Udaipur Tourism

Udaipur is also referred to as the 'Venice of the East' and the 'City of Lakes'. Udaipur was the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in Rajputana. Maharana Udai Singh of the Sisodia clan of Rajput founded the city in 1559 AD, and shifted his capital from Chittorgarh to Udaipur. It remained as the capital city till 1818 AD when it became a British princely state, and thereafter the Mewar province became a part of Rajasthan when India gained independence in 1947. Udaipur is the birth place of legendary King Maharana Pratap.

Udaipur is a very popular tourist destination in India and also one of the most sought-after cities for destination weddings. Udaipur attracts numerous visitors from all over the world due to its historic heritage and rich culture. The City Palace, Lake Palace, Bagore Ki Haveli, Pichola Lake, Fateh Sagar Lake, Lake Palace, Jag Mandir Palace, Jagdish Temple, Sajjan Garh, Saheliyon Ki Bari and Eklingji Temple are some popular attractions of Udaipur. Kumbhalgarh Fort, Chittorgarh Fort, Nathdwara, Sas-Bahu Temple, Ahar and Ranakpur are the nearest attractions.

Mewar festival and Gangaur festival are the popular festivals celebrated in Udaipur and have a unique charm. The festival of Gangaur is very significant for the women of Rajasthan. This festival is a visual feast with Rajasthani songs, dances, processions, devotional music and firework displays. The Directorate of Tourism organizes a 10-day Craft Bazaar at Shilpgram in December.

Udaipur is well connected by road, rail and air to major destinations in India. Maharana Pratap Airport or Dabok Airport is situated 28 km away from the main city. The airport is served by flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur. Udaipur Railway Station is well connected by trains with Delhi, Kolkata, Jalpaiguri, Jaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Chittorgarh, Indore, and Khajuraho. Udaipur City Bus Station is the main bus station which is about 1 km from Udaipur Railway Station; it has direct buses from Jaipur, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Agra, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Indore, and Bhopal.
The summers in Udaipur are hot and winters are cold but the temperature does not rise to extremes. The rainfall is less, around 61 cm annually. So the best season is to visit Udaipur is in between the months of October and March.

Lake Pichola
Lake Pichola is one of the largest and the oldest lakes that Udaipur features. When visiting the City Palace, you can cover the large and shallow Lake Pichola which is known as one of the biggest lakes of India. The City Palace complex extends along the lake shore by nearly a km. It is beautifully surrounded by ancient temples, elevated hilly regions, lofty palaces, and bathing Ghats on all the surrounding locations. In case you’re visiting the place with your spouse or are on your honeymoon tour, you would surely not want to miss this location. You can plan the sunset by this lake and keep coming back for it. There is a sunset cruise available too. Explore the different means and make the most of it.

City Palace
The renowned City Palace is one of the best places to visit in Udaipur and sits beautifully on the banks of Lake Pichola. It is one of the most royal setups in the entire Rajasthan. This magnificent beauty was crafted back in the year 1559 and served as the power seat for the Maharanas where they use to live and administer the kingdom from. It was built by Maharana Uday Singh. Later on, his successors made the palace much more splendid by adding more beautiful structures to it. Presently, the City Palace features courtyards, corridors, huge rooms, mahals, pavilions, terraces, and hanging gardens. There is also a renowned museum in the palace that features the finest Rajput elements of art and culture including brilliant sculptures and colourful paintings.

Sajjangarh Palace
The Sajjangarh Palace is also popularly known as the Monsoon Palace. It is one of the most renowned tourist places in Udaipur that is nestled in the Bansdara Mountain that is located at an elevation of around 940 metres above sea level. This massive mountain overlooks the renowned Pichola Lake. The palace is also known as the Monsoon Palace because during the reign of Mewar Kings, the palace was used to witness the progress of the clouds in the monsoons. It was also used by the Mewar Kings as their summer retreat.

Fateh Sagar Lake
The Fateh Sagar Lake is one of the most sparkling places to see in Udaipur. It is located in the north-western region of Udaipur and is the second largest artificial lake in the beautiful Udaipur city. It is surrounded by the massive Aravalli Hills and is well-known for the boating activities it offers. The lake is 44 feet at its deepest point and very serene. Tourists enjoy cycling or walking around the lake, especially in the evenings and there are many food stalls as well.

Eklingji Temple
Eklingji Temple is another popular tourist destination that can be incorporated in your Udaipur sightseeing tour. It is one of the pilgrimage places near Udaipur where people go to pay their respects. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and also features excellent architecture, which attracts history buffs. It is a huge double floored temple that is built in an excellent pyramidal style along with a beautifully carved tower. The temple features walls on the outer side that come equipped with high steps that descend to the serene waters of the temple pond. The beauty of the temple is worth a visit.

Jagdish Temple
The The Jagdish Temple is dedicated to the Hindu God, Lord Vishnu. It is a grand temple and one of the most majestic structures that is situated in the centre of the city of Udaipur. The gate of the grand Jagdish Temple is visible from the City Palace’s Bara Pol. For all the seekers of peace, faith, and solace, this place is an ideal spot of worship. It also boasts of several appealing structures like elephants flanking the entrance staircase, a serene atmosphere and intricate carvings in white marble. The architecture of the temple is that of the renowned and ancient Indo-Aryan style.

Doodh Talai Musical Garden
The renowned Doodh Talai Musical Garden of Udaipur is a beautiful fountain and rock garden. It is a serene spot with a large lake from where you can enjoy the beautiful sunset in Udaipur. The wide expanse of Udaipur can also be witnessed from the Doodh Talai Musical Garden. Additionally, there is also a cable car or aerial tramway that connects a portion of the garden and the famous pilgrimage centre namely the Karni Mata Temple.

Jaisamand Lake
The beautiful Jaisamand Lake is spread across a region of one hundred square kilometres. It is the second largest artificial lake in the city after the Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar. The lake features the lush green Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary where one can find rich flora and fauna including some of the endangered species of animals and birds as well as some beautiful migratory birds. The lake also features a magnificent backdrop that boasts of the summer palaces of the Udaipur Queens. It is an amazing tourist place to rejoice owing to its beauty. The lake has a marble dam built over it, which has a Lord Shiva Temple and six cenotaphs located in the centre. The local people have also given the lake another name called Dhebar Lake.

Jag Mandir Palace
The Jag Mandir Palace is an exquisite one in Udaipur that is nestled in Pichola Lake’s estuary island. It is magnificently constructed using top-notch marble and offers a mesmerizing view of the sunset. Maharana Amar Singh, Maharana Karan Singh and Maharana Jagat Singh are the three rulers who were responsible for the rendition of this palace. It acted as a summer resort and several lavish parties were held here. The three storied palace comprises of an elegant facade with elephant statues, the Gul Mahal, a garden courtyard, the palace of 12 stones, a zenana mahal and Kunwar Pada ka Mahal.