Udaipur Tours & Experiences

Things to do in Udaipur

Take a boat on Lake Pichola at sunset

The last hour of daylight is the time to be on Pichola, with the City Palace along the eastern shore and Jag Mandir on its island. The Lake Palace, on the neighbouring island, is a hotel, so unless you are staying there you see it from the water. Our Udaipur lake palace experience arranges a private boat timed for sunset, and the 4 Days Honeymoon Udaipur Tour Package includes one for the two of you.

Spend a morning in the City Palace

The Tripolia's three arches lead into a run of courtyards, among them Mor Chowk, whose peacocks are made of glass mosaic. The palace museum asks for at least an hour and allows no flash in its galleries. Buy tickets online in advance or at the counters at Badi Pol and Shitla Mata, and pick up an audio guide in English, French, German or Spanish if you are on your own. Our Udaipur trips include a guide for the palace visit.

Watch Dharohar at Bagore ki Haveli

In the evenings, the Neem Chowk courtyard of Bagore ki Haveli, an 18th-century mansion at Gangaur Ghat, becomes the stage for Dharohar, a show of Rajasthani folk dances and songs under the open sky. Its ticket does not include the haveli's museum, and seating goes to the earliest arrivals.

Hear the evening aarti at Jagdish Temple

Jagdish Temple, built in 1651 beside the City Palace, shuts its doors from 1 to 5 pm by Incredible India's listing, so return for the evening aarti. Rajasthan Tourism also lists an evening sound-and-light show in the City Palace's Manek Chowk, which tells Mewar's story.

Spend an afternoon at Fateh Sagar

North of Pichola, a boat crosses Fateh Sagar to Nehru Park, the biggest of the lake's three islands. Climb Moti Magri, the hill overlooking the lake, to the bronze of Maharana Pratap riding Chetak, and at the foot of the embankment, see the fountains of Saheliyon ki Bari, which work without pumps on water from the lake.

Cycle by the lake

Rajasthan Tourism suggests taking to a bicycle and riding along Lake Pichola at your own pace. On our honeymoon package, the third day is left free for a walk through the old city's lanes, a spa treatment or a lakeside dinner; the last two are arranged on request and paid locally.

Browse the crafts at Shilpgram

In the Aravalli hills west of the city, Shilpgram spreads over 70 acres, with traditional houses from four western states and a bazaar of pottery, textiles, woodwork and metalwork. In town, Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, an institute for the folk arts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, stages kathputli puppet shows.

Drive out to the hill forts and Ranakpur

Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh both belong to the Hill Forts of Rajasthan on UNESCO's list; Chittorgarh is 117 km away and Kumbhalgarh, Maharana Kumbha's 15th-century stronghold, about 85 km. On the way in from Jaipur or Jodhpur, some of our tours stop at Ranakpur's Jain temple, where the Royal Rajasthan Circuit allows about ninety minutes among its 1,444 carved marble pillars.

Choosing between our tours and experiences

The lake palace experience is for couples who want Udaipur's set pieces arranged around their own hotel: a guided City Palace visit, the sunset boat and, if wanted, a candlelit dinner at a heritage property. It sits with our honeymoon and romance experiences in Udaipur. Our tour packages add a private car and driver: the honeymoon package gives couples three unhurried nights, the 5 Days Jaipur Udaipur Tour two days in each city, the Royal Rajasthan Circuit one night after Jodhpur, and the North India Classic Tour — 14 days and Rajasthan Grand Tour two nights each. Compare them on our Udaipur tour packages page; the Udaipur travel guide tells the story of each sight.

When to go for these

Udaipur's season is October to March. Winter is mild: at the Dabok weather station, January afternoons average about 25°C, with nights near 8°C (IMD, 1991–2020), so take a layer for an evening on the water. May afternoons reach about 40°C. Rain is concentrated in the monsoon, with July and August together averaging about 440 mm of the year's 674 mm. Gangaur and the Mewar Festival fall in Chaitra, in March or April.

Planning tips

City Palace tickets can be bought online before you arrive, and the palace involves a fair amount of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Get to Bagore ki Haveli early if you want a good seat for Dharohar.