On the way to Udaipur

  Udaipur, India
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I'm still sick! I took a Sudafed last night and I wake up this morning with the Niagara Falls diverted through my nose... I run through at least two packs of tissues as we head onward to Udaipur. We travel with just 2 stops at the Kumbhalgarh Fort (let's just call it Kumar's because that's what I heard or wanted to hear at least) and the Jain Temple, and the trip wound up taking the whole day.

Kumar's was pretty freaking cool considering that it was so far removed from everything.

Kumbulgarh Fort

The fort sported the second longest wall (to the Great Wall of China) in the world and ushered any potential invaders through 7 progressive gates on the way to a modest (as far as India's standards go) palace at the summit. The various temple complexes at the foot of the palace were more impressive once you realized that every stone had to be carried at least 50 kilometers to be carefully put in place. Turns out that everything was so far removed, and well guarded, that the Moghul Empire never set foot on the entire complex surrounded by the wall.

The Jain Temple was much more impressive in terms of aesthetic pleasure, which wasn't the least bit undone by the fact that every piece of marble was carried a mere 25 kilometers from the 'local' mine in 1432...

Jain temple

There were something like 1,000 pillars supporting the pure marble temple, and each one was magically carved by hand.

View of the Jain Temple

About a half hour out of the Jain Temple and we get a flat tire.

My first flat of the trip, more to come

Not surprising given that the roads aren't even fit for the sheep, donkeys, cows and buffalo walking along the sides. Surenda makes quick work of the flat and we are back on our way to the Trident Hilton Udaipor, which is absolutely beautiful. Just driving into Udaipur it is quite apparent that there is more wealth here than in any of the previous cities we've been in.