Udaipur: City of Lakes

Udaipur is the city of lakes.  We are staying at the Taj Lake Palace in the middle of a large lake.  We take a pontoon boat as a taxi to our hotel.  We are in the middle of a large basin.  Mountainous hills surround us.  The hillsides are dotted with temples and other buildings.  Most imposing, right on the edge of the lake, is the City Palace Complex with its walls of marble and granite.  Now a large museum, we will visit the complex the following day and then walk through the old walled city. 
 
Horns announce our presence as we pull up to the dock at our hotel.  We are met by umbrella carrying attendants to shield us from the midday sun.  In the lobby, we are met with cool towels and cold drinks as is the custom.  The historical seasonal palace of the maharajas has been converted to a hotel.   We learn the significance of the common areas, palatial rooms, and more.  We enjoy a traditional dance and music show in the evening over drinks.  We wake up to yoga in the morning just after sunrise, before touring the city complex and the old city. 
 
 
The narrow streets and Havelis of the city rise and fall with the hills.  We’re never far from the lake.  The shadows of the old buildings are welcome in the midday heat.  The old city reveals secrets – entering a building leads to an enclosed courtyard out the backdoor, which we cross to a tall building filled with textiles and more treasures.  Ornate stairwells lead up to new wonders.  The cobbled streets harken back to another time that fits with the stone craftsmanship around us.
 
The view from the roof of our hotel reveals so much.  It’s quiet in the middle of the lake, but for the gentle breeze.  It’s a great place to watch the sunset and the sunrise.  The granite and marble buildings on the lake’s edge offer the perfect reflective backdrops.  It feels like the trip is coming to a close and this indeed true.  We’re on to Delhi and then, back home.