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How many days in Udaipur? 3 days, the lakes, the palace and the forts of Mewar
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Udaipur was the capital of the Mewar kingdom, ruled by the Sisodia dynasty, and is built around a chain of lakes in the Aravalli hills of southern Rajasthan. The City Palace rises above Lake Pichola, with white island palaces in the water and the old town's lanes climbing behind the ghats. After the dust of Jaipur or Jodhpur it feels slower and greener. Give it three days: the palace and the lake, then the old town, the other lakes and sunset at the Monsoon Palace, and a long day out to the fort of Kumbhalgarh and the marble temple at Ranakpur.
Short answer
Two days covers the City Palace, a Lake Pichola boat, Jagdish Temple, Bagore ki Haveli and Fateh Sagar. The third day is for Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur, about 90 km away in the hills.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The City Palace and Lake Pichola
Morning. Enter the City Palace at opening time, around 9:00-9:30, before the tour groups. The complex was built and extended over several centuries by the Mewar rulers; walk through courtyards with mirror work, peacock mosaics and balconies over the lake. Allow 2-3 hours; tickets cost several hundred rupees, with extra for cameras and guides.
Afternoon. Take a boat on Lake Pichola from the jetty inside the palace area (roughly ₹500-1,000 per person depending on time of day), with a stop at Jag Mandir, an island palace with gardens and a café. You pass the Taj Lake Palace, now a hotel open only to its guests and diners.
Evening. Watch the sunset over the lake from a rooftop restaurant at Ambrai Ghat on the western shore, facing the lit palace, or from Lal Ghat in the old town. A rooftop dinner costs about ₹800-1,800 per person.
The sunset boat is the most popular and most expensive slot. A late-afternoon boat at 16:00-17:00 is cheaper and the light is still good.
Day 2: Old town, Fateh Sagar and the Monsoon Palace
Morning. Climb the steps of Jagdish Temple, a carved Hindu temple from the 17th century, 5 minutes from the palace gate; arrive early for the morning prayers. Then walk the lanes of the old city to Gangaur Ghat, crossing the footbridge, and look into miniature painting workshops, where artists use fine brushes on paper and silk.
Afternoon. Take an auto-rickshaw (about ₹150-250) to Saheliyon ki Bari, the 'garden of the maidens', with fountains and lotus pools, and on to Fateh Sagar Lake, where locals stroll along the embankment and take boats to the island park. Then ride the ropeway up to the Karni Mata hilltop temple (a few hundred rupees return) for a view of Pichola.
Evening. Drive about 30 minutes to the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace on a hilltop west of the city for sunset over the lakes (entry fee plus a vehicle fee for the sanctuary road). Back in town, catch the Dharohar folk dance show at Bagore ki Haveli on Gangaur Ghat, usually at about 19:00 (about ₹150-300).
Queues for the Bagore ki Haveli show start about 30-45 minutes before it opens. Buy your ticket early and come back.
Day 3: Kumbhalgarh fort and Ranakpur temple
Morning. Leave by 7:30 with a hired car and driver (roughly ₹3,500-5,500 for the day) for Kumbhalgarh, about 2 hours north. The 15th-century fort sits on a ridge, and its walls run for about 36 km over the hills; entry costs a few hundred rupees for foreigners. Climb to the Badal Mahal at the top for views over the Aravallis. Allow 2 hours.
Afternoon. Drive about 1 hour to Ranakpur, where the white marble Jain temple of Adinath, from the 15th century, is famous for its hundreds of carved pillars, no two alike. Non-Jain visitors are usually admitted from about midday; remove shoes and leather, and dress modestly. An audio guide has usually been included with the foreigners' ticket; ask at the counter.
Evening. Return to Udaipur, about 2-2.5 hours, and eat a Rajasthani thali with dal baati churma and gatte ki sabzi in the old city.
Kumbhalgarh fort has a sound-and-light show in the evening. If you want to see it, stay overnight near the fort and do Ranakpur the next morning.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 and Day 2 as written and skip Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur. The second evening's folk show is the best cultural hour in the city.
Got extra days?
Extra days can go to Chittorgarh, the great fort of Mewar, about 2 hours east; to the hill station of Mount Abu (about 3 hours); or on to Jodhpur (about 5 hours by road, often via Ranakpur).
Where to stay in Udaipur
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Lal Ghat / old city | Guesthouses with rooftop cafés over the lake, walk to the palace and temple. | ₹1,200-2,500 |
| Mid-range | Gangaur Ghat / Hanuman Ghat | Haveli hotels with lake-view rooms facing the City Palace. | ₹3,500-8,000 |
| Mid-range | Fateh Sagar | Quieter, greener area by the second lake, 10-15 minutes by rickshaw. | ₹3,000-7,000 |
| Comfort | Lake Pichola palaces and luxury resorts | Heritage palaces on and around the lake; book months ahead in winter. | ₹20,000-80,000 |
Getting around
The old city lanes around the palace, Jagdish Temple and the ghats are walkable but narrow and full of scooters. Auto-rickshaws cover the rest: most trips in the city cost ₹100-250; agree the fare first. Maharana Pratap Airport is about 22 km east, 30-45 minutes by taxi for roughly ₹700-1,000. Trains link Udaipur with Jaipur (about 6-7 hours) and Delhi (overnight). For Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur and Chittorgarh, hire a car and driver for the day.
What to eat in Udaipur
Rajasthani food is rich and often vegetarian. Order dal baati churma, baked wheat balls with lentils and a sweet crumble; gatte ki sabzi, gram-flour dumplings in yoghurt curry; ker sangri, a desert dish of berries and beans; and, for meat eaters, laal maas, a fiery mutton curry. For snacks, try kachori and mirchi vada from street stalls in the morning. A thali in a local restaurant costs ₹250-500; a rooftop dinner with a view ₹800-1,800. Many places in the old city do not serve alcohol; ask before ordering.
Best time to visit
October to March, with highs of 22-30°C and cool nights. Diwali and the winter wedding season are busy and expensive. April to June are hot, often 38-42°C. The monsoon from July to September refills the lakes and turns the hills green, and it is a lovely, quieter time if you accept showers. Lake levels can be low in dry years.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ₹1,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹12,000 |
| Food & drink | ₹700 | ₹1,500 | ₹4,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₹600 | ₹1,500 | ₹3,500 |
| Local transport | ₹300 | ₹1,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Total per person, per day | about ₹2,600 | about ₹7,000 | about ₹22,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Indian rupees; transport includes a share of the car for the day trip. Foreigners pay higher entry fees than Indian visitors at most monuments, and hotels add GST.
Before you go
Common questions
Can I visit the Taj Lake Palace?
The Taj Lake Palace is a hotel, and non-guests are generally not allowed in without a restaurant reservation, which can be very expensive and is not always available. You see it best from a boat on Lake Pichola or from the rooftops of Lal Ghat and Ambrai Ghat. Jag Mandir, the other island palace, is open to visitors who arrive by the boat tour.
Is Udaipur safe for solo travellers?
Udaipur is one of the more relaxed cities in Rajasthan. The usual cautions apply: agree rickshaw fares before getting in, be wary of commission-driven shop invitations, and avoid empty lanes late at night. Women travelling alone generally find the old city comfortable but may get attention; dressing modestly and using hotel-booked transport at night helps.
Is the Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur day trip too long?
It is a full day of about 10 hours, with 5-6 hours of driving on hill roads. Many people enjoy it because both places are very different from Udaipur. If you prefer a slower pace, stay one night near Kumbhalgarh and see the sound-and-light show, or visit Ranakpur on the way to Jodhpur.
How do I get from Jaipur to Udaipur?
Trains take about 6-7 hours and are comfortable in air-conditioned classes; book ahead on the Indian Railways site or an app. Daytime and overnight buses run as well. A private car takes about 6-7 hours and lets you stop at Chittorgarh or Pushkar. Flights are short but infrequent and not always direct.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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