Udaipur the Land of Royalty

A New Year is a time for new resolutions, while for me it’s a time to impatiently wait for RBI’s Holiday List under the Negotiable Instrument Act. I am a banker and this list is my bible to plan out of my weekend gateways whenever there is a holiday on a Friday or Monday. This is the most exciting time for me as I assiduously plan to cover my bucket list of travel for the year. The tour to Udaipur, “The City of Lakes” was an outcome of a similar groundwork which I am sharing with all of you

The state of Rajasthan is a land of Legends and holds a very close place in my heart. From a young age, I was fascinated by the stories of bravery from the daughters and sons of this land. I sincerely hope this blog will not only assist to plan your trip but also bring out the stories from this enchanting land

Best time to visit:

• The tourist season of Udaipur lasts from September to March. The summers are very hot and thus best avoided
• The climate is at its best in March. The days are pleasant with an average temperature of 30° C and thus ideal to trek around the forts in and around Udaipur. The nights are a bit chilly with the temperature hovering around 12-18° C.
• Importantly, at the fag end of the tourist season the availability of hotels and local transports are easier and comparatively economical

Language Spoken

• Marwari, Hindi, Gujarati & a little bit of English.
• English speakers will not face any challenge. People do understand and can reciprocate too.

Mode of Travel:

• Udaipur is well connected by Road, Rail & Air
• The railway station is quite beautiful & provide you with a sense of the Rajasthan royalty.
• The Airport is far from the city centre and it would be advisable to arrange local transport before arrival/ departing, especially if the flight is in the early morning or late evening.
• Hopefully in a few years with demand growing for app-based taxis, the supply will also grow like any other major cities in India

Where to Stay?

• The preference of a hotel is normally dependant on 2 factors, affordability and location. On both these parameters finding suitable accommodation will not be difficult, except for the months of December to February.
• This is not only due to the influx of foreign and domestic tourists but because Udaipur is a Wedding destination for the rich and famous leading to a serious demand-supply mismatch. 
• The old city is accessible only by foot, 2 wheelers and Autos( Tuk-Tuk), as cars prohibited due to narrow lanes. Thus, be prepared to walk the last mile if you decide to stay on the bank of Lake Pichola in a budgeted hotel
• Some of the popular Luxury hotels are: Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, The Oberoi Udaivillas, The Leela Palace, Chunda Palace
• Some of the popular budgeted hotels are: Lake Pichola Hotel, Karohi Haveli
• The recommended backpacker accommodation are: Backpacker Panda and Moustache Hostel

Hotels of my choice:

• Radisson Udaipur: Also known as Radisson Green for reason unknown to me
  • Address:  Lakecity Mall, university road, Ashok Nagar, Udaipur
  • Phone: 0294 6603333, 7340663655: Sudhansu Soni, 9116001963: Sanjeev, 9116001964. ( I hope the mobile numbers will remain unchanged even if the staff moves out)
  • Approx average fare: Rs 5000/-.
  • The hotel is located about 3 Kms from the old city and thus you might prefer it. Being situated in the same premises of a mall it’s very easy to locate. Importantly, it provides you with the best in class comfort and service at a much lower price than the other hotels located near the lakes.
• The Lalit Laxmi vilas palace:
  • Address: Opposite Fateh Sagar Lake, Udaipur, UDAIPUR, IN,
  • Phone: 011-44447457,011-44447470 , 011-44447470.
  • Approx average fare: Rs 15,000/-. The oldest 5-star hotel in Udaipur city. Also known to host a lot of Wedding in the city. The reason I like this hotel is because of the beautiful view and the mesmerising sunset you can encounter from here. The service of the staff is top-notch but you please do not expect the other facilities which come along a 5-star property. For eg, it has the tiniest gym with prehistoric equipment I have ever seen and there is no swimming pool or elevators.  I normally don’t mind staying for a day just to sit, relax and enjoy the sunset
• Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort and Spa.
  • Address: B-1, Ambamata Scheme – A Rd, Opp. Aravali Hospital, Malla Talai, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001.
  • Approx average fare: Rs 10,000/-. A fantastic hotel where I stayed. At night when the lights come on it looks like a Palace. Wonderful ambience and service to make your stay memorable. I would surely stay here whenever I am in Udaipur

Mode of transportation inside the city

• The best option is to hire an Autorickshaw ( Tuk Tuk) for a whole day and hop in and out across the places you want to cover. This would be the cheapest, fastest and the convenient way to cover the city. You can easily bargain and fix a day charges to take you around. Udaipur is a small city but the old city is extremely congested where cars are not allowed.
• A lot of travellers also get tempted to hire 2 wheelers to go around. This is not a bad option as it provides you with the convenience to travel at your own pace and time. But, if you are from the Western world you might find it difficult to adjust to riding the Indian way, where crossing lanes are purely on judgement and has nothing to do with traffic rules. Also do not be perturbed by honking which is not used to warn the fellow motorist but mostly demonstrated as a way of life.
• The last option is to book any Full day city tour from a local tour agent. They are available in plenty and the prices are almost the same across all service providers. The drivers are quite polite and helpful but they cannot double up as a tour guide. They have fixed stops and even if you want to skip a location for a new one they won’t accommodate. But it does come with the comfort of just sitting inside the car and not bothered about the traffic. Probably a better option when you are travelling with children 

What you should always have with you?

• Mobile phone or preferably a DSLR
• Sunglass
• Lip balm
• Body lotion
• Sun guard lotion. SPF 50 & above
• Light jacket as the evenings are chilly during March. Heavy woollens if travelling in the Indian winter
• 1 or 2 empty bottles which you can fill water from your hotel before start. The menace of plastic bottle is growing by leaps and bound and your small effort can help save the environment.
• Mosquito repellant cream

Summary of the Itineary:

• 4 days and 5 Night
• Day 1: Arrive at Udaipur, Check in to your hotel, Visit the Cenotaph, Saheliyon ka Bari, Bagore ki Haveli and dinner at Old city
• Day 2-Kumbalgarh Fort
• Day 3- Udaipur City tour
• Day 4- Chittorgarh Fort

Day 1

I would recommend that you plan your day in such a manner that you reach Udaipur city in the afternoon because most of the hotels allow check-in only after 2 PM and early check-in might not be possible as this is a high tourist influx location.

To make the best of the day you can start with the hidden gem in Udaipur which is seldom visited by tourists. In fact, I reminisce the Ahar Cenotaph more than any other place in Udaipur.

You can fix a Tuk Tuk for the 2 destinations for the day and get set for an amazing evening in the “City of Lake”

Ahar Cenotaph:

• Entry fee: Nil. The guard might indicate a small token and I obliged looking at his frail body and unkempt dress
• Duration: 30 mins
• Photography not allowed inside the Cenotaph, but not enforced and left to the discretion of tourists

This Cenotaph houses thousands of brave Rajputs and is a spectacle to see. There are 19 Chatteris ( Umbrella like structure) dedicated to the 19 Maharajas who rules Mewar. There are more than 250 Cenotaphs of the Royals of Mewar. I was informed by the guard that it’s more than 300 years old. In spite of that, you will find a lot of colours left of the paintings on the walls of the Cenotaph.

 

The Cenotaph is a photographers delight with the combination of old mystic charm and poor town planning allowing Apartment buildings to be constructed beside it. Unfortunately, the entire premises are not maintained which will make you wonder the reason for this apathy. There are also local stories around the cenotaph that claims that gold and jewellery were dug in the ground during the Maharajas time which is still present underground!

Starting the tour with such a wonderful place my heart was gay and looking forward for further excursion. Our next stop was Saheliyon ki Bari a 15 mins drive from Ahar Cenotaph

Saheliyon Ki Bari

• Entry ticket: Rs 5/-
• Duration: 30 minutes

It is located on the banks of Fateh Sagar lake and if translated word by word in English will means House of girlfriends! That sounds cheesy, isn’t it? This is actually a Garden build by Maharana Sangram Singh II in the early 18th century for the entertainment of the Royal Ladies and their maid of honour. Thus the right translation would be Garden for Ladies.

The garden is beautifully designed, picturesque and is fantastically landscaped. The lotus pool and the fountain in the swimming pool will catch your attention immediately and give you a sense of Royal lifestyle

The Third stop for the day “Bagore ki Haveli” an 18th Century Palace on the banks of Lake Pichola and takes about 15 mins from Saheliyon ki Bari

Bagore ki Haveli

• This Haveli has a museum which is hardly visited by anyone. So you can give it a miss too as the City Palace museum should be on your list.
• The attraction in the Haveli is for the evening cultural show between 7 to 8 PM.
• The experience would be mesmerising. The show will allow you to experience Rajasthani dance ( folk & tribal), Songs &  music, and Puppetry. 
• The entry ticket will be Rs 150/- per person for an Indian and about Rs 500/- for a Non-Indian. The camera is charged additional and should be purchased in case you want to shoot the show. 
• The tickets are available from 5 PM onwards. You can also purchase online through klook.com but they charge you a considerable premium.
• Since the seats are limited and do not have seat numbers it would be wise to walk in by 6 PM and buy your tickets. This will allow you to get a preferred seat of your choice close to the performers. 
• Children would also love the show but they can be a bit bored especially if they have to wait for over an hour. As a parent, I am sure you would know how to manage that 🙂

At the fag end of the show the stomach would yearn for a good dinner. After a lovely day spent seeing and learning about a new city and its culture, the stomach should also be rewarded handsomely. Thus head towards the opposite side of the bank of Lake Pichola for a riverside restaurant of your choice. My recommendation would be Lake Shore restaurant. The time to walk and on your Tuk Tuk would be the same around 10 mins from Bagore Ki Haveli. Thus, it would not be a bad idea to meander through the narrow lanes on foot. This chilly wind of the night and old city charm will only help you with the feast

I am recommending this restaurant purely because of the view and the peace it brings along with it. It’s a wonderful place to sit beside the water with your family/friends and have a good conversation over dinner.

After Dinner head to your hotel and have a good night sleep for the next day 

Day 2:

There would be quite a bit of travel on Day 2 and thus advisable to start by 9 AM. The Kumbalgarh Fort is about 105 Kms from Udaipur. There are 3 routes to reach the Fort. The most popular one is through Nathdwara, which is famous for a Krishna temple. But, I took the one through the Highway to Mount Abu due to excellent road condition, albeit a longer route. Notwithstanding, the shorter routes will take equal time as it passes through narrow village roads. A lot of tourist also visit Ranakpur Jain Temple about 35 Kms from the fort. I leave that decision on you as I decided not to visit the temples and concentrate on this 30 Kms long Fort ! Mindblowing isn’t it?

Kumbalgarh Fort

• Fort timing: 9 AM to 6 PM
• Entry ticket: Rs 15/- for Indian National and Rs 200/- for Foreign national. Children get free entry
• Light & Sound show: From 06.45 PM onwards and is a spectacular show not to be missed. The charges are Rs 100/- for Adult and Rs 50/- for Children. 
• Guides: A lot of Government approved guides are available at the ticket counter. Currently, they charge Rs 750/- and explain in details about the structure and is highly recommended. Please do not fall prey to non recognised guides who lure tourists with a paltry amount and then vanish all of a sudden. In case you have taken the vehicle service of tour operators from Udaipur, they also know some guides personally and can help you get a good deal. But, please do understand that time is money for the guides and the tourist season is limited so the better is the price the more is their interest. The call is obviously on the tourist depending on budget and their timelines.

How to reach?

• The best option would be to take a self-driven car and drive up to the fort. Please avoid the shorter routes unless the driver is quite experienced.
• The easier option is to take a car on hire with a driver. But, be specific about what all you want to cover before hiring. The tour operators are quite inflexible if you want to visit some additional places. Most tour operators do not stay back till the Light and Sound show. Some of the well-known tour operators are mentioned below for your reference. I would suggest that you book at least a week in advance as these operators are very much in demand. All you have to do is to speak with them and pay a token advance of Rs 500/-. The same can be transferred in their Wallet like Paytm/G-Pay or direct fund transfers like NEFT.
• Royal Udaipur Taxi Service: Mr Naeem Khan: +91- 99294 24286
• Rajasthan Car Services: +91- 80055 38308
• Aakash Tours & Travels: +91- 98294 65901
• Udaipur 4 Wheel Day Tour: +91- 88299 29998; +91- 99294 24286
• At the weekends or in Public holiday the fort gets thousands of footfall, thus better to avoid if possible. Also start early as the midday sun can be a damper and it can dehydrate you. 
• Food options are limited and quite simple thus better to carry some snacks

This fort was built by Maharana Kumbha in the 15th century and is a World UNESCO heritage site. The fort is located in between 11 peaks of the Aravalli range. Thus, the view from the top is outstanding and the motivation for every traveller to trek up to the top of the Fort. You will go through the Badal Mahal or Palace of Clouds to reach this place.

 This fort is the birthplace of the legend of this land – Maharana Pratap. On entering the fort I followed the direction of an arrow ( written on the fort wall) to the room of his birth. To my utter dismay, the door was locked and all I could do was peep in through the gate and see whatever little I could. I hope one day not only the authorities open it to allow tourists pay their reverence but also construct a museum in his honour.

 The fort is around 30 Kms long and is said to the second-largest fort after the Great Wall of China. There are seven gates of the fort, called POL locally.

My guide enlightened me that the Fort was conquered by the Mughals( Akbar) by poisoning the water as it was impossible to capture it through a battle. The strategic location between the Aravalli ranges and the engineering marvel made this fort impregnable. However, the fort did change hands a few time. Maharana Pratap did capture it back from the Mughals. However, later the Mewar surrendered to the Mughals and later the fort was ruled by the British who returned it back to the Udaipur state. The fort was occupied till the 19th century. 

The chief architecture of the fort is Madan. It’s unfortunate there is no picture or statue of this brilliant engineer present anywhere on the fort campus. The view from the fort is picturesque and I am sure you will indulge in photography. But, please retain enough battery juice as you will require it in the evening if you stay back for the Light and Sound show. The track to the audience seating is not properly illuminated and your flashlight will be in huge demand. After the show, the lights are projected towards the fort and is kept on for about an hour for the shutterbugs to make merry. Do not miss that opportunity!

Very close to the Fort there is an agency offering Adventure sports like Zip Lining. I would strictly recommend not to venture out as there is no safety certification or protocol of these services by the Govt of Rajasthan. Thus, the thrill comes with its undue peril and in case of an untoward incident, one will be left at the mercy of the Almighty!

I would recommend spending the evening at your hotel and use in-room dining services. The other option is to catch up on a rejuvenating nap during the return journey. Then after a warm shower, you can head to Rajwada Bites for an authentic Rajasthani or a North Indian dinner.

Day 3: Udaipur City tour

• City Palace entry charges: Adult: Rs 30/-, Children( 5 to 18 years): Rs 15/-, Below 5 years free entry
• This entry ticket is only for Entry. For access to other facilities, an additional admission ticket required. The charges are higher than government rates as this is a Private property
• City Palace Boat Ride: The boat ride will take a minimum of 1 hour
• Regular boat ride:  Between 10 AM to 2 PM- Adult: Rs 450/-; Children ( 5 to 12 years): Rs 230/-
• Sunset Boat Ride: 3 PM to 6 PM- Adult: Rs 800/-, Children ( 5 to 12 years ): Rs 450/-

You can also take a boat ride from Ambrai Ghat where locals normally take a boat. The charges are not standardised here and open to bargaining. Irrespective it would be cheaper than the City palace. 

The decision of which category of boat ride to be taken depends on your budget and availability of time. The waiting time would not be more than 10 minutes. The sunset is definitely the best time but I would not recommend it to pay extra just for the sake of it as there is multiple vantage points in the city to cherish the sunset.

My suggestion would be to head straight to the boat ride on entering the City Palace. Please do not miss it even if you have taken multiple boat rides at the best places on the planet. The ride is quite safe and each passenger is provided a Life jacket. They do have Life jacket for children too. The boat starts from the Palace Tier and gives you a tour of the entire Lake. It passes the old city where you can still see a large number of Havelis ( Palaces), apart from the City Palace. It also takes you around the Taj Lake Palace Udaipur which is located in the centre of the Lake. After a good 15-20 mins ride you will be dropped at “Jagamandir Isla”

Jagamandir Island:

This island is probably the only place in Udaipur which has free admission. But I guess tourists overcompensate on buying refreshments here. This is a 5-star hotel property located in the Lake. The view of the lake is stunning and everyone gets tempted to sit with a cup of their favourite beverage and admire the beauty of nature. The entire property is curated with a lot of attention and thus a perfect location to turn your Facebook and Instagram friends red with jealousy. 

I love observing people and this island seems to be a perfect spot for this pastime. Thus I got a beer from the bar and strategically stationed myself to have both a wonderful view of the lake and the tourists coming in. The cool beer while basking in the winter sun is a sure recipe for blissfulness. For my non-alcoholic friends, you will have to content yourself with overpriced coffee at the coffee bar.

Invariably the next destination after a bottle of beer is the Restroom. I was so impressed with the cleanliness and hygiene that I returned back to the bar and ordered another pint. This time I spent my time experimenting with my camera as the sun’s ray was creating mystique colours in the water till I had enough. As I was settling my bill the bartender informed me that between 7-11 PM the restaurant is opened for candlelight dinner. I glanced at my famished purse and decided not to have such ideas in my mind and moved straight to the Pier to return.

City Palace Museum

• Timing : 930 AM to 530 PM
• Adult: Rs 300/- ; Child above 5 years: Rs 100/- .
• Children below 5 years and disabled person have a Free entry.
• Defence Personnel and Senior citizen: Rs 200/- per person. They need to provide their Identity card as a proof. The charges are inclusive of camera charges. Museum Auto Guide: Rs 200/- ( Recommended)

On returning back to the City Palace Pier after I went straight to the museum. If you could not gather enough courage to eat at Jagmandir Island you take a quick bite in the restaurant present near the entrance. The food is good but still expensive compared to rates outside City Palace 

After lunch, I gathered enough strength for the tour of the museum. I always prefer the Audio tour as it not only allow me to move around at my pace but also not miss out any information. At various points numbers are inscribed on the wall and the audio corresponding to that number has to be played. Its very simple to follow and equally informative. Nevertheless it might be a bit time consuming and will take easily 3-4 hours to complete

The main entrance to the Palace is through the Bara Pol. I learnt the Maharanas used to be weighed in gold, silver and jewels which were distributed among the poor on special occasions. I instinctively looked around to spot small pieces of Gold and valuables. But, immediately realising my mistake guffawed to the amusement of passerby.

The museum very clearly demonstrates the lives of the Royal and have numerous artefacts on display about their daily lives. One can understand how they dressed and lived. It also brings out how their kitchens, bathroom etc were decorated to meet their high standards. The ladies chamber or ‘Zenana Mahal’ has colourful glasses and its intricately carved pillars of the balcony cannot be missed.

The only discomfort that can be attributed to the steep stairs and the low ceiling in the corridors. This was deliberately created as a contingency plan if the Palace comes under the siege of the enemy. The steep stairs and low corridors will slow down the enemy allowing the Royals to escape through hidden doors. If one is attentive then it is not difficult to spot a few false doors too. Keep observing, keenly!

 

The Palace have other exits and thus it is better to discuss the exit strategy with the tour operator to avoid confusion and chaos. There is another attraction which is spectacular but equally expensive. Located beside the Bara POL is the Sheesh Mahal.

Sheesh Mahal: Palace of Mirrors/ Crystal Gallery):

• Adult: Rs 750/-
• Children ( 5 to 12 years): Rs 450/-
• Duration: 30 mins

It was built by Maharana Pratap for his wife Maharani Ajabde. For the first-timers, it would surely take your breath away. Thus, in spite of the steep price go for it if you can afford it. The next stoppage would be the Vintage Car Museum

Vintage Car museum:

• Adult: Rs 350/- ; Children: Rs 200/-

I am quite naive about the greatness of the Vintage car and was looking forward to sitting inside just for the experience. To my utter disappointment, I was forbidden to get inside the car even though I expounded all the favourable arguments. But, if you love these babies go for it!

Outside the Car museum, I spotted some freshly fried Samosas on the roadside stall. It did not look hygienic but it was the only remedy to take my mind off the asinine decision of visiting the Car Museum. Trust me it tasted mindblowing and in the hindsight was a good decision to fill up the belly

Mewar Light and Sound show:

• Hathnal Ki Chandni  Adult: Rs 550/-, Children ( 8 to 12 years)- Rs 250/- ( First Floor sitting)
• The Manek Show: Adult: Rs 250/-, Children ( 8 to 12 years)- Rs 150/- ( Ground Floor seating)
• The difference in prices is due to the better visibility on the First floor than on the Ground floor. There are 2 shows one in Hindi and the other in English. The duration of the show is 60 mins. 
• The Hindi show is called ( Yash ki Darohar) which happens between 8 PM to 9 PM. The English show is 7 PM to 8 PM, except in Summers its pushed back by half an hour. 
• Please carry cash as they do not accept the electronic mode of payment for reason unknown especially when the country is going through a phase of motivating citizens to use the Cashless transactions 
• A Hindi-speaking guide will charge Rs.300/- at the City Palace complex. For an English speaking guide, you can negotiate around the same price. 
• Guides at the museum charge Rs.200

After a long day after the Show, you can head to the Neelam restaurant and have homemade Rajasthani Thali. Very simple but extremely tasty and you will surely feel it’s prepared with a lot of love. Also since they serve vegetarian food it would be easy to digest and you can be ready for another long day coming up

Day 4: Chittorgarh: UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Fort in Asia

• Distance from Udaipur: 200 Kms
• Estimated driving time: 2 hrs 30 kms 
• Fort entrance fees: Adult: Rs 50-; Children: Rs 25/-. You can however book it online for Rs 15/- and Rs 200/- for foreigners. 
• Timing: 9 AM to 6 PM
• Light & Sound show: 7 pm onwards
• Fort opens on all days, but the museum is closed on Monday’s

There cannot be a better pilgrimage as an Indian than to visit this Fort. The joy of seeing the remnants of the Fort far superseded my expectations created through cultivated imaginations from the school history book. I always wondered how do people be so brave in the face of adversities. Visting here I understood that these were special people and commoners like us just need to respect them. Let me try and walk you through the landes of Chittorgarh, with facts and a pinch of imagination to visualise its glorious past.

The main entrance of the Fort was completely destroyed during the siege by Alaudin Khilji. While the door was later reconstructed but this route is still not operational. Frankly, I was disappointed by this fact and I wished the administrations demonstrated more pride in our past. How lovely it would have been to recreate the route allowing us through the memory lane of Rani Padmini?

The new route through the back door lands up directly in front of the Kumbha Palace built by Rana Kumbha. This new route was built in the 16th century. The ticket counter is present in front of the Kumbha Palace and a Guide service is recommended given the tons of history oozing from the dilapated walls or submerged in the ruins.

For my readers, I have written comments across each of the pictures to bring you closer to the past. Obviously, not everything can be explained or shared through this mode. Some of the places like the Ministers houses, Elephant stable are missing which I can think of. I hope you will visit the Fort and will be able to view everything through your own eyes. There used to be a Treasury opposite the Kumbha Palace which can be spotted without much trouble. The Palace and the Treasury were built at the farthest end of the erstwhile main entrance so that enemy finds it almost impossible to lay their hand on the treasure.

Please refer to the picture above of the Staircases going underground. The staircase is sealed for tourists but in the past, it was used by the Royal Ladies to reach Kund( Pond), at least 500 metres away. I have also posted a picture of the Kund showing the pond for taking a bath before worshipping in the temple. Rani Padmini would have used it too to reach the Jauhar Kund before Immolating herself, rather than surrendering to Alauddin Khilji. I am getting goosebumps as I am writing it as if I can see her walking down the stairs.  

The next stop is the Vijay Stambh a 9 storied structure built by Maharana Kumbha. Does the name ring a bell? He is the same Maharana who built the Kumbalgarh Fort. This symbol of victory was built in the 15th century to commemorate the victory over Mahmud Khalji, the ruler of Malwa. The Stambha is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Structure is lit up every evening but you won’t be able to see it unless you decide to stay back in Chittorgarh. All the places I mention here is accessible through a vehicle unless otherwise, you are like me who love to walk and explore

After the Vijay Stambha, the next stop is the Mirabai Temple and a Jain temple. The carvings in the temple show the class of the craftsmanship of the workers. Probably the pictures will provide a sense of it. Beside the temple is the path leading to the complex where the Jauhar ceremony was held. Pride and freedom prevailed over lust and anarchy

Ask the security guard in case you do not have a guide to show the opening of the hidden staircase beside the Reservoir ( Gaumukh). I sat here and tried to visualise how she took this extreme step. She must have monitored the news of the invasion on a minute basis and decided to walk straight to the Jauhar when there was no hope left. My respect to the Real queen of this land!

A few metres from this place is the summer Palace of Rani Padmini. This Palace was built inside a lake to ensure that it had an air conditioning effect during the dry and scorching heat of Rajasthan’s summer. History says that Allauddin Khilji was impressed with the beauty of Rani Padmini and was always looking for an opportunity to win her over.

Finally, he decided to attack Chittorgarh with his huge army. He was a shrewd general and decided to camp 10-15 Kms away behind a hillock, called Kumbhakarna( Ramayana) mountain. It was clear that Chittorgarh Fort was impenetrable and his strategy was to block the delivery routes of all essential items to the fort. This strategy paid off as the Rajputs agreed for a truce after 6 months as the Fort was quickly running out of food stock.

Alauddin Khilji demanded to see Queen Padmini as a term of the truce and promised to return to Delhi if his wish is fulfilled. The Rajputs knew the malevolent desires of Khilji and were fully prepared for the occasion. They constructed a room opposite the Summer Palace of Rani Padmini. Inside it, Allauddin was made to stand in front of the mirror with his back facing the window. The Queen was made to stand in the staircase of her Palace so that her reflection falls on the mirror.

The Rajput knew that Alauddin could not be trusted and he would surely turn back towards the window to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s in flesh and blood Thus he was made to stand in a position from where he could not see the queen even on turning back towards the window. Amazing isn’t it?

This adroit move saved the honour for the day, but not for too long. Khilji was not happy with the outcome and continued his siege for 2 more months till the Rajputs had no food left. Therefore, they had no other option but to get into a face to face battle with the huge army of the Sultan of Delhi. The Rajputs men fought till their last breath and the women walked into the fire and immolate themselves rather than giving themselves to the hands of the invading army.

I spent close to 4 hours here but my heart wanted to stay back. I had an evening flight thus had no option but to retreat back to Udaipur. Before I left I wanted to bid farewell with a taste of Chittorgarh lingering on to my taste bud. Given the recommendation of my guide, I visited the Gangour restaurant and ordered a Thali meal with Buttermilk. The food was heavenly and I cherished every bite of the food.

After a lovely meal, I would suggest taking a short nap while driving back to Udaipur. The beauty sleep will reinvigorate for the mesmerising evening view from the top of Moti Magri and Museum of Hereos

Moti Magri ( Pearl Hills)

• Entry Fee: Adult: Rs 25/- ; Children: Rs 15/-, Car Parking: Rs 50/-

The main attraction of this hill is that you get to visit the Hero’s Museum which displays the following:

1. 21 Large paintings of Mewar history
2. Large size model of Chittorgarh, Haldighati battlefield, Kumabalgarh fort model
3. Portraits and warriors of Haldighati battle
4. Arms and ammunition at that time which you can pick up in your hand. I struggled to pick up the weapons because of their weight.

After the museum, you can find a life-size idol of Rana Pratap and his horse Chetak. The view of the Fateh Sagar Lake from the top is amazing and the beautiful sunset is the icing on the cake. There is a small shop of a Sardarji beside the viewpoint of Moti Magri. He makes delicious Cheese Maggi and should not be missed out at any cost!

As the sun desended and the twilight spread across the skies it was time for me to bid farewell to the City of Lakes and catch a flight back home. However, in case you have more time, I am mentioning some of the other places whcih should be visited

Other places of interest:

1. Maharana Pratap Museum:  Situated 46 kms from Udaipur. It has Audiovisual shows, robotics and widely recommended by people. There is a canteen inside the museum to have lunch at a concessional price. The entry fee is Rs 100/-  The museum is on the way to Nathdwara.
2. Taj Fateh Prakash Palace: Ideal to be visited in the evening. It is located inside the lake and the entry tickets are expensive.
3. Machla Magra ( Fish Hill) – Must visit. I have shared some of the pictures and videos. There is a cable car to reach the top. The waiting time is around 5 mins
4. Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace: The James Bond movie Octopussy was shot here. Currently, the hotel is not maintained at all and the Central hall is open for tourists.
5. White Terrace restaurant: East to believe!
6. Haldighati: A mountain pass about 45 Kms from Udaipur. Visit the Haldighati Camps

If you are looking for help to curate your Udaipur holidays, please feel free to write back on the comments or email at journey@metrotte.com and our team will give you a shout. Hope to see you soon