36 ~ Udaipur means just 1 thing! James Bond & Octopussy

What does Udaipur mean to me? One thing! James Bond and Octopussy, the 1983 film with Roger Moore as Bond. My memory is especially of Garden of Taj Lake Palace (also known as Jag Niwas island) with the scene when disguised as a crocodile, Bond swims up to the 'floating palace', populated only by attractive women, and the lair of Octopussy, whom he suspects to be involved with the smuggling of a Fabergé egg.

After eventually finding the 3 star The Lavitra hotel and check in, it was already 4.30pm / 16:30.

I had wanted to see sunset and having just general directions managed to find my way down the narrow alleyways by the lake down to Ambrai Ghat overlooking Lake Picola. No time to pull out my notes and map and research where to eat tonight. All I know is to find a roof top restaurant.

Here is the link to Tripsavvy:

Udaipur has many vantage points for photography but arguably the best one is Ambrai Ghat, especially at sunset. It's located directly opposite the City Palace and also fronts the Lake Palace hotel, so you have an unsurpassed view of both as their lights are turned on. To get to there, head to the Hanuman Ghat area and keep walking along the road that runs parallel to Lake Pichola as far as you can, past the Amet Haveli hotel and Ambrai restaurant. Do be aware that Ambrai Ghat is a popular local hangout for couples. (Of course, locals know the most romantic spot with the best views in the city!)

https://www.tripsavvy.com/udaipur-attractions-and-tourist-sites-1539755

He is selling chana jor garam, which is made of flattened chick peas which is smashed into a disc when wet, sundried or roasted (ideally) and spiced with masalas, sold as a very popular street food. Every child from India would have this as their go to snack if they love spicy food.

Chana jor garam is normally roasted with charcoal pot which just sits on the pile of chanas. As per your order, he will mix and toss it in a paper for you with onion, green chillies, lemon juice, chat masala, black salt and coriander leaves.

Come 5.30pm / 17:30 the sun was about to drop below the distant horizon … By 5.45pm / 15:45 it had all but disappeared.

My gut feeling was to say find a place for dinner with customers but in this case I didn’t. Saw Bridge Corner Restaurant and I climbed the stairs, saw nobody and said to myself, well the food would come quickly …. was tired, ordered and waited and waited … told 5 more minutes … but after another 15 minutes left having said a few choice words to the staff who some certainly did understand English. Lesson ... “Follow one’s gut feeling and eat at places with customers!”

Around the corner at the edge of Rang Sagar (lake) was another restaurant Aapno Darbar with groups of young customers there so ordered my dinner = Amritsari Fish 240 rupees / NZ$4.90 / US$3.40.
Kingfisher lager 220 rupees / NZ$4.50 / US$3.10.

https://www.facebook.com/aapnodarbar/

By the time I got back to The Lavitra, I was still hungry so enjoyed Gatte Ka Saag - garm flour dumplings cooked in traditional yoghurt based gravy 300 rupees / NZ$6.10 / US$4.20.
Jeera Rice 300 rupees / NZ$6.10 / US$4.20.
Garlic naan 80 rupees / NZ$1.60 / US$1.10.
Plus GST came to 714 rupees / NZ$14.90 / US$10.

Perhaps I should have gone straight back to the hotel first for dinner? No! It had no atmosphere.

A long and at times frustrating day had finally come to an end.