Udaipur – Venice of the East, is popularly known as the City Of Lakes. Udaipur is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque cities in the country owing to the seven lakes surrounding it against the backdrop of the Aravallis. The beauty of Udaipur does not end here. The Royal Palaces, Havelis and Heritage Temples add to the grandeur of this place. There is no escape from this city’s charm. The regal legacy of Udaipur is in sync with the modern world. This is one of the most visited places in India. Read further to know more about this enchanting City.
The view overlooking Lake Pichola
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Places to Visit in Udaipur
Lake Pichola
This artificial freshwater lake is the landmark of Udaipur. The reflection of surrounding hills and heritage palaces in its blue waters make it a very popular tourist attraction. Boating is the best way to capture its beauty. Especially at sunrise and sunset when the waters reflect a golden hue. The pristine and serene views make it a memorable place.
City Palace
This Palace is built on the eastern banks of Lake Pichola. This is said to be the largest Royal Palace in Rajasthan. This majestic palace was built in the year 1559 by Maharana Uday Singh. His successors kept adding elements to the palace making it a masterpiece. The main gate of the palace opens up to several Mahals, courtyards, terraces and gardens. The museums exhibit artifacts showcasing the grandeur of the royal era.
Pro Tip: This place gets crowded during peak season and it takes time to cover the huge palace so plan accordingly and carry lots of water with you.
Fateh Sagar Lake
This lake got its name in honour of Maharana Fateh Singh, though it was originally built by Maharana Jai Singh. The serene and scenic surrounding of this lake makes it a popular tourist attraction. Boating on this lake will give you major laid-back vibes. You will be lost in its tranquility. There are three islands on this lake. The first one has a park and a children’s zoo, the second one has a park with water fountains and the third island houses the Udaipur Solar Observatory, the best in Asia.
Sajjangarh Palace
Maharana Sajjan Singh built this palace in 1884, atop a hill, as an observatory to keep a track of the monsoon clouds. So its also called the Monsoon Palace. However, due to his untimely death this palace was turned into a summer resort by Maharana Fateh Singh. The balcony of this palace gives a birds eye view of the City of Udaipur. You can see the beautiful panoramic view of lakes, palaces, forts and even Chittorghar. Make sure you plan this visit around sunset to catch the setting sun in all its glory.
Jag Mandir
This is a palace build on an island in Lake Pichola. It was built by Maharana Charan Singh II in 1620. Initially built by the Royals as a summer resort is now converted to a hotel consisting of seven rooms, a restaurant, bar and also a museum. Also known as Lake Garden Palace, it is one of the most beautiful palaces in Udaipur. The beautiful garden is a must visit and do not miss the huge life sized marble elephants guarding the entrance to the palace.
Vintage Car Museum
This is the place to be for all the car and automobile enthusiasts. This museum boasts of housing vintage cars owned by the Mewar Royalty. Many of these pre-owned cars were custom built and reflect the grandeur of that era. The main attraction here is the 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom used by James Bond in the movie Octopussy.
Jagdish Temple
This temple is situated in Lake Palace itself. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. The three storey pillar of the temple complex stands tall in the skyline of Udaipur. The intricate carvings and paintings inside and outside the temple make it a must visit attraction.
Saheliyon Ki Bari
Legend has it that Maharana Sangram Singh built this garden for his queen. It was dedicated to the forty eight young women who accompanied her during the wedding. It is now frequented by tourists for its beautiful fountains especially the rain fountain and marble sculpted birds spouting water from their beak.
Sukhadia Circle
This is the best place in Udaipur to experience the local street food of Udaipur. Sukhadia Circle is basically a roundabout in the northern part of the city. There is a small pond here with a fountain which is crowded with locals as well as tourists in the evenings as the streets are lined with stalls selling local delicacies which are hard to resist.
Pratap Park
This is the newest addition to Udaipur. It was completed in 2017 and is very popular with youngsters due to the I Love Udaipur alphabets structured here. This park is not only beautifully built but also includes an open gymnasium and an acupressure track. This park is also Eco friendly as it has solar paneled lights installed in it. The park also provides stunning aerial views of lake Pichola. There is a statue of Prithvi Raj Chauhan here.
Kumbhalgarh
Though Kumbhalgarh is not in Udaipur, but it can easily be reached from here. The Kumbhalgarh Fort is not only the most underrated but also the most glorious fort in India. You need to visit it to experience its robust architecture. This majestic fort is built in the Aravalli range. The wall lining the perimeter of the fort is 36 kms and is the second largest wall in the World after the great wall of China.
How to reach Udaipur
By Road
The roads to Udaipur are very well maintained hence its convenient to self drive or hire a taxi. It’s well-connected to all of Rajasthan by buses too.
By Rail
Udaipur City Railway Station and Rana Pratap Nagar railway Stations are well-connected by train, to all major cities of India. Luxurious trains like The Palace On Wheels also have Udaipur on its itinerary.
By Air
The Maharana Pratap Airport is located 25 kms from the main city. It is the closest domestic airport and its connected to all major cities of India. The closest International airport is New Delhi.
Best Time To Visit
Located in the desert state of Rajasthan, Udaipur is usually hot with temperatures touching 44 degree Celsius in the summer months. The winter months of October to March are ideally the best for visiting as the weather is pleasant for many outdoor activities. Many cultural festivals are also held during this period. Moreover, you can also catch the migratory birds flocking here during winters. The greenery around the lakes are however best experienced in the monsoon between July to September.
Where to Stay in Udaipur
The romantic City of Udaipur is known for its iconic hotels all over the world. Many royal forts and havelis are converted into heritage hotels that will surely make you feel like royalty. There are wide options to choose from that will satisfy your requirements. Some of the grandest properties are The Oberoi Udaivilas, Taj Lake Palace and The Leela Palace.
Check out the prices of Hotels in Udaipur here.
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Wow! Wow! Wow! Is that lake for real?!! I want to be there right now, it looks totally amazing and love the surrounding hills around it. Would love to stay in a resort around here and go for night strolls along the lakeshore. I have added this on my list of things to do in India. Beautiful!
The City Palace in Udairpur looks huge, great tip to bring water. Jag Manir is so pretty from the water, I imaging the marble elephants at the entrance are incredible. Would love to check out the street food, and relax next to the fountain
Man that must be one huge lake to have an observatory and a zoo on it’s islands. hahhaah. do you know how many square acres or hectares that lake is? and was it completely man made? Awesome photos…and thanks for all the insights, we are thinking of visiting India next year, and have just added this to our must-see list!
I live half the year near Venice, Italy, so it’s a lovely reference for this post. India is somewhere I’d like to see one day, and Udaipur is so pretty! The palace on the water built on the island is mesmerising, as are the lakes and temple. One for the bucket list for sure!
I would certainly want to visit a place that is referenced as the Venice of the East. Seven lakes and mountains too must make this a beautiful spot to visit. The Royal Palace is certainly massive with its additions from successive generations. The Fateh Sagar Lake looks like a great spot for beautiful views. Hubby would definitely want to visit the Vintage Car Museum. Before we head off to sample the great food stalls at Sukhadia Circle. We would definitely be visiting in the fall when temperatures drop.
Strangely, I never understood why is known as Venice oh the East, they are truly nothing alike. But Udaipur does look stunning and I had no idea there were such extensive lakes and sites to see.
The City Palace was born in 1559. How incredible! I have always wanted to go to India to try the food, experience the culture, and to see architecture as beautiful as this. It really is spectacular and romantic. I would love to go one day.
I visited Udaipur when I was in school and found very beautiful. The architecture, culture and history here is really magnificent. I loved City Palace a lot and it has wonderful architecture, especially those jharoka style windows with balcony. Also the Fateh Sagar lake adds unique charm to this city. Thanks for sharing.