Udaipur, traditionally known as Udayapura, was the capital of Mewar. Different titles such as “Venice of the East” and “City of Lakes” have been bestowed upon Udaipur. This beautiful city is perfect for solo travellers, girls’ or boys’ trips and family vacations. In October 2022, I travelled to Udaipur with my sister. We were in the city for 3-4 days and wanted to make the most of our time. We had fun planning, but it was also stressful. It took us a while to cram everything into our itinerary. To help you with your travel plans, I have listed the must-visit places in Udaipur. The list doesn’t include day trips to Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh from Udaipur. The must-visit places in Udaipur are-

• City Palace
• Gangaur Ghat
• Ambrai Ghat
• Fateh Sagar and Lake Pichola
• Sajjangarh
• Jagdish Mandir
• Bagore ki Haveli
• Saheliyon ki Badi
• Ahar cenotaphs
• Karni Mata temple

This article is about the places to visit in Udaipur. But you can discover helpful tips, itineraries and other topics in the following blog posts.

• Udaipur travel guide
• Cafes to visit in Udaipur
• Things to remember when travelling to Udaipur
• Itineraries for Udaipur
• Day trips from Udaipur

CITY PALACE

Maharana Udai Singh II ordered the construction of the City Palace when he moved the capital of Mewar from Chittor to Udaipur. Over the years, kings added to the palace. The 400-year-old City Palace is a beautiful example of Rajput architecture. Sitting atop a small hill, the City Palace overlooks the Pichola Lake.

The City Palace is at the top of places to visit in Udaipur. The palace tour begins with a museum and slowly progresses to the private quarters of the kings and royal family. The balconies and jharokhas offer stunning city and lake views. The City Palace has it all, history, architecture, and photography.

It takes 2-3 hours to explore the entire structure. So, start the tour early. Crowds start arriving by 10 am. You can hire a guide to take you around the palace only if you want to listen to the history. The structure is marked with directions so you won’t get lost. Also, you can explore leisurely.

The City Palace has two gates. One for bikes and foot traffic and the other for vehicles. There is a ticket counter at both entrances.

TIMINGS:- The palace is open from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 9 pm.

TICKETS:- A single ticket costs Rs.300. In the evenings, you can also enjoy a light and sound show in Hindi or English. The prices vary for the different shows.

LAKE PICHOLA AND FATEH SAGAR

Udaipur has several lakes, hence the name “City of Lakes”. Of all the lakes, Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar are widely-known. Both water bodies are beautiful and a favourite sunset place for locals and tourists. The Pichola is larger than the Fateh Sagar.

The best way to explore Fateh Sagar Lake is by taking an evening stroll. There is a wide walkway surrounding the lake. In the evening, small stalls and vendors sell snacks. It is a great place to end the day. You can also go boat ride on the lake. However, many prefer Lake Pichola for boating.

Take a morning boat ride on the Pichola when the crowds are thin. It is a half-hour ride. You can see numerous landmarks along the way, such as the City Palace, Jagmandir, Ambrai Ghat, Taj Lake Palace hotel, Gangaur Ghat and Bagore ki Haveli. The tickets for the morning and afternoon are cheaper than for sunset tours. You can take a boat ride from the City Palace Boat house or Lake Pichola Municipal boat ride point.

TICKETS AND TIMINGS:- From 10 am to 2 pm, the tickets cost Rs 400 for adults and Rs. 200 for children. From 3 pm to 6 pm, the tickets cost Rs.700 for adults and Rs.400 for children. The last boat leaves at 5 pm. There is an extra charge for visiting Jagmandir.

GANGAUR GHAT

There are a few ghats across Pichola Lake. Gangaur Ghat or Gangori Ghat is one of the main ghats. It is next to the Bagore ki Haveli.

The Gangaur festival takes place here, hence the name. Every year a procession of chariots, bullock carts and palanquins starts from various parts of the city. The idols of Gan (Shiva) and Gauri (Parvati) are paraded all over the city before bringing them to the Gangaur Ghat. Here the Gods are put in Lake Pichola before other ceremonies. Men and women dress up and offer prayers at the temple. It is the Gangaur festival. Other festivals, such as Ganesh Chaturthi, are celebrated here.

Gangaur Ghat is a popular sunset spot. Arrive here in the evening to witness a beautiful sunset over Pichola Lake. If you visit in the morning, you can feed the pigeons.

The Gangaur Ghat is at the end of a narrow lane. Bikes, autos or walking are the options for reaching the ghat. Also, there is no entry fee or fixed timings to visit the Gangaur Ghat.

BAGORE KI HAVELI

Bagore ki Haveli is a small palace, now a museum, on the bank of Lake Pichola. It is a few metres from the Gangaur Ghat.

Amar Chand Badwa, the prime minister of Mewar, built Bagore ki Haveli in the 18th century. After independence, the building housed government officers. Later, renovations and restorations took place. It is a beautiful palace with scenic balconies, jharokhas and courtyards. The terrace offers views of Lake Pichola, Gangaur Ghat, Taj Lake Palace hotel, and Jagmandir.

Bagore ki Haveli has a weapons museum, a royal wedding depiction gallery, a turban museum, the main haveli and a puppet museum.

The weapons museum houses swords, shields, armour, spears and other artillery used by kings during epic battles. Here you can see the weapons Maharana Pratap used in the battle of Haldighati.

The royal wedding depiction gallery showcases the various royal wedding customs and traditions.

Colourful turbans in different sizes and styles are in the Turban museum. And the main Haveli includes the chambers of the royal family.

TICKETS FOR THE MUSEUM:- For Indians, the entry fee is Rs. 60 for adults and Rs. 30 for children. For foreigners, the entry fee is Rs. 100 for adults and Rs. 50 for children.

TICKETS FOR DANCE SHOW:- For Indians, the entry fee is Rs. 90 for adults and Rs. 45 for children. For foreigners, the price is Rs. 150 for adults and Rs. 75 for children.

TIMINGS:- Open from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. The Dharohar Dance show starts at 7 pm.

SAHELIYON KI BADI

Saheliyon ki Badi is a garden built by Maharana Sangram Singh between 1710 and 1734. He designed the grounds for his queen and her forty-eight maidens. It was a haven for the queen and her friends. Hence the name Saheliyon ki Badi.

It is a beautiful garden with elephant fountains, a lotus pond, and seasonal and evergreen trees. There is also a small museum showcasing the history.

Saheliyon ki Badi is a bit further from the old city. You can take an auto or drive here.

TICKETS:- The entry fee is Rs. 20 for Indians and Rs. 100 for foreigners.

TIMINGS:- It is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.

KARNI MATA TEMPLE

The Karni Mata temple is atop the Machla Magra hill adjacent to the Doodh Talai lake. A stone idol of Karni Mata sits in the temple.

Visiting the temple in the morning and evening is fortunate, and the goddess will grant your wishes. Locals believe that visiting Karni Mata temple increases one’s lifespan.

Karni Mata temple is atop a hill. You can see Pichola Lake and Doodh Talai lake on one side and the city on the other. People often come here at dusk to watch the sunset.

There are two ways to reach the temple- ropeway or trekking.

TIMINGS:- The temple is open from 4 am to 7:30 pm. The ropeway is operating from 9 am to 8 pm.

TICKETS:- For a shared cabin, it is Rs. 107 per person, and for a private gondola, it is Rs. 560. There are combo tickets for the 3D gallery and other activities nearby.

AMBRAI GHAT

Ambrai Ghat is another beautiful ghat in Udaipur. The ghat opens to water on three sides and is the best spot for sunsets and sunrise. The water turns lovely shades of orange and red. There is a small temple on the ghat. Occasionally music shows are held at the ghat.

Ambrai Ghat offers stunning views of the City Palace. On the other side, you can catch glimpses of The Oberoi Udaivilas Bhawan and Jagmandir.

Unlike other ghats, there is an entry fee for Ambrai Ghat. It is slightly pricey but worth every rupee.

TIMINGS:- The ghat is open from 9 am to midnight.

TICKETS:- A single ticket costs Rs. 110. You can buy the tickets at the counter near Cafe Delight, a few metres from the ghat’s entry gate.

AHAR CENOTAPHS

Ahar cenotaphs or Ahar museum is a complex housing numerous cenotaphs in varying sizes. It was the cremation ground for the royals of Mewar. But it is now an archaeological site.

The cenotaphs are beautiful. They still stand tall but need a little care. The grass is overgrown and makes walking around difficult. Despite the lack of attention, it is a stunning sight.

The best part of visiting the Ahar Cenotaphs is zero people, so you have the entire place to yourself.

The cenotaphs are in the small town of Ahar, a few kilometres from Udaipur. There are two complexes. One of them is open to the public. There is a security guard at the gate who will let you in.

TICKETS AND TIMINGS:- Entry to Ahar cenotaphs is free, but the guard expects a tip. The cenotaphs are open from 10 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday, and closed on Monday.

JAGDISH MANDIR

Jagdish Mandir is a beautiful temple with intricate carvings. It is one of the must-visit places in Udaipur. The temple is near the City Palace, and travellers visit here en route to or from the palace.

The temple is a stunning example of the Nagar style of architecture. In 1651, Maharana Jagat Singh built Jagdish Mandir. The temple has fine and delicate carvings. On all four sides of the main temple, there are smaller temples dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Shiva and Surya.

TICKETS AND TIMINGS:- Entry to Jagdish Mandir is free. The temple is open from 5 am to 2:30 pm and 4 pm to 10:30 pm (summer timings) and 5:30 am to 2:30 pm and 4 pm to 10 pm (winter timings).

SAJJANGARH

The palace is named Sajjangarh after its owner Maharana Sajjan Singh. In 1884, he built this monsoon palace atop a hill overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake. It is another tourist attraction in the long list of places to visit in Udaipur. Sajjangarh is known for its unhindered views of Fateh Sagar Lake, Pichola Lake, the Aravalli ranges and city views. The best time to visit is early morning or dusk.

It is a steep drive to Sajjangarh, so only bikes and cars are allowed. The road is too uphill for autos. Those without a private vehicle can buy a ticket for the Sajjangarh car service. It is a shared cab taking visitors to and fro.

TICKETS:- Entry ticket is Rs. 105 for Indians and Rs. 300 for foreigners. For private cars, it is Rs. 300 and Rs. 106 per person for the Sajjangarh car service.

TIMINGS:- 9 am to 6 pm (Summer timings) and 9 am to 5:30 pm (winter timings)

CONCLUSION

Udaipur is a beautiful city. You can explore it in three days or over a week. The city has something to offer to every traveller. Udaipur caters to every traveller- be it history, food, shopping, nature, or scenic views.

It concludes the places to visit in Udaipur. I have also shared links at the beginning to cafes, itineraries, helpful tips, and day trips from Udaipur.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

If you never go, you’ll never know.

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