The Daily Diary of a Wandering Restaurateur
February 2 - Kankarwa Haveli
Frommer's Guide to India describes the Kankarwa Haveli as "by far the best budget option in town, if not the whole of Rajasthan. It is an elegant and family-run guest house in an ancient haveli right on the shores of Lake Pichola." What's not to like about that?
We have found our room to be quite pleasant although I would have liked a little softer mattress (I think its an Indian thing). The separate "living room" is nice but my old back needs a little more support than a mattress on the floor. Still, the comforts are here and the price is remarkable for what you get.
Jandaran, our host and savior, made everything work smoothly for us. The hotel is located at Lal Ghat, a set of steps down to the water. With the water level so low, the steps don't even reach the water right now, so the women have to sit in the water to do laundry. I still have trouble understanding how immersing clothes in dirty water and beating them with a stick gets them The frieze around the base of the wall in our "living room" hints at the age of the building (180 years). It all brings to mind Pompeii somehow. Finally, just up the street is Lake City -- Internet center, mini mart, you name it he's got it. But for Lake City you might not have this report until we get home!
The inevitable always happens, particularly after an all-night train ride.
© 2009 Restaurant Doctor
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