Udaipur … An Anniversary Treat … at the Taj Lake Palace Hotel …

We left the Shaws late last night and took the first of two flights to Udaipur and the Taj Lake Palace Hotel – for three nights of pure bliss as an anniversary gift to ourselves 😍

Thu, 20th – 22nd September – Udaipur, Taj Lake Palace Hotel
We fly to Delhi where we have a six hour wait for our flight to Udaipur. It's been a tiring experience but the end result is well worth the wait!!!!!! Just getting to the hotel is an awesome experience. Having been met by a local tourist guide, we are escorted to the hotel – our first real experience of the hustle and bustle of India's streets – mopeds, buses, cars, cows, dogs, horses – all roaming freely, constantly moving amidst the sounds of the horns beeping everywhere.

On arrival at the City Palace – residence of the Emperor – we enter the grounds and drive up to the jetty to the Taj Lake Palace Hotel. What a surreal moment this was – we feel like royalty as we are greeted to board the boat across the lake to the hotel's entrance. What an amazing place – opulent, stunning – already we are aware that nothing is too much for the staff here – just what the doctor ordered 🙂

We have a lake view room and, once we are freshened up, we go over to the restaurant for a 'real' curry before retiring to watch Octopussy which was filmed here in 1982.

Fri, 21st September
Oh, how we slept last night!
This place is so magical, serene and tranquil. It really is too beautiful for words, set in Pichola Lake surrounded by the longest range of hills in India – the Arvalli. Following a sumptuous bountiful breakfast, we head off to Udaipur City to get a feel of India and the local area. Wow!!! what hustle bustle and noise! Whilst walking, we were ushered apprehensively by a persistent little fellow into an Art School. Here in this tiny room beautiful pieces of work were being produced using very thin hairs of the squirrel's tail and ground down natural rocks providing the colouring. It was quite remarkable and yes, we made a purchase – which will serve as a reminder of our first experience of the streets of India and will no doubt make us smile every time we think about how we came by it.

We make our way to the City Palace, a series of palaces built by successive Maharanas since 14th Century. This is home to the King or, more correctly Maharana, he is not a Maharaja. Maha means great, raja means ruler and rana means warrior. So this king is a Great Warrior, because of all the kingdoms, his was the only one never to be attacked. A guide was well worth the 250IR (2.80) who told us engaging accounts in history and who was most passionate as he spoke. There are endless beautiful rooms and courtyards, decorated with peacocks, gold, silver and mirrors. We are rewarded with great views across the lake and city from the top courtyards.

Whilst in reign, Kings gifted properties 'Havelis' in the surrounding area to its staff. These are still occupied by staff and their descendants and some of those not in service anymore have turned them into small hotels.
Our second purchase was made as the guide ushered us into the old stables, now shops run by the Palace Trust. Regaled by the story of the Pashmina, one of the hundreds in the shop was now in a bag making it's way home with us! lol. We will get better at this I am sure!

Time was against us now and we made our way back o the Palace Jetty in time to join the hotel's nightly Palace Tour / Lake Boat Trip and be back in time for the nightly entertainment.
As we walk through reception, we are greeted by our first names – it really is excellent here, they know how to make you feel special. The hotel is full – around 160 guests – so, in my opinion being able to do this is impressive.

We frequent the bar and are already having great chats with Jomey, the barman – and we thought Ryan (The Plough) was good!

We join the tour which really complimented what we had done earlier in the day and discover that this hotel was originally built as the royal family's summer residence. We learn about the Kingdom of Mewar, Udaipur's 1400 year old royal family. The boat tour around the lake enabled us to visit the other island on the lake, Jagminder – a 'pleasure palace' in it's heyday for the young royal men. High up on the hills surrounding the lake is Monsoon Palace – aptly named as in the monsoon season the royal family would reside there.

We return in the time for the dancing – a different local theme each night – and Sofiq was immediately by our side to attend to us.
After a full and very sweaty day, T decided it was best for a soak in the sumptuous bath whilst N and Jomey propped up the bar. We were so busy today that we've actually forgotten to eat and decide on room service. NOM NOM, it was good!

Sat, 22nd September
We opt for a lazy morning with a couple of games of chess (which I hasten to add I whooped N’s ass! lol) followed by a visit to the Crystal Gallery – a collection of crystal furniture ordered by Maharana Jagjit Singh. He was not interested in politics and instead was a lover of art, poetry and beautiful objects hence his interest in crystal. He placed an order for crysal with Ostlers of Birmingham to furnish his palace in crystal – we are told that the order is today still in the archives of the company. Ok, we know about crystal glasses, vases etc. but chairs, beds, tables, sideboards made out of crystal? When he said furnish he meant it! Sadly on the day the crystal was delivered the Maharana died. This was such a bad omen the crystal was never unpacked until todays King saw the money making potential and put it on exhibition. A free cup of tea came with the tickets to the Exhibition and that was welcome.

We return to the hotel and treat ourselves in the spa – N has a 60 min deep tissue massage followed by a facial / T has a 30 min back massage, 30 indian head massage followed by a wash and blow dry. Already in heaven, we are contacted by reception who inform us we have had our room upgraded for our last night here!!!! WTF!!!! We didn't think this could get any better – this doesn't happen to us!

Our suite – Vikhra (meaning Rain) – is overwhelming. No words could explain the feelings as we stood in that suite for the first time – 🙂 HAPPY 23RD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO US 🙂

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