There are several places to visit in Udaipur as well as excursions to Ranakpur and Shilpgram that are worth undertaking.
High above Lake Pichola’s eastern shore towers the massive, cupola-crowned City Palace of the Maharanas. From its rooftop gardens and balconies, you can gaze out over the lake to the Lake Palace “adrift like a snowflake” in its centre. These are some of the top places to visit in Udaipur and will certainly be the highlight of your trip here. Eastward, away from the lake shore, extends a tangled inner city of lanes lined with homes, temples, shops and businesses that is fascinating to explore. Other Udaipur tourist places worth visiting here are Jagdish temple, the largest Hindu temple in Udaipur, and Monsoon Palace located on the hill above the city, as well as excursions from Udaipur to Ranakpur, Eklingi and Shilpgram.
Few other Udaipur attractions are more spectacular and magical than Lake Pichola. At Gangaur Ghat, you can stand and watch daily life go by – where women gently thrash wet heaps of washing with wooden clubs, helped by splashing children. One of the best things to do in Udaipur is to enjoy the tranquillity of a boat ride on the lake while soaking up the spectacular views of the lake palaces as you circle around it and the City Palace that graces the eastern shore. Some of the other popular things to do in Udaipur is to immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of its ancient bazaars and endless tempting shops, its lively arts scene, and to explore the lovely countryside on wheels, feet or horseback. If you’re into vintage cars, head to the Vintage Car Museum. For a cultural experience of Rajasthani traditional dancing, visit Bagore-ki-Haveli for the Dharohar Dance show.
Below is a list of popular places to visit in Udaipur.
1. City Palace Udaipur
[singlepic id=2542 w=720 h=560 float=center]
City Palace Udaipur is a complex of palaces built by 22 Maharanas over a period of four centuries. Built on a hill top, it had a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. The interiors of the palace complex with its balconies, towers and cupolas exhibit delicate mirror-work, marble-work, murals, wall paintings, silver-work, inlay-work and colored glass.
See our City Palace Udaipur article for more information.
2. Pichola Lake Udaipur
[singlepic id=2588 w=720 h=560 float=center]
Pichola Lake is a large, placid lake with Jag Mandir and Shiv Niwas (Lake Palace) set in it while its eastern shore is lined with the massive City Palace facade. A boat ride is the most scenic way to visit the lake palaces and gape at the vivid scenery from the lake. Locals enjoy bathing and washing their clothes on its eastern ghat near the City Palace.
See our Pichola Lake Udaipur article for more information.
3. Jagdish Temple Udaipur
[singlepic id=2528 w=720 h=560 float=center]
Jagdish Temple Udaipur is the largest Hindu temple in Udaipur and a big tourist attraction. Its intricately carved pillars and beautiful sculptures are fine examples of Indo-Aryan architecture. Located near the City Palace Udaipur, the Jagdish Temple Udaipur is worth a visit.
See our Jagdish Temple Udaipur article for more information.
4. Bagore-ki-Haveli Udaipur: Dharohar Dance Show
[singlepic id=2505 w=720 h=560 float=center]
Bagore-ki-Haveli is a gorgeous 18th century haveli that has been converted into a museum showcasing Mewar art and architecture. In the evenings, the haveli puts on one of the best Rajasthani folk dance shows in Rajasthan – Dharohar Dance. For an hour, performers dance to Rajasthani folk music wearing bright coloured ethnic dresses. The dances are varied and demonstrate the tradition and culture of Rajasthani folklore.
See our Bagore-ki-Haveli article for more information.
5. Monsoon Palace Udaipur
[singlepic id=2439 w=720 h=560 float=center]
The Monsoon Palace Udaipur is a melancholy, neglected late 19th-century palace constructed by Maharana Sajjan Singh. Perched on top of a distant mountain like a fairy-tale castle, it was originally designed to be an astronomical centre to monitor the monsoon clouds in the area which gave it its name. It is best visited at sunset when the views over the Aravalli hill ranges are spectacular.
See our Monsoon Palace Udaipur article for more information.
6. Vintage Car Museum Udaipur
[singlepic id=2380 w=720 h=560 float=center]
The Vintage Car Museum Udaipur is the Vintage & Classic Car Collection of the Maharanas of Udaipur, past and present. The pick of the Collection are the four Rolls Royce’s of which one has won awards while another was used in the James Bond classic Octopussy. Other classics such as a Cadillac Convertible has been used by dignitaries on their visit to Udaipur.
See our Vintage Car Museum article for more information.
7. Ranakpur Jain Temple
[singlepic id=2457 w=720 h=560 float=center]
One of five holy Jain sites and a popular pilgrimage centre, Ranakpur has one of the best-known and most spectacular Jain temple complexes in India. Of the three main temples in Ranakpur, Chaumukha Mandir (Four-Faced Temple) is the biggest and most noteworthy temple for its architectural splendour.
See our Ranakpur Jain Temple article for more information.
Tell us what you think. Which attractions are you planning to see in Udaipur? If you’ve been here before, which places did you visit? Please share with us your experiences.
We love to hear from you so please leave your comments below.
Leave A Comment