2 SUNDAY 2 APRIL 2017 travelogue Jag Mandir on Lake Pichola Not just a city of lakes NEEHARIKA SATYAVADA To get a real feel of daipur and its old on /ag Niwas was once the *ummer 2alace >ead back to the city to catch the sunset world charm, take a heritage walk along its of the 0aharanas, it is today the Taj %ake at the Sajjangarh 2alace. This little-known hink Rajasthan and immediately pops winding thoroughfares. Chock-a-bloc with 2alace and the one on /ag Mandir with its palace in the *ajjangarh *anctuary was only into your head a picture of undulating beautiful marble palaces, ancient temples, eight marble elephants, is now a heritage recently opened to the public. >ere, as the Twaves of sand shimmering golden in bright and colourful havelis with facades of property run by the current royal family. sun begins to set, clouds start streaming in, the sun and a row of women all but hidden intricate jharokas, there is a temple at every A boat ride in this 655-year-old lake and coming at you from all sides. Built in 9==? in their bright twirling lehengas and odha- turn and every house along the way has walls a walk in the old part of nis, walking away with pots of water on their adorned with frescos in the city should com- head as thick silver anklets catch the sun on the miniature painting plete your e(ploration a hot windy afternoon. But, you style of the region. of the city, but do not couldn't be more There are boards stop there. 7or the city wrong with daipur. everywhere directing has just as interesting Touted to be !ndia"s you to the next point and a historic country- most romantic city, it Udaipur isn’t just about of interest on the side to e(plore. %ess sits hidden among lush lakes and palaces. With walk, be it a ghat, a than an hour"s drive green hills endlessly ancient temples and haveli, a palace or from the city is Nagda, stretching away in every even a museum. Of home to the *ahara direction. historic forts only a few these, the Bahu Temple or the #es, we do know, hours from the city, Udaipur .hangaur .hat Saas Bahu Temple as it daipur is the $ity of could be the next stop for with its imposing has come to be known. %akes and the &enice of the gateway and 8edicated to the .od Saas Bahu Temple in Nagda East, but in Rajasthan, the history and archaeology stunningly white with a thousand arms, colourful desert that is In- enthusiasts alike /agdish 0andir Lord Vishnu, this 10th- dia"s calling card in the in- are the most strik- century temple is a ;ne e(ample of archi- on the summit of the Bansdara Mountain it ternational travel circuit, you ing. The city palace is too, in its tectural splendour. The sculptures carved was used by the then royal family as a hunt- don"t really e(pect to land flamboyance. into not just the walls but also onto the ceil- ing lodge and a 0onsoon 2alace. It is said right in the lap of the Aravallis. Surrounded )s you walk along the narrow crooked ings are quite exquisite. A short drive from that the 0aharana would come here to by thickly wooded hills, silent and stoic in a streets, you will realise just how popular here is the iconic Eklingji Mandir. Eklingji watch the monsoon clouds go by. green so dark, this city is starkly di+erent %ake 2ichola is with tourists. 'very other is believed to be the true ruler of 0ewar and 7act 7ile@ There are no direct 1ights to from the other popular tourist destinations building here proudly proclaiming its the Maharana only his dewan, ruling in his Udaipur from Hyderabad. Take connecting in the state. The cool breeze blowing o� the rooftop restaurant with a view of the lake. name. This sprawling temple complex has flights either from Mumbai or Delhi. 3agda numerous lakes in and around a city - a total )ll the lu(ury hotels too, are built in and 9:= temples of marble and sandstone, the is around A6 kilometres from the city of of seven lakes no less - is sure to take you by around this lake. In the lake are two islands, brown and white coming together to give an Udaipur and the Eklingji Temple is another a pleasant surprise. /ag 3iwas and /ag Mandir. 4hile the palace impression of a pink haze on the structures. 3 kilometres from there. A view of the Aravallis from the Monsoon Palace.