India Day Seven: Seeing the Dame in Udaipur

From Jodhpur, we headed to our last destination in India, Udaipur. Udaipur is called the Venice of the East because it is surrounded by four lakes.

Travel time to Udaipur is six hours. Only entertainment on the road were the exotic animals we saw along the way:

In between Jodhphur and Udaipur lies Ranakpur Jain Temple, the largest Jain temple in the world.

Ranakpur Jain Temple

Jainism is said to promote non-violence towards all living things and emphasizes equality between all life forms. 

There are 1,444 intricately carved pillars inside the temple and what's amazing is that no two pillars are the same. 

Aside from the pillars, there were other beautifully carved marble pieces:

We stopped for lunch at Aranyawas, a lovely garden restaurant.

Outdoor Restaurant

I enjoyed the contrasting colors of our egg, mutton, and chicken curries.

When we arrived in Udaipur, we took it slow and spent our time exploring The Oberoi Udaivilas, one of the finest and most beautiful hotels in India. On average, a standard room during peak season costs 30,000php a night.

Rose Petals to Welcome Guests

Courtyard

True to The Oberoi Group's goal to redefine luxury, the hotel was grand but tastefully decorated: 

Lobby

Dining Area

Waiting Area

Powder Room

Room with A Private Pool

Pool

Pool from Another Angle

Highlight of our Udaipur trip was seeing Dame Judi Dench lounging at the pool area of Oberoi Udaivillas! It was so surreal to see a much respected Hollywood actor in the flesh. Our only regret was not having the courage to approach the Dame as it was a once in a lifetime moment.

THE DAME!!!

The Dame Sat Here

For dinner, we went to Ambrai located at Hotel Amet Haveli.

Hotel Amet Haveli 

Guide books say that Udaipur is the most romantic city in all of India and I finally understood why: 

Dinner with A View

The sweeping views from Ambrai was truly breathtaking with the restaurant's perfect position on the banks of Lake Pichola. If you only have time to do one thing in Udaipur, spend it by having a meal at Ambrai before dusk.  

To Die For Scenery

The view from Abrai was one of my top moments in India. Needless to say, dinner at Ambrai was the perfect way to cap our first day in Udaipur. 

Aranyawas is located at Maga Tehsil, Sayra, Udaipur - Rajasthan, india. For more information, call +91 9001992598 or click here. 
The Oberoi Udaivilas is located at Haridasji Ki Magri, Udaipur. For more information, call +91 294 2433300 or click here. 
Ambrai at Hotel Amet Haveli is located at Outside Chandpole, Udaipur Rajasthan, India. For more information, call +91-294-2431085 or click here.

India Day Five: Lunch and Dinner in Jaipur

When we were in Jaipur, we made an effort to hit two hotel restaurants we wanted to try. We had lunch at Samode Haveli to check out its impressive interiors while dinner was at Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar or LMB, an old institution that only serves vegetarian dishes.

Samode Haveli is a heritage hotel which used to be the manor house of the Royal Family. It was built 175 years ago and reflected the style of the family  and architecture of the times.

Entrance

Samode Haveli has been beautifully restored and is perfect for travellers who want a unique and memorable experience.

Courtyard

Lounge Area

Having a meal at Samode Haveli means eating at the former dining hall of the Royal Family. It's a magnificent room adorned with colourful hand-painted murals. 

Corner Detail

Lovely Nook

There's a choice between traditional Rajasthani cuisine and international flavors at Samode Haveli and we decided to order a mix of both. The food was average but the ambiance more than made up for it. Make sure to reserve in advance when dining here.

Garlic Bread

Roti 

Beetroot and Watermelon Soup (700rupees)

Pan Grilled Eggplant Salad (400 rupees)

Butter Chicken Curry (650rupees)

Home Style Mutton Curry (650rupees)

Laxmi Misthan Bhandar (LMB), on the other hand, is a local hotel, sweet shop, and restaurant built in 1954. It's supposed the be the first 3 star hotel in Jaipur.

The sweet shop is especially famous for the tempting sweets and snacks displayed behind the glass counters. 

The restaurant at LMB is strictly vegetarian and doesn't even allow the use of onions and garlic in any of its dishes. It goes without saying that alcohol is also not served.  

Eating at a vegetarian restaurant was a challenge because I love my meat but I was able to survive by eating lots of breads and potatoes!!! While eating at LMB was not exactly filling, I did appreciate the authentic Rajasthani experience I had.

Garlic Naan (65 rupees)

Potato Chop (120 rupees)

Round fried potato patties stuffed with lentil, nuts, and rare spices

Raj Thali (450 rupees)

A selection of traditional Indian dishes including papad mangori soup, mer sangri, kadhi, vegetables and bread

Vegetarian Cordon Bleu (390 rupees)

An LMB special baked sizzler served with French fries.

LMB Special (270 rupees)

Stuffed Cottage Cheese Deep Fried Served in Rich Gravy

LMB Kulfa (90 rupees)

Ice cream with dried fruits flavored with saffron decorated with LMB Milk Syrup

Samode Haveli is located at  Gangapole, Jaipur, Rajasthan. For more information, call +91 141 263 2407 click here. 
LMB is located at 98-10,Opp IDBI Bank, Johari Bazar Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302003, India. For more information, call +91 141 400 1616.