Travel guide · India
Udaipur travel guide
Lake palaces, Mewar royal heritage and rooftop views over Lake Pichola
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Udaipur, founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II as the new capital of the Mewar kingdom, is set around a chain of artificial lakes in the Aravalli hills of southern Rajasthan. The vast City Palace rises above Lake Pichola, whose islands hold the white Lake Palace hotel and the Jag Mandir pavilions, while the old city's lanes climb from the ghats to the 17th-century Jagdish Temple. Rooftop restaurants, boat rides, folk-dance evenings and day trips to the forts of Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh fill a visit. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are October–March.
Key facts
- Country
- India
- Best time to visit
- October–March
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- UDR
- Mid-range daily budget
- $60–$140 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- City Palace, Lake Pichola, Lake Palace and Mewar heritage
Why visit Udaipur
- The City Palace, built and extended by Mewar's rulers over several centuries, is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan and towers over Lake Pichola.
- Boat rides on Lake Pichola pass the Lake Palace and land at Jag Mandir, an island palace of courtyards and pavilions.
- Rooftop restaurants in the old city and at Ambrai Ghat look across the lake to the palace lit up at night.
- Kumbhalgarh's 15th-century fort walls and the carved marble Jain temple at Ranakpur are within a day's round trip.
- Evening folk-dance shows at Bagore Ki Haveli, craft villages and Rajasthani food make it an easy introduction to Rajasthan.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Palace · Lal Ghat
City Palace
Begun in the 16th century and extended by successive Maharanas, the City Palace stretches along the eastern shore of Lake Pichola with balconies, cupolas and courtyards.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Experience · Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola boat ride
Boats leave from the City Palace jetty and circle Lake Pichola past the bathing ghats, the white Lake Palace on its island and the façade of the City Palace, usually with a stop at Jag Mandir.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Couples
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Palace · Lake Pichola
Lake Palace
Built in the 1740s as a royal summer palace on Jag Niwas island, the white marble Lake Palace appears to float on Lake Pichola and now operates as a luxury hotel.
- Time needed
- Viewed from the shore or a boat
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- Free
- Photo spot
Palace · Lake Pichola
Jag Mandir
Built in the 17th century on an island in Lake Pichola, this palace of marble pavilions, courtyards and gardens is guarded by a row of stone elephants.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Views
Religious site · Lal Ghat
Jagdish Temple
Built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh I, this Hindu temple to Lord Vishnu stands on a high plinth at the top of a steep staircase near the City Palace gate.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Lal Ghat
Bagore Ki Haveli
An 18th-century mansion on Gangaur Ghat built for a prime minister of Mewar, now a museum of restored rooms, costumes and puppets.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Lal Ghat is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, culture and solo travellers
Lal Ghat
Old-city lanes between Jagdish Temple and the lake, full of rooftop guesthouses
$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers and quiet stays
Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai
The quieter west bank of Lake Pichola facing the City Palace
$ · Best for budget, shopping and food lovers
Old City bazaars
Bada Bazaar, Hathi Pol and Bapu Bazaar, where locals shop
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and food lovers
Fateh Sagar Lake
A wider lake north of the old city with promenades, parks and cafés
What to eat
- Dal baati churma — Rajasthan's signature meal: hard wheat dumplings (baati) baked over coals and dunked in ghee, eaten with spiced lentils (dal) and churma, a sweet crumble of wheat, ghee and jaggery.
- Gatte ki sabzi — Chickpea-flour dumplings simmered in a tangy yoghurt curry, a desert staple created for a region where fresh vegetables were scarce.
- Laal maas — A fiery red mutton curry made with dried Mathania chillies, garlic and yoghurt, from Rajasthan's royal hunting traditions.
- Ker sangri — A tangy, spicy dish of dried desert berries (ker) and long beans (sangri), cooked with oil and spices, eaten with bajra (millet) roti.
- Rajasthani thali — A platter of several vegetarian dishes — dal, gatte, kadhi, seasonal vegetables, rotis, rice, pickles and a sweet — often refilled until you are full.
- Pyaaz kachori — A flaky fried pastry stuffed with spicy onion and lentil filling, served with tamarind and mint chutneys.
When to go
The best time to visit Udaipur is October to March, when days are warm and sunny, nights are cool and the lakes are usually full after the monsoon. The monsoon months of July to September are green and atmospheric with fewer visitors. April to June is very hot, with May the harshest month.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | November–February | Sunny days, cool nights and the peak tourist and wedding season, with crowds and high prices around Christmas and New Year. |
| Spring | March–April | Warming quickly, with Holi, Gangaur and the Mewar Festival; April is hot. |
| Summer | May–June | Very hot and dry, with the lowest hotel prices and sightseeing best at dawn and dusk. |
| Monsoon | July–October | Rains from July to September fill the lakes and green the hills; October dries out and festivals begin. |
Getting there and around
Maharana Pratap Airport at Dabok is about 22 km east of the city, about 30–45 minutes by taxi. Prepaid taxis and ride-hailing cars are available at arrivals. Udaipur City railway station has trains to Jaipur, Delhi and Ahmedabad.
The old city around Lal Ghat and the City Palace is compact and best explored on foot, though its lanes are narrow and busy with motorbikes. Auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing taxis cover the rest of the city, and a car with driver is the usual way to make day trips.
Plan your days
Two days covers the City Palace, a Lake Pichola boat ride, Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon-ki-Bari and a sunset at Sajjangarh. Four days adds a day trip to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur and time for Shilpgram, Ahar and the lakeside cafés.
Practical information
- Currency
- INR
- Language
- Hindi, Mewari and English
- Plugs
- Type C, D and M sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (national emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is appreciated: about 5–10% in restaurants where no service charge is added, small amounts for hotel staff, and a tip for guides and drivers at the end of a tour.
The main issues are traffic in narrow lanes, touts and commission-based shopping tours, and heat from April to June. Watch your step on wet ghats and keep bags secure in crowded bazaars.
Flights to Udaipur
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Udaipur?
Two days covers the City Palace, a Lake Pichola boat ride, Jagdish Temple, Saheliyon-ki-Bari and a sunset at Sajjangarh. Four days adds a day trip to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur and time for Shilpgram, Ahar and the lakeside cafés. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Udaipur?
The best time to visit Udaipur is October to March, when days are warm and sunny, nights are cool and the lakes are usually full after the monsoon. The monsoon months of July to September are green and atmospheric with fewer visitors. April to June is very hot, with May the harshest month.
+What is Udaipur known for?
City Palace, Lake Pichola, Lake Palace, Mewar heritage, Rooftop lake views, Jagdish Temple and Rajasthani crafts. The City Palace, built and extended by Mewar's rulers over several centuries, is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan and towers over Lake Pichola.
+Is Udaipur expensive?
Udaipur is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $60–$140 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Udaipur?
Not to drive yourself. Walking and auto-rickshaws cover the city; hire a car with driver for day trips, as Indian roads are challenging for visitors.