The Lake Palace in Jaipur may not be as visually stunning as its larger cousin in Udaipur, but its ethereal beauty should still be experienced whilst on a tour around Rajasthan. The palace was originally built so that the Emperor could enjoy the summer with the surrounding water providing a cooling effect. The Lake Palace was built on a manmade lake but later became abandoned when it was discovered that the first floor had the propensity to flood every year during monsoon season. Nevertheless the stunning double sided image of the palace reflected in the manmade lake is still one to behold.
Laxmi Narayan Temple, Delhi
Rajasthan is full of stunning temples and palaces and the majority are open to visitors regardless of religion. For a small tip or a promise to make an offering to the Goddess Laxmi, it is possible to find a friendly local to show you around the stunning building and tell you a little about the background of the Ramayana. This is definitely worth doing if you want some insight into the Indian religious belief system and your guide will also show you the correct way to make offerings and wear the tika. The Laxmi Narayan Temple was built in 1622, but the modern effigies of tigers and elephants built for children to climb, and an outside swimming pool with slides and religious sculptures do little to give away the palace’s true age.
Muslim Souks, Jaipur
When travelling around Rajasthan you will come across many hawkers trying to sell you anything from peacock feathers to detailed handmade rugs and all at incredibly marked up prices just meant for westerners. Waiting until you reach Jaipur is definitely the answer, but rather than opting to spend your rupees in any of the government shops that line the city streets hop into a rickshaw and ask to be taken to the Muslim area of Ramgarh Road. Ramgarh Road is an insider’s secret and when you tell the factory owners that you are from England their faces will light up and they’ll reel off a list of shops such as Habitat, Harrods, Monsoon and Liberty’s, that they have contracts with. Everything is a lot cheaper than the government issued shops and it is possible to buy the same Indian silk bedspread that is sold in Liberty for £379 for just £60 here. Likewise, a made to measure three piece suit will cost in the region of £70.
The Lake Palace, Udaipur
The Lake Palace in Udaipur is simply breathtaking and many will recognise it from the 1983 James Bond film, Octopussy. Built in 1743 as a summer palace for the Maharaja Emperor Singh, the palace is now a five star hotel owned by the luxurious Taj Group. It is located in the midst of Lake Pichola and all the hotel’s guests are transported to the hotel in a sleek motorboat. The typical white marble foundations and mosaic squares make it reminiscent of another incredible building you will see on your India travels; the Taj Mahal.
Author Resource:-
Sharon Evans is a holiday expert for Tropical Locations, a specialist operator providing Rajasthan Tours (http://www.tropical-locations.com/countryNorthIndia.php?s_hotel_town=north20india&pagename=north%20india) and holidays in India, the Far East, Indian Ocean & Arabia. Tropical Locations has a dedicated team of experienced travel consultants ready to share their knowledge and help you to plan and book your ideal holiday.
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