Things to do in Udaipur

India is home to 29 states, 7 union territories, 1652 spoken languages and a plethora of natural beauty. I don’t think it will be possible for anyone to cover the entire country in one trip or even all the must-visit places. To make it easier for all of you, I will write posts on short trips to Indian states so that you cover the maximum places in less time. Trust me, it is possible. 

Udaipur, the city of lakes is one of the most beautiful states in India. A visit to India cannot be complete without a trip to this city. I recently visited Udaipur and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the city. Usually, when people think of Rajasthan they think of a desert but Udaipur, a very much part of the state, is not at all a desert, on the contrary, it is filled with lakes(hence called the city of lakes) and greenery! There are a lot of places to visit in Udaipur, it is difficult to cover all the attractions in a day, I think atleast 2 days are required to visit all the attractions.  

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Things to do in Udaipur 

(assuming arrival after 12 pm)

 

1. Fill your tummy with delicacies at Natraj 

 

This is the first out of many Places to visit in Udaipur – visit this famous restaurant, it has been featured on so many reputed channels and papers, like Times of India and many more. How could have I missed a meal here. The first branch started way back in 90’s. This is the second branch in the picture and it is a 2 floors restaurant with thali system being served on the 1st floor and al-a-cart system at the second. It offered a good variety of Rajasthani and Gujarati food. 

 

We had our brunch here and we tried Rajasthani food, it was amazing. All you have to do is go empty stomach and start eating, there is so much to eat and drink that you will definitely end up overeating. There are a variety of dals, roti, chutney, vegetables and much more. I loved the white curry and the garlic chutney, I wish I could have more. The best part is that so much good quality food comes in Rs. 220 only! You can have as much as you like.

The thali in this image is incomplete as Gulab Jamuns (Indian dessert) are missing. Although I just love these, I didn’t like the ones served here as it had a more taste of cardamom, you might like it. Do let me know if you like it or not.

 

It will be a good start to your day, you will not feel hungry till late evening. You can also check their Facebook page.

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Address: 22-24, Natraj Dining Hall, City Station Rd, Jawahar Nagar, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001

Time: 10:45AM–3:44PM, 6:40–10:45PM

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2. Udaipur Hotels: Check-in to your resort (prefer lake view room)

You must book a resort near the lake and it would be perfect if you could book a lake view room. The area near Lake Pichola is prime and most of the luxury hotels like Oberoi Udaivillas are near it. 

There are many Lakes in this city, I chose a resort near Fateh Sagar Lake, Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort and Spa. The resort is beautiful, covered in lush White with traditional domes and arches all around. As you enter the gates, you will be reminded of the grand Rajasthani architecture. 

 The rooms were spacious, pretty and offered a beautiful view(Garden/Lake). The breakfast was average in taste but offered a good variety. There are a lot of activities planned by the hotel, throughout the day for those who plan to relax at the resort.

 There is a restaurant called “Aravali” at the rooftop, it provides a wonderful ambiance overlooking the lake for diners. The food is delicious, you must try this restaurant. The Paneer tikka was served with a twist, wrapped in the chutney with pomegranate. I liked it, I would recommend it to all of you.   

Eating at this restaurant also comes under the list -Things to do in Udaipur

Want to see this hotel in more detail? Check out my upcoming Vlog on my Youtube Channel. Subscribe it so you never miss any video!

You can check the hotel and booking details here. 

 

3. Buy some Rajasthani jewellery

Why buy these from Delhi or other states for so much more than its worth when you can buy it from the origin and that too at a very decent price..

Rajasthan is famous for jhumkis, though you will not find good designs everywhere. You should know a good shop to buy beautiful pieces. I went and tried a few shops in a couple of markets but the best pieces were available at “The Silver Emporium” in Bapu Bazaar. This market comes on the way to our next attraction. It is a wholesale shop.

The jhumkis are available in silver and other metals as well. The finish is incomparable and the designs are worth the money.  There are also beautiful sets available made of 9K gold. If you love wearing jewellery then you must visit this shop. I haven’t tried the gemstones or other precious jewellery so can’t comment on that but you can definitely visit here to buy some casual stuff.

This is the third thing you should do in Udaipur

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Address: 251, City Center, Bapu Bazar, Udaipur

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4. A peaceful boat ride at Pichola Lake

This was my favourite part of the entire trip. The lake ride is only for 20 minutes but if you focus on enjoying the ride then it will be sufficient otherwise if you spend the entire ride clicking pictures then you might not be satisfied.

I really enjoyed those 20 minutes because I felt peace being in the water. It is a wonderful feeling, there are so many positive vibes to refresh you.

You will be taken close to hotels like Oberoi Udaivillas, Leela Palace, Jag Mandir Palace, City Palace, Bagore ki Haveli, and many more pretty places to get a good glimpse. 

The above image is of Jag Mandir or the Lake Garden Palace, it is not a temple but a Hotel. Earlier, the Royal family used to organize parties here. Now, this is open to all the people. I missed the chance to dine here but it is on top of my list if I visit Udaipur again, hopefully, I will soon.

There are options to choose from many types of boats like a normal boat, boat with sofa seats, sofa seats in an open boat. 

Tickets for a covered boat with sofa seats is Rs. 250/person. 5 people can book the entire 7 seater boat. 

This is the fourth and a must – Things to do in Udaipur

 

5. Enjoy the city view

After boating, head to the cable car ride to reach the top and enjoy the beautiful view of Udaipur city. It is hardly a km away from the Lake. 

It is just a 3 minutes ride, once you reach the top, there are two places from where you can enjoy the view. One is towards the top and one is towards the left side. Do check out both the areas, we were about to miss one of them. There is also a Temple at the top. On the other side, there are a couple of benches where you can sit and relax. There is a shop as well to buy water and some snacks.

This is the fifth – Things to do in Udaipur

6. Feel the Rajasthani Culture

Make sure you are through all the above things by 6:30 pm as the famous dance show at Bagore ki Haveli starts at 7:00 pm. It is an hour-long show where you will get to see traditional dance forms of Rajasthan and a puppet show as well. 

The entry ticket is cheap, just Rs. 90/per person. Apart from your tickets, you also need to buy a ticket for your camera, approx Rs. 40. All the sitting is on the floor or a little higher level. I loved the puppet show.

The singer and other musicians are really good and worth listening to.

The ladies really performed well, you will enjoy the dance.

 

 

This is the sixth – Things to do in Udaipur

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Know all the secrets of Amer Fort, Jaipur through the above post!

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7. Saheliyon Ki Bari

               

After a lovely dinner at night, wake up in the morning and say hello to this amazing Garden. This is one of the Top Things to do in Udaipur.

This Garden consists of 5 different kinds of fountains. This garden was made for the ladies of royal families, earlier the ladies did not have any source of entertainment so this garden was made for them to enjoy and relax. 

a) Welcome Fountain

   At the entrance to the garden, you will find the first fountain that was used for the welcome of the Queens. This is a unique fountain as it throws water to higher levels on the sound of claps. Check out this video to see a demo.

So as the Queens use to pass through the fountains, the helpers use to clap and welcome them. Along with the helpers, the fountain used to dance(change throw levels) to make the Queens happier.

b) Rasleela Fountain

This fountain was used to enjoy dancing at festivals. Also, competitions were organized amongst local ladies by the royal families during the festive seasons. The area is sufficient around the fountain to enjoy dancing, the flow of water through the fountain these days is not good.

 

c) Kamal Talai Fountain

This area was used to discuss matters and chit-chat. There is a sitting area around the fountain. Earlier, this fountain had lotus but lately, it has been replaced by lilies. Spot one, if you can. These 4 Elephants did not have water connections initially but a few years back, these mini fountains were installed inside their trunks.

The fountains are more than 250 years old, the pressure of the water was so much that itcaused a crack in the stone-made lion.  Look at the image, the water force can be so powerful that it can even cut the stone!

 

d) Savan Badho Fountain

Daytime is hot and this was kept in mind while making this Garden, to make sure that the beloved Queens are not suffering from heat while enjoying, this fountain area was built. This area is completely surrounded by a lot of trees, big leaves and small water fountains all around the area. One in the middle and many around the circle. Even during my visit, it was hot but when I entered this area I couldn’t feel the heat. This area was cool even without any fan or wind. Our nature is so powerful, this feeling is amazing!

e)  Bin Badal Barsaat Fountain

This is the fun fountain area. Let it be summer or winter, the queens could enjoy rain anytime they want. Look at the fountain carefully. There are stairs behind the center area. Queens use to stand in these structures and due to high-pressure fountains, water used to fall directly on the top of the structure making the Queens feel like it is raining. You will feel as if it is actually raining. It is amazing, all this was made 2 centuries ago.

Okay, it is time to reveal the secret.

You remember the welcome fountain and how the water levels used to raise at the sound of claps? The reason for the higher water levels is not the claps but a person standing near the water pipe at the back, who releases pressure when someone claps…hahah! even I got to know about this in the end. The maids of the Queen used to do the same trick while welcoming the queens. One maid used to stand at the back, hidden and other clapping at the end of the fountain.

This is the seventh – Things to do in Udaipur

 

Apart from the fountains, there are beautiful trees all around. Look at these branches, these are more than 180 years old, as per the guide. 

The tree in the below picture is trimmed to look like a peacock. It is so pretty, isn’t it?

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More about Udaipur

There are many more things to do in Udaipur like visiting Hathi Pol market to buy traditional clothes and mojaris (traditional Rajasthani footwear). Products made of Marble are also famous in the city.

While I was on my way to the hotel I saw an amazing medicine shop, I bet you didn’t see such a shop in any part of the world.

Funny…You can also visit Monsoon Palace to enjoy a beautiful view of the city, something similar to the one I discussed above.

So this was my 24 hours itinerary for you to enjoy in Udaipur. Have been there already? Do share your opinion or suggestions below. It will really helpful for other readers.

 

Before I end this, I would like to introduce you all to my guide who showed me Toop Things to do in Udaipur. Rajender uncle helped me throughout the day and made my day really entertaining.  I booked his car for the day and along with being a good driver he also turned out to be a good guide. If you want his services then leave me a message and I will get back to you.

 

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