City of lakes, romance and old world whimsy, Udaipur

“There are not enough words to describe how fantastic our trip was in India. All of your hard work showed in the way everything ran smoothly, efficiently and was so enjoyable. We are sure that you heard how much we enjoyed our guide. He is in a class of his own. The evening events were superb and the birthdays were so memorable. Jeremy turned around and said that was one of the most fun bdays he has had.” – Ruth Chaitman

“What a great trip so far, exceptional. Timeless India Journeys has done SUCH a good job.” – Rose Stein

Our last stop was a city that is beautiful in every way: exquisite gardens, marble palaces and twinkling lakes. Udaipur is seductive and secretive, revealing its many gems as we took the time to explore it.

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At its heart, Lake Pichola laps against shimmering white buildings and, in the distance; the Aravalli hills complete the picture. Early one evening, we enjoyed a romantic cruise on the placid waters of the lake with a view the city of Udaipur as it rises majestically above the lake in the middle of the Rajasthan desert. An expertly guided city tour took us to the city palace, which is the largest in Rajasthan and then on to splendid temples, lavish havelis and fantastical palaces; past bathing ghats and the numerous embankments that encircle the lakeshore. We visited the Jagdish Temple – a monument and an architectural wonder – and saw the black marble image of Lord Vishnu at the Fateh Sagar Temple.

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In the midst of all the finery, we enjoyed a local lunch with a noble family in the old city. We stayed at the majestic Taj Lake Palace. Leisurely afternoons were spent shopping and exploring local colourful city markets (Udaipur is famous for miniature paintings and silver inlay furniture), or relaxing in the romantic hotel with the option of a private consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor. The final dinner was a fittingly magnificent ending to a completely wondrous trip – a 5-star meal on the Sunset Terrace of the City Palace overlooking the lake, and the breathtakingly beautiful city, with its lotus pools, fountains, flowerbeds, and marble pavilions; and the surrounding countryside that offers some of the most wonderous sights of Rajasthan.

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