Lal Ghat in Udaipur
Author: Sneha Mehta
Source: ezinearticles.com
Every location inUdaipurentices the traveler, though some are less talked about. Nestled behind the famous Jagdish mandir, is a narrow thruway to Lal Ghat- one such place and a tourist’s paradise. The whole Ghat consists of a number of roof top hotels. The cool breeze on the terrace, the aarti at Jagdish mandir; the panoramic view of Lake Palace and Jagmandir; the showcase of the Octopussy movie and the bird’s eye view of the whole city gives it an ethnic appeal. As they say, if you want to see the real India, you have to live in the real India and not confine yourself to the rooms of five star hotels. What make these hotels more alluring are the prices that they offer which are quite reasonable.
Tourists often complain of being stranded by the beggars. These scroungers keep touching their feet and keep blessing them until some money is finally showered in their bowls. To add to the agony, if a beggar has been pitied over, follows the unending queue of other beggars. And finally, the tourist can’t help being in a lurch. Be it street dogs or cows moaning at the middle of a busy street, tourists find it both funny and aggravating at the same time. This is where Lal Ghat stands out. The Lal Ghat association which was formed two years ago had specifically appointed two guards to duck off beggars, dogs and cows. Also, the whole Ghat is cleaned everyday giving tourists a respite from ducking their feet in filth. And it shows, the cleanliness and serenity of the place delivers a pleasant experience.
What else does a tourist engage him in? It might not be a trend with Indians yet but foreigners love to read. Be it books on Rajput culture, the history of Udaipur, travel and food guides, alternative healing or the fascinating locales of Rajasthan- the bookstores here promises to lend every bit of it. Says, Vinay Patnik, a guide, ‘The White-tiger which is a mockery of India shining saga, Questions and Answers on which the film Slum dog Millionaire has been based or the God of the Small things by Arundhati Roy are quite a hit amongst tourists.’
The place also offers Junk and Silver jewellery. And it may haven’t rained this year as anticipated, boating around the lake is still enjoyed by the tripper. Though, the most interesting aspect of Lal Ghat is getting your face painted on your T for a meager amount. The art is so real that it feels your face has been trapped in. Be it Yoga or the ayurvedic massages, the place has everything to hypnotize the globe-trotter to long his stay in the most beautiful city in the world.
Sneha Mehta: Sneha Mehta is a freelance writer based in India. Her works have appeared in various print and online publications. She also writes content for several websites and portals. She has a varied interest in occult sciences and alternative healing. Shoot her a mail at snehamehta003@yahoo.co.in.