The Girl with the Travelling Pants

I had been awake since 6 a.m. because my nerves would not let me sleep. It was my first time as a traveller which meant no parental guidance (I had a friend come along though). After what felt like an eternity of lying awake the 8 'o' clock alarm blared on the bedside table. My friend and I got dressed in a frenzy so as not to miss the sumptuous complimentary breakfast at the 3 star Garden Hotel in Udaipur city. The hotel is structured along the lines of a small palace and is one of the few reasonably priced heritage stays for us backpacker sorts which is why we opted to stay here.

After breakfast we boarded the bus and were off to explore the culture, tradition, beauty and history of this city of lakes. The city is amid the Aravali mountain range which resulted in a cool breeze even when the sun's ablaze.

We had covered most of the city and my tiredness began setting in. My legs were fatigued from scaling the multiple rooms and halls of the City Palace and the temple behind it. Our next stop was Sajjangarh Fort. This white marble structure is atop a hill which is accessible by car. After listening to stories of the Mewar Kingdom we stepped to the back of the fort which led to an open terrace. I stopped in my place as I set eyes on the breathtaking view that lay in front of me.

It was mid-August and the dark clouds had begun to threaten us. The sun's rays peeked through whenever the grey clouds parted even for a moment. The city lay at the foothills of the fort interlaced with the seven lakes. Amid the houses, hotels, palaces, temples and shopping grounds were lush gardens and foliage with varied hues of green. The clouds got darker and in a distance we could hear them roar. We were fully aware of the fast approaching rainstorm. We did not budge as our senses were taking in what Mother Nature had to offer.

My day's tiredness evaporated from my body as the wind strengthened. The first drops of rain kissed the quenched soil which resulted in a sweet smell that rejuvenated me. The now blackened clouds had released their wrath onto the city below. All I did was watch the raging storm engulf the city. Soon the raindrops soaked through my skin.

This sight remains etched in my memory. The colours vivid like a painting - the city spread out below, the lakes entwined between the permanent structures of white, cream, red and brown and the flora landscaped across the city and hill, with the marble fort as the backdrop and me in the middle. It was truly magical.