UDAIPUR - FEBRUARY 13

Before breakfast, I decide to have a stroll in the quiet streets around the hotel. I love the murals here. ...........After a nice breakfast on the hotel terrace,.... with fantastic views over the Pichola lake, Bernadette and I decide to visit the City Palace. Jocelyne and Christine will come a bit later. ....We fist stop at the ghats, where women do the clothes washing. That’s really hard work and the water must be cold. But still, they do it chatting and laughing… I am glad I have a washing machine at home....

Then, we stop at the Jagdish Temple. It was built in 1651 and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Laxmi Narayan). It has carved pillars and many sculptures of dancers, elephants, horsemen and musicians.... A stop at another temple nearby ..and we continue to the palace.

...The white City Palace stands on a crest overlooking the Pichola Lake. The main part of the palace with its several ' Mahals' is now a Museum. There are many courtyards, passages, it is a true labyrinth. It is difficult to describe all the beauties of this museum. Carvings, paintings, mirrors, furniture, glassworks, it is just amazing....... .....Even the steps…

......

..From the windows, we get fantastic views over the city or over the Pichola lake and the Lake Palace...............We spend about 2 hours there. I found Christine in the museum, but lost Bernadette. Christine and I go for a drink (delicious lassi) in a rooftop restaurant facing the Jagdish Temple, in the hope to see the two other girls. It is only when we leave the restaurant that we find them. Then, we start our stroll towards the vegetable market. It is an explosion of colours, smells, noises…. So lively!.......

....The vegetable and spice market is fantastic. So many various spices….... Noodles, rice, lentils in big sacks............. Oil in boxes, sugar….................

In the evening, we drive to Sunset Point overlooking the lake to admire a beautiful sunset. .........Many people there........