Top Things To Do In Udaipur

Top things to do in Udaipur is, in essence, a bunch of experiences realized by visiting Rajput architectural finesse in the form of monuments, exploring colourful markets showcasing beautiful handicrafts, observing scenic beauty of Aravalli hills from several lakes, participating in various cultural activities and festivals, enjoying royal Rajput luxury in heritage hotels, viewing several museums to get to know glorious history etc. Call it the Venice of the East, the most romantic city of the world, the city of lakes, or the prettiest city of Rajasthan, Udaipur has a lot of nick names because of its beauty. Lying in the western reaches of Rajasthan, the beautiful city enables visitors to see the most mesmerizing sunset from beautiful lakes. Along with lakes, erstwhile Mewar capital Udaipur is known for its grand forts, palaces and beautiful gardens. History of Udaipur represents a part of thousands of years of Mewar, a region of Rajasthan, and has also seen it ruled by many Sisodia-clan kings. Maharana Udai Singh II founded this city in 1558 AD to shift capital from Chittorgarh. He established his capital in this city. Scenic locations, gorgeous architecture of the Rajput era, romantic locations and sophisticated lake destinations make Udaipur one of the best tourist destinations in Rajasthan. The blend that people get to explore here are out of the world. Honeymooners, solo tourists, family vacationer, back-packers etc highly prefer Udaipur for their travel in the state of the royal Rajputs.

Take a Sunset Boat Ride in Lake Pichola: The first thing that captures everyone’s attention in Udaipur, the city of lakes, is enchanting Lake Pichola. It is a beautiful lake with the most surreal environment and offers and offers an amazingly mesmerizing view of the sunset. The lake is known for having four islands or four spots highlighted with iconic architectures like Jag Mandir Palace, Jag Niwas (Lake Palace), Arsi Villas and Mohan Mandir. Exploring these islands studded with marvelous royal buildings by riding on a boat and observing sunset is definitely a must see things in Udaipur. It feels great to ride around the lake on a boat and experience the beauty. The best time to take a boat ride at the Lake Pichola is obviously the sunset time. The reflection of the palaces around with the beam of the sunlight is just gorgeously jaw dropping. This is a soulful way to relax and rejuvenate during a trip to Udaipur.

Enjoy Cultural Show in Bagore Ki Haveli: The kings and nobles of Mewar had built several architecturally pleasing mansions in 18th century. Bagore ki Haveli is one of them. This mansion now has been converted into a museum open for the visitors and tourists. It is a huge mansion with large number of rooms, precisely 138 rooms. Bagore Ki Haveli is visited not only for observing architectural workmanship or exploring galleries that contain a lot of artefacts, art pieces and the longest Rajasthani turban, but, it is visited more for being witness to puppet and dance shows depicting colorful cultural heritage of Mewar. The museum remains open for the visitors from 10 AM to 5.30 PM. and the entry fee is merely INR 25. The timing of Dharohar Dance Show is from 7 PM to 8 PM on all days of the week. The tickets of the dance show are available from 6.15 PM right at the museum. This is a daily evening cultural show that happens at Neem courtyard of the haveli.

Visit Karni Mata Temple by Riding Ropeway in Udaipur: Though mammoth and tastefully built palaces and mansions in Udaipur catch attention of the tourists but one cannot ignore famous temples, intricately carved and splendidly beautified. One of the best temples to visit in the city is Karni Mata Temple. Highly revered temple is dedicated to Karni Maa, the presiding deity. It is located on Machla Magra hills. One of the top attractions of Udaipur, Karni Mata temple is best reached by a ropeway. Visiting Karni Mata Temple is thus a blend of devotional, religious, adventure and fun activities. Reaching the temple by ropeway is getting popular with the tourists these days too. Viewing palaces, lakes, huge monuments and panoramic natural landscape is just fabulous. It is not one of the most adventurous rides to take in life but the views and experience are gorgeous and quaint enough.

Explore Hathi Pol Market for Traditional Handicrafts Shopping: Shopping in Rajasthan is a sheer pleasure. Culture & craftsmanship are intricately intertwined in Rajasthan and sumptuously reflect in handicraft and handloom. The display of traditional handicrafts in Rajasthan is a treat to the eyes. One of the best cities to do some exquisite traditional shopping is Udaipur where one can find some great pieces of traditional handicrafts. The best market for it is Hathi Pol. Artisans’ products, traditional paintings, fashion staples, home decor stuff etc can be found and picked up from this market. If a shopper is great at bargaining, then, one can return back with a lot of stuff & products at cheaper prices. The collection of souvenirs here is fantastic. For fashion lovers, collections of ethnic outfits, shoes and bags are the best over here. Most of the shops in Hathi Pol are replete with exhaustive list of articles. One can add some colorful outfits to one’s collection from this market. While walking through and exploring the market, do taste salubrious snacks and foods.

Don’t Miss to Visit Vintage Cars Museum: Historical legacy, ancient monuments and cultural legacy collectively make Rajasthan a vintage state. The charm of the state lies in its traditional aspects. The major tourist attractions of Rajasthan are ancient palaces and forts. Udaipur is also no exception for the same. The vintage spots around Udaipur make the city a place unique and delightful at the same time. One of the many vintage spots around the city is a Vintage Car Museum. It is surely Mecca for car lovers. Anyone visiting this car museum falls instantly in love with classic vehicles & automobiles. There is a collection of vintage, royal, and classic cars which are extremely old and rare. Anyone can visit the museum and explore the beautiful cars in an out and take some pictures with them too. These cars have appeared in some of the movies as well.

Explore Jag Mandir Palace: Jag Mandir is a beautiful palace built on an island amidst Lake Pichola in Udaipur. Built in traditional Rajput & Mughal architectural styles on a huge area, Jag Mandir Palace, converted into a heritage hotel, is equipped with all kinds of luxuries. This is also one of the top places in the city to go for sight-seeing and people love visiting the place for clicking some fabulous pictures. The royal surroundings of the palace also make it totally dreamy. The palace is even popular in the West as Katy Perry, a famous Hollywood thespian, chose Jag Mandir Palace as venue to get married as per the Hindu rituals. The architecture of the palace is astounding and one can spend some good quality time here with one’s loved ones. A lot of weddings happen here because of the magical setting of the place. The place is known as grand weddings destination.

Appreciate Craftsmanship & Purchase Unique Souvenirs from Shilpgram in Udaipur: Udaipur, just like other cities of Rajasthan, boasts of traditionally rich heritage of handicrafts and handloom. Shilpgram is a special place in the city that showcases arts and crafts of Rajasthan. Rajasthan is one of those states in India that proudly boasts its own traditional handicrafts and art forms. It is a very well organized fair, held every year in Udaipur. It displays conventional craftsmanship prevalent in the region. The arts and crafts by the locals of Rajasthan are displayed and promoted here through this event. It takes place in December and is open for one and all. The idea behind the event is to revive and keep alive the folk culture of Rajasthan. It is a popular event and people from different parts of India and world visit the fair to see colorful handicrafts and lifestyle of artisans.

Do Watch Sound & Light Show in City Palace: One of the most gorgeous palaces to visit in Udaipur is the epic City Palace. Each corner of the beautiful & extremely huge palace is intricately designed. City Palace, the most visited tourist attraction in Udaipur, is worth spending time while exploring. There are so many picturesque spots throughout for the travelers and photographers to capture in camera. The palace looks even more beautiful during night hours with all the lights on. City palace in Udaipur is home to several pavilions, temples, garden and museum. Another must-see thing in the City Palace of Udaipur is a Light & Sound Show held every night. It is suggested not to miss this routine event while in the city. It is one of the best things to do when in Udaipur. It is not a normal Light & Sound Show rather it’s an extravaganza of glorious history of Mewar. The show continues for an hour with 12 episodes. Rich cultural heritage is depicted in puppet shows, magic dances, tribal dances, folk dances and many other art forms during the show.

Pacify Your Adventure Spirits by Horse – Riding in Aravali Hills: Along with exploring royal palaces and historical monuments of Udaipur, other things to do here are exploration of the adventurous aspects of the city. The romantic city has plenty of spots like exquisite restaurants and beautiful lakes to rejuvenate but there are other experiences too to try out to see different aspects of the city. The adventurous side of the city includes going for the trek near Tiger Lake, enjoying jungle safari in Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary and also going in for horse-riding in Aravalli hills. The trail of Aravalli ranges is amazing for its panoramic view. It becomes all the more enchanting while meandering through valleys on back of a horse. It is definitely a fun and an exciting activity. This offbeat & quaint activity offers an opportunity to explore rural areas and to enjoy the countryside views of the city on the back of the horse. If a tourist has enough time to explore Udaipur, then, adding this experience to the list can be a good option.

Wander through Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary: Udaipur, located in Mewar region of the desert state of Rajasthan, is replete with all kinds of tourist attractions like historical monuments, religious shrines, beautiful gardens, colorful market, vibrant culture, insightful museums, enchanting lakes, delicious cuisines, adventurous activities and wildlife sanctuaries. One can never have enough of Udaipur as it has so many iconic spots around the city to explore. Just when one thinks that the city is all about beautiful lakes and palaces, comes the existence of a beautiful wildlife sanctuary, Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary. Wandering into Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary, a national park, is just astounding. This jungle served as a royal shooting preserve for Rajput kings and rulers. The Tiger Lake here is a major attraction and also called by the names like Bari Lake and the Jiyan Sagar. Wandering through the woods, exploring wildlife, going on for jungle safari and also trying some treks are the best things to do in the wildlife sanctuary. The jungle exploration is an amazing experience. Diversity of wildlife and flora charms a tourist. Thrill of observing untamed animals and greenery amidst desert enthrall an adventure seeking tourist. It is many times described as a big zoo by ensuring natural habitat for various faunal species. Among easily visible animals here are panthers, sambhars, Nilgais, hares, jackals, chitals, wild boars etc. A large number of species of birds, reptiles and plants can also be seen. It is claimed that nests of long-billed Indian vultures can be spotted here.

Explore Historical & Cultural Lineage of Udaipur on a Guided Heritage Walk: The best way to explore any city, especially the historical ones, is by going on a heritage walk along with the guides. Well informed guides take the tourists to Udaipur city and let them explore some of the amazing spots by explaining detailed history of the place. The places involved in ‘Guided Heritage Walk Tour in Udaipur’ are Lake Pichola, City Palace, Jagdish Temple & local markets. A tuk-tuk ride is also part of experiencing and exploring exotic aspects of Udaipur. Optima Travels conducts guided Udaipur Heritage Walk Tour. Guide provides a detailed history of the places to be visited.

Pay Respect in Culturally, Historically & Religiously Auspicious Temples: Udaipur has historically been a religious city and is known for its iconic temples. Jagdish Temple, Eklingji Temple, Bohra Ganesh Temple and Saas Bahu (actually Sahastrabahu) Temple are some of the most famous temples and deserve a visit by the faithful. All of these temples are unique and entirely different from each other. The architecture of these temples is gorgeous and great for the picture backdrops. These temples were built in ancient times, hence, architecture, beliefs, ambiance, and vibe of these temples are entirely fabulous making one fantasize about the past era. The Eklingji Temple is the most famous temple of the place as it is dedicated to Eklingji, the ruling God of Mewar region. Visiting these temples and seeking the blessings of the Gods create a positive vibe around the trip. Also, one gets to know about religious and historical stories associated with the temples and the presiding deities.

Capture Some Beautiful Scenic Views in Your Camera at Saheliyon Ki Bari: Udaipur is studded with several beautiful gardens, places to relax, rejuvenate and capture scenic beauty. It is impossible to visit Udaipur without taking beautiful pictures from all the scenic spots. For the tourists who love visiting picturesque places, Saheliyon ki Bari is an ideal & not-to-be-missed place for them to visit. Saheliyon ki Bari, a beautiful garden, is one of the top tourist spots of Udaipur. It is not like any other garden rather has typical Rajasthani feel. It has fountains, kiosks, lotus pool and marble elephants. The garden has several beautiful spots to capture in camera and return back with some fond memories of the place in the form of pictures. The name Saheliyon ki Bari means ‘garden of maids of the royal ladies’. It is beautifully built on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake. The garden was built by Maharana Sangram Singh as a gift for his wife and her friends to spend some quality time together.

Have a Night Stay in Lake Palace or Jag Niwas: Having a royal stay in one of the palaces of Rajasthan is a cherished dream for most of the travelers. Udaipur offers excellent and many options for heritage stay but the best among them is to spend at least one night in Taj Lake Palace, formerly known as Jag Niwas. Gorgeous Jag Niwas Palace has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel and it’s managed by Taj Group of Hotels in India. It is one of the most premium hotels in Asia. The palace hotel is situated at the centre of the epic Lake Pichola. The hotel has a fascinating architecture of marble art throughout and has ornate carvings and beautiful glass works. The hotel is known for imparting luxury experiences to the travelers. It is going to be a pricey stay here but every penny spent here for the stay is worth it. Every minute spent in Lake Palace of Udaipur is like experiencing royalty. There is a huge selection of rooms available here and, depending upon the type of royalty to be experienced, one can book and have a lovely stay of a lifetime.

Udaipur Tour Packages

 Majestic Rajasthan Tour

Majestic Rajasthan Tour

9 Nights / 10 Days
Destination : Delhi- Agra- Fatehpur Sikri- Abhaneri -Jaipur-Pushkar-Jodhpur-Ranakpur- Kumbhalgarh-Udaipur

Udaipur with Golden Triangle Tour From Ahmedabad

Udaipur with Golden Triangle Tour From Ahmedabad

6 Nights / 7 Days
Destination : Udaipur – Pushkar – Jaipur - Abhaneri - Fatehpur Sikri- Agra - New Delhi

Rajasthan Shopping Tour

Rajasthan Shopping Tour

18 Nights / 19 Days
Destination : Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Pushkar - Kota - Bundi - Chittaurgarh - Bijaipur - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa

Incredible India with Diwali Tour

Incredible India with Diwali Tour

15 Nights / 16 Days
Destination : Delhi-Udaipur-Jaipur-Abhaneri-Fatehpur-Sikri-Agra-Orchha-Khajuraho-Varanasi-Mumbai-Goa

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