History · Udaipur · India
8 historic sites to see in Udaipur
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: user:Flicka, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with City Palace, Jag Mandir and Jagdish Temple. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 9–12 hours across 5 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 9–12 hours
- Areas
- Lal Ghat, Lake Pichola and Sajjangarh
Historic sites in Udaipur
Palace · Lal Ghat
1.City Palace
The palace museum includes the Mor Chowk with its glass-mosaic peacocks, mirrored chambers and royal galleries, and the Crystal Gallery displays a collection of cut-glass furniture.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Palace · Lake Pichola
2.Jag Mandir
Prince Khurram, the future Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, is said to have sheltered here while in revolt against his father.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Views
Religious site · Lal Ghat
3.Jagdish Temple
Its walls and spire are covered in carvings of deities, dancers, elephants and musicians.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Museum · Lal Ghat
4.Bagore Ki Haveli
Each evening its courtyard hosts the Dharohar show of Rajasthani folk dances, including women balancing stacks of pots on their heads.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- After dark
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
Palace · Sajjangarh
5.Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
It sits inside a wildlife sanctuary, and its terraces give the widest views over Udaipur's lakes and the Aravalli hills, especially at sunset.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- History
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Lal Ghat
6.Gangaur Ghat
It is the focus of the Gangaur festival in spring, when women carry decorated idols of the goddess Gauri to the water.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- History
Museum · Gulab Bagh
7.Vintage and Classic Car Collection
The Maharanas of Mewar's collection of vintage cars is displayed in the former state garage near Gulab Bagh, including Rolls-Royces, Cadillacs and other cars used by the royal family through the 20th century.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Historic site · Ahar
8.Ahar Cenotaphs
A small archaeological museum nearby displays finds from the ancient Ahar culture.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lal Ghat | City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Bagore Ki Haveli and Gangaur Ghat | 2–3 hours + 45 minutes + 1.5–2 hours + 30 minutes |
| Lake Pichola | Jag Mandir | 1–1.5 hours |
| Sajjangarh | Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace | 1.5–2 hours |
| Gulab Bagh | Vintage and Classic Car Collection | 45 minutes |
| Ahar | Ahar Cenotaphs | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 free, 3 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is City Palace; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Lal Ghat): City Palace → Jagdish Temple, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Lal Ghat and Lake Pichola): Bagore Ki Haveli → Gangaur Ghat → Jag Mandir, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Sajjangarh, Gulab Bagh and Ahar): Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace → Vintage and Classic Car Collection → Ahar Cenotaphs, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- May: highs of 39°C (102°F), about 1 rainy days, very quiet crowds. The hottest month, with harsh midday heat; the lowest prices of the year.
- June: highs of 36°C (97°F), about 4 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Very hot and humid until the monsoon arrives late in the month.
- April: highs of 37°C (99°F), about 0 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hot and dry; sightseeing is best early and late in the day.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Lal Ghat — Old-city lanes between Jagdish Temple and the lake, full of rooftop guesthouses
- Old City bazaars — Bada Bazaar, Hathi Pol and Bapu Bazaar, where locals shop
- Lake Pichola resorts — Luxury palace-style resorts on the lake's western and northern shores
More of Udaipur
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Udaipur?
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.
+Which of these are free in Udaipur?
Jagdish Temple and Gangaur Ghat.