Sight guide · Udaipur · India
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Lake Pichola boat ride is an experience in Lake Pichola, Udaipur. Allow 1 hour; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Lake Pichola
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- couples, views, photo spot and kids
- Best months
- July–September
About 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. The sunset departures are the most popular, when the palace walls glow gold.
Tip: Take a sunset trip for the light on the City Palace, and sit on the side facing the palace on the return leg.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Lake Pichola.
Best time to visit Lake Pichola boat ride
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- September: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- July: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- August: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-September the sun sets at about 18:39 local time (calculated for Udaipur).
When to visit Udaipur has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Udaipur itinerary visits Lake Pichola boat ride on day 2, together with Lake Palace and Jag Mandir.
- No. 2 of the 17 sights in our Udaipur things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- A family favourite in Udaipur with kids.
Near Lake Pichola boat ride
Also in Lake Pichola, so you can walk between them:
- Jag Mandir — 1–1.5 hours, mid-priced
- Lake Palace — viewed from the shore or a boat, free
If you like Lake Pichola boat ride
- Saheliyon-ki-Bari — Fateh Sagar Lake, 1 hour
- Fateh Sagar Lake — Fateh Sagar Lake, 1–2 hours
- Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace — Sajjangarh, 1.5–2 hours
- Ambrai Ghat — Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai, 45 minutes
Staying near Lake Pichola boat ride
Where to stay in Udaipur compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Lake Pichola boat ride?
Plan 1 hour. With Jag Mandir nearby, it fits a half-day in Lake Pichola.
+Is Lake Pichola boat ride free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Lake Pichola boat ride?
July–September, the quietest of the good months. Take a sunset trip for the light on the City Palace, and sit on the side facing the palace on the return leg.
+Do I need to book Lake Pichola boat ride in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Lake Pichola boat ride good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Udaipur. Udaipur is a gentle introduction to India for families, with boat rides, palaces, gardens, puppet shows and lakeside promenades.