City Palace Udaipur: Timings, Tickets, Mor Chowk and a Route Through the Palace

City Palace is not one building. It is a hill of palaces, stacked and joined over about four centuries, with the lake at its foot. Each ruler added a courtyard, a wing or a terrace, and the result looks like a single cliff of cream-coloured stone.

That scale is why people get it wrong. Some rush it in forty minutes. Others queue for the wrong ticket and miss the best rooms. This guide gives you the facts first, then a timed route, then the best hour for each season.

Figures were checked in October 2026. Fees and ticket tiers differ between sources and change often, so treat ranges as a guide and confirm at the counter.

City Palace at a glance

A short history

Udai Singh II left Chittorgarh after it was besieged and founded a new capital by a lake in 1559. The first buildings went up on a hill beside the water. His successors kept building for generations, so the palace is a timeline in stone, from the plain early rooms to the mirror-work and painted halls of later reigns.

You can see the layers as you climb. The lower courtyards are more open and ceremonial. The upper ones are narrower and more private, with small rooms, balconies and gardens set high above the city.

The palace facade above the entrance steps.

Opening hours and tickets

These numbers conflict between listings, and the Mewar foundation sets the real ones. Book at the official ticket counter or its online portal, and decide at the desk whether the Crystal Gallery is worth it for you.

The route, room by room

The palace is a one-way climb. Follow it in order and the story makes sense.

Manak Chowk and the lower galleries

You enter at the base of the palace. The first rooms hold arms, armour and paintings, and they set the tone. Mewar's rulers prided themselves on resistance, and the displays reflect that.

Mor Chowk, the Peacock Courtyard

Mor Chowk is the room people remember. Peacocks, one for each of three seasons, are worked in small pieces of coloured glass on the walls, and local sources count them in the thousands. The colours change as the light moves, so a second look an hour later is worth it.

Mor Chowk, with its black-and-white floor.

One of the glass-mosaic peacocks.

The Zenana Mahal

The Zenana Mahal was the women's quarters. Rooms open on to narrow corridors and small courtyards, and many are washed in soft blue. It is quieter than the public halls and gives a better sense of how people lived in the palace.

A corridor in the Zenana Mahal.

The upper terraces

Higher up, the palace opens out. Small gardens sit on the roofs, and the terraces look over Lake Pichola, the old city and the hills behind. Allow time to stand here. It is the best view of Udaipur from inside a building.

Best timing by season

The palace faces west across the lake, so afternoon light falls on the facade and the lake. Sunrise and sunset times below are calculated for Udaipur on the 15th of each month, in Indian Standard Time.

Choosing your time of day

Who City Palace suits

What to pair it with

• Lake Pichola is at the palace's foot. A short boat ride passes the ghats and the island palaces. Our Udaipur in three days plan shows where it fits.

• Jagdish Temple is a few minutes' walk, with steep steps and a working temple.

• Bagore ki Haveli is a small museum with an evening dance show nearby.

• The old city lanes hold miniature painting studios and textile shops. Read our guide to the Rajasthan crafts and textiles trail.

How to plan your visit

1. Arrive at opening for quiet courtyards.

2. Buy the right ticket at the counter. Decide on the Crystal Gallery after the museum.

3. Walk the route in order, from the base to the terraces.

4. Hire a guide if you want the stories behind the glass and the paintings.

5. Keep cash for camera fees if you plan to use one.

6. End on the terraces, then take a late boat.

Where it fits in Rajasthan

Udaipur is usually the last Rajasthan stop, after Jaipur and Jodhpur. Our guide to the order of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur explains how to link the cities. If you want to stay in a palace, read staying in a Rajasthan palace hotel.

Taj Lake Palace sits on an island in Lake Pichola, and Jagat Niwas Palace is a lakeside haveli near the City Palace. See how Udaipur fits into a route in the Golden Triangle and Udaipur itinerary or the Golden Triangle and Udaipur Lakes package.

Frequently asked questions

What are the City Palace Udaipur timings?

The palace museum is open daily from about 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, with last entry about an hour before closing. The Crystal Gallery opens slightly later and closes slightly earlier. Several listings say it is closed on Holi.

How much is the City Palace ticket?

Sources differ. Expect about ₹300 to ₹400 for Indian adults and ₹600 to ₹700 for foreign visitors for the museum, plus extra for the Crystal Gallery and cameras. Confirm at the counter.

How long does City Palace take?

About 2.5 to 3 hours for the palace. Add an hour for the Crystal Gallery and more for the lake boat.

What is the best time to visit City Palace Udaipur?

Opening time for the courtyards, late afternoon for lake light, and October to March for the weather.

What is Mor Chowk?

The Peacock Courtyard, a room of glass-mosaic peacocks. It is the best-known interior in the palace.

Is the Crystal Gallery worth it?

For many visitors, yes. It holds a large collection of crystal furniture and glass ordered from England in the nineteenth century. If your time is short, put it second to the museum.

Can you stay in City Palace?

Part of the complex is the royal family's residence, and two wings are run as hotels. Our team can help you choose.

Plan your Udaipur visit with us

We time palace mornings around the light and the queues. Explore the Rajasthan destination page or talk to a trip designer.

Photo credits

Palace facade: Daniel Villafruela, CC BY-SA 3.0. Mor Chowk courtyard: nborun, CC BY 2.0. Peacock mosaic: Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 4.0. Zenana Mahal: Thehumanlens, CC BY-SA 4.0. All via Wikimedia Commons.