Udaipur — Blog — Jo Teasdale FRPS

Here in Udaipur, The city’s major buildings are being restored, new lime wash is applied over renovated marble and concrete and polished to make the walls gleam. All done by hand. The manual labour here continues to be intensive. Modernity is happening slowly, Water and waste pipes are beginning to be buried underground, all manually done. Soon the electricity cables will be put underground too. There are big plans for this city. Huge expensive hotels are being built some distance from the centre, but behind the scenes there is so much rubbish and discarded materials with no infrastructure or inclination to clean it up. Nothing ever looks finished.

Wandering through the narrow back streets of the old town, houses have deteriorated and simply fallen down and subsequently become refuse areas.

It is here you will find small single businesses like tailors, steel pots, jewellery, milk, flour and food all being hand made with the most basic of tools and little or no power. They work late into the night - highlighting another issue that really needs changing. The hours that people work is so intensive and wholly unacceptable. Leaving little or no time for rest, relaxation and family time. There is very little evidence of leisure in these towns, except in the Palace.

Since being in India, I have been disappointed by a number of issues in Rajasthan. The one that has really affected me is the issue of Women - how they are treated and the subservient role they have. Having myself been talked through or blatantly ignored on may occasions highlighted the situation for me.

Here in Udaipur, for the first time in Rajasthan, I was really pleased to see a greater female presence. Hardly any cover their faces, many run their own businesses and comfortable being visible. Most were also happy to be photographed. Together with Delhi, these are the only places where I have easily interacted with the women.

So this part of our travels is now complete. Just one day left in Delhi then a new adventure begins. Goodness knows what will be in store for us.

Goodbye Rajasthan.

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.

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.

‘Playful Hemlines’ - Ladies clothing stall slogan

‘Please Do Not write on the museum walls’ - Udaipur Palace notice.

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