Udaipur Magic

22/01/2024

Aerial view of Udaipur city at dusk, with City Palace in the foreground.

Photo by Hemant Singh Chauhan on pexels.com

16/07/2023

View from the Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. If you are looking for a place to getaway and relax, Udaipur is a lovely choice.

Photo credit: Taj Hotels

17/02/2023

The stunning Ranakpur Jain temple, built in the 15th century during the reign of Rana Kumbha. A sculptural extravaganza in marble, with 1444 uniquely carved pillars, 24 halls and 80 domes. An audio guide provides information about the temple. It's 90kms from Udaipur.

17/02/2023

Originating in Magadha (Bihar) in north-eastern India, Jainism spread throughout the country, through the efforts of the sangha (order of monks and nuns) and through royal patronage.
In Rajasthan, Jainism has an unmistakable presence through stunning temples, although Jains form only 1% of the population.
Many Jains historically were prime ministers or ministers of the Rajput kings, and enjoyed a high position in Rajasthan. They remain even today, a prosperous trading community, patronising the arts and culture, and doing many philanthropic activities.

Photo: Interior of the Jain temple at Ranakpur, it was built in the 15th century by Dharna Shah, minister to Rana Kumbha, the king of Mewar.



Photo Credit: Volker Glätsch from Pixabay

01/02/2023

At the City Palace Udaipur

25/10/2022

Diwali with a local family. The Schwabs in Udaipur

11/02/2022

Bring out the bubbly! India has revised guidelines for international arrivals with effect from Monday, February 14. The government has removed the category of 'at risk' countries. It has removed the 7- day quarantine as well.
To visit India, you need to either be fully vaccinated, or provide an RTPCR negative report tested 72hrs prior to arrival. Please go through the official announcement to understand the current requirements fully. Or write to us.
You can reach us at [email protected] or by WhatsApp at +919867707414

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf?fbclid=IwAR26VSw6ntXVKy4WHgFtcgLsVYciazxs2_JGTs571ZwIcv577YF2SYaAmo8

29/01/2022

The lakes make magic, don't they

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Udaipur_at_Sundown_(5580915131).jpg

14/10/2021

The horse, the warrior

When you visit the city, the name of Rana Pratap inevitably comes up. A hero of mythical proportions, his skill and conquests form the stuff of legend. There are different versions of his story, the popular version venerates him.

An important part of the tales is his trusted horse, Chetak.

There were three preferred horse breeds Kathiwadi, Marwari and Sindhi. Chetak was of the Marwari breed, volatile and speedy. A horse that chose his master and listened solely to his commands.

Chetak's physical description was provided by the bards as 'a long face, expressive eyes, a neck in the shape of a peacock and ears that curled and touched each other at the top. His coat had a tint of blue which earned him the name of ‘blue horse’

Mughal Emperor Akbar’s army wanted to stake claim to Udaipur. The mountainous Aravalli range offered only a 1-km passage, through Haldighati. This was where Maharana Pratap and his army waited.

Though vastly outnumbered, Rana Pratap aimed to kill the commander. That would have been enough to end the enemy’s ambitions.

The commander sat atop a huge elephant. To confuse the elephant, the king wore the mask of a baby elephant.

Rana Pratap, seated on Chetak charged at the elephant, the elephant stopped in its tracks. Chetak placed the front paws on the enemy elephant’s trunk giving the king a chance to pierce the enemy commander with his lance.

Pratap missed and killed the mahout instead. The elephant’s tusk pierced the horse’s leg.

In the melee, Chetak, limping on three legs managed to jump over a river and reached the king to safety before collapsing to his death.

Chetak is the name used when highlighting reliability, high performing, loyal… words that invoke a sense of trust. All after a war in 1576 that was converted to bardic lore in the 17th century

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Chetak

07/10/2021

Our Udaipur highlights tour begins at the City Palace, a huge resplendent affair that has seen kings of different hues come and go. The stories of valour and ingenuity have formed the base for films

30/09/2021

When you walk down the narrow lanes of the old city you will see Mewar wall art. The art is resplendent with regality, horses and elephants, the preferred vehicles of kings and warriors.

https://www.udaipurblog.com/the-street-art-of-udaipur.html

12/09/2021

Beautiful

07/09/2021

Some of the ruins of the Nagda temple lie submerged

It gives us an idea of what the structure would have looked like

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nagda_(2155716660).jpg

01/09/2021

Udaipur is called Venice of the East, any guesses why?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Pichola,_Udaipur,_20191206_1221_6826.jpg

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25/08/2021

Miniature painting

The art work below is quite intricate, it's the work of a master. Some of our guests have gone for painting classes with a local artist and loved it.
It's a different experience from the monuments and drives.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maharana_Sarup_Singh_Inspects_a_Prize_Stallion_MET_DT4984.jpg

20/08/2021

If you choose to visit the Eklingji temple, keep an eye out for Nandi. It's common to see devotees bend to the ear of the bull and whisper, usually, their woes. Nandi is a good listener, non-judgmental, non-interrupting and he carries the stories to his master, Shiva.

People who tell their stories do not prefer to speak with other human beings, they say there is no need for therapy. The trust they repose in the bull serves them well

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=eklingji+nandi&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

13/08/2021

The Jain temple at Ranakpur is an outstanding sight

A vision in white from outside and in, 1444 pillars each distinct in design.
The temple opens at noon to visitors. It is advisable to be there before 3. For lunch, go to one of the hotels in the area.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chaumukha_Jain_temple_at_Ranakpur_in_Aravalli_range_near_Udaipur_Rajasthan_India.jpg

10/08/2021

The shadows of the evening fall upon the saas-bahu temple

There are many reasons to include a visit to Nagda when you are in Udaipur, the main one being the pleasing locales and the stories behind the detailed sculptures.

Someone thought to make rules for people to abide and graphically present them. Some of them were pretty harsh by modern standards. But, those were far more difficult times

23/07/2021

Aravalli hills and water bodies, what more can Udaipur ask for? Here's more! The beautiful city of Udaipur has a new luxury addition.

Raffles has opened a hotel on a private island in the Udai Sagar Lake. Here's a small section of photos. They also have a fleet of Range Rovers for guests who'd like to be picked from Udaipur airport in style.

For a holiday package to Udaipur, please WhatsApp us at +919867707414.

14/07/2021

An artist's delight

Often, artists sit on the stairs to sketch the outline
It's easy to see why

Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:City_Palace,_Udaipur,_20191207_0526_6946.jpg

07/07/2021

When you visit the palaces in Udaipur, the windows become a point of attraction

The designers wanted beauty to adorn every space

Credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-view-of-city-buildings-8143643/

30/06/2021

A votive from Molela, a village of terracotta workers in the Rajsamand district (southern Rajasthan, near Nathdwara / Udaipur). The votives contain motifs and stories related to tribal legends and gods. They are also sold at other festivals in Rajasthan.

They use brown clay from the riverbed, combined with geru (red clay), yellow clay and ash. The binding agent is primarily dung from cows, donkeys and goats. Cowdung and dried cactus are used as fuel to bake the terracotta.

18/06/2021

Jagdish Temple, Udaipur

Some elements of Maru-Gurjara architecture:
1. External walls of the temple have projections and recesses, accommodating sharply carved statues in niches.
2. Statues are normally positioned in superimposed registers, above the lower bands of moldings.
3. Moldings display continuous lines of horse riders, elephants, and kirtimukhas
4. Hardly any segment of the surface is left unadorned.
5. The main shikhara tower usually has smaller spirelets.
6. Interiors are also lavishly carved

11/06/2021

A Writing of History

James Tod came to India as a part of the British Army and returned to UK, enthralled by the Rajputs.

Here was a man who arrived on the shores as a cadet and rose through the ranks to lead a convoy to meet Daulatrao Scindia, the erstwhile ruler of Mewar (Udaipur). He was accepted and over time, was well acquainted with the royalty of Mewar.

During his time in Udaipur, he was known to be close to Guru Gyanchandra who provided him with the history of past Rajput heroes, history that was inspired by bards of the Charan and Bhat communities. Bards were employed by the royal family and their telling of histories involved some zealous highlighting of valour. Their work had the blessings of the royal family.

His closeness with the royalty brought him under suspicion. He was prematurely retired from the service of the East India Company. When Tod returned to UK and wrote his history of the Rajputs, he based it on the stories he heard.

His work and later research by historians shows us the difference between hagiography and history. Hagiographies make superhumans out of normal struggling human. History is a relating of facts. Hagiographies make heroes. The closeness, the acceptance of the royal family of the East India policies lent to coloured view.

His books make for good reading. Later historians and researchers however, caution that the reader be conscious of the writer’s context.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Captain_James_Tod_mounted_on_an_elephant.jpg