James Bond discovered Udaipur, India, maybe you should too

City Palace in Udaipur, India at dusk  (wikipedia)

UDAIPUR, INDIA — If the producers of the James Bond franchise determine that a particular location is good their stories, travelers can be certain those destinations are practically guaranteed to be luxurious exotic places to visit.

Though Udaipur, India might not readily roll off the tongue, Roger Moore's portrayal of 007 in the 13th edition of the Bond series titled "Octopussy" (1983) takes our favorite British spy to the "Venice of the East" for scenery, romance and, of course, plenty of action.

A boat ride on Lake Pichola in the City of Lakes  (Taylor)

Also known as the "City of Lakes" and the "Kashmir of Rajasthan", Udaipur was founded in 1553. It became a British princely state in 1818, partially accounting for its elegant architecture and stylish atmosphere before gaining independence in 1947.

Centrally situated roughly halfway between Delhi, approximately 410 miles to the north, and Mumbai which is about 500 miles south, Udaipur is well connected by air, rail and road to make it a popular tourism destination, especially among natives.

Arriving by boat  (Taylor)

Udaipur is known for its history and five major lakes, but it also contains massive forts, palaces, museums, galleries, gardens and temples. Just the sort of place James Bond would be drawn to for his majesty's secret service  endeavors.

As might be expected, if 007 travels there, Udaipur boasts of some of the world's most famous hotels. The Oberoi Udaivilas, for example, was rated the best hotel in Asia in 2017 by World Travel Awards.

The Oberoi Udaivilas is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world  (oberoihotels.com)

Situated on the bank of Lake Pichola, the Oberoi Udaivilas stands on the 200 year old hunting grounds of the Maharana of Mewar, the Indian ruler who founded Udaipur in the 16th century. Today the grounds include a 20-acre wildlife sanctuary.

Taj Lake Palace Hotel (Taylor)

Two other properties, the Taj Lake Palace and the Leela Palace Udaipur are among the most expensive hotels in India.

The setting alone for the Taj Lake Palace, where guests arrive by boat is beguiling enough, but when the elephants and other sculptures that line the exterior are added in, it's little wonder that visitors are hooked immediately.

Formerly the 18th century royal summer palace, the elegant hotel is constructed of while marble.

Locals hang on anywhere they can for a ride  (Taylor)

Public transportation in Udaipur remains typically Indian with riders hanging from the sides, windows and inging to rooftops of local buses, but it's all part of the ambiance.

When it comes to history and sightseeing, Udaipur is a traveler's paradise. Located on the east bank of Lake Pichola visitors encounter the City Palace, a vast series of palatial buildings dating through the centuries from 1550. Known The main entrance is a triple-arched gate.

Typical scene in Udaipur with elegance surrounded by masses
of humanity  (en.wikipedia.org)

Kesariyaji Temple features 52 pinnacles that make it visible from afar. It is lovingly dedicated to oft forgotten Lord Rishabh Dev, the first Jain Tirthankara.

The Ranakpur Jain Temple  (udaipurplus.com)

According to Jain, a Tirthankara is a rare spiritual leader and teacher who has conquered the samsāra, the cycle of death and rebirth, on his own and made a path for others to follow.

With numerous other temples and shrines, Udaipur requires a minimum of two days to take in all the attractions.

City Palace and lake  (wikipedia)

Rudyard Kipling used Udaipur as the birthplace of, his fictional panther Bagheera in the King's Menagerie in the classic novel "The Jungle Book."

The name may not be recognizable in the book at first, because Kipling's reference to Udaipur in the book is spelled Oodeypore.

Elephant sculptures greet visitors at the Taj Palace  (Taylor)

Other sites include Sahelion ki Bari, a major garden filled with fountains, kiosks, a lotus pool and marble elephants. A popular tourist attraction, the garden was laid for a group of forty-eight young women attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as part of her dowry.

In 2002, Vetern Sangh Pracharak. the Veer Shiromani Maharana Pratap Samiti began a project to provide more detailed information about Maharana Pratap, the founder of Udaipur.

Massive sculpture pays tribute to Maharana Pratap
 (en.wikipedia.org)

The group purchased land at Tiger Hill in 2007 and built the impressive Pratap Gaurav Kendra Rashtriya Tirtha with its main attraction being the 57-foot high metal statue of Maharana Pratap.

With sacred cows strolling through the streets, local riders clinging to the tops of buses and the typical chaos of humanity that is India all combined in a setting of exquisite beauty, Udaipur is a James Bond location that will definitely leave travelers "stirred but not shaken."