Rajasthan
SOUTHERN
R AJASTHAN
Rajasthan
ENTERTA
iNMENT
Rajasthan
UDA iPUR
lakeside restaurant Ambrai, at Amet Haveli
hotel, doubles up as a terrace bar, and is a
classy place for a predinner drink. You can
grab a small bottle of Kingfisher for ₹150,
but there are also cocktails (from ₹375) and
a reasonable wine list (from ₹450 per glass).3 ̈Entertainment
Dharohar ̈ DANCE, PUPPETRY
(%2523858; Bagore-ki-Haveli; admission indian/
foreigner ₹60/100, camera ₹100; h7-8pm) The
beautiful Bagore-ki-Haveli hosts the best
(and most convenient) opportunity to see
Rajasthani folk dancing, with nightly one-
hour shows of colourful, energetic Mewari,
Bhil and western Rajasthani dances, as well
as some traditional Rajasthani puppetry.Mewar ̈Sound ̈& ̈
Light ̈Show ̈ CU lTURAl PROGRAM
(Manek Chowk, City Palace; lower/upper seating
English show ₹150/400, Hindi show ₹100/200;
h7pm Sep-Feb, 7.30pm Mar-Apr, 8pm May-Aug)
Fifteen centuries of intriguing Mewar his-
tory are squeezed into one atmospheric
hour of commentary and light switching –
in English from September to April, in Hindi
other months.7 ̈Shopping
Tourist-oriented shops – selling miniature
paintings, wood carvings, silver, bangles and
other jewellery, traditional shoes, spices,
leather-bound handmade-paper notebooks,
ornate knives, camel-bone boxes and a large
variety of textiles – line the streets radiating
from Jagdish Chowk. Bargain hard.
Udaipur is known for its local crafts,
particularly its miniature paintings in the
Rajput-Mughal style. To find out more, ask
at the art workshop at Hotel Krishna Niwas.Sadhna ̈ ClOTH iNG
(%2454655; http://www.sadhna.org; Jagdish Temple Rd;h10am-7pm) (^) S This is the outlet for Seva
Mandir, an NGO set up in 1969 to help rural
women. The small shop sells attractive fixed-
price textiles, including women’s clothing,
bags and shawls, plus a small range of jewel-
lery. Profits go to the artisans and towards
community development work.
8 Information
EMERGENCY
Police (%2414600, 100) There are police
posts at Surajpol, Hatipol and Delhi Gates.
INTERNET ACCESS
There are plenty of internet cafes, particularly
around lal Ghat, but also around Hanuman
Ghat, where you can get online for around ₹30
per hour. Many places double as travel agencies,
bookshops, art shops etc.
MEDICAL SERVICES
GBH American Hospital (%24hr enquiries
2426000, emergency 9352304050; http://www.
gbhamericanhospital.com; Meera Girls College
Rd, 101 Kothi Bagh, Bhatt Ji Ki Bari) Modern,
reader-recommended private hospital with 24-
hour emergency service, about 2km northeast
of the lal Ghat area.
MONEY
Annoyingly, the ATMs near Jagdish Chowk are
often out of service. if so, keep walking north-
east, beyond the Old Clock Tower, and you’ll find
some more. There are lots of unofficial money-
changers around lal Ghat.
Thomas Cook ( lake Palace Rd; h9.30am-
6.30pm Mon-Sat) Changes cash, travellers
cheques and gives cash advances on credit
cards.
POST
Post Office (City Palace Rd; h10am-4pm
Mon-Sat) This handy branch is beside the City
Palace’s Badi Pol ticket office. it’s tiny, but
sends parcels abroad, does packaging and has
practically no queues.
8 Getting ̈There ̈& ̈Away
AIR
Air India (%2410999, airport office 2655453;
http://www.airindia.com; Saheli Rd, 222/16 Mumal
Towers) Flies to Mumbai and Delhi daily.
Jet Airways (%5134000; http://www.jetairways
.com; airport) Flies direct to Delhi and Mumbai
daily.
BUS
Private bus tickets can be bought at any one of
the many travel agencies lining the road leading
from Jagdish Temple to Daiji Footbridge.
The main bus stand is 1.5km east of the City
Palace. Turn left at the end of lake Palace Rd,
take the first right then cross the main road at
the end, just after passing through the crum-
bling old Surajpol Gate. it’s ₹30 to ₹40 in an
autorickshaw.
if arriving by bus, turn left out of the bus stand,
cross the main road, walk through Surajpol Gate
then turn left at the end of the road before taking
the first right into lake Palace Rd.
See the table for a selection of services leaving
from the main bus stand.