Udaipur City Palace is one of the best things to see in the city of Udaipur and is one of the best historical attractions in Rajasthan.
Established in the 16th century CE, it was from Udaipur City Palace that the Mewar Dynasty ruled over a large chunk of Northern India all the way up until the 20th century.
Famous for its size and architecture, Udaipur City Palace is still owned and maintained by that same former-royal family, and is open for the public to explore.
In this complete guide to Udaipur City Palace, I’m providing you with everything you need to know to visit the ‘Palace of Palaces’.
Contents
Brief History of Udaipur City Palace
Udaipur City Palace was the royal residence of the Kingdom of Mewar.
The Mewar Kingdom dates as far back as the 7th century CE, but for hundreds of years it was a tiny kingdom, little more than a city state. It was continuously invaded, seeing multiple empires come and go.
But by the 14th century the Mewars had become one of the major powers in Northern India, and came to rule over most of modern-day Rajasthan.
It was during this time that the Mewar Maharanas (or Rajputs – meaning ‘royalty’) moved the capital to Udaipur and began building the City Palace.
While construction began in 1553, Udaipur City Palace wasn’t built all at once, but gradually developed over centuries by subsequent rulers.
With scenic views over Lake Pichola, the lavish complex came to hold multiple palaces, villas, courtyards, gardens, and art galleries, By the time the British took over in the early 1800s, the City Palace was among the largest in Northern India, and was known as the ‘Palace of Palaces’.
Under the British, the Mewar Maharanas continued to rule over their kingdom as a princely state of the British Raj. It wasn’t Indian independence in 1949 tht the Mewar dynasty, and all the princely states, were dissolved into the modern-day nation of India.
While they may have lost their royal status, the members of the Mewar dynasty were allowed to keep the their wealth and proprerty, and the former royal family still owns Udaipur City Palace to this day.
Things to see at Udaipur City Palace
There’s a reason Udaipur City Palace was called the ‘palace of palaces’. This place is huge, with many things to see.
After passing through the entrance gate, you’ll find yourself in Manek Chowk, which you can explore freely. From here there’s a designated path that takes you through the interior of the palace.
Here are some of the highlights you can expect along the way:
1 | Manek Chowk
Manek Chowk is the large, grassy courtyard you’ll find yourself in after passing through the main entrance, and it’s arguably the most scenic place on the palace grounds.
Manek Chowk is sort of like the ‘red carpet’ entrance into the palace complex; it’s best architecture on display.
Since the 17th century, Manek Chowk has been used for public meetings, ceremonial processions, horse cavalry, elephant parades, and other events for the royal family.
2 | Kanch Ki Burj
Historically, Rajasthani artisans have been known for their glass-making skills, and that craftemenship and skill is on full display in inside Kanch Ki Burj.
Once the winter bedroom for the Maharanas, this spectacular room is covered, floor to ceiling, in colourful glass panels and mirrors.
While mesmerising, it’s hard to understand why the Maharana would want such a place as their bedroom.
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3 | Baadi Mahal
Baddi Mahal, also known as the Garden Palace, is an open courtyard located at one of the highest points in the palace grounds.
Built in 1699, it contains a small garden and some fountains, and was used for special events such as royal banquets and birthday celebrations.
It’s also the area of the palace with the best views over Lake Pichola.
4 | Rai Angan
Rani Angan is the oldest part of Udaipur City Palace
While most other places you’ll explore were added over the centuries, this part of the castle was the foundation, being the first part built in the 1500s.
The buildings around Rai Angan were originally used as living spaces, while the courtyard was often used for coronation ceremonies for new Mewar Maharanas. Its age can be seen the the buildings surrounding the courtyard, which a noticeably more weathered than some other parts of the complex.
5 | Mor Chowk
Another of the best courtyards in Udaipur Palace is Mor Chowk. In many ways it’s similar to Rai Angan, but it’s known for the intricate glass inlay that adorns the upper balcony of the courtyard. A stunning example of the glasswork that Rajasthan was known for.
Mor Chowk was generally used for meetings with important guests.
6 | Zenana Mahal
It was typical for Rajasthani palaces to have separate living spaces for the royal women. In Udaipur Palace, that area is Zenana Mahal.
The rooms and open courtyard of Zenana Mahal were once used by the ladies of the palace for their own functions, ceremonies and religious rituals, or simply to hang out.
These days most of the rooms in Zenana Mahal serve as art galleries, showcasing the various pieces collected by the former royal family over the centuries.
Where is Udaipur City Palace?
Udaipur City Palace is located in the city of 📍Udaipur, in the north-eastern Indian state of Rajasthan.
Known as the City of Lakes, Udaipur is a popular city among tourists in Rajasthan, and a common destination after visiting nearby cities like Jodhpur or Jaisalmer.
The 📍City Palace can be found in the old part of town, adjacent to Lake Pichola.
The Palace has multiple gates, but you can only enter through the north gate, known as 📍Badi Pol.
How to get to Udaipur
Udaipur is one of the major cities in Rajasthan and is easy to reach. You have 3 main options for getting there:
Reaching Udaipur via train
India has an extensive train network and that includes Udaipur.
Udaipur Train Station is located in the downtown area and connects Udaipur to most other nearby cities, including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Mumbai.
If you’ve got a lot of distance to cover, consider booking an overnight sleeper ticket. This means you can save time by moving between cities while you sleep and saving your days for exploring.
You can book your train ticket to Udaipur on 12Go.Asia.
The distance between Udaipur Train Station and the main tourist area of the city, where the City Palace is located, is too far to walk. Thankfully, you’ll find no shortage of taxi driver’s offering you a lift as soon as you exit the train station.
Reaching Udaipur via Bus
While India’s rail network is extensive, it doesn’t go everywhere. Thankfully, it’s easy to catch a bus between most major cities, and it’s just as cheap.
Just like a train, you have the option of booking an overnight sleeper ticket, though expect it to be a lot more bumpy.
When you book a ticket online, you’ll be given a departure point, which is usually located in a central location.
You can book your bus ticket to Udaipur at 12Go.Asia.
Reaching Udaipur via Flight
If you’re coming from afar, or have room in your budget, flying to Udaipur is also an option.
A flight from Delhi to Udaipur will take about 1hr 15min. From Mumbai about 1hr 30min.
Udaipur Airport is located quite far outside the city, about a 30min drive from where you want to be. Thankfully, finding a taxi at the airport is never an issue, and uber is also available.
You can search for flights to Udaipur on Skyscanner.
Best time to visit Udaipur
The best time to visit Udaipur is between September and March.
Rajasthan is a dry, mostly desert, region and the summers can get HOT. While you can still visit between April and August, you can expect it to be hot enough to make your daytime adventures uncomfortable.
While it can get a little cold at night during Udaipur’s winter, the daytime temperatures are much more agreeable.
Udaipur is also one of the best places in India to celebrate Holi Festival.
Holi is a yearly Hindu festival celebrated across India that involves a lot of partying and powdered dye. It’s an iconic experience and should be a bucket list item for anyone interested in travelling India.
Holi Festival takes place around the beginning of spring, which usually means in March, but the date is slightly different every year. You can check upcoming dates for Holi Festival here.
Hotels near Udaipur City Palace
Udaipur is a major tourist hotspot in India, so you have plenty of options for accommodation.
When you book your hotel, make sure it’s in the old town and not further out. This is where all the main tourist attractions are, near the north-eastern shores of Lake Pichola.
Here’s some suggestions for hotels near Udaipur City Palace, depending on your budget:
High Range
Udaipur is considered a regal city, and its high-range accommodation reflects this.
If you’re looking to treat yourself like a Maharana, then you’ll want to book a night at Udaipur’s premiere 5-star hotel: The Oberoi Udaivilas.
This hotel is located in a very central location, right on the lake, and the building is so spectacular it rivals Udaipur City Palace. The picturesque complex and its Rajasthani architecture is part of the experience.
Mid Range
If you’re looking for a quality hotel room within a reasonable budget, there are still many options to choose from.
Personally I stayed at Kankarwa Haveli and had a great experience.
It’s a family-run hotel in a former haveli (A Rajasthani mansion), right on the water’s edge. It may not compare to the grandeur and luxury of The Oberoi Udaivilas, but it’s clean, has all the basic amenities you need, and offers some of the best views of the lake.
Budget
If you’re a backpacker or have a strict budget, there are multiple backpacker hostels in Udaipur for you to choose from, offering a mix of both dorms and private rooms.
On my first visit to Udaipur I stayed at Madpackers Hostel and it was excellent value for money. Not only is it clean, but it also boasts a great rooftop restaurant and common area, with amazing views of the lake.
Udaipur City Palace Ticket Price
The Udaipur City Palace ticket prices are:
- ₹400 – Adult
- ₹150 – Child
You can purchase your Udaipur City Palace ticket at the front entrance, or online in advance from the official website.
Udaipur City Palace Opening Times
Udaipur City Palace is open form 9am to 9pm daily. Last tickets sold at 8pm.
You can check for updates to the openning hours on the Udaipur City Palace official website.
Udaipur City Palace Tours
If you want to learn more about Udaipur City Palace as you explore it’s grounds, there are 2 types of tours on offer:
- Guided Tour – The tour guides at Udaipur City Palace are more informative and professional than any government-run historical attraction. For a reasonable fee, they’ll show you around the massive palace and feed you insightful information along the way.
- Audio Tour – If you want the information a tour guide offers but want to explore Udaipur City Palace at your own pace, there’s also an audio tour available.
Both types of tours can be bought at the entry where you buy your ticket.
Planning your trip to India
Now that you have all the information on visiting Udaipur City Palace, it’s time to start planning your trip to India. Here are some resources to help you get started:
✈ Flights: Trip.com and Skyscanner are the best resources for finding cheap flights to India.
🚅 Transport: 12Go is the best online platform for booking trains and buses in India, and across Asia.
🏨 Accommodation: Booking.com is the best resource for finding amazing hotels in India, while Hostelworld is the best for finding hostels.
🏥 Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers all the essentials in India, including theft, medical and cancellations.
🛜 Internet: To stay connected in India, you can use Airalo. They offer an eSIM, meaning all you need is a smartphone and and the app.
🌐 VPN: To stay connected and access service that may not be available in India, use NordVPN.
🏄 Tours & Day Trips: Get Your Guide and Viator are the top platforms for tours and activities in India.
🎟 Tickets: Official websites to historical sites in India rarely sell tickets online. But often you can purchase them from Klook, allowing you to save time by booking in advance.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
Further reading on India
Here are more guides on India to help you plan your trip:
⬤ For more historical sites in Rajasthan, check out: 2-Week Historical Rajasthan Itinerary.
⬤ From Udaipur, you’re only a one overnight train ride from the historical city of Ahmedabad. Check out: 10 Best Historical Places in Ahmedabad.
⬤ The next stop after Udaipur is often historic Jodhpur, with its towering fortress. Check out: Complete Travel Guide to Jodhpur.
⬤ During your visit in India, don’t miss out on visiting one of its iconic stepwells. Check out: Complete Guide to Visiting Stepwells in India.
⬤ For more historical travel guides on India, check out our India page.
