Do you want to discover the most incredible Udaipur attractions? Need a full travel guide to Udaipur? You have landed on the right page! We have done all the hard work for you and have created this full Udaipur travel guide to make sure your trip to Udaipur is amazing!
Udaipur is a romantic and beautiful city located in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. A picturesque city built around the famous Lake Pichola.
We would say it’s definitely a jewel of India, some even refer to it as ‘The Venice of Asia’. It is also known as the ‘White City’ due to its array of beautiful white buildings and havalis.
Although Udaipur is well marked on the tourist map, don’t let this deter you from visiting this charming lake city. Home to many historic palaces, temples, markets, and gardens there is a seemingly endless list of things to do in Udaipur.
We spent a total of 5 months traveling around India and Udaipur would be a place we would definitely recommend for family and friends to visit.
We loved our time in Udaipur and spent about one week exploring all of the Udaipur attractions. The city combines the colors and vibrancy of Rajasthani culture with the architectural elegance of the beautiful buildings and stunning lake.
In this travel guide, we will cover the top Udaipur attractions, modes of transport, the best time to visit & the best places to stay.
Top Udaipur Attractions
1. City Palace Udaipur
The City Palace is the number one attraction in Udaipur. This complex takes you back in time to the Mewar Dynasty and still holds its incredible splendor to this day.
The palace boasts incredible, marble and silver work as well as incredible wall paintings, a true display of Rajasthani architecture at its finest. The Udaipur city palace is actually the largest in Rajasthan and dates back to 1599.
Timing: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tickets: Indian National- INR250 | Foreigner -INR500
2. Lake Palace Udaipur
Situated in the middle of Lake Pichola, this stunning palace is made entirely of white marble, a true architectural beauty! The palace is actually a hotel so unless you are staying there you cannot enter, but you can visit the grounds and it’s actually best viewed from a boat.
Enjoy the lush gardens, beautiful terraces, and elegant fountains or dine in the hotel restaurant with the lake and distant hills as the perfect backdrop! Boat rides will cost you about Rs.300-500 return.
3. Jagdish Temple
Jagdish Temple is a large Hindu temple in the middle of Udaipur in Rajasthan, you can’t miss it! We enjoyed wandering around this temple complex and were very impressed with the incredible detail stone carvings that adorned the complex. The temple is free to visit and is a must-see if you are in Udaipur.
4. Bagore Ki Haveli
Experiencing the cultural show at Bagore Ki Haveli was a highlight in Udaipur for us and we recommend this show as a must-see Udaipur attraction. This show is set in a stunning historic palace and showcases traditional Rajasthani dancing and puppetry at its best.
Show Times: 7 pm Daily (make sure you arrive 30mins early to confirm your ticket)
Tickets: Rs90 for an Indian Citizen & Rs1150 for foreign citizens.
5. Local Spice Market
Get off the beaten track in Udaipur and immerse yourself in the local way of life in the Udaipur Spice markets. If you venture away from the lake and into the local market you will find an array of delightful alleyways filled with markets.
Exploring the local markets is not only great for discovering local culture it also makes for great shopping! You can find everything here from fresh fruit & vegetables, woven items, spices, jewelry, clothing and more.
To find the markets just walk from the Jagdish Temple towards the Delhi Gate Circle, all the roads between the lake and Delhi Gate Circle are bustling marketplaces.
Also read: Best Time to Visit Jaisalmer
6. Traditional Rajasthani Thali Local Style
This is a bit of an insider tip. All the fancy restaurants on the lake are great, but if you want to try truly amazing and authentic Rajasthani food we recommend a visit to Bawarchi Restaurant which is opposite the Delhi gate.
You will be served up an unlimited meal consisting of 15 different Rajasthani delicacies and the best thing is it only costs Rs150pp. This local restaurant in Udaipur was a food highlight for our entire 5months in India and we definitely recommend it if you enjoy traditional Indian food.
7. Lake Pichola
This is the center point of beautiful Udaipur and you won’t miss it. A historic man-made freshwater lake that stretches over 3kms and is home to many islands, ghats, palaces, temples, and havalis.
A walk around this lake will take your breath away with the incredible architecture the adorns it as you discover hidden lakeside areas like the one in our picture above.
The famous lake Pichola is home to the iconic Gangaur Ghat which is a beautiful place to view the sunset across the lake. Another great place to visit at Pichola lake is Jag Mandir a garden area featuring a restaurant and stunning views of the lake.
8. Fateh Sagar Lake
Fateh Sagar Lake is one of five lakes of Udaipur and sits just outside the main center. It is a beautiful tranquil place to relax with stunning views of the Aravalli Hills.
We found some beautiful pergolas and ended up sitting and chilling there for almost an hour with the cool breeze and stunning views. People can also enjoy boating here and explore some of the islands on the lake. Definitely, recommend visiting this place to enjoys its peaceful vibes and scenic views.
9. Shilpgram
We didn’t actually visit Shilpgram, but it is worth a mention as an important attraction in Udaipur. Shilpgram is a rural arts and craft complex located about 3kms from Udaipur near Havala village.
It’s a great place to visit if you are interested to learn more about local Rajasthani arts, crafts, music, theatre, and culture. The complex also features a large Amphitheatre that fits up to 8000. There are annual cultural events and festivals held here, the main one being the Shilpgram Festival held in December each year.
10. Gulab Bagh / Sajjan Niwas Garden
This is a large garden complex created in the 19th century and is free to enter. It’s actually the largest public garden in Rajasthan that sits very close to Pichola lake. We visited here to enjoy some nature and get some shade.
It’s a lovely well-maintained garden with many beautiful areas to explore. It’s a great place to come if you have kids as well as there are playgrounds, a small toy train, and even a small zoo. The best thing about this Udaipur attraction is the array of birdlife that you can watch!
The Best Time to Visit Udaipur
Deciding on the best time to visit Udaipur really depends on your budget and travel style. So we have outlined all of the seasons in Udaipur so that you can pick which suits you best.
Nov-Feb: These are considered the Winter months in Udaipur with mild to hot temperatures and a nice cool breeze that usually lingers in the air. This is also considered high season for tourists, so do expect peak prices for hotels and lots of tourists about.
Temp: 15-28℃
Tourist Numbers: High
Mar-Jun: This is when we visited Udaipur and it’s considered the summer months. The temperatures were very hot but tourist numbers were low, just how we like it. We also got exceptional deals on accommodation.
Up to 80% off meant we got a fancy place with a pool & air conditioning for Rs1000 per night. So if you are on a tight budget and don’t like large crowds we recommend visiting Udaipur in the summer months, but do be prepared for the hot Rajasthani sun!
Temp: 28-45℃
Tourist Numbers: Medium
Jul-Oct: The monsoon season in Udaipur, so do expect higher than average rainfall but with the rains come to the lush green gardens and trees! However, monsoon in Udaipur is less intense than in other parts of India, so don’t expect constant rain.
You will also notice fewer tourists at this time & the monsoon months are also great for getting cheap deals so it’s great for those budget travelers. Temperatures are also milder than in summer but expect up to 90% humidity.
Temp: 15-28℃
Tourist Numbers: Low
Transport in Udaipur
Udaipur is a fairly small city and can easily be explored with the following three modes of transport.
Rickshaw: You can easily find a Rickshaw driver eagerly waiting for customers at almost every corner in Udaipur. If you are worried about paying a fair price, just check with your hotel or a trusted local before you set off.
Your hotel will probably also be able to organize a rickshaw driver at a fair price for you. Make sure you agree on a price before you set out and it’s also helpful to have a landmark in mind rather than a street name or number.
Walking: Udaipur is a fairly small city so its main center around the lake can easily be explored on foot. This is also the best way to take in all the sights and explore hidden streets and alleyways.
It’s especially nice to walk around Udaipur lakes during dusk/sunset when the air is cool and the sunset views are breathtaking.
Bicycle: This is another popular way to get around Udaipur. The city is fairly flat and the traffic not too intense, so hiring a bicycle is an excellent budget-friendly way to get around.
There are plenty of bicycle hire places in Udaipur and they shouldn’t set you back more than Rs.50 per day.
Best Places to Stay in Udaipur
To save you the time and effort, we have spent quite a bit of time researching and reviewing and have found these top-rated places to stay in Udaipur.
Bunkyard, accommodation with a friendly and relaxed vibe, great atmosphere and fantastic views of the famous Lake Pichola. Perhaps most important is the budget-friendly prices and the clean and comfortable dorm beds and private rooms.
Price approx: Rs500/$7USD
Budget:
Rising Shemesh HomeStay, a very clean and comfortable budget accommodation option. It features well-decorated rooms and delicious and authentic homemade meals.
Price approx: Rs850/$12USD
Midrange:
Little Garden Guest House, beautifully decorated and oozing with charm. This is a beautiful heritage property with outstanding guest reviews.
Price approx: Rs3200/$44USD
Lux:
Jagat Niwas Palace, a 17th Century Haveli with incredible lake views and excellent family service. This stunning property mixes old-time charm with elegance and luxury and is run by a lovely local family.
Price approx: Rs10,000/$140USD
We hope this list of Udaipur attractions and this full travel guide was helpful. If you have any other Udaipur tips to share with travel community or if you have any further questions then let us know in the comments below, we would love to hear from you!
Cheers, from Native Travellers
