Best Places to explore in Udaipur: is a must-visit in the state of Rajasthan if you travel to India. It preserves much of its ancient architectural and historical heritage from the Mewar Dynasty, the only kingdom that did not renounce Hinduism during the Muslim invasion. So there is a lot to see and do in Udaipur.
Udaipur, is one of the most picturesque and romantic cities in Rajasthan that you can discover on your India trip. Also known as the “Venice of the East,” this city enchants with its fairytale palaces, sparkling lakes and rich historical heritage. Here you will find everything you are looking for for an unforgettable trip to India.
Do you want to get to know the city? Below we tell you in detail what to see in Udaipur, so that you know the places of interest explore in Udaipur that should not be missing from your list and you can prepare your route perfectly. Go for it!
City Palace, Udaipur.
City Palace Udaipur is the largest palace in Rajasthan. It was built in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II. It has an extravagant style of architecture and is located on a hill with panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. If you are wondering what to see in Udaipur, in Rajasthan, India, this palace is a must.
It can be entered through two entrances: at the northern end, through the Badi Pol gate or through the Sheetla Mata gate, to the south. The most common thing is to enter through the north door where you can see the eight arches that commemorate the eight times that the maharajas distributed their weight in gold and silver among the population. The palace is full of balconies, towers, stupas and has spectacular views of the lake and large spaces.
Practical information:
Location: City Palace Complex
Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Price: €4.5 approximately
The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
Prices updated as of April 2024.
Fateh Sagar Lake
Another place of interest in Udaipur is Fateh Sagar Lake. Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake located north of Lake Pichola. It was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1678. Within the lake there are three small islands. The first of them is the Nehru Garden, the second is a public park with a fountain and the third is the Udaipur Solar Observatory, unique in all of Asia.
It is a lively and romantic place in the city where you can take boat trips to visit the Nehru Garden, which is a beautiful park full of flowers and ponds with a restaurant and a small zoo
Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola is the center and soul of the city and is one of the places of interest in Udaipur worth visiting. City life revolves around this lake. It is 4 km long by 3 km wide and was built by Udai Singh II when he ordered the construction of the Badi Pol dam, flooding the city of Pichola. On its banks there are several ghats where the faithful bathe to purify themselves.
The sunset on the lake is most impressive. The best views are from Promenade, Hanuman Ghat, Ganguar Ghat and, best of all, at Ambrai Ghat. If there is enough depth you can take a boat ride from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In Lake Pichola there are two islands:
- Jag Niwas: It is occupied by the Lake Palace, a former summer palace built in 1743, now converted into a five-star hotel and is world famous because several scenes from James Bond’s Octopussy were filmed there.
- Jag Mandir: on this island there is a palace that legend says served as inspiration to build the Taj Mahal. It has a wonderful row of marble elephants.
Badi Lake
The lake was built in the village of Badi, 12 km from the city of Udaipur, in India. The lake was built at Badi village 12 km from Udaipur city. It is an artificial freshwater lake. It was built under Maharana Raj Singh I (1652-1680) to counter the devastating effects of famine.
It has an area of 155 sq. km. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Badi.
Doodh Tala Lake
It is a small pond located southeast of Lake Pichola and is usually very crowded. Next to the lake is the Manikya Lal Verma, a modern rock garden with a musical fountain from where there are very good views of the city. From there you can watch the sunset. There is a cable car that goes up to the Karni Mata temple.
Saheliyon ki Bari Gardens
This garden built in the 18th century by King Maharana Sangram Singh as a gift to the women of the royal court. For this reason, it is known as the Garden of the Maidens.
It is one of the most impressive places in the city, open to the public. It is on the banks of the Fateh Sagar lake. There are extensive bush paths, fountains and marble sculptures and an infinite amount of exotic plants and flowers. Within the gardens there is a museum where you can see everyday objects from the royal palace.
Practical information:
Location: Panchvati Hours: 8am to 8pm
Price: €08 approximately
The indicated prices will be paid in local currency.
Prices updated as of April 2024.
Jag Mandir Palace
It is one of the most recognized palaces in the city. It has three floors and is built of yellow stone and white marble. It began construction in the 17th century and was commissioned by Maharana Karan Singh to hide Prince Shah Jahan there. You must keep in mind that the temple is reached by boat, since it is in the middle of a lake.
The patio is one of the most emblematic places, built with black and white tiles. The decoration is Islamic style to please the prince more than Karan Singh.
Practical information:
Location: Pichola Lake
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: approximately €10 (includes the boat ride to get to the temple)
The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
Prices updated as of April 2024.
Jagdish Temple
It is the most important Hindu temple in the city, created in 1651. It is flanked by figures of elephants and horsemen and has a long staircase to access the temple. It is a Jain temple, a religion very present in Rajasthan, whose most outstanding precept is non-violence, to the point of not being able to kill living organisms. Inside the temple there is a lot of life. There you will find sadhus dressed in their striking robes talking friendly.
Practical information:
Location: Near by City Palace Udaipu
Hours: from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Price: free entry
Monsoon Palace
Monsoon Palace was built by Maharaja Sajjan Singh in 1884 for use as a summer residence. It is located on the top of a mountain and is made of white marble.
From the palace you can see the sunset over Lake Pichola. It has spectacular views of the lakes and the entire city. It is about 5 km from the city. Cars and tuk-tuk are prohibited at the entrance to the grounds but there are vehicles that regularly go up to the palace.
Practical information:
Location: Kodiyat
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: €3.5 approximately
The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
Ahar Museum
This museum is located 2 km from Udaipur city and is a good place to discover the past of the city and its surroundings. The museum has collections of ceramics, terracotta and artifacts, among other works, some of which are very old (from 1700 BC). There is also a collection of ancient sculptures.
Practical information:
Location: Ganapati Nagar
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: €0.05 approximately
The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
What to do in Udaipur
Now that you know what to see in Udaipur, let’s go for the experiences! We tell you what to do in Udaipur so that you get the most out of the city and enjoy a few days of tourism in Udaipur.
Sail across the lake to Jag Mandir Island
Next to the Udaipur Palace you have the option of taking a boat that takes a ride around the lake with a stop at Jag Mandir Island. The island is home to the Jagmandir Palace which was built by Maharaja Karan Singh.
Part of the palace is converted into a hotel and restaurant. This hotel is one of the most luxurious in the world with 83 rooms and suites with white marble walls. It belongs to the Taj Group of Hotels. The Royal Butlers who work at the hotel are descendants of the original Palace servants.
Boat transportation costs approximately €5 and entry to the hotel costs approximately €0.5.
The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
Prices updated as of June 2023.
See a show at the Bagore Ki Haveli
Bajore Ki Haveli is a palace built in the 18th century that has more than 100 rooms, patios, corridors and balconies where you can enjoy views of Lake Pichola. Inside you can enjoy the typical dances of Rajasthan. The show lasts an hour and alternates Rajasthani dances with traditional tales of princes and princesses with puppets.
Stroll through Gulab Bagh or Saijan Miwas
It is the largest garden in Rajasthan and was built by Saijan Singh in 1852. It is located southeast of the City Palace and is famous for its large and varied collection of roses brought from all corners of the world. It is a park widely used by the residents of Udaipur to walk and relax. Inside the garden there is a library housing ancient manuscripts and a small zoo.
Attend Cooking Classes
Local houses & restaurants in the city center offer cooking classes. You can learn to cook some of the Indian dishes, which are characterized by their spicy flavor, and then enjoy them with your hosts and companions.
The courses usually last around 4-5 hours and are carried out in groups of about five people. The price per course and subsequent tasting is approximately €15.
The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
See the sunset from the lakes
Would you like to know what to do in Udaipur to enjoy the best sunset? We tell you the secret to seeing a photography sunset from the lakes.
Udaipur, the most romantic India. a statement that is understood by places like this. The fact that the houses are white means that the sun’s rays illuminate the city in a practically bucolic way. Near the ghats, in the lakes, you can also hear some musicians playing the sitar. Around some of the lakes you will also have the possibility of having a chai on some of their terraces while watching the sunset.
Now that you know what to see in Udaipur and what to do in the city to enjoy the best activities, would you like to travel to India and get to know Udaipur? Don’t miss our itineraries, some of which pass through Udaipur.
Explore in Udaipur by Delighted Journey