Once again, we woke before our 7:00 alarm, and this was without any early morning calls to prayer! Pete made the tea, which was Assam rather than Earl Grey, a little stronger than usual.
We were in for breakfast promptly at 8:00, but walked through the first floor courtyard and down the steps so that we could see the hotel all decked up for Diwali. We lost count of how many “happy Diwali “ greetings we exchanged.
Breakfast started with a mango smoothie and the necessary masala omelette with chilli and we ordered Earl Grey tea. the first cup was pleasantly weak, but the second cup quite strong and with a strange after taste. On examining our teapot we discovered one Earl Grey and one Lemon teabag inside!
We met our guide Pratap Singh in reception and were treated to our third cup of strange tea this morning, this time sweet chai, while he talked us through the programme of our “half-day” tour.
We set off on foot from the hotel for the 15 minute walk to the royal palace, pausing on the way at shop selling some attractive goods; we promised the shopkeeper that we would return later and our guide advised us that we should bargain for a better price.
Our next stop was at the pedestrian bridge over the lake (reminiscent of Venice) where Pratap took the first of our photos. Next we visited the Jaglish Hindu temple where there was a crowd of worshippers outside and inside chanting and clapping prayers. We took off our shoes to visit the temple and then left in a clockwise direction.
There are four other small temples around the main temple, which was constructed in layers: lotus flower, elephants, horses, humans and gods. We walked on past the bazaar to the city palace complex, comprising a museum, hotels and a small residual palace in between where the royal family still live, obtaining their income from the other commercial operations on site, enabling the whole complex to be maintained.
Guards in khaki uniform with maroon berets and staff wearing white uniform with red sashes were running alongside electric golf carts accompanying the royalty to a function.
Inside the museum we saw art miniatures, queens palace furniture, beautifully restored painted architecture and took a shortcut to the silver collection. We then went to the maharana’s quarters and saw his wheelchair and the lift installed for his use. Afterwards it was down to the cafe for a welcome sit down and snack after 4 hours on our feet.
The guide contacted our driver who met us at the far gate after we had gone through the palace gardens for another fee. The driver took us through a major traffic jam through the main shopping street and then on via the painters school to the Saheliyon-ki-Bari (maids of honour) gardens.
Wonderful gardens and impressive fountains, when the guide clapped his hands the fountains miraculously shot up and when he clapped again they subsided. When anyone else clapped nothing happened. As we passed the end of the fountains, he tipped the gentleman who controlled them!
Back to the hotel by car and then tuk-tuk, where we gave him the tickets for the kumbhalgarh Fort, which he refunded, thanked him profusely and said our farewells. We returned to the shop we had seen this morning, where Alison was able to purchase her gifts. Next to the hotel shop for more retail therapy as all shops are likely to,be closed apres diwali tomorrow.
Then back to our room for our welcome cup of Earl Grey, only to be interrupted by a phone call advancing our planned boat trip by an hour. This was a very pleasant trip and half way through, guess what, another cup of chai!
As you can tell, our “half-day” tour lasted a bit longer than half a day, but was one of the most enjoyable tours we have had.
Following our boat trip around the lake, we strolled along to the promontory next to our hotel that afforded different views. Soon it was time for our romantic lakeside dinner. We managed to find some different items on the menu , the tranquility and peace of the illuminated reflections being interrupted with increasing frequency by loud bangs and flashes of the never ending firework displays. And this is the only hotel where we have not been provided with earplugs!
Some of the bangs are really loud as if the firework has been put in a tin. Fireworks were all around, but no rockets or fireworks near the lake, to respect the wildlife. We are expecting a really tranquil morning after the noisy but very enjoyable evening and night.