A memorable walk:
It was not yet monsoon, so rains were just light-touch. Chunks of clouds were wandering through the sky. I can hardly forget the sight of the sun slowly setting over the lake Pichola (in the lake city Udaipur) making the old buildings lining the lake turn orange. When it was getting dark, suddenly millions of bats came out of nowhere and spread across the darkish sky for a while. And then disappeared in no time! Bhajans and sound of musical instruments coming out of the temples were filling the air with creative energy. The lights coming out of the hotels and houses by the lake dispelled the darkness gradually. And mesmerized by all that was happening around us, we kept walking around the steps of Gangaur Ghat.
I have lots of such cherished memories of the lake city Udaipur from our two years spent there, and a number of visits before and after that period. But this particular evening comes up as the most memorable one. I’ll share a few more such lovely memories in this article.
{For more experiences from Rajasthan, check out: Gagron Fort ||| Jaisalmer ||| Pink City Rickshaw Co.}
Charm of the Lake City Udaipur
If Nainital is a city of seven hills and a lake, Udaipur is a city of seven lakes and many hills. of the Aravalli range. The serene blue lakes surrounded by blue hills prompt me to call it the blue city. But there’s Jodhpur- the original blue city of India! So, let’s stick to the adage- lake city Udaipur.
Among the seven lakes of Udaipur, three are in the city- Lake Pichola, Fateh Sagar Lake, and Swaroop Sagar Lake; and four in the vicinity- Udai Sagar Lake, Badi Lake, Chhoti Madar Lake and Badi Madar Lake. Apart from these big lakes, there are quite a few smaller lakes in and around lake city Udaipur.
However, the charm of Udaipur city goes beyond the lake. Its heritage monuments, interesting by-lanes, and cultural vibes make the city absolutely lovable. If you are planning to visit the lake city, here’s your essential reading: Udaipur- Best Places.
My experiences of the lake city Udaipur over the years:
I first visited Udaipur in 2007 with a group of friends when I studied in Ahmedabad. Actually, a good friend- Kapil is from the city. So, we enjoyed his hospitality immensely. The next visit after a couple of years was with my cousin, Jayant. And then of course, Parina moved to the city for a couple of years for work. That was the time when I used to visit Udaipur on weekends from Delhi. And together we loved exploring each and every corner of the city.
Lake city Udaipur is many things to many people. For some, it’s the magnificent palaces, or the opulent hotels, and for many others, it’s the beautiful lakes. However, for me it is the subtle ambiance that Udaipur is. It’s like a beautiful poem, a feeling, an old-world charm that fills my heart with joy, things that one doesn’t generally associate with cities.
The only other similar experience I remember was in Venice or Florence. No wonder then that people call it as Venice of the East, though they are very different in their cityscapes. Personally speaking, there are so many memorable experiences from the lake city Udaipur that it’s difficult to pick a few. But let me share the ones very close to my heart.
Sunsets in the Lake City Udaipur
I’m really fond of sunsets. Be it my regular evening walks at the lake of Hauz Khas Village, or at my travel destinations, I always crave for more. At most of the places I travel, I look for the best sunset points so as to make the evening beautiful. Lake city Udaipur has the best sunset views. Be it over Fateh Sagar Lake or Lake Pichola or at the Monsoon Palace in Sajjangarh.
Sunset at Fateh Sagar lake:
During the two years that Parina lived here, I used to visit the lake city Udaipur during weekends. And Fateh Sagar lake was our favorite evening destination. Though one can enjoy a beautiful sunset at various places in Udaipur, Fateh Sagar Paal is perhaps the best location.
At one side of the lake front, it offers a long walk on the waterside. We loved taking a stroll by the lake with our favorite beverage in hand, witnessing the beautiful sunset.
The other side of the lake front has a street market, mainly lined with food/ beverage shops. People throng the market in the evening. One evening, we took a boat ride in the lake, and also spent some time in a park on the Nehru Island in the lake. The park is such a lovely place to hang out!
At one end of the market, lies the gate to Maharana Pratap Memorial on a small hill called Moti Magri. From the memorial, one can have a panoramic view of Fateh Sagar Lake. Maharana Pratap’s statue stands tall as one of the bravest Rajput Kings of Rajasthan.
Sunset at lake Pichola:
Lake Pichola is at the heart of the old city, and the center of all cultural experiences. As narrated in the first paragraph, we spent some of our best evenings enjoying the sunset at the Gangaur Ghat near Bagore ki Haveli. From any hotel/ building lining the lake Pichola, one can see the lake palace sitting beautifully in the lake surrounded by layers of purple hills.
However, at lake Pichola, it’s the boat ride around the lake enjoying the view of all the magnificent palaces and old buildings surrounding the lake is the biggest attraction. We have taken a boat ride there during sunset many a times.
Looking at the City Palace (picture below) from the lake reminds me of Venice. During sunset, the white and off-white buildings turn orange. To add to the aura, the palace/ hotels switch on their lights gradually as it gets dark. What an experience!
Moreover, it’s not only the City Palace. Most of the buildings lining Lake Pichola look wonderful, many of which have been transformed into grand hotels and restaurants.
In fact, most of Udaipur’s best hotels are visible during this boat ride- Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, Taj Lake Palace (in the lake), Leela Palace, Oberoi Udaivilas, Shiv Niwas Palace and more.
Jagmandir island palace is also within the lake Pichola, and the boat takes one very near to the palace. After it’s dark, Jagmandir palace looks like a magical fascinating place. One may choose to have a dream evening at one of the restaurants of the palace in the evening. (we could afford only once!)
Sunset at Sajjangarh palace:
Sajjangarh palace, or the Monsoon palace was built in 1884 by Maharana Sajjan Singh. Situated over a hill overseeing the Fateh Sagar lake, it offers an amazing panoramic view of the lake city Udaipur.
Watching the sunset over the layers of mountains surrounding Sajjangarh Palace is an equally exhilarating experience. I always felt that lake city Udaipur is made for the most beautiful evenings, throughout the year. But it’s extra special during the monsoons. Because monsoon clouds ensure magical sunset skies.
Walking around the old city of Lake City Udaipur
Old city Udaipur is located around an area covering Doodh Talai Lake (near boat ride point of lake Pichola), the City palace, Jagdish temple and Gangaur Ghat. Honestly, this is where the real Udaipur is. If you exclude the lakes, what remains of the soul of Udaipur is this area. This is where you will see all the old Havelis (buildings), all the luxurious hotels, and the backpackers’ hostels, and the bustling market places. Foreigners know well where to stay and eat. So, you will find all of them flocking this area.
An interesting feature of old cities in western India is the construction of a number of gates to enter the city. In Rajasthan, they are called Pole. There are seven major such gates in Udaipur: Surajpole, Chandpole, Udiapole, Hathipole, Ambapole, Brahmpole, and Kishanpole. While walking around in the old city side, I loved the lovely graffiti art on old buildings.
The main market for tourists in Udaipur is at Hathipole. Whether you shop anything or not, it’s absolutely fascinating to explore the two streets of Hathipole. If you are interested in shopping though, souvenir shops are aplenty. Trinkets, wooden toys, leather footwear, cotton bags/ accessories are some good options to buy.
Most of the nice cafe and restaurants also in this part of the city. We especially loved having our coffee at some of the cafes by the Lake Pichola.
Gangaur Ghat and Bagore Ki Haveli:
Within the precincts of the old city lies my favorite place of the lake city Udaipur- Gangaur Ghat by the Lake Pichola. There are steps to sit leisurely appreciating the beauty of the old city. It always felt nice to feed the hundreds of pigeons waiting for us. A small bridge connects to the other side of the old city; diagonally opposite is the Ambrai Ghat.
Bagore Ki Haveli, an eighteenth century palace adds to the charm of the place. It’s now a museum displaying old costumes and modern art.
Bike ride around Fateh Sagar Lake
Another amazing experience in the lake city Udaipur was our numerous bike rides around Fateh Sagar Lake during monsoon. Surrounded by beautiful lush green mountains of the Aravalli range, the lake fills up to the brim and comes into life during the monsoon. With gorgeous green trees flanking the roads, and lovely blue waters of the lake running by one side, a bike ride around the lake after the rains was always refreshing.
The road takes one towards the Sajjangarh palace. It’s mostly forested with small tea shops and eateries here and there on the way. On a typical weekend day, we would take this bike ride; stop over multiple times at tea shops and eateries, and come back only by the evening to enjoy a sunset at Fateh Sagar Paal.
On the way, stopping over at the Shilpgram, an artisans’ marketplace, designed like a traditional village in a forest setting to showcase their craft works, is a great idea.
We visited Shilpgram during non-festive times. So, there were not many tourists and we could peacefully interact with the artisans coming from various parts of the country. The wooden toys and the marble decorative pieces we bought there still adorn our living room.
If you are there in December (21st to 31st), see if the Shilpgram Festival is ongoing. Actually, it’s better to visit during the festival because a lot more artisans come during that time than off-season.
Exploring the magnificent City Palace
Many of my visits to the magnificent City Palace of Udaipur has left me awe-struck each time. In 1553, when Maharana Udai Singh-II decided to shift his capital from Chittor to Udaipur, he started building this palace. It took over 400 years to complete with contribution from many of his successors!
The first time I entered the City Palace, I thought the entry fee was too much, but when I was inside, that thought had vanished. It’s worth spending time looking at the awe inspiring architecture (a combination of Rajput and Mughal styles) and the beautiful interior designs. The view of the Lake Palace in lake Pichola from the City Palace reminds me of childhood fairytales. Besides, the City Palace Museum, within the palace, is a must-visit. It houses a large array of artefacts of that era.
Enjoying World Music Festival in Lake City Udaipur
Udaipur World Music Festival is a great addition to the Udaipur experience in recent times. Popular national and international bands/ musicians perform during the event. The festival is staged mainly at two places- at the Gandhi Maidan in the evening and at the Fateh Sagar Lake during the day. The experience is great both in the day time and in the evening. They have quite different vibes.
We have enjoyed great music with a view of the lake in day time, and a party atmosphere with rock music in the evening. Covid pandemic has stopped the festival for two years now, but I’m sure, they will revive it next year. If you are planning for Udaipur, look for their dates in February; here is the link to their official site.
Other cultural experiences in the Lake City Udaipur
Rajasthan in general is a potpourri of cultural experiences; and Udaipur is no difference. Artisans of Udaipur are known for their marble work, paintings, silver craft and terracotta products. While staying in Udaipur we loved to experience the local dance forms like Kalbeliya, Kachhi Ghodi, Bhavai and Ghoomar.
Apart from the Shilpgram festival in December, two other local festivals are very interesting. Gangaur festival in March/April, and Jagannath Rath Yatra in June/ July are worth experiencing.
Situated near the City Palace, the 17th century- Jagdish temple is the most popular temple in the lake city Udaipur. Opening hours: 4.15 AM- 1.00 PM; 5.15 PM to 8.00 PM. It’s a nice place to visit in the evening. Just in the vicinity of the city, there is an old temple- Eklingji temple. On the same route, there is another architectural gem- the Saas-Bahu temple. We visited these places once on a day-trip.
One underrated architectural wonder is the Ahar cenotaphs, actually a group of memorials for the royals. All the wonderful monuments built side by side, and packed in a small area make for a fascinating sight.
A note to conclude...
Lake city Udaipur is definitely among my top five places in India. First, it gives me the feeling of a city with rich heritage. And then it is so beautiful with lakes and mountains all around that every day is a joy. Moreover, it’s a city that I can never get bored of. Though I have been fortunate to live in and experience the city for a long time, I would love to go back at the first opportunity.
In this article, I have shared my most cherished memories of the lake city Udaipur with a hope that you will pick up clues to prioritize your times as a tourist. If you need more clues on Udaipur, do write to me; I will be happy to help out.
Pallab Kumar Dutta
An excellent elaboration. A clear and realistic picture of Udaipur got flashed through this write up. This will definitely help the new tourists to Udaipur.
stampedmoments
Thanks a lot, Pallab ji. We are happy you liked the article.
Please keep connected.
Jayvanti Einjen
I also have some great memories of Udaipur. Really love the place.
stampedmoments
Hmmm…I remember those walks by the lakes in Udaipur.
Thank you!
Jayvanti Einjen
Beautiful memories nice experience with both of you.
Good, keep it up
stampedmoments
Thanks a lot, as always for the encouragement.
Soumen Chatterjee
Frankly speaking I stated my career from udaipur and stayed there for almost 3.5 years. It’s a nostalgia for me. After completing my office work I along with my colleagues use to visit fathe Sagar Lake and use to have pao bhaji. May that be lake pichola or gangur ghat, or saggangarh fort, beautiful handicraft items at shilp garm , udaipur even had chowki dhani where we use to eat authentic Rajasthani food. And finally city place has its own charm and beautiful architecture.
Just relived my memories
stampedmoments
I didn’t know that you started your career in Udaipur!
So, you must have amazing memories of the city.
It’s perhaps one of the most livable cities in India.
Thanks a lot.
Jitendra Mallick
Thanks for the info, your guidance has been immensely helpful for my small trip to Udaipur
stampedmoments
We are glad that it was helpful; that’s the main purpose of this site.
Keep checking out, and keep connected.
Kreative Kabir
Umda expression.
Udaipur is indeed a smooth destination to share your time with authentic vibes of beautiful old architecture, lakes and temples. I keep visiting Udaipur from time to time and ai prefer staying at hostels.
Last month, I stayed at Hostel Mama for 10days and view of pichhola lake is pleasing from the rooftop cafe Shore to Spoon. I spent good time at Ambrai ghat, simply sitting there and observing Udaipur life. Practicing Yog under the peepal tree at the ghat with sounds of bhajans playing in a temple in background was absolutely blissful.
Keep sharing your anubjav dada
stampedmoments
Hey Rajendra!
Thanks for reading, and sharing your experiences of Udaipur.
It’s such a charming place, and one of my all time favorites.