The City Palace on Lake Pichola, Udaipur

The City of Lakes · Rajasthan city guide

Udaipur, the City of Lakes

The former capital of Mewar, a romantic city of white palaces, shimmering lakes and green Aravalli hills.

Things to do Food & shopping Getting there Good to know

Ideal stay2–4 nights

Best timeSeptember – March

AirportMaharana Pratap Airport

From JaipurAbout 400 km

About Udaipur

Why visit.

Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1559 as the new capital of Mewar, after the fall of Chittorgarh. The city grew around a series of lakes, with the City Palace rising above Lake Pichola.

It is one of India's most romantic cities, ideal for honeymoons, and a good base for the fort of Kumbhalgarh and the marble temple at Ranakpur.

01 / Things to do

Top things to do in Udaipur.

City PalaceRajasthan's largest palace complex, above Lake Pichola.
Lake PalaceThe white marble palace on an island in the lake.
Lake Pichola boat ridePast the ghats and Jag Mandir, best at sunset.
Jagdish TempleA finely carved 17th-century temple near the City Palace.
Saheliyon-ki-BariThe Garden of the Maidens, with fountains and lotus pools.
Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)A hilltop palace with sweeping sunset views.
Bagore-ki-HaveliA restored lakeside mansion with an evening show of Rajasthani folk dance.

Our tip: Take the Lake Pichola boat in the late afternoon, so you are on the water as the light turns gold over the City Palace.

Day trips

Beyond the lakes.

Kumbhalgarh FortAbout 2 hours away: a hilltop fort whose walls run for over 30 km.
Ranakpur Jain TempleA 15th-century marble temple with hundreds of carved pillars.
Chittorgarh FortIndia's largest fort, about 2.5 hours away.
Mount AbuRajasthan's only hill station and the Dilwara temples.

Attraction guides

Royal palace

City Palace Udaipur

A vast palace of balconies, towers and courtyards rising above Lake Pichola, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan.

Island palace

Lake Palace Udaipur

A white marble palace that seems to float on Lake Pichola, built as a royal summer retreat.

02 / Food & shopping

Eat, browse and take home.

Rooftop dinnersLakeside restaurants with palace views.
Gatte ki sabziGram-flour dumplings in a yoghurt curry.
Miniature paintingsUdaipur is a centre of this fine painting tradition.
Hathi Pol bazaarSilver, textiles, puppets and leather journals.
Dal baati churmaRajasthan's classic meal, done especially well in Mewar.
[Your favourite spot][Add the cafe or thali place you always send guests to.]

03 / Getting there

How to reach Udaipur.

By airMaharana Pratap Airport has flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and other cities.
By railUdaipur City station connects to Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai.
By roadAbout 5 hours from Jodhpur and 7 hours from Jaipur.

04 / Good to know