Magnificent Rajasthan, land of kings

SEND TO A FRIEND

18 SEPTEMBER 2003
Udaipur is known as the Venice of the East and the City of Dreams. This fairytale region, with its glinting white buildings surrounded by lakes and lush mountains, is an oasis in the desert landscape and one of the most romantic locations in India.

And nowhere is more romantic than the luxurious Lake Palace Hotel, the setting for the James Bond film Octopussy. This "floating" palace on Lake Pichola has a rare and mesmerising beauty which helps make it one of the most exotic hotels in the world.

Just south of Udaipur is the hill station of Mt Abu, where the ancient Dilwara temples are located. The temples of Vimal Vasahi and Tejpal were built in the 11th century and remain the finest examples of Jain architecture in India, with their intricate and delicate marble carvings unlikely to be surpassed.

Jodhpur: a visual feast For a complete contrast in landscape and atmosphere, visit the imperial city of Jodhpur on the edge of the Thar desert. Encompassed by a seven-mile wall, Rajasthan's second largest city is dominated by Meherangarh, a massive 15th- century fort sprawled across a rocky hill which rises in the city centre.

Your visit here will be even more memorable if you stay in the Umaid Bhawan Palace. The current Maharajah of Jodhpur still occupies a wing of the vast building but the rest has now been converted into an elegant hotel complete with delightful gardens, indoor swimming pools and several reputable restaurants.

From the colourful long skirts (ghagharas)worn by the Rajasthani women to its painted mansions (havelis)and vibrant markets, Rajasthan is a rich visual feast. The lasting impression is of a land made up of myriad yellows, greens, blues and reds.

REPORT: JILL CRAWSHAW