Things to do in Udaipur, Rajasthan
Udaipur, the former capital of the Mewar kingdom, is nestled on the bank of Lake Pichola overlooking the Aravalli range. The city is all about countless bustling narrow streets, vibrant bazaars, mouthwatering street food, talented local artists, havelis converted to boutique hotels, and more. Honestly, we had a very different picture in our minds when we arrived in Udaipur. It has a bit of a bohemian vibe mixed with Rajasthani grandeur.
Though all the pictures will tell one story and the one you will only understand after wandering the buzzing alleys or sitting on the ghats watching the dawn. We would like to call it a mystical vibe. With that said, let us take you to the places and things we loved about Udaipur.
Relive the royalty at City Palace
City Palace is located on a picturesque landscape of Lake Pichola & Aravalli valley. The palace tells the stories of Maharanas of Mewar and their grandeur. Wander around and learn the rich history of the place. Also, an Instagram worthy location you don’t want to miss.
Take a boat ride at Lake pichola
Lake Pichola is the heart of Udaipur and you would know why once you wander around . Take a boat ride and admire the view from a different angle.
Watch sunset at Ambrai Ghat
If you ask us the one thing to do in Udaipur without fail – we would say watching sunset at Ambrai ghat. We have seen many sunsets to date however this one we would tag on our best sunset list. Don’t miss it!
Visit Maharana Pratap Smarak
To be honest, we had no idea about this place before our tuk-tuk bhaiya took us there. As the name suggests, it is the memorial of Maharana Pratap who once ruled Udaipur for a while. It was built by Maharana Bhagwat Singh to honor Maharana Pratap and his loyal horse Chetak’s contribution in the Battle of Haldighati. Apart from a historic site, it is a good place to spend a good time. You can enjoy the panoramic view of FatehSagar lake along with the Udaipur solar observatory from the deck.
Click pictures at Saheliyon ki badi
Saleliyon ki badi is a lovely garden built in 1700s by Maharana Sangram Singh for the royal ladies. It is a nice place to spend some time and relax. We personally enjoyed clicking lots of photos here.
Watch a Puppet show
Puppet shows are very popular in Rajasthan. It is an art to appreciate and fun to watch. Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal is good place to watch a show.
Visit Jagdish temple
We love visiting temples and specially the one which are from different era. Jagdish temple is a popular temple to visit and is build dated back to 1600s.
Book a stay near Lake Pichola
One of the best thing in Rajasthan is an opportunity to stay in ancient havelis. Udaipur has plenty of option to look for. Our personal recommendation would be staying near lake pichola – to enjoy the view, the buzzing streets and ghats just in a walking distance.
If you have extra time –
1. Take the ropeway to Karni Mata Temple.
2. Enjoy folk dance at Bagore ki Haveli and explore Gangaur ghat.
3. Hike to offbeat place called Badi Lake
4. Take a day trip to Chittorgarh Fort and Kumbhalgarh Fort
5. Take a half day tour to Sajjangarh Palace (also know as Monsoon palace)
Best time to visit
We visited in October and weather was pleasant. Our suggestion to visit during winter months and avoid scorching summer heat.
What to eat
Street food near Fatehpur lake; Try Poha, Pyaz Kachodi and Chai for breakfast; and of course Rajasthani thali. Our hotel where we stayed also had rooftop restaurant with decent food options.
How to reach
We booked train to Udaipur. Udaipur is well connected from Delhi and all other cities from Rajasthan via Bus or Trains and this is a budget friendly option too. If you are coming from other parts of India or abroad, Udaipur is well connected via flights.
How to explore the city
One of the best way to explore the city would be hire Tuk Tuk for a day and roam around the city. Also, this is a walkable city so wear your comfortable shoes and explore the streets.
Where we stayed
We stayed in Hotel Panorama Haveli near beautiful lake Pichola. You can find more options in Booking.com or goibibo.com.
Days required to explore
We spent 2 days to explore around the city and would suggest to spent 3-4 days and include all the day trips from Udaipur.
Udaipur is a beautiful destination for vacation or staycation. Hope this blog inspires you to take a trip to Udaipur. If you have any question, drop them on comment and we will revert soon or you can connect through Instagram. Pin it or bookmark this post for future reference.
Thanks for reading. Hope you have a great day.
