hour to reach here. The route was quite scenic as we drove through the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

All the temples and the dharamshalas stand in a walled enclosure. Just outside is a Hindu Temple dedicated to the Sun God. There are three Jain Temples dedicated to Rishabhadeva, Neminath and Parsvanath and have exquisite and intricate carvings in white marble. The main temple, called the Chaturmukha Adinath Temple is dedicated to Rishabhadeva, or Adinath, the first of the Jain Tirthankaras. With its 29 halls and 1444 distinctly different carved pillars, it is an astounding monument. Even the domed ceiling has exquisite carvings in marble.

The temple opens at 6 am, but non-Jains are allowed in only after 12 noon. Entry to the temple is free, but you have to pay for your camera. You are still not allowed to photograph the main idol, though. Security is very strict and you have to deposit everything, including water bottles, at the entrance. The pujaris are very attentive and respectful and even offer to show you around (pay as you wish).

At 1 pm we went to the mess in the dharamshala for lunch. There were about a 100 people who were being served in thalis, after payment of Rs.50. We were served two vegetables, dal, papad, pickle, chapati and rice.

There are some good hotels for visitors who want to stay overnight or longer at Ranakpur. These include the ‘Fateh Bagh Hotel’, a luxurious heritage palace, and the ‘Maharani Bagh Orchard Retreat’ which has pretty cottages set in a mango orchard. Ranakpur is an ideal place for a peaceful vacation with long walks into the forests.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.40: Dharohar, Gangaur Ghat, Udaipur

“Mesmerising Dance Performances”

Reviewed August 11, 2014 NEW

Impressive folk dance performances in the Mewari and Rajasthani style, called ‘Dharohar’ are held at ‘Bagore ki Haveli’ every evening from 7 pm to 8 pm, and are worth witnessing. The word ‘dharohar’ means inheritance, and these artistes have taken it upon themselves to preserve the colourful culture and tradition of the region in a very beautiful way, in one of the courtyards of their old but restored Haveli.

There is an entry fee of Rs.60 per person (Rs.100 for foreigners) and Rs.100 for any type of camera. After you enter you have to find yourself a suitable place to sit around the neem tree in the courtyard, just as you would do in a Rajasthani village, and settle down for the show to start. The earlier you arrive the better your chances of getting a good vantage point to capture all the action.

The speaker welcomes you to his Land, and explains what each of the dances signifies, both in English as well as Hindi. The dances are indeed performed very well and keep you spellbound. The bright and ornamental costumes also serve to highlight the colourful traditions of the region.

There’s one slot for a puppet show in which some kids from the audience are selected to take part, making it more interactive and humorous.

This is one show you must not miss, to get an insight into the culture and traditions of Rajasthan.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.39: Bagore ki Haveli, Udaipur

“Preserving the Heritage”

Reviewed 10 August 2014 NEW

This heritage home was built in the 18th century by a former nobleman of the Mewar state. It is a short walk from the Jagdish Temple at Gangaur Ghat on the banks of Lake Pichola. It is open for viewing from 10 am to 7 pm and there is a small entry fee.

The Haveli has been diligently restored. The 138 rooms set around courtyards depict how the Rajasthani noblemen used to live in the past, and exhibit the traditional arts and crafts of the region.

Impressive folk dance performances in the Mewari and Rajasthani style, called ‘Dharohar’ are held here every evening from 7 pm to 8 pm, and are worth attending.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.38: Sajjan Garh (Monsoon Palace), Udaipur

“For a Bird's Eye View of Udaipur”

Reviewed 9 August 2014 NEW

Sajjan Garh is situated on top of the highest hill peak near Udaipur, and is clearly visible from most parts of the city. It is best to visit this place in the evenings to see the city lighting up as dusk approaches. The road to the top is narrow and quite steep and winds up the forested hillsides of the Sajjan Garh Wildlife Sanctuary. There is an entry fee of Rs.130 per vehicle and Rs.20 per person. Entry timings are between 10 am to 6 pm. The gradient is too steep for the tuk-tuks (auto-rickshaws), so you have to use your own transport or hire a cab.

The Monsoon Palace at the top also served as a Hunting Lodge for Maharaja Sajjan Singh, and you can see many exhibits and pictures of the wildlife sanctuary inside the building. The condition of building and the display seems to be in a state of neglect, though.

The place is quite isolated with no restaurants or food stalls around, so carry your own picnic basket. You can spend some time in the garden and open spaces around the Palace, or walk through the clouds if you are there on a rainy day during the monsoons.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.37: Jagdish Temple, Udaipur

“Exquisitely Carved Temple”

Reviewed 7 August 2014 NEW

The Jagdish Temple is located very near to the Tripolia Gate of the City Palace. It can be seen rising high above the surrounding buildings, and a steep flight of steps ascends up to the Temple gates, which is flanked by two carved marble elephants. There are many exquisite carvings on the temple walls, among which is the black stone image of Lord Vishnu as Jagannath, Lord of the Universe. Facing the entrance, in an enclosed shrine is a bronze winged statue of Garuda, who was the steed of Lord Vishnu and carried the God on his back.

The musical bhajans and prayers being sung within the temple gave us the feeling of peace and harmony.

The temple is open from 4.15 am to 1 pm in the morning, and 5.15 pm to 8 pm in the evening. There is no entry fee, but photography is prohibited inside the sanctum. A water cooler is provided for cold drinking water just outside the sanctum.

Tip: You can take off your footwear after ascending the steps and leave them in the free shoe racks provided there before entering the sanctum. Do not leave them at the roadside at the bottom of the steps.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.36: Kumbhalgarh Fort

“Majestic Hill Fort, A UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Reviewed 7 August 2014 NEW

Kumbhalgarh Fort is located in the Aravalli hills in the Mewar region of Rajasthan, about 85 km north-west of Udaipur. It was built in the 15th century by Rana Kumbha and is also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great warrior king of Mewar. It is the 2nd largest fort in Mewar after Chittaurgarh, and also has the 2nd longest wall in the world (after the Great Wall of China), running along its boundary for 36 kms.

The fort is built on a hill at a height of 1100 metres and requires a considerable effort to climb to the top. But once you are in the palace at the top of the fort, also known as ‘Badal Mahal’, you are rewarded with awesome views of the forested Aravalli hills, with the Mewar region on the eastern side and Marwar region on the west. The forests surrounding the fort comprise the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary which is home to leopard, sloth bear, monkeys, wolf, jackal, sambar, peacock, jungle fowl and a host of other birds and animal species.

It is worthwhile for a tourist to spend at least one day at Kumbhalgarh. He can arrive here from Udaipur or Ranakpur and have some refreshments at one of the two restaurants at the base. There is a nominal entry fee and parking charges to be paid before entering. Guides can be made available for a fee, if you ask at the counter. There are many Jain and Hindu temples near the base of the fort. It takes between 30 to 60 minutes to reach the top of ‘Badal Mahal’, depending on how much time you spend at each of the many sights and views on the way up. It is a stiff climb but there are benches and boulders beneath shady trees, where you can sit and catch your breath. When you reach the top you are literally blown away by the views and the wind!

Every evening there is a Light and Sound show (chargeable) where the story of the fort and its erstwhile rulers is recounted in an open air amphitheatre. You are transported into the past and the old history and events of Kumbhalgarh Fort comes alive. It is quite impressive, and worth waiting for at the end of the day. But to witness this show one must spend the night in a nearby hotel, or drive back to Udaipur in the dark.

There are a number of good hotels on the road from the fort to the nearest town, Kelwara, where one can put up for the night.

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Visited July 2014

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My TripAdvisor Review No.35: Natraj Hotel Dining Hall, Udaipur.

“Good Vegetarian Thalis as well as a la carte”

Reviewed 5 August 2014 NEW

This is a good clean restaurant, serving excellent Indian food. You can order a Rajasthani thali with dal, bati, churma or even a Punjabi thali with paneer, one vegetable, dal (lentil) gravy, roti and rice and a sweet dish. One can also order various dishes from their a la carte menu. My wife ordered a grilled cheese sandwich.

Rates are very reasonable. The biggest plus point of this place is its proximity to the Udaipur City Station, so travelers can have a good meal here before catching their train.

• Visited July 2014
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