Heres the Heartwarming Story of How a Local Guide Made My First Visit To Udaipur Memorable

Before my visit to Udaipur, I thought that the city would merely be a land of luxurious escapes and extravagant weddings. But the beautiful city offered me so much more - rich culture, history and most of all, safety for a young woman who travels solo.

I was always transported to Rajasthan whilst listening to Mame Khan's soulful Coke Studio version of the song, Chaudhury, but I never wanted to visit the state alone. I was lucky to find a friend from Rajasthan who invited me to explore her state with her, however, she was unable to accompany me to Udaipur. I soon found myself alone in the City of Lakes.

Finding a homestay in Udaipur

Photo of Here's the Heartwarming Story of How a Local Guide Made My First Visit To Udaipur Memorable! 1/3 by Yashodhara Roy

Upon reaching Udaipur, I was easily able to find myself an aesthetic, heritage homestay called Rosie's that didn't just appease to my eyes, but was also centrally located and felt safe.

But this story isn't about me finding a cute place to stay in. It is about how I found myself in a customized 'tour' of Udaipur. It all started when I realised that along with my excitement of being in Udaipur, I was also greeted by an unpleasant ol' nemesis - my menstrual cramps. So all my 'walking' around the city plans were tossed out of the window. As I sat in a very comfortable chair browsing through catalogues I found a card that popped out that had recommendations from the stay.

Meeting my guide, Jogi Ji

This included a Jogi Ji's name and number and it was specially called out that he is their 'neighbour'. So I called him and asked him how much he would charge for a day trip (which I thought was on an auto) and settled on a cost, INR 700/- which was reasonable for a full day. The next morning when I went to meet him I realised his house not just next door but we also shared a wall and compound. He was one of those people whose face assured you of your safety and as a woman traveler it is a blessing to find such people. He then excitedly introduced himself and pointed me to his scooter and said chalega? I couldn't explain to him how much I prefer a familiar scooter over an auto and turns out that made it so much fun. We were soon riding in alleyways that were meant for pedestrians, avoiding construction and the 'chowk wala traffic jam' and zooming around.

On the back of the scooter with a smiling Jogi Ji narrating stories from his town, I witnessed an Udaipur that is rarely seen.

Photo of Here's the Heartwarming Story of How a Local Guide Made My First Visit To Udaipur Memorable! 2/3 by Yashodhara Roy

Soon, I was being introduced to local spots. So whether it was me going uphill towards the Monsoon Palace or 'riding' down stairs in an old 'galli' to reach a laptop repair shop, Jogi Ji was there for me. He was also my photographer and I got comfortable enough to train him and direct my frames for the perfect Instagram post.

Surprisingly, not once did I felt awkward because as he shared stories with me he kept calling me 'didi'. I was clearly much younger to him but that reference as sister felt genuine and true from the heart. When I say I am a people person, this is what I mean. I find solace in good friends and good hearts around me.

Jogi Ji helped me tick off my check list of places to visit, gave me tips and when it came to the boat lake tour, he even offered to get it done without a ticket since he had 'connections' and he said something around the lines of 'can he not do this much for a sister?'. I don't know guys, those of you reading this, if you feel I am just a sucker for such sweet gestures, but these are the type of things that really make or break my trip. After all, isn't travel also about meeting people, discovering stories, connecting with strangers you may never see again but will always remember?

An invitation for dinner

I asked him to drop me at the City Palace gate since it was walkable to my room and instead of taking money from me then, he asked me whether I eat everything and invited me for dinner. I was too touched to refuse but insisted that they do not make anything special.

When I came back Rosie's, I did wonder about sitting in his house and eating, since there will be family, what will they say, what will they think and as always my brain started whirring. But I did not have to overthink this because soon enough Jogi Ji called me outside and I realised that he had a plate of food ready for me with his wife and kids standing nearby peeking to see if I liked it. Needless to say I was overjoyed. I have never really enjoyed Daal Baati but the meal that I was served was lip-smacking!

Photo of Here's the Heartwarming Story of How a Local Guide Made My First Visit To Udaipur Memorable! 3/3 by Yashodhara Roy

I often think of the impression I leave on people, whether I am kind enough and thankful enough. While the world often pushes you towards negativity, every once in a while you meet people who will leave a smile on your face. For me, Jogi Ji was the magic of Udaipur and this is one encounter that I will never forget.