Udaipur is the lake city of Rajasthan.  Most of the state might be a desert, but Udaipur, with its five huge interconnected lakes is blessed with not just a perennial water supply, but the lakes also keep the city and its environment cool, even in the sweltering heat of summer! The city draws not just crowds of tourists coming from across the world for a glimpse of its magnificent palaces, but also droves of migratory birds drawn by the lakes! The city is thus an interesting blend of history and nature, well worth a leisurely visit. While there is much to see and do in Udaipur, here are some things you should not miss –

   1. Take a leisurely walk around the Fateh Sagar Lake….

Visit the garden amidst the lake and watch the sun set over the water… as well as birds returning home.  In winter, the garden hosts numerous migratory birds, but even in peak summer, we saw scores of birds, especially lapwings, nesting.

While there, also pay a visit to the museum dedicated to Maharana Pratap. While the museum is mostly about the battle of Haldighati, what we especially enjoyed were the miniature models of the Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh forts!

2. Visit the city palace and museum and take one of the complete tour packages… and spend the entire day amidst relics of a bygone era….. the palace is well preserved and provides a glimpse into the life of the royal family in days gone by….

While there, don’t miss the crystal gallery! Can you imagine sofas and beds all made out of crystals? No? Just visit the crystal gallery…. Also included in the complete package

Go for a boat ride on Lake Picchola to wrap up the experience!

3. Ride the cable car to the Karni Mata Temple… Not spiritually inclined? Doenst matter! The view is worth the ride!!

4.      Visit the Sajjangad Fort

Located within the wildlife sanctuary, the fort is the only monument in  the area not maintained by the royal family, but by the ASI. Don’t expect the richness and the opulence visible at the other palaces , but this fort is still worth a visit, for its enviable rain water harvesting system designed over 500 years ago! Talk to one of the guides and they may just take you on a bike ride into the forest, and show you the towers built for the hunting kings and small palaces built for queens to watch the hunting!

5. Wind up your day with the Sound and Light show at the City palace.  Conducted in English during the peak season and Hindi during off-season, the story of the Mewar Rajputs is recited in a captivating manner. Listening to the stories of the kings, queens and their struggles, it is impossible not to get involved. There was not a dry eye at the end! And the palace looks magnificent, all lit up!

Rediscover , relax and rejuvenate yourself in Club Mahindra’s  Kumbalgargh property in Rajasthan

We were on our way to Jodhpur from Udaipur and an important halt on the way had to be Kumbalgarh as were told that it was a ‘not to miss’ fort. We were not disappointed. The roads all the way were wonderful and despite visiting Eklinji and Nathdwar on the way we reached Kumbalgarh by 1pm. On the way we passed the impressive Club Mahindra Kumbalgarh Resort.

Though the sun was beating down mercilessly the first sight of the fort was enough to drive away any tiredness. Having parked in the official parking lot and buying the entrance tickets we set out to explore this much talked about fort.

We were accosted by ‘guides’ at the gate but we decided doing the fort on our own. There is a map at the entrance which one can use to decide what one wants to see. There is also a plaque there which told us that this fort was built by Rana Kumbha of Mewar in the 15^th century. It was built on a 3,500feet high hill overlooking the approaches from Ajmer and Marwar and was considered impregnable. The fort remained impregnable to direct assault, and fell only once, due to a shortage of drinking water, to the combined forces of Mughal Emperor Akbar, Raja Man Singh of Amber, Raja Udai Singh of Marwar, and the Sultan of Gujarat.

Another interesting fact was that, of the 84 fortresses defending Mewar, 32 were designed and built by Rana Kumbha. Of these, Kumbhalgarh, with its 36-kilometer long wall and soaring towers is the most impressive. This wall is supposed to be 2^nd only to the Great Wall of China in size!

Now it is famous as the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great King and warrior of Mewar. It was occupied until the late 19^th century but now the fort is open to the general public as a museum. It is lit up for a while every evening which is supposed to look spectacular. Unfortunately due to paucity of time we did not have the fortune to witness that.

Apparently there are 360 temples within the fort , 300 ancient Jain and the rest Hindu. To ascertain this, would have had to stay at Club Mahindra Resort nearby, maybe will do some other time. But if you have the time and the patience and the interest in history it would be a delightful exercise.

According to legend, in 1443, the Maharana of Kumbhalgarh, Rana Kumbha, was initially unsuccessful in repeated attempts to build the fort wall. To overcome this hurdle a seer was consulted about the construction problems who advised ruler that a voluntary human sacrifice would solve whatever that was causing the impediment. He also advised building a temple at the spot where the head would fall after the sacrifice, and to build the wall and the fort where the rest of his body lay. As can be expected, for quite some time no one volunteered, but one day a pilgrim volunteered and was ritually decapitated. Today the main gate of the fortress, Hanuman Pol, contains a shrine and a temple to commemorate the great sacrifice.

Right on top is the Badal Mahal which offers spectacular views.

We spent a couple of hours taking in the awesome sights of and from the fort and then started back the long walk back to the parking lot with a sense of having participated in the most historic forts of Rajasthan.

The Club Mahindra Resort in Kumbalgarh is a sprawling luxurious property overlookin the magnificent mountains. The fort is barely 5 kms from the resort.

I have wanted to experience Udaipur and the Palaces around. Finally, sometime last October we made plans with my family to explore Kumbhalgarh. Its most famous for its Fort which stretches across 36 kms of the Aravali Mountains and 1100m above sea level. The wall is 2nd biggest wall in the world after The Great Wall of China ( am sure most of us dint know this ).

Well we started this journey by taking a flight to Udaipur..which is 2 hours drive from Kumbhalgarh. We had booked our stay in the Club Mahindra Kumbhalgarh resort.

Loved the drive from Udaipur airport to the resort. We drive by the so called Aravali Mountains. We were booked up in tents. The only Club Mahindra resort which gives the tent experience. It was one of its kind.

View from the resort is amazing. Surrounded by mountains..The day we reached we just lazed around. Did nothing just explored the place to its best and enjoyed the amazing food in the resort. The next day we planned to visit the Fort. The best time to go to the fort is evening as they light up the fort walls. It was so beautiful..words are less to describe them…

The view when the fort was lighted up was amazing. Couldn’t leave my camera for a minute. Daily at around 6.30pm they light up the fort.

Finally it was time to head back to the resort, have dinner and sleep off as next day we had planned out a day trip to Ranakpur Jain Temple. 2 hours drive from the resort lies this beautiful Temple. Bhagawan Adinatha resides in the amazing marbel temple.

Spell bound carvings all around. A day well spent. Drove back to the resort and indulged in some resort fun activities. The next morning was one adventure morning. Early say by 5am we were ready for Kumbhalgarh WildLife Sanctuary. Drive down the gushing forest early morning was amazing especially in a open jeep and rocky roads.

Though we couldn’t spot any animals, but the trip was worth while. We were back to the resort in time for a good breakfast and then we headed for Shrinathji temple. A 2 hrs drive from the resort. We were blessed with nice darshan of Bhagwan and was time to head back to the resort and start packing up as next day was time to head to a day trip to Udaipur and a flight in evening back home.

Went around palace of Udaipur. Beautiful is also less said for it..

The trip did end as good things do come to an end, but the memories are still floating afresh in my mind.

A place worth a second visit. Can’t wait to plan another vacation there

I remember the famous lines from Paulo Coelho’s Alchemist –“If you really want something, the whole universe conspires to help you to get it…” Last December as I sat in my office in Chennai wondering how it would feel to get a taste of winters up north, I had no idea the opportunity would come to me in the guise of work. A week- long trip for work to a Club Mahindra resort in Kumbhalgarh was more than I could have asked for.

Reaching Kumbhalgarh is fairly hassle-free. If you are one of those people who like to save time on travel, the quickest way would be to take a flight to Udaipur and then take a taxi to Kumbhalgarh. Since I was on an official trip and had little time to waste, I did just that.

The drive is just over 2 hours.  The road is good in parts and under construction at rest of the places. It cuts through hills and passes through several small villages; a treat for all who love the countryside. Once I reached Kumbhalgarh I immediately felt the impact of fresh air and the new surge of energy flowing in through the clean, pollution free environment.

Club Mahindra Fort is set right in the lap of nature. It was late in the evening by the time I reached and I could feel the mercury falling. After a warm welcome from the staff, I was ushered to my accommodation – A luxurious tent; set up picturesquely by the hill behind the resort. It was quite a surprise to see how the tent was loaded with all the elements of luxury– exquisite furniture, beautiful lighting, a heating system to keep you warm and an attached bath. These tents offered an alternative accommodation option to guests who want to garnish their stay at the resort with a hint of adventure. Having slept very little, I was too tired to explore the resort so after an early dinner, I dozed off.

My Tent at the Resort: Loaded with luxury!

The next morning, I woke up at 7. I put on my track suit and headed straight for the gymnasium. I have recently got into a fitness regime and it felt great to find a well equipped gymnasium ready for the onslaught. After a light workout I returned to my tent and took a hot shower before heading for breakfast.

With full justice done to a lavish spread, I got involved with the real purpose of my visit – work. I must confess though that I was enjoying it like never before and could feel my efficiency go up substantially.

I spent the afternoon exploring the resort. All in red brick, the resort stands true to its name – “Fort”. Spread over a wide area with a variety of apartment options customized for an individual’s accommodation needs, the resort is quite a treat to the eye. I strolled past a bunch of kids enjoying themselves as they splashed the cold water of the outdoor swimming pool which allows you to enjoy a swim with a beautiful view of the mountains. A flight of stairs descended to ‘Svaastha’, Club Mahindra’s chain of spas. I made a mental note of coming back later for a rejuvenation session if time permitted me. To the right of the spa was the holiday activity centre; a place with is abuzz with kids and families having fun in the evenings. One can enjoy a variety of board games, indoor games, pool etc. There are also facilities to rent movies and books for those who like to spend some time by themselves in their rooms.

The Resort Swimming Pool: Beautifully set up with a view of the mountains

By the time I was through with my stroll around the resort, it was time for lunch. After a sumptuous breakfast I was really looking forward to a second meal and I wasn’t disappointed.

I moved out of the resort at around 5 in the evening to visit the famous Kumbhalgarh fort. The fort is famous for its 36 Kms long wall; believed to be the second longest wall after the Great Wall of China. It is also the birthplace of the famous Rajput warrior and king Maharana Pratap. A resort staff suggested that I should go in the evening before sun set and stay back till it was dark to see the beautiful lighting of the fort which is quite an attraction for the tourists.

The Kumbhalgarh fort is a testimony of the grandeur of the Rajput kings. A steep climb leads all the way to the top of the fort from where one can see the valley below and the clusters of temples built by several kings centuries ago. One of these clusters has as many as 52 temples, a delight for heritage lovers.

Fort Kumbalgarh

As the sun set, I climbed down to position myself at a high point outside the fort to see the famous lighting. The lights turned on almost one at a time and I realized that the sight truly worth the wait and the effort. I missed not having a good camera with me, my mobile phone’s camera definitely couldn’t to justice, but atleast it helped me capture a memory.

The roads around the resort offer quite a ride to the adventurous traveler. If you are one of those who like to drive then going around the precipitous turns should definitely send the adrenalin rushing for you. But the real sense of adventure comes to you when you go for the Jungle Safari on a 4 wheel drive open jeep. I woke up at 5 the next morning and geared up for the trip. As advised by the friendly resort staff, I left back my wallet in my tent. This was to prevent it from getting lost in the tall grass of jungle in case it fell out of my pocket while the jeep moved over the rough terrain.

A local guide who accompanied us told us that the chances of spotting a wild animal are greater during the night or the early hours of the morning. As we moved across the dense forest, I kept a vigil for the slightest movement in the bushes lest I missed the chance to spot an animal. We saw several langoors, deer, and peacocks on the way but the famed leopards of the area did not come in sight. I had nearly lost all hope when almost out of nowhere I saw them– 4 cubs playing just by the side of the jeep’s track! We stopped a few meters away and observed quietly as the clubs playfully pounced on each other and then almost as if to reprimand them for their behaviour, a beautiful leopard popped out from underneath a huge rock and pulled the cubs – one by one – back inside the rock opening.

During the evenings, you have several options – you could decide to sit in the warmth of your rooms and watch a good movie, enjoy a chit chat with family and friends or you could join the rest of the holidaying families for special programs staged at the resort. Since I was travelling alone, I chose the latter. The program in the evening was a folk dance presentation. The 2 hour long performance by a group of talented Rajasthani folk singers and dancers left the audience spell bound; in fact I can still hear the songs ringing at the back of my head.

Being a travel freak, I ventured on to visit a few other places around Kumbhalgarh as well, one of them being the famous Parshuram Mahadeo temple at around half an hour’s drive from the resort. Reaching the temple is quite an arduous task as one has to climb a flight of stairs and move across the rough terrain to reach the temple premises which are inside a cave. If you have the stamina to pull through a 2 hour long walk -both ways put together-  the journey would be worth it.

There are several other tourist spots around the area, mostly temples, if you have time in your hands. By the end of 5 days, I had managed to complete my work and do a bit of sight seeing around Kumbhalgarh. On the day I was to fly back, I decided to leave early to explore Udaipur.

Udaipur, rightly known as the city of lakes, is a haven for tourists. The city has a very quaint feel about it and one can spend an entire day just moving around the narrow lanes exploring shops selling trinkets and sundry exquisite items. I did some shopping for hand made notebooks with beautiful leather covers. A word of caution: Make sure you bargain hard on the prices or be ready to pay thrice the price for what you buy!

As the flight took off from the airport, I looked down fondly at the slowly disappearing buildings, lakes and trees. If my work continues to bring me such memorable opportunities to travel, I doubt if I am ever going to retire.