Udaipur is often called the “City of Lakes”, and it is arguably the most beautiful (and romantic) destination in Rajasthan. There are lots of famous things to do in Udaipur that live up to that title!
If you have spent time navigating the intense bustle of Delhi or the crowded streets of Jaipur, arriving in Udaipur feels like a deep, refreshing breath of fresh air. It is a slower, easier Indian destination.
Read on for our guide to Udaipur and what we recommend as the things to do in Udaipur to add to your itinerary.
Is Udaipur Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. While most Indian cities are famous for their chaotic energy, Udaipur is an odd kind of balance between the usual Rajasthani grandeur and a famously quieter feel.
What is it Like?
We had heard lots about Udaipur before visiting. But do you know it wasn’t until our fifth visit to India that we finally got there!
It is much (much) different to the rush and bustle of Jaipur and the big Indian cities like Delhi.
I’d recommend if you are making a loop of Rajasthan it is the kind of destination to save for the end.
It is a bit slower – in an Indian kind of way – and beautiful – in that iconic Indian way. 🙂
How Long Do You Need?
We recommend spending at least 2 to 3 days in Udaipur. While you can technically do the highlights in a single day, you will be rushing through one of the most relaxing spots in India.
Giving yourself three days allows time to explore the city, see all of the historic things to do in Udaipur, take a day trip to local forts, and more so if you are sans kids; actually enjoy a long, lazy dinner overlooking the lake.
Do You Need a Guide?
For the most part, you can explore the Old City quite easily on your own. It is very walkable and friendly.
However, for the City Palace, I would recommend hiring a local guide or using an official audio tour. Having someone explain the history and the intricate architecture makes the experience a whole different thing.
10 Awesome Things to Do in Udaipur
We really enjoyed Udaipur as a family. Here are 10 things to do in Udaipur to add to your itinerary.
1. Tour the City Palace
This is the heart of the city and the most famous of things to do in Udaipur. It is a massive, sprawling complex of 11 smaller palaces built over four centuries. You will find incredible mirror work, glass mosaics, and panoramic views of Lake Pichola.
2. Boat Ride on Lake Pichola
Palaces aside, this is perhaps the most iconic of things to do in Udaipur. You can rent a private boat or join a group tour to see the Taj Lake Palace and the city’s waterfront. We took a boat tour over to the palace in the afternoon so albeit didn’t see sunset. But the city is beautiful from the water. Highly recommend a boat tour.
3. Visit Jagdish Temple
Located just a short walk from the City Palace, this 17th-century temple is an architectural masterpiece covered in thousands of hand-carved statues.
4. See Bagore-ki-Haveli
This beautiful waterfront mansion has over 100 rooms. It’s now a museum filled with royal artifacts, puppets, and antique costumes. You can see a traditional folk dance performance in the evening!
5. Wander the Bada Bazar
If you want to dive into local culture (and shopping chaos), this is the spot. You can shop for everything from silver jewellery and leather journals to traditional Rajasthani textiles and colourful bandhani fabrics.
6. The Ghats: Things To Do in Udaipur
In India, a “ghat” refers to a series of stone steps leading down to a body of water. Historically, these steps serve multiple purposes, from daily bathing and clothes washing to sacred religious rituals and, in some locations, riverside or lakeside cremations.
While Udaipur doesn’t have quite as many ghats as you’ll find lining the holy lake in Pushkar, the shores of Lake Pichola are dotted with numerous beautiful stone steps right along the Old City waterline.
7. Visit Saheliyon-ki-Bari
Known as the Garden of the Maidens, this park was built for the ladies of the royal court. It is filled with lotus pools, marble fountains, and lush greenery. It makes a good escape from the midday sun.
8. Daiji Bridge
Daiji Bridge is a pedestrian foot bridge over Lake Pichola. If you want to go to Ambrai Ghat from Gangaur Ghat on foot, or in the direction, this is the path that will take you there.
The pedestrian route over Daiji Bridge from Tripura became part of our Udaipur routine and it was always interesting to see life on Ghats from both sides of the bridge.
9. Take the Cable Car to Karni Mata Temple
For the best birds-eye view of the city, head to the ropeway and take the cable car up to this hillside temple. It’s particularly stunning at sunset.
10. Dine by the Lake at Ambrai Ghat
Grab a table at a waterfront restaurant like Ambrai. There is nothing quite like eating traditional Rajasthani curry while looking across the water at the glowing lights of the City Palace.
Getting There & Around: Things To Do in Udaipur
There are several options of getting to Udaipur. We took the overnight train from Delhi to Udaipur and then departed by train to Ajmer.
Getting There
- By Train: Udaipur is well-connected by rail. The overnight Mewar Express from Delhi is a classic and efficient way to arrive, pulling into the city in the early morning.
- By Air: The Maharana Pratap Airport is about 22 kilometres from the city and serves daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur.
Getting There by Train from Delhi
For our trip, we took the direct overnight train from Delhi to Udaipur. It wasn’t our first train ride in India, but spoiler alert? We had a great ride.
We hopped on the Mewar Express #12963, which departs daily from Hazrat Nizamuddin Station (NZM) in New Delhi at 18:25 and pulls directly into Udaipur City (UDZ) at 07:25 the next morning. Because the route starts in Delhi and ends in Udaipur, boarding and disembarking is (relatively) stress-free.
We booked AC Two Tier (2A), which we highly recommend for overnight journeys. You get a comfortable bunk in a curtained cabin with four berths, and the railway provides a clean bedding package including sheets, a pillowcase, and a heavy blanket.
It takes about 12 to 14 hours total, letting you fall asleep in busy Delhi and wake up fresh in the City of Lakes. 🙂
Getting Around in Udaipur
Once you arrive in Udaipur, and especially in the Old City, the best way to get around is simply on foot. The historic streets are incredibly narrow, making cars and standard taxis impractical.
For longer distances across town or to the northern lakes, hailing an auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk) is your best bet.
Always negotiate the fare before hopping in, or use ride-hailing apps like Ola or Uber to secure standard local pricing.
Where to Stay in Udaipur
For a good base in walking distance to most of the things to do in Udaipur, we recommend staying on the quieter, western side of the lake (the Tripura or Hanuman Ghat neighbourhood) rather than the crowded market centre.
We stayed at Hotel Lake Star, which was a small, basic but welcoming family-run guesthouse. They have budget-friendly family rooms within easy walking distance of the footbridges, and a simple rooftop restaurant with great nighttime views to the city palaces.
- Luxury: If you’re looking for the ultimate experience, the Taj Lake Palace is legendary. It sits right in the middle of the lake and is accessible only by boat.
- Mid-Range/Heritage: A Haveli like Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel is the kind of accommodation Udaipur is famous for. These hotels are full of character, usually feature stunning rooftops, and are within walking distance of the main sights.
Final Thoughts
Udaipur breaks the mould of what many travellers expect when they visit Rajasthan. Instead of intense desert heat and relentless bustle, it is slower, beautiful – on the waterfront – and with that famous palatial heritage from the movies.
However, I don’t want to offend Udaipur fans, but we found that slowness borderline underwhelming. It is beautiful. Though the waterfront and palatial mansions seem almost created just for tourism.
Albeit it is one of the Rajasthan destinations that has to be seen. Plus it is easy and gives you a chance to slow down and relax; which not much of India really does!
So, do you reckon you are going to add these things to do in Udaipur to your India itinerary?
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Travel Planning for India & Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner – Our favourite flight search engine. They can search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – A huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Make sure you have travel insurance before further planning things to do in Udaipur!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
