Udaipur, the City of Lakes - our final destination on our tour around Rajasthan. Seven lakes surround the white marble city, flanked by beautiful mountains, offering a cooler and easier climate. It is known as India’s Venice.
Udaipur has the biggest palace in India, overlooking Lake Pichola. Made of marble and granite, it took over 400 years to build. The royal family dominates life in the city, with their parties, events and soirees that help fill the 5-star luxury hotels.
Udaipur is interesting, it feels different. The economy is driven mainly by tourism, minerals and marble. It boasts 80% of its population are educated and 90% literacy. They offer free education for all, including the Untouchables (Dalits) - if they can get there. The reality is that there is still an underclass that are too poor to attend school. Although still entrenched in their caste system which dictates employment, people are now beginning to push through but only if they are successful enough in education.
School Tuk Tuk
Book Store
These boys wont be able to go to school, they have to work.
The main high street has all the same shops we have seen before across Rajasthan and it was here that we discovered why none of the locals frequent these areas - despite the abundance of cheap clothes.
When a Hindu person dies, the families give huge donations to the deceased family, comprising of their old unwanted saris. Bags and bags are taken to be sorted through by the family. The unwanted saris are given to the Untouchables. They keep what they want and with the rest they use the material to make new clothes for the tourists. They sell them to the shops, subsequently earning themselves a living of sorts.
Our guide said the Hindus don’t wear them because they do not want to buy anything associated or linked to death.
There are many temples every few yards throughout the city. The highly ornate Jagdish Temple provides meals everyday for the poor.