Rajasthan is one of my favourite states in India, it never fails to mesmerize me with its beautiful people, the grandeur in its architecture and the oh-so-delicious food. The city of lakes, Udaipur has by far been my favourite city there (I am looking at you, Puskhar and Bundi, don't disappoint me) is an absolute beauty! I am a history nerd to the core and Udaipur fed into my bloodstream making my experience very enriching indeed. Anyway, here are my top 5 places within the city which you just shouldn't miss out on when you visit the city.
1. City Palace
The most crowded of the bunch, the City Palace is the one stop nobody should miss out on. Best visited with a guide, the palace beautifully narrates the story of the city and the Sisodiya Dynasty of Mewar. About 1/3rd of the palace is open to the public and has a beautifully curated collection of items, while the rest acts as a private residence of Arvind Singh Mewar, successor to the throne of the erstwhile kingdom of Mewar. The palace has beautifully preserved murals and boasts of the prosperous kingdom that once was.
Another brilliant thing to do is to take a boat ride in Lake Pichola. Priced between INR 300-500, you can reserve yourself a seat for an hour long boat ride around the calming waters of Lake Pichola, Not only will you be looking at the beautiful ghats, havelis and palace turned hotels around the lake, you will also be a spectator of the hustle and bustle surrounding these - from people making a splash into the lake from the ghats to tourists making a run from one place to the other to the locals who come to hang round the breezy lake. The boats have a fixed route and will take you from the City Palace, along Gangaur Ghat, then around Mohan Mandir, Arsi Vilas and Taj Lake palace towards Jagmandir Island Palace and back to the City Palace.
Jagmandir Island Palace is one stop for destination weddings (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, anyone?) and is the final destination of the boat ride. You can also book yourself a room in there if you aren't in the mood for a much more fancy-schmancy Taj Lake Palace. Jagmandir also has an exhibition showing archival photographs, drawings and paintings explaining the construction of this architectural marvel. You can also indulge yourself to a drink or a snack with a view from their outdoor bar and cafe, or relax and unwind in the beautiful gardens. Since it is a private property of the HRH Group, no private boats can charter to Jagmandir.
FYI, if you don't want bat pee all over you, try to sprint on your way from the drop-off to the deck area. The pleasant walkway with greenery on either sides also has trees full of bats handing upside down. If that isn't absolute horror for you, then I don't know what is. Here, I'll attach a picture for proof, the black blobs are bats.
Jagmandir Island Palace is one stop for destination weddings (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, anyone?) and is the final destination of the boat ride. You can also book yourself a room in there if you aren't in the mood for a much more fancy-schmancy Taj Lake Palace. Jagmandir also has an exhibition showing archival photographs, drawings and paintings explaining the construction of this architectural marvel. You can also indulge yourself to a drink or a snack with a view from their outdoor bar and cafe, or relax and unwind in the beautiful gardens. Since it is a private property of the HRH Group, no private boats can charter to Jagmandir.
FYI, if you don't want bat pee all over you, try to sprint on your way from the drop-off to the deck area. The pleasant walkway with greenery on either sides also has trees full of bats handing upside down. If that isn't absolute horror for you, then I don't know what is. Here, I'll attach a picture for proof, the black blobs are bats.
3. Dharohar at Bagore Ki Haveli
It is a family place and I suggest spending some time at Gangaur Ghat next to the Haveli right after the show. The tickets are sold out like hot cupcakes during the touristy season, so I suggest you reach there ahead of time; during the off season, tickets are sold even if the show has started. Try to grab the front row seats!
The show starts at 7 pm and ends at 8 pm. You need not buy a ticket to the museum. Tickets cannot be bought in advance. Camera charges apply. If you haven't bought the camera ticket, you can still click pictures during the show and purchase a ticket for it once it gets over, although I do recommend not taking your camera in. Just relax and enjoy.
4. Road Trips to Chittorgarh, Nathdwara and Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace)
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| Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace sits atop a hillock just outside the city. Go there for beautiful panoramic views of the city. |
While Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace is just outside the city and barely takes a few hours to fully explore, I recommend taking a one-day trip to Chittorgarh or Nathdwara if you really want to understand what Mewar really is. While Nathdwara Temple is not for the faint hearted, Chittorgarh makes for a fun family outing. Various private tours can be arranged for the both of them from Udaipur city itself. You can also visit Haldighati on your way to Nathdwara. Don't bother going to the Museum though, and do yourself a favour by not taking your camera to the museum even if you go there - it's plain useless. From Haldighati, you can buy fresh concentrates to make coolers - I personally loved the Rose and Fennel. Also, hoard on Rose Water if you use it.
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| Vijay Stambh at Chittorgarh. |
5. Shop Till You Drop at Bada Bazaar and Hathi Pol
Just outside the City Palace is a stretch of small shops selling things ranging from artworks to leather bags to clothes to leather bound notebooks, and between these shops, you'll find cafes and eateries. Now if you're here (it's hard to miss out on), you must know that you're in Bada Bazaar. Now the thing about Bada Bazaar is that you can shop in the permanent shops there, they're called tourist traps for a reason; or you can shop from the smaller shops, which put your haggling skills to test. Hathi Pol is a much cheaper market as it is also frequented by the locals, you can find leather footwear, bandhni and baatik style clothes, shops selling silver and gold jewellery, wrap around skirts, kurtas and all that jazz. Although you can find a lot of things that are sold in Bada Bazaar for a lot less cheaper in Hathi Pol, there might be a huge difference between their qualities. So for me, Bada Bazaar is for leather and souvenirs while Hathi Pol is for footwear, silver and clothes.
You can also go to Shilpgram, which lies on the outskirts of the city. It is a cultural and craft centre best visited during the peak season. During the off-season, you won't find much to do there except a few shops selling artworks, handicrafts and clothes. So I went there during the off-season, only to shop for a better quality and a better variety of everything. Now it all depends on your luck. Toss a coin.
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| Kids trying to block the fountain inlets at Sahelion ki Bari is an everyday sight. |
Other nice places to visit are the Vintage Car Museum, Sahelion ki Bari, Moti Magri and Gulab Bagh.
When it comes to accommodation, I stayed at Club Mahindra Udaipur and it was fairly average for me. It was too far away from the city, the food was good and the services were okay. I've stayed at a couple of their resorts and this one falls on the lower ranks on my list.
Now even though Udaipur is perceived as a rather expensive, eliteist destination, there is plenty of accommodation for every need - from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels, there's something for everyone!
When it comes to accommodation, I stayed at Club Mahindra Udaipur and it was fairly average for me. It was too far away from the city, the food was good and the services were okay. I've stayed at a couple of their resorts and this one falls on the lower ranks on my list.
Now even though Udaipur is perceived as a rather expensive, eliteist destination, there is plenty of accommodation for every need - from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels, there's something for everyone!
Another tip is to try and plan your trip within the city in an order since the main road is one-way only. Try to walking or taking a rickshaw since the traffic within the city is terrible. If you have any queries, tips or suggestions, feel free to comment down below, email me or hit me up on Instagram. I'm SO in love with this song right now. I heard it 2 or 3 days after they posted the video on YouTube and I they stole my heart in an instant! It's so relaxed and chilled out. The video is so colourful and artsy. Wes Anderson approves of it. I'm eager to know where the video is shot. Let me know if you know, take a wild guess maybe?
Have you been to Udaipur? What are your favourite things to do?
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