There is something for everyone

The ‘city of lakes’ barely needs any persuasion to visit it. The age-old heritage, sprawling palaces, amazing food joints overlooking a magnificent lake are reasons enough for any traveller to pack the bags and head there. Which is why the rains didn’t deter my weekend plans of a road trip from Delhi to Udaipur. On the contrary, the rains made the drive all the more enjoyable. 

The drive is almost 12 hours from Delhi, so I made sure I left the city as early as possible to reach my destination by early evening (and maybe catch the stunning sunset). 

The roads are amazing and the topography surprising. I have to say, the roads are brilliant on this route, especially Jaipur onwards, leading to Udaipur. Leaving early will also mean that you skip the traffic just out of Delhi, reaching Jaipur in lesser time. 

The topography on this highway will surprise you. It belies everything you would think a highway through Rajasthan will look like. It isn’t dry or arid, in fact, the roads are lined with trees and vast stretches of greenery with a view of misty hills often greeting you. You could easily be confused that you are headed to a hill station. 

Monsoons are perhaps the best time to witness the greenery on this highway in its full glory. Although, it will take a toll on you, quite literally! The highway to Udaipur has surprisingly a lot of toll booths. Get ready to shell out Rs 730 one way, at these stoppages. I suggest you keep change handy for a smooth and speedy exit at these booths. 

Driving into the city will bring you face to face with daily life chaos interspersed with pockets of serenity and an air of royalty.  

EXPERIENCE THE OLD AND NEW
The Old City area is where you will experience most of the things how you would have envisaged this trip. Shops selling ethnic clothing, shoes, and jewellery, age-old temples (Jagdish Temple being the most popular) with beautiful architecture, new age quirky art galleries as well as cafes. If shopping is on your mind, you can get traditional crafts, shoes, leather bags and antiques for a decent price. Don’t be shy to bargain; you can get yourself some amazing deals, especially in the off-season.

Spend some time at the Ganguar Ghat at Lake Pichola and just watch time pass by. The beautiful buildings around the lakeside, hills with clouds hanging on top and the serenity of the place will make you want to stay back for more. 

Choose your stay wisely depending on what you are looking for. To get a taste of royalty, I decided to stay at Hotel Chunda Palace. Once home to a royal family, it was converted into a palatial hotel 16 years ago and I was intrigued to experience the same. The interiors and the aesthetics sure made it a great choice. To top it, the in-house restaurant serves delicious Lal Maas and you get a magnificent view of the lake. 

BEYOND LAL MAAS AND DAL BAATI
Of course, you will satiate your craving for these Rajasthani delicacies, but Udaipur has great options for casual as well as fusion dining options. Head to Jheel Cafe for stunning views of the lake and some mouth-watering wood oven vegetarian pizzas. My vote goes to the Mushroom Herb or the plain Margherita. If you are in the mood for something different and organic, Millets of Mewar will not disappoint you. The chill ambience, organic fresh fusion food as well as vegan options will surprise you.

Sticking to the regional delicacies, Courtyard Restaurant and Cafe serves the most amazing Keema Baati. Do not head there if you are super hungry and want something immediately as this takes at least 40 minutes to get ready. 

For best lakeside views and fine dining Upre’ and Ambrai are your best bets. 

CABS ARE BETTER THAN AUTO
Travelling around the city can be a hassle (and expensive) if you are not smart about it. For the narrow winding roads of the old city, you would want to, of course, choose an auto over a car. In Udaipur, however, autos will rip you off, charging you three times the cab fare. I suggest an Uber at least from your stay to the old city and avoid autos at all. Walk your way around to get a feel of the city and find cosy cafes in the neighbourhood. 

I have to warn you though that mobile data connectivity is extremely patchy. I suggest you either rely on WiFi in a cafe or be ready to be extremely patient with using the internet on your phone when out of a WiFi area. 

All and all, the city of lakes won’t disappoint you. If you are here to get a whiff of Rajasthani royalty or to experience local folk and craft or just spend lazy days overlooking the lake and mist covered hills or to experience the hippie cultural vibes — there is something for everyone. 

(The writer is a traveller, photographer and storyteller who shares his experiences at Moving Compass)