In 1559, Maharana Udai Singh II of Mewar watched the Mughal general Akbar tighten his grip on Chittorgarh and made a calculation no other Rajput ruler dared: he moved his capital. He chose a ring of Aravalli hills cradling a sweet-water lake and christened the new city Udaipur — a capital that could be defended by water, not just stone. The dynasty he founded still lives here, in a wing of the City Palace, and remains the only Rajput royal family whose lineage has never been broken — 76 unbroken generations since 734 CE.
A city designed around water, not walls
Every other Rajput capital — Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner — was a desert city defended by sandstone walls. Udaipur instead sits inside a necklace of seven interlinked lakes: Pichola (the original, dammed in 1362), Fateh Sagar (1678), Swaroop Sagar, Rang Sagar, Dudh Talai, Govardhan Sagar and Udaisagar. Every maharana of Mewar added a palace on an island, or an arched causeway between hills. The effect is uniquely Indian: a Rajput fortress with a Venetian ground plan.
The City Palace is the architectural summary of the city. Begun by Udai Singh II and extended by 22 successor kings over four centuries, it is the largest royal complex in Rajasthan — a labyrinth of 11 interconnected palaces, covering 2 hectares, all facing the lake. Its most famous room, the Mor Chowk (Peacock Courtyard), is lined with 5,000 pieces of coloured glass forming three life-sized peacocks depicting three seasons. The current scion, Arvind Singh Mewar, still performs the Ashwa Puja — the horse-worshipping ceremony — in the same courtyard every September.
Two island palaces: Jag Mandir and Lake Palace
On an island in Lake Pichola floats the Jag Mandir — a 1620 summer palace where the young Mughal prince Khurram (later Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal) hid from his own father Jahangir for three years. Many scholars believe he first encountered the white marble inlay techniques here that he would later deploy at Agra. The other island, built in 1746 by Maharana Jagat Singh II, is the Lake Palace (Taj Lake Palace Hotel) — a marble pavilion on a 4-acre island. James Bond fans may recognise it from Octopussy.
A three-day route: palaces, temples, art, silence
- Day 1: City Palace (full morning), Crystal Gallery, sunset boat to Jag Mandir from Bansi Ghat.
- Day 2: Jagdish Temple (1651, Vishnu), Bagore-ki-Haveli museum, evening dance show at Dharohar.
- Day 3: Day-trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort (2 hours away) — the Great Wall of India, 36 km of unbroken ramparts, second-longest wall on earth after China.
- Optional extension: Eklingji temple (22 km) — the family deity of the Mewar kings, open only 4–7 pm.
Use Udaipur as the hub of a Rajput route
Udaipur is the emotional south of Rajasthan — softer, greener and wetter than the deserts to the north. Combine it with Jaipur (7 hrs by train) for the classic pink-and-white Rajput pairing, or strike west to the white salt desert of Kutch in Gujarat (8 hours). If you want the jungle chapter, Ranthambore tiger reserve is a 4-hour drive towards Jaipur. For the Mughal contrast, follow the route east to Agra Fort. Explore more of the state of Rajasthan or browse Heritage sites.
“Udaipur is the most romantic spot on the continent of India.”
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YatraJunction Editorial
Our editors are travellers, historians and food lovers who have collectively visited every state of India. Every guide is fact-checked, field-tested and updated with love.
Learn about usFrequently asked questions
- How many days should I spend in Udaipur?
- Three days minimum — two for the City Palace, lakes and old city, one for a Kumbhalgarh or Ranakpur day-trip. Add a fourth night if you want to stay inside the Lake Palace or Jagat Niwas.
- Can you swim in Lake Pichola?
- No. Lake Pichola is the city's drinking-water source and swimming is forbidden. You can take boat rides from Bansi Ghat, Rameshwar Ghat or from the City Palace jetty (₹400–₹1,200).
- What is the best season for Udaipur?
- September to March. October–November is especially lovely: post-monsoon the lakes are full, the Aravallis are green and the Mewar Festival fills the palace courtyards with folk dance.
