Udaipur between lakes, palaces and the Aravalli Hills

Lakes, island palaces and the green Aravalli Hills give Udaipur its distinctive character. The city combines impressive architecture with museums, temples and nature experiences. If you are planning a trip, you can start by considering whether lakes and palaces, culture or excursions into the surrounding area will shape your stay.

Lake scenery and places to visit

Lake Pichola is home to two island palaces: Jagniwas and Jagmandir lie in the lake. A sunset boat ride offers views of Lake Pichola and the City Palace. Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake connected to Lake Pichola by a canal. It includes an island with the Udaipur Solar Observatory. Udai Sagar Lake is also one of Udaipur’s five significant lakes.

Badi Lake offers a different landscape: this artificial freshwater lake is surrounded by three chhatris and is considered a tourist attraction in Udaipur. Doodh Talai Lake lies between small hills and includes Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park and Manikya Lal Verma Garden. These different lake settings give your trip more than one possible focus—from islands and palaces to gardens and hills.

Island palaces, temples and city history

The Lake Palace was built between 1743 and 1746 on an island near Jag Mandir in Lake Pichola. Originally called Jagniwas, it served as a summer palace. Jag Mandir is a separate palace on an island in Lake Pichola; its construction began in 1620 and was completed around 1652. The two buildings bring different historical periods together on the same lake.

Other notable cultural sites include Jagdish Temple, an Indo-Aryan-style temple built in 1651 and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Bagore-ki-Haveli, an 18th-century palace on Lake Pichola near Gangaur Ghat, has more than 100 rooms displaying costumes and modern art. A bronze statue of Maharana Pratap on his horse Chetak stands on Moti Magri. Those interested in Mewar’s history can also visit Pratap Gaurav Kendra, a place dedicated to Maharana Pratap and the history of Mewar.

Museums, art and special collections

The Ahar Museum displays rare terracotta pottery, sculptures and archaeological finds, including some dating to around 1700 BC. Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is dedicated to the folk art, culture, songs and festivals of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The institution also has a museum featuring artifacts of Rajasthani culture. Another historical connection can be found at Navalakha Mahal in Gulab Bagh: the site is associated with Maharishi Dayanand’s completion of Satyarth Prakash.

Those who enjoy exploring different themes can discover other sides of Udaipur, too. Under the Sun Fish Aquarium is described as a high-tech virtual aquarium and features 156 species of saltwater and freshwater fish, as well as a touch pool. The Vintage Car Collection features classic vehicles that belonged to the Maharanas of Udaipur.

Nature experiences and excursions

At Sajjangarh Biological Park, visitors can see carnivores and herbivores in a natural setting. The park can be explored on foot or, for a fee, by golf cart. The Bird Park in Gulab Bagh has 12 enclosures with 28 bird species. If you would like to explore the surrounding area at your own pace, a well-planned cycling tour is another option.

Outside Udaipur, the 19th-century Monsoon Palace sits on the Bansdara Hills. In Nagda, about 22 km from Udaipur, stands Sahastra Bahu Temple: this 10th-century temple complex is dedicated to Vishnu and is listed as a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. In winter, the ponds Brahm Talab and Dand Talab near Menar host migratory birds, including greater flamingos and white-tailed lapwings. Shilpgram, near Udaipur, is a living ethnographic museum depicting the ways of life of folk and tribal communities in the western zone. The Mewar Festival is also part of the city’s cultural life and is celebrated to welcome spring.

Choose your travel focus and accommodation

When looking for a holiday apartment in Udaipur, you can first decide which side of the city you would most like to experience: lakes and palaces, temples and collections, or nature and excursions. The city’s variety offers plenty of ways to make your stay interesting, especially if you are travelling with others who have different interests. Directions to Udai Sagar Lake are also available: it can be reached by road from Udaipur City, using local buses, tongas, auto-rickshaws or taxis. Dabok Airport, also known as Maharana Pratap Airport, is about 25 km northeast of Udaipur city centre.

More destination pages: Udaipur, Guman, Jaisamand, Kanore, Dakan Kotra, Dabok, Mohanpura, Gogunda, Nayagaon, Matasula, Modi.

For the broader travel overview: Rajasthan.