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There are a lot of things to do in Udaipur, the Rajasthani lake city in India, and in this article, I will be showing you the best ones so you can plan your visit.
Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes because of the several manmade lakes that surround it.
With a name like this, it should come as no surprise that many a movie and book have been inspired by the romance of the white marble floating palaces against the warm sun. Among them is 1983 James Bond Octopussy, one of the first Hollywood movies set in India.
If you arrive in Udaipur on a tour of Rajasthan, you will welcome the city’s greenery and lakes, a contrast with Jaisalmer’s desert location, Jodhpur’s semi-arid landscapes and Jaipur’s rather dry and often polluted air.
If you have visited other parts of India like the Green City of Bangalore or Mughal Hyderabad, you might find some similarities.
The city might even remind you of Bangladesh capital Dhaka, for its Mughal influence and some of the temples follow the Dravidian style found in southern Chennai or across Karnataka.
But Udaipur is also unique in its own way and its whitewashed marble facades and palaces do fairytale like no other city in India. Let’s explore the many places to visit in Udaipur.
A brief history of Udaipur
Founded by Maharana Udai Singh in the 17th century, much of the original constructions in Udaipur are still standing and can be visited, although some of them are in a better conservation state than others.
The Maharana was looking for a new location for his palace and fort, after Chittorgarh Fort, where he lived, was attacked by the Mughals and finally defeated.
He arrived at the spot where the temple inside the City Palace stands today following the smoke coming from a fire set by a holy man worshipping the Gods.
From this vantage point, he could see the lakes all around and the greenery of the hills. Finding this the perfect spot to set his new home, he asked the man if he could take over the land and build his palace and offered to build him a proper temple which is still part of the City Palace.
The current Maharana, the custodian of the House of Mewar, has invested effort and money into what he calls “The City within a City”, which will transform Udaipur city center into a “self-sufficient and self-reliant multi-faceted enterprise”.
You can see some of the regeneration work carried out as you explore the City Palace and the tourist attractions around it.
Pay attention to the number of heritage buildings that have been transformed into tourist infrastructures such as hotels and restaurants as a means to preserve and share them.
If you are spending a few days in desert-like Rajasthan, you will soon find yourself craving some greenery and water, and Udaipur and its surrounding lakes, parks and Aravalli Mountains, may just be what you need.
This is why I would suggest that your trip to Rajasthan end in Udaipur so that you leave on a sweet, fresh note. Udaipur is my favorite city in Rajasthan and many others agree.
Things to do in Udaipur
There are enough things to do in Udaipur on this list to keep you entertained for around 4 days, including the day trips. But you can also briskly tour through all the attractions in just a day, seeing the highlights and then continuing on to your next destination.
The first time I came to Udaipur I spent just one day on the Maharaja’s Express, got off what I think is the best luxury train in India, in the morning, explored the city and returned for dinner back on the train.
Take a full-day tour of Udaipur
This list of the best things to do in Udaipur can be done independently and you will see that I have included details for each of the places and recommendations to visit along with tips.
However, I would recommend hiring a guide and driver for the whole day. It will save you a lot of hassle with getting taxis or rickshaws and it will ensure you get explanations as there are no signs anywhere. You will also be able to make the most of your day.
I had booked this for me and my mum and it was the perfect way to explore Udaipur. If you decide this is also the best for you, here are some recommended tours:
- Full-day private tour of Udaipur with lunch and water including a guided tour of the City Palace, a boat tour on the lake, Saheliyon Ki Bari, Jagdish Temple and the smaller Dudh Talai lake. Book it here.
- Full-day private tour without a boat tour. If you already went on a boat tour or plan to do it at another time, this is the right tour for you. Lunch is not included, but a guide is. You will also visit the Monsoon Palace (not included in the previous tour), as well as the City Palace, Saheliyon Ki Bari, Jagdish Temple. You can opt to be dropped off at Lake Pichola for sunset drinks at your own expense. Book it here.
- Full-day private transportation through the key things to do in Udaipur with much the same as above but without the boat tour, lunch, entry tickets or a guide (hence the cheaper price). You should estimate around $40-50 for lunch and entry tickets per person. Book it here.
Udaipur’s City Palace
Every Rajasthani city has its own fort or palace and in the case of Udaipur, the City Palace is part of a complex of palaces built on the shores of Lake Pichola which also includes Fateh Prakash Palace, Shiv Niwas Palace (today a hotel) and Shambu Niwas Palace.
The complex was built over four centuries by the various Mewar dynasties which is why some parts like the City Palace are really old, whereas the newer parts like the Crystal Gallery, are actually from the 20th century.
The City Palace itself is not inhabited by the royal family who instead lives in adjacent Shambu Niwas Palace but is open as a museum that allows visitors to see all the rooms.
The entry ticket gives you access to all the separate palaces and halls that make the City Palace, each one is very different from the other.
Start by the main Toran Pol entrance. As you come to it, look behind you for a vaulted gate that resembles the ones found along the Silk Road in Central Asia and, in particular, Uzbekistan and Iran. This gate reminds the visitor of the region’s importance for the Silk Road trading caravans.
As you go inside the Palace you will first enter a large courtyard called Moti Chowk with souvenir shops, toilets and shaded benches. Here are the Maharana’s stables and his horses too.
You will then cross a small gate that does not look like a gate, and certainly doesn’t seem like the grand entrance to a palace of this cache. This was intentionally done to confuse attackers.
Look at the beautiful glass and precious stone inlay that will face you just as your ticket is being checked, just below Ganesh.
Once inside, you will first see the coronation square. To your left is the original temple built for the hermit that Maharana Udai Singh found on top of the mountain and which led the Maharana to the location for his new residence. The original black idol is still there.
Go up to the upper floor of the temple to find a large marble pool cut from a single piece of marble where the Maharana used to keep silver coins. Citizens and royals used to stand in the square below when the Maharana would throw half of the coins at them after the coronation.
To the other side of the main square is a small exhibit displaying items used by actor Ben Kingsley in the famous 1982 Indian movie Gandhi.
Follow the signs for the visit, your guide, or the numbers on the audio guide to continue in the maze of corridors and passages of the palace and walk through several of its main sights.
In all of them, you will find stunning stained glass, marble, mirror halls, inlays, murals and miniature paintings. The City Palace has, without a doubt, Rajasthan’s most impressive interiors.
One of the most beautiful spaces is the Mor Chowk, or Peacock courtyard, with three peacocks in relief made with colored glass mosaic that represent the three seasons, for example, the summer peacock has its feathers open.
The upper levels of the courtyard have balconies facing Manek Chowk decorated in glass from the outside and a section with Chinese and Dutch blue tiles.
Famous Sheesh Mahal is a mirror palace whose walls are completely covered in mirror and glass built by the Maharana Pratap Singh for his wife in the 18th century.
Amar Vilas, the courtyard garden with benches that makes for a great rest stop and which has nice views over Udaipur below (it is the highest point in the palace). In the middle of the courtyard is a 12 square meter marble pool used for the Holi ceremony.
Amar Vilas is adjacent to Badi Mahal which has several pictures and images of what the palace used to look like before. Here you can see a few empty bird cages, the pigeons here were messengers, used to send love letters.
At Amar Vilas you can also spot a photo of the elephant fights, not what you may think of as each elephant used to stand at either side of a wall and pull the other with its horns.
Next to the pillared area is a painting of the palace hanging on the wall that was designed as 3D. If you see it from a distance, you will see the palace come to life. My guide claimed that Shah Jahan took inspiration from these paintings for the Taj Mahal.
If you continue you will also find Chini Chitrashala which has tiled walls of Chinese and Dutch origin, you can spot the difference between the two in the colors and styles, inside are Dutch, outside are Chinese. In one of the smaller rooms here you will also find a balcony with views.
Towards the end of the visit is Surya Chopar, a hall with a golden sun face made of brass that will wave you goodbye. The sun was the symbol and emblem of the Mewar family and you can see several sun symbols on the facade and interiors.
The family is thought to descent from the Sun God, Surya, like the Jodhpur and Jaipur families, but unlike the Jaisalmer royal family who is a descendant of the Moon.
Visiting the City Palace is a definite thing to do in Udaipur and you should set aside about 2h to explore it either on your own, with a guide or with the audio guide.
It is best to go first thing in the morning when it opens at 9:30am to avoid the crowds that form later in the morning and which can be overwhelming.
Tickets to enter the palace cost 300 rupees.
Note that most of the walls are covered with glass so photographing the murals is difficult, bring a non-reflective lens or place the camera right against the glass.
Crystal Gallery and Fateh Prakash Palace
Fateh Prakash Palace is most famous for its Crystal Gallery which is what you are actually paying the exorbitant prices for.
But as you explore the lower floor below the gallery, you will also be impressed by the Durbar Hall, built in 1909 and today bookable for private events. Here are some of the largest chandeliers in the world, which hang high in the massive room.
The hall is surrounded by pictures of the Maharana and some of their weaponry and code of arms, although it was founded by the then Viceroy of India Lord Minto and originally named after him.
The best part of the hall, in my opinion, is the external gallery surrounding it which has sofas all along a wall that is right above the water with fantastic views over Lake Pichola and the Taj Lake Palace Hotel.
The Crystal Gallery, which you will not be able to photograph (you will be asked to leave all your cameras and phones at the entrance) has the most incredible crystal pieces in the world and it is said to house the largest collection of Osler crystal in the world.
It was Maharana Sajjan Singh who was a fond lover of crystal and who ordered the collection from F & C Osler & Co from Birmingham. The collection arrived in sealed containers after the Maharana’s death and was kept as-is for over a century until they were opened and placed for display at the gallery.
I was most impressed by the crystal bed, can you imagine laying on a four-posted bed entirely cut from crystal?
You will need a separate, much more expensive ticket (USD10 or 600 rupees) to visit Pateh Prakash in addition to the entrance for the City Palace, this is why you will most likely find it empty. In my 1h visit, I only saw one other couple.
Watch a Mewar light and sound show at the City Palace
This light and sound show takes place every evening after sunset outside the City Palace and tells the story of the Mewar Kingdom and dynasty. I joined a similar show at Golconda Fort in Hyderabad and very much enjoyed it, it is a nice way to enjoy some entertainment while learning history.
More information here.
The show takes place daily at around 7-7:30pm and you can buy tickets at the entrance to the City Palace. Alternatively, if you are not staying nearby, you can book a tour that includes tickets to the show, dinner at a local restaurant, a guide and transfers. Book it here.
Shop at Manek Chowk
The grounds in front of the City Palace entrance were used for elephant fights but today are lined with shops selling all sorts of souvenirs and local textiles and crafts. There is also a studio where you can take photos in traditional Rajasthani clothes.
You can find everything here in a pleasant environment though with higher prices than you would find elsewhere beyond the tourist spots. Don’t forget to bargain.
The shops are open from 9:30am and will remain open even after the palace closes. There is a nice cafe-bar on the grounds between the two gates that makes for a great pit stop.
Walk along the beautiful ghats
Udaipur, like other cities in India that are set on the shore of bodies of water like Varanasi, is filled with ghats, or steps that lead to the water, usually a river but in the case of Udaipur, the lakes.
I found the many steps and chhatris along Lake Pichola shore, especially those just below the City palace, to be extremely photogenic and filled with hidden corners and scenes of daily life.
You will find women washing their clothes, cows were being cleaned, pigeons fed, and normal life waking up. Pay attention to the details on the walls, the rooftops, the courtyards, for lots of photogenic spots.
Go early in the morning (before 10am) to avoid the crowds and the heat. GetYourGuide has a tour with a local storyteller which will recount the stories of the buildings and point at local legends and photogenic spots. The tour also includes a boat ride. You can book it here.
Take a Lake Pichola boat tour
Lake Pichola is perhaps the most well-known landmark in the city and no visit can be complete without participating in the most unique thing to do in Udaipur: a boat ride around the lake.
Like all other lakes in Udaipur, this is a manmade one created in the 14th century as a means to provide enough fresh water supply to the city. While this is not the largest of the lakes, it is indeed the most famous and developed.
It is also the only one with inhabited islands, namely the Taj Lake Palace on Jag Niwas as well as Jagmandir Palace Hotel, Mohan Mandir (which is a sunken palace visible from Lal Bagh) and Arsi Villas. On a boat ride, you can get quite close to the Lake Palace and will get the chance to get off at Jagmandir and explore for as long as you like.
The lake was created by the Banjara tribesmen and was later on taken over by the Maharanan Udai Singh and renamed Udaipur, the Land of Udai, when he came escaping Chittorgarh which had been ransacked by the Mudhal and found the spot idyllic.
You can take the regular boat from the bottom of Fateh Prakash hotel. Pay at the jetty and wait for the boat to fill up. The tour takes about an hour because you will stop at Jagmandir to explore.
Morning prices are half of afternoon tours but there is a reason for that. While there are fewer boats on the water, the light is not the same.
The City Palace is only lit by the sun rays after noon so if you are a keen photographer go then, or wait till sunset. Or better yet, do it twice.
There are also premium boat tours with private companies that offer drinks and snacks and are much classier.
Visit Jagmandir floating palace
This beautiful floating palace on Lake Pichola was the Maharana pleasure palace and is said to be the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.
The palace was built across the reign of three kings and finished in the 17th century, it has since housed and entertained numerous heads of state.
In 1623 it housed Shah Jahan, son of then Mughal Emperor Jehangir Jahan, whose tomb is a UNESCO-listed site in Lahore and who built the Taj Mahal for Shah’s mother Mumtaz Mahal. At the time, Shah Jahan was seeking refuge from his father against whom he was revolting.
Today, the palace still belongs to the royal family of Udaipur through HRH Hotels Group which owns Shiv Niwas and Fateh Prakash.
You can visit the palace as part of a Lake Pichola boat tour. The boat will stop at the palace and you can alight and explore at your will. Don’t miss the chance to go inside a small room that charters the past, present and future of Jagmandir.
You can also stay at the palace, although the rooms are all by the water facing away from the City Palace, or come for dinner (see next section) at the restaurant that faces the city.
To visit the palace you need to buy a boat tour from the boat pier near the entrance to Fateh Prakash by the water. The boat tour stops at the palace and you can jump off and stay for as long as you like and catch your boat back or the next one.
Have dinner on the lake
I already told you about Jagmandir Palace but did you know that you can also have dinner there, water-side with views of the City Palace and the Lake Palace?
The restaurant is located by the edge of the palace and has tables along two rows in an air-conditioned room or outside in the garden. The menu is the same as the other HRH properties (Shiv Niwas and Fateh Prakash) and includes a vast array of international and Indian dishes.
With your dinner, you will also get complimentary boat transfers from 7pm, which are a nice way to enjoy the lake at night. You can also have a drink at the bar.
There is a minimum 4,000 rupees to spend if you are not staying at the City Palace hotels (Shiv Niwas or Fateh Prakash) which must be paid upfront at the jetty, otherwise, you just pay what you consume as per the a la carte.
Ask your hotel to make a booking ahead of time and arrive early to snatch a table by the window (or request it upon booking).
Photograph romantic Lake Palace (Jag Niwas)
The Taj Lake Palace is one of the best hotels in Udaipur and the world’s most romantic hotel, in my opinion, I could spend my day just looking at it.
The palace was built in white marble and it appears as if it was floating over the water, half-submerged. The structure was built in 1743 by the son of Maharana Sangram Singh II as a pleasure palace after his father did not grant him access to his pleasure palace Jag Mandir Palace.
The Lake Palace started to welcome visitors in 1963 and became a Taj Hotel in 1971. It has long been featured as one of the best hotels in the world where Taj’s service standards, long tradition and stunning heritage architecture merge to create the ingredients of a fairytale destination.
The hotel shot to stardom in 1983 when the James Bond movie Octopussy was filmed here.
The hotel is off-limits to non-guests (you cannot even go for a meal), but you should still photograph it from the many viewpoints, the Crystal Gallery, the Sunset terrace at Fateh Prakash or from the lake boat ride jetty.
See the views from Monsoon Palace
This palace located up on a hill above Fateh Sagar Lake was built by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1884 and provides panoramic views of the city and lakes below. If you are staying in the city and look out to the lakes at night, you will see the palace on top of the hill lit brightly.
The Monsoon palace was originally intended to be an astronomical observatory but ended up being a place to observe the monsoon rains and hunt, hence its name.
While the palace is currently owned by the government, there is not a lot preserved inside. In 2019, the palace remains closed for restoration so come here for the views and consider walking down through the forest.
Drive up the hill on a rickshaw for the views, ask the driver to wait for you.
Visit the Vintage and Classic Car Museum
The Maharana is an avid car collector and his entire vintage car collection is on display at the Vintage and Classic Car Museum located about 15min on foot from the City Palace in the garage itself.
Even if you are not a fan of cars, this is a worthy break from all the heritage and palatial things to do in Udaipur, it is also open till later than most sights giving you something to do after the rest closes for the day. There are all sorts of vintage cars here including a 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom that featured in Octopussy or the cars used to transport royalty, local and foreign.
The museum has a separate entry ticket price of 200 rupees and is open till 9pm.
Get lost at the vegetable market
I love markets, and every city in India has at least one, if not many, outdoor vegetable and fruit markets which are an explosion of colors, sounds and smells. I could spend hours walking around stopping to take photos of foods I have never seen before and chatting with the locals.
The market in Udaipur is not very large but you will find not only fruits and vegetables but also desserts such as gulab jamun or rasmalai, jaggery and sugar cane, spices and teas. It is a paradise to the senses, but be sure to watch out for the few cows and the crazy motorbikes, rickshaws and cars.
The market is beyond the City Palace, ask your driver to take you there.
Explore quieter Bagore Ki Haveli
This large haveli located by the water after Lal Bagh and the City Palace is not as well preserved or luxuriously decorated as some of the rooms at the City Palace but not far from it either.
Unlike the more famous, and always crowded, City Palace, it can be completely empty. I spent 1.5h all by myself and didn’t see another tourist.
Bagore Ki Haveli was built in the second half of the 18th century by the Prime Minister of Mewar. It changed hands a few times until the House of Mewar converted it into a royal guest house in the 1930s. After independence, it was turned into a house for servants.
Dilapidated, it finally ended in the hands of the West Zone Cultural Center in 1983. Restoration work turned it into a museum which can now be visited.
The haveli has 138 rooms, numerous corridors, courtyards and balconies. Spend time exploring the rooftops and chhatris that seem to be floating over the water and have stunning lake views.
Learn about the different turbans worn by the various groups in India and see the world’s largest turban.
Don’t leave without taking a look at a large collection of Rajasthani puppets. The room is usually guarded by one of the members of the family who makes them and he will be happy to tell you more about them. You can also buy a souvenir sized one to take home.
The haveli opens at 9:30am and also offers evening puppet shows (see below). Book your tickets at Bagore Ki Haveli or get a combo tour with dinner, boat ride and pick up from GetYourGuide here. This tour starts at 3pm and takes you first on a sunset boat tour of Lake Pichola, followed by the visit to the haveli, the puppet show and local dinner.
Watch a puppet show
I told you about Bagore Ki Haveli and the fact that there is a room with many Rajasthani puppets on display but would you like to see them in action? That’s right, this is one of the nicest cultural things to do in Udaipur.
Puppet shows, locally known as Kathputli, are a traditional form of Rajasthani entertainment and Bagore Ki Haveli has them nightly when the sun sets. The one-string puppets tell tales and were historically used to educate.
Book your tickets at Bagore Ki Haveli and get a separate taxi from the hotel. Or get a combo tour with dinner, boat ride and pick up from GetYourGuide here. This tour starts at 3pm and takes you first on a sunset boat tour of Lake Pichola, followed by the puppet show and local dinner.
Enjoy sunset drinks with lake views
Udaipur has many a rooftop bar with great views. In fact, no matter where you are around the City Palace, chances are you are not far from a rooftop which no doubt will have great lake views.
Luckily, the sun sets on Lake Pichola, in front of the City Palace, so anywhere you are on its shores will have great sunset views.
I enjoyed sunset views from Fateh Prakash verandah bar and hotel and from its sunset terrace which had perfect unobstructed views of the Lake Palace and was mostly quiet with just a few other guests. Jagat Niwas Palace is another good option.
If you don’t want to spend any money you can also watch it from the boat pier where there are convenient chairs and benches to sit on.
Hear the rain at Saheliyon Ki Bari or Garden of the Maidens
This large garden a bit outside of the city center makes for a clever use of water to simulate various types of rain sounds. There are four fountains each built to emulate a different sound from monsoon rain to light rain.
The garden was built in the 18th century by the Maharana for his queen and companions and is located near Fateh Sagar Lake, several meters below the lake level, leveraging gravity for the water to flow downwards into the gardens.
The fountains vary in size and design and are all hidden by lush vegetation. They offer a green and wet retreat from the arid conditions of Rajasthan.
Because of the height, size and shape of each of the fountains, if you close your eyes you will hear the sound of a different kind of rain.
The first fountain you find as you enter the garden sounds like the gushing monsoon rains and has pavilions on each of its four corners. There is also a huge bougainvillea on one of the corners that has climbed the mango tree and is two centuries old.
There is a small entry ticket to the garden and because this is a popular place to visit in Udaipur, it is best to come in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Marvel at Jagdish Temple
While there are quite a lot of temples in Udaipur, the area around the City Palace sees fewer than in other parts of India. The exception is Jagdish Temple which was built in the middle of the 17th century and is located on the bazaar that follows from the triple gate of the City Palace.
The temple is the largest in the city and has a tall spire made from cut rock reminiscent of the temples in Karnataka such as Pattadakal or Belitung, or the UNESCO complex of Mahabalipuram in Chennai.
As it is located on a raised platform above the street level you will not realize the full splendor and size of the temple until you walk up the stairs and come face-to-face with the complex. At the bottom of the stairs, among the crazy traffic of this popular tourist artery, don’t miss the garuda statue.
The temple is open from before sunrise until around 1pm so you should go in the morning. The earlier the less crowded.
Take an Indian cooking lesson
Indian food is some of the most elaborate and complex cuisine there is. Even traditional dishes found across the country, sold in the streets and in hole-in-the-wall places, take hours to make. A simple curry dish can include dozens of ingredients and recipes are handed over by mothers to their daughters only upon marriage.
One of the best ways to learn about Indian culture is through its food and a fantastic thing to do in Udaipur is partaking in a cooking class which will not only teach you the nuances and details of Indian cuisine but will also make you appreciate every dish you will enjoy during the rest of your trip.
Some hotels offer cooking classes. You can also book your class on GetYourGuide here. This class is for a vegetarian meal (as most Indians are Hindu and vegetarian) in a local home with dishes such as paneer (cottage cheese) and bread. You will end the class with a Mehendi session (hena) to decorate your hands.
Learn about Rajasthani culture and shop
Shilpgram is a replica of local villages from various parts of India, most notably Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa.
Here you can learn about the day to day life of the locals, their traditions, their costumes, clothing and crafts as you explore the area in what is essentially an interactive ethnographic museum. The exhibits have signs in English.
You can see the official website here.
It is hard to get to Shilpgram on your own so it’s best to book a tour which will take you there and back. Book it here.
Discover the beautiful Ahar cenotaphs
Cenotaphs, or chhatri, are empty tombs, used for cremation and left as memorials erected to remember those who passed away. If you have spent enough time in Rajasthan you will realize that this part of India is full of them.
There is a particularly large group of cenotaphs outside of Jaisalmer and another one outside Udaipur which makes for a great photography spot and one of the best things to do in Udaipur. It helps that, once inside you will be almost completely alone to enjoy the peacefulness of the place.
The cenotaphs are split into separately fenced off sections and were built in marble across 350 years, in memory of the 19 Maharanas that have been cremated here. Locals still come to pay them homage.
On each cenotaph, you will see the name and dates of each of the rulers. Some are larger than others but all are raised up a flight of stairs with a platform covered by arched domes.
The two most impressive ones are dedicated to Amar Singh and Sangram Singh who was cremated here with his 21 wives in 1734. Pay attention to the carvings on the columns for the intricate designs. There is also a small stepwell within the complex.
While they may appear closed to visitors, online and on the spot, with a large chain and lock seemingly holding the fence together, as soon as you approach you will realize that the group of cenotaphs at one end, nearest to the junction, is open, just lift the chain and get in, then close it behind you.
There is a guard inside chilling in the shade, which will collect 20 rupees from you. Pay upon exit after you have explored the area and taken photos.
Visit the holy Eklingji Temple
This very sacred temple about half an hour from Udaipur is one of the most important in the region as the Mewar King of Udaipur is thought to be the guard and representative of Eklingji in the area. Because of its importance to Marwaris, and the constant mention of this idol during your visit to the City Palace, I highly recommend adding Eklingji to your list of things to do in Udaipur.
Eklinki is a representation of Lord Shiva and the temple is a large complex made of several shrines that is permanently busy, walled off and considered very sacred. Do not believe the pictures you see online, the reality on the ground is very different. Sadly, as pictures are not allowed, I cannot show you so you will have to imagine it through my description.
The complex is surrounded by high rock walls and is not visible from outside. It is located by the main road that connects Udaipur with Jodhpur in the center of the town of the same name.
Its entrance is small and leads to a space with lockers and women selling marigold and other flower garlands. The black and white checkered marble floor contrasts with the brown rock used to carve the various shrines in varying sizes.
The main temple, where the 14th-century black idol of Shiva is located, is flanked by a large carved silver gate with bars that protect the facade before the idol, about 2 meters in.
There is a raised platform covered in red carpet in front of the idol for devotees who prefer to sit down and pray and a musician and singer at one corner provide soothing sounds to the ongoing traffic of people walking past between the silver gate and the platform to pay their respects.
The temple only opens from 8:30am to 1:30pm and then again from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Expect a really big crowd as this is a very revered temple.
Leave your shoes outside, place your belongings in the lockers, you will not be allowed in with any bags. Photos are strictly prohibited and the path to the temple, around and back are roped off and guided.
There are guards everywhere within the premises making sure devotees continue walking and don’t create jams. The entrance is free.
Things to do in Udaipur outside the city
The following three items in this list of things to do in Udaipur are not really in the city but about 2-3h away by car. I have included them in this article because they are typically included in your itinerary through Rajasthan because the city has better hotels and infrastructure and makes for a great base to explore the area.
Take a day trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort
The first one on this list is Kumbhalgarh Fort, part of the UNESCO listing that includes the most relevant forts in Rajasthan, and is the second-largest in India after Chittorgarh Fort.
Kumbhalgarh was built on a hilltop, 1,100m above sea level, in the 15th century by Maharana Khumbha (who gave it his name) and inhabited until the 19th. Inside the fort are many palaces, over 300 temples (primarily Jain but also Hindu) and other constructions.
The fort once hid the future Udai Singh Maharana when he was a baby and seeking refuge from Chittorgarh Fort which was under siege.
Unlike Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh is in a relatively well-preserved state. Arrive through the main gate surrounded by rounded bastion towers and observe how long the walls are. The 36km perimeter walls are believed to be the second-longest after the Wall of China.
There is a light and sound show every night after sunset so if you plan to stay, bear in mind you will be returning very late to Udaipur (close to 10pm) and make it a day by visiting Ranakpur first.
It takes about 2.5-3h to drive from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh. Combine Kumbhalgarh with Ranakpur (more info below) to make a day out of it. Both sites are nearby.
Hire a driver to make the journey most comfortable, and get a guide to tell you more about the fort. Or book a tour that departs from Udaipur and visits the fort.
- Book a private tour with guide of Kumbhalgarh Fort here. The tour price includes lunch, water and entry tickets as well as the services of a guide.
- Book a group tour of Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Temple here. This tour does not include entry tickets or lunch which you will have to pay for separately. There isn’t a guide taking you around either, this is just transportation to the sites with time to explore.
- If you prefer to go at your own pace or if there is 3 of you, you are better off booking a private tour of Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Temple here. This tour can accommodate up to 3 people in a regular sedan car and includes the services of a guide.
Visit Chittorgarh Fort, India’s largest fort
This sprawling fort on top of a hill measures 280 hectares and is the largest in India and one of the best places to visit from Udaipur as a day trip.
Listed as part of the UNESCO entry for Hill Forts in India, Chittorgarh is a fantastic site, despite not a lot of the original structure has been restored. After many historical sieges, Udai Singh finally abandoned the fort when it fell under Mughal control at the end of the 16th century and went on to find Udaipur.
Legend has it that the Mughals only agreed to return the fort to the Mewar Kingdom on condition that it never be rebuilt, so most of the buildings lay in ruins. This was because it was too much of a threat to them.
Chittorgarh is also famous for the three main Jauhar, the self-immolation act the royal Rajput women committed when they were sure of death and defeat.
If you visit today you will find that there are a few thousand people still inside the fort area although the modern city of Chittor is right below the fort. Access to the fort is through seven gates along a winding well-paved road. You can drive all the way up and around the fort.
Most of the sights are well signposted and easy to locate but have no signs themselves. It pays to get a local guide which you can find by the ticket counter or by the first main palace.
Explore palaces, the former white museum turned school, an intricate Jain temple, two towers, the Queen’s palace (in white and with manicured gardens) and other structures. Note the many water reservoirs that were designed to hold rainfall.
Stay away from the monkeys, especially by the tower, they are not dangerous but will steal whatever food you are holding, I saw them taking away food from the hands of tourists as soon as they entered the area.
You should make sure to get your driver to take you from site to site because distances can be long and the weather is generally hot. If you walk around on your own you will spend a much longer time and energy just walking.
Ticket costs 600 rupees and they recently increased the price in 2019. You can buy a ticket at the counter that is after the last gate.
Admire the beautiful Ranakpur Temple
This 15th century marble Jain temple about 2,5 hours from Udaipur on the road to Jodhpur is one of the most impressive Jain temples in India.
The three-tiered construction was sponsored by the Maharana and proposed by one of his Ministers. It is located near a village that was also built at the same time.
What makes this temple easy to recognise is its unique design with dozens of pillars on its facade and interiors said to amount 1,444. The temple was left to the elements for years and underwent a thorough renovation which was completed in 2001.
You can read more about the temple here.
- Book a private tour to Ranakpur only here. This tour includes lunch, entry fees, water and a guide.
- Book a group tour of Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Temple here. This tour does not include entry tickets or lunch which you will have to pay for separately. There isn’t a guide taking you around either, this is just transportation to the sites with time to explore.
- If you prefer to go at your own pace or if there is 3 of you, you are better off booking a private tour of Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Temple here. This tour can accommodate up to 3 people in a regular sedan car and includes the services of a guide.
Where to stay in Udaipur
Udaipur’s main attractions are concentrated around the City center with a few other spots on this list of things to do in Udaipur located a bit further out and some a day trip away.
Depending on what your plans are, what you like and how long you are staying, there are three main areas to stay in Udaipur: in the city center near the City Palace, by Lake Pichola but not in the city center, or outside the city center.
I have written a thorough article about the best hotels in Udaipur with the best options but deciding where you want to stay first will help you narrow down the options.
Staying near the City Palace
Those who like to walk out of their hotel and into the city for exploration will appreciate the hotels that are by the City Palace. Here you will mostly find heritage buildings transformed into hotels, at varying budget levels.
- Shiv Niwas has basic entry-level rooms and palatial suites that are fit for the king that still lives in the adjacent palace on the same grounds. The pool area is fabulous with white marble loungers and beautiful surroundings and the breakfast room has window-side tables that are the best way to start a day. Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
- Fateh Prakash is the sister property of Shiv Niwas and also offers luxury rooms with lake views, it has a mix of heritage and newer rooms, pick one with a balcony. Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
- If you are looking for a more affordable option by the City Palace try Lal Ghat (more of a hostel) or 3 star Jagat Niwas that is great value for money. Both are in historical buildings. Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda. And for Jagat Niwas check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
Staying here will make it really easy for you to enjoy the city in the evening or mornings when it is quiet and will save you the hassle of taking boats or taxis.
Staying by the shores of Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola is the most popular lake in Udaipur and has a lot of stunning hotels.
- The most famous one is the Taj Lake Palace in the middle of the lake. This is my all-time favorite hotel in the world and is what dreams are made of, nobody does romance like the Taj Lake Palace. Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
- The Oberoi Udaivilas is a second close to the Taj Lake Palace, although it is a more sprawling resort on the shore and is new, only made to look like a former Rajasthani palace, it has not been chosen as the best hotel in the world for nothing. Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
- The Leela Palace is the third contender to the luxury hotels on the lake, also modern and perhaps a notch below the Oberoi but with better views and location (closer to the City Palace). Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
- Jagmandir Palace is also floating on the lake, think of it as the younger brother of The Lake Palace, smaller, less luxurious and with day visitors. Bear in mind the rooms are right by the water but face away from the City Palace. Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
These hotels make it relatively easy to get into town by short boat ride and provide various viewpoints on the city.
Staying outside Udaipur
There are a lot of hotels outside Udaipur, in a 2h radius, that makes for a good escape from the city while still being close enough for day trips.
- RAAS Devigarh is one of them I stayed at and enjoyed. This is a very peaceful fort-hotel and provides a glimpse into rural life, while being close enough for a day trip to not be too taxing. You can also easily visit Eklingji, Ranakpur, Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh from there. Check rates on Booking.com | Check rates on Agoda.
Best time to visit Udaipur
Compared to other cities in Rajasthan Udaipur is slightly cooler and not as arid as the cities closer to the Thar Desert, thanks to the surrounding green hills and manmade lakes.
However, like with the rest of Rajasthan, the best time to visit Udaipur is from October to March when temperatures are warm during the day but cooler at night, the skies clear blue and the heat bearable.
After March, temperatures can easily surpass 40 degrees Celsius and from June Monsoon rains arrive and will put a damper on your days (and make some roads impassable).
Unlike other cities in Rajasthan like Jaipur and Jodhpur, Udaipur does not see the pollution they experience from the slash and burn agriculture so you are guaranteed clearer skies.
How to get to Udaipur
Udaipur does not have an international airport and only local flights to India’s main cities are offered. The most common way to arrive in Udaipur is on a road trip through Rajasthan. You can drive from Jaipur (5-6h), from Jodhpur (6-7h) or from Ahmedabad (3h).
What to pack for Udaipur
Traveling to Udaipur requires proper packing. Although you will find most of the below for sale across the touristy areas of every Indian city (this goes to show how important these items are) it pays to bring the brand that works for you.
Here are a few of the things you should bring to Udaipur.
- Sunglasses, you will not go very far without them. Remember that the sun is very strong in India in general but here even more because the rays reflect on the water. Also, the wind can pick up a lot of dust which will end up in your eyes. Bring a pair of trusty and safe sunglasses. I always use Oakley (I have for decades, literally since I was 16) and they are a lifesaver. They are not stylish or fancy, but they are incredibly useful to protect from the sun and from the sand. I have used this exact polarised model for years.
- A hat to protect from the sun. Except for the narrow streets in the fort which are shaded by the tall buildings, you will be under the sun everywhere you go so a hat is essential.
- Mosquito repellent, even at the fancy hotels, mosquitoes will find their way in. I always use either the brand Off! or Repel. They just work and are sold in small bottles that I can easily carry around.
- Sunscreen, like sunglasses and hats, sunscreen is a critical items when traveling anywhere that is hot and sunny. In Udaipur more than anywhere, you need to protect your face and arms from the sun with adequate sunscreen, and reapply. I always use Biore because it is dry, non oily and I can even apply make-up on top of it. It comes in handy small bottles that can easily slip in my handbag and go through passport controls.
- I would recommend wearing closed shoes in Udaipur (everywhere in India really), to protect them from the sun, the mosquitoes, the dust and the dirt. I always wear flats like these ones because I find trainers too clunky.
- Ear plugs, many high-end hotels will give them to you, placing them on the bedside table, but it is a good idea to bring your own. Simple ones usually do, or you can get a more high-tech version.
This would make a great addition to your India Travel Pinterest board!
