Udaipur

Udaipur (Hindi: उदयपुर Udaypur) is the capital of the district of Mewar in Rajasthan, India. Udaipur is famous for its lakes, palaces, forts, temples, gardens, and romantic backdrops. It was the setting of many movies, including the 13th James Bond film, Octopussy.

History
In 1568, the Mughal emperor Akbar captured Chittorgarh, and Udai Singh was forced to flee and establish the city of Udaipur. Udaipur remained the capital of the state of Mewar, which became a princely state of British India in 1818. After India's independence in 1947, Mewar was integrated into the state of Rajasthan.

Culture
People in Udaipur usually prefer wearing bright colored clothes. Colourful festivals and fairs depict the cultural prosperity of Udaipur.

Climate
Udaipur offers moderate climate all through the year, but the best season to visit the place is from September to March.

Winters (December to February) offers pleasant climate with a temperature not going beyond 32°C. The pleasing weather is perfect for enjoying holidays and indulging in various tourist activities.

Summers (mid-March to June) has hot weather with a temperature maximum of 45°C, especially April to June. The hot climate is not preferable for Udaipur tourism activities.

Monsoons (July to September) offer very little rainfall. The scanty amount of rains in Udaipur makes the place very humid. However, during monsoon, the lush green environs of the place become very attractive. Even the lakes are filled with rain water.

Winter months are comparatively cooler than summer months which make it perfect for holidaying and all types of tourist activities of all ages. Plan your travel or book packages for Udaipur during these months. March offers comfortably hot weather and is ideal for sightseeing and adventures. Summer months are very hot and it's better to avoid visiting during these months. September to November has pleasing climate making it really a good time for sighting and other tourist activities.

By car
Udaipur is easily accessible via major roads from every major destination in India including Chittorgarh (117 km), Ahmedabad (257 km), Jodhpur (260 km), Ajmer (307 km), Sawai Madhopur/Ranthambore (638 km), Jaipur (421 km), Bikaner (488 km),  Agra (638 km), Delhi (676 km), Mumbai (725 km), and Khajuraho (776 km).

By plane


Taxis between the airport and the city cost ₹650 from the prepaid taxi booth in the airport. Many hotels offer a prearranged pickup for ₹600-800. There are no public buses between the airport and the city.

By train
Udaipur has direct train connections to many major cities in India including Chittorgarh (6-7 per day, 2 hours. ₹140), Ahmedabad (daily, 10 hours, ₹200), Ajmer (4 per day, 5 hours. ₹135-680), Sawai Madhopur (daily, 7 hours, ₹270-1,625), Jaipur (3 per day, 7 hours, ₹170-855), Agra (daily, 13 hours, ₹360-2,355), Delhi (2 per day, 12 hours. ₹390-1,440), Mumbai (every other day, 17 hours, ₹475-1,785), and Khajuraho (daily, 21 hours, ₹485-3,245).

By bus
Udaipur is connected by an efficient bus service to most cities in Rajasthan, which sometimes be much faster than the train. Buses operate between Udaipur and Mount Abu (5 hours, ₹100), Agra (6 hours, ₹120), Ahmedabad (6 hours, ₹200), Jodhpur (8 hours, ₹125), Ranakpur (3 hours, ₹85), Ajmer (8 hours, ₹150), Jaipur (9 hours, ₹200), Bikaner, Delhi (14 hours, ₹420), and Mumbai (16 hours, sleeper ₹600 or seat ₹400). RSRTC runs Volvo & other Multiple axle bus services which can be booked through its RSRTC Bus Ticket Booking mobile app.

Get around
While most of the city can be covered on foot and the narrow alleyways in the old city make any other form of transportation a hassle, a taxi or autorickshaw/tuk-tuk is necessary to reach the Monsoon Palace or the wilderness park. A tuk-tuk will usually cost around ₹50, and should never cost more than ₹100 within the city. App-based cab hailing services like Uber and Ola are becoming increasingly popular since they generally cost lower than the tuk-tuk and require no fare-haggling Also there are many local taxi providers.

Horseback riding
Situated in the middle of the Aravalli Hills, Udaipur offers a fantastic landscape and unrivaled views. Various operators offer horse rides here:

Fairs and festivals
The city of Udaipur celebrates all the fairs and festivals with equal fervor. The important fairs and festivals that are closely associated with Udaipur are Mewar Festival and the Shilpgram Fair. If you want to catch the vigor of these desert people, catch them during their famous fairs and festivals.


 * Mewar Festival - Mewar festival is observed to welcome the arrival of spring season (March/April). The festival is especially meant for women and offers the best time when they dress in their finest clothes and join the celebrations of the fest. To conduct the ceremony, women assemble to dress the images of Isar (Lord Shiva) and Gangaur (Goddess Parvati). After dressing the idols, they carry them in a traditional procession passing through different parts of the city. In the last, the procession makes its move towards the Gangaur Ghat at Pichola Lake. At this point, the images are transported into special boats and immersed in the deep waters of the lake. When this religious part gets over, people engage into various dances, songs and other cultural events revealing the culture of Rajasthan. Mewar festival is concluded with a glittering show of fireworks.
 * Shilpgram Crafts Fair - Shilpgram Mela is held annually in the west of the city of Udaipur in the month of November/ December. The fair is organized to promote art and craft of Rajasthan. This fair is a perfect destination to try out the hand woven clothes, embroideries, mirror works and handicrafts. The hand woven clothes and camel leather items grab the major attention of visitors in this fair.

Buy
Udaipur is particularly famous for its miniature paintings inspired by style of Rajputs and Mughals. You are unlikely to find these items elsewhere in India. These cost as little as ₹100 and make a beautiful gift or keepsake. Items such as handicrafts, pottery, jewelry, wooden toys, antique items and paintings are easily available in the tourist area. Other popular purchases include toys, bewitching puppets, wall hangings, pen stands, cloth lanterns, handmade papers, painted wooden boxes and greeting cards, pottery in both metal and adobe, pots, plates, vessels and containers, brassware, and terracotta sculptures.

Udaipur also has typical bazaars including Hathi Pol, Bada Bazaar, Chetak Circle, Bada Bazaar and Palace Road.

Shopping malls
There are 4 malls offering a range of shopping, dining and entertainment.



Eat
Udaipur is famous for its spicy snacks such as mirchi bada and kachori. Other common local cuisines include Dal Baati Churma (Lentils and rice), Pyaz Kachori (onion/flour balls), and Gatte Ki Sabzi (gram flour dumplings with curry). These are common on the menu of just about every restaurant and should definitely be eaten!

Cooking classes are also commonly offered in Udaipur.

There are a couple Thali restaurants where you can get unlimited servings of a selection of Rajasthani and Gujarati dishes (rotis, savoury bites, daals, vegetables, rice, sweets and more). There are also American fast food restaurants such as McDonald's and Subway in the Celebration Mall (see listing above). Outside of the old town, you can find street stalls selling cheap chaat (Indian fast food).

There are many rooftop restaurants with romantic views of Lake Pichola. However, in all cases, you will usually have to walk up several flights of stairs to get to them.


 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.
 * Parkview Restaurant, located in the prime location opposite the city's town hall and at a convenient proximity of Bapu Bazaar market area, is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. Its history dates back to late 1960s and is still regarded as a favorite family restaurant among city's older residents. This family run restaurant has a genuine mastery over good, affordable dining. Sitting area is quite large and its menu is well balanced with vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian, Indian, South Indian and Chinese cuisines.

Sleep
Udaipur has a wide range of accommodation options.

Stay safe
Udaipur is a safe place and the local people are very helpful. However, visitors are advised to take care of their personal belongings, particularly if they have very large amounts of cash, credit cards or are carrying a passport. To avoid pick pocketing, concealed money belts are helpful tools.

Don't leave cash or any valuables in the hotel room. Cross check all hotel, restaurant and lounges bills for errors. Never pay anyone for anything upfront, including taxi drivers. If you are traveling alone then it is advisable to stay in a hotel in Udaipur itself and not in remote areas.

Stay healthy
There are many clinics and hospitals in Udaipur which provide quality treatment at affordable prices, and health tourism is on the upswing. The blood bank services are in quick time and it not only serve blood within Udaipur but most of the small towns around the city.

Government hospitals

 * Ayurvedic Hospital, Moti chohtta (Tel: 2-421968)
 * Maharana Bhopal general hospital (Tel: 2-528811-19)
 * Natural Hospital, Bhatyani chohtta (Tel: 2-422700)
 * T B Hospital (tel: 2-560310)
 * Women's Hospital (Tel: 2-523989)

Private hospitals

 * Aravali Hospital, 332 Ambamaata Scheme, Mullatalai, Udaipur (Tel: 2430222, 2431222)
 * Goyal hospital, 328-A, Vasant Vihar, Sector-5, Hiran Magri, Udaipur (Tel: 0294-2465764‎)
 * J.K. Hospital & Research Centre, Bhupalpura, Udaipur (Tel: 2418544)
 * Jagrati Orthopedic Hospital, Hospital Road, Udaipur (Tel: 2529234)
 * Sanjeevani Nursing Home, Sevashram Chowraha, Udaipur (Tel: 2412770)
 * Shreyas Children & Maternity Hospital, Fatehpura, Udaipur (Tel: 2560861)
 * Dr. Chaudhary Hospital & Medical Research Center, Udaipur (Tel : 0294 2465566)

Blood bank

 * M.B. Govt. Hospital Blood Bank, Udaipur (Ph. No. 0294-2528811)
 * Udaipur Americal International Hospital, 101, Kothi Bagh, Bhatt Ji Ki Bari, Udaipur (Ph. No. 0294-2426000)
 * Udaipur M/s Saral Blood Bank, 30, Bhikharinath ka math, Bhupalpura, Udaipur. (Ph. No. 0294-2416285)

Day trips
Udaipur offers great excursions to its outskirts. Hire a cab or explore by yourself to the some of the great escapades on the city outskirts.


 * Eklingji Temple - 22 km north of Udaipur is one of the most famous temples of Rajasthan. The magnificent architecture of Eklingnath Temple is simply remarkable.
 * Haldighati - An important historical site in the context of Rajasthan 40 km from the city of Udaipur. The term Haldighati has been derived from the yellow colored soil of the place that gives a sense of turmeric (in Hindi)
 * Jagat Temple - At the village called Jagat, 58 km in the south-east of Udaipur. Built in 961 AD, the Jagat Temple is renowned for its intricate carvings in the exteriors.
 * Kankroli - A small town 65 km from the city of Udaipur mainly known for its temple, which is sited on the banks of renowned Rajsamand Lake.
 * Nagda - Beside Bagela Lake 23 km in the north-west of Udaipur on the way to Nathdwara. Nagda comprises many small and big temples, but the main attraction is gained by its 'Sas-Bahu' temple.

Further destinations

 * Ajmer - An ancient town 288 km from Udaipur is famous among the spiritual and religious sects for the shrine of Khwaja Ajmer Sheriff and the only Brahma temples by the banks of Lake Pushkar.
 * Bhilwara - The administrative city of Mewar region 168 km from Udaipur. The city contains some of the exquisite neolithic temples that adorn the Nagar style of architecture.
 * Bundi - An ancient town 275 km from Udaipur inhabited by local tribesmen famous for its historical fortresses and kunds (holy wells).
 * Chittorgarh - About 140 km from Udaipur, Chittorgarh was the capital of Mewar from 734 AD to 1559. Chittorgarh Fort is a massive fort situated on a hilltop near Chittorgarh town in Rajasthan state in India.
 * Jodhpur - A popular gateway to the Thar Desert located 269km from Udaipur with the massive Mehrangarh Fort and access to Osiyan desert (no direct train from Udaipur).
 * Kumbhalgarh - A 15th-century fortress, built by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, with 36 km of walls. Over 360 temples are within the fort. It also has a wildlife sanctuary. Located in Rajsamand District, 64 km from Udaipur. The vista from the top of the palace typically extends tens of kilometers into the Aravalli hills.
 * Mount Abu - A popular tourist hill station 185 km from Udaipur. highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar, at 1722 m above sea level. Mount Abu is home to a number of Jain temples especially the Dilwara Temples.
 * Nathdwara - Shri Nathdwara (a pathway to Lord Shri Krishna) lies 48 km from Udaipur and literally means the gateway to the Lord. Devotees throng the shrine in large numbers during occasions of "Janmashtmi", the day of the Lord's birth, and other festivals like Holi. It is famous for its 'pichwai' paintings, with Shri Krishna in the centre and is recognized for profuse use of gold colour.
 * Ranakpur - Ranakpur is widely known for its magnificent marble Jain temple devoted to Lord Adinath and is a "must see". Ranakpur is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur, in a valley on the western side of the Aravalli Range. Easily accessed by road, Ranakpur is around 100 km north of Udaipur. Its architecture is said to be better than even that of famous Taj Mahal. It is said that the experience of visual treat inside the temple can hardly be described in words. Light colored marble has been used for the construction of this grand temple. The temple, with its distinctive domes, rises majestically from the slope of a hill. Over 1444 marble pillars, carved in exquisite detail, support the temple. The pillars are all differently carved and no two pillars are the same. There is one beautiful carving made out of a single marble rock where there are 1008 heads of snakes and numerous tails over the head of Lord ParsvaNatha. One cannot find the end of the tails. The image faces all four cardinal directions. The temple is designed as chaumukha—with four faces. The construction of the temple and quadrupled image symbolize the Jain Tirthankara's conquest of the four cardinal directions and hence the cosmos.