We drove from Amedabad to Udaipur. This was a about a 5 hour drive. The most important part of the drive is that we left the State of Gujarat and entered the State of Rajasthan. As you probably guessed you can drink in Rajasthan. Driving into Udaipur we saw our first elephant being used as a beast of burden. One more thing to avoid on the crowded streets.
Rajasthan is the State that people think of when they think of India. Palaces, red earth, it is all here. The Rajaputs, the people who lived in this area, were known as fierce warriors. The city of Udaipur has many, many palaces and several lakes. There is a famous palace in the middle of lake that has been turned into a hotel.
We are staying at a new very nice hotel, called the Trident. When we arrived in Udaipur, we went the main Palace of the Majahrana. The Palace is a huge complex which has grown as buildings were added onto it over the centuries. It looks out over the lake and the Majahrana can see many other of his palaces. This guy is loaded! At Indian Independence, in 1947, the Majahrana was able to keep his palaces his jewels and lots of other things. He in very astute and has turned many of his palaces into hotels.
At any rate we walked through the gigantic palace and saw the way he lives. He still lives in it in a newer section.
We returned to our hotel cleaned up, had drinks (yea) and headed out to another one of his palaces. This was is a guest palace on an island in the middle of the lake. We took a private launch to get there. It was a beautiful setting looking back across the lake at night at the various lit up palaces.
As the night progressed I realized that I was finally suffering from a bout of “Delhi Belly” as they so discretely describe it. I have now taken the antibiotic prescribed for it, and I expect to be ok in the morning. I have no idea where I picked up the bug. At any rate, India is worth it!
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