Luxury Udaipur Tours
A city built around Lake Pichola: City Palace on the water's edge, island palaces, old-city lanes, and the Aravalli hills behind.
Plan My Udaipur Trip
Overview
Udaipur At A Glance
A luxury Udaipur tour is built around water. Maharana Udai Singh II founded the city in 1559, and its lakes shaped everything that followed. City Palace stands on the east bank of Lake Pichola. Its courtyards and balconies face the water. Part of the complex is still home to the royal family. Go out on the lake at sunset. The boat passes Jag Mandir, the island palace, as the Aravalli hills darken. Back on land, walk the old city with a guide. The lanes behind the ghats hold havelis and small workshops. Saheliyon-ki-Bari is a quiet garden laid out for the forty-eight young women who attended a princess. Sajjangarh, the Monsoon Palace, crowns a hill at 944 metres and looks back over the lakes. Udaipur has seven lakes in all, and five are part of India's national lake conservation plan. The city rewards slow days. Your private guide and driver can keep mornings open, group the sights by area, and leave evenings free for the water. Nothing needs rushing here. The lake sets the pace.
- Best Time
- October to March. The air is cool and the lakes are at their fullest after the monsoon.
- Getting There
- Maharana Pratap Airport is about 20 kilometres from the city. Jodhpur is roughly five to six hours away by road.
- Where To Stay
- Taj Lake Palace, Jagat Niwas Palace
- Continue To
- Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur
- Coordinates
- 24.59° N, 73.71° E
What To See
What To See In Udaipur
Udaipur's real highlights are what a private guide builds each day around.
City Palace, Udaipur
A palace complex on Lake Pichola's east bank, still part-home to Udaipur's royal family.
Lake Pichola
The man-made lake at Udaipur's heart, ringed by ghats, island palaces and the Aravalli hills.
Lake Pichola Sunset Cruise
A slow boat out past Jag Mandir as the Aravallis take the last of the light.
Udaipur Old City Heritage Walk
Walk the lanes behind the ghats — havelis, workshops and the city's older street plan.
How To Travel
Journeys Through Udaipur
Every journey comes with a private guide and driver for each day on the road. Full details live on each journey's own page.
15 Nights
Royal Rajasthan Photography Journey
Delhi · Jaipur · Jaisalmer · Jodhpur · Pushkar · Udaipur · Agra
12 Nights
Royal Rajasthan Grand Tour
Delhi · Jaipur · Jaisalmer · Jodhpur · Pushkar · Udaipur · Agra
9 Nights
Rajasthan Spiritual Sojourn
Delhi · Jaipur · Jodhpur · Ranthambore · Udaipur
8 Nights
Golden Triangle & Udaipur Honeymoon
Delhi · Jaipur · Udaipur · Agra
7 Nights
Golden Triangle & Udaipur Lakes
Delhi · Jaipur · Udaipur · Agra
7 Nights
Rajasthan Desert Forts & Lakes Grand Tour
Jaisalmer · Jodhpur · Kumbhalgarh · Udaipur
7 Nights
Rajasthan Golden Cities Grand Tour
Jaipur · Kumbhalgarh · Pushkar · Udaipur
7 Nights
Rajasthan Palace & Heritage Tour
Jaipur · Jaisalmer · Jodhpur · Kumbhalgarh · Pushkar · Udaipur
Where To Stay
Where To Stay In Udaipur
Stays are chosen for the setting and the service, then matched to the pace of your route.
Taj Lake Palace
★★★★★
Taj Lake Palace was built in 1746 as a royal summer retreat. It covers a four-acre island in Lake Pichola. There is no road to it. Guests arrive by the hotel's own boat, and that short crossing sets the tone for everything after. The palace is carved from white marble and seems to float. Courtyards open into lily ponds. Corridors are inlaid with coloured glass and mirrorwork. From the water, the building reads as a single unbroken line, which is why it turns up in so many films. Every room looks at water. Some face the City Palace on the eastern shore. Others look west to the Aravalli hills and the Monsoon Palace on the ridge. The grand suites keep their original cusped arches and painted ceilings. Dining runs from Neel Kamal, which serves Rajasthani and Mewari dishes, to Jharokha on the terrace. Bhairo sits on the upper level and opens only for dinner. A private boat can be laid for a table of two on the lake itself. The Jiva Spa occupies a restored royal barge moored alongside. Treatments follow Indian wellness traditions. Udaipur's ghats, temples and the City Palace complex are all a few minutes away by launch.
Jagat Niwas Palace
★★★★
Jagat Niwas Palace sits directly on Lake Pichola, on the old Lal Ghat waterfront. The building is a 17th-century haveli, converted room by room rather than gutted. The stonework, the arches and the window seats are original. What you are paying for here is the water. The lake starts at the foot of the wall. The Taj Lake Palace floats a few hundred metres out, the City Palace rises to the left, and the Aravalli hills close the view behind. Lake-facing rooms look straight into all of it. Rooms are reached through narrow whitewashed passages and small courtyards. Cusped arch windows, carved niches and low seating alcoves come with the building. Sizes vary, because a 17th-century haveli was never built to a standard plan. The rooftop restaurant is the property's best-known room. It serves Rajasthani and Indian dishes over the lake, and it stays busy at sunset for good reason. Everything in old Udaipur is walkable from the gate. Jagdish Temple is minutes away on foot, the City Palace complex a little further, and the ghats run in both directions along the shore.
16
years crafting private India journeys
30,000+
travellers guided end to end
5.0
from 310 Google reviews
Ministry of Tourism
NIDHI Certified Tour Operator
Rajasthan Tourism
Recognized Travel Agency
Travel for LiFE
Sustainable Tourism Pledge
Google Reviews★★★★★
Verified business reviews
Frequently Asked
Questions About Udaipur
How many days do you need in Udaipur?
Two days suit most travellers. Spend one on City Palace, the old city and a lake cruise at sunset. Use the other for Saheliyon-ki-Bari, Sajjangarh and time by the water. A third day works well if you want to visit Kumbhalgarh or simply slow down.
What should I know before visiting Udaipur?
The old city is hilly, with steps and cobbled lanes. Wear flat, grippy footwear. Cover shoulders and knees at temples and remove shoes where asked. Ask before photographing people. Carry water and sun protection. Some lakeside viewpoints involve stairs, so tell your guide if mobility is a concern.
When is the best time of day for a Lake Pichola boat ride?
Late afternoon into sunset is the most popular slot. The light turns golden on City Palace and the hills darken behind Jag Mandir. A morning ride is quieter and cooler. Check current boat timings with your guide, since they shift through the year.
What is Sajjangarh and is it worth the drive?
Sajjangarh is the Monsoon Palace, set on a hilltop at about 944 metres. It looks out over Udaipur and its lakes. The drive up is short from the city. Late afternoon suits the view best. Your guide can fit it in alongside a lake evening.
Are your tours in Udaipur private?
Yes. Every journey is private. You travel with your own guide and driver, and the pace is yours to set.
What is the best time to visit Udaipur?
October to March. The air is cool and the lakes are at their fullest after the monsoon.
How do I get to Udaipur?
Maharana Pratap Airport is about 20 kilometres from the city. Jodhpur is roughly five to six hours away by road.
Can I combine Udaipur with other cities?
Yes. We can join Udaipur to other cities in Rajasthan in a single route, with transfers and stays planned around it.
Can you arrange hotels in Udaipur?
Yes. Stays are part of every journey. We match them to your budget and to the pace of your route.
How do I plan a trip to Udaipur?
Share your dates and who is travelling using the form on this page. A specialist replies with a private route for you to review.
Continue The Route
More Of Rajasthan
The other cities in Rajasthan we build private journeys through, each with its own guide.
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