UDAIPUR- The City of Lakes
A Detailed Travel Guide.
The city often called the Venice of India, is a stunning corner of Rajasthan that should be a part of your travel plans of the year!!
Since this happened to be the last city I travelled to before we were stuck in our homes, I penned down the experience & the whereabouts of the place for you all.
WHEN TO VISIT?
The best time to visit Udaipur is in Winters, which is from October to February. Summers, from March to August, is extremely hot. Winters on the other hand are pretty pleasant and are the ideal time to travel.
HOW TO REACH UDAIPUR?
Oh, this should not be any problem. The city is well connected by all means!
AIR: Maharana Pratap Airport Udaipur has located around 20 km from the city centre. Daily domestic flights are available from most major airports throughout the country.
TRAIN: I took the direct Chetak Express (train #12981), which runs daily from Delhi Sarai Rohilla station to Udaipur City and takes about 12–13 hours. A journey in AC 2nd Tier was comfortable for me. You can track all other trains from other parts of the country on IRCTC.com.
BUS: You can use Redbus.com to check availability, time tables, routes, and ticket prices. They are customer friendly, you can contact them for any queries or feedback.
TRAVEL — IN & AROUND THE CITY
It’s fun to walk through the historical marvel that this city is and share tales with the locals bearing a smile so big, it warms the heart. But if you’re a lazy bum, you can get around the city by scooter/bike. The cost to rent a scooter is around 400–500 for a day. However like any other city, you’ll be needing an International /Indian driving license, and always be wearing a helmet while driving. Another alternative to get around is using local auto /tuk-tuks or taxis, which will cost you around 30–100 bucks depending on the distance. Last & most likely not the least are cabs booked via ola /uber.
If you are to follow my suggestion, WALK WALK WALK. If the weather God is generous, you’ll enjoy nothing like walking through the bustling streets of the city and experiencing the Rajasthani vibe the place has to offer. And stating the obvious, where ever you get tired, tuk-tuk will come to your rescue.
WHERE TO STAY:
The place that fits all budgets, a hostel or a palace, you choose the stay that best enhances your experience.
- Low Budget: Zostel, Moustache Hostel, Backpacker Panda, Bunkyard. A stay will cost you around 300–500/- INR (4–7 USD) per night.
- Mid Budget: Mewar Haveli, Panorama guest house 1k-2K (13–25 USD)
- High-budget: Chunda Palace, Radisson blu, Udai Kothi 4k-6k INR (50–80 USD) per night
- Luxury: Oberoi Udaivilas Hotel, Taj Lake Palace, Jagmandir Island Palace, 20k-30k (260–400 USD) per night.
PLACES TO VISIT:
- Visit City Palace: No matter how short your visit is; City Palace should be on everybody’s checklist. Owned by the Mewar dynasty, it took nearly 400 years to build, you look at it once, you’ll know why, its a beautiful mix of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture, and also is one of the most Instagram-able places around. (yay to the bright blue rooms!!). This grand structure might take a few hours of your day, you might want to plan your day accordingly. The gates open at 7:30 in the morning till 5:30 in the evening. The entry ticket costs 300/- INR for the general public and 100/- INR for students.
2. Sunset at Lake Pichola on a Boat: You wouldn’t want to trade the sunset views from Lake Pichola for anything!! The boarding point is ‘Dudh Talaai’, which is just the backside of the city palace, approximately 2km from the city center. I took a 20 min ride around Jagmandir, Taj Palace Hotel, Gangaur Ghat and some other small island structures. It costed me 300/- INR, for a 10 seater, semi-luxury boat. The ticket prices vary from 100–1500/- INR. If you can splurge a lil more, I suggest you take the cruise and sip a drink while enjoying the gorgeous views!
3. Experience Sunrise and Life at Gangaur Ghat- Ghats are of traditional importance in Udaipur, but it offers something to both believers of Gods and atheists. Just a few steps from Lake Pichola is this place offering great views. The usual sight of pigeons being fed outside this magnificent ghat was mesmerizing for me!
4. Bagore Ki Haveli: Its located close to Gangaur Ghat, and traditional dance performances happen daily here; reach by 6 pm to get a ticket and a good seat, because it packs out almost every night, even in the offseason, the show is from 7–8 pm.
5. Offer Prayers at Jagdish temple: This 3 storey temple is another wonder of architecture and sculpture in the city. It is dedicated to what we know as the creator of the world, Lord Shiva. Pro Tip: remember to dress appropriately, and remove your shoes outside as its an active worship place for the Hindus.
6. Monsoon/ Sajjangarh palace: This once served as a royal residence to the Mewar dynasty and located 944m above sea level provides incredible panoramic views over the city. It is famed for being one of the best places to see sunsets. The entry fee is 300 + 100 if you take a jeep.
7. Walk Udaipur’s Colourful Old Town Streets & Markets: Walking around not only gives you a sense of the history and culture of the place, but also offer endless opportunities to see the unseen and getting lost in its streets full of colourful houses.
8. Ahar cenotaph: Ahar is a Royal cemetery for Udaipur’s late Maharajas, I have heard and read that it’s a hidden gem, located around 2km outside the city. I couldn’t see this personally so you all can tell me if what I’ve heard is right! The entry here is free.
WHERE TO EAT
1. Grasswood Cafe, is great for breakfast especially with vegan options, they have wifi available here, so it’s a win-win situation for travellers to work from this beautiful cafe.
2. Namaste Cafe:- It’s Close to Gangaur ghat. They serve good Indian food, I had a thali there, you can choose from either a traditional or Rajasthani Thali — both are vegetarian & equally delicious.
3. Udai Art Cafe, located close to Jagdish Temple, they serve amazing greek and vegan food. You can make a stop here for some coffee or juice.
4. Neelam Restaurant, If you want to eat some Indian homemade food, then this is the place.
5. Some other places to eat are Jagat Niwas Rooftop Restaurant, Cafe Ambrai, Jheel Cafe, Sun and Moon Cafe.
WHERE & WHAT TO SHOP?
To all the bohemian and gypsy lovers, you’re going to spend your well-earned money here. There’s a huge range of embroidered bags, clutches, fabrics with bandhani prints, silver jewellery, footwear, vintage decor pieces and more!
- Hathpole
- Jagdish Temple Chowk
- Bapu Bazaar
I really hope you’ve found my detailed travel guide on the Udaipur useful for your upcoming trip. Or maybe you hadn’t planned to go and I have inspired you?
If you had previous ideas about Udaipur, I hope that this guide has shown just how beautiful the city really is!
Visiting in March for me was such a pleasure and gave me a much-needed escape from the Delhi’s hustle bustle.!
Thank you for reading and please feel free to contact me or comment below 🙂
