India International, Udaipur

Advantages: Colourful, characterful, cheerful, chockfull of history
Disadvantages: Dry and dusty, dirty too

...with understated patterning betokens an elderly man content with domesticated quietude. Plain white denotes mourning, as is usual in India. Colours can also vary in accordance with the season, or to celebrate a festival. Not everyone wears one, and certainly not all the time. They are most often seen in rural parts, on the men who tend the water-buffalo or drive the camel-carts, or ply their trades - as barbers, cobblers, metal-workers or food-sellers - on what would be the pavement if there were pavements, or squat on their haunches in clusters to talk. In the bustle of the busier towns - like Jaipur, the state capital with some two million inhabitants, or Jodhpur or Udaipur - safas are relatively rare, and sometimes looked down on as rustic or old-fashioned. "In the city the safa is associated with country bumpkins, unless, of course... Read review

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Advantages: Beautful area, Cheap to travel around
Disadvantages: Street sellers can be a bit pushy

...organised camel trips into the desert from here. Udaipur:- The palaces here are incredible. The lake palace is awesome and was the setting to a James Bond film. (most of the backpackers hotels have screenings every night). Also the monsoon palace is well worth the rickshaw ride just for the view. You cannot go inside as it is owned by the poilce for communications! Mount Abu- The place where all of the rich indian businessmen own a holiday home. The highest point in Rajahstan, and therefore quite cool in the height of summer. A walk around the lake is breathtaking. The view from the summit is a sight I will remember forever. Delhi:- Get out as quickly as possible. Most flights to this area fly into Delhi. It is a built up smelly dirty city. The sights worth seeing are the Red Fort, the parliamet buildings, India Gate and the Ba... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful scenery and impressive history
Disadvantages: the lake can dry up in a drought

...If you are visiting the town of Udaipur a boat trip on the lake is essential. Lake Pichola is a man made lake that was built in the 14th century and it is amazing to realise that it is 8 kilometers square and is fed only by rainwater. Cruising on the lake in a low slung open boat, you head towards the Lake Palace hotel, made of beautiful white marble. It is now a first class hotel where you cn go for a sumptuous meal for about £15.00. As you cruise away from the shore, you look back to see the ghats (platforms) where the people wash their clothes and themselves. The water appears clean, but lurking in the crevices by the walls an accumulation of scum and debris makes one shudder at the thought of the bugs to be picked up by the unwary traveller. On the other side of the lake is a small island palace called Jag Mandir... Read review

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