Octopussy

I'm not going to narrate the 1983 James Bond movie with Roger Moore as the super 007 agent. But this movie is one of Udaipur's icons, as it was mostly filmed in this city.

But Udaipur is much more that the scenery of an old movie. A city with tons of romantic scenes, full with palaces, now big luxury hotels, gives the city an important presence in Rajasthan. It surrounds a lake, where women, and in less measure, men, go there to wash themselves as well as their clothes.

Artists try to get you in their shops to get you to buy their art. Mewar art is one of Udaipur's pride and I must say it's really amazing. In general, Rajasthani art is one of the most delicate and patient I have ever seen. Not only in paintings, but in carpets, textiles and marble.

Whereas artists in Europe tend to aisle themselves into a bohemian lifestyle, artists in Udaipur dress and act as wealthy westerners. Or at least they try to. By no means their intentions provides the city of glamour, but locals are really proud of it. On the contrary, the city is dedicated fully for tourists, with guests houses and hotels, restaurants and coffee shops at every corner.

The beauty hidden in Udaipurs big palaces and shops makes it an expensive city where you get constantly harassed by shopkeepers, rickshaw drivers and travel agencies. And so, it's one of the most annoying cities I've been to. This, however, must not back away the readers, as the city is really enchanting, has wonderful things to do, and is really beautiful at night.