Udaipur Travel Guide : A Complete Travel Guide to India’s City of Lakes

Udaipur Travel Guide : A Complete Travel Guide to India’s City of Lakes

All about Udaipur:

A city that can charm anyone with its aesthetics and royalty, such a city is this city with stunning facts of Udaipur. Built with intricate carvings and regal architecture, Udaipur is one of a kind with its magical perspectives. Udaipur is a storehouse of stunning history and cultural diversity that was founded by the royal, Maharana Udai Singh II, the ruler of the Mewai Kingdom, during 1559. Udaipur served as the capital of Rajathan until British rule made it a princely state under them. Udaipur is a city filled with stories, of war and defeat, of love and history and of the victories of several people that took over Udaipur’s historical background. Udaipur tourism is one of the most sought-after in the country.

The city is full of valor and royalty. The stunning architecture, the intricate carvings, the detailed works on the forts and palaces, these all make it a notice-worthy place to visit. The most stunning among them all is the City Palace, which is a complex resorting to several palaces and forts. The courtyards and the gardens associated with the complex give an astonishing view of the landscape that surrounds it so well. The beauty about City Palace is how it is surrounded by Lake Pichola which ravishingly doubles the beauty through its reflective features. Udaipur guide helps you understand in mapping the city.

Udaipur is beautiful through its culture and its roots which is richly carried forward with grace and attention. Cultural relevance such as music, dance and festivals are carried forward throughout the year. Ghoomar and Albelia are famous artforms that function as an integral part of Udaipur’s cultural background. Udaipur moreover treasures a wide variety of traditional handicrafts and artworks which showcases the beauty of the city’s history. The miniature paintings and handcrafted ornaments steal looks for tourists visiting the realm of Udaipur.

The entirety of Udaipur is also known as the “Venice of East” particularly because it is surrounded with lakes throughout the city. Udaipur is surrounded with several lakes which probably is one of the most iconic parts of being in Udaipur. The renowned among them are Fateh Sagar Lake and Lake Pichola. The lakes add to the scenic beauty of Udaipur and make the city look like a jewel.

Overall, Udaipur is a city that is rich in its cuisines, culture and heritage, and has traditionalism rooted in its aesthetics, and Udaipur travel guide helps you to find the most relevant. It is a perfect blend of authentic historical background and natural landscape.

 

Udaipur City of Lakes

Udaipur is rightly known as the “City of Lakes” as this city is surrounded by few of the most mesmerising lakes. Lakes in Udaipur create a major magical ambience in the landscape of the city. The picturesque views of Udaipur are mainly contributed by these stunning lakes that act as a jewel in the city’s aesthetics. A few of the most beautiful lakes in Udaipur are Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar lake and Rajsamand Lake.

Lake Pichola is a man-made lake built by a tribal farmer named Banjara during the 14th century. Although, the founder of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh II, later expanded it creating this lake as a famous tourist spot for people coming from all over India. The mesmerising ambience of Lake Pichola is surrounded by beautiful greeneries, hills, places, temples, and pretty gardens. Visitors can enjoy boat rides in the lake while enjoying the view of landscape all around, experiencing the view of City Palace, Jag Mandir and Aravalli Hills.

While Lake Pichola grabs most of the attention, Fateh Sagar Lake is another popular lake that attracts many tourists to its beauty. This stunning lake was named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur which was constructed in the 17th century with the aim of providing water to the neighbouring area. There are three islands that surround Fateh Sagar Lake namely, Nehru Park, Udaipur Solar Observatory and a public park with jet fountains.

The Rajsamand Lake is one of the biggest artificially made lakes which was built around the 17th Century by Maharana Raj Singh I. This lake is near the Rajsamand city and is popular for its marble embankments and aesthetic carvings, and has several temples and monuments that surround it.

The other major lakes are Jag Niwas and the Jag Mandir which is an island surrounded by water bodies, and serves as the best tourist places in Udaipur. 

Planning Your Trip

A trip can be most enjoyable if it is well-planned and executed with proper timing. Planning a proper date before executing a trip is crucial to avoid confusion. Personal preferences should be kept in mind such as which festivals are needed for the bucket list. Checking the weather forecast is important to have a hassle-free travel experience. This is a Udaipur tour guide to help you understand the basic needs.

While planning for a trip, research regarding the travel parameters and accommodations needs to be kept in mind. There are popular booking sites that help in booking the perfect accommodation according to the needs of customers.

An itinerary is a must to keep in the planning as it will reduce time in decisiveness while being on the tour and will create a smooth transition of choice. Choosing the destinations which need to be visited beforehand is important as it makes it less exhausting and more enjoyable.

Booking tickets and activities beforehand helps in avoiding excessive crowds and saves a lot of time that will otherwise consume both energy and waste a lot of time that can be used in other ways.

But let’s not forget the most essential, to pack according to the interest of the tour. To have an estimated budget, have proper documents and of course, proper clothing. As Udaipur is comparatively a warm city, it is required to pack light-weighted, breathable clothes that will help in enjoying the tour with the utmost comfort.   

 

  Best Time to Visit Udaipur:

Since Udaipur is naturally a warm place, the best time to visit Udaipur will definitely be the winter months that is October to March, particularly because winter is rather pretty pleasant in Udaipur, and it becomes less suffocating at that time. During winters in Udaipur, the temperature in the day ranges from 15°C to 25°C while during the night, the temperature drops to a range of 5°C to 10°C.

During the summer, the temperature rises to 40°C to 45°C which makes it difficult to explore during that time in the scorching heat. During the monsoon, the weather stays very humid with rainfall and the temperature ranges from 25°C to 30°C.

Overall, looking at the climatic situations, Winter stays as the most comfortable time to visit Udaipur and create innumerable memories.

•       Language: The predominant language used in Udaipur is Rajasthani. While the specific dialect that is commonly spoken is the Mewari dialect, which again is specific to the Mewar district. Hindi is another communicable language that is widely used in the city of Udaipur. Other than that, English also remains as one of the commonly used mediums of language.

There are multiple languages that are also used considering varieties of cultures residing in the city.  

•       Currency: The official currency used in Udaipur is the Indian rupee. Notes and coins are used in the city for all the transactions. If you are an international tourist, currency change to Indian is suggested since most of the localities don’t accept international currencies.
•       Travel Tip: While travelling to Udaipur and enjoying its popular destinations, it is advised to catch the time of morning or the afternoon, as most of the spots are less crowded during that time. As Udaipur is full of lakes and forts, the morning time and the afternoon hours give a stunning solar view, giving an aesthetic picture alongside the mesmerising water bodies.

 

Popular Tourist Attractions in Udaipur:

While Udaipur is popular in every aspect of its aesthetic charms, there are a few places that should not be missed and those are:

1. a) City Lake Palace: The wide and majestic City Lake Palace is a complex that consists of several forts and palaces in itself. The City Palace offers beautiful views of the breathtaking Lake Pichola. The Palace is adorned with intricate marble works and aesthetic carving which has all the potential to attract visitors from all over the world.
2. b) Jag Mandir: Jag Mandir is situated in the island of Lake Pichola and was built during the 17th Jag mandir is featured with beautiful architecture and stunning carvings that can just awe at the first sight.
3. c) Saheliyon ki Bari: Saheliyon ki Bari is a stunning garden complex that was built during the 18th century by Maharana Sangram Singh for the queen. Translated into ‘Garden of Maidens’, this place is surrounded by lush greenery, wide gardens and beautiful fountains. It also has a lotus pool, fountains, and marble carvings which makes the garden even more aesthetically pleasing.
4. d) Jagdish Temple: Built during the 17th century, Jagdish Temple is located near the City Palace and it serves as one of the most fascinating spots for tourists in the city of Udaipur. It was built in the 17th century as a dedication to Lord Vishnu, and has a beautiful architecture consisting of ornate carvings, marble designs and intricate beauty. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Udaipur.
5. e) Vintage Car Museum: The Vintage Car Museum is located within the space of the Garden Hotels and has a wide collection of royal and vintage cars owned by the royal family. There are rare automobiles such as the Rolls Royce, Bentleys and Cardillacs that come from the early 20th century, which are exceptionally preserved and showcased.

 Top Things to Do in Udaipur:

Udaipur has many activities to perform for the tourists and genuinely, they are pretty interesting.

1. a) Visitors can participate in walks through the lanes of heritage. The cultural lanes of ancient havelis, hidden gems and colourful markets. These walks are often guided by tour guides for Udaipur and the visitors are made aware of the heritage spots that contain history.
2. b) Activities like bicycle rides are available to skim through the historical rides, picturesque villages, and interaction with rural and village lifestyles.
3. c) Hot-air Balloon ride: Hot-air Balloon rides are available for tourists for having a unique experience. These rides give a swift experience of having an aerial experience of the lakes and palaces, and makes the tour even more breath-taking from the above. Udaipur city travel guide helps you understand the tactics.

Other than the above-mentioned list, there are activities like horse riding, ayurvedic spa-retreats, meditation centres and shopping places in Udaipur that add on to experiencing Udaipur to the best of capabilities and happen to be the top things to do in Udaipur.

Top Restaurant in Udaipur:

The top restaurant in Udaipur include the Ambrai Restaurant, Upre by 1559 AD, Raas Leela, Seesh Mahal, Jagat Niwas palace, etc. These restaurants have multi-cuisine options, including both Indian and International dishes. Although the restaurants popularly serve Rajasthani cuisines, their options include dishes from around the world which can satisfy the taste buds from any region. Most restaurants in Udaipur serve both veg and non-veg delights which attracts customers from every background to enjoy their meals. There are rooftop cafes in Udaipur while recommending famous food in Udaipur.

Top Hotels in Udaipur:

Udaipur in itself is a place of great traditional and luxurious aesthetics. There are many luxury hotels in Udaipur that provide both royalty and comfort to the visitors, and these can be considered as the top hotels in Udaipur. There are many resorts in Udaipur, the popular ones among them are the Taj Lake Palace, the Oberoi Udaivillas, the Leela Palace Udaipur, Udaipur Marriott Resort and spa, Raas Devigarh and the list goes on. These hotels are a perfect blend of luxury and royalty giving all the facilities and comfort one could ask for. From royal activities to enriching facilities, these luxurious hotels cater to all the needs that can make one feel like a royal. These hotel prove the concept of being cosy while being on a memorable tour and are worth experiencing for a memory of lifetime.

 

What to Eat and Drink:

Udaipur is famous for its culinary varieties but there are a few dishes that can cause regret if not tried, for at least once, if you are in Udaipur. Dal Bati Churma is a famous dish of Rajasthan that is popular among the localities. Laal Maas and Gatte ki Sabzi is another cuisine that can blow your mind with their authentic taste. Other popular dishes are Ker Sangri, Mirchi Vada, Mawa Kachori, Lassi and Masal Chai. 

Where to Stay:

The top locations to stay are the following, such as, the Lake Pichola Area, City Palace Area, Chandpole Area and Lake Palace Road. These areas connect to the most popular tourist destinations with very easy access. It is also time saving to stay and the most premium stays can be found in these areas.

There are accommodations in the outskirts that can also be availed if you are someone who wants to stay away from the chaos and experience the serenity. There are also budget-friendly options in Udaipur allowing rooms in an affordable range.

How to Reach Udaipur?

• By Air : The main city is located at a distance of approximately 22 kms from Udaipur’s Maharana Pratap Airport and is well-connected to all the major cities in India. From the airport, cabs and taxis are available to commute through the distance.
• By Train : There are two major railway stations in Udaipur- Udaipur City Railway Station and Rana Pratap Nagar Railway Station. These railway stations are also connected to major cities. The popular trains to Udaipur are Mewar Express, Chetak Express and Ranakpur Express.
• By Road : Udaipur is well connected via road through the National Highway 8 and State Highway 32 which is connected to Mount Abu. Bus Services, taxis and private drives can be accessed to travel to Udaipur via road.

  

How many days do you need in Udaipur?

An ideal number of 4-5 days are required to cover the popular destinations along with the activities at a comfortable pace.

• Money Saving Tips: A few tips to have a budget-friendly tour in Udaipur includes travelling during off-season, opting for budget accommodations and planning for the same in advance, using public transportation, negotiating prices and being careful about the extra costs.

• About JCR Cab (Taxi, cab, tempo, bus, luxury bus): JCR cabs is a cab service company that caters to the needs of visitors be it for a solo traveller or a large group. JCR cabs are easy to access, and they provide services such as taxi services, cab services, tempo and bus service, and luxury bus services, all the way to make it easier and hassle free for the visitors on their tour. They have a proper itinerary and well-trained staff who take care of the needs of the passengers. JCR Cabs take away the burden of exhausting travelling and makes it easy for the visitors to make their holidays memorable.

 

• Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the best time to visit Udaipur?

The best time to visit is during the winters when the temperature in the day ranges from 15°C to 25°C, while during the night, the temperature drops to a range of 5°C to 10°C.

2. How many days are enough to explore Udaipur?

Around 4-5 days are enough to explore the beautiful city of Udaipur.

3. What are the must-visit attractions in Udaipur?

The must-visit attractions are the forts and the lakes. Specifically, Lake Pichola, City Palace, Jag Mandir and Fateh Sagar Lake are of major importance. 

4. How do I reach Udaipur?

Udaipur can be reached by several modes namely via air, trains or bus. 

5. What is the local cuisine of Udaipur?

The local cuisines of Udaipur are Gatte ki Sabzi, Dal Bati Churma, Ker Sangri and Rajasthani Kadhi.

6. What are the festivals of Udaipur?

The major festivals of Udaipur are Mewar Festival, Gangaur Festival and Shilpgram Craft Fair. These festivals hold major attractions for people who come to visit Udaipur.

7. What are some popular shopping destinations in Udaipur?

Hathi pol Bazaar, Bada Bazaar and Shilpagram are popular destinations for your extensive shopping spree in Udaipur.

8. Are there options for budget accommodation in Udaipur?

There are a lot of accommodations that Udaipur provides which have budget-friendly options. Areas like Old City, Lal Ghat and Chandpole offer options that can help you have a great stay in affordable prices.