The Best Things to Do in Udaipur, Rajasthan

I recently spent a week in Udaipur - wandering the ancient lanes, meeting the artisans, exploring the sights, and enjoying the food. Read on for my guide to the best things to do in this wonderful city.

The History of Udaipur

Often called the City of Lakes, Udaipur feels different from the moment you arrive. The air seems softer. The light shimmers on the water. White palaces float like mirages. But behind the romance lies a powerful story of resilience, pride and Rajput identity.

Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II, ruler of the kingdom of Mewar. After repeated attacks on the former capital, Chittorgarh, Udai Singh chose this valley, surrounded by the Aravalli Hills, as a safer, more defensible location.

Legend says a holy man advised him to build here beside the lake.

That lake was Lake Pichola — and it would become the heart of the city.

Unlike Jaipur, which was planned as a grid, or Jodhpur, which rose dramatically around a desert fort, Udaipur grew organically around water. Palaces, temples and havelis leaned toward the lakes. Courtyards caught the breeze. Marble reflected the sun. The city was not just built — it was composed.

For centuries, the rulers of Mewar fiercely resisted Mughal domination. Their defiance became legend across Rajasthan. That spirit still lingers in the grandeur of the palaces and in the pride locals feel for their city.

Today, Udaipur balances history and romance. It is at once regal and intimate, theatrical yet peaceful. And that is exactly what makes it such a compelling place to explore.

The Best Things to Do in Udaipur

Explore the Majestic City Palace

You catch glimpses of the City Palace wherever you are in Udaipur. It rises above the old city in layers of marble, balconies and domes, impossibly theatrical against the lake.

The main entrance, Badi Pol, dates back to 1616; its Persian inscription is still visible. Flanking it are chatris added at the end of the 1600s. Step through, and you reach the exquisitely carved Tripoliya Gate, built in 1711, opening into Manek Chowk — the palace’s grand public courtyard.

There’s a wonderful, if apocryphal, story about how it all began. On 16 March 1559, Maharana Udai Singh II killed a hare at this very spot while out hunting. Later, an ascetic advised him to build his capital where the hare had fallen. A stone was placed. The foundation was laid. And Udaipur was born.

Today, the palace is not one building but a complex of interconnected palaces, corridors and courtyards — hundreds of rooms accumulated over nearly 400 years.

When I visited, much of the courtyard was hidden behind elaborate construction. Not renovation — wedding preparation. The entire palace had been hired for a multi-million-rupee celebration. I’m told that if the price is high enough, the palace can be closed to tourists entirely for weeks. Rajasthan does nothing by halves.

I limited myself to what truly interested me — the astonishing horse armour fitted with imitation elephant trunks (designed to confuse enemy war elephants), the sculpture honouring Mewar’s battle elephants, and the sweeping views over the lake. Three hours disappeared easily.

Visit Jagdish Temple

Built in 1652 by Maharana Jagat Singh, Jagdish Temple is one of the most architecturally significant temples in northern India.

Construction took 25 years. Every single carving — and there are thousands — was done by hand.

Climb the steps and look closely at the sculpted elephants, dancers and deities. This is craftsmanship on a scale that feels almost impossible today.

Wander the Old City (And Take Too Many Photos)

Udaipur’s old city is an assault on the senses — in the best possible way.

Tiny lanes. Painted doorways. Cows wandering past textile shops. Balconies dripping with bougainvillaea.

I probably took far too many photographs.

There are countless textile and craft shops to browse, and if — like me — you’re drawn to handmade work, it’s hard not to linger.

If you have time, join a guided heritage walk. Mine included:

• A copper worker hammering water vessels by hand

• A potter shaping four pieces from a single lump of clay

• Women making disposable plates from stitched leaves

• Men frying crisps in huge woks - the mint flavour was my favourite 😊

• A mustard press extracting oil while keeping the by-product as animal feed

• Local markets selling chickpeas in their bright green raw form before they are dried to make dal

Nothing sold in the fruit and vegetable market is grown in Rajasthan — it’s too dry. Farmers arrive before dawn from other states. The women buy wholesale. The city wakes.

This is Udaipur beyond palaces — living, working, evolving.

Discover Bagore Ki Haveli

Originally built by Shri Amar Chand Badwa, Prime Minister of Mewar (1751–1778), this haveli was later expanded into a grand residence under Maharaj Nath Singh.

After falling into ruin, it underwent five years of restoration beginning in 1986.

Today, some of its 138 rooms house displays of puppets, weapons and paintings. Apart from the rather creepy puppets, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit 😂. It feels intimate compared to the scale of the City Palace.

In the evening, I returned for the 6pm folk dancing show. It was a sellout and wonderfully entertaining — an hour of colour, rhythm and spinning skirts.

Explore the Ghats of Lake Pichola

If you only do one “slow” thing in Udaipur, make it this.

The ghats along Lake Pichola are where the city breathes.

At sunrise and sunset, they fill with life — families strolling, photographers directing elaborate pre-wedding shoots, priests performing rituals, and locals scattering grain to flocks of pigeons that rise in dramatic clouds against the water.

Some ghats are practical — used for washing or launching boats. Others feel theatrical, almost cinematic.

From several of them, you can board boats that glide across the lake past palaces and island temples. Watching Udaipur from the water helps you understand why the city was built here at all.

Don’t rush this. Sit. Watch. Let the atmosphere settle.

Eat at a Rooftop Restaurant Overlooking the Lake

One of the best things to do in Udaipur costs nothing more than the price of dinner.

Climb the stairs to one of the many rooftop restaurants overlooking Lake Pichola and order something simple — perhaps a thali, perhaps just chai — and watch the light change.

As the sun drops, the lake turns gold, then pink, then deep indigo. The City Palace glows. Boats cut dark silhouettes across the water.

It’s romantic, yes. But it’s also quietly reflective.

This is a city designed to be admired from above.

Take a Craft Workshop

Udaipur isn’t just about palaces — it’s about skill.

The city is renowned for its miniature paintings, a detailed art form developed under royal patronage, often depicting courtly scenes, deities and battles in astonishingly fine brushwork.

You can take hands-on workshops to learn the basics — steady hand, tiny brush, patient focus.

Pottery workshops are also widely available, as are block printing and traditional tie-dye techniques.

If your travels — like mine — lean toward the handmade and the human, this is one of the most rewarding things to do in Udaipur.

You leave not just with a souvenir, but with understanding.

Walk Around Fateh Sagar Lake

Built in the 1680s and named after Maharana Fateh Singh, this artificial lake is a favourite with local families and courting couples.

At sunrise, however, it was almost empty.

Salim, my tuk-tuk guide, brought me here first. I walked the promenade with the place practically to myself — quiet, hazy, peaceful.

Take the Cable Car to Karni Mata Temple

From the lake, we headed to the cable car that climbs Machla Magra Hill.

At the summit, the views stretch in every direction — lakes, palaces, hills, rooftops. It was slightly hazy when I visited, but spectacular nonetheless.

And yes, I treated myself to a freshly cut fruit salad for 100 rupees. Possibly the best-value view in Rajasthan.

Visit the Ahar Cenotaphs

The royal enclosure — containing 250 marble cenotaphs of the Mewar rulers — is closed to the public, but you can view part of the complex from outside.

Here, my guide explained the historical practice of sati (widow immolation), outlawed in 1829 but recorded at several of these sites. Some cenotaphs mark the number of women who died alongside their husbands — in one case, seventeen!

It’s a sobering stop. Rajasthan’s history is not only romantic — it is also complicated.

Relax at Saheliyon Ki Bari (the Garden of the Maidens)

Created in 1730 by Maharana Sangram Singh for royal ladies and their maids, this garden offers green lawns, fountains and shaded benches.

Yes, there were plenty of selfie sticks.

But I found a quiet bench and read my book for a while — and that small pause in the middle of a hectic sightseeing day felt precious.

Visit the Vintage and Classic Car Collection Museum

This museum is a little pricey for its size, and the collection isn’t vast — but I enjoyed it far more than I expected.

Among the polished Rolls-Royces and regal vehicles were two cars I recognised from my childhood: an Austin A55 and a Morris Minor with wooden trim. My Dad owned both of them at different times!

Unexpected nostalgia in the middle of Rajasthan.

Travel does that sometimes — it connects distant places with old memories.

Take a Ferry to Nehru Park

Accessible by ferry across Fateh Sagar Lake, Nehru Park is a man-made island garden.

It’s popular — very popular — particularly with Indian Instagrammers.

To be honest, it wasn’t entirely my sort of place. After a long wait for the return ferry, I’d had enough and asked to head back to my hotel.

But that’s part of travel too — not every stop needs to be magical. Sometimes you go, you observe, you smile… and you move on.

Book a Tuk-Tuk Tour

The six activities described above - Fateh Sagar Lake, Karni Mata Temple, Ahar Cenotaphs, the Garden of the Maidens, the Classic Car Museum, and Nehru Park - can all be done on one tuk-tuk tour. It's very reasonably priced and takes the hassle out of getting from place to place.

Take a Rajasthani Cooking Class

One of my favourite experiences in Udaipur was a small-group cooking class.

We made masala chai, poha (flattened rice with spices and lemon), and the wonderfully carb-heavy dal baati churma — hard wheat rolls dipped in ghee and served with lentil curry.

Travel, for me, is never just about monuments. It’s about kitchens.

Watch the Sunset from Sajjangarh Palace

Perched high above the city, the so-called Monsoon Palace offers panoramic views across the lakes and Aravalli Hills.

Golden hour here is unforgettable.

Try Kachori — Udaipur’s Favourite Street Food

If you want to taste Udaipur rather than just see it, try a kachori.

These deep-fried dough balls are stuffed with a spicy lentil or onion mixture and served hot, often with tamarind chutney or yoghurt. Crisp on the outside, soft and flavourful inside — and astonishingly cheap.

I paid just 20 rupees for mine.

It was served in syrupy tamarind sauce and was far more filling than something that size has any right to be. Street food in India can feel daunting at first, but when you see queues of locals happily tucking in, that’s usually your sign.

Simple. Delicious. Unpretentious.

And very, very Udaipur.

Final Thoughts: Is Udaipur Worth Visiting?

So — is Udaipur worth visiting?

Yes. Unequivocally yes.

But not just for the palaces.

Udaipur is worth visiting because it offers layers. Grand marble architecture and tiny workshop doorways. Royal wedding spectacle and quiet benches in shaded gardens. Sunrise solitude at Fateh Sagar Lake and flocks of pigeons rising dramatically from the ghats.

It’s romantic, certainly. But it’s also human.

You can spend the morning wandering through centuries of Rajput history and the afternoon watching a potter shape clay or learning to paint in miniature. You can dress up for a rooftop dinner overlooking Lake Pichola — or eat a 20-rupee kachori standing at a street stall.

It’s a city that rewards slowing down.

For travellers who love history, craft, food, atmosphere and a touch of theatrical grandeur, Udaipur delivers all of it — without feeling overwhelming in the way some larger Indian cities can.

If you give it time — not just a checklist — it quietly becomes one of the most memorable stops in Rajasthan.

And that, to me, makes it more than worth it.

Watch this Video for More on the Best Things to do in Udaipur

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