Udaipur
Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir
Venice of the East
Capital of the former princely state of Mewar, the Rajasthani city of Udaipur is famous for its many palaces, many of which are found surrounding or even on the lake itself. In a beautiful state of preservation, many of these former royal residences have now been converted to luxurious, romantic hotels, contributing to the town’s nicknamed status “Venice of the East.” The Lake Palace Hotel (formerly the Jag Mandir), whose white façade gleams in the reflections of Lake Pichhola, was filmed in the James Bond movie Octopussy. Although catering to a more upmarket tourist crowd, those willing to bargain hard and wander through less touristy areas will find the city pleasurable as well.
Read more about my trip to Jaipur on my travelblog
Capital of the former princely state of Mewar, the Rajasthani city of Udaipur is famous for its many palaces, many of which are found surrounding or even on the lake itself. In a beautiful state of preservation, many of these former royal residences have now been converted to luxurious, romantic hotels, contributing to the town’s nicknamed status “Venice of the East.” The Lake Palace Hotel (formerly the Jag Mandir), whose white façade gleams in the reflections of Lake Pichhola, was filmed in the James Bond movie Octopussy. Although catering to a more upmarket tourist crowd, those willing to bargain hard and wander through less touristy areas will find the city pleasurable as well.
Read more about my trip to Jaipur on my travelblog
Reflections of Udaipur buildings
Checking makeup by a Hindu temple
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Dinner Guest
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Mor Chowk peacock mosaic detail
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Udaipur Arts
Both on the street and at concerts, Udaipur has a rich arts scene. While in Udaipur, I attended a performance at stately haveli which featured women engaged in various Rajasthani traditional dances full of symbolism. A puppeteer also demonstrated his skills, bringing his hip-swinging and head-bopping marionettes to life. Traditional instruments and singing accompanied the performers.
The miniature painting industry continues to thrive here, replicating time-honored scenes of maharajahs, Hindu gods & goddesses, love, and animals such as elephants, camels, & horses - all postcard size or smaller. To appreciate the truly great ones, you need a magnifying glass.
The miniature painting industry continues to thrive here, replicating time-honored scenes of maharajahs, Hindu gods & goddesses, love, and animals such as elephants, camels, & horses - all postcard size or smaller. To appreciate the truly great ones, you need a magnifying glass.
Kali marionette maker
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© Melissa Enderle 2014
