Udaipur’s former royal Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar takes a tuk-tuk ride, wins hearts

Udaipur has always attracted people from all over the world for its rich culture and heritage. But on a sunny Sunday, what caught everyone’s attention was Udaipur’s erstwhile royal, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, riding an autorickshaw near Lake Pichola with his family seated behind him.

With so many expensive cars at his disposal, what made him take his kids for an auto-rickshaw ride? He says, “What you saw was an autorickshaw, but for me, it’s a convenient way to travel through the busy and narrow lanes of Udaipur — and a priceless legacy from the James Bond classic Octopussy. The tuk-tuk, or three-wheeler, plays an important part in the Bond film, which was extensively shot in Udaipur and The Palace.”With Udaipur continuing to be a hotspot tourist destination, Mewar wants to carry forward the legacy of his forefathers. “Udaipur and The Palace are where memories and legacies are kept alive. We love sharing our heritage with our guests, who get the opportunity to be treated as royal guests! The tuk-tuk ride is just one example of how we pay tribute to our past — to Hollywood, Bollywood, and the magic of movies. Come, enjoy, and refresh yourself in Udaipur — it’s a living heritage city like no other,” he adds.

His children looked delighted as they enjoyed the ride with a breathtaking view of Lake Pichola. “Oh, they loved it — we all love being together,” he adds. “It doesn’t matter whether we’re in an autorickshaw or a Rolls-Royce. It’s the togetherness and the fun that count. You can see it in their smiles and how comfortable they are.”