The City Of Lakes Is In Udaipur, And Here's How To Enjoy Its Beauty

The beautiful city of Udaipur is known as the City of Lakes or the “Venice of the East”. It is one of the largest cities in Rajasthan and is home to some of the most beautiful palaces, temples, mountains, and lakes. There is a lot to see and learn even for those who are looking to just chill out and appreciate the city itself.

Udaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations for both locals and international travelers. It is a romantic destination—one that evokes both an old-world charm while combining it with modern developments.

Climate

Udaipur has a semi-arid climate. It is in a desert, so tourists should expect dry and hot weather during their visit. The city has three seasons: summer, monsoon, and winter. The summer months last from mid-March to June (with temperatures from 73 F to 111 F), monsoon months from July to September, and winter months from October to March (with temperatures from 41 F to 86 F).

Interestingly, Udaipur attracts the most visitors from mid-September to March (monsoon to winter seasons) despite the colder temperatures and rains. It seems that tourists try to avoid the intense heat from the desert during the summer months.

The Lakes Of Udaipur

Udaipur has lakes, both natural and artificial. Artificial lakes were created staring the 13th century to aid water supply and agriculture. These lakes still exist to this day and are popular destinations.

Upper Lakes

Lake Badi
Chota Madar Lake
Bada Madar Lake
Jaisamand Lake ( also known as the “Dhebar Lake”)

City Lakes

Lake Pichola: One of the biggest and oldest; small islands; picturesque; beautiful drone shots; can be seen from the City Palace; romantic destination; view of the sunset; 12th century by Pichu Banjara

Schedule: 9 am to 6 pm

Fateh Sagar Lake: “Pride of Udaipur”; Udaipur Solar Observatory; 2nd largest artificial lake; boating activities and tours; serene; cycling around the lake; aquarium called “Under the Sun” built in 2017

Schedule: 10 am to 5 pm

Additional Lakes:

Swaroop Sagar Lake
Rang Sagar Lake
Kumharia Talab
Goverdhan Sagar

Landmarks And Attractions

Udaipur is known for its right culture, history and architecture. The places listed below are just a few of the best places to check out on your visit:

Palaces

City Palace: Built in 1559, it is located on the banks of Lake Pichola. It is the place where royal families of the region used to reside. These days, tourists can explore the courtyard, gardens, rooms, and pavilions. Check out the museum for artifacts.

Schedule: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Entrance fee: 300 INR ($4.02) for 18+, 100 INR ($1.34) for children and students

Lake Palace: Built as a summer palace for the royal family. It was recently converted to a 5-star hotel.

Jag Madir Palace: Also known as the Lake Garden Palace. It sits on one of the islands of Lake Pichola.

Sajjangarh Palace: Also known as the Monsoon Palace. Located within the Bansdara Mountain, it provides a view of Pichola Lake.

Kumbhalgarh Fort: A fort built in the 15th century. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (as of 2013).

Schedule: 9 am to 5 pm, closed on Sundays
Entrance fee: 100 INR ($1.34 ) for foreign tourists

Temples

Jagdish Temple: A Hindu temple in Udaipur dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Schedule: 4:15 am to 1 pm, 5:15 pm to 8 pm (visiting hours)

Karni Mata Temple: Located near Pichola. It is perched on a hill. It offers views of the lake and the city.

Neemach Mata Temple: Located near Fateh Sagar Lake. Like the Kami Mata, it sits on top of a hill and offers a panoramic view of Udaipur. Aside from the view, visitors will find the structure of Lord Ganesh.

Schedule: 6 am to 8 pm

Other Places To Visit

Gulab Bagh: The biggest garden in Udaipur. Within the garden are a library, ponds, temples, a zoo, and even some government offices.

Crystal Gallery: Built in 1877, it currently has the largest collection of crystals in the world.

Schedule: 10:00am to 1:00pm, 3:00pm to 8:00pm
Entrance fee: 580 INR ($7.76) for adults, 370 INR ($4.95) for children (5-12 years old)

Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary: Located within Jaisamand Lake.

Schedule: open daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Boat tour of the Jaisamand Lake: between 30 to 80 INR ($0.40 to $1.07)

Additional Temples:

Moti Magri: A monument for Maharana Pratap.
Sukhadia Circle
Saheliyon ki-Bari

Activities

As a hub of cultural and historical significance, tourists can take home a part of Udaipur with them as they head home. Shop for arts and crafts: paintings, marble, silver, and terracotta figures. Explore the local culture through tours and hikes.

Most of the old structures from centuries ago still exist. Tourists should take some time to explore any of the historical landmarks in the area.

Local Festivals

Gangaur Festival
Shilpgram Utsav
Hariyali Amavasya
Jagganath Rath Yatra
Jal-Jhilni Ekadashi

Access

A popular tourist destination for locals and international tourists. It’s not hard to get to. Tourists can take a domestic flight to the Maharana Pratap domestic airport from any major city in India. Land travel is also quite sophisticated. Tourists can choose from local buses, car rentals, and trains to help them get around.

Airport: Maharana Pratap Airport (domestic)| Daily flights from different parts of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur, and Hyderabad | Airlines: Air India, IndiGo, and Spice Jet
Railways: Udaipur City Railway Station, Rana Pratap Nagar Railway Station | Luxury train travels: Palace on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Maharaja Express