Udaipur serves thousands of tourists every year and may be millions more since I was born. Udaipur gives you an opportunity to see the beauty, culture and Indian traditions with a closer perspective. There are several uncountable good things about Udaipur which you can read anywhere on web even here. But without something bad, good looks incomplete. The bad is actually, if taken positively encourages you to make it good. So, here I am pouring my closest thoughts on 6 little “bads” and little humorous things about roads of Udaipur. It will also help you to understand the system of walking in Udaipur.

1. Walk but Where? – there is a will but not way!
If I say we don’t have Footpaths, it will be a lie. We do have footpaths but I don’t remember when did I ever walked on it or saw anybody doing the same. Our footpaths are used for other purposes, like selling tea, vegetables, and parking cars or occupied by a beggar and his family. This “foot-not-path revolution” came since we Udaipurites decided not to walk anymore, nor we will allow anyone to walk.  So, sorry Mr. Traveler we respectfully ask you to walk on road wearing safety gadgets

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2. How to Cross Roads? – I dare you



Signal lights and Zebra crossing, hmm, those faded black and white lines were once upon a time known as zebra crossing, since we all stopped walking, it only get used to decide where we (bike/scooter/car riders)should stop if it’s red light or (if there is traffic police). Certainly no one use zebra lines to cross roads. Those who walk, they are daredevils who don’t fear for anything accept their focus on other side of road. So, just jump in between the traffic, close your eyes and run…run…run! you will soon reach somewhere.

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3. Lost in Lanes- left, right, up -n-down?
Udaipur city is web of small and tiny lanes, which lane will open where and where it will close nobody knows, but if you are lost somewhere then better get lost inside, you will get some rare inside pictures of Udaipur. But if you are looking for a sign board you won’t see any in English, so you are left with two options, first let those smelly tiny lanes take you wherever it goes or find someone to take you back to your hotel.

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4. Animals..shoo…shoo!
If you haven’t seen them except in zoos then watch roaming them freely in Udaipur, you can find famous Indian dog “dingo”, Donkey “African mule” and our most loving Cows in most deprived condition, they don’t get privilege of citizens but still they are part of our lives. Unfortunately, we are not that proud of it.

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5. Rickshaw-walas
Local transports like 12 seater autos, city buses and 3 seater auto rickshaws are available at your service but none other than 3 wheel rickshaws are best because they are like your private taxi and can take 10 adults in the space of 3. You just need to act like a smart ass while negotiating with fares, if a rickshaw driver asks you to pay 50 bucks, say it 20 or move forward to the next. Yes pre-decide the fare, there is nothing called “fare meter” in Udaipur. Bargaining is best!

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6. Hungry Kya (kya means “what” in hindi)?
You might feel starving after walking so long but I cannot recommend you to eat anything from road side food joints. Sorry there is no MacDonald’s, Dominos, Pizza Huts or Subway like things in Udaipur. Though you might have seen people grabbing samosas (that triangular thing), or kachoris which looks like UFO but we have better immune system than you. Eat and drink only packed food and see the MRP maximum retail price on the pack.

So, what’s the moral of this story? For you, take precautions and keep your spirits high. For us, we are looking forward to your problems seriously and will get back to you soon.