Famous as the "Venice of the East", #Udaipur is one of the enchanting cities cradled deep in the western spreads of Rajasthan. Moreover, the city of lakes has everything from serene lakes and magnificent architecture to delicious cuisine and vibrant shopping centers.
It might also not be wrong to say that Udaipur is one of Rajasthan's most breathtaking cities and the finest destination in India to marvel at the ancient era's stately architecture. Besides, it is exceptionally seamless to reach Udaipur, given its accessibility, and you can readily reach here via booking a Udaipur car rental for a comfortable commute.
Udaipur is famous for it's rich history and royal palaces. There are plenty of lakes and historical monuments in Udaipur. Dotted with palaces and havelis, Udaipur's major attractions include the Lake Palace, City Palace, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple and Monsoon Palace. Early morning visit Jagdish Temple. From world-renowned luxurious experiences to the hustle-bustle of the small city life, Udaipur will move you with its exotic charm.There is so much to do in Udaipur - by boat on a calm lake, you can experience peace and take with you honeymoon memories that you will never forget, looking at the living picture of history. Choose a luxurious palace as a backdrop and do post-wedding photography. Take a sunset boat cruise on Lake Pichola and enjoy the glittering paths at sunset.
Udaipur is a royal city. Every hotel and monument of Udaipur will remind you royal living style. If luxury is not what you are looking for, you can still have a good time by exploring the natural landscape on foot, gorge on the local delicacies and shop your heart out in the city markets. You can then head from Udaipur to Chittorgarh fort.
There is no need to say that most of the lavish weddings, parties, exquisite ceremonies take place in Udaipur. The city gives a glimpse of romance and royal charms that one cannot resist. In winter season the beauty of the city reaches the next level, this is the reason why the city got the name as the Venice of East.
With a vibrant history that goes more than a thousand years deep, Udaipur is predominantly famous for its palaces, lakes, forts, and gardens.
Here are some well-known sightseeing attractions you can witness on your Udaipur trip.
1. Lake Palace
The spectacular Lake Palace will delight you with its magnificence and picturesque establishment on the 4-km long, artificial Lake Pichola. Furthermore, this majestic palace is now run by the Taj Group and presents enchanting vistas of the Aravalli Hills. It might also not be wrong to say that it is one of the most romantic places in Rajasthan, and the heritage walks here will always delight your senses!
Maharaja Jagat Singh II constructed this impressive palace that fascinates sightseers with its sculpted architectural beauty. Also, while here, you can spend your time boating on the tranquil Lake Pichola, from Rameshwar Ghat to the majestic City Palace.
Visit Timings: 09:00 am to 06:00 pm (Daily)
Entry Charge: Nil
Boat Ride Charge: INR 400 per head for Grown-ups and INR 200 per head for kids
2. Saheliyon Ki Bari
Saheliyon Ki Bari is another prominent sightseeing location in Udaipur, built by Maharana Sangram Singh in the early 18th century. This awe-inspiring construction catered to the housemaids who would proceed with the Princess of Udaipur to her spouse’s hearth (portion of the dowry offered by the Maharana). This location had adorable women singing, dancing, and making merry, and the captivating marble elephants, a lotus pool, fountains, and booths with ample testimony to the glorious ancient era.
Visit Timings: 9:00 am – 07:00 pm (Daily)
Entry Charge: INR 5 per person
3. Fateh Sagar Lake
This gorgeous artificial lake with impressive blue-hued waters against the background of verdant hills has earned Udaipur its title of “The Second Kashmir”. Remarkably expansive and pristine, the Fateh Sagar Lake is a wonderful place to visit in Udaipur, primarily for its four islands that are a delight to glimpse. Reachable only by boat, the islands of the Fateh Sagar Lake accommodate a solar observatory and public parks that are a sight to behold.
Visit Timings: 8:00 am to 06:00 pm
Entry Charge: None
Boat Ride Charge: INR 30 per head for Simple Boat Ride, INR 100 – INR 200 per head for Motor Boat Ride and INR 200 – INR 400 per head for Speed Boat Ride
4. Jagdish Temple
The majestic Jagdish Temple owes its design to Maharana Jagat Singh. Also, the black stone statue of Vishnu in this temple will delight you, and so will the brass Garuda picture facing it. Many other sanctums are devoted to Ganesha, Sun God, Shiva, and Goddess Shakti.
Visit Timings: 05:00 am – 02:30 pm and 04:00 pm to 10:00 pm (Daily)
Entry Charge: Nil
5. Dudh Talai
A small and pretty lake near Lake Pichola. A little hill beside it. And a manicured garden on it. Add to it a sunset point and you’ve got the perfect day picnic. That’s Dudh Talai. There’s a ropeway that connects the garden to Karni Mata Mandir.
6. Bagore Ki Haveli
There are many things to do in Udaipur, even though it is a much quieter and more comfortable city than the other cities of Rajasthan. And one of them is the Bagore Ki Haveli show.
Bagore Ki Haveli has numerous rooms with interesting glass works, such as the detail of two peacocks made of small pieces of colored glass. Also noteworthy are the Mewar-style paintings that can be seen in the Queen's room. This Haveli has more than a hundred rooms, in addition to numerous corridors, balconies, patios and terraces.
You can see the private rooms of the royal ladies, their bathrooms, their dressing rooms or their living rooms. There is an exhibition of personal objects such as jewelry boxes, games, a variety of turbans, fans, or weapons used by the royal family along with their descriptions, among other things.
The schedule of the Bagore Ki Haveli in Udaipur is from 9.30 to 17.30, and the price of the entrance ticket to the Haveli is 100 rupees per person. The show that takes place every day at 7 pm. The first thing is to buy tickets, which is 150 rupees per person . Also, if you plan to use the camera or video, or you are going to take many photos with your mobile, you have to pay an additional 150 rupees.
The show is very entertaining and there is a bit of everything with music, traditional dances, puppet shows. This show is known as Dharohar Folk Dance and lasts about an hour. The game of lights, music and dance within this incomparable setting takes you back to other times, the time when the royal family lived here.
7. Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace
It’s no surprise that this beautiful palace situated on a hilltop was used as a location in the James Bond movie Octopussy. The Monsoon Palace offers stunning views of the valley below, of Fateh Sagar Lake, and of the sun setting on Udaipur. The sunset here is nothing less than animation. The road to the palace passes the Sajjangarh wildlife reserve, where if you are lucky you might spot a few tigers, sambhar, wild boars, and a few varieties of rare birds.
8. Shilpgram
Your next destination should be Shilp Gram to explore village life and culture of Rajasthan. A hour or so is enough to see this beautiful place. The Shilpgram Crafts Fair in November is a nice fair where you can buy local art.
9. Saheliyon-ki-Bari
Around lunch time you can visit Saheliyon-ki-Bari and after visiting this place you can have meal in nearby restaurants. There are many restaurants in nearby areas.
10. Hathipol Road
Love handicrafts and local bazaars? We tell you why a visit to Hathipole market in Udaipur is a must. Though all over Rajasthan, one finds alluring handicrafts, shopping in Udaipur is fun as it teams up with visiting scenic spots that dot the city. The market is located near City Palace and offers exquisite handicrafts made with metals, marble and wood, traditional wooden furniture and bright fabrics.
Don't forget to go on a shopping spree at the local markets for bangles, mojris and Bandhani dress materials and sample elaborate traditional Rajasthani thali. You can enjoy Marwari sweet delights and collect ethnic Rajasthani souvenirs. Kanji vada is a festival snack, generally prepared during Holi. The vada is traditionally made with ground moong dal as its main ingredient.
Mesmerized much? We bet you are! So if you live in and around Jaipur or Jodhpur and looking for a perfect weekend getaway destination, take a Jodhpur to Udaipur Cab and get going.