City Palace Udaipur: Guide, Timings and What to See

The City Palace is the crowning glory of Udaipur, a vast and magnificent royal palace complex rising above the shimmering waters of Lake Pichola and the single most important sight in the City of Lakes. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages covers the City Palace Udaipur in full, the timings, what to see inside, the Crystal Gallery, the glorious views and how to plan your visit, a highlight of any Rajasthan journey or a Golden Triangle tour extended into the state.

I was born in Delhi and in more than 11 years planning trips across Rajasthan for Experience My India I have taken many travellers through the courtyards and halls of this great palace. Here is the clear, practical guide to visiting.

City Palace Udaipur at a glance

About the City Palace of Udaipur

The City Palace of Udaipur is one of the largest and most magnificent palace complexes in all of India and the historic seat of the Mewar dynasty, the proud Sisodia Rajput rulers of this part of Rajasthan. Its story begins with Maharana Udai Singh II, the founder of Udaipur, who began the palace in the 16th century when he established his new capital on the shores of Lake Pichola and over the following centuries his successors added to it, each ruler building new palaces, courtyards and halls within the great complex.

The result is not a single building but a whole city of palaces, a breathtaking ensemble of structures built up over some four hundred years, rising majestically above the lake. Remarkably, the complex is still connected to the Mewar royal family, parts of it remain in use and some of its palaces have become celebrated heritage hotels, so a living sense of royalty still fills the place. For the visitor, exploring the City Palace is to step into the grand and romantic history of Mewar.

City Palace Udaipur timings

The City Palace is open to visitors every day of the week, generally from the mid-morning through to the evening, which leaves plenty of time to explore its many courtyards and halls. As it is a large complex with a great deal to see, it is best to arrive earlier rather than later, both to have enough time and to enjoy the cooler, quieter part of the day.

Because the exact opening hours, the last entry time and the entry fees can change from time to time and may differ for the main palace museum, the Crystal Gallery and the evening light and sound show, it is always wise to reconfirm the current timings and ticket details on the official City Palace or Mewar website or with your tour operator, before you visit. Planning your visit with a little time in hand means you can take in the palace at a relaxed pace rather than rushing.

What to see inside the City Palace

The City Palace is a wonder to explore, a maze of beautifully decorated rooms, courtyards, balconies and terraces, each with its own character and story. Here are the highlights not to miss.

The grand gateways and courtyards

You enter the palace through its grand gateways, passing into a series of magnificent courtyards. Among the most beautiful is the Mor Chowk, the Peacock Courtyard, famous for its exquisite peacock mosaics made of thousands of pieces of coloured glass, a dazzling display of royal artistry. The courtyards link the different palaces of the complex and are a delight to wander.

The ornate palaces and halls

Within the complex are many beautifully decorated palaces and halls. Look out for the shimmering mirror and glass work, the colourful stained glass, the delicate paintings and the intricate tile and mosaic work that adorn the royal chambers. Rooms such as the mirror-filled chambers, the Badi Mahal garden palace set high within the complex and the apartments of the royal family show the luxury and artistry of Mewar at its height. From the upper levels and the hanging balconies, the views open out over the lake and the city.

The City Palace Museum

A large part of the complex forms the City Palace Museum, which takes you through a sequence of the historic palaces and displays the royal collections, from paintings and armoury to furnishings, costumes and artefacts of Mewar history. The Zenana Mahal, the former quarters of the royal ladies, is part of the museum and opens onto its own courtyard. Walking through the museum is the main way visitors experience the palace, following the route through its grand rooms.

The views over Lake Pichola

Throughout the palace and especially from its upper terraces and balconies, you are rewarded with some of the finest views in Udaipur, out over the shimmering Lake Pichola to the island palaces of Jag Mandir and the famous Lake Palace. These lake views are among the great pleasures of a City Palace visit and the lakes are the very soul of the city, as our best lakes of Udaipur guide covers the lakes and the island palaces.

The Crystal Gallery

One of the special attractions within the City Palace complex, at the Fateh Prakash Palace, is the remarkable Crystal Gallery, which displays a rare and extraordinary royal collection of crystal. This collection of fine crystal objects ordered by a Maharana of Mewar long ago, includes all manner of pieces and is a unique and dazzling sight.

The Crystal Gallery usually requires a separate ticket from the main palace museum, so it is worth checking when you plan your visit if you wish to see it. For lovers of royal history and fine craftsmanship, it is a fascinating addition to the palace tour.

The light and sound show

In the evenings, the City Palace comes alive with a wonderful light and sound show, which tells the glorious and often dramatic history of Mewar and its legendary rulers against the beautiful backdrop of the palace. Set in one of the palace courtyards, the show is a lovely way to round off a day in Udaipur and to understand the proud history of the place.

As with the palace timings, the schedule and language of the show and whether it is running, can vary by season, so it is worth reconfirming locally when you plan your evening. It makes a memorable experience, combining history, drama and the beauty of the floodlit palace.

The City Palace and the palaces of Udaipur

The City Palace is the grandest of Udaipur's royal buildings, but it is not the only one and it sits at the heart of a city rich in palaces, from the island palaces on the lake to the hilltop Monsoon Palace. Together they make Udaipur one of the great cities of royal architecture in India, as our best palaces of Udaipur guide covers the royal palaces of the city. The City Palace is also the natural starting point for exploring everything the City of Lakes has to offer, as our things to do in Udaipur guide covers the full range of sights and experiences in the city.

How to reach the City Palace

The City Palace stands in the old city of Udaipur, on the east bank of Lake Pichola, right at the heart of the historic centre, so it is easy to reach and close to many of the city's other attractions, the ghats and the old-city lanes. From most places in central Udaipur it is a short drive or even a walk away and it is well signposted.

Udaipur itself is well connected and easy to reach, with its own airport and good road and rail links. By road, it is reached from Delhi, as our Delhi to Udaipur distance guide covers that journey and from Jaipur, as our Jaipur to Udaipur distance guide covers that drive. Once in the city, the City Palace is the obvious first stop.

The best time to visit the City Palace

The best time to visit the City Palace and Udaipur as a whole, is the cool season from about October to March, when the weather is pleasant for exploring the large complex and enjoying the lake views in comfort. This is the peak season for Rajasthan travel, as our best time to visit Rajasthan guide covers the seasons across the state.

Within the day, arriving earlier in the morning helps you beat both the heat and the larger crowds and gives you time to explore the palace fully and perhaps add the Crystal Gallery. The palace combines beautifully with a wider Udaipur visit and a Rajasthan trip and it is a fine day trip onward to the great forts nearby, as our Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh distance guide covers that excursion.

Want your Udaipur trip planned, with the City Palace, the Crystal Gallery, the lake and the rest of the city all sorted? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Tips for visiting the City Palace

• Arrive earlier in the day to have enough time for the large complex and to enjoy cooler, quieter conditions.

• Reconfirm the current timings, last entry and ticket details locally, as they can change and differ for the museum, Crystal Gallery and show.

• Allow a few hours to explore the palace properly, more if you wish to add the Crystal Gallery.

• Consider a guide to bring the history and the rooms to life, as there is a great deal of story behind the palace.

• Do not miss the lake views from the upper terraces, among the finest in Udaipur.

• Wear comfortable shoes, as there is a good deal of walking and some steps within the complex.

• Think about returning in the evening for the light and sound show if it is running.

What to expect

A visit to the City Palace is a journey into the grand and romantic history of Mewar, through a whole city of palaces rising above Lake Pichola. You can expect ornate courtyards and mirror-filled chambers, a rich museum of royal treasures, the dazzling Crystal Gallery and, throughout, some of the most beautiful lake views in all of Udaipur. It is a large complex with a great deal to see, so it rewards a relaxed visit with time in hand.

As the single most important sight in the City of Lakes, the City Palace is a must-see for anyone visiting Udaipur and a magnificent introduction to the royal heritage of the Mewar and of Rajasthan. With a little planning around the timings and the season, it is an unforgettable part of a Rajasthan journey.

Plan your trip with us

A visit to the City Palace, as part of a wider Udaipur and Rajasthan trip, is easiest and most enjoyable when the travel, the stays, the guide and the sightseeing are all arranged for you. That is what we do, a comfortable private car and an experienced driver, a knowledgeable guide to bring the palace to life, well-chosen stays and the whole trip planned around you.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. You can combine Udaipur with the classic circuit on our Golden Triangle tours and we can build it all within our wider Delhi Agra Tour Packages.

Related guides

• New Delhi tour: the capital's imperial landmarks.

• Old Delhi tour: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk.

• Delhi day tour: the best of the capital in a day.

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