Oct 9 - Udaipur – the garden city - another lost blog

Just when we thought that all India came in shades of beige and grey, livened up by the saris of the women, we come to Udaipur, called City of Lakes, or Garden City. 

Like an oasis in the desert, Udaipur is lush and green, full of gardens, and fountains which are magically set in motion when ladies clap (by a man who dutifully opens the water gates on command). We tour, briefly, and see women in saris doing the gardening, men work as security guards. We tour the garden, quickly…”here, from here you must take picture (pictja)”, then it is “pink group, come along, listen here, I am explaining what is important…” No doubt and the spirit is willing to listen, but the mind is getting lazy. I wander off and take photos of women gardeners.

Visit of the royal palace…royal family is still in residence, so security is high…many men with guns. A very large marble palace, very high and narrow stairs, and many words (“pink group! Listen here….). I wander off to the stables, which, unlike most of the palace, are still in use. At one time used for both elephants and horses, only three horses are still in residence.

I catch up with the group again in the Crystal Museum, a part of the palace…a truly amazing collection of furniture, chandeliers, lamps, beds….everything imported from England 100 years ago and never used (and who would want to sleep in a crystal bed???) No photos allowed here…

Lunch is served in the royal banquet hall…again a buffet with umpteen dishes, both Indian and western, in unbelievable opulence (picture it: gilt and red velvet, linen napkins and crystal glasses…and we’re sitting there dressed in shorts…).

summer palace

This is followed by a boat ride on the lake around the summer palace of the maharaja…this is the site of Octopussy, the James Bond film…but then, the India we are being shown is like a film set.

pink bus

“Pink group…over here…the bus is waiting…”