Into the Soul of Udaipur: From Palaces to Street Vendors
Our journey from regal palaces to bustling street vendors. We captured the city’s soul on every corner.
While commuting to different cities for work, I always used to notice small cities and towns on the way and wondered about life in these cities. More often about how their evenings look like, what their mornings look like, etc. In short, about the SOUL OF THE CITY. I understand if this phrase sounds foreign to you! What we have been told by spiritual Gurus is that the soul resides in an individual and the quest of life is to reach the soul. Bullshit! I am more curious about the soul of the city and the lifestyle of the locals. I beleive it resides in the monuments and its architecture, the local food, the hustle that shapes the residents and how they spend their free time.
With all this in mind, I and my partner decided to explore Udaipur- The City of Lakes!
As we reached Udaipur, the first impression of it took my heart away. Though a major tourist destination of Rajasthan, India, it was nowhere close to the other touristy places like Agra and Delhi. Udaipur is all about — royalty, serenity, and calm. It justifies its title of being a city of lakes! But what you learn is, it is also a city to rejuvenate yourself and meditate as you breathe here. The people of Udaipur are welcoming and will help you in all the ways possible with just one ask.
Enough said, let me walk you through the places and incidences that shaped my perception of this place. With almost 4 days in hand, we decided to visit major tourist attractions of Udaipur- City Palace, Sajjangarh Fort, Biological Park, Lake Palace, local markets, Lake Pichola, Lake Fatehsagar, Saheliyon ki Badi, Sukhadiya Circle and Gangaur Ghar. We also happened to visit Jaisamand Lake — India’s first and world’s oldest historical and second largest artificial freshwater lake in India.
While you can find many articles for the major tourist attractions in Udaipur, let us walk you through the essence of this place. The must-visit places to have a profound effect on your psyche and help you capture the soul of Udaipur.
Streets of Udaipur
It’s all vibrant and tells a tale of heritage and culture!
Our way is- to land in a city and roam on streets without having any destination in mind. So we did the same! We went out and started walking!
To our surprise, the streets were less vehicle-crowded and were offering more artistic sights. From Government buildings to hotels, most of them had rich Mewar Architecture. Giving us a royal presence as we roamed around.
If relaxed afternoons are your favourite, then this is the place to be at!
This sight just caught our attention! People relaxing and having tea under the shed of a tree and chatting. Also, there were young folks across reading newspapers and sipping Kulhad Tea (a not to miss). There were women weaving baskets and brooms just outside our hotel corner and children playing not too far away from their mothers.
Coming from a metropolitan city, the clear blue sky of Udaipur was a treat for our eyes. You can enjoy ample sunlight and a cool evening breeze sitting at the lake at leisure. This not only energises you but also lifts your mood.
Street Food of Udaipur
Ever wondered if food has the power to feed not just the body, but also the soul?
Our definition of the Human Soul is — a form of energy that permeates through the universe and that same energy is shared among all living beings binding us as one. Suggestively, the energy we get in our body from consuming food slightly shapes our soul as well.
Similarly, the food of a place shapes its soul as well. Since food ultimately converts to energy, it is very important to know the energy that is put into the food while it is being prepared.
This is the reason that your Maggi tastes different in your house as compared to the Maggi you get at a shed on edge of a hill.
The street food of Udaipur is much different from other places. The dishes are the same but the taste and the feel of the food is different. When I think about it, I guess it has much to do with the people of Udaipur who are preparing these foods. They are more concerned with the intent of providing the food than just serving what you ask. (This statement has a deeper meaning if you think about it).
Our Udaipur Food Recommendations —
- Try the Khasta Kachodi and Dahi Panipuri at Panchwati Circle.
- Rajasthani Thali at Masala Restaurant outside SajjanNiwas/Gulab Bagh.
During early morning, we went out and tried Adrak Chai at Panchwati from an old gentleman. His smile and general demeanour made the Chai 10-fold tastier.
Cafe Culture at Udaipur
If you are a Digital Nomad and Work Remotely
The cafes of Udaipur can easily match the cafes of Europe and North America. While the cafes of Europe provide street-side seating and finely baked items, the cafes of Udaipur provide a rustic feel with a bit of cultural blend.
We visited Jajam cafe in Udaipur. It is a residence converted into a cafe/co-working space. The location is in a quiet residential area and you will easily pass it as a normal urban house unless you notice a small signboard which says Jajam Cafe. When we saw the sign board, we were not sure about the cafe but once we entered the small iron gate, we were shocked to see the interiors of the cafe. The owner of the cafe has transformed an old 1950s architecture house into a rustic cafe. It provides you with all the modern amenities of a cafe (fast wifi, good music, aromatic coffee and finely baked items). It also makes you feel like you are sitting in a 1950s home of a friend. We sat beside an Indian Bael tree which was planted inside the house. You could find an old radio set and some poems hanging by the wall to give the place a hippie look!
The next cafe we visited had a huge contrast from Jajam Cafe. We visited Mocha Cafe — the interior of which can put most 7-star hotels to shame. When you enter the cafe, you are greeted with a huge drinks area of glass and the decor reminds you of a posh British Queen’s tea area. The chairs, chandelier and the entire feel of the cafe are based on Victorian architecture.
Gangaur Ghat & The Old Walls of Udaipur
Gangaur Ghat is a main destination during the prestigious and magnanimous festival of Gangaur. At other times, it is a place to sit by, enjoy the cool breeze from the lake and admire the mesmerizing sound of water. Adjoining the Ghat are the shops selling local artefacts. The vendors of these shops do not heckle tourists and just smile while you pass by their shops admiring the handicrafts, traditional clothes and perfumes showcased.
Gulab Bagh / Sajjan Niwas: Oxygen Hub for Udaipur
You cannot fully know a place if you don't meet and talk to the trees of that city which have been standing there for centuries.
While the trees of metropolitan cities look sad and out of place, the trees of Udaipur are ever-smiling and joyous. We visited Gulab Bagh (aka Sajjan Niwas Garden) which is a huge green stretch of trees in the middle of Udaipur. Fitting the term ‘Oxygen hub of Udaipur’. This 100-acre park boasts numerous trees, a toy train ride within the park and a bird park where you can see many exotic birds from across the world. The parrots here talk! Ostrichs and other birds welcome you with sweet voices.
Lush green trees and amazing winter flowers will smile at you when you walk through Gulab Bagh.
Udaipur: The City of Lakes
We cannot talk about Udaipur and not talk about the lakes.
Udaipur is home to 7 lakes surrounding the city. The most famous lakes are Fatehsagar and Lake Pichola.
Fatehsagar Lake provides you with a walking path around the lake which is perfect for slow evenings. Lake Pichola provides you with lake-view restaurants where you can enjoy delicious meals while appreciating the calmness of the lake.
The Forts and Palaces of Udaipur
Forts and palaces form an integral part of Udaipur’s soul and it is impossible to understand this city without visiting these palaces and knowing the story behind them.
Much of the forts and palaces here were built under the Mewar reign. Once here, you will be able to experience the full extent of their power and wealth. The stories range from a palace constructed for observing the monsoon clouds to the queen who built a fort just to satisfy her disagreement with her husband.
You all know about the City Palace of Udaipur from a Google search. Let’s talk about two less frequented forts and palaces: SajjanGarh Palace and the forts of Jaisamand.
SajjanGarh Palace — The Monsoon Palace
The approach to this palace is very treacherous as it sits on top of a hill.
Start with visiting the Biological Park that stands at the foot of this palace hill. There is a nominal entry fee to the place and we assure you it is worth visiting. You get to see almost all the wild animals in their natural habitat. These wild animals are not passive and caged as you see in a zoo, but are freely roaming in their zones.
To reach the Monsoon Palace you need to hire a taxi or an auto. You can take your vehicle too. But I must say that if you are not an expert driver, don’t attempt this drive. The bends and curves of the roads are not for the faint of the heart. Your ears pop because you are climbing at a very rapid pace.
It all becomes worth it for the grandeur of the Palace you witness and the city view you get from the top. The big door at the entrance offers a royal architecture and the accessibility to the internal palace complex makes you feel like you are a king/queen of that era.
This palace is called the Monsoon Palace because it was constructed by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1884 to observe the monsoon clouds and the lakes of Udaipur.
Once at the palace, you cannot help but wonder how the people of those times were able to build such a magnificent palace at the top of the hill. Transporting the materials and then building the palace with all its affluent amenities must have been a huge undertaking just to observe the monsoon clouds.
We planned our trip to SajjanGarh in such a way that we could watch the sunset from the palace. As the palace is on top of the hill, watching the sun setting beyond the hills gives you immense peace and calm.
Jaisamand — Lake, Forts and Wildlife Safari
A hidden gem located 50 Kms from Udaipur City
Jaisamand boasts the Flora and Fauna of the region! Jaisamand Lake is a true human-made wonder offering all the forms of natural beauty. Starting from the hilly surroundings, the two palaces, Hawa Mahal and Ruthi Rani Ka Mahal, offer an exquisite view.
The story behind Ruthi Rani ka Mahal was quite Intriguing to us! The story goes something like this — when the queen used to get upset with the king, she used to move to her fort which is on a different hill than that of the king’s fort and the king has to come to her fort to woo her and win her back.
Again, it's not an easy task to reach these forts because both of them sit on top of a hill. So if you are scared of heights and are not accustomed to treacherous treks, skip visiting and spend your time at the lakeside. But if you like adventures, the forts are an excellent destination and the views from the fort are nothing compared to anything you have seen before.
After enjoying the lake and the forts, we made our way to the wildlife sanctuary for a safari where we saw spotted deer, wild boars and many other exotic birds and animals.
The sanctuary is huge so it would be best to get a guide who can show you the territories of the animals in a safari. Who would have thought that we would be able to see exotic wild animals during a Wildlife Safari in Rajasthan? During the Safari, we were also able to meet some local villagers and see their way of life in the region as well.
How to describe the soul of Udaipur?
It takes ages to understand and fully explore someone’s soul but it's not the case when exploring the soul of a place. The soul of a city is rooted in its history, heritage, culture, foods, current state and most importantly, how the city connects with you.
In that context, Udaipur leaves a profound mark on your soul. It’s welcoming and accepting. The energy you feel in the city is of love and calm mixed with the pride of the Mewar. The city’s soul is generous and kind while at the same it can be fierce and intimidating like a warrior. You feel like hugging the city while at the same time bowing down to the bravery and fierceness of the warrior spirit of the city.
It is very difficult to put in words the feeling that you get while explaining a soul but I hope I was able to do justice by putting the feeling in words.
Feeling the wanderlust? Book your tickets and make memories that last a lifetime! For more travel recommendations, write to me at parul715@gmail.com or reach out to me on Instagram.
