Udaipur, the “City of Lakes,” is the most romantic city in Rajasthan: a cluster of white palaces, temples and havelis rising from the shores of Lake Pichola, ringed by the green hills of the Aravalli range in the south of the state. Founded in the 16th century by Maharana Udai Singh II as the new capital of the Mewar kingdom, whose rulers were famous for resisting the Mughals, it is dominated by the enormous City Palace, still partly occupied by the former royal family, and by two island palaces in the lake, one of them now a celebrated hotel. Udaipur is smaller, calmer and greener than Jaipur, with about 450,000 people, and is a place to slow down: take a boat at sunset, watch folk dancers in an old mansion, eat on rooftop terraces overlooking the water, and make day trips to the hill fort of Kumbhalgarh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the marble Jain temples of Ranakpur. The best months are October to March; the lakes are fullest after the monsoon, which lasts from July to September.
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Udaipur at a glance
- Best for: palaces and lake views, sunset boat rides, Rajput art and crafts, romantic hotels, and day trips to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur.
- How long: 2 to 3 days for the city; 4 with Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur or Chittorgarh.
- Best time: October to March; September and October, after the monsoon, usually have the fullest lakes.
- Getting there: Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) at Dabok, about 22 km (14 miles) east, with domestic flights; trains from Jaipur, Delhi and Mumbai.
- Getting around: on foot in the old city, by auto-rickshaw or app cab elsewhere, and by boat on the lake.
- Good to know: Udaipur’s airport is not an e-Visa entry airport, so international visitors arrive in India through Delhi, Mumbai or another designated airport first.
- Before you go: the e-Visa, money, trains and general safety are in our India travel guide.
Udaipur’s areas and where to stay
The old city lies on the east shore of Lake Pichola, with the City Palace stretching along the water. Most visitors stay within walking distance of it.
Lal Ghat and the City Palace area
The lanes between the Jagdish Temple and Lal Ghat, just north of the City Palace, are the heart of tourist Udaipur, packed with guesthouses, rooftop restaurants, art shops and cafés, many with lake views. It is lively and convenient but can be noisy.
Gangaur Ghat and Chandpole
Around Gangaur Ghat and the Chandpole bridge, the old city becomes more residential, with heritage havelis converted into small hotels facing the water and the Bagore ki Haveli museum.
Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai
Across the lake’s narrow northern arm, the Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai area has guesthouses and restaurants with the best views back across the water to the City Palace, especially at sunset, and is a little quieter.
Fateh Sagar and the lakeside palaces
North of the old city, the area around Fateh Sagar Lake has modern hotels and a lakeside promenade, while luxury palace hotels sit on the lake shores and islands around the city.
Top things to see in Udaipur
City Palace
The City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, rises in granite and marble along the east bank of Lake Pichola, built and extended by successive Maharanas over nearly 400 years. Its museum winds through courtyards, balconies and towers decorated with mirror work, colored glass, mosaics of peacocks and miniature paintings, with views over the lake and the city from the upper terraces. According to Incredible India, the palace opens at 9:30 a.m. Part of the complex is still the residence of the Mewar royal family, and other wings house heritage hotels; entry tickets, sold by the palace’s trust, are priced separately for the museum, the gardens and the boat ride.
Lake Pichola and Jag Mandir
The artificial Lake Pichola, created in the 14th century and enlarged by Udai Singh, is the heart of the city. Boat rides from the City Palace jetty and other ghats circle the lake and stop at Jag Mandir, a 17th-century island palace of marble pavilions and gardens, where the Mughal prince Khurram, later the emperor Shah Jahan, took refuge. The Lake Palace, on Jag Niwas island, is a luxury hotel open only to guests. Sunset is the most popular time on the water. Lake levels depend on the monsoon: in dry years, boat routes can be shortened.
Jagdish Temple
A short climb from the City Palace, the Jagdish Temple, built in 1651 and dedicated to Vishnu, is the largest temple in Udaipur, its tall spire and walls covered with carved dancers, musicians and elephants. It is an active place of worship; dress modestly and remove your shoes.
Bagore ki Haveli
This 18th-century mansion on Gangaur Ghat, restored as a museum of Mewari life, hosts an evening performance of Rajasthani folk dance and puppetry in its courtyard, one of the best cultural shows in the state.
Saheliyon ki Bari
The “Garden of the Maidens,” built in the 18th century for the women of the royal court, has fountains, lotus pools, marble elephants and shaded lawns, a peaceful break north of the center.
Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)
The hilltop Monsoon Palace, built in the late 19th century to watch the monsoon clouds roll in, stands in a wildlife sanctuary 5 km (3 miles) west of the city and has the finest sunset view over the lakes and the Aravallis. Vehicles take visitors up the hill road from the sanctuary gate.
More classic sights
- Fateh Sagar Lake and Moti Magri: the city’s second lake, with a lakeside promenade, boat rides and a hilltop memorial to Maharana Pratap.
- Ambrai and Gangaur ghats: the most photogenic views of the City Palace across the water.
- Shilpgram: a crafts village with traditional houses from western India and a big crafts fair in December.
- Ahar cenotaphs: the royal cremation ground of the Mewar rulers, with dozens of domed chhatris.
- Vintage and Classic Car Museum: the royal collection of cars in the Garden Hotel.
Other things to do in Udaipur
Food and drink
Mewari cooking shares Rajasthan’s staples, such as dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi and ker sangri, and adds its own: laal maas and safed maas (mutton in a white, nutty gravy), makki ki raab (a spiced corn porridge) and sweet malpua. The old city’s rooftop restaurants serve Rajasthani thalis, North Indian and Western dishes with lake views, and many still screen the 1983 James Bond film that was partly shot in Udaipur. Drink bottled or filtered water.
Art, crafts and cooking
Udaipur is a center of miniature painting in the Mewar style, and workshops in the old city teach the technique and sell paintings on paper and silk. Look also for silver jewelry, leather-bound notebooks, block-printed textiles and wooden toys. Cooking classes in family homes are a popular way to learn Rajasthani dishes.
Festivals
Gangaur, in March or April, is celebrated with processions of women carrying idols of the goddess Gauri to Gangaur Ghat and a boat procession on Lake Pichola; the Mewar Festival coincides with it. Holi is marked with a bonfire ceremony at the City Palace, and the Shilpgram crafts fair runs for ten days in late December.
Walks and cycling
Early-morning walks along the ghats, a hike up to the Karni Mata ropeway viewpoint, and bicycle tours through the villages around the lakes are good ways to see the city before the heat. See our city sightseeing, boat trips and cycling guides.
Day trips from Udaipur
- Kumbhalgarh Fort: a vast 15th-century hill fort with walls that run for more than 30 km (19 miles) over the hills, about 85 km (53 miles) north; part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO site. On the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) booking site, foreigners pay ₹550 online.
- Ranakpur: a 15th-century Jain temple of white marble with more than 1,400 carved pillars, about 90 km (56 miles) north; usually combined with Kumbhalgarh. Dress codes are strict, and leather items are not allowed inside.
- Chittorgarh: one of India’s largest forts, steeped in Rajput legend, about 115 km (70 miles) northeast; also part of the UNESCO hill forts, with the same ₹550 online fee for foreigners.
- Eklingji and Nagda: a complex of 108 temples dedicated to Shiva and ancient ruined temples, about 22 km (14 miles) north.
- Jaisamand Lake: one of Asia’s largest artificial lakes, about 50 km (31 miles) southeast.
- Jaipur: about 6 to 7 hours by road or train. See our Jaipur travel guide.
Nearby destinations
- Jodhpur201 km
Getting there and getting around
By air
Maharana Pratap Airport (UDR) at Dabok, about 30 to 40 minutes by taxi from the old city, has domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru and other cities. It is not one of the designated e-Visa entry airports, so international visitors enter India elsewhere and connect.
By train
Udaipur City station, about 3 km (2 miles) southeast of the old city, has direct trains to Jaipur, Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, including the Vande Bharat Express to Jaipur in about 6 hours and overnight trains to Delhi.
By road
Udaipur is about 6 to 7 hours by road from Jaipur, 5 hours from Jodhpur via Ranakpur, and 4 hours from Ahmedabad. Many travelers on a Rajasthan circuit hire a car and driver, which also makes the day trips easy.
Around the city
The old city is compact and best explored on foot, though its hilly lanes are narrow and busy with motorbikes. Auto-rickshaws and app cabs reach the outlying sights; agree auto fares in advance. Boats leave from the City Palace jetty and other ghats for trips on Lake Pichola, and from the Fateh Sagar promenade.
When to go and how long to stay
Udaipur has a semi-arid climate, a little milder than the desert cities thanks to its altitude of about 600 m (1,970 ft) and its lakes. October to March is the best time to visit: warm, sunny days of 24 to 33 °C (76 to 92 °F) and cool nights, around 8 to 9 °C (46 to 48 °F) in December and January. April to June is hot, with highs near 40 °C (104 °F) in May. The monsoon, from July to September, brings heavy showers that refill the lakes and turn the hills green, a beautiful time for those who don’t mind the rain. The table shows 1991–2020 normals for the Dabok airport station, about 22 km (14 miles) east of the city, from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); rainy days are days with at least 2.5 mm of rain.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain (rainy days) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24 °C (76 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F) | 3 mm (0.1 in), under 1 day | Sunny days, cold nights |
| February | 28 °C (82 °F) / 10 °C (51 °F) | 1 mm, under 1 day | Pleasant and dry |
| March | 34 °C (92 °F) / 16 °C (60 °F) | 2 mm (0.1 in), under 1 day | Warm; Holi; Gangaur in some years |
| April | 38 °C (100 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F) | 8 mm (0.3 in), 1 day | Hot and dry |
| May | 40 °C (104 °F) / 26 °C (78 °F) | 11 mm (0.4 in), 1 day | Hottest month |
| June | 38 °C (100 °F) / 26 °C (80 °F) | 77 mm (3.0 in), 5 days | Hot; monsoon arrives late in the month |
| July | 32 °C (90 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F) | 236 mm (9.3 in), 10 days | Wettest month; green hills |
| August | 30 °C (87 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 205 mm (8.1 in), 10 days | Monsoon showers; lakes filling |
| September | 32 °C (90 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F) | 112 mm (4.4 in), 6 days | Rains ending; lakes at their fullest |
| October | 33 °C (92 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F) | 14 mm (0.5 in), 1 day | Warm and dry; season begins |
| November | 30 °C (86 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F) | 5 mm (0.2 in), under 1 day | Ideal; Diwali in some years |
| December | 26 °C (79 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F) | 1 mm, under 1 day | Cool nights; Shilpgram crafts fair |
The airport gets about 670 mm (27 in) of rain a year, more than 90% of it from June to September.
Two days in Udaipur
Day one: the City Palace in the morning, the Jagdish Temple, lunch on a rooftop, and a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola to Jag Mandir, followed by the folk dance show at Bagore ki Haveli. Day two: Saheliyon ki Bari and Fateh Sagar in the morning, a miniature-painting workshop or cooking class, and sunset at the Monsoon Palace.
Four days with the hill forts
Add a full day to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur, and another to Chittorgarh or Eklingji and Nagda.
Where to stay in Udaipur
- Lal Ghat: guesthouses and boutique hotels with rooftop lake views, in the busiest part of the old city.
- Gangaur Ghat and Chandpole: heritage havelis on the water, a little quieter.
- Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai: guesthouses with views back to the City Palace.
- Fateh Sagar: modern hotels near the promenade.
- Palace hotels: luxury stays in former royal palaces on the lake shores and islands.
Udaipur is a popular wedding destination; book early from October to February, when big weddings can fill entire hotels.
What a trip to Udaipur costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 96 rupees (₹) to the US dollar. Fort fees are the ASI’s online prices for foreigners.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| City Palace museum ticket | ₹400–800 (about US$4–8) |
| Sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola | ₹500–1,200 (about US$5–12.50) |
| Folk dance show at Bagore ki Haveli | ₹100–300 (about US$1–3) |
| Kumbhalgarh or Chittorgarh, foreigners | ₹550 online (about US$5.70) |
| Rajasthani thali on a rooftop | ₹400–1,000 (about US$4–10.40) |
| Car and driver for Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur | ₹3,500–5,500 (about US$36–57) |
| Mid-range lake-view hotel double, per night | ₹4,500–12,000 (about US$47–125) |
Practical tips for Udaipur
- Time your boat ride: sunset trips on Lake Pichola sell out in the high season, so book ahead at the jetty.
- Ask about lake levels: after a weak monsoon, some boat routes and views are reduced.
- Dress for temples: the Jagdish Temple and the Jain temples at Ranakpur require modest dress; Ranakpur bans leather.
- Start early for Kumbhalgarh: the fort walls are a long, hot walk by midday.
- Carry cash for small shops: though cards and UPI are common in hotels and restaurants.
Safety
Udaipur is one of the most relaxed and safest cities in Rajasthan. Water: the lakes are not for swimming, and boats should carry life jackets; the ghats’ steps can be slippery. Heat from April to June calls for early starts, hats and plenty of water, especially at the hill forts. Road safety: the winding roads to Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur are narrow, with trucks and livestock, so travel by day with an experienced driver. Food and water: choose busy restaurants and drink bottled or filtered water. Scams are mild compared with bigger cities, but beware commission shopping and “art school” sales pitches. Monkeys live around the Monsoon Palace and temples; keep food out of sight. Women travelers generally find Udaipur comfortable; dress modestly and use app cabs at night. In an emergency, call 112.
What to pack for Udaipur
Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees, a sun hat and sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes for hilly lanes and fort walls, a warm layer for winter evenings on the lake, and a rain jacket in the monsoon. India uses 230 V, with round-pin plugs of types C, D and M. See our travel adapters and rain jackets guides.
Udaipur travel FAQ
How many days do I need in Udaipur?
Two to three days for the City Palace, Lake Pichola, the temples and the evening folk show; four with day trips to Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur or Chittorgarh.
What is the best time to visit Udaipur?
October to March, for warm days and cool nights. September and October usually have the fullest lakes after the monsoon.
Can I visit the Lake Palace in Udaipur?
Only as a hotel guest or with a restaurant reservation. Everyone else can see it from a boat on Lake Pichola or from the ghats.
How do I get to Udaipur?
By domestic flight to Maharana Pratap Airport, by train from Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad or Mumbai, or by road on a Rajasthan circuit.
Can I fly into Udaipur on an e-Visa?
Not directly. Udaipur’s airport is not a designated e-Visa entry point, so you must first arrive in India at a designated airport, such as Delhi or Mumbai, and then connect.
Is Udaipur worth visiting?
Yes. It is one of India’s most beautiful cities, quieter than Jaipur, with palaces, lakes and excellent day trips.
Where should I stay in Udaipur?
Lal Ghat for the busy heart of the old city, Gangaur Ghat or Hanuman Ghat for quieter lake views, and palace hotels for a splurge.
What is the best sunset spot in Udaipur?
A boat on Lake Pichola, the Monsoon Palace on its hilltop, or Ambrai Ghat, with the City Palace across the water.
Can I do Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur in one day?
Yes. They are about an hour apart, and a full-day car trip from Udaipur covers both comfortably.
Is Udaipur safe for tourists?
Yes, it is one of Rajasthan’s most relaxed cities. Take care on boats, in the heat and on the mountain roads.
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. City Palace opening time and the list of Udaipur sights: Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism); Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh fees: the Archaeological Survey of India’s e-ticket booking site; the list of designated e-Visa airports (which does not include Udaipur): the Bureau of Immigration; climate normals for Udaipur’s Dabok airport station: the India Meteorological Department, via the World Meteorological Organization (1991–2020 normals archived by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information); population: Wikidata; the exchange rate: the Reserve Bank of India (FBIL reference rate). Rajasthan’s tourism website could not be reached, so City Palace, boat and show prices, history, festival dates, train times, distances and typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and hours change, so check locally before you go. For the e-Visa, money and trains, see our India travel guide.
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