The misty hills stretched endlessly before me as I strained to spot Lake Pichola. I was standing between a rock and a hard place, quite literally so&mdasha wall of doors to my left, and one covered in climbers to my right. No, I wasn&rsquot lost, neither was I dreaming. I was trying to find a secret garden.
The Paheli Bagh at Aurika, Udaipur is reserved for a lucky few. If you can solve the riddle put forth by the staff&mdashone that will take you through the labyrinth of Rajasthani art and winding architecture of Aurika in a flurry of jumbled words&mdash you&rsquoll have the privilege of knowing that you&rsquore a lucky one too. And, of course, a moonlit dinner overlooking the breathtaking landscape of Udaipur in perfect twilight.
The first outpost of Lemon Tree&rsquos new upscale brand (more coming soon), Aurika is situated on an undulating hilltop. Away from the hustle-bustle of Udaipur, but still a comfortable distance from all that the city has to offer. The term Aurika means gold, and a tour of the property aptly reflects its namesake.
Udaipur had been unusually misty since I arrived, and the staff had been joking about how I brought the haze with me from Delhi. On a sunny day, unlike this one, you can easily spot Aurika from the Monsoon Palace. And if you looked a little further, you could spot Lake Pichola too. Adorned with traditional Shekhawati paintings and Karnawati stones, the hotel offers cosy nooks and corners to curl up with a book or gaze at the starlit sky.
I&rsquom usually good with directions, but it took me a while to figure my way around the property. I was partly at fault as I kept zoning in and out, marvelling at the traditional Rajasthani architecture. Thankfully, the staff always managed to rescue me from my lofty wanderings with a golf cart in tow to deliver me to my desired destination.
And the one I was looking for was Mirasa, the all-day restaurant. Chef Kamal spun his magic in everything he brought to the table. His signature Rajasthani thali with churma and a warm jowar drink was my personal favourite, washed down with some blueberry cheesecake. Satisfied and more than a little full, I retired for the day in my room. Calling it comfortable would be an understatement.
Usually an early riser, I overslept more than I care to admit. But one can&rsquot complain about happy accidents, can one The day was surprisingly sunny and before I could even head to the terrace to try and spot Lake Pichola, breakfast was waiting at the door. I decided to do all things touristy that day. Thankfully, I was accompanied by Chef &rsquos lip-smacking picnic basket and the hotel&rsquos General Manager, Rahul Korgaokar&rsquos banter. As I walked around Jag Mandir and the Udaipur City Palace, I could draw similarities between the architecture of the palace and the property.
Tasteful and ornate, Aurika also had a library among its long list of offerings. One can choose to bring their own selection, or pick from their collection of over a thousand books. I more than utilised the privilege of a reading room with a glass of lemonade and some good ol&rsquo Charlotte Brontë.
Much of my last day was spent gloriously lazing around Aurika, which I had now, thankfully, figured out (but the golf cart was still there). The warm afternoon made for a perfect excuse to have lunch by the pool, and my burger and shake really hit home. A nap, as they say, was inevitable.
Since I obviously hadn&rsquot relaxed enough, I followed the whiff of essential oils into the Araya spa. After choosing from a variety of said oils, I headed into a room that was already temperature-controlled for the session. Might I say that the session was 45 minutes of pure therapy with unadulterated wholesomeness.
I retired for the night, but not before a quick glance at the Ariva bar, which boasts of an impressive selection. I wondered for a second before making up my mind how could I end a perfect day without a trusty little nightcap
The property can has 72 deluxe, 36 deluxe vista, 12 premium with private terrace, 15 premium vista with private terrace, 3 Aurika suites with private plunge pool and 1 presidential suite
Visit their website for more.
