I huffed and puffed and almost dragged a man down with me, running towards platform 7 in the Jaipur railway terminal. The heavy bag to my side was weighing me down, but I was determined to make it. Then finally at a distance I saw a shiny, silver train and I ran full speed ahead. As soon as I stepped on the train, it began to move. I breathed a huge sigh of relief as sweat poured down my face and I gasped for air. I looked towards Yumin, another Fellow and friend who was waving at me and gave her the widest smile. I had made it on the train and we were on our way to Udaipur, the City of Lakes, for Diwali.
Going to Udaipur was a very last minute, spontaneous decision on our part, but it turned out to be the highlight of our time so far in Rajasthan. We made the decision to meet up with three other Fellows, two who were placed in Ahmedabad and another in Jamshedpur. While we didn’t have an organized sight-seeing plan, the company of the other Fellows and the city itself burning bright and coming alive, was more than enough to keep us occupied.
One of the first things we did was go shopping among the many bazaars of Udaipur. In Bada bazaar, we came across a shop decorated with lanterns, wind chimes, and puppets all hanging from strings that swayed with the breeze. As we stepped inside, we found more intricate toy pieces and knicks and knacks stacked high to the ceiling. From hand painted jigsaw puzzles to boxes that couldn’t be opened, the shop had almost every clever trinket you could imagine. It felt like stepping into a child’s dream.
Our second day consisted of us taking a three hour long trip from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh, a fortress in the Aravalli Hills built during the 15th century. As the birthplace of one of the most famous kings of India, Maharana Pratap of Mewar and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was a definite must on our trip. On the way, we also decided to stop at Ranakpur, a village in the Pali district known for its marble Jain temple. Walking into the temple, I was hit with the vastness of the place, leaving me marveling at the intricate craftsmanship that had gone to create this scared space. Each of us took our time reflecting at the wonder and of the journey that had led us to this very moment.
That night we decided to eat dinner by Lake Pichola looking over the old city lit by a thousand different lights. As we were contemplating over our day with the sound of the soothing sitar in the background, lanterns began to rise in the air over Chandpole bridge and the sky burst with huge fireworks. The scene was absolutely beautiful and surreal. If time had stopped and we could freeze this moment, we would have.
Our final day led us to Udaipur’s City Palace with nearly 400 years of history under the rulers of the Mewar dynasty. The Rajput architecture with its stone carved jali screens, elaborate ornamentation, and fortress-like structures took us back in time and it was easy to imagine the life and splendor of the royal courts and the vibrant festivities of their time. Later that evening, we decided to take a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola to end our Udaipur trip. As the boat made its round, we passed by the City Palace and the famous Jagmandir Palace with its glittering lights. With the fading of daylight, the sun set over the resorts and the palaces, and its yellowish-orange haze spread out over the lake, creating magic in the air.
Our three day trip to Udaipur, celebrating Diwali had been a brilliant call. The city reflected a blend of modernity and historical heritage and we were captivated by its beauty. Udaipur had lulled us to its charms and allowed us to build closer bonds to each other as Fellows and friends. As we reflected over the past few days, each of us left feeling a sense of peace and inspired for the months to come, carrying a bit of Udaipur in our hearts.
