Udaipur, where the morning mist drifts above marble palaces and temple spires. Often called The City of Lakes, but that barely does it justice.

Built in defiance of the desert around it, Udaipur feels like Rajasthan’s soft side, poetic, green, and deeply romantic. Its beauty isn’t only in its whitewashed palaces but in how life flows through them: the priests at dawn by the ghats, the call of temple bells, the boatmen gliding silently across the water. It is a clean city where you feel like you can escape from the more usual chaos of the other major cities in North India. 

What It Looks Like

Udaipur shimmers. White and ochre havelis line narrow lanes; domed palaces rise above blue lakes; hills ring the city in soft green folds. From almost any rooftop, you can see City Palace stretching along the water’s edge, a massive complex of courtyards, balconies, and carved arches that glow gold at sunset.

The Lake Palace, floating on Lake Pichola, seems unreal (check out the Backpacker's Blueprint video on City Palace to understand it at a deeper level), a marble dream built for royalty, now a hotel for those chasing that same sense of magic. Across the water stands Jag Mandir, another island palace surrounded by elephant sculptures and gardens, head through the palace to find the dock where you can take a boat ride around the lake and get to the island. 

Beyond the postcard views lies everyday Udaipur: spice stalls, sari shops, tailors at work, kids playing cricket by the ghats, and women in bright saris carrying water pots through the alleys. It’s a living city first, a beauty queen second.

Why It Was Built This Way

Udaipur was founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II after the fall of Chittorgarh to the Mughals. He chose this valley, ringed by the Aravalli Hills and fed by lakes, as a natural fortress. The city was designed around water, not walls.

Each lake, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, Udai Sagar, was man-made, linked by channels that turned a dry landscape into a self-sustaining oasis. Palaces and ghats were placed to reflect in the water, amplifying the grandeur of the Rajput vision: harmony between architecture, nature, and divine order.

The City Palace tells that story in stone, a blend of Rajput and Mughal artistry with marble balconies, coloured glass, mirrored halls, and courtyards made for ceremony. Built over 400 years by successive rulers, it’s less a single palace and more a living timeline of a dynasty’s pride.

Udaipur’s architecture is devotional at heart, to water, to light, and to continuity. Even simple homes bear jharokhas (carved window balconies) that look onto the street, symbolising both beauty and belonging.

What It Means

Udaipur’s soul lies in reflection, literal and emotional. The lakes mirror the sky, but also the lives of those who’ve called the city home: kings, poets, boatmen, dancers, and travellers.

There’s a sense of grace here that survives the noise of tourism. Sit by the Gangaur Ghat at sunrise and you’ll see it, locals bathing, lighting lamps, feeding pigeons, whispering prayers. It’s a rhythm older than the city itself.

For all its royal splendour, Udaipur isn’t just about palaces. It’s about continuity, how heritage coexists with daily life. The same ghats that once hosted royal ceremonies now host cricket matches and laundry days. The same water that reflected marble domes still sustains the people.

Udaipur reminds you that architecture isn’t static; it breathes, adapts, and mirrors the soul of a city that refuses to dry out.

FOOD NOTES

Rajasthani cuisine is rich, spiced, and made to endure the heat. Udaipur adds a gentler, lake-city twist, still bold, but balanced with sweetness and freshness.

• Dal Baati Churma: The classic, baked wheat balls served with spicy lentils and sweet crumble.

• Gatte ki Sabzi: Chickpea flour dumplings in a yoghurt-based curry, comforting and filling.

• Laal Maas: A fiery red mutton curry, not for the faint-hearted.

• Ker Sangri: A desert bean and berry dish unique to Rajasthan.

• Street Sweets: Jalebi, malpua, and mawa kachori are everywhere.

• Lake View Dining: Try rooftop thalis at Rainbow Café or Hari Garh Restaurant, stunning views for less than £5.

Backpacker tip: Go for small local thali joints for the best value, ₹200–300 will get you endless refills.

GETTING AROUND

The best way to experience Udaipur is slowly. Walk the old lanes, cross narrow bridges, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola, and explore by tuk tuk for short hops. Most sights are within 3 km of each other.

Tuk tuk rides within the city should cost ₹100–200, always agree the fare. For day trips, consider heading out to:

• Monsoon Palace for sunset over the Aravallis

• Saheliyon-ki-Bari, the “Garden of Maidens”

• Bagore ki Haveli, a restored mansion turned museum with nightly folk performances

Udaipur also connects easily by train or bus to Jodhpur, Jaipur, and Pushkar.

Udaipur isn’t just romantic, it’s reflective. It’s a city built to catch light, to hold memory, to remind you that even in arid lands, beauty flows where there’s intent.

It’s easy to fall for its lakes and palaces, but stay a few days longer, and you’ll find something deeper: a sense of calm that runs through its architecture, people, and pace.

For backpackers, it’s gentle on the wallet and rich in experience. For artists, it’s a muse. For everyone, it’s a mirror, showing us that beauty doesn’t need to shout.

Backpacker’s Blueprint Summary

• Where: Udaipur, Rajasthan

• Stay: Guesthouses near Lake Pichola or Hanuman Ghat Hostel pick (Dream Yard)

• See: City Palace, Lake Pichola, Jag Mandir, Jagdish Temple, Monsoon Palace

• Eat: Dal Baati Churma, Laal Maas, street sweets, thalis by the lake

• Do: Boat rides, rooftop cafés, folk dance shows, sunrise walks by the ghats

• Vibe: Reflective, royal, peaceful — India’s most romantic city, made human again through daily life