Things to Do in Udaipur
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Udaipur, India, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Udaipur. Palaces floating on a lake, not a figure of speech, City of Lakes lives up to the name, a Rajasthani capital built around a network of interconnected lakes, home to a former royal summer palace that covers nearly the entirety of a small island, and the seat of one of India's oldest ruling dynasties for over a thousand years. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Udaipur: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the boat trip. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
The City of Lakes
Udaipur is nicknamed the 'City of Lakes' due to its network of artificial and natural lakes, several interconnected lakes, some dating back centuries, shape much of the city's layout and appeal, worth appreciating this water-centred design, Lake Pichola, the largest and most central, was created deliberately centuries ago and remains the heart of the city's most significant sights.
A boat trip on Lake Pichola is worth doing, sunset crossings offer sweeping views of the City Palace complex and the surrounding hills, a proper, relaxed way to see the city from the water.
Best time Sunset
Address Lake Pichola, Udaipur
The Lake Palace
Udaipur's Lake Palace appears to float on the water because it occupies an entire small island, a former royal summer palace built to cover almost the entirety of a small natural island, worth appreciating this striking piece of 18th-century architecture, now operating as a luxury hotel, the palace's setting properly appears to float on the surface of Lake Pichola when viewed from the shore or a passing boat.
Non-guests can visit for dining or afternoon tea with advance booking, worth arranging this if you want to see the interior directly rather than just admiring it from a distance.
Best time Any time; sunset for the best exterior views from the shore
Address Lake Palace, Udaipur
The Mewar Dynasty
Udaipur served as the capital of the historic Mewar kingdom, one of the oldest ruling dynasties in India, with a history stretching back over a thousand years, worth understanding this deep royal history, the City Palace complex, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, was built and expanded by successive Mewar rulers over centuries and remains one of the best places to see this legacy directly.
Part of the City Palace still functions as a private royal residence, with the remainder open as a museum covering the dynasty's full history, worth allowing proper time given the sheer scale of the complex.
Hours Daily, roughly 9.30am–5.30pm
Address City Palace, Udaipur
Best time to visit Udaipur
October through March gives the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking and boat time this list involves, cooler and drier than the rest of the year.
Summer brings serious heat, worth avoiding if possible, or planning sightseeing for early morning and evening if you do visit then.
Getting around Udaipur
Auto-rickshaws are the practical way to get around Udaipur, and boats are essential for reaching or viewing the lake palaces. Central areas around the City Palace are walkable.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Udaipur worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, few Indian cities offer this combination of lake scenery and royal Rajput history, the Lake Palace and City Palace together make it one of Rajasthan's most rewarding stops.
- How many days do you need in Udaipur?
- Three days covers Lake Pichola, the City Palace, and a proper boat trip comfortably.
- Is Udaipur expensive?
- No, generally affordable, though the Lake Palace's non-guest dining is a real, worthwhile splurge if your budget allows.
- What is Udaipur famous for?
- Being nicknamed the 'City of Lakes' for its network of lakes, the Lake Palace, appearing to float on Lake Pichola, and serving as the historic capital of the Mewar dynasty.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
