Though the inner Udaipur may be crowded and congested there are beautifully calm and verdant spaces in the city which are perfect for explorations by bike. It’s not for nothing that the city has long been called ‘The City of Lakes’, or the ‘Venice of the East’. The bike tour offers you some glorious experiences enjoying the magic of these lakes and some of the forested areas around the city, whose other highpoint is the Aravalli mountain range, one of the planets oldest features and the axis of the sustenance of millions of people once. Spanning the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi and immensely rich in natural resources (including minerals) it is a critical barrier against the growth of the western desert.
Exploring the lakeside beauty of this ‘Venice of the East’Discovering the crafting traditions of the city and painterly inspirations of the village homeRiding through the forested trails of the Aravallis and discovering another world in this city
We start from the picturesque Fateh Sagar Lake breathing in the fresh mooring air, as a gentle breeze stirs the water burnished golden by the sunlight. We ride through colourful narrow lanes of the city past other lakes along the way. Pedalling on we come upon Shilpgram (handicraft village), a village cooperative for the tribal and rural artisans to showcase their art and where they can sell directly to customers. As we ride through the village of handicrafts notice the beautiful paintings illustrating the exterior walls of the homes of the villagers.
Moving on we proceed towards the Badi Lake; this part of the ride is a little steep and has some switchbacks too, so keep alert. Riding through tranquil country roads, crossing several seasonal waterfalls, we finally reach the lake.
Few relish and re-energize ourselves over light refreshments at the serene lake. It’s an excellent opportunity for some memorable photops. We will ride back to the city by another route which takes us through some resplendent forest tracts, past some villages, delighting in the calm and beauty of these rich forested environs.