Udaipur travel guide
India
A city of lakes and palaces in the Aravalli hills of southern Rajasthan. Udaipur is gentler than Rajasthan's larger cities, with rooftop sunsets over Lake Pichola and an old town made for wandering.
Essentials
- Language
- Hindi and Mewari; English is spoken in hotels and tourist areas
- Currency
- Indian rupee (INR)
- Plugs
- Type C, D and M, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112
- Tipping
- Around 10% in restaurants if no service charge is included; small tips for drivers and guides are customary.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $25-40, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $60-110, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Udaipur
- Old City: the lanes around the Jagdish Temple and City Palace, full of havelis and rooftop restaurants.
- Hanuman Ghat: across the water from the palace, quieter and with some of the best lake views.
- Fateh Sagar: the second lake to the north, where locals come for evening walks and snacks.
Getting around Udaipur
The old city is compact and walkable, though its lanes are steep and shared with motorbikes. Auto-rickshaws cover longer distances, so agree the fare first, and boats run on Lake Pichola.
Best time to visit Udaipur
October to March, when the days are warm and the lakes are usually full after the monsoon.
Top things to do in Udaipur
- Tour the City Palace, a sprawling complex of courtyards, balconies and mirror-work rooms above the lake
- Take a boat on Lake Pichola past the Lake Palace to the island of Jag Mandir
- Watch the evening folk dance and puppet show at Bagore ki Haveli
- Drive up to the Monsoon Palace on its hilltop for sunset over the countryside
- Stroll the fountains and lotus pools of Saheliyon ki Bari garden
What to eat in Udaipur
- Dal baati churma: baked wheat dumplings with lentils and a sweet crumbled wheat dessert
- Gatte ki sabzi: gram-flour dumplings simmered in a spiced yoghurt curry
- Laal maas: a fiery Rajasthani mutton curry coloured with red chillies
- Ker sangri: a tangy dish of desert beans and berries, eaten with roti
Day trips from Udaipur
- Kumbhalgarh: a hilltop fort whose walls run for some 36 km, about two and a half hours by road
- Ranakpur: an intricately carved marble Jain temple with over a thousand pillars, about two and a half hours away
- Chittorgarh: one of India's largest forts, full of palaces and towers, about two hours by road
Local etiquette
Remove your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees at temples; leather items are not allowed in Jain temples. Bargaining is normal in markets, but keep it friendly.
Staying connected
Jio and Airtel SIMs need a passport and photo to register, and nearly every hotel and rooftop café has Wi-Fi.
Staying safe
Udaipur is relaxed, but drivers and guides may steer you to shops that pay them commission, so shop where you choose. Summer heat from April to June is severe, so carry water and rest at midday.
A local tip
Ride the ropeway up to the Karni Mata temple in the late afternoon for a view over the whole city and Lake Pichola.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Udaipur on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Udaipur for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Udaipur, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Udaipur
- What currency is used in Udaipur?
- Udaipur uses the Indian rupee (INR).
- What is the emergency number in Udaipur?
- In Udaipur, call 112.
- When is the best time to visit Udaipur?
- October to March, when the days are warm and the lakes are usually full after the monsoon.
- How much does a day in Udaipur cost?
- Roughly $25-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Udaipur?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Udaipur without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.
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