Udaipur – Day 1
We got down the train at Udaipur Railway Station and made our way towards the autorickshaw stand outside the station. It was a 6 hours journey from Ajmer to Udaipur and also a very comfortable one. The weather outside was really pleasant and the sun was shining bright, giving us warmth in the cold winter days. I was really looking forward to spend the next 2 days in this beautiful city – Udaipur.
Through the busy lanes of the city and the bumpy roads, 40 minutes later we reached the location where we had planned to stay for the evening. The Zostel- Udaipur.
The autorickshaw bhaiya dropped us at one point and we had to walk up a small cliff to reach the Zostel. As we introduced ourselves to the care takers out there, I looked around the room to find this beautiful sketch of a Rajasthani man wearing the turban and also some beautiful chandeliers on the ceiling.
We checked in to our dorms and to be very honest I was disappointed with the room. Firstly they gave us a dorm which was on the ground floor, with no view of outside and it was really packed with beds, with hardly any space to move. A day back I was in Pushkar where the Hostel was so amazing and spacious. It felt like we had downgraded our choice of stay by selecting this place. Anyway, I was glad I had just booked it for one day and the next day we had planned on moving to a different place. It was the 2nd last day of the year and hence we wanted to celebrate the New Year’s eve at a place which was a little private instead. Sometimes we do end up taking the right decisions unknowingly.
So we checked in and had a small chat with the people at the Zostel and asked them about the famous cafes around and also the best places to go to. So after getting a nice list from them, we set out towards one of the cafes nearby.
So the first place we visited in Udaipur was the “Jheel’s Ginger Cafe”, which was just at a walking distance from The Zostel. A small cozy cafe right by the lake side, where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake Pichola. The cafe was on the ground floor as well as on the rooftop. We found a table by the window at the ground floor and it was the perfect spot in the cafe. I was really hungry by then and ordered the first thing on the menu. The food came in just a few minutes later and we sat there enjoying the nice food, drinks and the breathtaking view.
The sun was about to set and the sky had turned into a beautiful shade of yellow. I did not realise how much time had passed while I was sitting by the window of the cafe, admiring the beauty of the place.
We paid the bill and just to get a better glimpse of the sunset, we went up to the rooftop of the cafe. It was filled with people and I somehow managed to reach the edge of the roof just to get that one glimpse of the setting sun. The sight was so beautiful with the sun just on top of the buildings (Havelis). I wish I could stand there and see the sun disappear but the people on the table next to me started to give me those looks which meant “Move away and stop blocking the view for us”, so I had to step aside.
From the cafe, we started walking towards the ghats. The streets were really busy and there was a lot of honking by the vehicles on the way. On reaching the ghats, we were surrounded by people and pigeons. Yes, the number of pigeons were proportional to the number of people out there. It was a typical day at an Indian tourist spot.
Everyone was there to witness the beautiful sunset. The magical sunset.
Somehow, we made our way away from the crowd and towards the lake from where we could see a clear view of the entire Lake Pichola, the Havelis on both sides of the lake and the Jagmandir Lake Palace in the middle of the lake. The sky looked so pretty with all the different colors and it was such a beautiful end to the day.
After the sun went down, we thought of taking a walk around the city. We walked through random lanes and roads and later on crossed the bridge over the lake Pichola to reach the other end of the lake. From there, the crowd got a little less and the streets got prettier. There were so many lavish Havelis and Hotels out there, many shops with people selling some traditional Rajasthani jewellery, clothes, bedsheets. There were some shops which sold beautiful paintings and sketches.
We reached the end of the street and took a turn to reach the Ambrai Ghat.
There was a narrow lane through which we had to walk to reach the Ambrai Ghat. The sun had set completely and it was already dark. The lights in the buildings and havelis had come up and the entire city looked like a ball of fire because of the yellow lights. The shadow of the lights fell on the lake, making the place look prettier than ever.
It was really peaceful out there, with some nice music playing in a restaurant in the distant and the sound of the little waves in the water. We sat there for quite sometime enjoying the peace and solace.
After walking through the beautiful streets, we finally reached the Zostel again. We went up to their inhouse cafe on the rooftop to have our dinner. The dinner was not really nice but we had some bonfire to keep it warm there. We ended up playing some board games and carrom till midnight and went back to our bunk beds only when it had started to get really cold. It was a beautiful day in the beautiful Lake City and I went to bed, looking forward to the next day which was also the last day of the year.
Udaipur – Day 2
The next morning when we woke up it was really late. It was the last day of the year and we had great plans for the day. After freshening up, we checked out of the Zostel and before checking in to the Haveli, where we had planned on staying, we went up to this rooftop cafe called – Sun N Moon. It was almost noon and we were very hungry. We walked up the stairs (5 floors), to reach the top most floor of the cafe and ordered a lot of food. The view from the cafe was breathtaking and the entire lake Pichola was visible. It looked so refreshing. The food was really good and I enjoyed the warm cup of coffee the most there.
After the amazing brunch, we went and checked in to the beautiful Kankarwa Haveli. We got this beautiful room by the lakeside with an amazing view of the entire lake. We freshened up soon and set out to explore the city.
We found an auto rickshaw, which took us to this beautiful garden amidst the city called as “Saheliyon ki Badi”. This was built by the king Maharana Sangram Singh, for his wife to have some peaceful time with her friends/maids. It was a beautiful garden there with a pool and a fountain too. The place was a little crowded, so we did not really stay there for long.
And through the beautiful roads and the view of the Fateh Sagar lake on the side, we made our way towards the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace which was at a fair distance from the city. On our way we stopped for some Maggi and Golgappas by the lake. It was such an amazing day.
On reaching the entrance of the gates where one could get tickets to the cars which would take the tourists to the top of the hill where the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace was located, we could see a huge crowd of people waiting in queue for their turn. There were limited cars and the number of people more. It was an overall distance of 3.5 – 4 kms up the hill. We were not prepared for a trek. I was not even wearing shoes. But when I looked at the people standing in queue, I just turned around to ask my friend “What do you think we should do?” And my friend’s eyes looked all bright and filled with excitement and just with a glimpse of that look, I said “Do you think we can walk all the way up?”
My friend had already started walking and I got the answer. So off we went without even thinking twice. The roads were totally empty and really clean. It was almost 4 PM when we started walking and weather was really pleasant. A random decision often leads to some great memories.
We kept walking through the curvy roads with the beautiful views. The sun was up there and would set in few hours. The sight so beautiful. We met few people on the way who were returning back on foot. That gave us the motivation to keep walking. It did get tiring to be honest, but thankfully we had the bottles of water with us. We sat down at one point, exhausted and hoping to reach the Palace soon. There was a wildlife sanctuary on the way too. The place was so silent and away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. This was one of the best parts about my trip to Udaipur. The solace and peace on that trek, made it all the more amazing. Such a beautiful way to spend the last day of the year.
Tired and thirsty, we finally reached the gates of the Palace. We could see the beautiful structure right infront of our eyes. There was a lot of restructuring or maintainence activity going on. I could see a beautiful garden by the side and a cafeteria too. The place was really quiet even though there were a lot of people around. We went on to grab some Fruit Juice and Samosas which were the only affordable thing there. And then we sat down to relax for a while.
The Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace was built by the king to enjoy the monsoon weather and enjoy the beautifu view from there. The place was under construction, hence it was not in its best form. But the view made up for everything.
We went around looking at the palace and admiring its beauty. It was indeed amazing. And the timing was even more perfect. The location provides a breathtaking view of the beautiful Udaipur city and the lakes. The city looked beautiful from there.
The sunset from here is something worth watching. It was one of the most beautiful sights .The sun went down and the lights in the buildings far away in the city came up, making the entire city sparkle. It was New Year’s eve and hence some extra lights, making the view perfect.
We made our way back, down the hill and this time we asked one of the cab drivers to take us with them (we paid them later.). It was such a beautiful day and the time spent here made me feel really good about it. On the way back I was remembering how beautifully the year had gone by and the beautiful moments brought a smile to my face.
We stopped at the Fateh Sagar Lake for a cup of chai. The lake was lit up beautifully with lights and colorful fountains. After that we made our way to the Haveli where we were staying.
For dinner we went to this beautful place by the lake Pichola called Rainbow. The dinner was absolutely delicious and the place was filled with so many people, having their New Year’s Eve dinner. The setting of this place was perfect.
As we had not planned on doing anything fancy for New Year’s Eve, we ended up spending our time at the rooftop of the Kankarwa Haveli. The place provided us with the view of the entire Lake Pichola and the city.
It was almost midnight and we could hear the loud music of celebrations from all over the place. Everything looked so perfect from up there.
Just 5 minutes before midnight, the most beautiful thing happened when the entire sky was filled with fire crackers of beautiful colors and varieties. Everywhere the eyes could see, there were fireworks. The reflection fell on the lake making it look so amazing.
And then we heard the countdown in the distance. 10 , 9 , 8 ….. 1. “Happy New Year”. It felt like the entire city was wishing us a Happy New Year. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. We sat there for a long time, seeing the happiness all around. The air was filled with so much positivity and at that moment I fell in love with this place.
Udaipur – Day 3
By the time I woke up next morning, the sun was up completely and the room was shining bright. I could see the lake Pichola right from my bed with the reflection of the sun falling on the lake. It was one of the most beautiful thing to start my day and year with.
It was one of the most beautiful thing to start my day and year with.
I wish I could just stay there all day long. Staring at the windows and just doing nothing.
We went up to the rooftop of the Haveli to have breakfast. The view was breathtaking. The celebrations from last night had stopped definitely and the Lake Pichola was looking fresh and beautiful just like any other day.
We helped ourselves to an amazing cup of chai and some Poha which was prepared in the Home Kitchen of the Haveli. It was something very simple and nice and we enjoyed our breakfast with the amazing view.
We sat down for a while, enjoying the beauty of the Lake Pichola one last time, as it was the last day of the trip and we had a train to catch in few hours. Such a beautiful thing it was. So calm and so serene.
The view is still fresh on my mind and I so terribly wish to just go on a trip to this beautiful place once again and have a cup of tea while staring at the beautiful Lake Pichola.
Later on we decided to take a tour of the Haveli. The Kankarwa Haveli was such a well built structure with rooms facing towards the lake and the interiors designed in a way which gave out such homely vibes. I loved the place so much.
With small plants by the side and staircase leading to different rooms and the sitting area filled with antique furnitures and book shelves with some nice collections of books, this place was a complete package. The owners lived in the very place and you could see them walk around the place and pass you a friendly smile. I loved the people there. So welcoming and so sweet to talk to.
I am so glad that I took this trip to this heavenly place and met such amazing people and also made so many memories. Udaipur is one magical city surrounded by the beautiful nature, food, people, cuture and all the small things which can give you so much to take back.
Udaipur is one magical city surrounded by the beautiful nature, food, people, cuture and all the small things which can give you so much to take back. Places like these leave an impact and places like these, one can never get enough of. Udaipur has my heart and I would love to go back to its lakes and just sit in one of those beautiful cafes and sip my coffee and watch the sun go down making the sky and the lake look prettier than ever.
The Travel Tales 