Journey Kitchen

FOOD AND TRAVEL

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Udaipur - City of Lakes

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I have always thought of myself as a small town girl even though I hardly spend any time in my small hometown of Galiakot, a small town near Udaipur city, Rajasthan.

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The vacations I loathed as a child became a perfect getaway and time to relax as I grew. The quiet pace, the monotony of daily life, walking to the nearby villages, observing people's daily life made me happy.

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My parents moved out of Kuwait and decided to settle in the Udaipur, just after I got married. Though I wasn't even living with my parents anymore, I often thought of my identity as a small town girl and if I would like Udaipur when I visited.

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And finally when I did get to stay in Udaipur, I loved every bit of it.

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Udaipur is cupped by the lofty Aravalli ranges and surrounded by lakes, making it a true heaven in the dry deserts of Rajasthan.

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Founded by Maharana Udai Singh, the city combines real beauty with magnificent and glorious past. The placid blue lakes, majestic palaces, gardens, green hills, rich history and culture makes it one of the most romantic cities I have been too and wasn't surprised when I learned it's called Venice of the East.

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I have visited Udaipur many times before but this time I wasn't eager to catch the evening bus back to the town. I had my time to stroll around the city on foot and on bike. I often found myself aimlessly trying to grasp all that happened in and around the lake at all times of the day. The mornings, the sun set, the evenings, I wanted to take in every moment sitting right there. As I settled in, I went about exploring the historic places in the city. From the beautiful palaces, museums, garden to forts, the breath taking detailing in architecture, made me suddenly want to be 1559 AD.

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But of all beautiful things  I was surrounded with, I found my favorite part was still walking around the near by village and taking pictures of people doing their daily tasks.There was so much color, vibrancy and life around,  it made me want to clear my all blue, grey wardrobe for something colorful, something that made me feel more Indian. I leave you with more pictures to see what I'm talking about. Hope you enjoy it!

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43 comments

  1. Sips and SpoonfulsOctober 5, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    Gorgeous gorgeous photos......this is my favorite post of yours to date! Even though there's no food here! You've shown me a tranquil side to India that I haven't seen before.

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  2. NithaOctober 5, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Lovely pictures..

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  3. Kiran @ KiranTarun.comOctober 5, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    Amazing photos. Simply beautiful. I have yet to visit Udaipur. It looks like a very beautiful city, rich in culture and history. Thanks for sharing your wonderful holiday :)

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  4. PlatefulOctober 5, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    It's so beautiful. Your hometown and your account of it. Not to mention the gorgeous pictures you take! I didn't know until I read this post that there are a list of places dubbed as "Veneice of the East"--Alappuzha in Kerala is known by this nick name because of its intricate network of canals, lagoons and tranquil backwaters. India is one vast amazing land! Thanks for sharing a glimpse of Udaipur with us.

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  5. SomaOctober 5, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Kulsum, your best post ever! every bit of it stunning. and thank you for taking me back to my journey again. i wish I could write a LONG comment describing how each photograph makes me feel:) but I won't. I will just cherish the feeling within me.

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  6. ShriOctober 5, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    Loved the snapshot of the kitchenware...you took us on a lovely vignette!

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  7. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the KitchenOctober 5, 2011 at 11:51 PM

    I'm speechless....these are breathtaking photos. What an enchanting place.

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  8. ShrutiOctober 6, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    Wow, I am awe for the colors. I always wanted to visit Rajasthan, someday I will!

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  9. Lisa H.October 6, 2011 at 3:13 AM

    Beautiful shots...
    Peaceful and calm. and I love the 'floating' palace :D

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  10. Prerna@IndianSimmerOctober 6, 2011 at 3:41 AM

    Absolutely loved all the photos specially the people photos and sunrise/sunset. India is so vibrant and colorful that its a photographer's paradise. I can see you had a fabulous trip! :-)

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  11. jenny@atasteoftravelOctober 6, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    Stunning photos. You have captured the essence of Udaipur so beautifully. I am transported back to one of the stars of Rajasthan. Thankyou

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  12. ME!October 6, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    lovely post...even though there was no food in it, left me wanting to see more! read the post twice already! Lush images!

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  13. Jennifer (Delicieux)October 6, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    Absolutely breathtaking photos Kulsum!! I love the photo of the boat on the lake, it feels so serene and calming. I always feel that way when I am near water.

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  14. Meeta K. WolffOctober 6, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    What a lovely picturelogue of your trip Kulsum! Seeing all the wondeful colorful images makes me miss it so much more. Thanks for the virtual tour!

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  15. UnknownOctober 6, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    Awesome pics!!!

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  16. A Spoonful of YummOctober 6, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    all images are awesome ! always wanted to go there, hope to go to rajasthan soon

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  17. Love and other SpicesOctober 6, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Wow,I'm speechless!!Loved the post and the pics..brings back nostalgic memories of my own country...

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  18. AnonymousOctober 6, 2011 at 8:27 PM

    India is the most beautiful, vibrant, cherished country in the world, Rajasthan is its ruby and you are one of its great visual poets.

    You capture it exquisitely. These photos are as beautiful as any I've ever seen. How do you counter the dusty air to get such extraordinary clarity?

    Thank you!

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  19. I Live in a Frying PanOctober 7, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    What fabulous pictures...really transports you to Udaipur even if you've never been there before! I love the photo of the guy with the pagdi praying. Really well-taken.

    Happy to hear you had a lovely vacation in the Venice of the East, this is a place that I've got to go to at some point in my life, heard so much about it!

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  20. KulsumOctober 7, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Thank you everyone. Your appreciation leaves me speechless. I must say I have many more pictures to share :-) Thank you!

    @food - alovestory - I don't think Rajasthan is really that dusty at all. Infact I never remember encountering any!

    @Arva Its one of my favorites too. Glad you agree! Thank you

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  21. Sneh | Cook RepublicOctober 7, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    Oh my word Kulsum, what a fabulous and emotional photo essay on a beautiful place! You have captured the colour and culture beautifully. I have never been there and I can see some of the places my mum and dad were at last month from the photos they sent me of their trip! Gorgeous!

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  22. Brian Samuels PhotographyOctober 7, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    Darling... your photographs are stunning. Thank you for taking us on this trip with you!

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  23. Baker StreetOctober 7, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    Stunning pictures K! Even though i have been to rajasthan soo many times, never to udaipur! Will surely take a trip the next time i'm there. :)

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  24. AnonymousOctober 7, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    I truly enjoyed reading this post...Beautiful shots,,,
    makes you wanna visit the place... btw, I have been visiting your blog since long.. and this is my first comment here...

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  25. GarimaOctober 7, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    Hey! Lovely pics, i've spent my graduation years in Udaipur so this brings back a lot of memories to me. Thnks for sharing

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  26. g.October 7, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    stunning -- india is calling me! :)

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  27. SOctober 7, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    kamaal kar diya, K. these are gorgeous photos. x shayma

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  28. VijithaOctober 8, 2011 at 10:28 PM

    Stunning pictures. You photos is tempting me to plan a visit there again. So vibrant and colorful city! Hope you had a lovely vacation.

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  29. YasmeenOctober 9, 2011 at 2:36 PM

    Such a different side to India than we usually see in the news, even on travel sites. I've been aching to go to India for almost the entirety of my life. I feel just that much closer seeing your beautiful photos.

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  30. Kitchen BelleiciousOctober 10, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    Oh awesome post on a side of India I have never seen nor heard about. I love your account of it too! Just beautiful

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  31. Kate@DiethoodOctober 10, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    My gosh, what a beautiful place!!

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  32. RichaOctober 10, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    gorgeous captures Kulsum.. The pictures have brought the city to virtual life!. I havent been to Udaipur, but it is on my next trip agenda, esp because I found an amazing sanctuary on the outskirts.. it is as beautiful as the city and they do beautiful work there, saving all animals and providing a home to the disabled ones, be it cows, dogs or donkeys!. hopefully we will get enough time to volunteer there for a bunch of weeks. You can check them out here http://www.animalaidunlimited.com/

    Richa @Hobby And More Food Blog

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  33. chinmayie @ love food eatOctober 11, 2011 at 5:11 AM

    LOVE the photos Kulsum! You have captured Rajastan's colours so well :)

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  34. RadhikaOctober 12, 2011 at 5:30 AM

    Lovely photographs Kulsum!
    You've taken us on a virtual visual tour of your home town.. Being from India does not mean we get to travel all over our vast country. It is my dream to travel to Rajasthan some day..

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  35. Ann from Sumptuous SpoonfulsOctober 14, 2011 at 3:08 PM

    These photos are breathtaking! Thank you for taking us on your journey with you. :)

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  36. marlaOctober 15, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    It is refreshing to see this photographic journey. Your home is stunning, pack me next time OK?

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  37. ShaheenOctober 16, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    Whenever I go back to India, I want to travel the country, eat, explore and learn. I hardly travelled when I was there, but now that I'm not I miss it even more.

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  38. AnonymousOctober 17, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    your photos took me to an amazing journey! i love them all!

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  39. Reese@SeasonwithSpiceOctober 22, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    Such a fascinating place. I've heard so much about it, but often find myself being drawn to the place even more each time I read about it. You have captured your home from a very keen eye - for its beauty and its people that makes the place special. Thanks so much for such an enjoyable post Kulsum.

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  40. john@heneedsfoodOctober 26, 2011 at 3:26 AM

    My several days in Udaipur were the highlight of my entire visit to India. It was several years ago now but the colourful memories are still very vivid in my mind. Your photo's encapsulate it perfectly

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  41. WinnieNovember 3, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    These photos are so incredible. I cannot stop looking at them!

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  42. Lakshmi @PurevegetarianMarch 5, 2012 at 3:30 PM

    Such a beautiful place!

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  43. PrachiJuly 19, 2012 at 12:49 PM

    Amazing photographs.. its always a pleasure to go thru your blog.

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