Udaipur has a way of slowing you down. Built around three shimmering lakes and framed by the Aravalli hills, it’s a city where marble palaces double as museums, boat rides double as sunset therapy, and every alley in the old town seems to end at a view worth stopping for. If you only have two days here, here’s how to spend them well.
**Day One: Palaces and the Lake**
Start early at the City Palace — Udaipur’s largest and most impressive monument, and one of the biggest palace complexes in India. Arrive by 9 AM to beat both the heat and the crowds. Give yourself at least two hours to wander through its courtyards, mirrored halls, and painted chambers.
By late afternoon, head to Lake Pichola for a boat ride. This is non-negotiable — it’s the single best way to see Udaipur’s skyline, with the Lake Palace floating at its center and the City Palace rising along the eastern shore. Time your ride for golden hour, about an hour before sunset, when the whole city turns amber.
For dinner, find a rooftop restaurant facing the lake. Udaipur has dozens, but the ones tucked into the old city near Jagdish Chowk tend to have the best combination of food and view.
**Day Two: Gardens, Craft, and a Slower Pace**
Spend your morning at Saheliyon Ki Bari, the “Garden of the Maidens” — a peaceful Mughal-era garden with fountains, marble elephants, and a lotus pool. It’s a gentle counterpoint to the grandeur of the City Palace.
In the afternoon, explore Udaipur’s old town on foot. The narrow lanes around Jagdish Temple are full of small workshops — miniature painters, silver jewelers, block-print textile shops — where you can watch artisans at work and pick up a genuine souvenir rather than a mass-produced one.
End your second evening at Bagore Ki Haveli for the evening Dharohar folk dance performance — a lively hour of Rajasthani music and dance that’s touristy in the best possible sense.
**Where to Stay**
Choose a hotel with a lake view if you can. Waking up to Lake Pichola, even from a distance, sets the tone for the whole trip. If you’re staying with VRN Hospitality in Udaipur, ask about rooms facing the lake when you book — availability is limited, so it helps to request in advance.
Two days is enough to fall in love with Udaipur. It won’t be enough to see everything — and that’s exactly why you’ll want to come back.