Udaipur earns the title of India’s most romantic city for good reason – Lake Pichola mirrors the City Palace at dusk, ancient ghats glow in evening light, and the old city lanes hide centuries of Mewar history. This 3-day itinerary covers it all: the City Palace (arrive at 9 AM before the crowds hit), a boat ride to Jagmandir Island, Karni Mata ropeway for sunset, Ambrai Ghat, Fateh Sagar Lake and Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace – with exact timings, where to stay, and the best spots for Rajasthani food.

High level plan 🗓️

• Day 1: Reach Udaipur, visit Jagdish temple, Bagore ki Haveli, Karni Mata ropeway
• Day 2: City Palace, Jagmandir Palace, Ambrai Ghat for sunset
• Day 3: Fateh Sagar Lake, Saheliyon ki Bari, Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace for sunset, Sukhadia Circle

You can use autos/ Uber for commuting within Udaipur. However, if you’re planning to stay for at least 2 days and want to explore the town at your pace, it is recommended to rent a 2-wheeler.

Stay 🏡

Would highly recommend to stay in the old city area – has lot of options ranging from economical hostels to luxurious havelis

• Madpackers / GoStops/ Zostel – very accessible and all the main attractions are within walking distance
• Amet Haveli – located next to Ambrai Ghat and in-house restaurant Ambrai offers amazing views of Lake Pichola
• Burj Baneria – slightly away from the main city palace area, but has rooms with a beautiful view of Lake Pichhola

Food 🍜

• Masala Chowk/ Krishna Dal Baati Restro – Daal Baati Thali
• Ambrai Restaurant – for the City Palace view over Lake Pichola
• Paliwal Restaurant – Hot Kachoris and Gulab Jamun
• Sukhadia Circle – Sooji Pani Puri
• Pap’s Juices – Healthy smoothies and juices

Detailed itinerary 📝

Day 1: Jagdish temple, Bagore ki Haveli, Karni Mata ropeway

We landed in Udaipur, reached our accommodation, freshened up and left to explore the walled city, starting with the Jagdish temple.

The Jagdish Temple, located right outside the city palace, is one of the oldest temples, and in worship since 1651. The sanctum bears an idol of Lord Jagannath and is widely visited by tourists and locals.

We then headed to the Bagore ki Haveli, a folk museum-cum-cultural centre which has live puppet shows and Rajasthani folk dances. The museum is open from 9 am to 5 pm, but the performances happen late evening between 7-8 pm and require separate tickets. So you can plan accordingly.

Bagore ki Haveli is situated on the Gangaur Ghat of the river and there are quite a few temples by the Ghat within a distance of a short walk which one can visit. We decided to just walk around the area for a while among the narrow lanes of the old city. These 2 things are something of a must-do as we think – sitting by the ghats offers a sense of peace and calm amidst the bustling crowd and walking along the charming, quaint lanes of the old town which is a blend of history and the current is a unique experience.

We then headed to the Karni Mata ropeway for catching the sunset view. This is a short ropeway ride (about 5-7 minutes each way) and costs about INR 120 per person for a 2-way ticket. We would recommend reaching the ticket counter by 4.30 pm and reach the top by latest 5 pm to avoid the sunset-time crowd. Located at the top of the hill is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Karni Mata. The top of the hill offers some mesmerising views of the Lake Pichola, City Palace and is also one of the best spots to catch the sunset.

Day 2: City Palace, Jagmandir Island Palace, Ambrai Ghat for sunset

We started the day with the tour of the city palace. Would recommend reaching here at 8:45 AM and enter as soon as it opens at 9 AM to avoid the crowd. It feels like you have the palace for yourself if you are one of the first few folks to enter it.

Built over a span of 400 years, the City Palace in Udaipur stands tall and strong as a striking symbol of the legacy of the Mewar family. The palace is built atop a hill overlooking Lake Pichhola. Even though it was built over several generations, the architecture still retains consistency and the interiors have been designed with great taste and flamboyance and exhibit several forms of art – mirror work, inlay-work, murals, marble work and wood carvings. The courtyards in different parts of the palace also add a charm of their own.

There are 2 categories of tickets to the City Palace – 1 that allows a full tour (costs INR 450), and the other that just lets you take a tour around the external perimeter of the palace (costs INR 100). We would highly recommend taking out 3-4 hours and doing the full tour. Once inside, you will notice that only a small part of the palace is open for tourists, and even that will take at least 3-4 hours to explore, which is an indication of the sheer enormity of the palace.

Once done, you could either opt to have lunch at one of the restaurants located in the palace complex or at one of the numerous cafes around the city palace area.

We decided to head to Masala Chowk and tried the Rajasthani Thali there – definitely a must try!

After lunch, we set out to explore the estates behind the City Palace and took a boat ride on Lake Pichola to Jagmandir Island Palace. The boat ride (round trip) costs around Rs. 600-800, depending on the time of day. Along the way, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the City Palace. Once you reach Jagmandir Island you will be greeted by tranquil gardens and a restaurant. You will also get a glimpse of Jagmandir Place which is now a luxury hotel.

We ended our day at Ambrai Ghat – one other place to experience a magical sunset over the Lake Pichola. We believe this Ghat truly embodies the personality of the city – an elegant blend of modernity and heritage. The Ambrai Restaurant stands at one end of the ghat, a temple of Lord Hanuman on the Ghat and the City palace on the opposite side of the Ghat.

We had dinner at another rooftop restaurant near the Ambrai Ghat area.

Day 3: Fateh Sagar Lake, Saheliyon ki Bari, Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace for sunset, Sukhadia Circle

We headed to the Fateh Sagar Lake early in the morning for a serene boat ride. The Fateh Sagar Lake is an artificial lake originally constructed by Maharana Jai Singh in 1687 and later reconstructed by Maharana Fateh Singh in 1889. The lake is surrounded by Aravalli hills on 3 sides and offers some great views during sunset as well. You might even be able to get a private tour (for a group of 2 or 3 people) if you reach early in the morning (around 9 am).

There are also some properties around this lake if one would want to stay here. However, this is slightly far from the main area of the City Palace.

We then headed to the Saheliyon ki Bari (Garden of the maidens)- a fountain garden built in the 18th century as a retreat for the queen and her attendants. The garden is surrounded with lush greenery and is very aesthetically designed and makes for a great place to get some pictures for the ‘gram 😋

Post-lunch, we headed towards the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace, widely popular for its sunset views, and rightly so.

Private vehicles will have to pay a parking fee of Rs. 300 if you decide to drive all the way up. The other option is to take govt authorised shared cabs. The shared cab costs around INR 100 per person for a to-and-fro ticket. While the palace itself is very simplistic in its architecture and interiors, the courtyard that offers a view of the surrounding Aravalli Mountain ranges coupled with the sunset, is a sight to witness. You can also get a bird’s eye view of the city of Udaipur from the other end of the palace.

After we witnessed the views of the sunset to our heart’s satisfaction, we headed to Sukhadia circle, a street food haven, quite popular among the locals where you can find anything under the sun – chaats to Chinese to South Indian. The chaats however, are a must-try.

FAQs ⍰

How many days are enough for Udaipur?

3 days covers everything comfortably – Day 1 for Jagdish Temple, Bagore ki Haveli, and the Karni Mata ropeway sunset, Day 2 for City Palace, Jagmandir Island Palace, and Ambrai Ghat, and Day 3 for Fateh Sagar Lake, Saheliyon ki Bari, and the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace sunset. If you want a slower pace, add a buffer day.

What is the best way to get around Udaipur?

Autos and Uber work well for getting around. If you’re staying for at least 2 days and want to explore at your own pace, renting a 2-wheeler is the better option. Most of the main attractions around the City Palace area are also walkable from the old city.

Where should you stay in Udaipur?

The old city area is the best base – everything is within easy reach. Budget and mid-range travellers can look at Madpackers, GoStops, or Zostel, all of which are well-located with main attractions at walking distance. For a more atmospheric stay, Amet Haveli is right next to Ambrai Ghat and its in-house Ambrai Restaurant has stunning views of Lake Pichola. Burj Baneria is slightly further from the City Palace area but has beautiful lake views.

Is the City Palace worth the full entry ticket?

Absolutely. There are two ticket options – a full tour at ₹450 and an external perimeter tour at ₹100. We’d strongly recommend the full tour and setting aside 3–4 hours for it. Only a portion of the palace is open to tourists and even that takes that long to explore properly – which tells you everything about the scale of the place. Built over 400 years, the interiors have mirror work, inlay-work, murals, marble work, and wood carvings throughout. Arrive at 8:45 AM and enter as soon as it opens at 9 AM to have it largely to yourself.

What is the best sunset spot in Udaipur?

There are three excellent options and each has a different feel. The Karni Mata ropeway (₹120 for a return ticket) gives you a panoramic view of Lake Pichola and the City Palace – reach the ticket counter by 4:30 PM to avoid the crowd. Ambrai Ghat offers a ground-level sunset experience with the City Palace reflected across the water – the Ambrai Restaurant at one end makes it easy to extend into dinner. Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace is the most dramatic – the view of the Aravalli ranges and the city of Udaipur from the top is spectacular.

How do you get to Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace?

You can drive up in a private vehicle and pay a ₹300 parking fee, or take a government-authorised shared cab for around ₹100 per person return. The palace itself is simple in architecture but the courtyard views of the surrounding Aravallis and the city below at sunset make the trip entirely worthwhile.

What is the boat ride to Jagmandir like?

The boat ride on Lake Pichola to Jagmandir Island Palace costs ₹600–800 return depending on the time of day. The views of the City Palace from the water are among the best in Udaipur. Jagmandir itself has tranquil gardens and a restaurant – the palace on the island is now a luxury hotel.

What are the must-try foods in Udaipur?

The Rajasthani Thali at Masala Chowk or Krishna Dal Baati Restro is essential – the Dal Baati is excellent. Paliwal Restaurant is known for hot Kachoris and Gulab Jamun, best for breakfast or a quick snack. Ambrai Restaurant is worth visiting for the view of Lake Pichola and City Palace alone. Sukhadia Circle is the go-to for street food in the evening – the Sooji Pani Puri is a must. Pap’s Juices is great for healthy smoothies and fresh juices.

What is Bagore ki Haveli and when should you visit?

Bagore ki Haveli is a folk museum and cultural centre on the Gangaur Ghat with live puppet shows and Rajasthani folk dance performances. The museum is open 9 AM to 5 PM but the performances happen in the evening between 7–8 PM and require separate tickets. Plan to visit the museum during the day and return in the evening for the performance if you want to catch both.

Is Udaipur good for couples?

It’s one of the most romantic cities in India – Lake Pichola, the palace-lined ghats, candlelit rooftop restaurants, and the general pace of the old city all make it an ideal couples’ destination. The boat ride to Jagmandir, sunset at Ambrai Ghat, and a rooftop dinner in the old city are all highlights for a couples’ trip.