The beauty of the ‘The City of Lakes’: A look at the best places to visit in Udaipur:

Some call it the ‘Venice of the East’ and some have labeled it as the ‘The City of Lakes’. There are many adages that one can associate with Udaipur. However, you can be certain to be enchanted by the magnificent city. Located in Rajasthan, Udaipur is one of the most favourite tourist destinations in India. This is because there are several stunning places to visit in Udaipur.

Udaipur is teeming with scenic lakes, breathtaking locales, along with majestic palaces that represent the rich cultural and historical heritage of Rajasthan. While you are in the city, you are likely to be spoilt for choice in picking the locations you want to take a trip to. Here is a look at some of the best places to visit in Udaipur.

City palace – the grandest in the list of places to visit in Udaipur:

One of the most favoured places to visit in Udaipur is the royal and regal City Palace. Established in the year 1559 by Maharana Udai Mirza Singh, the City Palace took more than 300 years to construct. One of the unique things about its design is that it is a mix European, Medieval and Chinese architecture. The majestic building has plenty of rooms and pillars inside. All of these were built by different great Rajput rulers of the yore.  

The City Palace is easily one of the biggest buildings in Udaipur. What makes it better are its regal Rajputana splendor and magnificent structure. For this reason, it has become the most sought after place for tourists who visit the city. Most are generally overawed by the architectural grandeur of the place. Since it is located atop a hill, an added advantage of visiting the City Palace is that you can get a view of the stunning Lake Pichola from a good vantage point.

Lake Palace – One of the most favored places to visit in Udaipur:

Located on the Jag Niwas Island, Lake Palace is one of the most important places to visit in Udaipur. Spread over a sprawling 1.5-hectare land, the Lake Palace is an exquisite edifice that was built on the Lake Pichola by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1734. It was later converted into a luxurious hotel replete with fountains, gardens, columned terraces, boat rides and lavish meals. Ever since, the palace has attained a special place in the hearts of every Rajasthani. It’s splendor and old world aura has enchanted tourists from all over the world.

Also called as Jag Niwas, the place has featured in several Bollywood and Hollywood films because of its royal vibes. However, it must be remembered that Lake Palace does burn a hole in your pocket. On the positive side, the state-of-the-art facilities that are available here along with the breathtaking beauty of the palace will be worth every penny.

Jagdish Temple:

Considered as Udaipur’s largest temple, the Jagdish Temple is an architectural marvel.  With beautifully crafted pillars, splendidly constructed ceilings, large corridors and halls, the temple gives us a glimpse of the old world Rajputana times. Built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651, the Jagdish Temple has been dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is also a dwelling of Lord Shiva, Ganesh, the Sun God, and Goddess Shakti.

The main shrine, however, is of Lord Vishnu. To reach that spot, you must climb up 32 marble steps. You will also get to witness the fine details of the architecture as you are inside. The first thing to remember here is that the details have been made in accordance with Vedic Vaastushastra. In other words, this illustrates the brilliance of the ancient science used in the building.

The Jagdish temple remains the most favored place of worship among the residents of Udaipur. The beauty and the stunning architecture only enhances its appeal.

Shilpgram – a unique experience in places to visit in Udaipur:

Udaipur is not just about places and lakes. There are several other unique places that you can enjoy visiting here. Shilpgram is one that really stands out in that regard. This is basically a rural annual crafts fair that has been established to promote the traditional arts of Rajasthan. Nestled in the Aravali Ranges, Shilpgram is spread over 70 acres of land. In its confines you will get to witness several Rajasthani cultural festivals and plenty of delightful traditional art and craft from the state. Camel leather items, various popular handicrafts, items like bandhej, tie and dye, together with regal embroideries and hand-woven clothes are sold here in the Crafts bazaar.

One of the key features of this fair is the open air Amphitheatre which provides a platform for local artists to perform myriad Rajasthani folk song and dances along with theater and other art shows. Shlipgram gives you the perfect glimpse of the alluring and simple rural Rajasthani life. It should certainly be on your list of places to visit in Udaipur if you are in the city.

Fateh Sagar Lake

The second largest lake in this city, Fateh Sagar is by far the most popular hangout spot in Udaipur. A journey to Udaipur cannot be complete without spending some time by this beautiful lake. People from the city throng the Fateh Sagar Lake during the monsoons, in the summer evenings and even during the winter season. Situated in the northern side of Lake Pichola, this artificial lake was established by Maharana Jai Singh in 1678. The water body is wide – 2.4 km in length and 1.6 km in breadth – and has a depth of close to 11.5 metres.

There are three small islands in the middle of the lake and are visited regularly by boats. The largest island here is the most popular one as it has a park and a restaurant located inside. The second island has a beautiful garden with plenty of water jet fountains. The third and final island is managed by the Udaipur Solar Observatory.

Fateh Sagar Lake is a favourite haunt for the youngsters of Udaipur. In the evenings, especially, one can spend a lovely time on the bands of the lake; looking at the serene water, enjoying a slight breeze and having a spicy snack from the food stall nearby.

Bagore Ki Haveli – the most underrated name in places to visit in Udaipur:

This is an underrated site when it comes to places to visit in Udaipur. Situated near Pichola Lake, this marvelous 18^th century structure was built by Amir Chand Badwa, Chief Minister at the Royal Court of Mewar. Home to Maharana Shakti Singh of Bagore in the year 1878, the place was converted into a museum and houses some truly gorgeous paintings of the Mewar regime. Another big highlight of this mansion is the various pieces of art on glass that can be found inside.

There are expansive rooms and halls here that only add to its appeal. One of the key features of Bagore Ki Haveli is that it epitomizes the culture of Mewar. The museum has an enthralling antique collection that was used by the famous Rajputs of the time gone by. There are also puppet shows, musical and folk dance shows, together with a theater show that should not be missed.

In conclusion, it can be said that Bagore Ki Haveli is an underrated but an impressive spot that should be on your list for places to visit in Udaipur.  

Udaipur has many stunning locations as shown above. Some of the other places to visit in Udaipur are Saheliyon Ki Bari, Lake Pichola, Moti Magri, Eklingji Temple, Vintage Car Museum and Dudh Talai.