Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Udaipur, Rajasthan's City of Lakes
Built around a chain of artificial lakes in southern Rajasthan, Udaipur pairs the largest palace complex in the state with narrow old-city streets, island palaces and hillside viewpoints.
Sep 24, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II of the Mewar dynasty, after the fall of the earlier Mewar capital at Chittorgarh, and built around Lake Pichola, an artificial lake first created in the 14th century and later expanded. The city's palaces, temples and havelis were laid out along and around the water, giving Udaipur its enduring nickname, the City of Lakes, and its reputation as one of Rajasthan's most romantic stops. Here are seven things worth building a visit around.
1. City Palace
Begun by Udai Singh II in 1559 and extended by successive Mewar rulers over the next four centuries, the City Palace is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, a connected series of courtyards, balconies and towers built in a mix of Rajput and Mughal styles. Several sections remain a private royal residence, while others are open as a museum housing miniature paintings, mirrorwork and royal artefacts.
2. Lake Pichola boat ride
An evening boat ride across Lake Pichola remains the classic way to see the City Palace's lakefront facade and the two island palaces at their best, as the sandstone catches the light before sunset.
3. Jag Mandir
An island palace on Lake Pichola begun in the early 17th century, Jag Mandir is said to have sheltered the young Mughal prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jahan, during a period of rebellion against his father, decades before he built the Taj Mahal.
4. Jagdish Temple
A large Indo-Aryan style temple completed in 1651, close to the City Palace's main gate, Jagdish Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and remains an active place of worship, its exterior covered in detailed carved friezes.
5. Saheliyon Ki Bari
A walled garden built in the early 18th century for the ladies of the royal court, its name translates roughly as Garden of the Maidens, and it centres on a set of fountains, kiosks and a lotus pool, still fed by an old irrigation system.
6. Monsoon Palace
Perched on a hilltop above the city, the Sajjangarh Palace, popularly known as the Monsoon Palace, was built in the late 19th century as a monsoon retreat and observation point for tracking storm clouds over the Aravalli hills, and it remains the best sunset viewpoint over the whole lake district.
7. The old city's havelis and bazaars
The narrow lanes between the City Palace and Jagdish Temple hold Udaipur's old bazaars, Hathi Pol and Bada Bazaar among them, along with Bagore Ki Haveli, an 18th-century courtyard mansion now run as a museum with an evening folk dance show recreating traditional Rajasthani performance.
Traveller tips
- Maharana Pratap Airport is around 25 minutes from the old city; Udaipur is also well connected by rail to Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities.
- October to March brings the most comfortable weather; summer temperatures can climb well above 35°C.
- Boat access to Jag Mandir and lake cruises depends on water levels, which can drop noticeably late in the dry season; check availability locally before planning around it.
- The old city's lanes are best explored on foot or by cycle-rickshaw, since many are too narrow for cars.
Where this is
Udaipur, Rajasthan