5 days in Udaipur

Day by day

1. Day 1: City Palace and Jagdish Temple

   City Palace, Jagdish Temple and Bagore Ki Haveli, then Ambrai Ghat in the evening.

   1. Morning

      City Palace

      Arrive at opening to tour the museum before tour groups, and hire the official audio guide to make sense of the maze of rooms. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Jagdish Temple

      Visit during the morning or evening aarti prayers to hear devotional singing, remove your shoes and dress modestly. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dal baati churma

      Rajasthani thali restaurants in the old city and around Bapu Bazaar.

   4. Afternoon

      Bagore Ki Haveli

      Arrive early for the evening dance show to get a seat on the cushions near the front. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Ambrai Ghat

      Come after sunset for the lights on the City Palace and the Lake Palace, and keep to the steps rather than the slippery edge.

2. Day 2: Lake Pichola boat ride and Lake Palace

   Lake Pichola boat ride, Lake Palace and Jag Mandir, then Sunset boat on Lake Pichola in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lake Pichola boat ride

      Take a sunset trip for the light on the City Palace, and sit on the side facing the palace on the return leg. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Lake Palace

      Unless you are staying or dining there by reservation, the best views are from a sunset boat ride or from the rooftops of Lal Ghat and Ambrai. (Viewed from the shore or a boat, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gatte ki sabzi

      Thali restaurants and family-run dhabas across Udaipur.

   4. Afternoon

      Jag Mandir

      Stay on the island for a drink or meal at the restaurant and catch a later boat back to see the City Palace lit up. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Sunset boat on Lake Pichola

      Glide past the Lake Palace as the City Palace turns gold.

3. Day 3: Saheliyon-ki-Bari and Fateh Sagar Lake

   Saheliyon-ki-Bari, Fateh Sagar Lake and Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, then Rooftop dinner in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Saheliyon-ki-Bari

      Visit in the morning when it is cooler and quieter, and look for the fountain courtyard, the garden's centrepiece. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Fateh Sagar Lake

      Walk the Rani Road promenade at sunset and try snacks from the stalls along the shore. (1–2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Laal maas

      Non-vegetarian restaurants and heritage hotels; ask how spicy it is before ordering.

   4. Afternoon

      Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal

      Time your visit for one of the puppet shows, a highlight for children. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Rooftop dinner

      Book a candlelit table with views of the illuminated City Palace.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort

   About 2–2.5 hours by car each way. Getting there: Car with driver.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kumbhalgarh Fort

      About 2–2.5 hours by car (Car with driver); about 85 km.

   2. Day

      Kumbhalgarh Fort

      A 15th-century hill fort built by Rana Kumbha, part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO World Heritage Site, with massive walls that run for about 36 km along the ridges. Best for culture, first-timers and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Udaipur

      Dinner: try Ker sangri.

5. Day 5: Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace and Gangaur Ghat

   Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace, Gangaur Ghat and Vintage and Classic Car Collection, then Sunset at Sajjangarh in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace

      Arrive about an hour before sunset; the road from the sanctuary gate is covered by shared vehicles, and the terraces get busy as the sun goes down. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Gangaur Ghat

      Sit on the steps in the early morning to watch the city wake up, with pigeons, bathers and boats on the lake. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ker sangri

      Rajasthani thali restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      Vintage and Classic Car Collection

      Combine it with the Gulab Bagh gardens next door, and visit in the afternoon heat as it is indoors. (45 minutes, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Sunset at Sajjangarh

      Watch the sun set over the lakes and hills from the Monsoon Palace.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Lal Ghat keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai ($$$) suits couples, first-timers and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.7 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Udaipur
• 2 days in Udaipur
• 3 days in Udaipur

Questions travellers ask