How to Plan a Golden Triangle Tour with Udaipur

Adding Udaipur to the classic Golden Triangle is the perfect and most natural way to extend your trip deeper into Rajasthan, pairing the grand Mughal and Rajput heritage of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur with the serene lakes and opulent palaces of what is often called India's most romantic city. As Jaipur is already the gateway to Rajasthan, Udaipur is the natural, beautiful and rewarding next step onward. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages explains exactly how to plan a Golden Triangle tour with Udaipur, from the route to the lakes, ideal as an extension to a Golden Triangle tour.

I was born in Delhi and in more than 11 years guiding the Golden Triangle for Experience My India I have planned many trips extending it on into Rajasthan to the shimmering lakes and opulent palaces of Udaipur. Here is the clear, practical guide.

Golden Triangle with Udaipur at a glance

What is the Golden Triangle with Udaipur?

The Golden Triangle is India's classic and most popular tourist circuit, linking Delhi, the historic capital; Agra, home of the incomparable Taj Mahal; and Jaipur, the Pink City of Rajasthan, a perfect introduction to India's rich Mughal and Rajput heritage of forts, tombs and palaces.

Udaipur, in the south of Rajasthan, is one of India's most beautiful, elegant and romantic cities, the proud former capital of the great kingdom of Mewar, set around a series of shimmering lakes and ringed by the green Aravalli hills. Adding it to the Golden Triangle extends the trip beautifully deeper into Rajasthan, blending the grand, bustling cities of the north with the serene lakes, floating island palaces and gentle, refined beauty of Udaipur, for a richer, more romantic and altogether more complete journey through the land of kings.

Why add Udaipur to the Golden Triangle?

Udaipur brings lakes, palaces and romance to the Golden Triangle, a wonderful, softer and more serene contrast to the busy cities and monuments of the plains:

• The City of Lakes: Udaipur, often called the Venice of the East, is set around a string of beautiful, shimmering lakes with graceful white island palaces seeming to float on the still water, a serene, elegant and deeply romantic setting quite unlike anywhere else in Rajasthan or indeed India.

• Opulent palaces: the vast, magnificent honey-coloured City Palace and the famous, storied island palaces of Lake Pichola make Udaipur a place of pure royal splendour, living heritage and almost fairytale beauty.

• A romantic favourite: Udaipur is widely and rightly regarded as the single most romantic city in all of India and a top honeymoon and luxury heritage destination, making a lovely, gentle, elegant and memorable finale to a Golden Triangle and Rajasthan trip.

• A gateway to Mewar: Udaipur also opens up the wider, beautiful Mewar region, with its great hilltop forts, exquisite carved Jain temples and revered Krishna shrines all close by, for those wanting to explore Rajasthan more deeply and slowly.

For anyone wanting to see the softer, gentler, more beautiful and romantic side of Rajasthan alongside the grand heritage of the Golden Triangle, Udaipur is a superb, natural and much-loved addition and one that very many travellers come away describing as the loveliest and most memorable part of their entire trip.

How to get to Udaipur

Udaipur is the natural extension of the Golden Triangle onward into Rajasthan, added after Jaipur and it can be reached in several easy ways:

• By road from Jaipur: the classic and most natural way, a scenic drive of about 400 km and six to seven hours from Jaipur to Udaipur, often broken with a stop such as Pushkar or Chittorgarh, simply extending the Golden Triangle road trip on deeper into Rajasthan, as our Jaipur to Udaipur distance guide describes in full.

• By flight: Udaipur has its own airport, so you can fly there from Delhi or Jaipur in around an hour, a quick and comfortable option if your time is limited.

• By train: overnight and other trains connect Udaipur with Delhi and Jaipur, a restful, economical and scenic way to cover the distance while you sleep or watch the countryside pass.

Because Jaipur is already the gateway to Rajasthan, continuing on to Udaipur by road is a wonderfully natural and rewarding way to deepen the whole trip, taking you further into the land of kings, though flying or taking the train are easy and comfortable alternatives, as our places to visit in Rajasthan from Delhi guide covers the wider state and its cities in full.

A suggested itinerary

Udaipur is usually added on after Jaipur, extending the Golden Triangle beautifully onward into southern Rajasthan. Here is a classic, well-tested outline that works wonderfully:

• Days 1 to 2, Delhi: arrive and explore the capital at leisure, both Old and New Delhi and their great historic landmarks.

• Day 3, Agra: drive to Agra to see the magnificent Taj Mahal, ideally at sunrise for the softest light and the mighty Agra Fort.

• Day 4, Agra to Jaipur: drive on to Jaipur, stopping at the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri on the way.

• Days 5 to 6, Jaipur: explore the vibrant Pink City, the majestic Amber Fort, the grand City Palace, the Hawa Mahal and the colourful bazaars.

• Day 7, Jaipur to Udaipur: drive or fly on from Jaipur to Udaipur, arriving to settle in and enjoy a first lovely evening by the shimmering lakes.

• Days 8 to 9, Udaipur: explore the grand City Palace, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola, visit the temples and gardens and watch a glorious sunset over the lakes and hills from the Monsoon Palace.

The whole trip can be shortened or extended further with the wider Mewar region and its forts and temples and we always tailor it carefully to your interests and pace.

What to see and do in Udaipur

Udaipur is all about its lakes, palaces and gentle, romantic beauty:

• Lake Pichola and a boat ride: the beautiful, serene lake at the very heart of the city, with its shimmering island palaces, is best enjoyed on a gentle boat ride, especially magical in the golden light of sunset, gliding past the famous Lake Palace and the graceful Jag Mandir.

• The City Palace: the vast, opulent, honey-coloured palace complex of the Mewar rulers, rising above the shore of Lake Pichola, one of the largest and grandest palace complexes in all of Rajasthan, with its maze of courtyards, balconies, museums and sweeping lake views.

• The Jagdish Temple: a large, beautifully and richly carved Indo-Aryan temple in the very heart of the old city, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, a lovely, atmospheric and lively place of worship just a short walk from the City Palace gates.

• The Monsoon Palace (Sajjangarh): the romantic hilltop palace set high above the city, most famous for its truly spectacular panoramic sunset views out over the lakes, the city rooftops and the surrounding Aravalli hills.

• The gardens and haveli: the lovely Saheliyon ki Bari, the ornamental garden of the maidens with its fountains and lotus pool and the Bagore ki Haveli museum with its wonderful, atmospheric evening Dharohar folk-dance show, add real charm and culture.

• Rooftop dining and the old city: Udaipur's famous rooftop restaurants, with their romantic lake and palace views and the winding, colourful old-city lanes, ghats and bazaars, are an absolute delight to wander and linger in.

Two unhurried days lets you enjoy the lakes, the palaces, the temples and the wonderfully romantic, relaxed atmosphere of Udaipur at a gentle pace, which is very much the right way to experience this most beautiful of cities, rather than rushing it.

Beyond Udaipur: the wider Mewar region

For those with a little more time to spare, Udaipur is also the perfect gateway to the beautiful surrounding Mewar region, which is rich in magnificent forts, exquisite temples and revered Jain shrines:

• Kumbhalgarh Fort: a magnificent, remote hilltop fortress famous for its immense encircling wall, said to be the second-longest in the world after the Great Wall of China, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about two hours from Udaipur.

• Ranakpur: the stunning, intricately carved white-marble Jain temples, celebrated the world over for their forest of over a thousand uniquely carved pillars, set in a wooded valley on the way to or from Kumbhalgarh.

• Nathdwara: the revered Shrinathji Krishna temple, a major pilgrimage site, only about 48 km from Udaipur, as our Delhi to Nathdwara distance guide covers in detail.

• Chittorgarh: the mighty hilltop fort and former capital of Mewar, a great symbol of Rajput valour, about 115 km away, as our Delhi to Chittorgarh distance guide describes.

These add a rich Mewar dimension for those wanting a fuller Rajasthan trip beyond the Golden Triangle.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Udaipur, as with the whole Golden Triangle, is October to March, when the weather is pleasant and comfortable for the lakes, palaces and boat rides, as our best time to visit North India guide explains for the wider region.

The winter, from December to February, is lovely, mild and clear, ideal for exploring the lakes and palaces on foot and by boat, while summers, from April to June, are hot, though the presence of the lakes and the hills makes Udaipur noticeably more bearable and pleasant than the baking desert cities of Rajasthan. The monsoon fills the lakes right up and turns the surrounding hills a lush green, which is beautiful in its own right. A particularly special time is the colourful Mewar Festival, held around Gangaur in the spring, when the city celebrates with processions, music, dance and boats on the lake. For a comfortable, relaxed and romantic visit overall, the cool season from October to March is much the best.

Tips for planning the trip

• Add Udaipur after Jaipur, by road as a natural Rajasthan extension or by flight or train if time is short.

• Allow two days to enjoy the lakes, palaces and gentle romantic atmosphere properly, without rushing.

• Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola, ideally at sunset, for the classic and most magical Udaipur experience.

• Watch the sunset from the Monsoon Palace and catch the evening folk-dance show at Bagore ki Haveli.

• Consider a heritage palace or a lakeside hotel for a truly romantic and memorable Udaipur stay.

• Visit October to March for the most pleasant weather and add the Mewar sights if you have extra time.

Want Udaipur planned into your Golden Triangle, with the lakes, palaces and route all sorted? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Plan your trip with us

A Golden Triangle with Udaipur beautifully extends the grand heritage circuit onward into the romantic, lake-filled heart of Rajasthan and it is easiest and most rewarding when the route, the timings and the lovely stays are all handled and coordinated for you. That is exactly what we do, weaving Udaipur seamlessly into your journey through Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, with the drive or the flights, the sunset boat ride, the grand palaces and your beautiful heritage or lakeside stays all sorted, so that you can simply relax and soak up the heritage and the romance of it all.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. Start with the classic circuit on our Golden Triangle tours and extend it to Udaipur or see the Taj at its finest on our Sunrise Taj tour. We can build it all within our wider Delhi Agra Tour Packages.

For more, our things to do in Jaipur guide covers the Pink City gateway and our Golden Triangle with Ranthambore guide covers another Rajasthan extension, this one for wildlife.

Related guides

• Golden Triangle with Amritsar: add the Golden Temple to your trip.

• 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.

Experience My India has personally hosted 50,000+ travelers and the service he leads is rated 4.9 from 2,600+ reviews, operating since 2015. Delhi Agra Tour Packages is a unit of Experience My India.