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Udaipur
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Udaipur, Rajasthan’s lake city, pairs Rajput palaces and island gardens with Mewari culture, colourful markets, heritage walks and serene sunset views.

A City Shaped by Lakes

Udaipur lies amid the Aravalli Hills of southern Rajasthan, where pale stone palaces, wooded slopes and blue-green waters create one of India’s most distinctive urban landscapes. The city was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II as the capital of Mewar, and its historic core still gathers around Lake Pichola, the City Palace and a network of narrow lanes leading to temples, markets and old family homes.
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Palaces and Mewari Culture

The City Palace rises above the eastern shore of Lake Pichola in a succession of courtyards, balconies and richly decorated chambers. Across the water, Jag Mandir and the Lake Palace occupy separate islands, while the ghats of the old city offer a closer look at daily life: boats moving across the lake, pilgrims visiting shrines and artisans working in small workshops. Bagore Ki Haveli, once a noble residence, provides insight into domestic life and hosts evening performances of Rajasthani music and dance.

Markets, Gardens and Surrounding Hills

Beyond the palace quarter, Saheliyon-ki-Bari introduces a quieter world of fountains and gardens, while the Monsoon Palace on Bansdara Hill overlooks the lakes and distant countryside. Udaipur’s markets are known for miniature paintings, textiles, jewellery, leather goods and colourful handicrafts, particularly around Hathi Pol and Bada Bazaar. The city’s Mewari identity remains visible in its food, festivals, folk performances and enduring connection with the rugged landscapes of Rajasthan.

When is the best time to visit Udaipur?

Best: December–February · 29–33°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January (best)291
February (best)330
March390
April440
May462
June4023
July35116
August35100
September3668
October3514
November331
December (best)300

Getting to and around Udaipur

How to get there

Udaipur is served by Maharana Pratap Airport, also known as Udaipur Airport, at Dabok roughly 20–25 kilometres east of the historic centre; connections vary by season and airline, so current schedules should be checked before travelling. Udaipur City railway station has rail links with major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Ahmedabad, while Rana Pratap Nagar is another station used by some services. Long-distance buses connect Udaipur with cities across Rajasthan and neighbouring states, and national highways make it accessible by road. The railway station and central bus facilities are within practical reach of the old city by taxi or auto-rickshaw.

Transportation

The old city, City Palace quarter and several lakefront areas are best explored on foot, although lanes can be uneven, crowded and partly inaccessible to vehicles. Auto-rickshaws and app-based or conventional taxis are widely used for longer journeys, including trips to the airport, railway station, Sajjangarh and outer neighbourhoods; agree on a fare beforehand where a meter is not used. Local buses serve parts of the wider urban area but are less convenient for visitors following a concentrated sightseeing itinerary. Private cars can be awkward around the historic centre because of narrow streets and limited parking. Boat services on Lake Pichola operate separately from road transport and may be affected by weather or water conditions.

Best attractions in Udaipur

Udaipur’s principal sightseeing unfolds around its lakes and former royal precincts. The City Palace occupies the eastern shore of Lake Pichola, connecting courtyards, galleries and balconies with views across the water to Jag Mandir island. A boat journey reveals the city from a quieter angle, while the waterfront ghats around Gangaur Ghat and Ambrai Ghat show how the lake remains woven into daily life. Bagore Ki Haveli provides a more intimate look at aristocratic domestic culture, with displays of costumes, furnishings and regional arts. Jagdish Temple, reached through the old city’s lanes, is an active Hindu shrine known for its carved exterior. Saheliyon-ki-Bari offers a change of pace with fountains, mature planting and royal garden history. Beyond the centre, the Monsoon Palace on Bansdara Hill commands wide views over Udaipur’s lakes and the Aravalli landscape.

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Best landmarks in Udaipur

The City Palace is Udaipur’s defining civic and architectural landmark, a vast lakeside complex whose courtyards, gateways, pavilions and decorated interiors record the work of successive Mewar rulers. Nearby Jagdish Temple, built in the seventeenth century during the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh I, is dedicated to Vishnu and rises above the old city with a finely carved sandstone exterior. Jagdish Chowk leads towards Gangaur Ghat, a ceremonial waterfront space associated with religious observance and local festivals. Across Lake Pichola, Jag Mandir is an island palace with elegant pavilions and marble details, while the Lake Palace occupies another island as a historic royal retreat, now operating as a hotel. On Bansdara Hill, the Monsoon Palace forms a prominent silhouette above the lakes and Aravalli countryside.

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Best restaurants in Udaipur

Udaipur’s food culture reflects the dry climate, pastoral traditions and courtly history of Mewar. Local menus commonly feature dal baati churma, the celebrated combination of lentils, baked wheat dumplings and sweetened crumbled baati, alongside gatte ki sabzi, ker sangri made with desert beans and berries, and spicy laal maas. Vegetarian cooking is especially prominent, with millet, gram flour, yoghurt, seasonal vegetables and clarified butter appearing in many regional preparations. The old city and lakefront contain traditional Rajasthani dining rooms, cafés and rooftop restaurants, while markets and sweet shops provide kachori, samosa, jalebi and other snacks. Contemporary venues add North Indian, South Indian and international dishes, but the most distinctive meals are often found in settings that bring together Mewari recipes, views of Lake Pichola and the measured hospitality associated with Rajasthan.

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Best bars in Udaipur

Udaipur’s evenings are generally more atmospheric than club-focused. Rooftop restaurants and hotel terraces around the old city and Lake Pichola provide spaces for drinks and conversation, often with views towards the illuminated City Palace and Jag Mandir. A small selection of hotel bars and contemporary lounges serves cocktails, spirits and wine, while cafés remain popular for slower evenings. Bagore Ki Haveli’s Dharohar dance and music performance offers a cultural alternative, presenting Rajasthani folk traditions in an historic courtyard setting. Some larger hotels host live music or evening entertainment, but the city does not have the extensive late-night club circuit found in India’s biggest metropolitan centres. Visitors should respect local sensitivities around alcohol, check venue policies and use pre-arranged or trusted transport when returning to accommodation after dark.

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Best nightclubs in Udaipur

Udaipur’s evenings are generally more atmospheric than club-focused. Rooftop restaurants and hotel terraces around the old city and Lake Pichola provide spaces for drinks and conversation, often with views towards the illuminated City Palace and Jag Mandir. A small selection of hotel bars and contemporary lounges serves cocktails, spirits and wine, while cafés remain popular for slower evenings. Bagore Ki Haveli’s Dharohar dance and music performance offers a cultural alternative, presenting Rajasthani folk traditions in an historic courtyard setting. Some larger hotels host live music or evening entertainment, but the city does not have the extensive late-night club circuit found in India’s biggest metropolitan centres. Visitors should respect local sensitivities around alcohol, check venue policies and use pre-arranged or trusted transport when returning to accommodation after dark.

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Best shops in Udaipur

Udaipur’s principal shopping areas lie in and around the old city, where Hathi Pol Bazaar is associated with miniature paintings, textiles, handicrafts and souvenirs, and Bada Bazaar offers jewellery, clothing, leather goods, spices and everyday market life. Shilpgram, west of the central city, presents crafts and rural artistic traditions from Rajasthan and neighbouring regions, with activity varying according to the calendar. Mewari miniature paintings are among the most distinctive purchases, often depicting courtly scenes, religious subjects or local landscapes; shoppers should ask about materials and provenance rather than assuming every painting is traditionally made. Bandhani and leheriya tie-dye textiles, block-printed fabrics, embroidered goods, puppets and silver jewellery are also widely encountered. Polite bargaining is customary in many bazaars, while some specialist and fixed-price shops provide a more structured buying experience.

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Udaipur essentials

Currency and Payment
India’s currency is the Indian rupee, with the international code INR and the symbol ₹. Hotels, established restaurants, museums and larger shops commonly accept major debit and credit cards, while contactless payment and QR-based Indian payment systems are increasingly common but may not be usable by every overseas visitor. Carry small amounts of cash for auto-rickshaws, market purchases, temple donations, snacks and smaller businesses. ATMs are available in central commercial areas and around transport hubs, though international cards can occasionally be declined or incur charges. Notify the card issuer before travelling and keep a record of emergency banking contacts.
Safety
Udaipur requires the usual precautions for a busy Indian city: keep phones, wallets and passports secure in crowded bazaars, transport areas and narrow sightseeing lanes, and use trusted transport after dark. Take care when crossing roads, since traffic, motorcycles and auto-rickshaws may move unpredictably and pavements can be discontinuous. Drink treated or sealed water and take sensible care with food hygiene, particularly in hot weather. Heat, sun exposure and dehydration can make palace and hilltop visits tiring. On lakes and at elevated viewpoints, follow barriers and local instructions. Travellers should also check current regional advice concerning weather, demonstrations and travel conditions.
Emergency Situations
India’s unified emergency number is 112, which can be used for police, fire and medical assistance. In an urgent situation, state the location clearly and ask accommodation staff, a guide or a trusted local contact to help communicate if necessary. Foreign visitors should keep passport details, travel insurance information and an emergency contact accessible separately from their original documents. For non-urgent medical needs, hotels and established clinics can usually help identify a nearby doctor or hospital, while serious cases may require a larger medical facility. The British High Commission, other embassies and consulates, and the relevant airline or insurer can provide additional assistance for their nationals.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully at temples, shrines and religious buildings, covering shoulders and knees where local custom indicates, and remove shoes before entering areas marked for worship. Ask permission before photographing people, particularly religious figures, artisans and children. Use the right hand, or both hands, when giving or receiving items, as this is commonly regarded as more courteous. Bargaining is normal in many markets but should remain polite and proportionate; fixed-price shops generally do not expect it. Avoid touching sculptures, leaning on fragile historic decoration or entering restricted palace areas. Tipping is discretionary and should reflect service rather than being treated as an automatic obligation.
Local Tips
The old city is easiest to understand as a sequence of viewpoints and neighbourhoods rather than a single attraction: combine the City Palace with Gangaur Ghat, Jagdish Temple, Bagore Ki Haveli and nearby market lanes. Early mornings offer cooler walking conditions and a more active glimpse of local life around the ghats. Hathi Pol is useful for browsing paintings and handicrafts, while Shilpgram, a rural arts and crafts complex west of the centre, provides broader cultural context. For broad views, Sajjangarh and other hilltop locations are reached more easily by road than on foot. Build flexibility into lake activities because monsoon weather and seasonal water levels can affect access.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
Helloनमस्कार[namaskar]
Goodbyeअलविदा[alvida]
Yesहां[haan]
Noनहीं[nahi]
Please/You're welcomeकृपया[krupaya]
Thank youधन्यवाद[dhanyavaad]
Excuse me/Sorryक्षमा कीजिए[kshama keejiye]
How are you?आप कैसे हैं?[aap kaise hain?]
Fine. And you?ठीक हूँ। आप?[thik hoon. aap?]
Do you speak English?क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?[kya aap angrezi bolte hain?]
I don't understandमुझे समझ नहीं आया[mujhe samajh nahi aaya]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseकृपया मेन्यू दिखाइए[krupaya menu dikhaiye]
I don't eat meatमैं मांस नहीं खाता[main maans nahi khaata]
Cheers!चियर्स![cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseकृपया मैं भुगतान करना चाहूँ[krupaya main bhugtan karna chaahoon]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!बचाओ![bachao!]
Go away!चले जाओ![chale jao!]
Call the Police!पुलिस को बुलाओ![police ko bulaao!]
Call a doctor!डॉक्टर को बुलाओ![doctor ko bulaao!]
I'm lostमैं खो गया/गई हूँ[main kho gaya/gayi hoon]
I'm illमुझे बीमारी है[mujhe bimari hai]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...मैं ... खरीदना चाहता/चाहती हूँ[main ... khareedna chahta/chahti hoon]
I'm just lookingमैं सिर्फ देख रहा/रही हूँ[main sirf dekh raha/rahi hoon]
How much is it?यह कितने का है?[yah kitne ka hai?]
That's too expensiveयह बहुत महंगा है[yah bahut mahanga hai]
Can you lower the price?क्या आप कीमत कम कर सकते हैं?[kya aap keemat kam kar sakte hain?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?अब कितने बजे हैं?[ab kitne baje hain?]
It's one o'clockएक बजे हैं[ek baje hain]
Half past (10)दस बजे तक[das baje tak]
Morningसुबह[subah]
Afternoonदोपहर[dopahar]
Eveningशाम[shaam]
Yesterdayकल[kal]
Todayआज[aaj]
Tomorrowकल[kal]
1एक[ek]
2दो[do]
3तीन[teen]
4चार[chaar]
5पाँच[paanch]
6छः[chhah]
7सात[saat]
8आठ[aath]
9नौ[nau]
10दस[das]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?... कहाँ है?[... kahan hai?]
What's the address?पता क्या है?[pata kya hai?]
Can you show me (on the map)?क्या आप मुझे दिखा सकते हैं (नक्शे पर)?[kya aap mujhe dikha sakte hain (naksha par)?]
When's the next (bus)?अगली (बस) कब है?[agli (bas) kab hai?]
A ticket (to ....)एक टिकट (.... के लिए)[ek ticket (... ke liye)]

History of Udaipur

Mewar Before Udaipur

Udaipur’s story belongs to Mewar, one of the historic Rajput states of north-western India. The Sisodia rulers traced their lineage to the ruling house of Chittorgarh, whose hill fortress became the political and cultural centre of the kingdom. Chittorgarh endured repeated attacks, including campaigns by Alauddin Khalji in 1303, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1535 and the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1567–68. After Chittorgarh fell to Akbar, Maharana Udai Singh II sought a more defensible and agriculturally viable capital in the Aravalli landscape. The lakes and hills around Pichola offered water, shelter and access to routes through Mewar, establishing the geographical conditions for Udaipur’s foundation.

The Foundation of Udaipur

Maharana Udai Singh II founded Udaipur in 1559, traditionally associated with the establishment of a settlement on the eastern side of Lake Pichola. The new capital developed gradually rather than appearing as a planned colonial-style city, with the ruler’s palace, temples, markets and residential quarters growing around the lake and nearby hills. The City Palace complex expanded under successive Maharanas, becoming both a royal residence and the administrative centre of Mewar. Water management was central to the city’s development: Lake Pichola, whose original dam dates from the fourteenth century, was enlarged and connected with other reservoirs, helping support agriculture and settlement in an otherwise dry region.

Maharana Pratap and Mewar’s Resistance

The reign of Maharana Pratap, who ruled from 1572 to 1597, remains central to Mewar’s historical identity. He resisted Mughal authority during the campaigns that culminated in the Battle of Haldighati in 1576, fought in the Aravalli region north-west of Udaipur. Although the battle did not restore Chittorgarh to Mewar, Pratap continued resistance from the hills and recovered parts of his territory during later campaigns. Udaipur’s position as the capital made it an important base in this period, while the surrounding terrain enabled mobile warfare. The memory of Maharana Pratap is reflected in monuments, public celebrations and regional legends, though historical interpretation distinguishes patriotic tradition from the complex political circumstances of the conflict.

Mughal Relations and Palace Growth

Relations between Mewar and the Mughal Empire changed over the seventeenth century. After prolonged conflict, Maharana Amar Singh I accepted a settlement with Emperor Jahangir in 1615, allowing Mewar to retain internal autonomy while acknowledging Mughal supremacy. Udaipur subsequently experienced greater political stability, and the City Palace continued to develop as rulers added courtyards, audience halls, balconies and ceremonial spaces. Maharana Karan Singh and his successors contributed to the palace complex and to the city’s lake infrastructure. The construction and enlargement of reservoirs, including Fateh Sagar Lake, strengthened Udaipur’s function as a capital shaped by water, while courtly arts such as painting, music and miniature illustration flourished under royal patronage.

Treaty, Agency and British Paramountcy

In 1818, Mewar entered into a treaty with the British East India Company, bringing the princely state within the framework of British paramountcy. The Maharana retained internal authority, but external relations and strategic matters were subject to British oversight. Udaipur remained a court city rather than becoming a major industrial centre, and its palace, temples and lakefront institutions continued to express the authority of the ruling house. British-era political arrangements also altered administration, land revenue and diplomatic relations across Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the city’s artistic traditions and craft production survived through court patronage and local communities, helping preserve the cultural forms now associated with Mewari identity.

Integration into Modern Rajasthan

Following Indian independence in 1947, the princely state of Mewar joined the Union of India. Udaipur became part of the United State of Rajasthan in 1948 and later the state of Rajasthan as administrative boundaries were reorganised. The former royal family’s political role ended, while the City Palace and other royal properties acquired new functions as museums, heritage spaces and cultural venues. Improved roads, rail connections and the airport increased Udaipur’s links with the rest of India, and tourism gradually became an important part of the local economy. Modern Udaipur now combines expanding neighbourhoods and contemporary businesses with the historic lakefront, palace precincts, temples and craft traditions inherited from its centuries as Mewar’s capital.

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Embark on an unforgettable journey to Udaipur with Evendo, your comprehensive app-based travel guide. Whether you're marveling at the stunning City Palace, taking a serene boat ride on Lake Pichola, or exploring the historic Jag Mandir, Evendo ensures you won't miss a thing.

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