Devi Garh

Udaipur

Udaipur, the white city, with its mother of pearl facades opening onto Lake Pichola, lies atop the Aravalli mountain chain in faraway Rajasthan. Since its creation in 1569, it was the refuge of maharajahs of the Singh dynasty, and the city possesses numerous palaces whose wealth and magnificence bear witness to the way of life of these Rajpoute sovereigns who were dispossessed of their fortunes immediately after the country declared its independence. Symbolic of the opulent time when the maharajahs of Udaipur were more inclined to squander their wealth rather than rule over the people, is the City Palace with its maze of corridors, rooms and gardens. This sumptuous palace, built during the reign of Pratop Singh, is a remarkable example of Moghol architecture and is well worth a visit.

Twenty-two kilometers from Udaipur, the religious complex of Nagda and Eklingji merit a visit as well. In the hollow of Mount Aravalli, the ruins of the Abudji Jaine temple recalls the past splendor of the city of Nagda, once the seat of the Nagaditya dynasty, which fell into the hands of the Sultan Iltutmish.

A minimalist retreat

In the heart of the Aravalli mountain chain, the white marble of the imposing Devi Garh stands out as a final rampart on the road to Udaipur, capital of the ancient principality of Mewar. Out of this 18^th century Rajpoute fort which fell into disuse after independence was declared, Indian decorator, Lekha Poddar created a luxury hotel using noble and precious materials, plunging visitors into the elegant universe of the Udaipur maharajahs.

Ten years of work were necessary to renovate this august building whose foundations were in danger of collapsing. The final result is a daring blend of traditional Rajpoute and contemporary architecture. The very delicate interiors are decorated in white with slight touches of amber, gold and silver. The minimalist and virgin atmosphere is ideal for contemplation and meditation. In the evening, a poem by Tagore is placed on the guest’s pillow and incense is lit at the foot of the bed. Terraces overlooking the colorful grass of the fort are used by the hotel to organize private dinners as the light of fades into night. The Indian and European cuisine served in the restaurant offers guests a culinary experience of the highest quality. Devi Garh is an invitation to taste the pleasures of princely life.

Decorator Lekha Poddar and her son Anupum, recently inaugurated the non-profit Devi Art foundation, which possesses a private collection of sub-continental Indian art work, bringing together about 5,000 pieces of tribal art and ancient textiles. – artclair.com