Udaipur has many synonyms to its name & most common of them are Venice of East & City of Lakes. As the name suggests, the city has a water connection. Besides this Udaipur was the capital of Kingdom of Mewar. The impression of which is still engraved deep inside the walls of the world famous City Palace. Located appropriately between the lush green hills of Aravali & water bodies Udaipur has a royal feel to its vibe.
The place is often visited by travelers to witness this age-old luxury & to enjoy one of the most culturally rich places in India. So, here is Udaipur Travel Guide for all solo travelers who wants to visit this beautiful place.
How To Reach Udaipur:
Udaipur can be reached via any of the following ways. Choose from the options available that best befits your requirement.Flights:
Sorry international folks, there is no international airport at the present moment. However, a domestic airport is available some 50 Km from the city center.
The best would be to travel to international airports of Delhi or Mumbai & then take a domestic flight to Udaipur. Book early as flights prices are rocketing each passing day.
Trains:
One of the most used mode of transport in India. Udaipur is connected to all the major stations in India. So, finding a direct train is not an issue, much greater issue is finding a berth. Reservation window opens 4 months prior to the journey & during peak season the berth vanishes like ice in hot summer.
So, book the train at the earliest (tatkal booking which opens one day prior to the date of journey is also an option).
Roadways:
Udaipur is very well connected with major cities like Delhi & Mumbai. Although, the journey is long from these two mentioned destinations; the excitement of driving through the barren land of Rajasthan or flat highways of Gujrat cannot be undermined.
Also, the location is so perfect that one can plan for an ultimate road trip covering various points while on roads.
What To Do In Udaipur:
There are plenty of awesome things/activities to do in Udaipur, so it makes sense to have at least 3 to 4 days to cover everything. Although, it is not absolutely necessary to cover each & every point.
But, if one has 3 to 5 days to spare all the tourist places in the Udaipur can be covered.
City Palace:
The construction of the palace started in 1553 by Maharana Udai Singh II & subsequently by other heroes of Mewar dynasty. Located on the banks of Lake Pichola, palace & museum are open to public viewing. This beautiful palace has 4 major & 7 minor palaces that collectively enhance the beauty of the place. The Palace grandness is a glimpse of the royal life of the Mewar's. The museum is a way of storytelling about the history of the place.
How people used to live, how grand was their life & how they managed their time. There is a lot to experience here. For all the selfie lovers, there are many chambers which can be the background to your next display picture. Udaipur trip is incomplete without visiting this palace.
Lake Picholoa:
Most likely the highlight of the Udaipur is Lake Pichola. A beautiful lake covering the center part of the city is a default attraction for anyone. Most of the restaurants & rooftop cafes are located near to this lake only.
Visiting Pichola during the evening is a must reason being the color that sunlight sparkles are hard to be found anywhere else.
Monsoon Palace:
Monsoon palace is located on the top of the mountain & from where the city is a parabola view. Spoiler alert, the palace has nothing as it is still renovating. Although, the views are the reason why all the people visit this ruin. The time I went to this palace, a couple was getting their pre-wedding photo shoot.
So, looking for some new location for a pre-wedding photo shoot. Head towards this ruin palace in Udaipur.
Badi Lake:
Badi lake is located in the village Badi. Hence, got its name. The lake seems to be unending. Surrounded with short hills, this place is far from the city's noise. There is an entry charge to visit lake which is marginal i.e Rs 10. But, it is not worth it reason being, the charges are only for the view & if you will ride the bike for another 1/2 Km you will get the same view for free.Fatehsagar Lake:
Fatehsagar Lake is an artificial lake named after the Maharana Fateh Sagar. There are three islands the largest is Nehru park then one island houses park & fountain & another being the address of Udaipur Solar Observatory.
The islands are accessible through a motor boat & the evening show of fountains is one thing that people enjoys. Quiet a touristic thing to do in Udaipur :D.
Ambrai Ghat:
A famous ghat in Udaipur. A place to witness one of the best sunsets in Udaipur. The sound of water & diminishing light from the yellow walls of the City Palace is a view hard to find anywhere else. It is the best place to watch a sunset. I spent my first evening in Udaipur at this very place & that set the tone of my trip. A perfect sunset to start my journey.Saheliyon Ki Bari:
Garden of maiden is a famous tourist hub in Udaipur. There is a very small museum here. The king got this made for his queen & her maids. There is calmness in the place & is perfect for an evening stroll. Lots of plants, lots of greenery is the symbol of this place. If you have time you can visit this place, if you are short on time skip this place.
Karni Mata Ropeway:
It is not as boring as it sounds. Though there is a temple at a very high position. There is one more reason to visit this place & that is sunset. There are many parts in Udaipur from where one can watch sun set. But, this place has its charm as one can catch Udaipur city & golden yellow City Palace in a single frame. A pic worth taking.Rooftop Restaurants:
One of the best parts of this sweet city is its evening. Most of the rooftops are surrounding Lake Pichola & during the evenings the place is much more beautiful & much more pleasant. Be it anything sipping a coffee, having a beer or eating dinner. Everything is just so nice. Rooftop restaurants overlooking the lake is the thing to be experienced.Eklingji Temple:
Eklingji is not exactly in Udaipur. It is located approx 20 Km from the city center. A scenic drive to this place depends on the person. If he/she do wish to travel to this temple don't forget to eat Mirchi Pakoda. A local dish which is hell lot tasty.
Sahastra Bahu Temple:
A ruin of 10th Century is a collection of few buildings which are on the list archeological survey of India.Sahastra Bahu represents 1000 arms to depict a form of Vishnu.
One will be amazed by the details in the drawing craved on the walls of the temple.Eklingji temple & sahastra bahu temple is located in the same direction. Thus, can be covered together.
Jagdish Temple:
Jagdish temple is a large Hindu temple located near the City Palace. The temple is crowded with the devotees.Bagore Ki Haveli:
Located on the banks of Lake Pichola. Bagore Ki Haveli has museum & a traditional dance show every evening for 1 hour. The queues are long so it is advisable to book the tickets in advance. The folk dance is a combination of 7 dance forms famous in the Rajasthan.
Lake Palace:
Udaipur Lake Palace is a luxury resort located on an island in Lake Pichola which can be reached by a speedboat. So, anyone who wants to fancy visiting this palace shall plan in advance.
Although there are many 5-star luxury hotels & resorts. This palace stands for itself because of its location which is unbeatable from any standards.
These are the list of the things to do be done in Udaipur. If one is looking for some unique experience. There is one thing which can be done & these are
Animal Aid:
Started by a group of foreigners. Animal aid is a charitable trust to rescue street animals. They take care of them & allow local to spend some playful time. A nice way to spend an afternoon doing something for the mother nature.
For more information you can visit the website Animal Aid Unlimited.
How Much Money Required For Udaipur:
Udaipur is not as dearer as any other place in India reason of which is very visible ( the royalness in the air). Although, the place can still be covered on budget. Below are the various cost involved during the trip.
Accommodation:
As mentioned earlier there are plenty of options available for the tourists. Depending on how you want to spend, you can find the alternates pretty easily. If money is not an issue do stay in Udai Villas Palace. Can be considered as one of the grandest hotels in India. Apart from that, there are many options of hostels available. I stayed at Gypsy Child Lake Hostel which cost around Rs 750 per night.Site Seeing:
Major attractions have an entry fee & it largely varies with the attractions you want to visit. Most of the people visit The City Palace & entry charge for which is Rs 300 per person.
Commutation is not an issue in Udaipur, there are options from local option like autorickshaw to travel across the length & breadth of Udaipur. However, I would suggest renting a motorbike, it is much more convenient & easily available. The rentals start at Rs 200 or 250 for 8 hours. However, this largely varies with the season.
Food:
There are lots of options available. Rajasthani Thali without saying is a must try (Gordhan Thal is one of the famous places to eat such thali). If you love street food then pyaaz ki kachori is one dish to try for sure. If you will eat it once, you will be tempted to eat one more. Upre is one restaurant with fantastic view & great ambiance, do visit it once.For a day a budget of somewhere between 1500 to 2000 INR is sufficient. However, this budget is considering you will stay in hostels & don't shop. For a more leisure trip consider a budget of INR 3500 to 4000 per person.
Best Time To Visit Udaipur:
Udaipur is located in the Rajasthan the place known for its heat. During summer the weather is dry & hot & during winter the temperature drops to a single digit. Thus, the best time to visit Udaipur is from Oct to Feb. When the temperature is low & the weather is good for outdoor activities.
I hope I did justice with the city's royalness through my Udaipur Travel Guide. For me traveling to this city was an awesome experience & without a doubt, I would like to visit the place again. If it is same with you,
I would appreciate if you can share this among your friend groups.
A trip is incomplete without the pics. During the time of this trip, I used an iPhone 6s which clicks awesome pics. So, I would recommend you buying a great camera phone to take some breathtaking pics.
Apart from a phone camera, I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos. GoPro is easy & handy to use, which makes it a must buy.
Apart from a phone camera, I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos. GoPro is easy & handy to use, which makes it a must buy.
This is a great description and a great help to any would be visitors.
Thanks John