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It was an eight hour drive between Jodphur and Udaipur, broken only by a visit to a Jain temple at Ranakpur. The interior of this temple is extraordinary, white marble is intricately carved until it resembles lace. 1,444 finely carved pillars, no two alike, support the domed ceilings. Truly a work of beauty. As our drive continued the countryside changed dramatically. The road climbed through jungle over the range that separates Rajasthan into two distinct climatic areas, passing family groups of monkeys lounging alongside the road. The descent on the far side of the range was through green, fertile fields rich with crops. A team of bullocks circled a well, hauling water up from the depths to irrigate the fields. Farms and their attendant buildings looked prosperous. We've left the desert behind us. Our hotel is a lovely white building set high on a hill overlooking the lake. We have a beautiful view from it which takes in the temple and the palace that we will visit tomorrow.
