Udaipur

As we stepped off the night train it was like we were in a whole other country (i.e. not India), well almost. The air was cool, the views surrounded by green mountains and the rickshaw drivers were friendly. We had landed in Udaipur, the Venice of the East.

Udaipur was founded in 1559 when Maharaja Udai Singh II enlarged Lake Pichola and built a palace on an island in the middle of the lake. Now the palace is a luxury hotel available to guests only, but the city that surrounds the lake is a charming collection of Hindu temples, winding streets and rooftop restaurants.

We first visited a vintage car collection that housed, among other cars, a1938 Cadillac complete with a sustyem for purdah (custom among some muslims and hindus of keeping women secluded). However, the highlight of the car museum was the 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom that was used in the James Bond film Octopussy. Other cars included an Indian school bus from the 1930s and a 1920 Ford Model-A.


We spent another two days exploring the city and it's eating at cafes and rooftop restaurants. The views were amazing and weather even better. We were sad to leave our favorite city so far, but the rest of India and all of Nepal await.