Tweet
Spring Break Ride, April 2009
INTRODUCTIONThe RidePit Stop
On the NH 75
Udaipur.
The Romantic City, the City of Lakes, Venice of India, call the city what you will, but it is inadequate to describe the charm of this lovely quaint town nestled in the Aravalis at a commanding height of 680 metres, 2200 feet. A medieval town born in the 16th century, this is not a fast-paced, hard hitting, party going city. But it is a relatively modern looking city, a city that calms the mind, soothes the nerves and one can chill out without really a care in the world, holding the hand of your partner in one hand and the motorcycle in the other and spend your late afternoon looking at the reflections in one of the numerous lakes in Udaipur as the sun goes down in between the hills. A picture perfect setting as one would want it. You can print your own picture postcards from here!
We climbed up to our hotel Hilltop Palace, at 1200hours, exactly 7 hours to do 690 kms from home! We had made 4 calculated stops for fuel, water, and photographs.
Hilltop Palace, it was Sunny and Old Fox's abode too!
View of Udaipur from the hotelPillion takes a refreshing dip in the pool and relaxes
Going to Sahelion ki bari, where the Maharana had 48 girls of honour, beautifully maintained garden
Entrance to the GardenSaturday.
This was the day when we discovered the exact spot from where Udaipur originated, within the famed walls of the City Palace, constructed nearly 5 centuries ago by Maharana Udai Singh. The evolution of this magnificent palace through the centuries is incredible; made in granite, marble, dark basalt and other exquisite stones, it is a maze of corridors, steps leading to courtyards, rooms decorated with coloured mirrors, amazingly beautiful fresco walled bedrooms, a place almost perfectly reminiscent of the glamour and glitz of a bygone era, rich in history and cultural heritage, well restored and maintained by the current Maharana Arvind Singh of Mewar, a man whose vision and efforts in modern times have enormously helped the tourism industry in Rajasthan. In this palace are also exposed some of the finest miniature paintings on paper of the 18th century and in another section an exquisite collection of rare collection from the 19th century. The entry to the crystal gallery is quite steep, but worth it.
City Palace, Udaipur
Another view of City Palace
The Mirror RoomThe Mythical Lake Palace HotelRiding through the Aravalis
En route to Sas Bahu Temples
The Sas Bahu Temples
Lovely Granite Figurines
The R1 and the Young GoatherdFrom Sajjan Garh, the Monsoon PalaceOn the Strip
Full Throttle ahead. Notice the heat and dust trail behind!
The sun was rising high and making its presence felt. The heat was becoming tougher. We had around 500 more kilometres to cover. We packed up with some regret and a light feeling of happiness, we gesticulated a wave of gratitude to the old watchman and were homeward bound.
On the way backYours truly
Text: Krishnendu Kes, aka KEN.
Photographs: Krishnendu, Moon Das
INTRODUCTIONThe RidePit Stop
On the NH 75
Udaipur.
The Romantic City, the City of Lakes, Venice of India, call the city what you will, but it is inadequate to describe the charm of this lovely quaint town nestled in the Aravalis at a commanding height of 680 metres, 2200 feet. A medieval town born in the 16th century, this is not a fast-paced, hard hitting, party going city. But it is a relatively modern looking city, a city that calms the mind, soothes the nerves and one can chill out without really a care in the world, holding the hand of your partner in one hand and the motorcycle in the other and spend your late afternoon looking at the reflections in one of the numerous lakes in Udaipur as the sun goes down in between the hills. A picture perfect setting as one would want it. You can print your own picture postcards from here!
We climbed up to our hotel Hilltop Palace, at 1200hours, exactly 7 hours to do 690 kms from home! We had made 4 calculated stops for fuel, water, and photographs.
Hilltop Palace, it was Sunny and Old Fox's abode too!
View of Udaipur from the hotelPillion takes a refreshing dip in the pool and relaxes
Going to Sahelion ki bari, where the Maharana had 48 girls of honour, beautifully maintained garden
Entrance to the GardenSaturday.
This was the day when we discovered the exact spot from where Udaipur originated, within the famed walls of the City Palace, constructed nearly 5 centuries ago by Maharana Udai Singh. The evolution of this magnificent palace through the centuries is incredible; made in granite, marble, dark basalt and other exquisite stones, it is a maze of corridors, steps leading to courtyards, rooms decorated with coloured mirrors, amazingly beautiful fresco walled bedrooms, a place almost perfectly reminiscent of the glamour and glitz of a bygone era, rich in history and cultural heritage, well restored and maintained by the current Maharana Arvind Singh of Mewar, a man whose vision and efforts in modern times have enormously helped the tourism industry in Rajasthan. In this palace are also exposed some of the finest miniature paintings on paper of the 18th century and in another section an exquisite collection of rare collection from the 19th century. The entry to the crystal gallery is quite steep, but worth it.
City Palace, Udaipur
Another view of City Palace
The Mirror RoomThe Mythical Lake Palace HotelRiding through the Aravalis
En route to Sas Bahu Temples
The Sas Bahu Temples
Lovely Granite Figurines
The R1 and the Young GoatherdFrom Sajjan Garh, the Monsoon PalaceOn the Strip
Full Throttle ahead. Notice the heat and dust trail behind!
The sun was rising high and making its presence felt. The heat was becoming tougher. We had around 500 more kilometres to cover. We packed up with some regret and a light feeling of happiness, we gesticulated a wave of gratitude to the old watchman and were homeward bound.
On the way backYours truly
Text: Krishnendu Kes, aka KEN.
Photographs: Krishnendu, Moon Das
....
Comment