There are just two words which can completely describe Udaipur – charismatic beauty and Royal elegance. From the streets to the beautiful lakes, Udaipur simply mesmerizes you with the grandeur.The perfect destination for a quick getaway is what can summarize our trip to this beautiful city.

A one-hour flight from Delhi to Udaipur and we were amongst the richness and royalty. As it was an early morning flight we reached quite early and there was and an ample amount of time to check out the Forts and Lakes before we could check in to our hotel.

Our first stop was The Royal City Palace of Udaipur, located at the banks of mighty Lake Pichola, this Palace retails its grandeur till date. A guide is a must if one really wants to experience how the Rajas and Ranis lived.

The City palace

From the palace one can enjoy the view of the Taj Lake Palace, a floating gem in Lake Pichola. Originally built by Maharana Jagat Singh, it has now been converted into a luxury hotel by Taj Group of Hotels.

The floating Gem

We then checked in Ramada, our stay for the next two days. The stay was arranged by Funstay.in . A hassle-free check in with wonderful hosting was the most loved feature of my stay. A quick freshen up and off we were to our next destination which was Sajjangarh Fort. The fort was known for a beautiful sunset view, and also popularly known as the Monsoon Palace by the locals. As the fort is surrounded by the Aravalli’s, the view of the sunset is simply breathtaking and memorable. We do wanted to take a local food tour as the Rajasthani cuisine is too good to miss, but our Hotel had arranged a small cultural performance and I just couldn’t miss the front seat.

The performers belonged to the local tribe, and showed us some of the most popular moves of the famous Kalbelia Dance. From dancing on nails, on the plate and balancing earthen pots on their heads, the dancers were full of enthusiasm. There is a certain distinctiveness about Indian Folk dances , the music , the rhythm, it simply touches your soul, and you feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful culture. The kiddos were also kept entertained by the local magic tricks and puppet shows. The cultural evening ended on a high note where the Rajasthani Folk music enthralled and the claps just weren’t enough. I always believe that what truly motivates an artist is the appreciation given by his audience.

The cultural evening was followed by a scrumptious dinner and the spread was a mix of Indian and Continental food.Where kids were seen enjoying their usual pasta and noodles, I observed a lot of adults relishing on the authentic Rajasthani food such as Daal Baati churma , gate ki sabji and some special Rajasthani khichdi with garlic chutney and spicy pickles.

A day well spent and then the body needs good a comfy bed and a relaxed sleep. To put it Ramada Resorts have beautifully laid out rooms, some of them are theme based too, large gardens for an evening stroll and also a pool to indulge in. The staff is courteous, always prompt to help. All this makes this a place a recommended one especially when you are coming with family.

The next morning, we had decided to explore the religious places, the two very famous temples Karni Mata Temple and ShrinathJi. The legend says that the Karni Mata Temple was built by Maharana Karan Singh for the safety and security of the city of Udaipur. Many folklores are associated with this temple, especially with the rats who are in great numbers at the temple site. A lot of monkeys can also be sighted. The devotees can reach the temple by Ropeway which takes around 4-5 mins. What beholds the rider is the panoramic view of the Aravalli’s on one side and Lake Pichola and Lake Fateh Sagar on the other side. The majestic views of the Forts and Palaces can also be enjoyed.

View from KarniMata Temple

The Srinath Ji temple which is located in Nathdwara is approximately 48 kms from Udaipur, is visited by a large number of Hindu devotees. One can spot a lot of Marwaris from Rajasthan and Gujarat. We were lucky enough to reach the temple intime as the darshan was about to be closed. The idol of Shri Krishna is carved out of black marble and is adorned with precious jewels and stones, what catches one’s eye and attention is the diamond which Srinath ji has below his lips. The temple premises is flooded with small and big shops dealing in huge paintings and status of Srinath ji and also selling some typical Rajasthani savories. Our cabbie also suggested that we visit the famous Eklingji temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Though located in a little village and we had to take slight detour , we decided to go ahead. The main shrine has five faced shivlinga in black stone and its 50ft high shikhar definitely catches attention.

After this religious sojourn and a perfect lunch of Rajasthani Thali. We explored the local markets such as Bapu Bazaar, one of the most popular markets famous for its street food, Bada Bazaar which is one of the oldest markets of Udaipur, also famous for ‘juttis’. You will find many markets with beautiful lehengas, handicrafts, souvenirs, puppets etc. Though the trip was absolutely wonderful and fulsome but the thirst is never quenched, there were still a few places we weren’t able to visit because of shortage of time, such as Jag mandir Palace, Bagore ki Haveli, Vintage car Museum and the very famous Udaipur Zoo. Missing of Zoological Park really turned off my daughter.

The evening train to Delhi was my bye bye to this beautiful and captivating city. I would definitely come again not only to visit what I missed in this trip but also revisit some of the key attractions of Udaipur.

Written BY: Ms Charul Agrawal