When Travelling to Rajasthan, the City of Lakes is a Must on Your Itinerary! Here are the 10 Best Places to Visit in Udaipur (2020)

Also known as the 'City of Lakes', Udaipur is a wonderful city in the state of Rajasthan. This place served as the historic capital of the kingdom of Mewar. The city is filled with both natural and architectural wonders. If you are looking to travel to an Indian city, Udaipur is a place worthy of serious consideration.

Constructed by Maharana Udai Mirza Singh in 1559, City Palace is one of the best architectural displays of Udaipur. The palace combines the architectural style of the Europeans, Madievals and the Chinese. Located at the banks of the beautiful Pichola Lake, this palace is the exhibition of the marvellous Rajput culture. The premise holds 11 different palaces built by various rulers during different times in their history. The pavillions, courtyard and hanging gardens, among others in the palace premises, make up for a wonderful trip to this historic benchmark. The entry fee for an adult is Rs.30 and for children, it costs Rs.15.

Another magnificent architecture not to be missed at Udaipur is the Lake Palace or Jag Niwas. Built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1746, the palace is situated on the island of Jag Niwas in Pichola Lake. In the 1960s, the palace was converted into a luxury hotel and is often considered as the benchmark for luxury hotels in India. Furthermore, this place has appeared in Hollywood and Bollywood films due to its grandeur. A meal at one of the restaurants in the palace can be a moment to cherish and remember. The entry fees for the palace is Rs.500 per person.

Another palace built on an island in the Lake Pichola is the Lake Garden Palace or Jag Mandir. It is constructed by the three Maharanas of the Sisodia Rajputs of Mewar kingdom. Used by the royal family as a summer resort and place to hold parties, the palace is also regarded as a symbol of friendship between the Rajputs and the Mughals. It is also believed that Shah Jahan took inspiration from the palace to build Taj Mahal. It costs Rs.450 per person for a boat ride from City Palace to here before 3 pm. However, the boat ticket is Rs.700 after the aforementioned time.

This Haveli, situated near Pichola Lake, was built in the 18th century by the Amir Chand Badwa, Chief Minister at the Royal Court of Mewar. This place served as a residence for Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore. Hence, it got the name Bagore Ki Haveli from here. Later this mansion was turned into a museum, which displays the legacy of Rajputana and their history. This Haveli situated in the Gangori Ghat has a total of 138 rooms that has unique architecture. The place holds jewellery, hand fans, copper vessels and many other kinds of stuff used by the Rajputs. The ticket price for this place is Rs.60 and an additional cost of Rs.100 has to be incurred if you want to take your camera along with you.

The marvellous bronze statue of Maharana Pratap and his horse Chetak in the Moti Magri is a tribute to his memories and his legacies. This place is located in the top of the hill, which overlooks Fateh Sagar Lake. As this place is situated in a good elevation, you can enjoy the view of the lake and some portions of Udaipur from here. Get to know the history related to Maharana Pratap as well as enjoy the magnificent views from this place. You can also visit the Moti Mahal Museum and the Japanese rock garden while here. The entry fee is Rs.20 for adults and Rs.10 for children.

This garden was built by Sangram Singh II as a gift to his queen. Made as a relaxing place for the queen and her 48 maids, this place can serve a similar function to those who want to take a break from the busy city. Located at the shore of Fateh Sagar Lake, the garden features a lotus pool with beautiful fountains, marble elephants and amazing patio nurseries. Enjoy the lush green lawns and serenity of this peaceful place. The entry fee is Rs.5 per person.

If you are a car enthusiast, then you should not miss the tour of the Vintage Car Museum in Udaipur. Inaugurated in February 2000, the place has served to be one of the most famous tourist destinations of the city. Here you can find a collection of vintage cars. One of them includes the 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom, which even featured in the James Bond film Octopussy. Other cars include MG-TC convertible, 1939 Cadillacs, Ford-A Convertible and 1936 Vauxhall-12, among others. The ticket price for an adult is Rs.250 and for children it is Rs.150.

Udaipur’s largest temple, Jagdish Temple was built in 1651. This Indo-Aryan architecture cost around an estimated 1.5 million INR to be built. Located at the City Palace Complex, the temple was built as a dedication to Lord Vishnu, the preserver. The temple was formerly known as Jagannath Rai. It attracts a huge number of Hindu devotees every year but is a must-visit place for people following any religion to witness its architectural magnificence. The temple also houses shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ganesh, Goddess Shakti and the sun god. The carvings, statues and the serenity of the place make this temple a compelling visit.

Situated at the foothills of the Aravalli ranges, Shilpgram is a complex set up in about 70 acres of land. The area encloses 26 huts built in a traditional architectural way and it showcases crafts and arts by the local Rajasthanis. Every December, a crafts fair is organised at this complex to promote the handicrafts, textile and crafts. This complex also has an open-air amphitheatre that facilitates space for many art festivals. You can contribute to the tradition by shopping at the complex. Also, you can visit two museums near the complex or the nearby Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary. The ticket price is Rs.30 for adults and Rs.15 for children.

Eklingi Temple is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located 22km away from the city, it is one of the most famous temples in the region. Eklingi is believed to be the ruling god of Mewar. The temple is the rebuilt of the original temple of the 8th century, which was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate rulers. It was reconstructed in the 14th and the 15th century. This double-storied temple is famous for its overall architecture, especially the pyramidal style of roof and intricately crafted tower.

Lake Pichola is a stunning artificial freshwater lake built in 1362. The lake holds three islands, Jag Niwas Jag Mandir and Arsi Vilas. Due to its picturesque quality, the lake is featured in many Bollywood and Hollywood movies. A boat ride on Lake Pichola is one of the best things to do in Udaipur. The price for the ride is Rs.400 for adults and Rs.200 for children. The ride is costlier during the evening, costing Rs.700 for adults and Rs.400 for children.

Another magnificent artificial lake in Udaipur is the Fateh Sagar Lake, which is considered as the pride of the city. Built in the 17th century by Maharana Jai Singh, the lake is named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar, who remodelled the lake. This 2.5 kilometres long lake holds three islands - Nehru Park, public park and Udaipur Solar Observatory. Boat ride in the lake costs Rs.30 for regular boat rides, Rs100-200 for motorboat rides and Rs.200-400 for speedboat rides.

Also known as Dhebar Lake, Jaisamand Lake is the second largest artificial lake in India with a length of 1.4 kilometres. It was built in the 17th century by Maharana Jai Singh. The lake has three islands; two big islands are called Baba ka Magra, and the smaller one is called Piari. The shore of the lake features Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, which holds wildlife and vegetation. The ticket price of a boat ride ranges from Rs.30-80 per person.

One of the five prominent lakes of Udaipur, Udaisagar Lake was built by Maharana Udai Singh in 1565. The lake is the result of a dam commissioned by Maharana Udai Singh on Berach River so as to ensure the adequate supply of water in his kingdom. The lake is around 4 kilometres in length and 2.5 kilometres wide. Boat ride services are not available on this lake.

Also known as Rajsamudra Lake, Rajsamand Lake was built by Maharana Raj Singh in 1660. This lake is famous for the breathtaking sunset views and ghats at the southern part of the lake. The etchings on the marble pavilions at the ghats speak about the history of the then period.

Doodh Talai, also known as Milk Pond, is one of the smaller lakes in Udaipur. It lies at the southeastern side of Lake Pichola. More than the lake itself, the trail to reach this lake is a rewarding process, with marvellous views of Lake Pichola, Jag Mandir, and Lake Palace. You should also look towards visiting the two nearby gardens, Manikya Lal Verma Garden and a spellbinding musical garden (Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Park) while visiting the lake.

Badi Lake is also known as Jiyan Sagar, named after his mother by the king Maharana Raj Singh, who built it in the 17th century. The purpose of the construction was to tackle the famine in the Badi village during that time. The freshwater of this lake was quite helpful for people during a severe drought in Udaipur in 1973. Now the lake attracts visitors who want to take a break from the crowd and noise of the city and enjoy the tranquillity of the place.

Vada Pav is one of the most popular vegetarian fast foods all over India. It is a deep-fried potato dumpling inside a sliced pav (bun). One or more chutneys accompanies the pav. You should try this dish in Poornima Vada Pav located at Chetak-Hathipole Road.

If you don’t mind eating a little bit of oily stuff, you should try these spicy and crispy deep-fried snacks. They are available in a variety of stuffings, such as onion, pulses or curd. It tastes best with the chutney. You can find it anywhere in the city but Pratapgarh Chaat Wala and Shri Lala Mishtan are the two special places to try this snack out.

This dish of scrambled eggs, sautéed vegetables, and lots of spices is a delight to eat. Egg lovers should not miss out on this dish while at Udaipur. The most famous place for the food is Chetak Circle which is opposite to the old Chetak Cinema.

Bread Pakora is prepared by stuffing bread with mashed potato masala, rolled oven in besan and deep-fried. These hot and fresh triangular slices are served with fried salted chillies. You should try out these pakoras at the Bombay Market in Fatehsagar.

Pav Bhaji is one of the best foods Udaipur has to offer. This delightful dish includes mouth-watering bhaji along with buttered pavs. One of the best places to try this dish is at Pandit Pav Bhaji which is opposite to Town Hall main gate.

If you are a coffee lover, then you should try the Kulhad Coffee at Vinod Fast Food or Krishna Ice Cream Parlor. This coffee, blended with chocolate sauce and chocolate powder, is a famous street food in Udaipur.

These spicy dishes with a mixture of potatoes, chickpeas or gram, dahi and a lot of spices is a delight to the taste buds. Moreover, it can be prepared in a variety of ways with different ingredients. The one available at Shiv Shakti Chat in Bapu Bazar is famed to be the best Chaat in the city.