Udaipur, popularly known as the “City of Lakes” is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Rajasthan. It never fails to mesmerize its visitors with an array of romantic places. Depicting the rich Rajput culture with numerous monuments, forts, shimmery lakes and other beautiful places to visit in Udaipur, the destination is perfect for the honeymoon couples.
The entire Udaipur city is a beautiful creation by the Mewar dynasty who created a paradise in the middle of golden sand dunes of Rajasthan. It is an excellent location to enjoy your vacation with a row of mesmerizing attractions. So let’s have a look at some of its wonderful tourist destinations.
Best Places To Visit in Udaipur
Popular Places To Visit in Udaipur (Forts & Palaces)
City Palace
The City Palace of Udaipur is one of the largest royal complexes of Rajasthan situated on the banks of Pichola Lake. The palace was built in 1559 by Maharaja Uday Singh which used to be the residential and administrative site of the Maharajas. The palace is built in marble and granite and its architecture follows a fusion of Medieval, European, and Chinese styles with a number of domes, arches, and towers.
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The Palace surrounded by the lush green garden is a sight to behold for every visitor. The Palace houses a number of Mahals, pavilions, courtyards, terraces, rooms, and hanging gardens. It also consists of a museum showcasing the finest antique elements of Rajput art and culture.
Lake Palace
The Palace situated in the middle of Pichola Lake in Udaipur holds a breathtaking sight for every visitor. It was built in 1746 by Maharana Jai Singh and raised in white marble sprawling on a 4-acre island like a dream destination. The exterior architecture of the palace is so beautiful that it will attract you to visit the interior which is heavenly consisting of a series of courtyards, terraces, fountains, and gardens.
It houses different sections like Bada Mahal, Ajjan Niwas, Khush Mahal, Phool Mahal, and Dhola Mahal. Each section rooms are decorated with paintings, carved arches, stained glass work, crystal work, stones of pinks and green lotus leaves, etc. The palace is the perfect place to unwind yourself amidst the shimmery Pichola Lake.
Kumbhalgarh Fort
It is a major tourist destination and the second most popular fort in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh. It was constructed in 15th century by Maharana Rana Kumbha. The Fort wall stretches along a distance of 36km, which is the second largest wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. The walls of the Fort are broad enough to hold 8 horses in a row horizontally. The majestic ancient structure consists of 7 large gates, and seven ramparts having curved bastions and huge watchtowers.
Also read A Complete Guide To Kumbhalgarh Fort – Entry Fees, Timings, History
The Fort has an important structure at its top known as ‘Badal Mahal” with lovely rooms painted in green, turquoise, and white highly contrasting the earth color of the Fort. The huge complex of the Fort houses around 360 temples, with Shiva Temple being the famous among them which hosts a huge Shivalinga. The entire structure is an amazing destination to explore endlessly with rising curiosity. It is definitely one of the best places to visit in Udaipur for history buffs.
Monsoon Palace/Sajjangarh Palace
The Monsoon palace/Sajjangarh Palace is an important architectural structure of Udaipur named after Maharana Sajjan Singh. The main aim of the palace was to keep an eye on Chittorgarh which was the hometown of Maharana Sajjan Singh. The palace gives unparallel views of the Udaipur city. The palace follows Rajput style architecture and built-in marble completely adorned with towers, pillars, and turrets displaying motifs of flowers and leaves.
The palace was initially planned to be a 9 storied astronomical observatory which would keep a track of the monsoon clouds and record the arrival of monsoon but unfortunately, the attempt failed after the death of Sajjan Singh. The palace is now among the popular tourist destinations of Udaipur.
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Beautiful Places To Visit in Udaipur (Breathtaking Lakes)
Lake Pichola
Pichola Lake is one of the oldest lakes in Udaipur located at the heart of the city. It is an artificial manmade lake and the one of the largest lake of Udaipur city. The Lake offers mesmerizing natural beauty surrounded by mountain ranges, heritage buildings, and bathing Ghats which gathers millions of tourists across the world to have a glimpse of its beauty.
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The evening view of the Lake is heavenly with the reflection of the setting sun turning the Lake water into Golden color. A boat ride in the evening is perfect to feel the heavenly beauty with heritage buildings and mountain ranges in the backdrop. The entire view of the lake is enchanting and deeply romantic sinking you in its stillness.
Jaisamand Lake / Dhebar Lake
Located at a distance of 48kms from Udaipur, Jaisamand Lake or Dhebar Lake is the second largest artificial Lake in Asia. The lake spans across a total area of 36 sq.km with a length of 14kms and a breadth of 9kms. The lake is surrounded by beautiful structures like the summer palace of the Udaipur Queen in the background, and the perfectly carved 6 marble cenotaphs on its embankment.
The Lake consists of 7 islands one of which is inhabited by Bhil Minas tribal people. You can enjoy boat rides in the mesmerizing Jaisamand Lake and watch an array of migratory birds flying above along with wildlife like deer, leopards, and wild boars due to its close proximity to Jaisamand sanctuary. It is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Udaipur.
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Lake Fatehsagar
Fatehsagar Lake is one of the major tourist attractions of Udaipur lying surrounded by the Aravalli mountain ranges. The ambiance of the Lake is extremely peaceful and calm allowing the tourists to unwind from the busy life. The Lake is perfect to spend a laid-back afternoon admiring the serenity of nature and enjoy a boating ride along with other exciting water sports.
The Lake consists of three islands among which the Nehru Park is the largest containing boat-shaped restaurant and a small kid’s zoo. The second island is famous for its Public Park and water jet fountains while the third island is well known for the largest solar observatory in Asia. The magical blue water of the Lake and its charming atmosphere has made it one of the most visited destinations of Udaipur.
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Religious Places To Visit in Udaipur
Jag Mandir
Jag Mandir is an astonishingly beautiful palace located on an island in Pichola Lake. The palace was built by the Sisodia Rajputs of the Mewar Kingdom. The construction of the palace was started by Maharana Amar Singh in 1551, later continued by Maharana Karan Singh and finished by Maharaja Jagat Singh during the period of 1628 to 1652.
The palace is a three-storeyed structure consisting of Gul Mahal, Garden Courtyard with Darikhana in the north, Bara Patharon ka Mahal, Zenana Mahal, Kunwar Pada ka Mahal, and a graceful façade guarded by four elephant statues on either side. The Palace is an excellent architectural example and can be visited only by a boat from Bansi Ghat.
Jagdish Temple
Jagdish Temple is a grand structure located in the city palace complex of Udaipur. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and popularly known as Laxmi-Narayan Temple. The temple holds high religious significance in the Udaipur city. The temple follows Indo-Aryan architecture and was constructed by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. The entrance is guarded by two large stone elephants followed by a stone slab with the inscriptions of Maharana Jagat Singh.
The temple hosts a four-armed shrine of Lord Vishnu carved from a single black stone along with his Vahana Garura with other small statues of Ganesha, Sun God, Goddess Shakti, and Lord Shiva. It is one of the most visited temples by devotees from different locations.
Eklingji Temple
This is one of the major temples of Rajasthan located in Eklingji town at a distance of 22kms from Udaipur. The temple follows unique architecture having a pyramidal roof and artistically carved towers. The entrance of the temple is guarded by a silver statue of Nandi and the entire atmosphere is filled with beautiful fragrance.
The temple hosts a four-faced black marble statue of Lord Shiva having a height of 50 ft, and the four faces depict four avatars of Lord Shiva. The center part of the mandap consists of the Shivalinga surrounded by statues of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya. The temple holds a gorgeous view during Shivaratri when the shrine of Lord Shiva is decorated with jewelry. It is again one of the most popular places to visit in Udaipur due to its religious significance.
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Amazing Places To Visit in Udaipur (Historical & Cultural)
Saheliyon Ki Bari
Saheliyon ki Bari is one of the popular tourist attractions of Udaipur. It is dedicated to the maidens who went with the princess after she got married to Maharana Sangram Singh. The structure is located in the banks of Fatehsagar Lake beautified by green lawns, gorgeous fountains, and canopied walking corridors. The building belongs to the 18th century and holds high historical significance.
The garden surrounding the building is beautiful with tall trees, flower beds, and a lotus pool having marble pavilions adorned with statues. The location is perfect to take long walks and some candid pictures having a beautiful backdrop due to which it attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum
It is a vibrant museum of Udaipur depicting the folk collections of Rajasthan. The entrance of the museum leads to a large hall displaying the theatre objects while the neighboring halls showcase the collection of folk instruments and ornaments. The hall leads to a theater which is famous for the puppet shows at regular intervals.
The opposite side of the theatre hosts the henna handprints, the cow dung floors, and the terra-cotta devras coming for Molela village. The museum houses an exclusive collection of puppets, masks, rural dresses, ornaments, paintings, folk deities, and dolls. The museum is one of the best places to visit in Udaipur to feel the culture of Rajasthan preserving the remarkable collections of Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal from the past 44 years.
Bagore Ki Haveli
Bagore Ki Haveli is an ancient structure located on the platform of Gangori Ghat. The haveli was built in the eighteenth century by Amir Chand Badwa. It is an example of the excellent glass work accompanied by carved work. The haveli portrays the royal Rajput stuff like dice-games, hukkas, jewelry, pan boxes, nutcrackers, hands fans, rose water sprinklers, and many other items.
The interior of the haveli is decorated with fine mirror work. It houses the private quarters of the royal Rajput ladies, dressing rooms, bedrooms, worships rooms, living rooms, bathrooms, and evening recreation rooms. The Haveli organizes cultural programs in the evening with traditional Rajasthani dance and music while at the night it is a sight to behold with numerous glowing lights. The haveli highlights the royal Rajputana lifestyle to its visitors.
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Ahar
Ahar is a royal cremation ground located at a distance of 3km to the eastern part of Udaipur. The location houses 372 cenotaphs dedicated to the queens and maharanas of Mewar making it a city of domes. The cenotaphs located in this place are mostly 400 years old. Around 19 maharanas were cremated at this place and the most famous among them is the cenotaph of Maharana Sangram Singh.
The latest to add in the collection was the cenotaph of Udaipur’s last emperor Maharana Bhagat Singh which was built in 2004. Located at a distance of 150 km from the cremation ground is the Ahar Government Museum which is famous for the pottery and copper objects collection of more than 3300 years old.
Ambrai Ghat
Ambrai Ghat is one of the most peaceful lake shores in Udaipur with cool breezy winds to settle peace in your heart. This is a popular site for many visitors from different states and countries to seek peace in their stressed and busy life. The Ghat is surrounded by other beautiful Pichola lake and some luxurious hotels like Amet Haveli Hotel, and Leela Hotel.
The location gives a 240-degree view of the lake city Udaipur and also of the famous Gangaur Ghat. Ambrai Ghat houses a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman due to which it is also known as Hanuman Ghat. This is another best place to unwind in Udaipur and frequently visited by local inhabitants and nearby areas people along with tourists.
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Shilpgram
Shilpgram is a famous craft village of Udaipur located to the west side of Fateh Sagar Lake. The village holds an interesting ambiance for the visitor’s in-spite of being settled in the dusty countryside. The Village was inaugurated by Rajiv Gandhi in 1989. The location houses 26 traditional village houses from Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat displaying craftworks and glittered mirror interiors.
The village showcases some excellent performances by the traditional dancers as soon as they are approached by the tourists. It organizes a fair in the last week of December every year which is the best time to visit this place in order to view the exclusive craftworks and enjoy the performances of hundreds of artisans and dancers.
Moti Magri
Moti Magri is an important landmark of Udaipur consisting of the statue of Maharana Pratap and his favorite horse Chetak. The location is actually a hilltop which portrays the selfless love of Maharana-Pratap for his land and his fierce battle against the Mughals to save his land. The location gives an amazing view of the Fateh Sagar Lake from a distance and surrounded by fresh greeneries creating a peaceful ambiance.
It defines the path to the peak of the hill with a stopover place in the middle known as “Hall of the Heroes” housing 20 huge paintings based on Mewar’s history. Moti Magri hosts an entertaining light and sound show in the evening time depicting the history of Mewar through lights and patterns.
Vintage Classic Cars Museum
The museum displays an exotic collection of vintage cars. It was built in 15th February 2000. The museum is very popular due to its authentic collection of royal cars. All vehicles displayed in the museum belong to Mewar’s Maharanas. Each of the vehicles has been preserved carefully to be in working conditions till now.
The entire collection is hosted in a semicircular motor garage with a huge courtyard totally away from the crowded city life. It also houses one of the ancient petrol pumps known as Shell petrol pump which is not only well preserved but also in a usable condition. The museum with its well preserved ancient settings in the modern era is a must visit site for all tourists.
Udaipur Solar Observatory
This holds the significance of Udaipur city being the best solar observatory in Asia. It is located on an island of Fatehsagar Lake inspired by the Solar Observatory at Big bear Lake of California. The Observatory is one of the perfect centers to develop solar physics due to its strategic location surrounded by Fatehsagar Lake waters which provides an ideal atmosphere for solar observations.
Due to the air turbulence of the island being lesser than ground, the observatory is the perfect place to acquire sharp images of Sun. Also due to its location in Rajasthan, it is mostly exposed to sunlight which gives it quality extracted images of Sun. Also, the range of telescopes in the observatory gives a high-end quality of solar observations.
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Best Time to Visit Udaipur
The ideal time to visit Udaipur is during the winter season during the months of September to March. The weather during this time is cool and pleasant to visit the monuments, forts, and other interesting places of Udaipur.
The monsoon season between the months of July to September is also a good time to visit as the rainfalls during this time make the entire Udaipur city look very beautiful.
The summers during the months of March to June are however not ideal at all to visit this place due to extremely hot and humid weather with temperature ranging from 23 to 44 degrees.
How to Reach Udaipur
Udaipur is well connected to all major cities of India through Air, Railways, and Road.
Visit Udaipur By Air
Udaipur Airport known as Maharana Pratap Airport connects it to other major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Jaipur. The airport is located at a distance of 20km from Udaipur city and can be reached easily by autos and taxis.
Visit Udaipur By Road
Numerous intercity tourist buses are available connecting Udaipur to major cities like Jaipur, Delhi, Indore, Jaipur, and Kota.
Visit Udaipur By Rail
Udaipur railway station has excellent train services like Mewar Express, Ananya Express, Gwalior-Udaipur express, Chetak Express on a daily basis to major Indian cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur, and many more.
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