First stop was the Jagdish Temple, a finely carved, small but important Hindu temple.
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I next took a tour of the City Palace. Although an official guide was 50 Rs more than an audio-tour, I always chose the guide to give the locals some business...
It was another £6 to take photos, so i abstained and took shots from outside...
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The armoury on the right...
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The guide told me that Rajasthan was one of the only states not conquered by either the Moghul Emperors or the British. Instead, rather than fight and lay siege to well protected forts throughout this land and their warrior-like and fiercely independent defenders - the Rajputs and the tribal folk of Mewar, they decided form allegiances instead...
The Moghuls did this by marrying Rajput princesses and the British sent gifts to the Maharanas to keep them happy...
Next was a tour of the lake..and a visit to Jagmandir Island. This island is one of two on the lake. The other has the Maharana's Summer Palace on it, which has been given to the Taj group of hotels to use as a 5*/6* hotel on a 99 year lease...
The lake is truly beautiful and was full as i had arrived at the end of the monsoon season...
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We arrived at the island which has a charming little spa with a coffee shop...
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What a beautiful place...
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