Friday 29 October Udaipur

Today we set off walking in what we hoped was the right direction, to have a look at the Maharajas' Vintage and Classic Car Collection, it seemed very hot this morning and managed to get a bit lost, we asked a few people the way and were glad when we arrived. We were given a fruit drink each which was refreshing and I found the toilet which really was excellent.




There were 20 or more cars on display, with the history of each explained to us by a very nice gentleman, not the Maharajah though, each in its own special garage. To start with we had the place to ourselves which was nice as we were able to get some good photos, I found it far more interesting than I expected - first there were some old American vehicles such a bus, truck, jeeps, fabulous convertibles and cars that looked like they were from old gangster movies, I think four or more Rolls Royce dating from about 1924, three or four Cadillacs, a couple of Mercedes a Vauxhall, Ford, Morris Minor, Chevrolet, Buick as well as a collection of solar powered vehicles, I think the most attention was being given to the Rolls Royce Phantom used in the film Octopussy, but I loved a wonderful old red Austin. One car had been converted to use a system for purdah so that the ladies were able to be driven around. They all had personal number plates or UDAIPUR on them and they have all apparently had a lot of use.



When we left we explored the Sajjan Niwas Garden a park across the road which is apparently famous for its roses, and which we thought might go to the lake, it didn't but we enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the shady paths, there was a little railway, a rather nice building which we couldn't find out what it was used for as well as a rather horrible zoo - we could see some small cages of a type we didn't think were still in use with animals pacing back and forth, we left and further up the road saw a sign for a Tibetan Market, it
was very disappointing with stalls selling identical nasty clothes.

We decided it was time for a late lunch back at the Whistling Teal. Oh dear have just got thinking about going back to Delhi tomorrow and how I haven't booked a room. So next we had to find a travel agent and book some where to stay, we tried to go back to Lal's Haveli but they are full, tried some more that had been recommended but no luck, the agent found one in Karol Bagh, not where we wanted to go but that's my own fault.

Later we went to Bagore-Ki-Haveli where we sat in a lovely courtyard to enjoy Rajasthani music and dance, with an explanation given as to what we would see - it started with very colourful dance and music, followed by a tribal dance showing good fighting evil all very exciting with vibrant make up and clothing, this was followed by great music accompanying three ladies in wonderful colours dancing while balancing pots containing fire on their heads, then there were ladies playing music with little instruments attached to them, like little cymbals, followed by a great puppet show which was most amusing - similar to the one we had seen in Jaigarh Fort - it was interesting too that the pupeteer was in front of us working the puppets.

Another display was with the ladies dancing round and round in such beautiful clothes which led onto the finale, a very lovely lady dancing with a pot on her head, she then added more pots one by one till there were about 12 one on top of the other and, as if this weren't enough she danced on the edge of a plate, I think everyone was holding their breath - excellent and obviously everything was traditional.





As it ended at about 8pm we walked back to the Jagdish temple where passing the huge stone elephants at the entrance we went inside, the devotees were so welcoming, smiling beckoning us to come right in to join in the ceremony, John got taken off for an interesting tour and explanation of everything while I stayed with the ladies, the God Vishnu who has four arms was in black stone, people passed in front of him making offerings the whole time while many women sat on the floor in front chanting. The temple is wonderful, quite beautiful with pillars and walls carved with dancers, elephants and horses, shrines in the four corners, and at the front with its back to the steps a shrine where a huge brass Garuda is enshrined. The vast carvings reminded me of Ranakpur. Every morning food is distributed from the temple to the poor and sick. We had enjoyed a wonderful evening and went off to reminisce at where else but the Whistling Teal.