City Palace Udaipur Things to do

The Things to do or look out for in City Palace Udaipur are as follows:

1. Entrance of the City Palace Udaipur
2. Outskirts of The City Palace
3. Courtyard in the City Palace
4. Elephant Fresco
5. Manak Mahal
6. Mor Chowk
7. Moti Mahal
8. Hotel Lake Palace Udaipur View
9. Terrace of City Palace Udaipur

Terrace of City Palace, Udaipur

One of the top most parts of the City Palace, Udaipur, India open for the tourist. This terrace is build of Marble and blue carvings. Till date one of the walls still holds some exotic paintings. From the balcony of this terrace, one can enjoy magnificient view of Lake Pichola and the Lake Palace Hotel. On the other side of the terrace is a balcony made of colorful glass and blue and white tiles. Since this spot comes at towards the end of the City Palace tour, usually tourist take 5 to 10 minutes break. During this break, one enjoys the top view of the Udaipur city from the terrace balcony.

Lake Palace Udaipur

The Lake Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India popularly known as Taj Lake Palace. It is actually a Palace built by Maharaja of Udiapur. It is located on natural island in the Lake Pichola, Udiapur and is constructed with white marble stone. It is one of the most photographed historic monunment of India. The Palace is now converted to a hotel and operates under Indias most popular brand Taj Hotels. Like all other Rajasthani Palaces, it features many courtyards, terraces, fountains and gardens. The tourist reach the destination with help of the jetty which operates from the City Palace.
Being an expensive affair, we just managed to capture a glimpse of it from the top of the City Palace Udaipur.

Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort is main attraction in the city of Chittor, Rajasthan, India. The major attractions are:

1. Vijay Stambh
2. Kirti Stambh
3. Gaumukh Reservior
4. Rani Padmini Mahal
5. Rana Kumbh Palace
6. Fateh Prakash Palace Museum
7. Several Gates or Pols
8. Temples(Kalikamata temple, Jain Temple, Meera Temple, etc)

The fort is pride of Rajasthan and attracts maximum number of tourists after the City Palace Fort in Udaipur. The Fort hosts loads of Rajput history and is classic example of Rajasthani architechture.

How to reach Chittorghar Fort:

Chittor city is about 2 hrs drive from Udaipur City. We were based in Udaipur and planned day trip to Chittorghar Fort. We booked Cab from Udaipur city which would take us around Chittorghar fort. The Chittorgarh fort lies at the top of Hill. If one reaches Chittor City by local mode of transport like bus or train, then they have to take local vehicle(cab, rickshaw, motor cycle ride) to the top of the hill.

It will take you about day to visit the fort and the major attractions in the fort.

Chittorghar Fort Video

On the Way - 4

We boarded the train to Jaipur from Udaipur for our return journey. There were some Korean Tourist in our compartment travelling back to Jaipur. They entered the train and placed their luggage on their booked places. Within couple of minutes they took out cameras and started taking snaps in the Railway train compartment. It sounded funny to us, but i did remembered our visit to York, UK, where we had done something similar to this.

After a while, I also joined them in taking snaps of the Indian Rail compartment and enjoyed the whole experience of travelling in it after many years.

Surya Chopar, City Palace, Udaipur

Surya Chopar at City Palace, Udaipur is a special room dedicated to the God of the Mewars(Warriors). The room is square shaped hence the name Chopar. It hosts a statue of Lord Surya (Sun) who is worshiped by the dynasty of Mewars. The ornamental statue is made of metal and is mounted on a wall. Currently the statue is covered with glass. The Surya Chopar located near the Mor Chowk, towards the exit of the City Palace Tour.

Moti Mahal, City Palace, Udaipur

Moti Mahal is one of the various star attactions of City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan. Moti means Pearl and Mahal means Palace - Palace of Pearls.

The room is decorated with beautiful mirror and glass work.

It was residence of Maharana Karan Singh. Maharana Karan Singh built this palatial room for his daily residence. The room windows provide magnificient view of the Udaipur City.


Besides glass work, walls and cieling of the room are decorated by various paintings. The doors of the Palace room were made of pure carved Ivory. The adjacent rooms have set up of old Rajasthani bedding and swing.

Video of Moti Mahal, City Palace, Udaipur

Mor Chowk - Peacock Courtyard

Mor Chowk or Peacock Courtyard is one of the most elegant part of the City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan. It is at the last of the City palace tour but not the least. This Courtyard consists of five peacocks mosiacs in glass decorated on the walls of the courtyard. The courtyard is open to sky and was used to host dinner banquets for the guests of the Royal family. The rooms surrounded by the Mor Chowk were residence of the Royal family men.

Video of Mor Chowk - Peacock Courtyard at City Palace, Udaipur

Video of Top view of Mor Chowk - Peacock Courtyard at City Palace, Udaipur

Manak Mahal, City Palace

Manak Mahal is one of the elegant parts of the City Palace, Udaipur,Rajasthan. The adjacent picture shows entrance towards the Manak Mahal from the Mor Chowk. The word Manak means - Ruby and Mahal means Palace or Residence. i.e. Ruby Palace. As the name suggests, the Manak Mahal is made of several red coloured glass or mosiac. The whole room is studded with costly glass work and paintings. The doors of the room are carved in Ivory. One should bear in mind that elephants hunting and use of Ivory was not illegal in olden days. Its restricted area and tourist are not allowed to enter the room. However they are allowed to view the room from outside.
Video of Manak Mahal, City Palace, Udaipur Rajasthan

Elephant Fresco City Palace, Udaipur

As you walk through the City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, one can experience a lot of rich Rajasthani Art and culture in form of frescos, paintings, carvings, mosica paintings, etc.

At entrance of the City Palace the tourist can site a huge elephant fresco on the wall.

This is followed by Museum in the City Palace. The museum hosts series of historically importants artifacts, war armour, paintings and statues.

Entrance of the Museum

Courtyard of Lake Palace Udaipur

As we walked throught the gallaries of the City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, we reached a Courtyard made of marble stone. The structure of this courtyard is similar to others, with a swimming pool or bath pool in center. The swimming pool is usually surrounded by walls from all the sides to provide enough privacy for queens and other ladies in the Palace while they are having bath. Usually the courtyard will have a balcony or two on one of the surrounding walls. This balcony was used by the King to enjoy the company of Queens from distance. As per the stories narated by the guides in the City Palace.
The walk way in this courtyard is decorated by carved marble pillars.
In the evening time, the courtyard was used to host musical shows. The Royal Family members would occupy their seats in the balconies. While the other courtseans used to enjoy the musical show in the courtyard.
Click here to watch Youtube Video of Courtyard of Lake Palace Udaipur.

Outskirts of City Palace Udaipur

The palatial walls of the City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan embrace you with warm welcome, As you enter the Palace via the Tripolia (Three Arches Gates). One can site many balconies along the walls of the Palace.


The carvings and architecture used in these balconies are a small indicator of the rich Rajasthani culture to be explored inside the City Palace.

There is big well maintianed garden in front of palace. In olden days this garden would have been a waiting place for all Palace visitors carts, elephants and horses. In mordern times, The garden also offers parking place for the visitors vehicles. This garden also hosts some of the Rajasthani Handicraft artifacts showrooms and a grand Cafe.

Cafe Outside City Palace

Handicarft Showroom outside City Palace

On the Way - 2

I had planned trip to Udaipur, Rajasthan with my parents during my visit to Jaipur for the second time.
We had booked nigth journey Railway tickets from Jaipur to Udaipur.
The train leaves Jaipur at around 10 o clk at night and reaches Udaipur early morning.
Due to unavailability of tracks and signal the train halted at a small village before reaching Udaipur.

This place is around 30 minutes distance from Udaipur Rail station. Being ily ritual, the regular travellers jumped out of the train on the rail tracks.



Although its not advisable, people in India try to folk around the rail tracks when such an event occurs.
I could take picture of early morning sunrising above distant mountain and Rails electric wires.


We could sight a brand new palatial hotel in front of our train boogie. The hotel's building was made of white marble and tried to immitate the old Rajasthani architecture.

City Palace Udaipur

The City Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India is built by Maharana Udai Singh and is one of the major tourist attractions of the City. It is one of the largest palace complexes in Rajasthan. It lies on the banks of Lake Pichola. The palace has several gates known as Pols. The main entrance of the palace is triple arch gate - Tripolia.

Two grand Canons stand below the two of these arches. The palace comprises of several palaces, courtyards, balconies, hanging gardens, etc. The balconies and terraces provide breath taking view of the surrounding city and Lake Pichola.

Saheliyon ki Bari

After Maharana Pratap Memorial, Udaipur we visited the Saheliyon ki Bari. A well maintained garden with lots of flowers and fountains. The Queen of Udaipur visited in evening the garden along with her female friends (aka Saheliya). Hence it is named as Saheliyon ki Bari - Means Garden to spend time with Female friends. The Garden hosts a beautiful marble fountain with elephants carved in marble stone and lotus pool. There is small museum inside the Garden. One has to buy entrance tickets at the Gardens entrance.

Maharana Pratap Memorial

The tour guide took us to Maharana Pratap Memorial which lies bank opposite the Fateh Sagar Palace and
Lake visit. The memorial lies on top of small hill. The Memorial hosts statue of Maharana Paratap riding his loyal horse Chetak. At the bottom of the statue lies story of Battle of Haldi ki Ghati carved in brass. Both the statue and carving of the battle scene are salute to the Maharana Prataps bravery.
If you have planned a Tourist Vehicle like car or Autorickshaw, the guide will take you to the top of the hill. The memorial is converted in to a small well maintained garden with fountains. By paying mere Rs 2 ticket, one can get breath taking telescopic view of the
Lake Fateh Sagar and other fort lying on the other side of the Lake.