We arrived in Udaipur early and almost the first thing we saw was this little donkey train:
They look cute but it’s a tough life.
We were on our way to look at the Royal tombs, the place is as big as a football field and absolutely packed with mausoleums:
The most interesting thing was that they used the “Samwat” calendar:
Samwat was new to us but it’s all quite straightforward, it is a solar calendar established by the Indian emperor Vikramaditya (1st century BC).
The Samwat calendar (suffixed BS) is 56 years 8 months and 17 days ahead of the Gregorian calendar so for example the year 2056 BS began on April 13th,1999 and ended on April 12th, 2000.
The Samwat calendar is still the official calendar of Nepal. Good pub quiz question there.
After the tombs we went to see the Royal Gardens built in the 1700’s for the Royal ladies:
The signs were amusing:
I think I know what it means!
From the gardens we went to the City Palace where we had our first glimpse of our hotel, the splendid Lake Palace:
The Lake Palace hotel was the royal summer palace but was converted to a hotel in 1963 and taken over by the Taj Hotels Group in 1971:
The Lake Palace from the Royal Palace.
The hotel is absolutely fantastic, Leishia had told them in advance that our stay there was my birthday present and when we arrived not only had they baked me a wonderful chocolate birthday cake but also they’d given us an upgrade to one of their Royal Suites (Sajjan Niwas Suite). From the moment you arrive at the dockside you’re in another world – nothing is too much trouble. As we arrived at the hotel we were showered with rose petals which came fluttering down from the upper floor, a traditional Rajasthani welcome.
We were expecting the hotel to be good but we didn’t realise or imagine how good.
Our beautiful suite:
with a wonderful terrace:
and super views:
The Common areas were just as lovely and there was often music in the background:
The lily pond
Early morning
Dinner on our first evening was a traditional vegetable thali:
and after that all we did was indulge ourselves with massages, a heritage walk, a sunset boat cruise, Indian astrological readings, live dancing and wonderful sleeps. We never left the island, we just soaked our time away from India – just what the Doctor ordered!
If I was listing my TopTen hotels this would definitely be number 1! What gets it there? Outstanding ambience, staff, and service.
For the record our number 2 is the Copacabana Palace in Rio.
Anyway today we said our goodbyes and for the next week we will be touring Gujarat and, with a little luck, catching sight of one of the four hundred surviving Asiatic Lions in their one remaining refuge – Gir National Park.
India 2013/14 
wow, we spent several days in Udaipur, gazing at this hotel. guess its as wonderful as we imagined it to be:)) I painted a few watercolors of it as it hovers in the lake as if a mirage shimmering in the intense indian sun. Couldnt be a much more romantic setting for a hotel. once in a while you need a respite from travels in India, sounds like you had the perfect one. Happy Birthday Ian.
Wow how posh was that? Will make a note of this place. Hope you had a good birthday Ian. Love to both Maureen xx
Hi Maureen, The Lake Palace is a real treat, so much so that we’re already planning our return trip! See you in late March xxx
Nice post, nice photos and nice photography. Thanks for sharing your experience about such a wonderful Destinations. My favourite place is Ooty, but now i will plan my next trip to udaipur.