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.