Rosie’s Retreat Homestay is in the heart of the Old City of Udaipur and is located on a quiet residential back lane which is unfit for vehicles. The lane is completely safe at all times.
The house is within two minutes walk of the City palace, home of the Maharajas of Udaipur, and the famous 15th Century Jagdish Temple with its amazing architecture and intricate stone carving. The boat stand, from where to catch one of the regular boats to take you on a sunset voyage around the lake, is practically on the doorstep. There is a rickshaw stand next to the boat stand with many a willing ‘tuk tuk wallah’ ready to whisk guests off on a tour of the old spice, vegetable and pottery markets or up to the Monsoon Palace to admire the view of the city at sunset. There are some excellent restaurants on Lal Ghat, interesting antique and vintage stores, a book shop, a travel agent and an Internet cafe.
Aditya at Lakecity Holidays will organise days out to the beautiful Jain temple at Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Eklinji temple or to visit the unmissable Juna Mahal Palace at Dungarpur.
He is also able to assist with money changing, flight, train and bus tickets and taxis.
There are nightly performances of traditional music and dance at Bagore Ki Haveli just up the street.
I first came to Udaipur in 2001 as a tourist. Having fallen in love with the city, I returned regularly, staying in hotels and then renting an apartment in the Old City, only moving out when the ceiling nearly fell on my head!
I was told about, what is now Rosie’s Retreat, by a rickshaw driver who was wanting to sell it because the family had outgrown it. The house was completely rotten. It was built from cow dung and straw with a bamboo roof and was on the verge of collapse but it had a fabulous lake view.
I bought it in 2007.
Little by little the old house was taken down and, with the assistance of a local man, Monish Paliwal, we started the rebuilding of the same house but in stone.
I have replaced the original bamboo ceilings which keep the rooms cool in summer and warm in winter.
Rosie’s Retreat Homestay opened in 2012 and has been a temporary home for travellers from all over the world since.