Our hotel for the next 2 nights was lovely, situated a few kms from the city and designed in the old style with beautifully planted gardens.
Located on the east bank of Lake Pichola and built over a
400 year period, this vast complex consists of several palaces. Built on a hill overlooking the city.
I don't appear to have taken a photo of the front (probably too close) so here is one pinched from the internet, but the rest are mine.
The building in the middle has been a very exclusive hotel for many years (stayed in by Sue with her first husband)
The palace was quite beautiful and there were many different areas
and aspects of design. Here are a few pictures with details I've
subsequently learned from the internet.
Mor Chowk (Peacock square) (c1750) is integral to the inner courts of the palace. The elaborate design of this chamber consists of three peacocks (representing the three seasons of summer, winter, and monsoon) modelled in high relief and faced with coloured glass mosaic, built into successive niches in the wall area. The peacocks have been crafted with 5000 pieces of glass, which shine in green, gold, and blue colours.
A previous owner (maharaja) depicted as a sungod.
After lunch we had an optional excursion boat trip around the Lake Pichola. This was a complete con, VJV charged about £20 a head and actually we could have bought our own tickets at the pier for approx £1.50 - Mahvi didn't even come on the boat with us, all he did was deliver us to the boat.
We had a great view back to the palace complex.
We were allowed to get off on the small Jagmandir Island (which is also home to a hotel) albeit amidst heavy security and only allowed in the gardens.
And that was the last part of the tour. We all flew back to Delhi, some were heading straight home and others, like me, were starting an extension to Amritsar and Shimla.