About a year ago, I visited Udaipur and was totally mesmerized with its royalty and beautiful lakes. My office had arranged the annual offsite and we all decided to visit Udaipur. Little did I know I will totally fall in love with this city. Not to lie, we were planning other destinations before we chose Udaipur, but I will have to say that I am glad I got to explore this beautiful city.
I would love to visit this place again, because you can never explore a place on your very first time. So, based on my personal experience, here is a list of places I visited. Also have covered other important points like how to reach Udaipur, how to commute within the city, where to stay, places to eat and where to shop.
So lets get started!!
Best places to visit in Udaipur
1. The City Palace of Udaipur
The stunning City palace of Udaipur is located on the banks of Lake Pichola and is one of the largest palace complexes in Rajasthan. It is also coined as one of the best architectural marvels of Rajasthan. The palace is an outstanding example of the Marwar culture with marble walls, colourful tinted glasses, balconies, beautiful arches and windows. I would highly recommend you hire a guide at this place. They can show you the place around and shall take you on a wonderful trip down the pages of history. Apart from this the palace also houses a museum and hanging gardens.
Timings – 9:30 AM – 5:30PM
Entry fee– INR 300 (Adults), INR 100 (Students and Children)
2. Badi Lake
This is one of the most offbeat location in Udaipur not very popular among tourists. Even when you run a google search this place will not come up among the top 10 places to visit in Udaipur. But trust me this place is beautiful and should be a part of everyone’s itinerary. Situated a little on the outskirts of the city, Badi Lake is an artificial freshwater lake situated in Udaipur. This place got its popularity after being featured in the famous Bollywood movie ‘Yei Jawaani Hai Deewani’. Its’ an ideal picnic spot. One can take a short trek to Bahubali Peak from where you get a spectacular view of the lake. However, I would suggest you wear full length clothes as the trek has a lot of thorny bushes (Just a heads-up!!). This is an untouched and tranquil place; I would request you to kindly maintain the sanctity of the location.
Fun fact – the drive to this place is amazing!!
Entry fee – ** Free ** (You will have to pay for parking though)
3. Sajjangarh Palace (“Monsoon Palace”)
Popularly known as the Monsoon Palace, it is located atop a hill. You can get magnificent view of the city, lake Pichola and lake Fatehsagar. Just like Badi lake the drive to this place is very scenic. The palace was originally intended to be an astronomical tower to assess the arrival and patterns of monsoons. However, after the death of Maharana Sajjan Singh, his successor Maharana Fateh Singh transformed it into a place of recreation. You can check out an outstanding sunset from this place.
Timings – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entry fee – INR 150 from entry gate to the fort.
4. Boat rides at Lake Pichola
The one thing I would highly suggest you all is taking a boat ride at Lake Pichola. It’s an experience, you would not like to miss! During evenings, it seems as if the entire place has been painted in gold and all the heritage buildings light up. The enthralling views can take you to a different world. You can also spot ducks swimming in the lake.
I would not suggest buying the tickets of the boat ride from the city palace but from places near the lake as you might get a better and cheaper deal. The charges for sunset cruise are higher.
Boating price – INR 400 to INR 700.
5. The Udaipur “Chowpatty”
This is one place which you can hardly find if you google “places to visit in Udaipur”. I am glad to introduce you all to this place! This is an offbeat place located on the banks of Lake Fatehsagar. This place will remind you of the Marine Drive in Mumbai and is mostly lively during the night. You can find a series of stalls along the side and can enjoy various delicacies like chaats, chai and kulfi. This should be on your list if you want to see a different side of Udaipur.
Entry – **Free**
6. Ambrai Ghat and Lunch at Ambrai Restaurant
Ambrai ghat in Udaipur should also be on your itinerary. The banks are beautiful, and you get a view of Jag Mandir Palace and The City Palace, Udaipur. One can enjoy a lovely meal at the Ambrai Restaurant with the view of the lake and the surrounding palaces.
Pro tip – This place is really popular amongst tourist and getting a booking can be difficult. During the peak season and weekends, Ambrai is full and getting a table at the perfect spot won’t be easy.
Cost for two – INR 1500 to INR 2000
7. A taste of Luxury – The Oberoi Udaivilas Palace Hotel
Now this is one of the places which you do not have to necessarily visit, but my trip could not have been completed without visiting this place. To get a taste of the royalty Udaipur has to offer, one should definitely visit this place. It spells luxury the moment you step in. The hotel is beautiful with grand architecture and interiors. You can enjoy the view of the lake from here and have a stroll in the garden, or just casually chill at the garden.
Entry fee – **Free**
Other places you can explore (I totally would, on my next trip!)
As my trip was short, I could only explore the above options listed. However, Udaipur has so much more to offer. The following are the places I would highly check out the next time I visit Udaipur –
- Jag Mandir Palace
- Saheliyon ki Badi
- Bagore ki Haveli (You must visit this place!!)
- Vintage Car Musuem
- Karni Mata Temple
- Evening walks to Gangaur Ghat
I honestly wanted to visit Bagore Ki Haveli so badly, but we could not get the tickets for the popular Dharohar Dance Show held every evening which showcases the culture and folk tradition of Rajasthan. So, I would suggest you get the entry tickets on the very first day of your visit. There are limited number of seats and limited shows.
Restaurants and Cafes in Udaipur
Personally, for me no trip is complete without some lip-smacking food. Udaipur has some great places to eat when it comes to food. From small budget eateries to high end restaurants you have it all. Some of my favorite places to eat at Udaipur are –
1. Khamma Ghani Restaurant – To enjoy some authentic Rajasthani food, you should definitely visit this place. The place is surrounded by a small lake and offers amazing food. They have really good vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian options. Cost for two – INR 1000.
2. Ambrai, Amet Haveli – This Restaurant has some amazing food to offer along with a stunning lake view. For all you non vegetarian folks around this place offers amazing laal maas. Also, the vegetarian options are great. Cost for two – INR 1700.
3. Jheels Ginger Coffee Bar and Bakery – This place has my heart. On my next visit to Udaipur, I would definitely visit this place. Their menu consists of an amazing range of Pizza’s and Pasta’s (Not to forget, everything is so affordable!!!). Cost for two – INR 600
4. Upre by 1559 AD – If you want to enjoy a romantic dinner for two, this is the place for you. Enjoy a nice red wine and the amazing night view of the Udaipur city. This place is one of the fancy places of Udaipur and you will have to shell out more than normal! Cost for two – INR 2000
5. Street delicacies – You can find various street vendors selling amazing chaat, kachoris and chai. You should definitely try them out. My bet would be to either Lake Fatehsagar or Lake Pichola
6. Hari Vedas, Celebration mall – I know, I know! Going to the mall for eating. But guys here’s the deal, this place is purely vegetarian. So, for all my Vegetarian people, who will find an elaborate and delicious menu here. Mind you this place is expensive, but the food is totally worth it. Cost for two – INR 1800
Places to shop in Udaipur
The shopping streets of Udaipur are filled with some amazing gems. One should definitely take some time out and explore the various shopping options offered by Udaipur. I would highly recommend you buy silver jewelry as they have some exquisite designs to offer. You can also buy colorful kurtas and mojaris. Hathipole Market, Bada Bazaar and Ashwini Market should be on your list.
How to reach Udaipur
Udaipur is well connected by trains, buses and flights.
Bus and Train – As the distance between Delhi and Udaipur is approximately 663 kilometers, I would suggest taking an overnight train. There are AC trains available and you can travel comfortably. However, you will have to get your tickets booked way in advance and make sure they are confirmed (me with my friends reached Udaipur in the most hilarious manner, but that story is for some other time). One can also take buses directly from Delhi or from any city in Rajasthan. Both these options would involve a few hours of journey.
Flights – Udaipur has an airport with direct flights from Delhi, Jaipur and many other cities in India. In case you wish to save some time on travelling you can definitely take a flight. The prices aren’t that high but can definitely increase your budget.
Getting around in Udaipur
Udaipur is well connected in terms of commuting. One can easily book an Ola or Uber and travel around the city. The cabs are reasonable and will not burn a hole in your pocket. One can take a “rickshaw” ride in Udaipur too. Personally, they were my favorite! You can also walk around the city as most of the places are near to each other. The roads and lanes in Udaipur are narrow and busy, I would recommend you walk and get around the city.
Accommodation
Starting from Hostels to Mid-Range Hotels to the very luxurious, Udaipur has it all.
Hostels – If you are a solo traveler or tight on a budget, Udaipur has a lot of hostel options to offer like Zostel Udaipur, Musafir Hostels, Bunkyard and many more. The hostels charge somewhere around INR 300 to INR 700 for a night in Udaipur.
Budget Hotels – Udaipur has a lot of budget hotels to offer. I stayed at Hotel Ramada, Resort and Spa which is an outstanding property. The cost per night may range anywhere between INR 4000 to INR 7000. If your budget allows you, you can definitely enjoy the authentic Marwari culture.
How much budget is required to travel to Udaipur?
Hostels can charge around INR 400 to INR 700 for a night in Udaipur. One meal at any budget hotel/restaurant will cost a minimum of INR 300. So, if you plan to stay in budget hotels/hostels, eat locally, a 3 nights trip may cost you INR 5000 to INR 6000.
Best time to visit Udaipur
September to March will be the best time to visit Udaipur. Though March can get a little hot, but it is manageable if you plan your stay during the first half of the month.
Pro tip – Avoid visiting Udaipur during the months of April to June as it gets really hot and uncomfortable.
How many days are required to explore Udaipur?
You will need around 3-4 days to explore the beauty this city has to offer. If you are short on time, you should definitely book a minimum stay of two days to cover all the places I mentioned above.
So that’s my ultimate guide for a short trip to Udaipur!
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If you have any specific queries, put them in the comments section. Will get back to you soon.
Love,
Rituparna
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