White City, Udaipur Rajasthan

Good Morning Udaipur!!!

Udaipur

After a good sleep I woke up in Udaipur with a beautiful view of Lake Pichola from my hotel room. Got ready to explore the city. We had only one day to cover the city and believe me if you can drive a two wheeler you can make it in just one day :)

How to reach : Udaipur is very well connected with major cities in India. We had travelled by private bus from Jaisalmer. If you are coming via Delhi, you can take a direct flight. By road its around 650 Kms. There are many private buses available, journey time is around 13-15 Hrs.

Best time to visit : best in Winters (Sep to March). Late in the monsoons is also good. never plan in summers!!!

All set... It's time to explore the city !

So here we go. At the reception we enquired about places to visit. We already had our own list but its always better to check with the localites once. We got a list from him along with closing time and visiting hours for the sites.

In Udaipur most of the visiting places are within the radius of around 7 kms. You must rent a two wheeler to explore the city.

We rented a scooty in Rs. 350/- (Petrol charges excluded). 650 Rs. deposit (refundable on return of vehicle), and left to explore the city.

Places to Visit:

Jagadish Temple

City Palace

Lake Pichola Boat Riding & Gangaur Ghat

Sajjan Garh / Monsoon Palace

Sajjan Garh Biological Park

Saheliyon ki Bari

Moti Magri - Maharana Pratap Memorial

Fateh Sagar Lake

Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum

Bargaon ki haweli

1. Jagadish Temple :

It's in the city and can be located easily. It was built in the year 1615 by Maharaja Jagat Singh and dedicated to lord Vishnu. It's a three-storied temple and 79 Feet high. it's one of the best architectural marvels built by the Mewar dynasty. the design, huge halls, beautifully carved ceiling and pillars are the highlights of this temple. When in Udaipur, dont miss to visit this temple, as it also depicts the kind of architecture, the Mewar dynasty of Rajasthan was passionate about.

Entry is free. Temple is open from 4.15am to 1pm and 5.15pm to 8.00pm. Once you reach there you can cover it in 40 mins.

2. City Palace : On the banks of Lake Pichola is the largest palace complex of Rajasthan. Your Udaipur visit is incomplete you don't cover this. City Palace has 11 wonderful palaces inside, which were built by different rulers still they resemble each other.

Unique paintings, antique furniture and glass mirror & ornamental tiles work of these palaces, and museums will amaze you.

City Palace Timings : 9.30 am to 5.30pm everyday. Better to enter before 3.00pm as it takes 2-3 hrs to cover it.

Entry Fee City Palace: 300/- INR (For adults) + 200/- INR (for Audio guide, its optional). Fee may vary a little for foreigners. You must carry a valid id proof to collect your audio headsets.

3. Lake Pichola Boat Riding : On going straight after the palace comes the ticket counter for boat ride. Its a one hour ride.

Timings : 10AM to 5.00pm. Boat runs every hour during this time slot.

Fee : 450/- INR (between 10.00am to 2.00pm)

800/- INR (Between 3.00pm to 5.00pm)

The boat sails from the Palace, down the river slightly, turns back on itself and then heads to Jagmandir Island where you spend 30 minutes.

In addition to these, there is also the option to see a light and sound show at the Palace. we didn’t do it.

The Light and Sound show at City Palace in Udaipur is a 1-hour, show in English known as “The Legacy of Honor”. The show begins at 07:00 PM at the Manek Chowk in the City Palace complex.

Gangour Ghat : Also known as Gangori Ghat, Gangaur Ghat is the main ghat situated near the waterfront of Lake Pichola. Located near the Jagdish Chowk area, the ghat is quite popular with tourists and locals thronging it in huge numbers especially during festivals such as Gangaur Festival and Jal Jhulni Festival.

4. Sajjan Garh Palace : Popularly known as monsoon palace. It's a hilltop palace, overlooking Fateh Sagar lake.

As it's on a hilltop keep minimum 3 hrs to reach and cover this spot from city centre. You must drive to this place, you will get beautiful city view.

Timings : It's open from 8.00am to 6.00pm every day

Entry Fee : 10/- INR for Indians & 80/- INR for foreigners. (Fee may vary a little for foreigners)

The sunset point is one of the most attractive sights of the Palace. During the sunset, the Palace illuminates the glow of golden orange. So never miss out on this marvellous view.

5. Sajjan Garh Biological Park : In the foothills is the Sajjan Garh Biological Park. This zoological garden is a home to a massive variety of wildlife.

Timings : 9.00am to 5.00. Closed on Tuesdays.

Entry Fee :

Adult: 30/- INR

Foreigners : 300/- INR

Photography : Camera: 80/- INR

Video Camera: 200/-

6. Sahelion Ki Bari : It's a beautiful and well maintained garden with fountains and a museum inside. It can be a good option for relaxing but frankly there is nothing much at this site. If you are short of time you can skip it.

Timings : 9.00am to 7.00pm Everyday

Entry Fee :

10/- INR for Indians

50/- INR for Foreigners

7. Moti Magri : Its a hill that sits perched upon the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake.

Atop Moti Magri is Maharana Pratap Memorial that overlooks the stunning beauty of Lake Fateh Sagar. Also known as Pratap Smarak, Maharana Pratap Memorial is an essential site of great historical significance.

Timings : 9.00 am to 6.00 pm everyday.

Entry Fee :

20/- INR for Indians

50/- INR for Foreigners

The Maharana Pratap Memorial Udaipur Light & Sound show timings are Winter: 7:30 pm & Summers: 8:15 pm. Fee INR 35/- INR.

8. Fateh Sagar Lake : Situated in the north of Lake Pichola right across the Moti Magri Hill, Lake Fatehsagar is the second largest artificial lake. Surrounded by the high Aravalli hills on three sides and Pratap Memorial on the north side, the lake is considered as the pride of Udaipur. The lake is home to three tiny islands offering many exciting activities. The lake has a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Timings : 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Everyday

Fee : No entry Fee.

You can enjoy normal boat, motor boat and speed boat rides in the lake. Charges start from 30/- INR to 400/- INR depending on the type of boat you want to ride.

9. Bharatiya Lok Kala Museum : It's the best place to derive in-depth information about the rich folk history and culture of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, brilliantly showcased all around the museum.If you want to see the colour of tradition and culture of Rajasthan, it's a must visit place.

Timings : 9.00am to 6.00pm Everyday.

Special Show Puppet & Folk Dance Timings : 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm (Tickets are available upto 5.30pm only).

Ticket Price : Varies from 25/- INR to 95/- INR depending on the type of show you want to see (Puppet Show, Folk Dance/ museum/ Combo of all ).

10. Bargaon ki Haweli :One of the famous attractions of Udaipur, Bagore Ki Haveli is a haveli that stands magnificently on the waterfront of the surreal Lake Pichola at Gangori Ghat.

Keep around 2 Hrs to cover this place. There is museum and dance shows inside.