Udaipur Diwali 2013

Udaipur Diwali 2013

This year, during the Festival of Lights, Diwali, I visited Udaipur in Rajasthan. 

Main attraction of the City is the fact that it is set around several lakes.

It is a nice city, actually quite big, but the old historical part still makes one think one is in a small town.

The historical part is surrounded by water and ancient walls.

Bridges connect the different parts of the city.

The city is in difference to most of the norther Indian cities I have visited predominant Hindu, and was center of the Mewar kingdom.

The historic part of the city is dominated by the city palace, that is still property of the royal family of Udaipur, that tracks itself back to the 4th century.

During Diwali all over India crackers and other fireworks are as popular as in other parts of the world during News Year's Eve.

During Diwali the city was very calm and not many people were roaming around. Especially the Indian tourists were missing, who of course were spending Diwali at home with their families. So most of the tourists were foreigners.

Colourful painting are on many walls in the city.

Lots of construction at many buildings, preparing for the tourist season.

Gate at the shore of the main Lake Pichola.

Sunset behind an island in the middle of Pichola Lake, a palace that is now used by a hotel.

Entrance gate to the City palace.

City palace

View from City Palace

Entrance to the main palace building, with the sign of the royal family.

Glass and mirror work inside the palace.

Amasing view onto the lake.

The palace has rich decoration on the inside.

A wall in the mountains surrounding the city.

View at the city palace from a mountain top.

The palace seen from the lake.

City and streets are all over light for Diwali.

The Monsoon Palace, the Palace the kings visited to shoot Tigers.

This court was used to shoot a scene in James Bond's Octopussy we were told.

Garden in Udaipur.