Feel like a royal at the Udaipur City Palace 

The most popular spot in Udaipur – The City Palace deserves a visit. 

City Palace Udaipur is one of the largest palace complexes in Rajasthan and visitors will feel every bit of royalty in almost every nook and corner. 

Located on the banks of Pichola lake with Aravalli hills as a backdrop, its extravagant opulence is noticeable everywhere. 

The palace is built with white marble and granite and the interiors are beautifully decorated with silver work, mirror work, inlay work, glass paintings, and murals. The architecture is a fusion of European, Mughal, Chinese, and Rajasthani work! Similar work is seen in Juna Mahal palace, a property of Udai Bilas Palace Dungarpur.

Places not to be missed within the complex are Sheesh Mahal, Mor Chowk, Surya Chopar, Krishna Vilas, Dilkhush Mahal and Suraj Gokhda.

A visit to Udaipur city palace will require over 3 hours. So, visitors can choose to have food at the in-house Fatehprakash Palace and restaurant. Although expensive the views are amazing and the food is delicious. 

Udaipur City Palace timings: 7 am to 11 pm (includes entry to restaurants)

Udaipur City Palace museum timings: 9 am to 5 pm

Know the history of Mewar through the Light and Sound Show

Immerse yourself a bit more into history by staying back in the Udaipur City Palace till evening. The palace complex hosts a Light and Sound show which is worth watching. 

Watch the Mewar sound and light show ‘The Legacy of Honor, which takes place at the Manek Chowk inside the palace complex between 7 – 8 pm. It is an amazing way to know the history of Rajasthan. The entry fees of this separate.

Explore the Jag Mandir Palace Udaipur

Many travelers miss this option of things to do in Udaipur but should not. 

Build on the Jag Mandir Island in Pichola Lake, Jag Mandir is a magnificent place. The medieval architecture and luxurious and royal surroundings make it a dream place to be in, and one of the best places for sightseeing in Udaipur.

The view of City Palace while going to Jag Mandir is worth the boat fees. Wander around Jag Mandir Palace gardens and fountains or just chill till sunset at the cafe for a chilled beer overlooking Pichola lake and the city palace.

Visitors have to head down to the City Palace jetty for a boat tour to get to the Jag Mandir Palace.

Catch the sunset over Pichola lake

Visiting Pichola lake is a favorite thing to do in Udaipur for the locals and tourists. The lake contains four islands namely – Jag Mandir, Jag Niwas, Mohan Mandir and Arsi Vilas.

Taking a boat ride on the lake is extremely therapeutic during sunset. 

If you don’t prefer a boat ride, chose a hotel on the banks of Pichola and spend the evening on the lakeside balcony or the terrace to soak in Lake Pichola.

Visit Bagore ki Haveli

Situated at the Gangaur Ghat, a visit to Bagore ki Haveli is one of the best things to do in Udaipur.

Haveli means a mansion and this mansion is decorated with mirrors. It showcases paintings, murals, clothes from yesteryear as well as intricate artworks. 

Bagore ki Haveli houses huge courtyards, balconies, jharokhas, decorative archways, fountains, and exceptionally decorated 138 rooms with mirror work. The walls of the Haveli are adorned beautifully with alluring glasswork and mural paintings. 

The Chambers of the Royal Ladies is worth visiting for its renowned glass windows that are colored beautifully. It houses two peacocks made with colored glass mosaic that is exceptionally crafted.

Bagore ki Haveli also has four museums apart from the haveli which are The Puppet museum, the Turban museum, the Weapon Museum, and the Wedding Depiction Section.

Get awed at Dharohar Folk Dance Show at Bagore ki Haveli

Attending a Rajasthani cultural dance show is one of the popular things to do in Udaipur at night. At 7 pm, the Bagore ki haveli turns into a dance showcase with the cultural folk dance show called ‘Dhanohar dance’.  

Visitors can buy tickets for the Haveli entrance as well as this show together. This one-hour folk dance show will enthrall you with 4 types of traditional Rajasthani dance forms – Ghumar, Chari, Kalbelia, and Bhavai.

Shop till you drop at Shilpgram Udaipur

Once you leave Badi lake and are towards the city, make a stop at Shilpgram, a living museum of traditional Rajasthani arts and crafts. It has a plethora of things to see and do if you have the time. 

If it’s a quick visit, you can shop for souvenirs right here and learn a little bit about the state’s culture. Possible things to shop for include paintings, ceramics, wooden handicrafts, clothes, etc. 

There are live performances in the amphitheater and you can check the timings of the same at the entrance gate.

Lake hopping at Fatehsagar Lake

I would suggest driving across Fatehsagar Lake and taking in the views of blue waters and having lunch at one of the restaurants with a lake view. 

Amidst the view of beautiful Aravalli hills and forests, the Fateh Sagar Lake looks beautiful. Like the other lakes, watching a sunset here is beautiful but since we need to adhere to an itinerary, I would suggest spending time at one of the lakes only. 

This lake has a periphery and enough space to walk around it, unlike Pichola lake which is crammed with restaurants, boats, and hotels. 

One can choose to take a morning walk or post-dinner walk here while eating ice cream from local stalls, making it one of the best places to visit in Udaipur for couples.

Feel the clouds at Sajjangarh Palace or Monsoon Palace

Sajjangarh Palace Udaipur is a hilltop palatial residence, overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake. The foundation of the Fort is laid on marble pillars that have exclusive motifs of flowers and leaves carved all over it. The palace walls are plastered with lime mortar.

There is a vast central court with a stunning staircase and several quarters and rooms. The Fort has high turrets and guards monitoring each of the towers. The domes, fountains, and jharokhas all around the palaces are exquisite marvels of Rajasthani architecture. 

The palace offers a panoramic view of the city’s lakes, palaces and surrounding countryside. It was built chiefly to watch the monsoon clouds.

Visitors can easily spend an hour climbing the top, soaking in the views of clouds across the Aravalli hills. Spend the late afternoon till evening around 5:30 pm.

Another option here is to visit The Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Saheliyon ki Badi

Saheliyon ki Bari translated as ‘Garden for friends’ is a sprawling garden having marble elephants, fountains, manicured rose bushes and many trees all maintained in a manicured garden. No wonder it is a popular garden in Udaipur.

The yesteryear king, Maharana Sangram Singh built this garden as a gift for his wife and the queen’s 48 accompanists who came with her as dowry. The garden was built so that the queen and her friends could relax and retreat.

Visit the Ahar Cenotaphs

Ahar Cenotaphs is an offbeat place to visit in Udaipur.

Situated a little away from the city, cenotaphs are royal tombstones. With beautiful architecture and carvings on them, they attract a few tourists to visit them. Similar cenotaphs are also located at Indore and Bhuj.

Ride the Mansapurna Karni Mata Ropeway

One of the adventure things to do in Udaipur is riding the Ropeway in Udaipur to reach the Karni Mata temple.

Tourists can ride cable cars up the hill from Deen Dayal Park at Doodh Talai to Karni Mata temple. One can enjoy Udaipur city from the viewing platform there, hence it is another good place to watch the sunset in Udaipur.

Vintage Car Museum Udaipur

One of the unique things to do in Udaipur is to visit the vintage car museum. The cars showcased here were used by the Kings of Mewar in Udaipur, back then.

This museum is a gem for car lovers to get a rare insight into the maintenance and upkeep of vintage cars. They are meticulously maintained.

The car collection, opened to the public in early 2000, is housed in what was once the royal garage. There’s even an antique petrol pump there. Highlights of this museum include a 1924 Rolls Royce, a 1938 Cadillac, 1946 Buick, 1947 Chevrolet bus used for transporting children to the Maharana’s school and the first Rolls Royce jeep.

Where to stay in Udaipur | Accommodation in Udaipur

Hotels in Udaipur are all over the city and unless you choose the right hotel you will spend a lot of time commuting to and from the hotel. I highly recommend choosing a hotel near any one of the lakes – Fatehsagar Lake, Udaipur or Pichola Lake, Udaipur. There are many resorts on the outskirts of the city that are perfect for a relaxing Staycation in Udaipur in case you don’t want to see the city. Read my review on Seven Stays Villa, Udaipur.

But if you want to check out all the attractions in Udaipur, then it is best to choose in the city. Since I am more inclined towards Pichola lake, my recommendation is near it.

Hostel: Zostel , GoStops Hostel

Home Stay: Lal ghat guest house

Mid range hotel: Amet Haveli, Kankarwa Haveli

Luxury hotel: The Lalit Laxmi Vilas Palace, Shiv Niwas Palace

Where to eat in Udaipur

Reserve a table at Ambrai for dinner and relish delectable Rajasthani treats with a gorgeous view. Sip on chai while enjoying the breathtaking views of Pichola lake at Jheel cafe or Upre Restaurant. Here is a list of Places to Eat in Udaipur.

Best time to visit Udaipur

In spite of being a city of lakes, summer season in Udaipur is hot. It is best to visit Udaipur in winter (November to March) and even Monsoons are pleasant.

One-day trips from Udaipur

If you have covered all the things to do in Udaipur and have more time in hand then head to the many destinations around Udaipur that are perfect one-day trips. Some options are:

Haldighati

Haldighati is 63km away from Kumbhalgarh and is a perfect one-day trip. It can be covered while going to Udaipur or while coming to Kumbhalgarh fort from Udaipur. Haldighati (translated as a turmeric-colored pass) is a mountain pass where the Battle of Haldighati took place between the Mewar forces led by Maharana Pratap, and the Mughal forces.

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Kumbhalgarh Fort is World Heritage Site and is the second-longest wall in the world. It is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills. Read More Here: Kumbhalgarh Fort.

Ranakpur Jain Temple

Ranakpur Jain Mandir is one of the most important Jain temples in Jainism and ranks in the list of top 5 holy shrines of Jains. Ranakpur Jain temple is the largest Jain temple in India and has exquisitely ornamented interiors with sculptures made of marble. Read more here: Ranakpur Jain Temple.

Sustainable tips for Udaipur Travel Guide

• Cars are not allowed in a major portion of the city center. So think before packing that huge airbag without wheels. You can get an auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk) for hotel drop from many of the parking spaces available and allotted for tourist parking.
• Blend in the culture by wearing the right clothes. Skirts and pants till knee level are good. Avoid spaghetti and tank tops. Cover your shoulders with a scarf if necessary.
• Choose local food wherever possible
• Do not litter tourist places. Always use a dustbin.
• Do not harm the ancient palace and temple structures by carving or writing on it
• Do not enter places that are closed off, there’s a reason why they are closed.

I hope you found this guide on things to do in Udaipur helpful! Have you been to Udaipur? Which was your favourite place? Tell me in the comments below

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