Udaipur, also known as the “City of Lakes” is probably the most romantic destination in all of India. The city is dotted with numerous lakes, both natural and manmade which has earned it the epithet it so richly deserves. If you are looking to plan a romantic getaway with your partner this winter season, then Udaipur is definitely one of the best options for you.
The quiet, laidback life blended with picture perfect surroundings makes Udaipur one of my favorite destinations of all time. Relax and feel the warm hospitality of Rajasthan pamper you amidst some of the most spectacular forts and palaces of Rajputana.
Getting There
Udaipur is well connected by rail and air with both Delhi and Mumbai. There is also good road connection from other cities in Rajasthan. The nearest train station is Udaipur City and the nearest airport is the Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur. If you are coming from Delhi by train, it is likely that you will reach early in the morning.
So, be prepared to wait a while for the room if you are traveling during peak season!
The best time to visit Udaipur is from October to February. Summers can get pretty hot and uncomfortable. However, one of the most overlooked times to visit Udaipur is during the monsoons. There is quite a different beauty of Udaipur that you can only see in the monsoons. So, you can definitely plan a trip to Udaipur once the rains have come.
Of Royalty, Rajputana and Romance
The things that instantly jump at you from the moment you arrive in Udaipur are romance, Rajput heritage and royalty in every aspect of life. As we approached our hotel near Lake Pichola, it seemed that we were at once transported back to a different era. An era of valor, courage, sacrifice and convictions.
Most of the hotels in Udaipur are located around the Lake Pichola, which houses the famous Lake Palace, now a luxury hotel managed by the Taj Group. There are plenty of hotel options for all budgets in the area. Research well in advance to get the best deals on hotels that offer the best views of the lake.
For those travelling on a tight budget, there are also many good homestays and hostels that have come up in this area.
Off to City Palace
One of the must-see sights when in Udaipur is the City Palace complex. This sprawling complex was built over a period of 435 years by the different Maharanas of Mewar and takes a lot of time to explore in its entirety. What fascinated me the most was the distinctly different styles of architecture from one part to the other, reflecting the additions made by the various royal residents.
The different eras have blended together to create one of the most hypnotic experiences one can imagine. There are plenty of government certified tour guides available outside the City Palace who can tell you the history of the palace and its different residents. If you do not have a pre-booked tour guide, I would highly recommend you get one of these colorful characters at the entrance who will regale you with stories of chivalrous Maharanas and beautiful queens, immortal love and duty to the nation.
As we explore the different rooms I was overawed by the sheer scale of grandeur and opulence that I saw displayed and could only imagine how it must have looked in its heydays. My favorite room had to be the King’s mirrored bedroom that shone with the sparkle of thousands of mirrors.
I also recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and carrying sunglasses and hats as there is plenty of walking involved. Do not forget to carry a bottle of water as well!
Boat ride to Jag Mandir
After the visit to City Palace, we headed for the Jag Mandir, the island palace on Lake Pichola, built by the Sisodia Rajput Kings. One can see the palace complex by paying a small fee. We decided to have lunch at the restaurant here. But you can also choose to bring your own snacks and drinks if you want to keep the expenses at a minimum.
One thing you need to remember is that the boat ride charges to get to Jag Mandir change as per the timing of the day. So, be mindful of the time if you do not want to pay extra.
After the leisurely lunch and look around, we headed back to our hotel to get ready for the evening activities!
An evening of dancing and dinner by the lake
No trip to Rajasthan is complete without experiencing its dance and cuisine. That is why we decided to see both on our first night in Udaipur. Bagore ki Haveli organizes traditional dance and puppet shows every evening at 6.30 pm.
They charge a nominal entry fee, but the seating is first come first serve so make sure that you reach on time. The colorful performance, with cheerful music and a theatrical flair, is sure to liven you up, as it did to us.
With a song on our lips and a skip in our steps, we headed over to our lake side restaurant for a meal of Rajasthani delicacies under the stars. The atmosphere was great, with the Lake Palace and Jag Mandir glittering like the stars above.
A candle lit dinner at the side of the Lake Pichola is a simply perfect end to such a beautiful first day of our romantic Udaipur sojourn. As we headed back to the hotel, after what had been a long but exciting day, we were already excited for what the next day held for us.
Check out our:- Udaipur Tour Packages
Off we go to the Monsoon Palace
The Monsoon Palace or the Sajjan Garh Palace is one of the most picturesque places in Udaipur. It was about a 30 minutes’ drive from our hotel and perched on top of a cliff. There is a bit of a trek to the top, but trust me, once you catch a glimpse of the view from the top it will be all worth it.
As we gazed down at the “White City” of Udaipur spread out below we could make out the Jag Mandir, City Palace and of course the Lake Palace. There are plenty of tourists here so there is always a good amount of activity going on.
After a quick look around the Monsoon Palace, we just stood there and soaked in the fresh breeze and marveled at the spectacular views. The surrounding Aravalli Hills form a kind of natural barrier that seemed to block the outside world and its tensions.
How we wished we could just stay here for longer, but it was soon time to head off to our next destination.
Miniature Paintings and Silver Jewelry
Rajasthan is famous for its miniature paintings and the Udaipur school is one of the most refined in its styles and techniques. There are plenty of miniature painters who offer workshops to visitors at a cost.
We had booked ourselves a class with one such artist, and we headed over to his workshop cum studio after a hearty breakfast. We learned about the history of miniature art, how it was introduced and its evolution over the centuries. We also learned about how the different schools of art vary from each other in style and execution.
Soon, we tried our hands at creating our very own miniatures. Suffice to say that we still had a long way to go before we could call ourselves artists. Miniature paintings also make for great gifts or souvenirs for back home.
With a lesson in both art history and humility, we headed off to hunt for some silver jewelry which Rajasthan is famous for. There are plenty of shops where you can get lots of good designs and items at different price points.
Read about:- 5 Things to Shop in Udaipur
Exploring the lakes of the Lake City
Between the painting workshop and the shopping, we also visited two of the more famous lakes in Udaipur. The Fateh Sagar Lake and the Bari ka Talaw (Lake). These two are the perfect places to just rest your tired limbs and souls as you enjoy the cool breeze blowing in from the lakes.
Enjoy the spicy local snacks, or some ice cream, or even a cup of tea as you sit and relax watching the sunset. The Bari ka Talaw is definitely where I would recommend you try to catch the sunset. It is a surreally quiet place with very few tourists, and a perfect romantic spot for you and your partner to spend some quality time together
As the sunlight fades, leaving behind a riot of pinks, oranges, and reds in the sky, you can capture these moments of your romantic sojourn in both your cameras and your minds.
Wrapping up our romantic getaway
Too soon, it was time to say goodbye to romantic Udaipur and head back to the daily routine life of Delhi. As we checked out of the hotel and headed to the airport, we reminisced the languorous days spent over the last three days.
It was just what we needed to revive ourselves. The break from hectic city life and journey into the laid back and romantic one of Udaipur had cheered us up. The highlights of the trip had to be the visit to Sajjan Garh, exploring the City Palace, and most definitely the romantic candlelit dinner by the Lake Pichola.
So, pack your bags and book your romantic sojourn to Udaipur today!