Last Updated on: 26th December 2025, 09:09 pm
Founded in 1559 after the sacking of Chittorgarh by Mughal Emperor Akbar, Udaipur is one of Rajasthan’s – and India’s – most scenic cities. Centered around five artificial lakes, it’s become a major tourist destination for foreigners and Indians alike. But does it live up to the hype? By going through the top things to do in Udaipur, you can judge whether it’s worth adding to your Rajasthan itinerary.
Udaipur contains a mix of worthwhile attractions and overpriced tourist traps, but fortunately, some of the city’s top highlights can be enjoyed for free.
At the end of the article, you can also learn more about reaching Udaipur and where to stay in town.
Around Lake Pichola
The city of Udaipur is centered around five main lakes, all of them artificial. But the central and most important one is Lake Pichola, as it’s where the Mewar rulers built their City Palace upon moving their capital here.
Previously, however, it had been created in the 14th century by damming carried out by Banjara tribesmen.
There are plenty of things to do around Lake Pichola – both free and paid – most of which we’ll be covering below. But simply walking around the lake and enjoying the views will arguably be the highlight of your time here.
You can also see the lake from various rooftop restaurants around town.
Admittedly, I didn’t quite get the hype surrounding Udaipur at first. That’s partially because I first arrived during the crowded holiday season, while a thick fog covered the city for the first few days of my stay.
And given all the hype that surrounds the city, I was expecting a bit more in terms of attractions. And I was also put off by the terrible motorbike traffic that plagues the historical center.
While Udaipur does indeed have some good attractions, over time, I came to appreciate that simply walking around and taking in the views of Lake Pichola, its ghats, and historical architecture are what Udaipur is all about. With views like these, it’s no wonder many people call it their favorite place in Rajasthan.
So regardless of how long your stay is, be sure to set aside ample time to take things slow and explore the area on foot.
The City Palace
Udaipur’s most significant attraction is its City Palace, established in 1559 by Udai Singh II following the sacking of Chittorgarh Fort, the longtime Mewar Kingdom capital. And over the next four centuries, successive Mewar rulers would continually add to it.
At the time of writing, entrance cost Rs 450, and this seems to be a very rare place in India where residents and foreigners pay the same fee. Note that this ticket is specifically for the ‘City Palace Museum,’ and that’s all that we’ll be covering in this section.
Additional tickets are sold for the Crystal Gallery (Rs 500) and the Vintage Car Collection (Rs 400), while it’s also from here that you can purchase a boat excursion for Jagmandir Island (Rs 600).
If you want to see everything which the City Palace Museum ticket grants you access to, expect to spend at least a few hours here, if not half a day. The museum opens from 9:00, and it would be wise to arrive early to beat the crowds.
After entering through the elaborate Toran Pol, you’ll encounter exhibits detailing the history of the Mewar Kingdom along with a collection of Mewar artifacts and weaponry. And then comes the inner palace.
Some of the palace’s architectural highlights include the Krishna Vilas, home to numerous miniature paintings, the Sheesh Mahal, a hall of mirrors, and numerous open courtyards.
Having already been to the former Mewar capital of Chittorgarh, the contrast was striking in terms of architecture and overall atmosphere. While this palace was established after the kingdom’s heyday, it still holds up there with Rajasthan’s finest.
Another top highlight of the City Palace are the views it offers of the city and Lake Pichola below. Unfortunately, it was especially hazy during my visit, but as we’ll cover below, there are plenty of other places to enjoy vantage points of Udaipur.
A lot of visitors head straight out once finished with the palace’s main rooms. But there’s still another sizable museum portion to explore. Here you’ll find a collection of ancient Hindu sculptures and plenty more paintings from the Mewar era.
Jagdish Temple
Built in 1651 by Maharana Jagat Singh I (r. 1628–1653), Jagdish Mandir is Udaipur’s largest and most important temple. You can find it right in the heart of the historical district, located in between the City Palace’s gates and Lake Pichola.
The temple is dedicated to a specific form of Krishna known as Jagannath, who is primarily worshipped in the state of Odisha on the other side of the country.
Its exterior is entirely adorned in detailed carvings depicting apsaras (celestial dancers), scenes from the Indian epics, and various other scenes related to Vaishnava legends.
Inside the main shrine, it’s not uncommon to find devotees gathered in the main hall performing kirtans, or songs of religious devotion.
A Lake Pichola Boat Ride
There are a couple of ways to experience Lake Pichola by boat. Perhaps the most well-known option is a trip to the island of Jagmandir, with tickets available for Rs 600 at the entrance to the City Palace Museum.
But I decided to go with a slightly more economical option. In the southeast section of Lake Pichola is the ‘Lake Pichola Municipal Boat Ride Point.’ From here, you can purchase tickets for Rs 360 (or half that if you’re Indian) for a twenty-minute ride.
The boat won’t take you to Jagmandir, but you will go near it. The real highlight, however, is getting to see the City Palace and other prominent architectural highlights from the water.
Another one of the little islands here is Lake Palace, constructed between 1743–1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II as a summer retreat. It now serves as a luxury hotel managed by Taj Hotels.
As for Jagmandir, it was also a Mewar summer palace. But it predates Lake Palace, having been built in the 17th century by Maharana Karan Singh II.
It features open courtyards and gardens, and while it looks interesting from the outside, it was due to a local’s recommendation that I took this boat tour instead.
Karni Mata Mandir
As mentioned above, some of Udaipur’s top things to do can be experienced completely for free. The Karni Mata Mandir is one such example.
Located to the east of Lake Pichola, you can find a walking trail from behind Dood Talai, a small, picturesque lake surrounded by traditional pavilions.
The walk is a little bit strenuous, but the entire way up is paved. Alternatively, you can take a cable car up, though for that you’d have to buy a ticket.
Along the way up, be sure to turn around repeatedly for excellent views of the lake and its islands below.
Throughout India, it’s quite common for hilltop temples to be dedicated to goddesses, and this is no exception. This temple is dedicated to Karni Mata, a medieval female warrior who was later deified and worshipped primarily in Rajasthan.
Built in the 1620s for the protection of the city, the temple was more recently restored in 1997.
You can learn about her in our future guide to the Sri Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke (also known as the ‘Rat Temple’).
If you’re just coming for the views and not interested in a temple visit, that’s perfectly fine, as you’ll find a large viewing platform at the top.
THE MONSOON PALACE?: Many guides to Udaipur will list the Monsoon Palace, a hilltop palace built in 1884, as one of the top things to do. While I had originally planned on it, I was told by a local that it would be a waste of money, as one can visit places like Karni Mata Mandir and Neemach Mata Mandir (more below) for free.
Looking into it, with the various fees added up, visiting the Monsoon Palace costs around Rs 1000 for foreigners. Furthermore, reviews state that there’s little to see at the top, while the hill is so high that you can hardly make out any details below.
Bagore Ki Haveli Museum
Constructed in the late 18th century, this is yet another former Mewar palace turned into a museum. But if you’ve already visited the City Palace, is it worth the visit?
Entrance costs just Rs 150 (+Rs 60 for photography with a camera), and for that fee, it certainly is.
The building features an impressive courtyard and a rooftop terrace to see Lake Pichola from yet another vantage point. While the palace is said to be home to over 100 rooms, visitors have access to just a fraction of that.
Throughout the exhibits, you’ll find large collections of Mewar artifacts, including plenty of turbans. If you’ve already explored the City Palace Museum extensively, don’t expect anything too different in terms of items on display.
One of the highlights, however, is the palace’s beautiful frescoes and stained glass. Furthermore, you can explore the museum in relative quiet, as there are a lot fewer visitors here than at the City Palace Museum.
The Bagore Ki Haveli Museum is most known for its nightly Dharohar Dance Show, which features traditional Rajasthani folk dancing and puppetry.
While I wouldn’t end up making it to the show, I still think that Bagore Ki Haveli is interesting enough to warrant a visit in the daytime.
Udaipur's Backstreets
During one of my mornings in Udaipur, I took a walking tour of Udaipur’s backstreets with the daughter of the family that runs Black Pepper Guest House. And it was an interesting way to get off the tourist trail and learn a bit more about the city through the eyes of a local.
As you walk around Udaipur and other cities of Rajasthan, you’ll often see murals of people riding an elephant, which is a way to inform the neighborhood that a wedding is coming up.
But even after the wedding is over, families just leave them up forever. It sounds like that could cause quite a lot of confusion, but the locals are apparently good at keeping track of that sort of thing.
We also passed by many traditional Udaipur-style houses that are unfortunately in a sorry state. So bad, in fact, that nobody is allowed to live in many of them anymore for safety reasons. It’s unclear what the future holds for them.
We also passed through the local districts for pottery, basketweaving, and copperware. Then came the local spice and vegetable markets. Thankfully, we started early, so the streets were relatively quiet.
Finally, we stopped by the old clock tower (not climbable, unfortunately) before heading back to the center.
While probably not an absolutely essential thing to do in Udaipur, exploring the backstreets could be a fun way to spend one of your mornings (either with or without a guide) for those doing longer stays in town.
Saheliyon Ki Bari
Thus far, all of the attractions in this guide to Udaipur have been located near Lake Pichola. But Saheliyon Ki Bari, a garden that costs Rs 150 for foreigners to enter, is located further north, not far from Fateh Sagar Lake.
The gardens were constructed between 1710-34 by Mewar ruler Maharana Sangram Singh II for the ladies of the royal family.
Aside from some elaborate fountains and ponds, there’s not a whole lot to see in Saheliyon Ki Bari. Nevertheless, for those with more time in the city, it’s a nice way to briefly escape Udaipur traffic and its nonstop honking.
The upscale neighborhood that surrounds the gardens is also interesting to take a walk through.
Neemach Mata Mandir
Before or after your visit to Saheliyon Ki Bari, also consider a hike up Neemach Mata Mandir. Just like Karni Mata Mandir mentioned above, this is another hilltop goddess temple that overlooks a lake – albeit Fateh Sagar this time.
Unfortunately, there’s no dedicated viewing platform with a clear view of the lake at the top, though you can catch glimpses of it on the way up.
Think of this as more of a cultural experience, as you’ll likely find yourself in the company of numerous religious pilgrims. As for the temple, it’s dedicated to Neemach Mata Devi, a local form of Durga. But Lord Ganesha is enshrined here as well.
The Ahar Museum
While perhaps not essential for the average visitor, archaeology and history lovers should consider visiting the Ahar Museum, located a few kilometers east of the center.
Entrance costs around Rs 100 for foreigners with no extra photography fee.
The Ahar-Banas Civilization once thrived in this area from around c. 3000–1500 BC, and the museum displays various terracotta and clay objects, such as pottery and figurines, from that era.
But the museum is also dedicated to this area as a whole, with other findings coming from the Kushan era (30-375 AD) up until the medieval period. As such, you’ll find some typical Hindu sculptures here as well.
Just nearby the museum, meanwhile, are the Ahar Cenotaphs, dedicated to former Mewar rulers. While once open to the public, all of the gates were locked during my visit, so I could only catch a glimpse from the outside. Maybe you’ll have better luck.
Additional Info
Udaipur can be reached directly by train from Jaipur, Ajmer (near Pushkar), and Chittorgarh. You can also find direct long-distance trains from cities like Agra and Delhi.
Unfortunately, there are no direct trains between Udaipur and Jodhpur or Jaisalmer, so you’d have to make a transfer in Ajmer.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up and I had no issues.
When choosing accommodation in Udaipur, you’ll want to stay as close to the lakes as possible, specifically Pichola Lake. As mentioned above, that’s where the city’s most important sites, its top views, and most of the tourist-oriented establishments can be found.
Not realizing at first how historical Udaipur was centered around that one area, I made the mistake of booking a hotel about 30 minutes east on foot. While there are indeed many hotels in that area, there’s little else of interest.
Luckily, on my first day around Lake Pichola, I happened to run into one of the family members running the guest house Black Pepper. I negotiated a good deal with them and then spent the rest of my two-week Udaipur stay there.
The rooms are simple but have a private bathroom with good internet (in my room, at least – other guests told me otherwise). Since I was staying in winter, it was really important to have hot water, and Black Pepper had one of the best showers I encountered in India.
I also liked that the rooftop was a great place to eat and mingle with other travelers, but the rooms themselves were really quiet. It was easily one of my top stays in the country. And they can also set you up with an affordable day trip to Kumbalgarh Fort and Ranakpur.
Other options in the area, meanwhile, include Kotra Haveli A Boutique Hotel, Baba Palace, and Madri Haveli. And if you’re REALLY looking to splurge, stay somewhere right by the City Palace, such as Shiv Niwas Palace.
To see everything featured above, plus a day trip to Kumbalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Temple, allow yourself at least three to four days in Udaipur. Though a week would be ideal. Ideally, try avoiding holidays, as Udaipur has become especially popular for domestic tourists as of late.
While you’ll definitely want to stay in the historical district alongside Lake Pichola, this makes transport a bit difficult. If you want to hail an Uber in the area, you’ll only be able to call a motorbike taxi. But even then you might have to walk for several minutes to reach the nearest pickup spot.
As such, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the Chandpole Parking area (see map above), the closest spot from which you can get regular cars to pick you up, while it’s also much easier to hail motorbikes or tuk tuks from here as well.