Udaipur

What there is to see

The City Palace is the largest in Rajasthan and still partly lived in by the royal family. The museum section takes two to three hours and the views over Lake Pichola from the upper courtyards are the best in the city.

Lake Pichola by boat at the end of the afternoon, when the light goes gold on the palace walls. Boats leave from the City Palace jetty.

Jagdish Temple, a working temple in the middle of the old town, and Saheliyon ki Bari, a small garden of fountains built for a queen's attendants.

The Monsoon Palace above the city is a sunset trip. The building itself is unremarkable; the view over the lakes and the Aravalli hills is not.

Getting there and driving times

Udaipur is four to five hours from Jodhpur and six to seven from Jaipur. If you are heading on to Mumbai or south, it is a natural place to fly out from.

How long to stay

Two nights, three if you want to slow down. Udaipur rewards sitting still more than any other city in Rajasthan.

When to come

September to March is best. The lakes are full after the monsoon and the hills stay green into November, which surprises people expecting desert.

How we drive it

Udaipur usually closes a Rajasthan loop for our guests, after Jaipur and Jodhpur. The drive from Jodhpur crosses the Aravalli hills and we can stop at the Jain temples at Ranakpur on the way, which adds about two hours and is worth every minute.

A suggested two days

Day one: the City Palace in the morning, lunch in the old town, Jagdish Temple and the lanes around Lal Ghat in the afternoon, then a boat on Lake Pichola as the sun goes down.

Day two: Saheliyon ki Bari and Fateh Sagar Lake in the morning, a slow afternoon, and the Monsoon Palace for sunset. In the evening, the Dharohar folk dance show at Bagore ki Haveli on Gangaur Ghat is an hour well spent.

Where to stay

Stay in the old city near the lake if you can: Lal Ghat, Gangaur Ghat or Hanuman Ghat. Many small heritage hotels there have rooftop restaurants looking straight at the City Palace and the Lake Palace. Bigger hotels sit around Fateh Sagar Lake, which is calmer but a short drive from the old town.

Good stops on the way in

Kumbhalgarh Fort, about two hours north, has walls that run for more than 30 km over the hills. It is one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Ranakpur, with its marble Jain temple of more than a thousand carved pillars, is on the same road from Jodhpur. We can fit both into the drive.

Practical tips

• The old city lanes are narrow. Our driver drops you as close as the car can go, and the rest is a short walk.
• Lake boat times and the City Palace hours are set by the palace trust. See Eternal Mewar for current details.
• Udaipur is also a good place to buy miniature paintings. Buy from a studio where you can watch the artist work.

Questions people ask

How many days do you need in Udaipur?

Two nights covers the main sights at an easy pace. Add a third if you want a day for Kumbhalgarh or simply to rest.

Is Udaipur worth it on a short Rajasthan trip?

Yes, if you have at least eight days. With less, Jaipur and Jodhpur are easier to reach and Udaipur is better saved for a longer trip.

Can we fly out of Udaipur?

Yes. Udaipur has an airport with daily flights to Delhi and Mumbai, so many of our routes end there instead of driving back.

Ask us about Udaipur

Tell us when you want to travel and how long you have. We come back with a route, the vehicle it needs and one price, usually within 24 hours. Our day rates are published in full, and your hotels stay your own choice.

Get a price for your Udaipur trip   See our car and driver rates