Its one of the most popular tourist destinations in India—for domestic and overseas tourists alike. Udaipur, better known as City of lakes is truly special, calm and beautiful. It has lot many things to offer to the tourists from temples like Eklingji and Nathdwara to historical places like Haldighati. So much so that you can’t probably do a justice to it in a short trip. It is also a perfect place for shopping a lot of traditional items. From all those things to do in this historical city, here is a top 10 list for you lest you don’t miss something big once back home. A few of them are guaranteed to be missed, if you wouldn’t know. A boat trip to Jagmandir A visit to Udaipur is incomplete without a boat cruise in Lake Pichola, the historic 14th century lake made by a local banjara (
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Who likes to be alone! Whether it is a human being or birds, everybody looks for a sweet, cute, like-minded company!! Isn't it.. As is a line of a popular hindi Bollywood song... एक... एक से भले दो. दो... दो से भले तीन (One... two is more better. Two... Three is still better than two), और मैं जोड़ रहा हूं- तीन... तीन से भले चार! (Three... four is far better than three). So here is one little bird, all alone... Looks around for some company... Anybody there? ...or on this side? Here one comes to join the friend! Now they look for the third one... Hello there! Isn't there anybody else? Oh hi! How are you folks! Nice to see you. I am here too. Let's call our fourth friend... So that completes our quartet. Lets now start the chorus! "In the sweetness of friendship let t
Read MoreIn this picture you can see a hill or for that matter a leftover of it. This is in Rajasthan, less than 200 kms from national capital- Delhi, as well as the state capital- Jaipur, on way to my native village in Sikar district of Rajasthan. It can be very safely said that in few months from now, this hill will cease to exist. Hence I keep wondering, was it an unwanted structure! It gave life, it is evident from a single tree still lurching on the top. But then how long? Mining mafia is flattening them all- one by one. My little village, with a small history of itself, was surrounded by hills. There used to be a small lake. Many of us had our first swimming lessons in this lake. But, today this lake is... well photo (below) says it all. In earlier days, the adjoining hills us...
Read MoreWell, this post was always on cards, ever since I did my other posts on langurs of Ranthambore some time back. There were two immediate provocations (inspirations I should say). One was a post from fellow blogger Mukul Chand on Langurs and second one an invite from the #Indiblogger to take part in the #IndiMarathon. I fully agree with Mukul Chand that langurs are a photographers' delight and I have photographed them a lot, at many places. This post is about langurs of the Mandore Garden complex in Jodhpur. Ancient name of Mandore was Mandavyapura and it was capital of Marwar till the foundation of Jodhpur in the middle of the 15th century. However existence of the old fort on the hill is traced back to 4th century. Well, will discuss the history and architectural importance of Mand
Read MoreOne reason why I was elated in my last post about Adalaj Vav near Ahmedabad in Gujarat was that I had been earlier to a few of other step wells and had been very disappointed with their maintenance. One of them is Bawadi (Baori or Baoli or step well) at Neemrana in Rajasthan. Neemrana is more famous for its 15th century fort-palace which is now a heritage hotel. This hotel has also been base of India's first zip line tour- flying fox. Well, back to the step well. You can imagine by the photo below, that how grand it would have been. This bawadi is located inside the Neemrana village (although Neemrana is now more of an industrial township as well as education hub). Its not very far from the fort palace. The first sight itself proves how glorious it would have been. On the hindsig
Read MoreWhy the last sunset of the year has to be so beautiful! I wonder. Sometimes its so magical that you don't want to let the year pass by... Although it also sets the tone to welcome the new year with all positive vibes. It also reminds us about the beauty of life, however troublesome the years gone by would have been... Photographing sunsets or sunrises is normally all photographers' favourite pastime. They can do it almost endlessly at every dawn and dusk. So has been the case with me. And when the charm is to capture the last sunset of the year, then you don't want to blink, just to click... click... click. Sand dunes at Sam near Jaisalmer (almost 35 kms from city) in Rajasthan are actually known for their fascinating sunsets. Sunset here shows, how romantic even deserts can be. ...
Read MoreMade famous almost a decade ago by some fat celebrity weddings, Devigarh owned by Lebua Hotels and Resorts is a heritage hotel, housed in an 18th-century palace in the village of Delaware near Udaipur in Rajasthan. It still is famous for weddings in royal styles. Popular for shootings of films and TV serials, this was the royal residence of the rulers of Delwara principality, from the middle of the 18th century until the mid-20th century. Nestled in the Aravali hills, the stunning hill-top fort palace is located on one of the three main passes into the valley of Udaipur. This palace is now fantastically restored into a luxurious, sophisticated and impossibly romantic retreat. The interior of the fort palace has been transformed in a minimalist contemporary manner while conserving the an...
Read MoreThe largest team sport in the world, boat races of Kerala (known vernacularly as Vallamkali) flaunts the social and cultural integrity and diversity of God's Own Country. The awe-inspiring snake boats bring alive the rivers during the months of August and September. Following the southwest monsoon rains in Kerala, the season of boat races commence. If it is not the reason big enough to go to Kerala, then there is Onam also this month, most auspicious time of the year. Certainly, the best time to visit the ‘God’s own country’. Nehru Trophy Boat Race Come August and the placid waters of the Punnamada Lake become a track on fire. Held on the second Saturday of August every year, the time of the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race is when the silence of the lake is sliced by the slashing
Read MoreSpring in its full bloom and it is riot of colours everywhere- in nature as well on faces! one of the most awaited months of the year because of its festivities- festival of colours- Holi in the beginning and Chaitra towards the end. It is also last of the months of the pleasant weather before the summer strikes. Its already getting hot this time of the year. Don't spare a chance to be around at any one of these places! My top 10 picks- 1. Festival of colours in Brij Though there are many festivals around the world where people throw colours, waters, flowers, mud, tomatoes, oranges and what not on each other, but no celebration can be compared to the fervour of celebrating Holi in mythical land of Krishna. Though Holi is celebrated in almost all parts of northern and central India, b
Read MoreNo wonder Udaipur is among top Indian cities to record highest tourist footfall- domestic as well as international. City of Lakes is unparalleled in many ways, one among them is its nightlife along lakes- cool, funny, youthful, safe, secure and lip smacking, rare to find anywhere else in India. But here on show the colours of light at night in this beautiful historical city. And remember, this is the best time to be there!! ...
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