The cream-coloured City Palace of Udaipur rising above the rippling water of Lake Pichola

City · Udaipur, Rajasthan

Udaipur: City Palace and Lake Pichola

The Mewar capital's lakeside palace complex and island palaces on Lake Pichola

Photo: Pranav Panchal (@pranavpanchal) / Unsplash

Discover Udaipur: City Palace and Lake Pichola

Few Indian cities are as closely tied to water as Udaipur. Its cream-coloured City Palace runs for about 244 metres along a ridge above Lake Pichola, a jumble of balconies, cupolas and courtyards built up by successive Maharanas over some four centuries. Out on the lake, the white island palaces of Jag Niwas and Jag Mandir seem to float on the water.

The pleasure of Udaipur is slow: a morning in the palace museum, a boat across the lake in the late afternoon, and an evening watching the lights come on along the ghats. Around the lake, old havelis, temples and rooftop cafes make the old city easy and rewarding to explore on foot.

Don’t miss

01City Palace museum courtyards, including Mor Chowk with its peacock mosaics
02Boat ride on Lake Pichola with views of the palace and ghats
03Jag Mandir island palace, reached by boat
04Lake Palace on Jag Niwas island, seen from the water
05Bagore ki Haveli at Gangaur Ghat and its evening Dharohar folk performances

History & culture

The story of Udaipur: City Palace and Lake Pichola

Maharana Udai Singh II of the Sisodia Rajputs founded Udaipur in the sixteenth century after moving the Mewar capital from Chittor, and began the City Palace on the ridge above Lake Pichola. Later rulers added palaces, courtyards and gateways in a blend of Rajput and Mughal styles; in 1974 part of the complex, including the Zenana Mahal, became a public museum.

Lake Pichola itself is older than the city, dating to 1362 and named after the village of Picholi. Maharana Jagat Singh II built the marble Lake Palace on Jag Niwas island in 1746; it is now a heritage hotel. Jag Mandir, on a second island, was also a royal pleasure palace and today can be reached by boat for meals with views of the lake.

Local life & traditions

Udaipur's lakeside ghats are still used for bathing, washing and worship, and the city celebrates festivals such as Gangaur and the Mewar Festival with processions to the water. The old city is also a centre for miniature painting, and many small studios welcome visitors.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Give the City Palace a morning: the complex holds around eleven palaces, not all open to the public, along with galleries such as the Crystal Gallery and a vintage car collection nearby. In the afternoon, take a boat across Lake Pichola, stopping at Jag Mandir, and time your return for sunset.

In the evening, Bagore ki Haveli at Gangaur Ghat stages Dharohar, a programme of Rajasthani folk dance and music. Saheliyon ki Bari, a garden of fountains and marble elephants built for royal ladies-in-waiting, makes a calm outing on another day.

When to go

October to March is the most pleasant season, with mild days and cool evenings ideal for boat rides. The months after a good monsoon, from August to October, are when the lakes are usually fullest and the hills green. April to June is hot, so plan palace visits for the morning.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Getting to Jag Mandir: Jag Mandir, in the middle of Lake Pichola, is reached by boat ride on the lake Source: incredibleindia.gov.in ↗
Evening performances: Bagore ki Haveli at Gangaur Ghat hosts evening folk dances and cultural performances (Dharohar) Source: incredibleindia.gov.in ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Book a late-afternoon boat ride to see the palace in golden light.
Wear comfortable shoes: the City Palace has many stairs and uneven floors.
Check current museum and boat ticket prices on the day, as they vary by season and route.
Rooftop restaurants around Lal Ghat and Gangaur Ghat give good lake views at dinner.
Dress modestly when visiting temples such as the Jagdish Temple near the palace.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Udaipur: City Palace and Lake Pichola: food, markets & places to stay

The Jagdish Temple, Bagore ki Haveli and the bazaars of the old city lie within a short walk of the City Palace, and Saheliyon ki Bari and Fateh Sagar Lake are a short ride north. Guesthouses and heritage hotels cluster around the lake's eastern shore. Udaipur has a railway station and the Maharana Pratap Airport outside the city.

Where Udaipur: City Palace and Lake Pichola is

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