Udaipur Travel Guide: Unravel the Charm of the City of Lakes

The Udaipur city, located amidst the beautiful Aravalli hills, houses some of the majestic Forts, Palaces and beautiful lakes. These historical monuments in the city of lakes will  introduce you to the era of the former rulers. You can see the Havelis, Forts and Palaces they used to stay in.  This historical touch of Udaipur  makes the city a great place for an architecture enthusiast, historian or archeologist.

If you are also thinking to unravel the charms of Udaipur, then here is your travel guide that will help you enjoy the splendors of the city to its best.

What All You Can Cover?

Udaipur houses many attractions that will take your heart away. Here is a list of things that you can cover in the city of Lakes.

City Palace Complex  

Gelling beautifully with the blue waters of Lake Pichola stands the grand City Palace, a wonderful marvel of Udaipur. Keep few hours aside to see the craft and architecture of this majestic Palace. The jharokhas, columns and towers of this beautiful Palace will give you a royal feel. The Fateh Prakash Palace and Shiv Niwas Palace are some of the key attractions to visit in the city.

City Palace Museum

The City Palace Museum houses many paintings belonging to the Mewar School of Painting. There are many Mahals and Chowks having names, dates of construction and the names of the builders.

Entry Adults: Rs 250

Children: Rs 100

Open all day

Timings 9.30am–4.30pm

Photography: Rs 250

Within the City Palace museum, there is a Sound & Light show. Here are the fees for the same:

Adults: INR 250–500

Children: INR 100–200

Timings 7.00–8.00pm (English)

Crystal Gallery    

The Crystal Gallery showcases the wide collection of crystal objects which Rana Sajjan Singh ordered from F&C Osler and Company in England. Here delve into  the beauty of crystal chairs, sofas, glasses and dinner sets. Photography is strictly prohibited in the gallery.

Location: Fateh Prakash Palace

Entry Adults: Rs 550

Children: Rs 350 (includes entry fee to palace premises and a beverage)

Timings: 10.00am–6.00pm, open all days

Vintage Cars 

Head to Vintage Cars Museum, the classic car museum. It is based at a distance of around 2 kilometers from the City Palace. Great place for automobile lovers to delve into the cars of the bygone era.

Entry Adults: Rs 250

Children: Rs 150

Timings: 9.30am–8.00pm

Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola is surrounded by gorgeous Havelis, Palaces and rooftop restaurants. Enjoying great food at the rooftop restaurants while enjoying the panoramic views of the lake is a wonderful delight. Also, you can take a boat ride at Lake Pichola. Enjoy the wonderful sights of Jagmandir and Jagniwas temples.

Boat Ride Charges

Adult: Rs 700

Children: Rs 400 for 1hr

Jagdish Temple

Enjoy the architecture of Indo-Aryan style temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The architecture of the temple is a great visual delight. The sculptures of elephants, dancers, horsemen and musicians at the dome of the temple is a great site to go for. The smaller shrines of the idols comprise of Lord Shiva, Ganesh, the Sun God and Goddess Shakti.

Timings: 5:00am to 2:00pm

4:00pm to 11:00pm

Exploring the Lakes in Udaipur

Dudh Talai, Pichola, Swaroop Sagar, Govardhan Sagar, Kumaria Talav and Fateh Sagar are some of the beautiful lakes that worth your time.

The Dazzling Markets in Udaipur

Udaipur is known for its dazzling markets. There are many great options located near the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Lalghat and Gangaur Ghat.  Here is a list of some of the artifacts that you can buy in Udaipur:

• You can look for miniature paintings which are the pride of Udaipur. Starting from Rs 50 these paintings are a great gift to take back home.
• Other attractions include handmade paper, silver jewelry, fabrics, wood, stone statues and block-printed clothes.
• Do look at government-run Rajasthali showroom nearing the Jagdish Temple.
• Explore the wares at Shilpgram, the crafts village at Udaipur.
• Buy block-printed cottons, gems and jewelry from
• The textiles and curios near Lalghat will take your heart away.

Looking for an Accomodation in Udaipur? Here you go

Udaipur has a wide variety of stay options varying from budget hotels to luxurious ones. It is better to go for hotels around Lake Pichola. You can really enjoy a great scenic view. Here is the list of some of the prominent hotels in Udaipur:

• Taj Lake Palace with a tariff varying within the range of Rs 60,000 to Rs 8,50,000.
• Amet Haveli with a tariff varying within the range of Rs 6,800 to Rs 10,000.
• Oberoi Udaivillas with a tariff varying within the range of Rs 60,000 to Rs 7,50,000.
• Pahvana Haveli with a tariff varying within the range of Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000.
• Kankarawa Haveli with a tariff varying within the range of Rs 2,200 to Rs 6,000.
• Hotel Kajri with a tariff of around Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,900.

Eateries in Udaipur

If you are heading to a new city, then exploring its cuisine is a must. For exploring the Rajasthani cuisine, head towards the Santosh Daal Baati Bhojanalaya. Here, enjoy the delicious Dal-bati-choorma. Amber is another option where you can delve into the splendors of Rajasthani food. Besides, Udaipur is a home to many rooftop restaurants and lake view eateries. Here you can enjoy continental and other varieties of food while enjoying the ambience.

Before we leave you, here are some Quick Facts about the City:

Nearest Airport: Maharana Pratap Airport

Best Time to Visit Udaipur: October to February

Currency: Rupee

Languages: Hindi , English and Rajasthani

Festivals: Gangaur Festival, Shilpgram Utsav, Hariyali Amavasya, Jagannath Rath Yatra and Jal-Jhulni Ekadashi

STD Code: 0294

Keep this travel guide handy while exploring the City of Lakes.

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