Nestled in the heart of Rajasthan, India, Udaipur, also referred to as the "City of Lakes," is a mesmerizing destination. Travelers should not miss this enchanted city, which combines scenic beauty with ancient charm. Udaipur offers a plethora of activities and sights to explore, including its glittering lakes, lavish palaces, and lively bazaars.
About Udaipur
One of Rajasthan's most well-known cities, Udaipur is renowned for its rich history, architecture, and artwork. Travelers of all stripes, both domestically and internationally, are drawn to Udaipur because of its legacy, which is a delightful fusion of royalty, old-world elegance, and modern lifestyle.
Ancient monuments, the city's population, and their customs, cuisine, artwork, and aesthetics are all examples of the city's legacy.
History
The history of Udaipur dates back more than a millennium. Maharana Udai Singh II, after whom the city was called, built it in 1559. The Rajput ruler established the Mewar kingdom's new capital in the lush Girwa Valley near the Banas River.
Udai Singh constructed seven gates to protect Chittor from invaders after Akbar overran the city in 1567. The area enclosed by these walls is known as the "old city," and they are still in place. Amar Singh, the monarch at the time, consented to become a Mughal subject and kept Udaipur as the state capital almost a century later.
It was a princely state in British India by 1818. Maharana Mahendra Singh Mewar is now the Mewar dynasty's 76th guardian.
Activities in Udaipur
You can engage in a variety of enjoyable and thrilling activities while visiting Udaipur in addition to the city's well-known tourist attractions.
Take an Udaipur Heritage Walking Tour. You will stroll through the historic sections of the city as well as through gardens, lakes, secret passageways, and local hangouts. You can eat native cuisine, browse at bazaars, and do a lot more on this tour.
Take a wildlife safari at the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a variety of rare animals and plants such as panthers, jackals, hyenas, and deer.
Go to the Music Garden in Doodh Talai. This is one of the greatest spots to go in Udaipur at night to take in the musical fountain, the light show, and a nighttime picnic.
Top attractions in Udaipur
There are many sites to see in Udaipur, including museums, historic temples, forts, and royal palaces. The majority of these Udaipur sites are conveniently accessible and may be seen in a day or two. The following are a some of the top attractions in Udaipur:
Udaipur Palace
How to Get There: The palace is two kilometers from the downtown bus stop. To get there, you can rent a car, use the local taxi, auto, bus, or tonga.
Hours: 9.30 AM 5.30 PM
Adult admission fee (over 18 years old) Child: INR 100; Student: INR 300
It Will Take Three Hours
Advice: Visit the royal museum to view historic antiques and artifacts.
Palace Jagmandir (&Hotel)
How to Get There: The island palace is situated outside the City Palace grounds, inside Lake Pichola. To explore, you must travel the ferry to the lake castle.
Hours: 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
admittance fee: INR 400 (after 3 PM: INR 700), additional admittance to the palace for the boat ride.
Time Needed: Under an hour
Saheliyon ki Bari
How to Get There: The garden is 4.4 kilometers from the city bus stop. To get there, you can reserve a private vehicle or use a local transit system.
Hours: 9 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Admission Fee: INR 5; Time Needed: 1-2 Hours
For the finest experience, visit in the afternoon and stay until sunset.
Sajjangarh Palace/Monsoon Palace
How to Get There: The Udaipur fort and palace, perched on a hill, is five kilometers from the city center. To get to the base and then drive or hike to the summit, you can use a taxi, private vehicle, or auto.
Hours: 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Entry Cost: Ten Indian Rupees For car: INR 65; for auto: INR 20
Three to four hours are needed.
Advice: Go on hikes and explore the nearby natural areas only in the winter or early spring when the weather is dry.
Vintage Car Museum How to Get There: The Udaipur bus station is a short stroll from the museum. You can reserve a car or hire a local transportation if you're coming from another part of the city. Hours: 9.30 AM 5.30 PM (daily)
100 INR is the entry fee.
Time Needed: One to two hours
Advice: The Gulab Bagh Zoo is 1.5 kilometers away from the museum. You can also visit it there.
Lake Pichola
How to Get There: The Udaipur bus station is 4 kilometers from the lake area. To get there, you can take the tonga, taxi, local bus, or reserved cab.
Hours: 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
There is no admission fee.
Time Needed: One to two hours
Advice: Take a ferry to the Jagmandir Palace Hotel on the river island and sail at sunset.
Fateh Sagar Lake
How to Get There: The lake area is five kilometers from the bus terminal in Udaipur. To get there, you can reserve any local transportation or hire a car.
Hours: 10 AM 5 PM
Admission Fee: Free; Time Needed: 1-2 Hours
Advice: Attend the World Music Festival in February, which features three days of performances by both domestic and foreign performers.
Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum
How to Get There: The museum is 3.3 kilometers from the city center. To get there, you can reserve a taxi, an automobile, a local bus, or rent a car.
Hours: 9.AM 5.30 PM
The entry fee is INR 20 (INR 50 for videography, INR 20 for photography).
It will take three to four hours.
Locations to explore in the vicinity
In addition to the well-known locations in Udaipur, there are a ton of fascinating places to see in the surrounding area. Most of these locations in Udaipur may be visited in two days. While seeing Udaipur, make sure to visit some of these temples and lakeside locations.
How to Get to Eklingji Temple:
The historic temple is situated 22 kilometers outside of Udaipur's downtown. To get there and back, you can reserve a taxi or rent a car. Hours: 4:30 AM 7 AM, 10:30 AM 1:30 PM, and 5 PM 7:30 PM
Entry Fee: Free; Required Time: Two to Three Hours
Advice: Spend two kilometers traveling to the Sahasrabhu Temple from the Eklingji Temple.
Haldighati Battlefield
How to Get There: Nathdwara, 40 kilometers from Udaipur, is the location of the famous battleground. For the day, you can rent a private vehicle or reserve a taxi to get there and back.
Hours: 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
There is no admission fee.
Advice - Don't forget to check out the adjacent Haldighati Museum, which has records of every event that happened here.
Jaisamand Lake
How to Get There: The lake region is 50 kilometers from the city center. For a half-day trip there and back, you can rent a car in Udaipur or take a local transportation option like a taxi, bus, or auto.
Hours: 10 AM 5 PM
There is no admission fee. Boat ride: INR 30 to 50, depending on the distance and time.
It Will Take Two to Three Hours
Advice - While there, make time to explore the nearby Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, river islands, and hilltop palaces.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
How to Get There: The historic fort is 85 kilometers from the city. To get there and back, you can take a local transportation option like a bus, taxi, or vehicle, or you can rent a car for the day.
Hours: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Entry Cost: INR 20; Time Needed: One Day
Tips: In addition, stroll from the fort to the hilltop palace, Badal Mahal.
Chittorgarh Fort
How to Get There: The medieval fort is situated 115 kilometers outside of the city. To travel, you must reserve an out-of-town taxi or hire a private vehicle for the day.
Hours: 9 AM 6 PM
Admission Fee: INR 25 for children, INR 50 for adults
One day is the amount of time needed.
Udaipur's top dining spots
Traditional restaurants and chic modern caf s are all available. Visit a few of these renowned Udaipur eateries to experience the local cuisine.
Jaajam Restaurant
Millets of Mewar
Royal Repast Restaurant & Bar
Neelam Restaurant
1559 AD
Restaurant Harigarh
How to Make Travel Plans to Udaipur
How to Travel by Train to Udaipur
About 3 km from the city center are two railway junctions: Udaipur City and Rana Pratap Nagar. Most cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kota, Agra, Jaipur, Ajmer, etc., have daily and weekly trains to Udaipur.
Via Road
All of the larger towns and cities in North and West India are in close proximity to the city of Lake. Regular buses from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Ajmer, Ratlam, Jodhpur, Kota, Mount Abu, etc. are operated by the state and are open to the public. You can also reserve a private vehicle with a driver from any of these locations and travel to Udaipur.
Through Air
Maharana Pratap Airport serves the city of Dabok, which is roughly 22 kilometers from Udaipur. Among other important Indian cities and towns, there are regular flights to Udaipur from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, and Jaipur. For convenient transportation, you can take a cab from the Udaipur airport.
The ideal time to go to Udaipur
Due to the city's location in the southernmost part of the state, the weather there is generally nicer than it is across Rajasthan. Winters are comfortable but cold, while summers are still scorching and dry. The best weather and the busiest travel season for Udaipur occur from November to February. It's also the ideal time of year to go outdoor exploration. You might also go immediately after the monsoon season, when Udaipur's summertime temperature slightly decreases.
Top Accommodation Options in Udaipur
An essential component of any trip to Udaipur is lodging. For fantastic views, try searching for hotels close to Lake Pichola. Try a few of these top hotels and resorts in Udaipur:
Jagatniwas Palace Hotel
The LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace
Chunda Palace
TatSaraasa Resort and Spa
The Pichola Home Stay
The Oberoi Udaivilas
Taj Lake Palace
Janak Vilas
Aurika
