My trip to the scenic location, Udaipur, was a very special one since I had the chance to celebrate my silver jubilee wedding anniversary in this mesmerising place. Since the onset of a pandemic, our priorities of celebration had changed and we decided to make our special day a private affair. I had always been enthralled by the grandeur of Udaipur, however, never had a chance to visit the city. We riveted on the place and set for our trip.
Our trip was not just a holiday but an experience of a lifetime. With comfy flight services from Lucknow to Udaipur, we reached the beautiful city in time. Our stay was arranged at the majestic 18th-century fort palace of Raas Devigarh, a quiet oasis nestled in the Aravali hills.
On the way to our hotel, we did a short stopover at Dhabalogy, a fusion Dhaba on NH8 that left me intrigued with its creativity. It was a sheer delight to enter the dhaba, themed on Bollywood movies and roadside dhabas. The Fort of Devigarh was renovated over nine years to transform it into the luxury boutique hotel.
The heritage property showcases contemporary designs using marble and semi-precious stones. The spectacular view of the Aravali ranges and the Delwara village below is breathtakingly beautiful. The courteous staff of the hotel left no stone unturned to make us feel special.
Since our stint was short and with a curfew imposed in the city from 8 pm to 6 am, we did our sightseeing with caution. From visiting the 17th-century pilgrimage temple of Shrinathji at Nathdwara to the historic site of Haldighati, every aspect of Udaipur fascinated me immensely.
What fascinated me most in Haldighati was its topography of the hill pass of Aravalli Mountains which had turmeric coloured yellow soil. The valour of Maharana Pratap and his horse Chetak are well portrayed through a light and sound show.
The next day I visited the much-acclaimed City Palace. The magnificent heritage property speaks volumes of the affluent Mewar rulers. Built in granite and marble, the architecture of the Palace is a splendid blend of various cultures. Surmounted by balconies, towers and cupolas the imposing engineering genius sits over the peaceful lake Pichola.
A boat ride at the breezy Lake Pichola with a stopover at the upbeat island of Jagmandir is a cherry on the cake. The Lake Garden Palace or Jagmandir boasts of the prettiest garden along with the splendid Palace. The market place displayed the colourful hustle-bustle and creative Rajasthani culture at its best.
A treat to your palette is the local and fusion cuisine readily available all around the city at an affordable cost. A must-try for vegetarians is the Ker Sangri, Gatte ki Sabzi and Daal Baati Churma to name a few. The deliciously fiery Laal Maas is a non-vegetarian’s delight for sure.
The city certainly left me wanting for more. It is unequivocally one of the best places for photo ops. I wrapped my trip with beautiful and enduring memories to cherish on.
-memories shared by Rachita Vyas