Udaipur actually manages to leave an imprint even after one is back home. Some cities charm you with monuments, others with natural beauty. This city does both so effortlessly. This beautiful place is actually wrapped in shimmering lakes, guarded by the rugged Aravallis, and painted with palaces whispering stories of Rajput valour. This city manages to feel both dreamy and yet totally anchored to its heritage. Be it history, photography, architecture, or only simply to slow down at a beautiful place that someone comes for, Udaipur doesn’t let their hopes down. Most especially when one sees all its iconic sights with a clear plan, it gets even more worth it.
How to Travel Udaipur from Delhi?
No matter which means of travel is chosen, all are comparatively comfortable and pleasurable to reach a destination, especially from New Delhi.
Car:
You would have a total distance of approximately 660 kilometers, about 411 miles, and depending upon the speed at which you travel, it takes anywhere about 12 hours to drive to Udaipur from New Delhi. The road condition is fine, and there are quite a few nice cities falling in between. Normally, people like to start early in the morning for driving because the highway stretches are not that dark to drive on, and city traffic can be avoided. Deluxe buses and Volvo coaches usually move between the two cities and are comfortable alternatives to driving.
Train:
Passengers can choose between Chetak Express, Mewar Express or maybe Ananya Express trains. The travel will be for about 11-13 hours, based on which train they choose. If you travel to Udaipur via train at night, then you should expect to arrive in Udaipur on the following morning and be prepared to visit all the sites that are within walking distance of your destination.
Flight:
Air travel between New Delhi and Udaipur has a distance of about 22km from New Delhi’s city centre to Maharana Pratap/Dabok (Udaipur Airport), and the plane journey from New Delhi to Maharana Pratap/Dabok takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. A lot of Taxis and app-based cab services are available from the Airport.
The best places to visit in Udaipur
All attractions within Udaipur have their own unique history. Listed below are some of the most sought-after items that should be included by every traveller.
Udaipur City Palace
This palace represents the heritage of Udaipur that was created by successive Mewar rulers over a period of 400 years. You will actually feel as if you’ve crossed into a living monument to the ruler’s way of life when you enter this building.
Hours of operation are normally between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm. The entry charges cost around Rs. 300 per adult and Rs. 100 per child. Prices tend to vary greatly. These rates do not represent those of other museums; only the entry costs have been listed.
Here, you can watch the peacock tile work in Mor Chowk, visit the crystal gallery and spend some time on its breathtaking balconies. There is also a cafe inside the complex of palaces where one can sit and enjoy the scene around them.
Lake Pichola
Originally constructed in 1362, surrounded by palaces, the lake looks so magical at the rising and setting sun. The glittering water actually doubles the beauty of the City Palace & Jag Mandir; hence, boating is in great demand.
Boating is allowed from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Boat rides typically average around Rs. 600 per person, with peak costs of Rs. 700-1000 at sunset.
The best boarding locations for boat rides include the jetty below City Palace or Gangaur Ghat, both offering stunning views of the City Palace, the Aravalli hills and the shimmering Lake Palace hotel in the middle lake expanse.
Jagmandir Island
Access for visitors to get to Jagmandir (the Lake Palace Garden), located on Pichola Lake, is accomplished by utilising boat services offered by either the City Palace Jetty or Nakki Lake tract operators.
Package tour operators will provide entry as part of their package. However, it should be noted that when booking a tour, it is best to verify this detail prior to your tour, as you may incur additional fees in order to have access.
The best time to visit here is actually in the late afternoon or evening. At these times, the golden glow of the sun creates beautiful lighting. Jagmandir is also considered to be one of the quietest places in Udaipur.
Fateh Sagar Lake
This lake is another jewel of Udaipur, serene yet breathing life, especially in the evening. The Lake has been divided into three islands, out of which one has a sitting of Nehru Garden as a picnic outlet.
Activities include boating, cycling around, and having fun in lakeside parks, which are some of the amusements available for the visitors. Thus, this wide promenade appeals to a lot of joggers, families, and photography lovers.
Fateh Sagar Food Court is famous for snacks, cold coffee, pizza, sandwiches, and Rajasthani favourite dishes, famous all over the world. Having local delicacies at the lake site surely adds a refreshing charm to the visit.
Places of interest around include Sukhadia Circle, which is quite near Moti Magri or Maharana Pratap Memorial, and Saheliyon Ki Bari, and hence can easily be covered on the same day.
Sajjangarh
Located on top of a hill, this place actually provides the most dramatic view in town. The hike to the top gives you sweeping views of Udaipur’s lakes.
It is a very famous palace for sunset. When the sun is behind the hills, the sky takes on orange, pink and purple colours, making the scene a treat to watch for the photographer.
Entry Fee for Indians is Rs . 110 per person and Rs. 300 for foreigners. There may be vehicle charges applicable for the hill road.
Jagdish Temple
This Indo-Aryan architectural style lies between the City Mall and the City Palace. Many claim that at the temple, there is a moment of peace as well as tranquillity whenever one worships Lord Vishnu. Hundreds of tourists visit the temple every day. People often start as early as 4:00 am in order to experience the ringing of bells.
The Udaipur Ropeway
If you board the Udaipur Ropeway from Deendayal Upadhyaya Park and cross over Machla Magra Hill, you get an uninterrupted view of the city. While you ride the gondola and take a bird’s view of probably the most photographed lake of Udaipur, City Palace, Lake Pichola, and Old Udaipur can be seen in a panoramic view. Udaipur Ropeway is most popular among visitors at night when Udaipur is illuminated.
Vintage Car Museum
It houses an enviable collection of vehicles, which the royal family of Udaipur once used. It comprises sleek Rolls-Royce cars and vintage Cadillacs, right down to horse-drawn carriages. There is a museum entry fee, which is Rs. 400.
It is open from 09:00 to 20:00. This timing allows the place to be easily visited, and it is very near the Gulab Bagh.
Best Shopping Spots
Udaipur is a vibrant city, and there are many artistic styles here. Bapu Bazaar essentially tends to appeal to its customers by selling textiles. Hathi Pol will provide the greatest range of Pichwai paintings, handicrafts, and souvenirs. Thus, it is surely one of the must-visited places for anyone searching for presents to take home or something special for family or friends.
Chetak Circle offers a great variety of wooden artefacts, metal decorative pieces, and puppets. Though it is great to have such goods on sale, more important is to know the artists behind such products, who toiled hard to maintain their craft and pass it on to successive generations.
Conclusion
What makes Udaipur special is that in one single tour, spirituality as well as culture blend together. Every nook tells a story worth exploring. It is very easily accessible by road, rail, or air from Delhi and thus promises a reward. A look at these must-see places will ensure that your stay in Udaipur is memorable and full of moments, thereby capturing the true essence of Rajasthan’s most romantic city.