Off to Udaipur - the City of Lakes (26-27 Dec 2015)

Dedicated to my grandsons Ashwin, Rishi and Rohan

RAJASTHAN CALLING  -  Part 3 

Off to Udaipur -  the City of Lakes (26-27 Dec)

The morning departure from Ajmer was not without its quota of misadventures. We were all set to do justice to a complimentary buffet breakfast before boarding the 8.45 train to Udaipur. Among the row of  dishes, we found the supply of puri and alu subzi a bit tardy. Idli, Sambar, Vada, were in plenty and were the chief attractions among the locals . But we had sworn that for us it would be only Puri, Kachori, Samosa, … as long as we were in Rajasthan; and would resume contact with Idlis and Dosas back in Bangalore. So Ashutosh reminded the bearer, “Bhaiya, we have to catch a train at 8.45 to Udaipur. Can you please hurry up with Puri?” “ I beg your pardon Sir, if it is for Udaipur, the train arrives at 8.20 and leaves at 8.30, not 8.45. The timings have been revised.” We thanked him for this alert and made a hasty job of our breakfast, of course without puri, and reached station at 8.20. On the way, we heard Ruchi murmur that she won’t be able to visit her grandma’s home near the station, which she might have if the train had departed at 8.45. 

As the SUV dropped us at the station, Ashutosh said, “Ruchi, you still have just ten minutes to visit your grandma’s house and make a hasty return, We will be at platform 4 or in our compartment.” Apparently he wanted peace back in Bangalore. Amma and I  thought he was joking. No. Ruchi and children jumped into a waiting auto nearby and sped. Ashutosh and the two of us engaged a porter and hurried to platform 4 where the train by now had arrived.  To add fuel to the fire, it was a day for cleaning the platforms. The staff opened the hose to full throttle and splashed water with gay abandon, making the platforms very slippery. On top of that, the porter on his part is always in a hurry to finish the job at hand to look for the next. So he was way ahead of us, and Ashutosh with his half-marathon-run background tried to catch up with him. We two were way behind.

On the way, I swore that should Ruchi and children fail to turn up on time, Amma and I would board the train with all the luggage which by now the porter in any case would have loaded into the train. Ashutosh could wait for them and catch up with us at Udaipur station through whatever mode of transport he could lay his hands on. We got into the train, and just organized the luggage when we saw behind us a gasping Ruchi with her kids, having just managed. 

“So, did you see your grandma?”  No uncle, she doesn’t live there anymore. long back she had sold her house. I went just to take a snap of the house from the front as a memento. See, here it is.”  “Oh, my God. All for this. Anyway, all is well that ends well,” I said to myself.

                          

On arrival in Udaipur, we checked into our hotel - Jaiwana Haveli. It is a small, family-run hotel, facing Lake Pichola. Two young sons in their late twenties aided their mother run the show. The mother showed up once in a while. They have a roof-top restaurant which serves good food within 15-20 minutes of order. 

With the remaining time left of the day, we went around the market on a pre-investment survey and identified products to buy later, which we never did. Then we visited the Jagdish ji temple (a beautiful marble structure) of Lord Vishnu with several steep steps. It is a major tourist attraction.

It was now time to book tickets for a show at the Bagore Ki Haveli, near Lake Pichola. It has 138 rooms and numerous corridors and balconies. In the evening the Haveli lightens and stages enjoyable performance of traditional dance and music of Rajasthan. It was houseful for the last show of the day at 7 pm. But seeing the ocean of tourists thronging at the counter, the organizers arranged impromptu an additional show at 8 pm. We were glad we did not miss it. It was perhaps one of the best parts of our trip. 

During the dinner at the roof top of our hotel facing Lake Pichola, we chalked out how best to cover as many places in the remaining one day for Udaipur.

(Next: Final day at Udaipur - City Palace, Shrinathji temple, Boat ride…)