Palaces are the crown of Udaipur, and the city has three of them: the famous City Palace, the captivating Sajjangarh Palace, and the picturesque Lake Palace. These palaces showcase the rich history, architecture, and culture of Udaipur. If you plan for a solo trip to Udaipur, you must visit these palaces. Otherwise, your experience in the city will remain incomplete!

1. The City Palace of Udaipur

Not only it is Udaipur’s pride, but also it is the largest palace in Rajasthan. So no matter what, this place should be on your bucket list. Maharana Udai Singh II initially built the palace. Later on, his successors made several additions to the palace and created this magnum opus. There are 11 more palaces within the complex of City Palace. The interesting part is that everything seems to fit perfectly together as if it was made in one go.

The City Palace complex is located at the banks of Lake Pichola. There are even numerous hotels to stay in near City Palace. A glimpse of the City Palace is enough to instantly make you fall for the place. You can take notice of all the different types of architectural work on the palace. Indeed the amalgamation of Rajasthani, Mughal, European, and Oriental architecture did wonder!

The City Palace takes you on time travel. If you have a keen interest in history, this palace is a paradise for you. You will walk through the pages of history as you explore the parts of City Palace. Be ready to be amazed by the intricate artworks, miniature paintings, unique glassworks, and antique furniture! 

Things to do at City Palace

• Visit the City Palace museum. It gives you a taste of the Mewar kingdom when you explore the Royal Courtyard, Krishna Vilas, Badi Mahal, Mor Chowk, Sheesh Mahal, Zenana Mahal, and Lakshmi Chowk. You will probably need 2 hours to cover the entire City Palace. 
• Do not miss the Mewar light and sound show at the City Palace. The vibrant show vividly portrays the history of the Mewar kingdom. It takes place every evening at Manek Chowk of the palace for domestic and foreign travellers. It is one of the best things to do at nighttime in Udaipur!

2. The Sajjangarh or the Monsoon Palace

Overlooking the Fateh Sagar Lake, the Sajjangarh Palace attracts travellers for its ethereal beauty. Specifically, if you are a nature lover, this place is perfect! The Sajjangarh Palace is perched on the Bansdara hill of the Aravalli range on the outskirts of Udaipur.

It is also known as Monsoon Palace. The reason behind this name is the palace was built as a gateway for the royals of Mewar during the monsoon season. Maharana Sajjan Singh took the task of building this nine-storey palace. However, his successor Maharana Fateh Singh completed the architecture after his death.

You can reach the palace by a hike or a car. The choice is yours! If you lean on the adventure side, I suggest you go for a hike. It is fairly an easy hike of approximately 3 kilometres. Many tourists visit this palace to witness the sunset from the hilltop. It is said that this palace provides the best view of sunsets in the entire city. Hence, it captures every traveller’s heart without fail.

Once you reach the palace, go for a guided tour of the palace. The entire palace is made out of white marble, making the Sajjangarh Palace an epitome of beauty. You will get glimpses of the exquisite work of Rajasthani architecture inside the palace. The dome, fountains, staircases, passages, and courtyards are the product of the architectural genius of the bygone era.  

Things to do at Sajjangarh/ Monsoon Palace

• Explore the nearby wildlife sanctuary.
• Watch the beautiful sun go down.
• Visit the wax museum at the palace. It is, without a doubt, worthy of your time!

3. The Lake Palace

The Lake Palace is one of the major tourist attractions of Udaipur. Its iconic look and location are solid reasons to include it in your list of places to visit in Udaipur. The palace is on the pristine water of Lake Pichola. The Lake Palace is probably one of the most romantic sites in Udaipur. I truly believe you will be awestruck by its beauty!

Maharaja Jagat Singh II built this marvellous place as a summer retreat for the royal dynasty. Formerly known as Jag Niwas, it is now turned into a hotel operated by the Taj Group. So if you want to live and breathe like a royal member, book yourself a stay at this palace and experience the luxury. You can also go for boat rides at Lake Pichola and enjoy the surreal view of the palace.

Things to do at Lake Palace

• Go for heritage walk tours.
• Explore the Lake Palace from 9 AM to 6 PM throughout the week.

So here you go, I have summoned all the major palaces of the city for you in this blog. If you do not have time to visit all of them, visit your favourite one. These palaces are the best way to get to know about the history of the White City. Let me know if you plan soon for a solo trip to Udaipur in the comments. You can even drop a comment if you have any queries regarding Udaipur. I am always happy to help you.