Udaipur is situated in south west Rajasthan. Located at the base of the Aravali mountain range, it has several nicknames — City of Lakes and Venice of the East being the most popular. Udaipur was the historic capital of the former kingdom of Mewar in Rajputana. Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar in this city are some of the beautiful lakes.
The City Palace of Udaipur is one of the major tourist attractions and Udaipur is one of the most sought-after cities for destination weddings given its palaces and lakes. There is also the Sajjan Garh Palace, named after Maharana Sajjan Singh of the Mewar Dynasty. The palace was built atop a hill in the city, to gaze at the monsoon clouds, giving it a nickname of the Monsoon Palace.
Lake Pichola has four islands: Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir, Mohan Mandir and Arsi Vilas. Among these, Jag Niwas is home to the Lake Palace which is now converted into a heritage hotel. Mohan Mandir was the place from where the king would watch the Gangur festival. Jag Mandir island has a palace of the same name and Arsi Vilas is a sanctuary, home to various species of bird. A boat trip from the City Palace to these islands is a must.
Visit the Eklingji Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and take a trip to Nathdwara to pay your respects to Lord Krishna.
If you are staying here for an extended period, do take some time to visit Kumbhalgarh, Mount Abu, Chittorgarh and Jalore Wildlife Sactuary.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN UDAIPUR
There are more than 400 hotels in Udaipur; many of them are palaces and havelis. Hotels here are hygienic and many of them are located near lakes which can give you a stunning view. You can stay at a luxury hotel or opt for a more pocket friendly budget experience stay in one of the old havelis that have been converted into hotels and are usually family run.
While budget accommodations will be available Rs 800 to Rs 1500, mid-range ones will cost around Rs 2,000 to Rs 4500. The luxury hotels can cost anything between Rs 8,000 and Rs 30,000 a night or more depending on the tourist season.
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN UDAIPUR
Udaipur offers local and ethnic cuisine from almost every region in Rajasthan. The typical Rajasthani thali will take you through one of the best dining experiences. Standards of international cuisine in Udaipur are high and the choice is varied, as international travelers visit this city in large numbers.
Being a popular tourist destination, restaurants in Udaipur serve all kinds of cuisines. Sukhadia Circle serves some which has some good roadside food joints near Rana Pratap Memorial.
BEST TIME TO VISIT UDAIPUR
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Udaipur is as given below. The best time to visit Udaipur is also specified.