Udaipur is the city people fall in love with in Rajasthan. White palaces rise out of Lake Pichola, rooftop restaurants look across the water to the Aravalli hills, and every evening the sky over the lakes turns orange and pink. Most of the places to visit in Udaipur are within walking distance of each other, so the city feels softer and slower than Jaipur or Jodhpur, and it rewards you for staying a little longer than planned.
The sights are clustered around its lakes, with a few on the hills above them and some excellent day trips into the Aravallis. This guide covers the sights worth your time, with tickets and the best time of day for each, a three-day plan, where to stay and eat, and when to go.
The best time to visit Udaipur
- September to March is the best time. September, after the monsoon, is when the lakes are fullest and the city is at its most beautiful. October to March has pleasant days and cool nights.
- April to June is hot, often above 40°C, but quieter and cheaper.
- July and August bring the monsoon. If the rains are good, the lakes fill and the hills turn green, and many people think this is Udaipur at its best.
The Shilpgram Utsav, a big crafts and folk arts fair, runs for about ten days in late December. Diwali and the Christmas to New Year week are the busiest and most expensive times.
The best places to visit in Udaipur
| Place | Entry for Indians | Time needed | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Palace | about ₹300 | 2½ hours | Morning |
| Jagdish Temple | Free | 30 minutes | Morning |
| Lake Pichola boat ride | about ₹400 and up | 1 hour | Sunset |
| Ambrai Ghat | Free | 45 minutes | Sunset |
| Bagore ki Haveli and the Dharohar show | about ₹150 for the show | 1½ hours | Evening |
| Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace | about ₹140, plus the shuttle | 1½ hours | Sunset |
| Fateh Sagar Lake | Free | 1 hour | Evening |
| Saheliyon ki Bari | about ₹10 | 45 minutes | Morning |
| Karni Mata ropeway | about ₹100 to ₹150 return | 1 hour | Sunset |
| Vintage Car Museum | about ₹250 | 45 minutes | Afternoon |
| Shilpgram | small fee | 1½ hours | Afternoon |
Prices are a guide and change from time to time.
City Palace
Rajasthan's largest palace complex was built over about 400 years by the Mewar rulers, and it towers over the eastern shore of Lake Pichola. Walk through its courtyards, the Mor Chowk with its glass peacocks, the Sheesh Mahal, and rooms full of miniature paintings, then look out from the balconies over the lake. Go in the morning, before the tour groups, and take the audio guide.
Jagdish Temple
A short walk from the City Palace, this carved Vishnu temple from 1651 sits at the top of a steep flight of steps in the middle of the old city. It's still a busy, living temple, and the carvings of elephants, dancers and musicians around its base are worth a slow look.
Lake Pichola and the boat ride
The lake is the heart of Udaipur. Boats leave from the City Palace jetty and other ghats, passing the Lake Palace (now a hotel, which you can't enter unless you're staying) and stopping at Jag Mandir, the island palace where Shah Jahan stayed as a young prince. The sunset boat is the most popular and the most expensive, and it's worth it.
Ambrai Ghat
For the classic view of the City Palace reflected in the lake, walk across to Ambrai Ghat on the western shore at sunset. It's free, local families gather on the steps, and the palace lights up as the sky darkens.
Bagore ki Haveli and the Dharohar show
This 18th-century haveli on Gangaur Ghat is now a museum of Mewar life, and every evening it hosts Dharohar, a one-hour show of Rajasthani folk dances, including women dancing with stacks of pots on their heads. Buy tickets early in season, as the courtyard fills up.
Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
On a hilltop about 5 km from the city, this palace was built so the Maharana could watch the monsoon clouds roll in. Today it's the best sunset point in Udaipur, with views over all the lakes. You'll take a shuttle up from the gate of the Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary.
Fateh Sagar Lake
Udaipur's second big lake has a long promenade that fills up with families every evening, stalls selling roasted corn and coconut water, and boats out to Nehru Garden on an island. It's a lively, local place to end the day.
Saheliyon ki Bari
The "Garden of the Maidens" was built for the royal women, with fountains, lotus pools, marble elephants and shady lawns. It's small and peaceful, especially in the morning.
Karni Mata ropeway
A short ropeway rises from Deen Dayal Park near Lake Pichola to the Karni Mata temple on Machla Magra hill, with views over the lake and the City Palace. It's a quick, easy sunset option if Sajjangarh feels too far.
Vintage Car Museum
The Maharana's collection of classic cars, including Rolls-Royces and a Cadillac used for Queen Elizabeth's visit, is a fun hour for car lovers.
Day trips from Udaipur
- Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Jain Temple: about 85 km away. Kumbhalgarh's walls run for about 36 km, the second-longest continuous wall in the world. Ranakpur's 15th-century marble temple has 1,444 carved pillars and opens to non-Jain visitors from midday. Do both in a long day.
- Chittorgarh Fort: about 115 km away. One of the largest forts in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Vijay Stambh tower and the palace of Rani Padmini.
- Eklingji and Nagda: about 22 km away. The Eklingji Shiva temple complex is the family temple of the Mewar rulers, and the ruined Saas-Bahu temples at Nagda are beautifully carved.
- Haldighati: about 40 km away, the site of Maharana Pratap's famous battle in 1576.
A 3-day Udaipur itinerary
Day 1: The old city and Lake Pichola
- Morning: City Palace, then Jagdish Temple
- Afternoon: lunch on a rooftop, rest, then a wander through the old city's lanes
- Sunset: a boat on Lake Pichola, with a stop at Jag Mandir
- Evening: Dharohar folk dance show at Bagore ki Haveli, then dinner at a lake-facing rooftop
Day 2: Gardens, lakes and the Monsoon Palace
- Morning: Saheliyon ki Bari, then the Vintage Car Museum
- Afternoon: Shilpgram for crafts, or a cooking class
- Sunset: Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
- Evening: the promenade at Fateh Sagar Lake
Day 3: Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur
Leave early for Kumbhalgarh, walk a section of the walls, then drive to Ranakpur for the temple after midday. Return to Udaipur in the evening, or stay the night near Kumbhalgarh and continue to Jodhpur, as in our 10-day Rajasthan itinerary.
Where to stay in Udaipur
- Lal Ghat and Gangaur Ghat: the old city on the eastern shore, with lake-view guesthouses from about ₹1,000 to ₹4,000 a night. Walk to everything.
- Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai: the western shore, quieter, with the best views of the City Palace
- Fateh Sagar: more modern hotels, away from the crowds
- Palace and lake hotels: some of the most beautiful hotels in India, for a splurge
Udaipur is one of the top honeymoon destinations in India, and a lake-view room is worth paying a little extra for.
What to eat in Udaipur
Try dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi and ker sangri in a Rajasthani thali, laal maas if you eat meat, and mirchi vada and kachori as street snacks. Udaipur's rooftop restaurants serve everything from Rajasthani to Italian, and the setting is the real attraction. Book a table for sunset.
Udaipur in the monsoon
If the rains are good, July to September is a beautiful time to visit. The lakes fill up, the Aravalli hills turn green, the Monsoon Palace finally makes sense, and hotel prices drop. Some boat rides may be limited in heavy rain, and paths can be slippery, but the city is at its most romantic.
Udaipur with children
Children enjoy the boat rides on Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar, the puppet show at Bagore ki Haveli, the vintage cars and the ropeway to the Karni Mata temple. Saheliyon ki Bari's fountains are a good place to let them run around.
How to get to Udaipur and get around
By air: Maharana Pratap Airport is about 22 km from the city, with flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities.
By train: Udaipur City station has trains from Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, including overnight trains.
By road: Udaipur is about 5 hours from Pushkar, 4 from Ahmedabad and 6½ from Jaipur. It's an easy stop on a Rajasthan road trip. Our guide to weekend getaways from Ahmedabad includes it.
Getting around: the old city is best on foot. Use autos and app cabs for Sajjangarh, Fateh Sagar and Saheliyon ki Bari, and hire a car with a driver for day trips to Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur, Chittorgarh or Eklingji.
Udaipur travel tips
Book a sunset table early. Rooftop restaurants facing the lake fill up for sunset, especially in season.
See the City Palace early. It gets crowded from late morning.
Check the lake level. In dry years, the lakes can be low in summer, which changes the views and boat rides.
Bargain for miniature paintings. Udaipur is famous for them, but prices vary hugely. Visit a few shops before you buy.
Udaipur on a budget
Udaipur is easy to enjoy without spending much. Stay in a guesthouse or hostel around Lal Ghat or Gangaur Ghat, many with rooftop views, from about ₹1,000 a night. Walk the old city, watch the sunset free from Ambrai Ghat, take the cheaper daytime boats instead of the sunset cruise, and eat thalis in the old city for about ₹200 to ₹300. A two-day budget trip can cost under ₹5,000 per person, not counting travel.
Udaipur in luxury
At the other end, Udaipur has some of the most beautiful hotels in India: the Taj Lake Palace floating in Lake Pichola, the Oberoi Udaivilas on the western shore, and palace hotels in the City Palace complex. Even if you're not staying, a meal or a drink at a palace restaurant is a memorable splurge.
Cooking classes and other experiences
- A Rajasthani cooking class with a local family, usually including a market visit
- A miniature painting workshop, where artists show you how they work with squirrel-hair brushes and natural colours
- A vintage car ride or the museum at Garden Hotel
- Horse riding in the countryside around the city
- A walking tour of the old city at dawn, when the lanes are quiet
Udaipur for a short honeymoon
If you only have three nights, book a lake-view room, keep the first evening for the sunset boat and a rooftop dinner, spend a slow day on the City Palace, the gardens and Sajjangarh, and take the third day to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur, or simply stay in. Our list of honeymoon destinations in India has more ideas.
Udaipur's best views, in one list
- Ambrai Ghat: the City Palace reflected in Lake Pichola at sunset
- Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace: all the lakes from above, at sunset
- Karni Mata ropeway: Lake Pichola and the City Palace from Machla Magra hill
- The City Palace balconies: Jag Mandir and the Lake Palace from above
- Gangaur Ghat: the lake and old city at dusk
- A rooftop café at Lal Ghat: the lights of the palace after dark
Udaipur in the heat
If you visit from April to June, start sightseeing at dawn, spend the afternoons in your hotel or a museum, and save boats and viewpoints for the evening. Carry water everywhere and choose a hotel with air conditioning and, ideally, a pool.
Shopping in Udaipur's old city
The lanes between the Jagdish Temple and Hathi Pol are full of shops selling miniature paintings, silver jewellery, leather-bound handmade paper journals, block-printed and bandhani textiles, puppets and wooden toys. Bada Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar are where locals shop for clothes and spices. Look at several shops before you buy a miniature painting, and ask whether it's hand-painted or printed. Government emporiums and the Shilpgram craft village give you a sense of fair prices.
The history of Udaipur
Udaipur was founded in the 16th century by Maharana Udai Singh II of Mewar, traditionally dated to 1559, as a safer capital than the hilltop fort of Chittorgarh. When Akbar's army besieged and captured Chittorgarh in 1567 and 1568, the court moved here for good. Udai Singh's son, Maharana Pratap, became one of Rajasthan's great heroes for his resistance to the Mughals, including at the Battle of Haldighati in 1576, which you can visit on a day trip.
Lake Pichola is older than the city. It's said to have been built in the 14th century and was later enlarged by Udai Singh. Over the next centuries, the rulers of Mewar added the City Palace, a chain of palaces built by generation after generation, and the island palaces of Jag Mandir and Jag Niwas, now the Taj Lake Palace. Jag Mandir is said to have sheltered the young Mughal prince Khurram, later Shah Jahan, in the 1620s.
Plan your Udaipur trip with JrnyLoop
Tell JrnyLoop where you're starting and that you're going to Udaipur, and it plans the journey, then lays out each day with the City Palace in the morning, the boat and Sajjangarh at sunset and the dance show in the evening, adds entry fees and picks meals Udaipur is known for. It also budgets the trip for your group in your chosen stay style.
Combining Udaipur with Jaipur? Read our guide to places to visit in Jaipur too.
The short version
Give Udaipur three days between September and March. Spend the first on the City Palace, Lake Pichola and the Dharohar show, the second on the gardens, Fateh Sagar and sunset at Sajjangarh, and the third on Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur. Stay by the lake, book a rooftop table for sunset, and don't rush it.
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