Strange light

One of the main tourist attractions of this city palace complex is a nighly light show. Given the down season, it's only happening in Hindi. As night falls, chairs are lined up in the vast garden facing the palace. It looks extraordinary. Magical. From another era. The colourful glass mosaic and ceramic details that line some of the rooms, appear as fascinating dots of colour in the huge structure with its cupolas and arches and balconies. The square Rajput pillars in the hallways on one level are contrasted with the curved flowing shapes of the Mughal pillars on the next. A truly exotic site. By night you can't see the peeling paint or the pigeon shit dotting the walls.



Then the 'show' begins. I'm there to get the mood, even if I don't understand a word. But I get the gist of it. I recognise words that tell me its discussing the history of the Sisodia people of Udaipur. Chittor, their old fort. Brave kings and beautiful queens. Sati and johor. The fires where the women threw themselves as their men rode to their deaths in battle. Death rather than surrender.



The sound system is excellent. It's like the voice of god that booms out from this enormous complex. There are a few voices in the show. And as each one recounts their bit of the story, various parts of the palace are lit. The grand front doorway with its symbol of the sun is lit when the narrator speaks. The entrance arch glows with fire-like lighting when the flames of sati devour the queens.



I am fascinated by the way the bits of the palace light up, am impressed by the grand voices and think maybe we should investigate these for our tour, but in the end it seems an awfully extravagant exercise. And after 15 minutes I am ready to leave. Of course I don't. I sit through the full hour.