Udaipur City
We look here at daily life in the old city.
The entry through the Chandpol or moon gate. The view here is from the bridge across the stream issuing from Pichola Lake.
Turning 90 degrees to the right: Swaroop Sagar, the channel leading to Fateh Sagar, a 19th century lake. The Lake Palace is in the background, on the right.
The crowds were in abundance because heavy rains had just brought the lake back to life.
There was a general air of jubilation, in part because the town's tourist industry depends on the lake having water in it.
At the Gangaur Ghat, verses from the Ramayana were sung in hopes of procuring more rain.
Back from the water, the city is full of narrow lanes.
A view over those lanes from the top of the City Palace.
Blue is common but is said to be a recent innovation, replacing the traditional white.
Although this area has been built-up for centuries, construction continues.
The question arises: how are bricks and other building materials brought to the site?
Here is your answer: donkeys.
Returning after a delivery.
Where streets are wide enough, more modern methods can be used.
Concrete is head-loaded up a rough ramp to the building site.
Tourists, gathering to watch, were shooed away by an annoyed contractor.
At a city market: a cartload of bangles for sale.
Basket weavers.
The economy is heavily oriented to tourists.
Outside of town, there's a different world: half the people of Udaipur District are said to live in villages that can only be reached on foot.
The countryside is laced with miles and miles of dry-course stone walls.