Udaipur, India travel guide

Rajasthan's 'City of Lakes': palaces mirrored on still water, narrow old-town lanes and the most romantic skyline in India.

Best time to visit: October-March (cooler, dry)
Average daily budget: $30 to $70 USD
Ideal trip length: 2 to 3 days

Udaipur is the postcard of royal Rajasthan, a city of whitewashed palaces and havelis reflected in a chain of man-made lakes, ringed by the Aravalli hills. Smaller and gentler than Jaipur or Jodhpur, it invites slow days of rooftop chai, boat rides and lane-wandering between temples and craft shops. Joy Plus turns the warren of the old city into a clear route that catches the City Palace, the lakeside ghats and the best sunset spots.

Udaipur itinerary

Day 1, Get oriented

Morning: City Palace complex. Rajasthan's largest palace, a maze of courtyards, museums and lake-view balconies.

Afternoon: Explore Old City (around Jagdish Temple), The atmospheric heart: lanes of guesthouses, rooftop cafés and craft shops.

Evening: Sunset from a rooftop or Monsoon Palace. Watch the city and lakes glow from a café terrace or the hilltop Sajjangarh.

Day 2, Go deeper

Morning: Boat ride on Lake Pichola. Glide past the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir at golden hour.

Afternoon: Explore Lake Pichola waterfront, Ghats, palace hotels and the boat jetty, with the best lake views.

Evening: Jagdish Temple and old-city lanes. A grand Indo-Aryan temple and the buzzing bazaars around it.

Day 3, Hidden side

Morning: Bagore Ki Haveli's evening Dharohar folk dance show by the lake.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Hanuman Ghat, Quieter west bank with boutique stays and sunset-facing rooftops.

Evening: The vintage car collection at the City Palace's Garden Hotel.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Best neighbourhoods

Old City (around Jagdish Temple): The atmospheric heart: lanes of guesthouses, rooftop cafés and craft shops.
Lake Pichola waterfront: Ghats, palace hotels and the boat jetty, with the best lake views.
Hanuman Ghat: Quieter west bank with boutique stays and sunset-facing rooftops.
Fateh Sagar Lake: A calmer lake north of the centre, popular for evening strolls and cafés.

Must-do experiences

City Palace complex: Rajasthan's largest palace, a maze of courtyards, museums and lake-view balconies.
Boat ride on Lake Pichola: Glide past the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir at golden hour.
Jagdish Temple and old-city lanes: A grand Indo-Aryan temple and the buzzing bazaars around it.
Sunset from a rooftop or Monsoon Palace: Watch the city and lakes glow from a café terrace or the hilltop Sajjangarh.

Hidden gems

Bagore Ki Haveli's evening Dharohar folk dance show by the lake.
The vintage car collection at the City Palace's Garden Hotel.
Ahar cenotaphs, the royal memorials just outside town.
A miniature-painting lesson with an old-city artist.

Daily budget

$30 to $70 USD per day.

What to eat

Dal baati churma, the Rajasthani lentil-and-baked-wheat classic
Gatte ki sabzi, gram-flour dumplings in spiced yoghurt gravy
Pyaaz kachori, a flaky onion-stuffed snack
Rooftop thalis with a Lake Pichola view

Getting around

The old city is best explored on foot, as its lanes are too narrow for cars and the distances are short. Auto-rickshaws and app-based cabs (Uber/Ola) handle longer hops to Fateh Sagar or the Monsoon Palace; agree the auto fare first. Boats cross Lake Pichola from the City Palace jetty.

Safety

Udaipur is one of the calmer, more relaxed cities in Rajasthan and feels comfortable for travellers, including solo women, with standard precautions. The main annoyances are persistent shop touts and overcharging rickshaws rather than crime. Dress modestly at temples, agree fares in advance, drink bottled or filtered water, and take care on uneven old-city steps after dark.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Udaipur?

Two to three days covers the City Palace, a Lake Pichola boat ride, Jagdish Temple and the old-city lanes, with time for a sunset at the Monsoon Palace and Fateh Sagar Lake.

Is Udaipur safe for solo travellers?

Yes. It's one of Rajasthan's calmer, more relaxed cities and feels comfortable for solo travellers, including women, with standard precautions. The main issue is pushy touts rather than crime.

When is the best time to visit Udaipur?

October to March, when it's cooler and dry, is ideal. April to June is intensely hot, while the July-September monsoon fills the lakes and turns the hills green but brings humidity and rain.

Is Udaipur worth visiting?

Yes. Often called the most romantic city in India, Udaipur offers lakeside palaces, atmospheric old-city lanes, great rooftop dining and stunning sunsets, all in a smaller, gentler package than Jaipur or Jodhpur.

Can you visit the Lake Palace in Udaipur?

The Lake Palace is now a luxury hotel, so it's only accessible to guests or those with a restaurant reservation. You can admire and photograph it up close on a Lake Pichola boat ride.

Is Udaipur expensive to visit?

No, it's affordable. Budget travellers manage on around $30 to $45 a day with cheap guesthouses, inexpensive thalis and low-cost transport. Lakeside palace hotels are the splurge option.

How do I get to Udaipur?

Udaipur has a domestic airport (about 30 to 45 minutes from the centre) with flights from Delhi and Mumbai. It's also connected by overnight trains and buses from other Rajasthan cities and Delhi.

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