City Palace Udaipur: The Complete Royal Guide

Perched on the eastern bank of Lake Pichola, City Palace is the single most iconic monument in Udaipur — a sprawling complex of courtyards, balconies, towers and cupolas built up over nearly 400 years by successive Maharanas of Mewar. If you only see one royal building in the City of Lakes, make it this one.

Timings and Entry Fees

The palace museum is generally open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with the last entry around an hour before closing. Entry tickets are sold in tiers depending on which sections you want to see — the core museum, the Crystal Gallery, and combined heritage passes that also cover Jagdish Temple nearby. Prices change from time to time, so it's worth confirming the current rate at the ticket counter or with your driver before you go.

What Not to Miss Inside

• Mor Chowk (Peacock Courtyard) — famous for its glass-mosaic peacock murals set into the walls.
• Manak Mahal (Ruby Palace) — a mirrored hall glittering with inlaid glass and mirror work.
• Badi Mahal — a raised garden courtyard offering sweeping views over Lake Pichola.
• Crystal Gallery — an extraordinary private collection of crystal furniture, ordered by Maharana Sajjan Singh in the 1870s.

Best Time of Day to Visit

Arrive right at opening time to beat the tour-bus crowds and get soft morning light on the lake-facing terraces. If photography is your priority, a late-afternoon visit followed by a Lake Pichola boat ride at sunset is hard to beat — the palace facade turns golden as the sun drops behind the Aravalli hills.

Pairing It With a Lake Pichola Boat Ride

Most visitors combine the palace with a short boat ride on Lake Pichola, which departs from the jetty inside the palace complex. The ride typically loops past Jag Mandir and gives you the classic postcard view of the palace rising straight out of the water. Plan for roughly half a day if you want to do both unhurried.

Getting There

City Palace sits right in the old city, and traffic near the gates can be tight, especially in peak season (October to March). A private cab with a local driver who knows the one-way lanes around Jagdish Chowk saves real time compared to arranging transport on the spot.