The Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel, in Udaipur, Rajasthan, is a very popular Hotel. It is not as big as the Lake Palace Hotel, which is literally inside a lake, and which attracts a lot of foreigners because of the well designed publicity campaign put up in its favour. But Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel is a relatively small and beautiful Hotel. As the saying goes: Small is beautiful. It is situated on a hill and commands a wonderful view of Udaipur, the City of Lakes and Palaces.
Udaipur is a historical city of Rajasthan, and is a major educational centre. Seva Bharati is here. It was established by the late Dr. Mohan Sinha Mehta, who was an educationist and a diplomat too. Seva Bharati is now managed by Jagat Mehta, the only son of Dr. Mehta. Jagat was our Foreign Secretary, who gave up the job to join his father in managing Seva Bharati. Jagat’s son, who was in IAS, also left the service to join his father at Seva Bharati. Like father, like son.
Anil Bordia, former Education Secretary, Government of India, belongs to Udaipur. His wife, Otima, also an IAS Officer, was the Finance Secretary. Anil Bordia now manages the SIDA funded LOK JUMBIS from Jaipur. It is a Literacy Project run in collaboration with the National Literacy Mission.
My friend Om Srivastava and his Canadian wife Jinny have an NGO naned ASTHA, devoted to the cause of Tribals of Udaipur.
The late Rai Janardan Nagar had established the RAJASTHAN VIDYAPEETH, which is now a Deemed University. My friends Bhai Bhagwan and Professor Bhabani Shankar Garg are connected with it. Professor Garg is the Chancellor of the University.
There is a Puppet Museum established by the internationally reputed Puppeteer the late Devilal Shamar. He had taken the Indian Puppets to many countries in the world.
Udaipur is filled with the memories of Rana Pratap. His heroic deeds have now become a part of Rajasthani Folklore.
When you stay at the Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel, you are bound to be a part of this ambience. I have lived in this Hotel twice - once to attend a UNESCO Seminar on Adult Education and on another occasion to participate in a similar Seminar organised by a German Educational Foundation. While we were coming for the UNESCO Seminar, we took the hopping flight to Udaipur from Delhi, and after landing at Jaipur, were told that due to bad weather, the flight won’t operate. We had to come by bus from Jaipur to Udaipur, and arrived Udaipur late at night. It was very cold when we arrived. I remember the hot bowl of Soup after checking in at the Hotel, which completely refreshed me. We had a late night dinner also. It was excellent.
The Hotel has adequate conference facilities. The morning tea, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea/coffee and dinner - all were simply superb. The Hotel Staff were highly sophisticated and humble. The Hotel decor was excellent. I had a room in the second floor. I used to get up early in the morning and after having a cup of hot lemon tea, used to enjoy the cool breeze and the beautiful view of Udaipur. The Room Service was excellent. In the Hotel Shopping Arcade, there were many small shops selling Gem Stones - Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Emerald and what have you.
It is at the UNESCO SEminar that I became very friendly with Comrade Ho Truce, who was then the Vice-Minister of Education of Vietnam. Later on he invited me to his country as a Consultant, and my mission was funded by the UNESCO Bangkok Office.
So, in more ways than one, Udaipur in general and Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel in particular, brought me good luck !