After deciding that we wanted to escape Ahmedabad, we headed straight to the government bus stand and got on the next bus to Udaipur. The journey was just under 6 hours. So in a period of 24 hours we had travelled for approximately 17 hours! Needless to say our butts were sore!
Udaipur is a city beside shimmering Lake Pichola, probably most famous for featuring in James Bond's Octop**** Helen immediately fell in love with Udaipur. We both took a tuk tuk ride from the bus station to our hotel, Helen was delighted as there were numerous craft shops lining the streets of Udaipur.
Both of us had a great nights sleep and feeling refreshed we were ready to find out what Udaipur has to offer. The first morning we headed straight to the City Palace Complex which would enable us take a boat ride around Lake Pichola. Helen decided to buy a drink and was gobsmacked when she was asked for 103 rupees instead of the normal 25 rupees. Obviously something to do with the Lake Palace hotel being so close.
We took a boat ride around Lake Pichola making a stop at Jagmandir Island, which is clearly seen in Octop**** The main sight of Lake Pichola is of course, Jagniwas Island which is completely covered by the Lake Palace Hotel. Lake Palace Hotel is supposedly one of the worlds most luxurious hotels at a cost of minimum £2000 a night. This is where 007 seduced Octop****
On our return to the boat dock we headed to the City Palace Museum which is the largest palace in Rajasthan. Our interest waned after 5 minutes due to 2 reasons 1) the Indians pushing in front of us, Im not sure if they see disabled people as inferior? and 2) the huge number of people trying to look at one exhibit. We decided to head out after 5 minutes but we had to complete the maze of a palace to get out. It was a relief to get out!
After lunch we decided to walk the city without the aid of a map or our lonely planet, we got lost but it was the best way to see the city as we stumbled across the residential areas and stables where we saw some Marwari horses. Helen still can't get over how funny their ears look! We also found more craft shops off the tourist path offering better products for half the price so started our Christmas shopping!
We spent the evening watching Octop**** as we felt as we were in Udaipur we had to watch it!
The next day was spent chilling out and wandering the city again, while it has graceful beauty with its quaint streets, characteristic buildings and stunning lake. They day was just spent relaxing, eating and shopping. At 8pm we left to catch our 9.30pm bus to Jaisalmer. Just prior to 9pm we were told that our bus was cancelled, to our annoyance we has to then get a bus to Jodhpur and change there at apparently the same place. 6am the next morning we were dropped off at Jodhpur with no idea where we were as it did not resemble a bus station, after a major communication breakdown we finally figured that we had to get a tuktuk to the bus stand.
We decided to catch a government bus as there was about 400 rupees difference, and it was a bad choice! In the middle of the desert, our bus decided to break down!