What an incredible hotel! I know, I know, I have been saying that about every hotel on this trip, but every time I say it, it’s the TRUTH and I have photos to prove it.
I’m running out of adjectives to describe how grand the Oberoi hotels are, so you’ll just have to see for yourself.
I’m so glad we are staying here for three nights because that gives us the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful pool area,
fully appreciate the interior of the hotel,
and stroll along the magnificent grounds by the lake.
We had fantastic outdoor dining at the hotel two of our three nights in Udaipur.
Dinner on our last night in Udaipur was at the home of the grandson of a former prime minister. The grandson is a chef, who prepared a selection of wonderful Indian foods, mostly vegetarian, but including mutton and chicken dishes.
Prior to dinner, we were dressed in saris and turbans. Yes, we HAD to be dressed by an expert, because none of us would have been able to master the tucks and twirls on our own.
These are my new friends from Naples, Florida. You can see we each have been wrapped differently.
When we arrived in Udaipur, we immediately headed for lunch at the Lily Court, which was also an art gallery and sculpture garden. This was my favorite piece.
Next stop was the Nagda Temple, which was constructed in the 11th century, and partially destroyed by Muslims who objected to the erotic wall decorations.
This complex, dedicated to Vishnu, is known as the Sas-Bahu Temple.
On our second day, we strolled through the market, then headed for the garden constructed for the king’s harem.
We were so very lucky that the rain held off until we were back in our rickshaws. I shared my rickshaw with Jennifer, our trip leader, so I heard her talking to our local guide as they tried to figure out whether the downpour would continue, requiring them to cancel our walk through the garden.
Magically, the rain stopped, so we were able to enjoy the gardens with their beautiful fountains.
Each couple got their own rickshaw, so as a single, I got my own. The driver would take us wherever we wanted to go. We could choose to shop for jewelry, textiles, cashmere, or go to lunch, to an ATM, or back to the hotel.
Believe it or not, I was able to do all of the above, probably because I had zero interest in fine gems. I DID find a cashmere wrap that was different from anything I’d ever seen.
While in Udaipur, we enjoyed a cruise on Lake Pichola. It has some naturally occurring “islands” that are now sites for incredibly gorgeous hotels. Doesn’t it appear to float on the water?
After our boat ride, a tourist train took us to the city palace entrance.
Of course, the palace was richly decorated, with mosaics covering the walls.
The rooms were interconnected by very narrow winding passages, with head smashing doorways for the taller people in the group. (Bet you’ve figured out how I know that!)
What struck me was the distance between the Kings and the queen’s bedrooms.
I had assumed that the KING was making the journey along the dark passages to get to the Queen. Wrong. When I asked, our guide told me the king would SUMMON the Queen, and SHE would have to find her way along the dark, narrow passages.
In my defense, I thought the queen’s bedroom was far more interesting. I had no trouble imagining the king taking full advantage of that swing. Sorry. That’s just how my mind works.
Elephants were an important part of defense. This statue commemorates how they “worked out” every day.
We leave this wonderful location for an all day journey to Cochin, also known as Kochi, which requires two flights connecting in Bangalore.
Destination NOW 