Day 3 India

We woke today to rain and fog.  The temperature is around 18 degrees C.  We are in a town in the lake country call Udaipur.  Our first stop was the CITY PALACE.  It was built by the Maharana Singh in 1559 on the east bank of Lake Pichola.  There are several palaces within its complex.  This flamboyant combination of Rajasthani and Mughaland architecture is considered the largest palace in the province of Rajasthan.  It was like a maze of rooms and tunnels set high on a hill filled with marble, mirrors, and mosaics.  The women could peer through lattice windows without anyone noticing them.  We next stopped at the GARDENS OF THE MAIDS OF HONOUR.  This garden was a peaceful retreat just outside of Udaipur built for 48 girls given to Maharana Singh in 1710 as part of his dowry.  This ancient water park had a white marble chhatris fountain in the centre and black fountains at the corners.   After a boat ride around lake Pichola with a stop at the PLEASURE PALACE, which was built in the centre of the lake on an island for special parties, we walked down through the streets of Udaipur dodging taxis, sacred cows and beggars to visit the JAGDISH MANDIR TEMPLE.  The bell ringer was calling everyone to prayer.  We climbed many marble stairs to reach this ancient stone temple atop a hill in the middle of a very congested neighbourhood.  We removed our footwear and entered the sanctuary to sniff the incense and witness the local people in prayer.  WOW!  You wouldn't believe it.