India travel – Wandering Welsh Girl

In this post I describe the best 1 day Udaipur itinerary. I loved my time in Udaipur and if you're planning a trip to Rajasthan, then Udaipur should be at the top of your list! Udaipur - The City of Lakes The Lake City of Udaipur is located in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The former capital of the Mewar Kingdom was founded in 1559 and is famed for it's collection of luxurious royal palaces set around a series of artificial lakes. I visited Udaipur whilst leading an overland trip. As usual, even though we had two full days here, most of my first day was spent working. On my second day I was determined to pack in as many of the sites as possible. I researched itineraries for 1 day in Udaipur and couldn't find anything that suited what I wanted. So I marked all the famous things in Udaipur I wanted to visit on my maps.me app and, armed with my camera, ventured out for the day. I discovered that without being too rushed, there are plenty of sites in Udaipur that can be savoured in just one day. If you're interested in seeing a mixture of nature, culture and history, this is the perfect Udaipur guide for you! I also provide information on where to stay, where to eat and how to get to Udaipur. At a glance - 1 Day Itinerary of Udaipur Jagadir Mandish Temple City Palace Cable Car Ride to Machala Hill Fateh Sagar Lake The Princess Gardens Manji Ka Ghat Park for sunset (or Bagore ki Haveli show) Udaipur Facts State: Rajasthan Population: 451,000 Altitude: 598m Climate: Semi-arid Major languages: Hindi and Mewari The Prefect 1 day Udaipur Itinerary Jagadir Mandish Temple The first stop on this Udaipur tour is Jagadir Mandish Temple. This is a small temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Right in the heart of old Udaipur, this is a temple built in the Indo-Aryan style. Walk around the temple, looking up to admire the intricately carved spires before entering the temple itself. By chance on my visit, I happened to witness a ceremony which involved chanting and bell ringing, before worshipers left their offerings. It was quite special to witness. Remember to dress appropriately when visiting religious sites such as temples in India. If you're not sure what to pack for your trip to Udaipur or India in general, you should take a look at this article. Entry to the temple is permitted for everyone but no photographs are allowed. 15-30 minutes is enough time here. City Palace, Udaipur The City Palace in Udaipur is quite an impressive building built entirely from granite and marble. It is actually a series of palaces built within a larger facade. The palaces are all linked with zigzag corridors designed to confuse surprise attacks from enemies. It’s definitely fun to wander up, down and around these narrow corridors. Located on the shores of lake Pichola, the building took nearly 400 years to complete. The palace is a fusion of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture constructed under the Mewar dynasty. Inside, the palaces have beautiful mirror and glass work, murals and paintings. There is an entire section dedicated to silverware, which is not to be missed. It is possible to explore City Palace by yourself and the route around the site is well marked. There are information boards in the various sections but I was grateful to have the audio guide to lead me around the palace. I would definitely recommend paying for the audio guide to get the most out of your visit. From inside the palace you get great views over lake Pichola, and the grounds themselves look out over the city. City Palace is one of the top places to visit in Udaipur. Allow 2-3 hours for your visit. 300 INR entry fee and 200 INR audio guide. Did you know? Although Rajasthan is mostly a desert state, there are still places where you can find wild tigers. Read this to discover if my Diwali dream of spotting a tiger came true! Lunch break near the palace. After absorbing all the information on offer at the CIty Palace, it's time for a break. Just outside the Palace there are a number of restaurants lining each side of the street. For the coffee lovers out there, head to Govindas for a delicious caffeine hit. They also serve some pretty tasty food. Cable Car After lunch I leave the old city and wander out to Udaipur rope way. This short cable car ride takes you to the top of Machala hill for possibly the best views of Udaipur. On top of the hill you can also find the small Mansapurna Karni Mata Temple, which is currently under construction. (January 2020) It is also possible to walk to the top of Machala Hill, but since I had walked from City Palace I definitely welcomed the short break which the cable car ride provided. Just down the road from the cable car entrance is a small lake called Doodhh Talai. Take time to walk to the end of Doodhh Talai - the end nearest the cable car - to snap some beautiful reflective photos of City Palace. The cable car rides lasts only 5 minutes, but you will want time to enjoy the incredible views from the top. This is one of the most scenic things to do in Udaipur. Allocate 1-2 hours here to allow for cable car queues. A return journey costs 120 INR. Fateh Sagar Lake It’s time to jump in a rickshaw and drive to Udaipur's second largest lake, Fateh Sagar. Have a stroll along the promenade or sit down with a chai and indulge in some people watching. This is a popular spot for young locals to hang out so get ready for some selfie requests! Are you an Oreo fan? I had the most amazing Oreo milkshake here! Allow 30 minutes at this spot. Saheliyon-ki-Bari Gardens Next continue your rickshaw journey around the lake to Saheliyon-ki-Bari Gardens, also known as the Princess Gardens. In this brief visit you can admire beautiful lotus pools, pavilions and statues. Enjoy a break from the noisy streets and revel in a little slice of peaceful, green paradise. Be warned though even in these peaceful gardens in Udaipur, there is no complete escape from the sales pitches, with vendors inside the gardens willing to sell you anything from a camera battery to a selfie stick. 15-30 minutes is enough time to appreciate these gardens in Udaipur. 100 INR entry fee. Manji Ka Ghat Park The final destination on your Udaipur itinerary is Manji Ka Ghat Park. This is the perfect spot to finish off sightseeing for the day with a relaxing sunset. From this park you can either sit on the East side to enjoy the soft evening glow on City Palace or sit on the west side to watch sunset over the hills. Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled sunset time to appreciate the colour change on City Palace. The park is free to enter. Did you know? A ghat refers to a series of steps that lead into a body of water, often used in festivals and rituals. Alternatively, see the cultural show at Bagore ki Haveli. I didn’t get chance to do this as it clashed with sunset, but members of my group attended and said it was very impressive. The Dharohar Dance Show consists of a series of dances by women in typical Rajasthani dress. It includes the Bhavani Dance, where a performer skilfully dances with earthen pots balanced on her head. The show starts nightly at 7pm but be sure to get your tickets in advance as it sells out quickly. If you want to take the hassle out of your Udaipur trip, consider booking a private day tour. Food with a view - Dinner in Udaipur To complete your 1 day itinerary of Udaipur, enjoy a delicious meal in one of Udaipur's many restaurants. Savage Garden restaurant serves Italian or Indian food with views looking out over lake Pichola. They also serve beer which can be difficult to find in the temple area. For views of City Palace, Gangaur Ghat and Bangalore Ki Haveli head to the rooftop restaurant of Hotel Lake Pichola, called UPRE 1559 AD. They serve Rajasthani delicacies. Are you planning to spend time in Northern India? If so you should definitely visit one of the strangest tourist attractions in India. Read more here! Udaipur Itinerary For 3 Days If you have more time available to spend in Udaipur (and I highly recommend that you do), there are lots of other options for you to enjoy. Here are some of the activities that I highly recommend. Monsoon palace Sat atop a hill, Monsoon Palace is 5km west of Udaipur. The palace was originally planned to be an observatory which would monitor and predict the monsoon. Unfortunately Maharana Sajjan Singh died before it was finished and instead it became a Palace designed to enjoy panoramic views of Fateh Sagar Lake. Jump in a taxi or rickshaw to get there and arrive before sunset when it closes for the day. This is another famous place in Udaipur to visit. Take a boat ride on Pichola lake For just a few hundred rupees, a great way to spend an hour or so is to take a boat ride on Pichola lake. Boating in Udaipur includes a visit to Lake Palace and Jag Mandir. Tickets are sold at the City Palace ticket counter and vary depending on the time of day. Enjoy a cooking class Several members of my group took a cooking class with Shashi. They helped prepare some classic Rajasthani dishes and then got to devour the food afterwards. The class costs 1500 INR and takes half a day. Explore Indian countryside on horse back If I had more time in Udaipur I would definitely take a scenic horse ride with Princess Trails. They use Marwadi horses and offer a variety of rides through rural Rajasthan. One member of my group took the 2 hour ride for 2000 INR and absolutely loved it. They will collect you from your hotel and include a refreshing beer at the end of the ride. Classic car museum The vintage car museum showcases an exquisite collection of royal antique cars including Rolls Royce and Cadillacs. The museum is located on Gulab Bagh road and the entrance fee is 250 INR. Where to stay for your visit to Udaipur There are many budget hotels in Udaipur but I was based in Hotel the Tiger. This is a basic but comfortable hotel right in the heart of the action. It is a stones throw from Gangaur Ghat and Bangalore Ki Haveli, with Jagadir Mandish Temple and City Palace just 5 and 10 minutes walk away respectively. However, the most impressive part of this hotel is the view from the rooftop terrace. Start your one day Udaipur itinerary in style with breakfast views of Lake Palace and Monsoon Palace. They also offer dinner and the restaurant is vegetarian only. Take a look at other Udaipur Hotel options How To Get to Udaipur Flights You can fly to Udaipur from all major cities in India. Maharana Pratap Airport is the airport that serves Udaipur and is 22km east of the city. Train Daily trains connect Udaipur with all major Indian destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur. Reserve your ticket online well in advance to avoid disappointment. For train journeys in India, I recommend using the Ixigo app. For more top tips on how to travel in India, take a look at this guide. Bus Another budget friendly way to get to Udaipur is by bus. You can book a bus online with red bus. The bus station and train station are located a short rickshaw ride from the old city. Final Thoughts On This Itinerary For Udaipur I hope you found this guide about places to visit in Udaipur interesting and useful. During my time in this beautiful Lake City I discovered there's so much you can fit in even in just one day. If you're short on time and only have one day to explore, be sure to use this Udaipur itinerary planner and rise early to make the most of the day! Have you visited this beautiful Rajasthani City? Let me know your thoughts below. Note: All prices listed are foreigner prices. Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This helps cover the cost of running this blog. Thanks for your support! Like it? Pin it for later? Join My Newsletter Today!