Udaipur is the town that fairytales came from. after catching a very early morning flight from Delhi to Udaipur (thanks to Anuj's wonderful cousin, Shirien!) we arrived in the sleepy lakeside town of palaces. After checking into our hotel room, which was incredible and "old-worldly" too, we headed to a nearby hotel that we'd originally booked (a stone's throw away) to eat an epic breakfast overlooking THREE palaces on their rooftop restaurant's balcony. The pictures of this breakfast speak for itself...just imagine perfect weather and a clear day with it too ;)
After breakfast the four of us walked over to the City Palace. We had a tour of the palace, which was absolutely magnificent (although our guide/ the palace was really strict about camera use inside). We invited this backpacker named Ben to join our private tour, because we'd run into him earlier and were trying to be kind. Ben asked a lot of questions, in a very loud voice. He was hilarious, and everyone else wanted to kill him. I enjoyed all of the nooks and crannies of the palace though, the gorgeous stained glass, and the paintings from the 1500s's depicting horses wearing fake elephant trunks (to "fool" the real elephants). I can only imagine the intelligent elephant thinking, "You're still a dumbass horse wearing a dumbass fake elephant trunk."
Another favorite moment on the trip: Anuj telling his cousin Shirien, in front of everyone, "Wait you can take photos on your iPhone?!" Anuj...
After City Palace, we walked back to our hotel, took naps, and then headed out to yet another wonderful rooftop meal for lunch. (If you ever visit Udaipur, make sure that you stay near the water, walking distance to the City Palace...it's worth it!) After lunch we headed to the famous "Crystal Gallery." I didn't think that it would be that cool, but it came in our package tour. It actually was really imoressive...this king had SO much crystal! He had a red velvet crystal living room set, a crystal bed (beautiful...but he never got to sleep in it because he died at the age of 25 before it was finished), and my favorite: a half-moon spherical crystal footrest! Then we had complementary tea time :)
Sidenote: City Palace, and Lake Palace, have been converted into luxury hotels! Some day...
In the evening, we went on a boat ride (again, I wasn't too excited but it turned out being really fun, and provided an incredible different view of Udaipur and City Palace!) However, the best part of the boat ride was the tiny little magical island that we were dropped off at: Jag Mandir! The whole time, I felt like I was living in a fairytale. It's entrance was "guarded" by eight stone elephants, and a stone crocodile hehe. The island itself was heavenly, decorated as if it was a luxurious, lounge-like restaurant (except for that it was all open air!) Shirien and I immediately decided that we wanted to get married there. Think about it, our guests could have an exciting boat ride to the venue, the island itself is magic, there's ample room for dancing and drinking and wandering the small garden. It would be a dream wedding yo! Not only would the wedding be awesome, but the location is so...just plain magical!!! Besides enjoying the ambiance, guests could:
- Stay in the famous City Palace or Lake Palace
- Take a tour of the City Palace, Crystal Gallery and Royal Vintage Car Collection (see next post ;))
- Walk around the amazing, unique shops (puppet shops, leather-journal stores, used bookshops. etc)
- Horseback riding
- Tour (I could organize drivers) to the gorgeous Monsoon Palace (atop a mountain!!!)
Finally, we took a boat back to the shore, I petted an adorable stray cow (who literally rolled over in happiness), we ordered room service beers, I got drunk, we rode a crazy pumped-up rickshaw to a fancy dinner, during the ride Anuj slapped a cow's ass (not kidding), and we had a gorgeous dinner on the lake overlooking City Palace.
Enjoy the pictures, they are some of the best ones I have ever taken :-)
Just look at how that red suitcase was placed.
People...Puh-lease!
Melissa, Shirien, and Anuj looking out over the lake
from the rooftop restaurant of our hotel for the first time
The architecture was other-worldly...very mystical!
The beautiful door of our hotel
Walking the winding streets near the hotel for the first time
(completely jet lagged from our 530am flight)
A beautiful mural on a nearby wall
True dat
Seriously couldn't get enough of the old world,
romantic architecture and windy streets of Udaipur
A window nook in a neighboring hotel
The rooftop restaurant where we had the most lovely,
unforgettable breakfast ever at Jaiwala Haveli
We were the first ones there, with this view.
What table would you choose?
The Lake Palace (on the water) famous from the
James Bond movie "Octopussy"
Anuj, Melissa, and Shirien
Yep, we chose the corner table!
Do you see the castle on the mountain in the distance?
It's the Monsoon Palace
Melissa!
Me, Melissa, and Shirien
Anuj, Melissa, Shirien, and Me
(Isn't this view incredible? The Monsoon Palace was
to the right of us too...pretty spectacular)
Pancakes, omelette, porridge, toast, orange juice, tea :)
I can't get over these windy streets!
(That's Ben in the distance!)
The streets were so pretty, so much to look at
If you were to show me this picture and tell me to
guess where it was taken, I don't think I would guess India.
Asking for directions
Nooks and crannies everywhere!
Little alleys
Clothes for sale, and men pumping water from a well
The main gate entrance to the magnificent "City Palace"
Inside the palace courtyard
A gorgeous painted dome
Beautiful murals and detailing every which way
So many different nooks and crannies!!!
Me and Melissa and a beautiful archway
The palace went on and on...
A worker cleaning one of the palace front doors
with a giant wooden stick!
A puppet shop!!! Fab.
Even the stray dogs in India eat Indian food haha
Beautiful blankets and quilts
Anuj
Lots of stray dogs sleeping nuzzled on doorsteps :)
This one, in front of our hotel, didn't have teeth!
(We learned that when Anuj tried to feed it a leftover
egg sandwich). It's tongue was out of its mouth too haha
In the lobby of our hotel
Our beautiful, very yellow, hotel room!
So much yellow!
We even had stained glass windows :)
Yet another rooftop meal, this time at the Rainbow Cafe
(Anuj got sick, day #2 into the trip haha...we speculate
it was from the butter chicken here hahaha)
View of Lake Palace from lunch
The cutest little seat for two ever!
(Reminding me that I don't have a boyfriend)
Is this real life?
A very lovely picture of Melissa, drawing ideas in her sketchbook
Even the napkin holders are charming!
Oooh, Anuj going for the butter chicken (in happier times..)
Anuj + Cow!
(I freaking love all of the stray cows in India)
Back view of the cow
A beautiful shoe shop
Do you see the dog?!
Every one of us bought some beautiful
camel-leather, hand-made paper bound journals here :)
Getting in a rickshaw
I just spotted this man with his head down, and quickly
snapped away. I really like this shot (Let's hope he
was just tired, and not sad or in despair)
COLORS!
This huge door to City Palace was still being cleaned!
Look at how huge it is?!
The feather plume. The mustache.
A beautiful Indian outfit.
Inside the City Palace again :)
City Palace
Inside the City Palace's Crystal Gallery
A Palace Hall
The view to the right: the lake :)
A great hall, converted into a conference room...
boasting two of the country's largest crystal chandeliers
Complementary tea-time after the tour!
Outside of City Palace
(how beautiful is that door?!)
Walking around :)
Beautiful restaurant
I am so obsessed with the detailing/ architecture in Udaipur
City Palace (left)
Oh hey!
Boat cruise!
I would take a picture too ;)
Old buildings lining the lake
Udaipur really felt like a fairytale town
Lake Palace
(rooms start around $500/ night...and this is INDIA!)
Gorgeous
Melissa, Me, Anuj
Me, Shirien, Anuj
Me, Shirien, Anuj
(We could all be siblings!!)
Me, Shirien, Melissa
Drummers and "water-bowl" playing...so calming together!
The old temple on the island
Giant stone elephants surround the island
(there was a stone crocodile too, because myth is that a
few crocodiles live in the lake. There are no swimmers!)
So gorgeous and elegant
The little fountain and garden (back) on the tiny island
At dusk, the whole place becomes illuminated :-)!
It looks simply magical...again, out of a storybook!
Magical
Beautiful sunset
All lit up at night. Sigh...
Wouldn't you want to get married here?!
The skyyy
Magic.
(This image reminds me a bit of a scene from the children's
book, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses")
City Palace, all illuminated at night
The palace front gate at night
A silly cow resting in front of a shop!
Of couse, I went to pet it
Let's just say it got pretty relaxed, and rolled
over to have its belly rubbed!
It kept nodding its head in happiness...like a dog hahaha
Action shot!
The cutest little whole-in-the-wall music store
Room service!!!
Cheers!
Our very fancy dinner, on the water, overlooking the palace at night
Shirien and Melissa at our fancy dinner!
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