In December 2008, we had gone to Mt.Abu, Udaipur, Chittorgarh.Mt. Abu is the nice place and has many temples.
Dilwara Temple was great experience to see, you really enjoy the presentation given by the person. Mt.Abu lake is in very bad shape. Not clean at all. you will find filth in the lake. Market is also as usual it happen on the hill station.
It didn’t seem to us as hill station because it was too hot in December, Delhi was much colder at that time. Accommodation I can not explain b’coz I stayed in the Army Mess through out my tour.
Udaipur is the nice place nothing much to see except the Palace and the lake. Boating and camel ride is another attraction. Palace is quite huge and have great history.Chittorgarh fort is the best fort I have ever seen it is 13 km fort. You have to roam in your own vehicle.
I have seen some local Vikram(auto type) roaming inside. You must hire a guide for knowing the actual history of the fort. Inside the fort you have to do lot many up down from your vehicle to see the places.Now the bad experience of Fort visit. Guide will request you to visit one Emporium i.e. MAHARAJA ART PALACE. RAMPOL FORT, CHITTORGARH. telling you that he will get Rs.100/- as commission even if you do not buy from this place.
Any way we went there and found some traditional things and it was told by the person that it is being made by the widows and poor people and the money goes to their families and the cost is kept marginally and the same thing available in the market 40% higher. Best thing was if you do not have money pay 10% and he will send VPP without extra charge.
It was really convincing and we selected few items like, Rajati (blanket), suits, sarees etc. and the bill was made around 25000/- for 3 families. we paid him around Rs.3000/- and rest by VPP. We got the VPP after 1 week as promised. We got first shock that he charged the VPP charges. Second shock was the stuff we purchased was not there it was of different quality and color.
We called him about what he said, and he promised he will send back the VPP charges and return the mismatched stuff he will replace it or send back he will return our money He did not send any VPP charges In this march’09 my sister made the programmer of visiting Rajasthan.
We specially told her to visit this place to return the stuff and get money back. When she visited her it was our THIRD shock he denied that he has told us to refund the VPP charges and even replace the stuff. On heated argument he was agreed to change the color of the stuff chosen by us.
Later our known tried same stuff in Jodhpur it was coming much cheaper than he sold to us.WE GOT CHEATED PLEASE BE WARE OF THIS MAHARJA ART PLACE. So my suggestion to the person visiting Chittorgarh - Fort and please be careful of this place. If by chance visiting this MAHARJA ART PALCE don’t be cheated again.
Arun Ahuja