Rajasthan · Southern Rajasthan (Mewar)
Udaipur
Lakes, a palace complex on the water and the most relaxed pace of any big Rajasthan city
- Best time
- September to March
- Ideal stay
- 2 to 3 nights
- Nearest airport
- Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) at Dabok, about 22 to 25 km from the old city
- Railway
- Udaipur City station, with overnight trains from Delhi and daily services from Jaipur and Ajmer
- From Jaipur
- About 400 km. 6.5 to 7 hours by road
- Known for
- City Palace, Lake Pichola, miniature painting, rooftop dining
Udaipur at a glance
Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II after Mewar's old capital at Chittorgarh had fallen for the second time. He chose a valley ringed by the Aravalli hills beside Lake Pichola, and the city grew around the lake and the palace complex on its eastern bank.
Most of what visitors come for is within a small area: the City Palace, the ghats and lanes of the old town, the boat jetties and a run of rooftop restaurants looking over the water. Nothing here demands an early start or a hard schedule, which is why many Rajasthan itineraries put Udaipur at the end as the place to slow down.
The lakes are the main variable. After a good monsoon they are full and the city looks its best; in a dry year, or in the hot months, water levels can be low and boat routes shorter. It is worth asking your hotel before you plan around a particular ride.
Best time to visit Udaipur
September to March is the reliable window. Lakes are fullest just after the monsoon, evenings are comfortable through winter, and festivals cluster in the spring.
| Months | Weather | What it means for a trip |
|---|---|---|
| Sep – Nov | Warm days easing from about 33°C to 28°C, pleasant evenings | Lakes are full after the monsoon and the hills are still green. Good value before the December rush. |
| Dec – Feb | Days up to 25 to 28°C, cool nights down to around 8°C | Peak season with the highest hotel rates. Shilpgram's craft fair runs in December. |
| Mar | Warm, 30°C and above by the end of the month | The Mewar Festival, with processions to the lake and fireworks, is held in March or April alongside Gangaur. |
| Apr – Jun | Very hot, often 40°C or more | Hotels drop their rates but sightseeing is only comfortable early morning and after sunset. Lake levels can be low. |
| Jul – Aug | Humid with monsoon rain, 25 to 32°C | Green hills and cheaper rooms. Rain can interrupt boat rides and viewpoints such as Sajjangarh may be in cloud. |
How to reach Udaipur
- By air
- Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) at Dabok is about 22 to 25 km from the old city. There are direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai and a few other metros. Prepaid taxis and app cabs take 40 to 50 minutes into town; most hotels can arrange a pickup.
- By train
- Udaipur City station has overnight trains to and from Delhi (about 12 hours) and daily services to Jaipur (about 7 hours), Ajmer and Chittorgarh. There is no direct rail link to Jaisalmer. Check the current timetable, as services on this route have changed recently.
- By road
- Chittorgarh is about 115 km, Jodhpur about 260 km (via Ranakpur and Pali), Jaipur about 400 km and Ahmedabad about 260 km. Mount Abu is roughly 170 km away. A private car with driver is the easiest way to link Udaipur with Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur and Jodhpur.
Things to do in Udaipur
1.City Palace complex
A cluster of palaces built over centuries by successive Maharanas, rising above Lake Pichola. Highlights include Mor Chowk with its peacocks in glass mosaic, the Mirror Palace and the terraced Amar Vilas gardens. Only part of the complex is a museum; the rest is still used by the royal family and a heritage hotel.
Time needed: 2 to 2.5 hours·Tip: Go at opening time in winter. The Crystal Gallery is ticketed separately and is optional.
2.Boat ride on Lake Pichola
Boats leave from the City Palace jetty and pass the Lake Palace hotel, then stop at Jag Mandir island. A sunset slot costs more but is the one to pick for light on the palace walls.
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours·Tip: Only the Jag Mandir stop lets you get off; the Lake Palace hotel is for guests and restaurant bookings.
3.Jagdish Temple
A Vishnu temple from the 17th century, reached by a steep flight of steps close to the palace gate. The exterior carving of dancers and elephants is worth a slow look.
Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes
4.Saheliyon ki Bari
A garden built in the 18th century for the women of the royal household, with fountains, lotus pools and marble elephants. Quiet in the morning and pleasant when it is hot.
Time needed: 45 minutes
5.Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)
A hilltop palace about 5 km outside the city with wide views across the lakes. It is a sunset spot and the drive up passes through a small wildlife sanctuary. It closes in the early evening, so check the closing time before you plan around sunset.
Time needed: 1.5 hours·Tip: Arrive well before sunset. In the monsoon, low cloud often hides the view.
6.Bagore ki Haveli and the evening dance show
An 18th-century mansion on the Gangaur Ghat with over a hundred rooms and a collection of costumes and textiles. In the evening it hosts a one-hour show of Rajasthani folk dance and puppetry.
Time needed: 1 hour for the museum; 1 hour for the show·Tip: The seats fill up. Book earlier in the day.
7.Fateh Sagar Lake
A larger lake to the north-west of the old town with a lakeside promenade, snack stalls and small boats. Better for an evening walk than for a formal sight.
Time needed: 1 hour
8.Shilpgram
A craft village about 3 km west of the centre, with reconstructed rural homes from western India and a stage for regional performances. Most active during the December craft fair.
Time needed: 1.5 hours
9.Ahar cenotaphs and the Vintage Car Collection
The Ahar cenotaphs are a group of royal memorials, several centuries old, on the eastern edge of the city. The Vintage Car Collection near Gulab Bagh houses the Maharanas' cars and is mainly of interest to enthusiasts.
Time needed: About 1 hour each
10.A cooking class or miniature-painting lesson
Udaipur has a long tradition of miniature painting in the Mewar style, and several households and studios offer short lessons. Home cooking classes are also common and usually end with the meal you cooked.
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours
Sample itineraries for Udaipur
One day
- 9:30 am: City Palace, then Jagdish Temple.
- 1 pm: Lunch at a lakeside rooftop.
- 3 pm: Saheliyon ki Bari.
- 5 pm: Sunset boat ride from the City Palace jetty.
- 7 pm: Bagore ki Haveli show, then dinner in the old town.
Two days
- Day 1: As above, replacing the garden with a slow walk through the ghats and lanes.
- Day 2 morning: Shilpgram, then the Ahar cenotaphs.
- Day 2 afternoon: Cooking class or miniature-painting session.
- Day 2 evening: Sunset at Sajjangarh or Fateh Sagar.
Three days with side trips
- Days 1 and 2 as above.
- Day 3: Drive to Kumbhalgarh fort (about 2 hours each way) and on to the Ranakpur Jain temple, returning in the evening. Alternatively, take Eklingji and Nathdwara for a short temple day.
Where to stay in Udaipur
- Around Lake Pichola (Lal Ghat, Gangaur Ghat, Chand Pole)
- Old havelis and small hotels with lake or palace views, and the most atmospheric location. Streets are narrow and cars usually stop a few minutes' walk away.
- Fateh Sagar side
- Quieter, with resorts and boutique hotels facing the second lake. Good if you'd rather have space and parking than lanes and rooftops.
- Hiran Magri and Sector 4 to 11
- Residential areas with homestays and mid-range hotels a short ride from the old town. Better value, less atmosphere.
- The lake palaces and luxury resorts
- The Taj Lake Palace on its island and Oberoi Udaivilas are among the best-known stays in India. Expect premium prices, and book months ahead for winter.
What to eat and buy in Udaipur
- Mewari thali and dal baati churma
- A thali here usually means several vegetable dishes, lentils, breads and sweets in unlimited quantities. Dal baati churma is the regional standard.
- Mirchi bada and kachori
- Fried snacks sold at street stalls in the morning. Mirchi bada is a large green chilli stuffed with potato and fried in gram-flour batter.
- Rooftop dining
- Many old-town restaurants have lake-facing terraces. Book a table for sunset in the high season, and check that the price includes the view you have been promised.
- Miniature paintings
- Look for pieces on paper or silk with fine brushwork. Ask if it is hand painted or a print, and whether the artist made it. Small studios around the Jagdish Temple are often the most straightforward.
- Textiles, silver and leather
- Hathi Pol, Bada Bazaar and the shops around Chetak Circle. The state-run Rajasthali emporium sells at fixed prices, which helps if you want a baseline before bargaining.
Day trips and stops near Udaipur
| Place | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Eklingji and Nagda | 22 km | A large Shiva temple complex and the smaller Sas-Bahu temples nearby. |
| Haldighati | About 40 km | The battlefield linked to Maharana Pratap, with a small museum. |
| Nathdwara | About 48 km | A major Krishna temple town known for Pichwai paintings. |
| Kumbhalgarh | About 85 km | A 15th-century fort with long perimeter walls; see the separate guide. |
| Ranakpur | About 90 km | A 15th-century marble Jain temple set in forest. |
| Chittorgarh | About 115 km | The largest fort in India by area; see the separate guide. |
What Udaipur costs
| Budget hotel (per room, per night) | About ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 |
|---|---|
| Mid-range hotel or heritage haveli | About ₹3,500 to ₹8,000; lake-facing rooms cost more |
| Palace or luxury hotel | ₹15,000 and up; the lake palaces are well above that in winter |
| Boat ride on Lake Pichola | Around ₹400 to ₹600 in the day; more for the sunset slot |
| City Palace ticket | Around ₹300 to ₹400 for Indian adults, with camera and the Crystal Gallery extra |
| Private cab for a day of local sightseeing | About ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 |
| A sit-down meal | About ₹400 to ₹1,000 per person; rooftops with a view are at the upper end |
Fees, timings and prices last checked in September 2026. They change from season to season, so treat them as a guide and confirm at the ticket counter or with us when we plan your trip.
Practical tips
- The old town is best on foot. Ask where the car can drop you and how far the hotel is from that point, especially with luggage.
- Lake-view rooms cost noticeably more than rooms facing the street. Decide whether you'll actually spend time looking at the lake from your room.
- In hot months, do the City Palace first thing and keep the evening for the lake.
- Ask before booking a boat: water levels and jetties vary from year to year.
- Photography rules and fees at the palace and temples change; ask at the counter before paying for a camera ticket.
- If you have limited time, choose between Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur for a day trip rather than trying both in one day.
Udaipur travel FAQs
How many days are enough for Udaipur?
Two nights lets you see the City Palace, take a boat ride, visit a garden or two and have an evening show without rushing. Add a third day if you want a side trip to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur.
Is Udaipur better than Jaipur?
They suit different tastes. Jaipur is larger and busier, with forts and markets; Udaipur is smaller, quieter and organised around lakes. Most travellers include both.
Can tourists visit the Lake Palace?
It is a hotel, so entry is for guests and for people who have booked a meal or an experience. You can see it from the lake on a boat ride.
What is the best time of day for a boat ride?
Late afternoon into sunset gives the best light on the City Palace, but the sunset slot costs more and books up. Mid-morning is quieter and cheaper.
How far is Udaipur from Jodhpur and Jaipur?
Jodhpur is about 260 km (roughly 5 to 6 hours by road, with Ranakpur as a natural stop). Jaipur is about 400 km (6.5 to 7 hours).
Is Udaipur good for a honeymoon?
It is one of the most popular Rajasthan honeymoon stops, mainly for lake-view stays and sunset dining. Book lakefront rooms early for winter dates.
Trips that include Udaipur
Ready-made routes you can change — swap hotels, add nights or combine with another city.
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The unhurried version — Jaipur, the holy lake at Pushkar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and its dunes, Udaipur, and the cool hill retreat of Mount Abu, staying in palace and heritage hotels throughout.
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