Best places to visit in Udaipur

[Vineeta30]

My husband and I along with our children will be going to Jaipur for five days. We have a total of 7 days which we can spend there, and the remaining 1-2 days we have, we would like to visit Udaipur.

We would like to know what are the best places to visit in Udaipur. As there is a shortage of time when visiting Udaipur, it would be best if we only visit the best and important places.
If you think there is a priority of the places to visit, please do list them according to the best place to visit first.

 

[briannagodess]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

​

Overview

Often referred to as the City of the Lakes, Udaipur is one of Rajasthan's prime tourist destinations. The picturesque lakes of Udaipur bear some resemblance to the famed water canals of Venice as well. For this reason and more, Udaipur begets attention and importance in many tourist circuits. Once the home of the mighty Mewar dynasty, they have left behind many astounding architectural marvels. That's not all though, the culture of the city has been influenced largely by its past and you would understand that once you visit Udaipur. In this guide, we would highlight the best places to visit when in Udaipur, those that you shouldn't miss when in the city.

Best Places to Visit in Udaipur

• City Palace of Udaipur - The main landmark of Udaipur is the City Palace, a complex comprised of palaces built over the years during the Mewar rule. It was commissioned to be built during the middle of the 15th century by Maharana Udai Singh II. The palace complex looks stunning from the outside, although it has different architectural styles, the unifying colour motif of creamy beige helps keep them blended together. You can choose from a variety of entry tickets for the palace complex but the best option is the ticket that allows entry into all permitted areas along with the museum. As you stroll around the complex, you'd get a glimpse of the bygone royal era, with the ornate wall frescoes and overall regal charm of the place. You must not forget to visit the Badi Mahal, a marble-laden palace set upon a central courtyard slash garden. The exquisite Mor Chowk is comprised of delicate mirror inlays of the peacock design. You can also visit the Salehkhana, an armoury museum, and Palanquin Gallery, the collection of palanquins of the former royal family. It can take around five hours to fully explore the palace complex and absorb its heritage as the prime landmark of the city.

City Palace of Udaipur (Image from Firoze)​

• Chetak Smarak - Have you heard about the story of Chetak, the brave white horse of Maharana Pratap Singh? The story goes that Maharana Pratap Singh was severely injured during the Battle of Haldi Ghati and his horse, Chetak, carried him safely home before the horse died due to severe injuries as well. The Chetak Smarak is a memorial dedicated to this heroic act of the horse and you can find it just a few kilometres from the Fateh Sagar. It is located amidst a small hillock which overlooks the lake and surrounding greenery. The main memorial is of a statue of both Maharana Pratap Singh and Chetak. There's a small museum here as well with paintings depicting scenes from the life of Maharana Pratap Singh. It also has small replicas of the most popular forts of the state.

• Ahar Cenotaphs - The Ahar Cenotaphs are located just two kilometres to the eastern side of Udaipur. This contains the tombs of the royal families of Udaipur. It consists of about 19 chhatris, the canopied tombs of the maharajas of the Mewar dynasty. The chhatris comprise of intricately carved pillars and imposing domes that look grand because of the use of white marble. There are also over 200 cenotaphs here dedicated to the relatives of the Mewar rulers. The Ahar Cenotaphs is a lesser known attraction of the city, but if you love serenity, this place won't disappoint. It also highlights the architectural prowess of the olden era in a simpler way.

• Sajjangarh Palace - Last on this section is the Sajjan garh Palace, also known as the Monsoon Palace. This palace was built by Maharaja Sajjan Singh during the 19th century. It was originally meant to be a nine-storey palace built to observe the monsoon clouds over Udaipur. However, Maharaja Sajjan Singh died before its completion and was only completed by Maharana Fateh Singh thereafter, it served as a hunting lodge since then. The Sajjangarh Palace has a striking white appearance due to the use of white marble. However, it is not that maintained and hence, occupies the last spot on this section. It is not a must visit but you can enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding city and the Pichola Lake from here. It also houses the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the forest area around the palace. Spotting animals here might be rare but you can enjoy the safari here which would let you have a glimpse of the other side of Udaipur.

Museums

• Bagore Ki Haveli - The Bagore Ki Haveli was built by Amar Chand Badwa, the prime minister of the Mewar dynasty during the 18th century. In the succeeding years though, the haveli was reconstructed and renovated by other rulers of the Mewar dynasty. In itself, it boasts of arched entrances and carved pillars, the main features of the Mewar dynasty architectural style. For a long time, the haveli fell into disuse which is why it was restored by the government and opened to the public as a museum. As you stroll around the various exhibits, you would enjoy seeing the stained-glass works and mirror works that line the various rooms of the haveli. The exhibits here vary, from a large collection of puppets, to a quirky turban museum housing the largest turban in the state, to the collection of lavish items of the wives of the maharajas and more. Also worth visiting here is the life-size replica depicting scenes from a traditional Rajasthani wedding ceremony. By night time, you can indulge in the performances of traditional Rajasthani folk dances and puppet shows. The shows start around night time so you can plan your trip to the attraction accordingly.

Folk Dance in Bagore Ki Haveli (Image from Arian)​

• Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal - While fairly newer, the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal is another must visit museum in the city. It showcases the local culture of the state, from its wide collection of puppets, masks, musical instruments and costumes. It is mostly well known though for its daily puppet shows that are not only entertaining but are also educational. These puppet shows let one take a peek into the craftsmanship of the Rajasthanis and their passion for puppetry. The show is followed by a traditional folk dance performance that would also let one understand the beauty and richness of the local culture. The dance performances include balancing of several pots in the dancer's head and even fire breathing acts.

• Shilpgram - Next we have Shilpgram, which is a traditional village-based attraction. This cultural institution depicts the rich heritage of the city. It is similar to the Chandni Chowk of Jaipur, in that you have every culture-related activity in one site. The museum side showcases the traditional huts of the state and each hut houses the ancient utensils of the folk people of the state. Additionally, representative huts for the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa can also be found here. There's also an open-air theatre here where guests can enjoy the traditional folk dance performances. During December, Shilpgram becomes even more alive with the onset of the Shilpgram Fair, where local handicrafts are displayed and showcased to tourists.

• Classic Cars Museum - Last on this section, an optional attraction, is the Classic Cars Museum, a museum showcasing the vintage cars collection of the Mewar dynasty. The museum is now managed by Arvind Singh Mewar, a descendant of the Mewar dynasty. The museum houses a number of vintage cars such as Cadillacs, Rolls Royces and old Ford versions. These vintage cars have been painfully restored to make them more mesmerising in appearance. They are spread around a garage, each having their own spot where you can take your selfies from or maybe just marvel at the olden days.

Religious

• Jagdish Temple - The Jagdish Temple can be compared to the high skyscrapers of other cities. In Udaipur, you won't find such buildings but instead the skyline is inhabited by the spire of the Jagdish Temple, which you can easily spot from anywhere in the city. Built by Maharana Jagat Singh during the 17th century, the Jagdish Temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple was built using stone and the elaborate carvings cover much of the exteriors. The pillars and ceilings also have ornate carvings mainly of Hindu deities and animal depictions. The main sanctum has an image of Lord Jagannath made of black stone. There are also shrines dedicated to other deities such as Ganesha and Shiva. While the rest of the city becomes restless in chaos, the Jagdish Temple remains a tranquil oasis amidst the busy city life.

Jagdish Temple (Image from Christopher)​

• Eklingji Temple - The Eklingji Temple is the abode of Lord Shiva, located outside of the city, about 22 kilometres away. The Mewar dynasty were followers of Lord Shiva and so the temple was cared for by many rulers for the years of their reign. Originally though, it was Maharana Bappa Rawal who built the temple around the 10th century. Here, Lord Shiva is known as Lord Eklingji, the four-faced avatar of the deity. The idol is made of black marble and looks quite stunning. There are also idols of other deities such as Ganesha and Parvati here. Surrounding the temple are smaller temples that are spread amidst the Aravalli hills, giving the entire place a serene vibe.

• Sahastra Bahu Temple - The Sahastra Bahu Temple is about 24 kilometres away from the centre of Udaipur. It is comprised of two main temples, the first being the smaller temple and the second being the larger temple, hence it is also known as the Sas Bahu Temple. The original name though was taken from the a thousand-armed Vishnu or Sahastra Bahu. While the temple is not a functioning one, you can marvel at the glorious beauty of its carvings. The elaborate carvings can be found within the ceilings, the pillars and every area of the temples. They are comprised of Hindu deities, animals and intricate geometric patterns.

Nature

• Pichola Lake - What would Udaipur be without the Pichola Lake? The signature lake of the city built during the 14th century by a gypsy and further enlarged by Maharana Udai Singh, this is the prime attraction of the city. Aside from relaxing boat rides and mountain views, the lake is also home to several important islands and structures. On the Jag Niwas is the Lake Palace, an 18th century palace built by Maharana Jagat Singh. It is not open for tourism unless you're staying as a guest of the now luxury property Lake Palace Hotel. But you spot it from a distance if you take a boat ride on the lake. The impressive Jag Mandir is home to the Jag Mandir Complex, palaces built over different times during the Mewar rule. The palaces were famed though for being the asylum of Shah Jahan during his exile from his kingdom. Other islands that you can spot during your boat ride are the Arsi Vilas and Mohan Mandir.

Pichola Lake (Image from The Do Good Dames)​

• Fateh Sagar - Flanked by the Aravalli hills on its three sides is the tranquil Fateh Sagar. As compared to the Pichola Lake, it has lesser visitors so still has that air of serenity. Just like the former though, it also has some islands worth visiting. First is the Nehru Park which has a restaurant and even a zoo within its premises. You can also enjoy bird watching in this island. The smaller island houses the Public Park, where guests can enjoy fountain shows in. The last island is not open for tourism, unless you know someone working inside in the Solar Observatory of Udaipur. If you have ample time, you can visit the Fateh Sagar Lake although it has a laid-back charm as compared to the more famous Pichola Lake.

Conclusion

This ends our guide on the best places to visit when in Udaipur. This guide only included the most popular and important attractions of the city. As such, you can go ahead and plan your itinerary for a short two-day stay in Udaipur. If you have lesser time than this, pick the first attraction per each section, so the City Palace of Udaipur for the Historical section, the Bagore Ki Haveli for the Museum section, etc. The attractions listed first in each section are the most important and must visit when in Udaipur.

I hope this helps you!

 

[Shiv]

Visiting Udaipur is a great choice, as it's known as the "City of Lakes" and offers a rich cultural and historical experience. Since you have limited time, it's important to prioritize the must-visit places in Udaipur. Here's a list of the best and most important attractions, along with their priority, for a 1-2 day visit:

Day 1: On your first day in Udaipur, explore the core attractions within the city:

1. City Palace: Start your day at the magnificent City Palace, a complex of palaces that offers stunning views of Lake Pichola. It's best to visit early in the morning to beat the crowds.
   
   
2. Jagdish Temple: Located near City Palace, Jagdish Temple is an impressive Hindu temple with intricate architecture and beautiful carvings. It's a short walk from the City Palace.
   
   
3. Boat Ride on Lake Pichola: Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola to enjoy picturesque views of the City Palace, Lake Palace, and the surrounding hills. Sunset is a particularly beautiful time for this activity.
   
   
4. Saheliyon ki Bari: Visit Saheliyon ki Bari, a historic garden known for its fountains, lotus pools, and marble pavilions. It's a serene place to relax in the afternoon.
   

Day 2: On your second day, explore more of Udaipur's charm and culture:

1. Udaipur City Markets: Spend your morning exploring the bustling markets of Udaipur. The old city is known for its colorful bazaars where you can shop for handicrafts, textiles, jewelry, and spices. Hathi Pol and Bada Bazaar are popular shopping areas.
   
   
2. Fateh Sagar Lake: After shopping, head to Fateh Sagar Lake, which is relatively less crowded than Lake Pichola. You can enjoy a boat ride here as well.
   
   
3. Jag Mandir Palace: Take a boat to Jag Mandir Palace, a stunning island palace on Lake Pichola. Explore the palace and its gardens, and enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
   
   
4. Sajjangarh Palace (Monsoon Palace): If time permits and you're interested, you can visit Sajjangarh Palace, also known as the Monsoon Palace, which offers panoramic views of Udaipur and the surrounding lakes. Sunset is a great time to visit for the views.
   

These are the key attractions in Udaipur that capture the essence of the city's beauty and heritage. While you may not be able to explore every nook and cranny in Udaipur in just 1-2 days, this itinerary allows you to experience the most iconic and memorable parts of the city.

Keep in mind that Udaipur is also known for its rich Rajasthani cuisine, so be sure to savor some local dishes during your visit. Enjoy your trip to Udaipur and Jaipur with your family!