Jodhpuri Me

In boarding school at Hyderabad ages ago, we wore Jodhpuri coats for dinner as uniform. But only last week did I get to visit the place-Jodhpur, I mean, for a Ph.D. viva. Apart from the fact that my third Ph.D. student (in green below) finished his degree, I liked gallivanting in the place. There is also a place called Hanwant Mahal that is good for dinner, because you can get a lit up view of the city from there, including Jodhpur's two major attractions.

The Mehrangarh fort is majestic, and the Umaid Bhavan in the third pic below (part hotel, part residence and part open to visitors as a museum)

is a palace fit for kings. The airport is a military airport, small and well-maintained.People were nice, which needs special mention these days.

Udaipur- the White City

Visited this city of lakes and palaces with family recently. This is a likeable city, with friendly people and beautiful vistas. One of the best places to get a bird's-eye view is to take the ropeway up the hill which had a fort at one time. You get an excellent view both from the cabin and on reaching the top.The pics below may help to visualise the visual delight. The first is the City Palace (another must-see) and the second is the luxury hotels on the lake Pichola. If you can imagine James Bond lolling in the lounge, he did- in Octopussy. Which is screened in many restaurants for the visitors. The buildings are all white, contrasting with Jaipur, the Pink City. The city is also known for the bravery of Rana Pratap who defeated Akbar's forces, which also comprised Man Singh of Jaipur!