Udaipur: The City That Makes You Forget to Hurry
There are cities you visit to see things. And then there’s Udaipur — a city you visit to feel something. The lakes, the palaces, the Aravalli hills in the background, and that particular quality of light on the water at golden hour… Udaipur operates at a different frequency from the rest of India.
Rajasthan’s ‘City of Lakes’ is routinely called one of the most romantic cities in Asia, and that reputation is entirely deserved. But romance here isn’t just about couples — it’s about the beauty of a city that seems to have been designed with a poet’s sensibility.
Here are 12 places in Udaipur that genuinely warrant your time.
- City Palace — A Palace Like No Other in India
Udaipur’s City Palace is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan and one of the most impressive royal structures in all of Asia. Built over 400 years by successive Mewar rulers, it rises dramatically from the eastern bank of Lake Pichola — a layered, sprawling complex of 11 mahal (palaces) fused into one continuous architectural statement.
Inside, the Mor Chowk (Peacock Courtyard) with its exquisite mosaic peacocks is unmissable. The Manek Mahal (Ruby Palace) is a riot of colored glass and mirrors. And from the upper terraces, the view across Lake Pichola to the Lake Palace (Jag Niwas) floating on the water like a white jewel is one of the defining images of India.
💡 Start at the City Palace Museum before walking the palace complex. The context makes everything richer.
- Lake Pichola — The Soul of Udaipur
Everything in Udaipur gravitates toward Lake Pichola. The city’s most iconic views unfold across its waters: the Lake Palace Hotel on Jag Niwas Island, the Jag Mandir Palace on its own island, and the City Palace rising from the eastern bank.
Take the boat ride. The evening cruise, when the lake turns gold and the palaces catch the last light, is one of those travel experiences that works exactly as advertised. It’s not hyperbole — it genuinely is that beautiful.
- Boat rides: Available from Rameshwar Ghat, around INR 300-400 per person
- Best time: Sunset (5:30–7pm depending on season)
- Jag Mandir Island Palace — The Island Worth Visiting
Unlike the Lake Palace Hotel (accessible only to guests), Jag Mandir is open to visitors. The 17th-century island palace was once a refuge for the Mughal prince Khurram (later Emperor Shah Jahan) — the same man who would go on to build the Taj Mahal. The influence of Mughal architecture on Jag Mandir is visible everywhere.
Access by boat from the City Palace jetty. The palace cafe serves lunch with views that cost considerably more elsewhere.
- Sajjangarh Palace (Monsoon Palace) — Views That Stop Time
Perched 944 metres above sea level on the Bansdara peak of the Aravalli Hills, Sajjangarh is Udaipur’s highest point and offers a panoramic view of the entire city, its lakes, and the surrounding hills that stretches to the horizon on a clear day.
Built in 1884 as a monsoon retreat and weather observation post, the palace was never completed as intended. What remains is a haunting, partially ruined structure with views that are anything but ruined. Go at sunset. The city below goes from gold to amber to deep blue in a matter of minutes.
⚠️ The road up to Sajjangarh is narrow with sharp bends. Hired vehicles navigate it better than private cars in peak season.
- Jagdish Temple — 1651 and Still Counting
Built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh I, the Jagdish Temple is Udaipur’s largest and most important temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it sits at the top of a long flight of steps just north of the City Palace — and the view from those steps, looking down toward Lake Pichola, is worth the climb alone.
The temple is active and living — priests conduct aarti several times a day, and the energy inside during prayer time is electric. Shoes off at the entrance. Dress respectfully. Then simply be present.
- Fateh Sagar Lake — Udaipur’s Quieter Lake
While Lake Pichola gets most of the attention, Fateh Sagar Lake has a quieter, more local charm. Connected to Pichola by a canal, Fateh Sagar is where Udaipur residents come for morning walks, evening strolls, and the kind of unhurried life that tourists often miss.
The island in the centre — Nehru Island — has a public park, a solar observatory, and a water-jet fountain. Boat rides across Fateh Sagar are available for a fraction of the Lake Pichola price. Savdhaan Chowk food stalls on the promenade serve excellent local snacks from sundown.
💡 Fateh Sagar in the early morning is one of Udaipur’s quietest pleasures. Go before 8am and you’ll have the lakeside largely to yourself.
- Bagore Ki Haveli — Living Heritage of the Haveli
This 18th-century haveli on the Gangori Ghat has been converted into a museum housing over 100 rooms and exhibiting royal costumes, antiques, and artifacts from the Mewar period. The turban display alone features more than 200 styles — evidence of the extraordinary textile culture of Rajasthan.
In the evening, the haveli hosts a folk dance performance featuring Rajasthani and Gujarati dance traditions. It’s the best value cultural performance in Udaipur, and it runs nightly.
- Gangaur Ghat — The Most Beautiful Ghat in Udaipur
Of Udaipur’s many lake ghats, Gangaur Ghat is the most atmospheric. Flanked by ancient buildings, it’s where locals come for the morning dip, where the Gangaur festival procession enters the lake each year, and where the evenings unfold in gentle, almost meditative quiet.
Sit on the steps at sunset with nothing planned for the next hour. Watch the light change on the water. Let Udaipur arrive in its own time.
- Eklingji Temple — The Family Deity of Mewar’s Maharanas
Located 22km from Udaipur, the Eklingji Temple complex is one of Rajasthan’s most significant religious sites. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple was the family deity of the Mewar Maharanas, who considered themselves his deputies on earth. The main idol, carved from black marble, has four faces — each facing a different direction.
Monday evenings, when the temple is particularly active with prayers and offerings, are the best time to visit. The surrounding small town is untouristy and genuine.
- Shilpgram Crafts Village — Rajasthan’s Living Craft Heritage
Established by the West Zone Cultural Centre, Shilpgram is a rural arts and crafts complex 3km from Udaipur where artisans from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, and Maharashtra demonstrate traditional crafts in recreated village settings.
Potters, weavers, leather workers, bamboo artisans — all practicing their work in an environment designed to preserve traditions that are under serious threat from industrialisation. December’s Shilpgram Utsav festival transforms the space into one of Rajasthan’s liveliest cultural celebrations.
- Saheliyon Ki Bari — Garden Built for Women
‘The Garden of Maidens’ was built in the 18th century by Maharana Sangram Singh for the queen and her 48 maids-in-waiting who came as part of her dowry. The garden features marble elephants, lotus pools, and a fountains system that works on water pressure alone — no pumps, just physics.
The scale is intimate and the mood tranquil. Unlike Udaipur’s grander attractions, Saheliyon Ki Bari feels personal — a glimpse into the private world of royal women in Rajput history.
- Vintage Car Museum — A Surprise Around Every Corner
Udaipur’s Vintage and Classic Car Museum houses the royal fleet of the Mewar Maharanas — including a 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom used to transport Lord Mountbatten, a 1938 Cadillac, and the legendary ‘Flying Goddess,’ a 1946 Lincoln that still runs.
This is not a dusty, forgotten collection. These cars are immaculate, the stories attached to each vehicle are extraordinary, and the museum itself is beautifully presented. Give yourself 45 minutes minimum.
Getting the Most From Your Udaipur Visit
- Stay near the Old City for easy access to the ghats and lake views
- Best time: October–March; July–September if you want monsoon-green Aravallis
- Getting there: Maharana Pratap Airport, or train/bus from Jaipur (about 5 hours)
- Must-eat: Daal Baati Churma, Gatte Ki Sabzi, and the famous Udaipur Thali
💡 Three days is the sweet spot for Udaipur. Two feels rushed. Four and you’re fully converted and considering staying permanently.