Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II as the new capital of Mewar, when the kingdom moved from the exposed fort of Chittorgarh to a valley ringed by the Aravalli hills and its lakes. Nearly five centuries later, that setting still defines the city — palaces and havelis rise straight from the water of Lake Pichola, and the hills carry forts and gardens on every side.
Known as the City of Lakes, it draws travellers for Rajput architecture, sunset boat rides, and a walkable old town. This guide covers the best places to visit in Udaipur, from the palace core out to the day-trip forts, along with the things to do that fill a two- or three-day stay.
12 Best Places to Visit in Udaipur
| Attraction | Type | Area | Entry Fee | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Palace | Palace | Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk) | ₹250–300 (~$3.30) | 2–3 hrs |
| Lake Pichola | Lake | Lake Pichola & the Ghats | Free; boat ₹400–800 (~$5–$10) | 1–1.5 hrs |
| Jagdish Temple | Temple | Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk) | Free | 30 min |
| Fateh Sagar Lake | Lake | Fateh Sagar Lake area | Free; boat ₹150–300 (~$2–$4) | 1 hr |
| Bagore ki Haveli | Museum / Haveli | Lake Pichola & the Ghats | ₹60 (~$0.75) | 1–1.5 hrs |
| Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace) | Palace / Viewpoint | Northern Gardens & Sajjangarh | ₹60 + ₹80 (~$1.70) | 1–1.5 hrs |
| Jag Mandir | Island Palace | Lake Pichola & the Ghats | Boat from ₹400 (~$5) | 1 hr |
| Saheliyon ki Bari | Garden | Northern Gardens & Sajjangarh | ₹10–20 (~$0.25) | 45 min–1 hr |
| Gangaur & Ambrai Ghat | Ghat / Viewpoint | Lake Pichola & the Ghats | Free | 30–45 min |
| Shilpgram | Cultural Village | Northern Gardens & Sajjangarh | ₹30–50 (~$0.50) | 1–1.5 hrs |
| Kumbhalgarh Fort | Fort (UNESCO) | Outside Udaipur (Day Trip) | ₹40 (~$0.50) | Half–full day |
| Vintage Car Museum | Museum | Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk) | ₹350 (~$4.20) | 45 min |
City Palace
Rising in tiers above the eastern shore of Lake Pichola, the City Palace is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan and the natural first stop among the places to visit in Udaipur. Begun by Maharana Udai Singh II when he founded the city in 1559, it was extended by successive Mewar rulers over nearly four centuries into a warren of courtyards, balconies, and towers that fuses Rajput and Mughal styles. The main entrance runs through the triple-arched Tripolia gate, and parts of the complex now house museums and heritage hotels.
Inside, the museum rooms hold royal armour, miniature paintings, and the mirror- and glass-inlaid halls the Mewar court was known for, while the Crystal Gallery and upper terraces open long views over the lake. It is a maze of narrow passages and staircases, so allow a couple of unhurried hours and come early before the tour groups fill it.
- Area: Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk)
- Entry Fee: ₹250–300 (~$3.30) for Indian visitors; higher for foreigners, plus a camera fee
- Opening Timings: 9:30 am–5:30 pm daily
- How to Get There: On the eastern shore of Lake Pichola in the Old City; walkable from Jagdish Chowk
- Duration: 2–3 hours
Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola is the oldest of Udaipur’s lakes, created in 1362 when a Banjara trader dammed the valley streams long before the city itself existed. The Mewar rulers later widened it and built along its shores, so today it is ringed by ghats, temples, and palaces, with the island palaces of Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir set out on the water. More than any single monument, the lake is the reason Udaipur is called the City of Lakes.
Its shores are lined with ghats and rooftop cafés, and I found the west bank around Ambrai the best vantage for watching the City Palace turn gold at sunset. The classic way to see it, though, is from a boat — covered in the Things to Do section below.
- Area: Lake Pichola & the Ghats
- Entry Fee: Free to walk the ghats; boat rides ₹400–800 (~$5–$10)
- Opening Timings: Ghats open all day; boat rides roughly 9 am–6 pm
- How to Get There: Wraps the western edge of the Old City; boat jetties at Rameshwar Ghat and Lal Ghat
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
Jagdish Temple
A short walk up from the City Palace’s Badi Pol entrance, Jagdish Temple was built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Raised on a tall plinth reached by a steep flight of steps, it is one of the largest and most active temples in the old city, worked in the Indo-Aryan style with a soaring shikhara. The exterior is densely carved with elephants, musicians, and dancers across its tiers.
Aarti draws a steady flow of worshippers through the day, and the temple sits right in the thick of the old city’s lanes and shops. It takes only twenty or thirty minutes, and pairs naturally with the City Palace next door.
- Area: Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk)
- Entry Fee: Free
- Opening Timings: 5 am–2 pm and 4 pm–10 pm; aarti times vary
- How to Get There: About 150 m from the City Palace’s Badi Pol; walkable from Jagdish Chowk
- Duration: 30 minutes
Fateh Sagar Lake
North of Pichola and linked to it by a canal, Fateh Sagar Lake is the second of Udaipur’s great lakes, ringed by the Aravalli hills rather than palaces. It was originally built by Maharana Jai Singh in the late 17th century, and after a flood destroyed it, rebuilt by Maharana Fateh Singh around 1900 — first inaugurated as the Connaught Bundh by the visiting Duke of Connaught. Three islands sit on the water, including the garden island of Nehru Park.
In the evenings the lakeside road becomes the city’s informal living room, with chai and ice-cream carts and families out for a stroll. When I was there it was the most relaxed corner of Udaipur — good for a walk and street food without needing to touch a boat at all.
- Area: Fateh Sagar Lake area
- Entry Fee: Free; boat rides ₹150–300 (~$2–$4)
- Opening Timings: Open all day; boating roughly 9 am–6 pm
- How to Get There: About 5–6 km north of the City Palace, past Moti Magri; auto or taxi
- Duration: 1 hour
Bagore ki Haveli
Standing right on the water at Gangaur Ghat, Bagore ki Haveli is an 18th-century mansion built by Amar Chand Badwa, a prime minister of Mewar, and later expanded by Maharaj Shakti Singh of Bagore in 1878. Its rambling complex of over a hundred rooms — courtyards, balconies, and jharokha windows — has been restored as a museum of Mewar life, displaying royal costumes, glass and mirror work, and everyday objects of the court.
Among its exhibits is what is billed as the world’s largest turban, and its riverside setting gives fine views back across Lake Pichola. Most visitors come for the evening Dharohar folk performance held in its courtyard, which is covered separately below.
- Area: Lake Pichola & the Ghats
- Entry Fee: ₹60 (~$0.75) for Indian visitors; folk show ticketed separately
- Opening Timings: 9:30 am–5:30 pm; folk show around 7 pm
- How to Get There: On Gangaur Ghat Marg, along Lake Pichola; walkable in the old city
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)
Perched on Bansdara peak of the Aravallis at around 944 metres, Sajjangarh — the Monsoon Palace — looks down over Udaipur from about 10 km southwest of the centre. It was built in 1884 by Maharana Sajjan Singh, intended as an astronomical observatory and a place to watch the monsoon clouds gather, which gave it its popular name. The white marble palace sits within the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary that wraps the hill.
The building itself is more atmospheric ruin than restored palace, but the view is the reason to come — Pichola, Fateh Sagar, and Swaroop Sagar laid out below with the hills beyond. I’d time it for late afternoon; sunset from up here is the one most people remember.
- Area: Northern Gardens & Sajjangarh
- Entry Fee: ₹60 palace + around ₹80 sanctuary (~$1.70) for Indian visitors
- Opening Timings: Sanctuary gate from 8 am; palace roughly 9 am–5:30 pm
- How to Get There: About 10–12 km southwest on a winding hill road; taxi, or a sanctuary vehicle from the gate
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
Jag Mandir
Jag Mandir is the southern of Lake Pichola’s two island palaces, a three-storied structure of marble and yellow sandstone completed in the 17th century by the Mewar rulers. Known as the Lake Garden Palace, its entrance is guarded by a row of eight life-sized marble elephants, and its courtyards are planted with gardens and bougainvillea. Legend holds that the exiled Mughal prince Khurram — later the emperor Shah Jahan — sheltered here, and drew inspiration from it.
Reachable only by boat, the island makes a natural stop on a Pichola cruise, with a café and terrace looking straight back at the City Palace across the water. It is a calm, self-contained spot away from the crowds of the shore.
- Area: Lake Pichola & the Ghats
- Entry Fee: Reached by boat from ₹400 (~$5); some cruises include the island stop
- Opening Timings: Roughly 10 am–6 pm, by boat
- How to Get There: On an island in Lake Pichola; boat from Rameshwar Ghat or Lal Ghat
- Duration: 1 hour
Saheliyon ki Bari
Saheliyon ki Bari, the “Garden of the Maidens,” was laid out in the early 18th century by Maharana Sangram Singh II for the royal women and the maids who came with a princess’s dowry. Set north of Lake Pichola, the garden is arranged around lotus pools, marble pavilions, and carved elephants, with fountains fed by gravity from the Fateh Sagar water system rather than pumps. A small museum sits at one end.
The fountains are the highlight — some are designed to mimic rainfall, a novelty from the era they were built. It is a quiet, shaded stop, best in the morning before the tour buses arrive, and takes under an hour to wander.
- Area: Northern Gardens & Sajjangarh
- Entry Fee: ₹10–20 (~$0.25)
- Opening Timings: 9 am–7 pm daily
- How to Get There: North of Lake Pichola on Saheliyon ki Bari Road; auto or taxi
- Duration: 45 minutes–1 hour
Gangaur & Ambrai Ghat
The ghats of Lake Pichola are among the most atmospheric places to visit in Udaipur, and where much of the city’s daily life plays out. Gangaur Ghat, near Jagdish Chowk on the old-city side, is named for the Gangaur festival whose processions end at the water here; across the lake, the quieter Ambrai (or Hanuman) Ghat sits on the west bank looking straight back at the City Palace and Jag Mandir. Both are marble-lined and open to all.
These are free, unticketed spots best saved for sunrise or sunset, when the light turns the palace and the water gold. Ambrai in particular is the classic sunset perch, with cafés along the bank and the whole waterfront skyline lined up across the lake.
- Area: Lake Pichola & the Ghats
- Entry Fee: Free
- Opening Timings: Open all day; best at sunrise and sunset
- How to Get There: Gangaur Ghat is by Jagdish Chowk; Ambrai/Hanuman Ghat is on the west bank, a short auto ride around the lake
- Duration: 30–45 minutes
Shilpgram
About 3 km west of the city near Fateh Sagar, Shilpgram is a rural arts and crafts complex spread over 70 acres against the Aravalli hills. Conceived as a living museum, it recreates traditional huts and dwellings from across western India — Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa, and Maharashtra — and hosts folk artisans, potters, dancers, and musicians on site. It is best known for the Shilpgram festival held over ten days each December.
Outside festival time it is a low-key stop, good for watching craftspeople at work and buying handicrafts directly from them. During the December fair, though, it becomes one of the liveliest cultural events in the region, packed with performances and stalls.
- Area: Northern Gardens & Sajjangarh
- Entry Fee: ₹30–50 (~$0.50)
- Opening Timings: 11 am–7 pm daily
- How to Get There: About 3 km west of the centre, near Fateh Sagar; auto or taxi
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Roughly 85 km north of Udaipur, Kumbhalgarh is a 15th-century hill fort built by Rana Kumbha and one of the most rewarding day trips from the city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, it is famous for its perimeter wall — running some 36 km, it is often called the second-longest continuous wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. The fort was also the birthplace of Maharana Pratap.
Inside the walls are palaces, temples, and step-wells, and the ramparts give enormous views over the Aravalli ranges. When I made the drive out, the scale of the wall snaking across the hills was the thing that stayed with me — worth the two-hour trip, ideally paired with the Ranakpur Jain temple nearby.
- Area: Outside Udaipur (Day Trip)
- Entry Fee: ₹40 (~$0.50) for Indian visitors
- Opening Timings: 9 am–6 pm daily; light-and-sound show in the evening
- How to Get There: About 85 km north of Udaipur (roughly 2 hours); by hired car, often combined with Ranakpur
- Duration: Half to full day
Vintage Car Museum
The Vintage and Classic Car Collection, near Lake Palace Road, holds the private fleet of the Mewar royal family — a line-up of Rolls-Royces, Cadillacs, and other classic cars from the first half of the 20th century. Among them is the Cadillac convertible used in the James Bond film Octopussy, which was shot across Udaipur in 1983. The cars are kept in the old state garage, with period fuel pumps still in place.
It is a compact, quick stop that appeals well beyond car enthusiasts, giving a glimpse of how the Maharanas travelled in their prime. Many of the vehicles are still road-worthy and occasionally used for weddings and events.
- Area: Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk)
- Entry Fee: ₹350 (~$4.20)
- Opening Timings: 9 am–9 pm daily
- How to Get There: On Garden Hotel / Lake Palace Road, about 1.5 km from the City Palace; auto or taxi
- Duration: 45 minutes
Things to Do in Udaipur
| Activity | Experiences | Area | Price Range | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset Boat Ride on Lake Pichola | Most Iconic, Sunset / Sunrise, Solo / Social | Lake Pichola & the Ghats | ₹400–₹800 (~$5–$10) | 30–60 min |
| Dharohar Folk Dance Show | Cultural, Kid-Friendly | Lake Pichola & the Ghats | ₹150–₹250 (~$2–$3) | 1 hr |
| Old City Heritage Walking Tour | Cultural, Under-the-Radar | Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk) | ₹500–₹2,000 (~$6–$24) | 2–3 hrs |
| Miniature Painting Workshop | Cultural, Rainy Day / Indoor, Under-the-Radar | Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk) | ₹800–₹2,500 (~$10–$30) | 2–3 hrs |
| Rajasthani Cooking Class | Food, Cultural | Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk) | ₹1,500–₹3,000 (~$18–$36) | 3–4 hrs |
| Shopping in the Bazaars | Shopping, Cultural | Old City (City Palace & Jagdish Chowk) | Free entry | 1–2 hrs |
Sunset Boat Ride on Lake Pichola
A sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola is the most iconic thing to do in Udaipur, and the best single way to take in the city’s waterfront. Boats set off from Rameshwar Ghat, inside the City Palace complex, and from Lal Ghat, gliding past the City Palace walls, the Lake Palace hotel, and the ghats before pulling in at the island of Jag Mandir. The half-hour to hour-long loop is timed so the palaces catch the low evening light.
The sunset slot is the one to book, and worth the higher fare — the City Palace lighting up as the sky fades is the view the whole city is built around. When I took the ride, the boatman cut the engine mid-lake for a minute of stillness, and that was the moment that stuck. Rides can be booked via GetYourGuide.
- Experiences: Most Iconic, Sunset / Sunrise, Solo / Social
- Price Range: ₹400–₹800 (~$5–$10) depending on the slot and boat
- Duration: 30–60 minutes
- Book via: GetYourGuide
Dharohar Folk Dance Show
Each evening, the courtyard of Bagore ki Haveli at Gangaur Ghat hosts the Dharohar show, the best-regarded folk performance in Udaipur. Over about an hour, it runs through Rajasthan’s traditional dances — the whirling Ghoomar, the balancing Bhavai with pots stacked on the dancer’s head, and a fire dance — alongside puppetry and live folk music. It is staged in the open air against the haveli’s carved walls.
Tickets are inexpensive and seats fill quickly, so it is worth arriving early, both to get a good spot and to see the museum before the show. It makes an easy, family-friendly evening after a day of sightseeing. Tickets can be booked via GetYourGuide or at the haveli.
- Experiences: Cultural, Kid-Friendly
- Price Range: ₹150–₹250 (~$2–$3) per person
- Duration: About 1 hour
- Book via: GetYourGuide or directly at Bagore ki Haveli
Old City Heritage Walking Tour
A guided walk through the old city is one of the best ways to get under the skin of Udaipur beyond its headline monuments. Typical routes start near the colonial-era Clock Tower and thread through the bazaars, past Jagdish Temple and the City Palace walls, down to the ghats at Gangaur and Lal Ghat. Along the way a guide fills in the layers of Mewar history, temple lore, and everyday life that are easy to miss on your own.
The lanes are too narrow and tangled for a vehicle, so walking is the only way to see them properly. Morning tours are cooler and quieter, and end at the lakeside as the day gets going. Guided old-city walks can be booked via GetYourGuide.
- Experiences: Cultural, Under-the-Radar
- Price Range: ₹500–₹2,000 (~$6–$24) depending on the tour
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Book via: GetYourGuide
Miniature Painting Workshop
Udaipur is the heart of the Mewar school of miniature painting, and a hands-on workshop is one of the more distinctive things to do in the city. At studios such as Ashoka Arts, master painters walk you through the Mughal-Rajasthani technique — grinding pigments, working with brushes made from a few squirrel hairs, and building up the fine detail — before you complete a small painting of your own to take home. The tradition here goes back centuries.
It is an indoor, unhurried session that works well on a hot afternoon or between sights, and needs no prior skill. Watching the artists’ precision up close is half the appeal. Workshops can be booked via GetYourGuide.
- Experiences: Cultural, Rainy Day / Indoor, Under-the-Radar
- Price Range: ₹800–₹2,500 (~$10–$30) depending on session length
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Book via: GetYourGuide
Rajasthani Cooking Class
A Rajasthani cooking class is a good way to get to know Mewar cuisine beyond the restaurant menu. Classes, often run in family homes, teach the staples of the region — dal-baati-churma, the fiery mutton laal maas, gatte ki sabzi, and Rajasthani breads — with an explanation of the spices and techniques behind each. Most end with sitting down to eat everything you have made.
It suits travellers who want a slower, more local half-day, and the recipes are simple enough to recreate at home. Sessions often include a market visit for ingredients first. Cooking classes can be booked via GetYourGuide.
- Experiences: Food, Cultural
- Price Range: ₹1,500–₹3,000 (~$18–$36) per person
- Duration: 3–4 hours
- Book via: GetYourGuide
Shopping in the Bazaars
Udaipur’s old-city bazaars are among the best in Rajasthan for handicrafts, and browsing them is a pastime in itself. Hathi Pol Bazaar is the place for Pichwai and miniature paintings, textiles, and handmade souvenirs; Bada Bazaar, near the Clock Tower, is known for silver jewellery and leather; and the surrounding lanes spill over with puppets, juttis, and Rajasthani fabrics. Much of it is made in and around the city.
Prices at the stalls leave room for polite bargaining, especially on textiles and souvenirs. It is an easy hour or two on foot, and a better place to buy than the shops clustered right by the main sights. Aim for late afternoon, when the bazaars are busiest and coolest.
- Experiences: Shopping, Cultural
- Price Range: Free to browse; spending varies
- Duration: 1–2 hours
- Book via: No booking needed — explore on foot
Few Indian cities reward a slow pace like Udaipur, where the palaces, ghats, and gardens are stitched together by the lakes at their centre. From the tiers of the City Palace and a sunset drift across Lake Pichola to the huge wall at Kumbhalgarh out in the hills, the best places to visit in Udaipur reward travellers who linger over the light rather than race between sights. Give it two or three days, base yourself near the ghats of the old city, and let the City of Lakes set the pace. For where to stay on a budget, our Best Hostels in Udaipur guide is a useful next read.
FAQ
How many days do you need to see the main places to visit in Udaipur?
Two to three days is ideal. One day covers the City Palace, Lake Pichola, and the old-city temples and ghats; a second adds Fateh Sagar, Sajjangarh, and the gardens; and a third opens up a Kumbhalgarh or Ranakpur day trip.
Is the Lake Pichola boat ride worth it, and which slot is best?
Yes — it’s the signature Udaipur experience, and the sunset slot (roughly 4 to 5 pm depending on season) is the one to book. It passes the City Palace and Lake Palace and stops at Jag Mandir island; buy tickets early in peak season.
What’s the best area to base yourself in Udaipur?
The old city around Lal Ghat and Gangaur Ghat, on the east bank of Lake Pichola, puts you within walking distance of the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, and the ghats. The quieter Hanuman/Ambrai Ghat side, across the water, offers the best palace views.
When is the best time to visit Udaipur?
October to March, when days are warm and pleasant and evenings cool — ideal for sightseeing and boat rides. April to June is very hot; the monsoon (July–September) fills the lakes and greens the hills but brings humidity and some rain.