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Udaipur Journal
(Keith)
If any Indian city can be called quaint, it seems that Udaipur can. I
don't pretend to be an expert on Indian cities after 2 weeks here, but this is
the quietest, cleanest one we have seen. The streets are narrow and
winding and a huge palace (the largest in Rajasthan) is perched elegantly
overlooking the lake. In the middle of the lake, the Lake Palace
peacefully sits on an island; the Lake Palace is now one of the world's nicest
hotels and treated us to an excellent dinner one night.
Many havelis line the streets of Udaipur; a haveli is a mansion that contains several courtyards. Families and their servants once lived within the confines of these grand structures. The families often held positions of responsibility and respect throughout the community. Many of these buildings have been converted to guest homes and hotels.
Although strange to mention as beautiful, one night Lea and I were having a glass of wine in one of the palaces that has been converted to a hotel, when we were treated to a brilliant bird display. We were seated next to a large window that overlooked the lake and a small forest. Within the forest we could see brightly colored parakeets darting between the trees; we were also thoroughly entertained by a large peacock that regally sat atop a tree roughly 20 meters from our table. As the sun started to go down, literally thousands of large bats descended upon the lake in search of dinner . . . strange, but oddly entertaining.
Udaipur typified my romantic images of India . . . elegant palaces, beautiful birds and wildlife, colorful clothes, mysterious people, and exotic food. A town not to be missed!
(Lea) What really strikes me about India, Nepal, Vietnam and Thailand is the outward evidence of the people's various faiths and religions. From Thailand's Buddhists to Indian Hindus, we have seen how much of their lives are tied to their beliefs. Every temple we visited, whether Buddhist, Jain, Hindu, Christian or Muslim, always was filled with people praying and making offerings. Much of the music, dance and art of each country is related to their religions. In cars there are often pictures of Hindu gods or the Buddhist Dalai Lama. Cows, horses and camels are decorated in paints with religious symbols.
In India we learned about a new religion (to us) - Jainism. Jainism was founded in sixth century BC, by Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha. Jains believe that the soul is liberated by achieving complete purity. To do this, right conduct is essential in thought and deed. Some of the Jain disciples only own a broom, which they use to sweep the path in front of them to avoid stepping on any living thing, and a piece of cloth, this is tied over their mouths to prevent accidentally inhaling bugs. We were lucky to visit one of the holiest Jain temples when a festival was ongoing, There was much joyful music, and an air of joy. During the festival, little girls came up to us and tied bracelets on our arms.
What I find most interesting all of these religions, in addition to my understanding of my own, is the fundamental similarities between all of them. Obviously, there are great differences, but I find much of the fundamental beliefs the same. Each religion teaches the way to enlightenment (heaven, nirvana, liberation) is tied to leading a moral life. Each religion believes in a greater spirit, whether in the form of many gods or one. Seeing so many people devoted to these beliefs, strengthens my own beliefs, and gives me a good feeling about the people in this world.
Check out our Udaipur photos.